Dick delivered the first ball and Crockett fouled it. “That’s touching him!” chuckled Roberts. “You’ll hit it on the trade-mark next time, Crock!” The batter did hit the next ball, but it was one of those exasperating pop flies which fell into Bradley’s hands, and Crockett retired to the bench. “Start us off, Dustan!” urged Roberts. “Give us a hit here! Let’s clinch the game in the first inning.” Up popped Ted Smart on the bleachers. “Please don’t make too many runs in the first inning!” he entreated. “Please don’t make more than ten or fifteen runs in this inning! Just give us a little show! Don’t bury us at the very start! It isn’t fair.” Dustan proved to be a good waiter and finally compelled Dick to put the ball over. He then sent a swift one skimming along the ground, and Tubbs failed to stop it. It was a safe hit. “Here we go!” yelled Milliken, as he capered down to the coaching line. “We’re off! We’re off!” “Don’t mind that, captain,” said Darrell. “It doesn’t amount to anything!” Roberts was ready to strike. “I wish he’d drive a hot one down to Darrell!” muttered Arlington. “You’d see Darrell let it go. I will bet my life on that.” Even as he spoke he had his wish. Roberts hit a savage grounder in Darrell’s direction. It was not straight at Hal, but some distance to one side. Apparently it could not be touched, although Darrell made a spring for it. “Clean hit!” burst from Arlington. A second later he gasped in astonishment, for Darrell had flung himself at full length on the ground, with one hand outstretched, and stopped the ball. Not only did he stop it, but it stuck fast in his fingers, and he sat up instantly with it in his possession. Without making an attempt to rise, Darrell snapped the ball to Tubbs, who had covered second. Dustan was off first and away toward second even before bat and ball met. Nevertheless, Darrell’s astonishing stop and snap throw to Tubbs was so rapidly performed that Dustan was out “on a force.” He saw this and remained on his feet in an endeavor to bother Tubbs so he could not throw to first; but Tubbs sent the ball whistling past the fellow’s ear so close that Dustan felt the wind from it. Straight into Singleton’s big mitt sped the ball, and then the umpire was heard crying: “Out at second! Out at first!” Darrell’s astounding stop of that hot grounder had enabled him to take part in a most brilliant double play. Those who had expected to see Darrell do something quite different were electrified. Instantly the cadets burst forth into a cheer over this sensational piece of work. “Well, what do you think of that?” gasped Mel Fraser, nudging Arlington. Chester sat still a moment without replying, but finally said: “He’s got a long head on him. He did it to fool them. Just wait and see if he doesn’t do something to lose this game before it is over. He will if he has a chance.”