“Bet you anyt’ing he won’t!” flung back Spud. “You ain’t posted about him. He’s der greates’ pitcher in der business. I tole yer so, but you didn’t take no stock in it.” “I don’t take no stock in it now.” “You will.” “Git out!” “You will,” persisted Spud. The crowd had been surprised, but it was far from displeased. Having perfect confidence in Wolfers, it rejoiced because the game promised to be close and exciting. “Frank, you have the goods!” said Hodge, as Merry came to the bench. “Why, I believe you could shoot the ball through a knot hole to-day!” “My control is pretty good,” nodded Merry. “Pretty good! It’s marvelous! Can you keep it up?” “Somehow I think so. I have a feeling that I’ll be able to do just about what I like with the ball through this game.” “Then the game is ours,” said Hodge. Merriwell was the first batter in the second inning. “Let’s see if I can’t give him a little of the medicine he’s been handing out,” Wolfers muttered to himself. He tried his best to fool Merry, but Frank let the first pitch go for a ball and caught the second one fairly on his bat, lining it out for two bags. Wolfers turned green. To himself he swore savagely. “I’ll know better than to give him another one like that,” he thought. Hodge was eager to follow Frank’s example. He forced Wolfers to cut a corner, and then he hit the ball fair and hard. It went like a bullet. Straight into the hands of Rush. Like a flash Rush snapped it to Tinker, who covered second. Frank was caught off the bag, not having time to get back, and the Elks had made a handsome double play. “Hooray!” bellowed the big man. “That’s the kind of work, boys!” The crowd cheered, and the play deserved it. Hodge felt sore. “That was hard luck!” he exclaimed. “I tried to place that hit, but I didn’t judge the curve just right.” Naturally Merry felt somewhat disappointed, but he accepted the result philosophically, knowing such things were the penalty of fate in baseball. Gamp came out not a whit the less resolute and determined. He felt that it was up to him to do something, and he tried hard, but Wolfers was on his mettle at last, and he struck Joe out. “That’s the stuff!” roared the big man. “Now you’re getting into gear, Robert!” Then he urged the local players to go in and hammer Frank all over the lot. Rush was eager to follow this advice. He was too eager, for Merry led him into putting up a pop fly, which fell into the hands of Rattleton. Glade followed and tried a waiting game. Seeing what he was doing, Merry put two swift ones over the inside corner, and two strikes were called. Then Glade hit a pretty grounder to Morgan, who made a mess of it, permitting the Elkton man to reach first. It was recorded as an error for Dade. Morgan was angry, but Merry soothed him with a word or two. “Those things will happen occasionally,” said Frank. “You’ll get the next one, my boy.” “You bet I will!” Dade muttered to himself.