“There’s something wrong,” answered Nort Madison. “He has changed his signals.” “Why do you suppose he did it?” “He must have tumbled to the fact that we were onto them. There’s no other explanation. This is going to be a hard game, but we are two runs to the good. We must hold Fardale down. Pitch for your life, old man!” Never had Westcott pitched more cleverly. Jolliby lifted a foul back of first base, and Madison gathered it in. “One!” counted the visiting spectators, in unison. Singleton did his best to get a hit, but finally struck out on a high drop that fell past his shoulders. “Two!” chorused the Franklin crowd. “Let me get at him!” muttered Buckhart. “Let’s see if he can fan me that way!” “Don’t swing your head off,” advised Dick. “Try for a safe single.” In attempting to follow this advice, Brad missed twice. The delight of the visitors over this annoyed him. He set his teeth, and his eyes took on a steely gleam. With all his strength the Texan cracked out a long high liner to left field, but it was caught. “Three!” roared the Franklin crowd. Buckhart had reached first, and he walked back, growling his disgust. “This is now a most salubrious little game!” chuckled Wiley. “Why, these youngsters know how to play baseball! What’s the matter with you, Abe? What are you staring that way for?” The hunchback drew closer to his companion on the bench. “There’s a man over there who is watching me,” he answered. “Over where?” “Over there in that crowd. I saw him in front of the hotel.” “Point him out.” “I can’t now. He has disappeared.” “What did he look like?” “He has a sandy beard, and is dressed in a brown suit.” “Abe, my boy, you’re dreaming. You’re nervous. Forget it, Abe. Your enemies are far away. We have fooled them handsomely.” “Perhaps so; but I am afraid, cap’n, they are near. Something tells me they are near.” “Well, just you linger by my side, and you will be all right. Have no fear of the minions of iniquity, for my good right arm will defend you to the extremest extremity. I have vowed to Frank that never again shall harm befall you while you are in my charge. And Little Walter always makes good.” Although the boy tried to throw off the feeling of apprehension that weighed heavily upon him, he was unable to do so. The head of Franklin’s batting list again came up in the third inning. Dustan had started off at first with a beautiful hit, and he tried to repeat the performance. This time, however, he, like those before him, was handsomely fooled by Merriwell’s curves, and he cast down his bat in disgust, on striking out. “This is getting monotonous for us, captain!” cried Darrell. “You’re not giving us anything to do. Do let them hit it once in a while.” “Don’t worry!” retorted Nort Madison. “We’ll get after him again before long.” “Pay no attention to his signals, Gibbs,” advised Dustan in a low tone, as the second batter walked out to the plate.