Thus, wavering, tortured and miserable, he followed the progress of the game, realizing more and more as it went on that Oakdale had absolutely no chance at all while the players of the other side could see and understand every batting and base-running signal that was given. Fighting against such odds without knowledge of the fact seemed to Phil to be a most outrageous thing, and he pledged himself that, from this day forward, he would have no more dealings with Rackliff. As it was not necessary for the first batter in an inning to signal, Wyndham could not "lay for him" by the aid of knowledge gained in advance, and to open the fourth Sile Cane strode forth and fell on one of Newbert's slants, straightening it out handsomely for two sacks. Grant, following, took his cue from Eliot and signalled Crane that he would bunt, on which sacrifice the lanky fellow was to take third. Springer's teeth grated together as he beheld the entire Wyndham infield prepare to handle Rod's bunt, while Newbert drove Josh back and held him as close as possible to the second sack. Suddenly the ball was whipped over the pan, high and close, in spite of which the batter succeeded in sending it rolling heavily into the diamond. But Newbert, racing forward as soon as the sphere left his fingers, scooped it cleanly with one hand and snapped it across to third without straightening up. The baseman was covering the sack in a position to get the long-geared runner, and, catching the ball, he put it on to Crane with considerable viciousness as Josh slid. "Out at third!" shouted the umpire, with up-flung hand. The attempted sacrifice had been turned into a miserable failure solely because the locals had known precisely what their opponents would try to do. "I can't stand much more of this!" groaned Springer aloud. "It's worse than robbery! I'll have to get out." Hearing the words, a rejoicing Wyndham sympathizer slapped him heavily on the shoulder. "Don't take it so hard," laughingly advised the familiar fellow. "It's just what everybody expected." "Oh, is that so?" snapped Phil resentfully, turning his head to look up at the chap. "Well, if this was a square game they might get their expectations stepped on." "A square game!" retorted the other. "What do you mean by that? What's the matter with it? So far, it's the cleanest game I've seen this year. "It's the dirtiest game I ever saw! It's cuc-crooked from the start. Oakdale hasn't a sus-show." "Of course she hasn't; she's outclassed. You Oakdalers are poor losers; you always squeal." "Outclassed--nothing!" fumed Phil. "Oakdale is playing just as good baseball as Wyndham--and playing it on the level." "And by that I suppose you mean that Wyndham isn't playing on the level?" "You don't have to gug-guess twice; that's what I mean."