r him.

But Berlin, trusting the speedy Nelson to take advantage of it, bunted
the first ball. His confidence in Nelson was not misplaced, Jack
sprinting to the plate, while the baffled home players bestirred
themselves too late even to get Barker, whose bunt went for a safe hit.

The score was tied.

Foxhall, rushing up to Newbert, whispered excitedly:

"They've changed their signals! That's what's fooling us. We've got
to----"

There was a yell. Observing that second base was left practically
unguarded, Barker scooted down from first, and he got there ahead of
the shortstop, who made an effort to cover the sack.

"This is a great year for high flying," laughingly whooped Cooper.
"Ten thousand feet in an aeroplane isn't so much; why, this whole
Wyndham bunch is up in the air higher than that this very minute.
They're liable to come down hard, too."

Like Foxhall, the Wyndham captain had decided that Oakdale was no
longer using the known code of batting and base-running signals, and he
made haste to warn his players to place no further reliance upon the
information they had obtained concerning those signals.

"We want another run to take the lead, Stoney," said Eliot as Ben
stepped into the batter's box.

Stone took in the situation and also did the unexpected, dropping
another bunt in front of the pan. The catcher got the ball in time to
throw Stone out, but the batter's object was obtained, for Barker had
sailed along to third.

The Oakdaleites on the seats implored Eliot to get a hit, and Roger
responded by cutting a grounder through into short right field, which
let Barker score and placed the visitors in the lead.

Newbert's face was white as chalk. Up to this inning he had been
insolent in his self-confidence and contempt for the visitors, but the
strain now put upon him proved too much, and he hit Crane in the ribs,
following with a pass to Hooker, which filled the corners.

Then, amid the tumultuous cheering and laughter of the Oakdale crowd.
Captain Holley sent Newbert to the bench and called Twitt Crowell forth
to take his place.

CHAPTER XXIX

PHIL GETS HIS EYES OPEN

"Too bad little Herbie Rackliff isn't here to witness the fate of his
chum, the wonderful pitcher from Boston," laughed Jack Nelson.

"Where is Rackliff?" questioned Stone.

"Why, don't you know? He's sick abed; just went down flat after
reaching this town, and had to have a doctor."

With the bases full, Chi