The umpires were Mr. Cochran, of the Y.M.C.A., chosen by Clearfield, and Mr. Vokes, who had officiated at the first game between the two teams, the Point’s selection. The latter gentleman was on bases and Mr. Cochran umpired at the plate. At twenty minutes to three Clearfield trotted into the field to the cheers of the audience, and Gordon, taking a nice new ball from Mr. Cochran, ascended the stand to where Mr. Brent sat. “Mr. Brent,” said Gordon, “we’d like very much to have you throw out the ball to us, sir, if you don’t mind.” “Throw out the ball!” exclaimed Mr. Brent. “How—how do I do it?” “Just stand up, sir, and toss it to Tom Haley, down there.” Mr. Brent looked doubtful, but Morris and Louise urged him on, and finally he got to his feet, measured the distance anxiously, clutched the ball with a death-like grip, and hurled it toward Tom. It went a yard over his head, and was fielded by Harry Bryan near second! But that didn’t matter! Everyone cheered just as hard! CHAPTER XXIV DICK SMILES CLEARFIELD RUTTER’S POINT Bryan, 2b. Billings, 3b. Scott, 3b. Townsend, 1b. Merrick, 1b. Chase, ss. Wayland, l. f. House, c. f. Tappen, r. f. Leary, 2b. White, c. Northrop, r. f. Robey, ss. Jensen, l. f. Haley, p. Houghton, c. Shaw, c. f. Mason, p. Gordon took his position off first base, thumped fist into glove, and called cheerfully across to Tom Haley: “First man, Tom! Let’s have him!” But Gordon wasn’t nearly as cool and collected as he tried to seem. He was conscious of the crowd, and especially of the throng that stretched four and five deep along the base line but a half dozen yards away. The noise, too, was disconcerting. He didn’t mind the bellowing of Jim House back of first, nor the answering shrieks of Pink Northrop behind third; but the steady hum and stir of the crowd gave him what was very much like stage fright. He almost hoped that the first hit would not come into his territory, for he was virtually sure that he would misplay it. But Gordon wasn’t the only one suffering from nervous embarrassment. Tom was as wild as a hawk, and if the batsmen had not been up in the air as well Rutter’s Point might have won the game then and there!