Dick dared not let out his speed and use his best curves in the first inning, and as a result Spangler hit safely. Jenners drove one to Bradley, which Billy fumbled, and then Swarton lifted a long fly to left field. “Just like batting it into a basket!” shrilly shouted Obediah Tubbs. “Gardner couldn’t muff it if he tried.” To the astonishment of every one, Earl made a rank muff, and the bases were filled. “Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Swarton, dancing up and down on first. “Got um going! They are up in the air!” “They never could play ball!” shouted a Rockford man. “You’re another!” promptly retorted Brick McLane. “Only for Fairhaven, you fellers would have the pennant nailed now! They’ve kept yer down!” “You dreamed it!” was the retort. “Smoke up! Your pipe’s going out!” “Here’s Torrey!” was the cry from the excited Rockford spectators. “Torrey will line it out! Just watch Torrey!” While playing on the Maplewood team Torrey had demonstrated the fact that he was a remarkable batter. His hitting had been commented on a great deal by patrons of the games in the Trolley League. Dick Merriwell had studied this chap’s style of batting and discovered his weak spot. Regardless of Buckhart, Merriwell now began to whistle the ball over, using curves that he knew would bother the batter. This led Torrey to strike twice and miss. “He’ll hit it next time,” asserted many. “He never strikes out.” After wasting two balls the captain of the Fairhaven team again sought Torrey’s weak spot, and found it. Brad’s eyes had blurred, and he seemed uncertain as he put up his hands. Torrey swung sharply, hit the ball on the under side of the bat, and seemed to drive it straight down to the ground. It struck like a piece of lead a foot in front of the plate and lay there. “Fair hit!” cried the umpire. Torrey dusted toward first, while Spangler, Jenners, and Swarton all moved up, Spangler making a dash for the plate. In order to make a double play all Brad needed to do was to pick up the ball, touch the home plate, and throw to first. Instead of doing this, Buckhart caught up the ball and threw toward first. Spangler came romping home in safety, laughing in derisive satisfaction. What added to the dismay of Dick and his companions was the fact that Buckhart threw over first, and before Smart could recover the ball and return it to the diamond, Torrey had reached the initial bag, while Jenners had followed Spangler to the plate and Swarton was well down the base line from second to third. Fearing the boys would continue the bungling work by bad throwing, Dick shouted for Tubbs to hold the ball. “Well, dern our picters!” shrilly cried the fat boy, as he stood with the ball in his hands, a look of disgust on his face. “We’re a lot of lobsters!” Merriwell quickly ran up to Brad.