DAVE MAKES UP HIS MIND
With the score eleven to four against his club, Purdy, the pitcher, got
nervous, and as a consequence he allowed the first batter up to walk to
first on balls. Then the next player met the sphere for a base hit, and
the man on first ran down to second.
"Steady, Purdy, steady!" was the cry.
"Better put in Dave Porter," advised some of Dave's friends.
The next batter got two strikes and two balls and then knocked a short
fly, which was scooped in by Plum at second. Then the runner at second,
on the next delivery of the ball over the plate, tried to steal to
third. Over came the ball from the catcher. It was fully three feet
over Dave's head, and many held their breath, expecting the run to come
in. But with a high jump, Dave reached the sphere and brought it down
with one hand; and the runner was put out.
"Hurrah! What do you think of that for a catch!"
"Talk about jumping! That's the best I ever saw on any ball-field!"
The next man up got to first on balls, and again there was a cry to
take Purdy out of the box and substitute Dave. But Dave shook his head
to Phil.
"It wouldn't be fair," he said. "Purdy hasn't done so badly--it was a
streak of poor luck, that's all."
When the next batter came up he waited until he had a strike and two
balls and then knocked a swift liner into the diamond. It came several
feet from Roger, but now the former catcher proved his worth. He made a
dive, caught the ball, and rolled over, but still held the ball up in
his left hand.
"Batter out!"
"That ends it for Rockville."
It did end it for Rockville so far as making any runs was concerned,
but it still looked as if the game belonged to them and with it the
series.
But the Oak Hall boys went to the bat with a "do or die" look on their
faces. Phil started the ball rolling with a two-bagger and Roger
followed with a single, taking Phil to third. Then came Shadow with
another two-bagger, bringing in the two runners.
What a cheering and yelling! The Oak Hall boys went wild and waved
their caps and banners. Then, while the noise was still going on, Dave
came up to the bat, swung the ashen stick at the first ball delivered,
and sent the sphere down to deep center.
"Hurrah! A home run!"
"That's the way to do it! We'll win out yet!"
Dave had, of course, brought in Shadow, and this gave Oak Hall eight
runs. Seeing the runs piling up the Rockville pitcher became rattled,
and gave two men their base on balls. Then came another two bagger, and
the men on first and second trotted home.
"Ten to eleven! One more run, fellows, and you'll tie 'em!"
"Change the pitcher! He's no good!" called out some of the Rockville
supporters. And another pitcher was sent to the box.
Sam Day was now at the bat. Sam was a cautious player, not easily
rattled. He allowed two balls to pass him, and they were called such by
the umpire. Then, seeing just what he wished coming, he "swatted it for
keeps," as Phil said, and ran for dear life. He reached third and the
fellow at second came home, tying the score.
Pandemonium now broke forth in earnest, while the catcher walked
forward to confer with the pitcher. Gus Plum was up, and his face was
deathly white as he faced the pitcher. He felt as if the fate of a
nation depended upon him.
In came the ball and with unerring judgment Plum struck at it. Down he
went to first, safe, and in came Sam from third.
The game was won! The supporters of Oak Hall rushed upon the field,
and the nine was warmly congratulated. The Rockville club was bitterly
disappointed and left as soon as possible.
"Don't tell me that Porter, Morr, and Plum are poor players," said Luke
Watson. "They did more than their share to win this game," and in that
opinion even Mr. Dale concurred.
The result of the game hit Nat Poole heavily. He had counted upon Oak
Hall losing, and in secret had made several wagers against the school.
Now all his pocket-money was gone and he was about twenty dollars
in debt. He wrote to his father for money, but, as my old readers
know, Aaron Poole was very miserly at times, and now he pulled his
purse-strings tight and declared that Nat spent too much entirely, and
must do without more funds until the summer vacation came.
When Link Merwell came back to Oak Hall his general manner was worse
than before, and even Nat was glad that he had cut away from the
fellow. Merwell was getting to be a thorough sport, and a few, but
by no means all, of his doings reached Doctor Clay's ears. As a
consequence the master of the school sent a long letter to Merwell's
father and gave Link himself a stern lecture. The lecture was not
appreciated, for Merwell made no effort to reform.
During the week following the second game of ball with Rockville, Dave
put the finishing touches to his essay on The Past and Future of Our
Country. It was his masterpiece so far, and when it was finished he
breathed a sigh of commingled relief and satisfaction. He handed in
the essay to Mr. Dale, and it was filed away with sixteen others for
examination.
"I hope you win, Dave," said Roger. "I am sure you deserve the
prize--you have worked so hard."
Roger was now as "chummy" as ever, which pleased Dave very much. After
the second ball game the senator's son and Phil and Shadow had sought
out Mary, Vera, and Sadie, and the young people had spent a pleasant
hour together. In a roundabout way Roger learned that Mr. Greene was
nothing more to Vera than an old friend, and this, somehow, eased his
mind exceedingly.
There was a good deal of talk about putting Roger, Dave, and Plum
back on the regular nine, but the backers of Purdy and Barloe were so
insistent that they be retained that only Plum was allowed to take his
old place.
"But I want you two to be substitutes as before," said Phil, to Dave
and Roger. "I'll feel safer if I know you are at hand."
"All right, I'll be there," answered Dave, cheerfully, and the
senator's son nodded to show that he agreed to the request. If both
were bitterly disappointed at not being chosen to pitch and to catch at
this last game they took good care not to show it.
As soon as Link Merwell heard that Gus Plum had been put back on the
regular nine, he commenced to lay plans to make trouble. Since Plum had
given him the cold shoulder he hated Gus exceedingly. He thought he
knew Plum's weak point, and he acted accordingly.
By the request of the Rockville manager the final game of the series
had been postponed from Saturday to the following Wednesday. On
Thursday the students of Oak Hall were to have their final exercises,
and on Friday school was to break up for the term. Many visitors had
been invited to attend the exercises and some of them arrived in
Oakdale the day before, so as to witness the ball game.
Among the latter were Mr. Porter and Laura, Mr. Wadsworth and Jessie,
and Mr. Lawrence and Senator Morr. They had already engaged rooms at
the Oakdale hotel, and Dave, Phil, and Roger went there to meet them on
the morning previous to the game. There was a general handshaking, and
then the students were asked a hundred and one questions about their
studies, games, and school life generally.
"It is too bad you are not to pitch, Dave," said his sister, when they
were alone. "Why don't you get Phil to give you the place back?"
"Because it wouldn't be fair, Laura. Purdy has as much right to pitch
as I have."
"But you are the better pitcher--Roger says so--and I heard so from Ben
Basswood,--through a letter he wrote to his sister."
"Well, maybe I'll get a chance to pitch a few innings--if Purdy breaks
down. But I trust he doesn't break down--it's hard luck for any pitcher
to do that."
There was a pause, and Laura pulled her brother further into a corner,
away from the others.
"I want to speak to you about something," she continued in a low tone.
"Do you know that Jessie got an awful letter about you?"
"A letter? Who from?"
"I don't know. It came from Oakdale and was signed A Friend. It said
you were leading a fast life here--drinking and smoking and gambling."
"It's false, Laura--I don't do any of those things."
"I know that."
"Did Jessie believe what the letter said?"
"She didn't believe that part, but--the letter said something more."
"What?"
"In a postscript was written, 'You are being deceived by him, and he is
also deceiving another girl, Vera Rockwell. If you don't believe it,
come to Oakdale and find out.'"
"And that was in a letter sent to Jessie?" Dave began to think rapidly.
"Did she get that letter before she came here that other time?"
"Yes,--but she didn't let me know it then."
"And was that why she was so--so put out when she saw me with Vera and
Mary and Phil?"
"I suppose so. You must remember, Dave, that Jessie is very
sensitive--the loveliest girl I ever met,--and she looks upon you as
her dearest friend. Getting that letter and then seeing you with Miss
Rockwell----"
"But Vera is nothing to me but a friend, Laura. Why, Roger thinks ten
times more of her than I do. Just go and pump him about it. Why, to me
Jessie is worth more than--than--anybody, outside of my sister, and you
must let her know it, Laura." Dave paused. "That letter--has Jessie got
it yet?"
"Yes. She was going to burn it up after she showed it to me, but I told
her not to do it, and I made her bring it along. Of course, she feels a
delicacy about showing it to you--on account of the postscript--but I
said you ought to have a chance of exposing the person who was trying
to ruin your character."
"I want to see the letter. I've got some idea already regarding the
writer."
"So have I!"
"Link Merwell?"
"Yes. Do you know he sent me an unsigned letter two days ago."
"He did? I warned him not to send you anything," and now Dave's face
grew stern.
"It was only a couple of lines in pencil, and said, 'If you want
letters, come to Oakdale with twenty-five dollars.'"
"The rascal! So he has sunk so low he wants to sell you the letters! I
knew he was going to the bad, but I didn't think he was down as far as
that. I hope you didn't bring the money."
"But I did, Dave. I--I was afraid if I didn't he might--might read the
letters to others and expose me to ridicule," and the girl's face grew
crimson.
"Don't you give him a cent, Laura--not a cent. I'll get hold of him
before the term breaks up--and I'll get those letters or know the
reason why!"