“I’m going to!” he thought fiercely. He ran for it, and was aware that he would have to almost run into the grand stand to reach it. The crowd made way for him. Into the stand he crashed, with a shock that jarred him considerably, but—he had the ball in his hands! “Wow! Wow! Wow!” cheered the crowd, even some of the Tuckertons themselves. The side had been retired without a run, and they cheered Cap’s fine catch. “Now for our last chance!” said Captain Graydon when his men came in. “We’ve just _got_ to get two runs. No tenth inning—do it in this!” “Sure!” they all agreed. Whistle-Breeches came up first, and when he had fanned out he went off by himself and thought bitter thoughts. For he had narrowed the team’s chances. “Don’t worry, we may do it yet,” said the coach kindly but he hardly believed it. Graydon made good in a two bagger, and got to third when Paul Armitage made a magnificent try, but was out at first. And that was the situation when Cap Smith came up. There were two out, a man on third, and two runs were needed. Only a home run it seemed could do the trick. “And a home run it shall be!” declared Cap to himself. But when he missed the first ball, and when, after two wild throws a strike was called on him, it looked as if the chances were all gone. “He’ll walk you!” shouted some sympathizers, but the Tuckerton pitcher had no such intentions. He was going to strike Cap out, he felt. “Whizz!” went the ball toward the catcher. Cap drew back his bat, and by some streak of luck managed to get it under squarely. He put all the force of his broad shoulders into the blow, and when he saw the ball sailing far and low, he knew it would go over the centre fielder’s head and into the deep grass beyond. “It’s a home run or a broken leg!” murmured Cap, as he dashed away toward first. “Oh you Cap!” “Pretty! Pretty!” “A lalapalooza!” “Run! Run!” “Keep on going!” “Come on in, Graydon! Come home! Come home!” Thus the frantic cries. Graydon was speeding in from third, and desperate fielders were racing after the ball. It could not be located in the tall grass, and Cap was legging it for all he was worth. “Run! Run! Run!” Thus they besought him. Graydon crossed the rubber with the tying run, and still the ball was not found. Then, as Cap passed second, a shout announced that a fielder had it. But he was far out, and the second baseman knew his teammate could never field it in from where he was. He ran out to intercept the ball, as Cap was legging it for home. “Thud!” The second baseman had the horsehide. He turned to throw it home, and the catcher spread out his hands for it. But Cap dropped and slid over the plate in a cloud of dust, and was safe just a second before the ball arrived. Westfield had won! And on the last chance! CHAPTER XVIII A PLOT AGAINST BILL