y for him" by the aid of knowledge gained in
advance, and to open the fourth Sile Cane strode forth and fell on one
of Newbert's slants, straightening it out handsomely for two sacks.

Grant, following, took his cue from Eliot and signalled Crane that he
would bunt, on which sacrifice the lanky fellow was to take third.

Springer's teeth grated together as he beheld the entire Wyndham
infield prepare to handle Rod's bunt, while Newbert drove Josh back and
held him as close as possible to the second sack. Suddenly the ball
was whipped over the pan, high and close, in spite of which the batter
succeeded in sending it rolling heavily into the diamond. But Newbert,
racing forward as soon as the sphere left his fingers, scooped it
cleanly with one hand and snapped it across to third without
straightening up. The baseman was covering the sack in a position to
get the long-geared runner, and, catching the ball, he put it on to
Crane with considerable viciousness as Josh slid.

"Out at third!" shouted the umpire, with up-flung hand.

The attempted sacrifice had been turned into a miserable failure solely
because the locals had known precisely what their opponents would try
to do.

"I can't stand much more of this!" groaned Springer aloud. "It's worse
than robbery! I'll have to get out."

Hearing the words, a rejoicing Wyndham sympathizer slapped him heavily
on the shoulder. "Don't take it so hard," laughingly advised the
familiar fellow. "It's just what everybody expected."

"Oh, is that so?" snapped Phil resentfully, turning his head to look up
at the chap. "Well, if this was a square game they might get their
expectations stepped on."

"A square game!" retorted the other. "What do you mean by that?
What's the matter with it? So far, it's the cleanest game I've seen
this year.

"It's the dirtiest game I ever saw! It's cuc-crooked from the start.
Oakdale hasn't a sus-show."

"Of course she hasn't; she's outclassed. You Oakdalers are poor
losers; you always squeal."

"Outclassed--nothing!" fumed Phil. "Oakdale is playing just as good
baseball as Wyndham--and playing it on the level."

"And by that I suppose you mean that Wyndham isn't playing on the
level?"

"You don't have to gug-guess twice; that's what I mean."

"Oh, go crawl into your hole! There hasn't been a kick. Anybody can
see that we're playing all round you simply because we've got the best
team. Dade Newbert is a dandy."

"Yes, he'