“Certainly not,” agreed Dick. “All we can expect of you is that you will do your best for the old school. You can get into Gardner’s suit in time for the game. Come on, Darrell!” A moment more Hal hesitated, but at last he rose. “All right!” he half growled. “I will play, but I don’t stand for any kicks after the game.” He followed Dick from the grand stand, and they were joined by Gardner, who looked pale and ill, indeed. Beneath the grand stand there was a dressing room, and to this they repaired in order that Hal and Earl might exchange garments. “I am sorry one of your players is ill,” said Bessie Dale. “You will have that as an excuse for your defeat.” “Not at all!” quickly retorted Doris. “Hal can play as well as Gardner. He might have been a better player if he had kept at it. The team will not be weakened by taking him on.” “That’s right,” said Zona. “Still, I am beginning to feel as if Fairport might win.” At this Bessie laughed outright. “You will feel more so after you see them play a while,” she averred. After a short time Dick and Hal emerged from the dressing room and hurried to join the Fardale players. As they walked out Merriwell said: “I am going to change the batting order to-day, Darrell. Gardner has been batting at the head of the list. He was a good man to lead off. I am going to put you in fourth place, which is a more important position.” To this Darrell made no reply. Following is the batting order of both teams as given to the scorers: FARDALE. FAIRPORT. Black, lf. Crockett, 2d b. Bradley, 3d b. Dustan, rf. Flint, rf. Roberts, ss. Darrell, ss. Conway, cf. Jolliby, cf. Macon, 3d b. Singleton, 1st b. Milliken, lf. Tubbs, 2d b. Anson, 1st b. Buckhart, c. Warren, c. Merriwell, p. Ware, p. Roberts, Macon, and Anson were three new men on the home team; otherwise the team was about the same as it had been the year before. Preliminary practice on both sides was sharp and snappy, and it keyed the spectators up to a point of intense interest and eagerness. Five minutes after the time set for the game to begin the umpire walked out to his position and Fairport trotted onto the field. “Now they start!” exclaimed Zona. “Oh, girls, isn’t it awfully exciting! I am just as nervous as I can be!” “I can’t blame you,” smiled Bessie Dale in that tantalizing manner of hers. “It’s natural you should be. But I am not. See how calm and confident I am.” “How do you feel, Doris?” asked Zona. Doris could not have described her feelings had she tried. Somehow there was in her heart a sense of doubt and dread. An inward voice seemed warning her that all was not as it should be. “Play ball!” cried the umpire. “Now we’re off!” squeaked Obediah Tubbs. “Git right after her, fellers!”