All the protests failed to aid the Spaniards and Mr. Trainor patiently explained that as time had not been asked for or called, the ball was still in play. “Your pitcher,” he said, “threw the ball out of the field and the runners scored, as they had a perfect right to do.”
“But Tucker called for the ball!” exclaimed Frank. “It was a trick! He hadn’t any right——”
“There’s nothing in the rules forbidding that,” answered the umpire gently. “You didn’t have to throw it to him, you know.”
“You call that fair playing?” demanded Phillips bitterly.
“According to the rules of the game it’s fair,” was the response. “I can’t go back of the rules.”
“It’s a low-down, measley trick!” declared Frank hotly. “Those runners ought to be sent back, Mr. Trainor.”
“It was a trick, of course,” was the reply. “But so is hiding the ball, don’t you think? One isn’t any worse than the other and the rules don’t prohibit either, Lamson. Play ball, please.”
But it was several minutes later before the Spaniards accepted the inevitable with bad grace and went back to their positions. As for Arnold, though, it is only fair to say that he made little protest, for he was possessed both of a sense of humor and a sense of justice. Phillips, however, scowled darkly at Toby and Tony as he returned to his base.
“Cheating,” he said grumpily, “is the only way you fellows could win.”