As neither Sandow or Hal had taken the former's remark seriously, the captain ran to Bronson.
"Hadn't I better let Holcomb work while you warm up for next inning?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm warmed up, now," replied the pitcher. "Don't worry about me. I'm going to cut loose. There's no other game to hold back for."
"All right; cut loose," grinned Hal, running back to his position in center field.
"That captain must be crazy," declared the girl who had sympathized with Bart, as Clothespin continued in the box.
"I told you Bronson was Markham's friend," sneered the bully, while from the Landon side came blatant toots of glee.
But their joy was short lived.
With terrific speed, Bronson shot three strikes across the plate. Then he served the next two batters in the same way.
Believing their star had found himself, the Baxter students taunted their rivals by singing, "We were only teasing you."
But Bronson's work had more than retired the side. Mitchell, the Landon pitcher as well as captain, had remembered Sandow's words, and as he saw the boy settle down and throw nine strikes in as many balls, he realized his team would have no easy battle. Consequently, he was so nervous that he could not control his throws, and before Baxter was retired three runs had crossed the plate.