------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dick Merriwell’s Day OR, IRON NERVE BY BURT L. STANDISH Author of the famous MERRIWELL STORIES. [Illustration] STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79–89 Seventh Avenue, New York ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright, 1904 By STREET & SMITH --- Dick Merriwell’s Day (Printed in the United States of America) All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DICK MERRIWELL’S DAY. CHAPTER I THE GREAT CRISIS. Fairhaven had fought desperately for the game at Seaslope, and three extra innings had been necessary to decide the contest; but the home club had won in the twelfth, the final score being four to three. “I told you before the game began that we were going into second place to-day!” cried Sam Hyde, addressing Dick Merriwell, captain of the Fairhavens. “Hard luck for you, but we’re out for the pennant.” “You’re not out of reach yet, are you?” retorted Dick, as he prepared to pull on his sweater. “We still have a small show, haven’t we?” “Perhaps you may finish in third position if you can hold Maplewood down,” said the Seaslope captain. “We’re going to finish at the top, and I fancy Rockford will be in second place. It’s now a fight between you and Maplewood to see which of you escape being tail-ender.” “Evidently you have it all settled—in your mind,” smiled Dick. “These things don’t always pan out the way they are planned.” “Just look over our record when you get a chance,” invited Hyde. “When you’ve considered what we’ve done, it ought to satisfy you that we’re going to swipe the pennant.” Having drawn on his sweater, Dick observed that Ray Garrett, the manager of the Fairhaven team, was looking blue and downcast. Merriwell clapped him on the shoulder and advised him to cheer up. “It’s tough!” muttered Garrett. “This game pushed us down from second position and let Seaslope head us. If Seaslope keeps up the pace it has set, Hyde is right in thinking it will win the pennant.” “You talk like a funeral!” exclaimed Dick. “Wait till we reach Rockford. We’ll figure over the standing of the teams after we get there. I think you will see they are well bunched.”