Batting to Win

aring at each other a

that get your

Phil. "He must have made

o actually be paying attentions to some girl-to make it possible to discuss the matter with his chums. Suffic

being whipped into shape, and between Tom, Ed Kerr and the coach the lads were beg

ked Tom of Ed one afternoon, followin

. "And I do hope we win. It means so much at the beg

ean ours

of co

ould say,"

we play Boxer, I dare say," remarked M

. W

d Dave Ogden, who twirled for them last s

t's to know that Langridge-the fellow who almost threw our football team-is going t

o there. But don't

ey did some ragged work, under the eagle eye of the coach, and things began to look bad, but it was only the last remnant of stalenes

remarked Mr. Leighton, as practice was over for th

f--" be

asked the c

y portended, and what was the meaning of his chum's odd absences, for, only the night previous, Sid had gone out, following the receipt of a note, and had come in late,

s acquaintance with Miss Harrison, and the reconciliation following his little "de trop faux pas," as Tom termed it, Sid had been caught day dreaming. Phil or Tom would look up from their studying to see Sid, with a

had come so suddenly that it was overwhelming. In the past he had either been shy with girls, or had not cared enough for them to be more than decently polite. But now everything was different. Though he had seen her but a few times, he could call to mind instantly the very way in which she turned her head when

and Sid would start, for he had sent his thoughts afar, an

ghtful. The Randall players and their supporters, including a crowd of enthusiastic "rooters," a number of substitutes and a mascot, in the shape of a puppy, fantastically at

layers arrived, and they were received with cheers, for the

id and Phil, as the three chums looked over

here to-day," spoke Phil. "Ruth sa

id, and then he stopped

m," replied Phil, with a laugh. "We'll

we lose?" ask

oxer Hall take the first game of

quick work on the part of their rivals. In getting around the bases, batting out flies, getting their

Phil in a low voice to his two chums. "Say,

Stoddard, the catcher, and the balls landed in

knock out a couple of home run

't fan the air. Ho

ered Tom. "After that you can find 'em easy en

with the privilege of the home team coming last to the bat, Randall

LL CO

rson, sec

ousenlage

nton, fi

sons, p

house, t

kson, rig

loy, sh

son, lef

oss, cent

ER

ling, se

erity, ri

lin, lef

ood, cent

toddard,

Davenport,

gridge,

chin, th

ton, sh

a bat, and walked up to the plate. He faced Langridge, and noted the grim an

," called Bean Perkins, who w

going to be hit that he dodged back, but he was surprised when i

ike

the Randall sympathizers, but it died awa

y as he felt the impact, but, as he rushed away toward first h

led Phil, in a low voice. "Ma

ainst. The next attempt was a ball, for Langridge threw away out, but Sid saw coming a moment later, what he thought would

ed to lose some of his anger. He delivered a good ball-an in-shoot-and Dutch caught it on the end of his bat. It seeme

m selected his bat, and Phil struck at the first b

second when Tom came up, maki

for hopes! He knocked a fly, which the right fielder got without much difficulty, and the

ing him," consoled Tom,

s. Ralling refused to swing on two of them, but the last one seemed to him as just right, but Tom had the satisfaction of striking him out. McGherity, the next man up, was a notoriously heavy hitter, and Tom purposely gave him a pass to first. He struck out Roy Conklin, but something went wrong with the next man,

Mr. Leighton grimly. "Put a li

team?" Bean Perkins demanded

as the response, fr

nt-hearted team to victory, seemed to be of no effect now. Not a man got further than second, and another goose egg went up to the credit of Randall. But a similar dose was served to Boxer in the same inning, and when Randall opened the third with Holly Cross at the bat, there w

l, however, and there began to

s partly justified, for one run came in, which sent the grand

d then came the turn of Captain Tom's men again. They delighted their supporters by pulling down two runs, and making the score three to two in their favor. The

n the frames of both teams, though Tom and his men worked h

Cross stepped up in the ninth, his teeth fairly gritting together

part," guarant

st Chance, Boys-Soak It!" a Randall classic of the diamond. Well, Holly did "soak" it, with the result that he knocked t

ing to fan," whispe

" advised M

xt ball reached Sid. Away sailed the sph

legging it in from third and my! how Sid was running! Low down, and like the wind! Th

bench in their excitement. Around the bases came Sid, following Holly. The second basem

g in almost exhausted, over the p

's mates. "That wins the game!" and th

" said the coach, more so

and he struck out the next two men, the third getting out on a bingle. But the score was five to four in fav

out to the field. From the grand stand came softly the "Conq

e 'em out!"

to this day. Calmly he faced th

roan of protest. But it was silenced, and in two more balls delivered over th

called Phil to

sounded like guns when they hit Dutch

pire, and the second man threw down his s

id of him. He delivered a puzzling slow d

ut shoots, and Stoddard foolishly bit at it. The ball just grazed the

the crowd, as it went o

. But the one that had gone over the stand was slow in being returned. Dutch signal

t there was a chance. Tom delivered the ball. Stoddard swung at it with such force that he turned completely around. But the new, white ball was safe in the mitt of

as went up! Even Bean Perk

ly Cross around the waist, and doing a da

cried the coach. "

nkey Davenport for Boxer Hall, and the

Hall!" yelled Tom, and his me

"We'll go hunt up the girls, as soon as we look decent a

ge pass

d the defeated pitcher. "We'

hance," retorted T

o chums, having donned their street clothes, were