Kid viewed him reproachfully, and recovered his bat. “He can’t do it again, Kid!” shouted Ben. But he did do it again, nevertheless, even though the effort caused him a good deal of discomfort, as Kid could see. Then it all depended on the next ball. “Toots” wound up slowly, his face scowling with pain, and out went his arm. The ball started well, but the break was wrong. Down and down it came. Kid stepped back from the plate and the ball thumped into White’s mitt.
“Four balls,” said Mr. Crane. “Take your base!”
Amidst pandemonium Harold Cupples trotted home from third with House’s ninth run! Kid went to first and the bases were still full. With Waters at bat at least one more tally seemed possible, but Fortune came to the aid of “Toots.” Waters swung at the first offering and the ball danced up into the sunlight to settle in third baseman’s glove!
Heroically Day struggled to retrieve her lost lead. But George Waters arose grandly to the occasion and was as firm as a rock. The first man was struck out and the second went out at first. Then it was Morgan’s turn at bat. But a substitute went in instead. This wasn’t finesse, but necessity, for poor “Toots” was being half led and half carried to the house where, for the next hour or so he was dosed with Jamaica ginger and similar remedies. It was a most mysterious attack and the only two persons who could have thrown light on it remained silent, “Toots” himself because he was much too unhappy to explain and Kid because, so far, Ben had forgotten all about the change from that five dollar bill!
And, besides, just at present, Kid was much too busy. That substitute batter had insisted on prolonging the agony. With two strikes on him he refused to acknowledge himself beaten. Anxious to bring the game to an end, Waters put one over “in the groove.” Whack! Out into right field sped the ball, high and far. Around the bases raced the batsman. Day, scenting victory at the eleventh hour, arose to their feet and shrieked their triumph. But they were reckoning without their host. Far out in the field a pair of small legs were streaking over the sod. A glance over his shoulder, and Kid paused and wheeled. Up went his hands. What was a catch like that to the fellow who had batted “Toots” Morgan for a home run? Down came the ball, hesitantly at first, then with a rush. [Straining eyes watched as it thumped into Kid’s big glove.] Then a roar of joy went up from House. Kid had caught it! The game was over! House had won!
[“Straining eyes watched as it thumped into Kid’s big glove.”]
Two minutes later, with Ben proudly bearing the Junior Four Trophy and striding ahead, the victorious team marched back to the school, cheering and shouting. And close at Ben’s elbow marched Kid, his hands still tingling from the ball.
“Io Triumphus!” he chanted.