The Elks were taken by surprise. Some of them had started to leave the field. The manager realized he had been outdone in politeness, and he hastened after his players, hustling together those he could assemble. Then they cheered, but it lacked the vigor of the cheer from the Merries. This little piece of business on the part of the visitors caught the fancy of the crowd. The spectators realized now that Frank and his comrades had made a game fight. “You’re all right, blue boys!” shouted a man. “You can play the game!” “That’s right,” agreed another. “You’re dandies, boys!” Others followed their example. The crowd could afford to be generous. It was perfectly satisfied. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXX THE STING OF DEFEAT. In their hotel at Elkton the boys had one room which was used exclusively as a “dressing room.” In it was kept all the paraphernalia which they carried on the tour. After the game they hurried silently to the hotel, few words passing on the way. In the dressing room they were very quiet. Dade Morgan came over to Frank, speaking in a low tone. “I’m sorry, Merry,” he said simply. “We can’t win all the games,” answered Frank. “But this was a hard game to lose.” “Almost any game is a hard one to lose.” The defeated players sat around meditatively as they slowly stripped off their playing clothes. Connected with the room there was a bath with a shower. One after another they jumped under the shower, turned on the cold spray, drenched themselves thoroughly, jumped out, rubbed down until glowing, and then dressed. “That was a great catch you made in the second inning, Hans,” said Browning. “Oh, I don’d know apout dot,” retorted the Dutchman. “Id peen nottings peside der pall vot caught you ven Chack threw him so high der first innings indo.” “Say, Badg, you nipped Glade beautifully in the fourth,” said Rattleton. “Hodge made a great throw. Glade thought he had the sack purloined.” “I noticed you were backing me up all right,” said the Kansan. “I saw you were going to cover the bag. I was playing too deep to cover it for the throw.” Starbright slapped Morgan on the shoulder. “You had ’em guessing, my boy.” “Rot!” growled Dade. “I’ve got a crockery wing. It went back on me in a pinch. Still I might have stayed in the game. I’m afraid I squealed.” Then they all sat still some moments. Of a sudden Browning turned on Morgan. “Why didn’t you cover first when I went off after that foul in the third?” he rumbled, frowning. “We could have made a double play on it.” “Oh, go on!” retorted Dade. “It wasn’t your ball. Why didn’t you let Hodge have it and stick to the bag? Play your own position and you’ll do better.”