A COMPACT.
Madge Morton overtook Jose Murillo.
"A word with you," she said. "We are far enough from the field so that
we'll not be seen if we step aside beneath the trees."
"Eet ees a pleasure," he bowed, although his face wore a puzzled
expression.
Beneath the trees the woman turned and faced him squarely.
"There's a girl back yonder that you're smashed on," she said.
He shook his head.
"What ees eet to be smashed?"
"Oh, I mean you're struck on her--you're in love with her. It's that
little soft-spoken, black-eyed chit."
"You mean Senyorita Garcia?"
"Yes, that's the girl. You've followed her here all the way from
Mexico."
"Eet ees right. I have follaired her."
"Now what do you propose to do? Are you going to quit? Are you going to
throw up your hand? Are you going to lay down?"
Again he shook his head.
"Eet ees not plain to me what you mean, senyorita."
"I'm married--at least, I have been. Call me senyora, if you don't
choose to call me Mrs. Morton. Are you going to give that girl up? Are
you going to let her baffle you? You're a man of determination. I
understand you had trouble with Gregory Carker last night."
"_Si, si, senyora._ Eet ees lucky for heem I deed not reach heem with my
knife. I weel reach heem yet!"
She clutched his arm.
"No," she cried, "you must not! I love him! I'm going to marry him!"
"Ees eet true?" gasped Murillo, in surprise. "I thought he was----"
"Oh, he has a silly notion that he cares for your black-eyed Juanita.
He's mistaken, that's all. Keep her away from him a week, and he'll
forget her. Give me a week, and I'll win him back again. Instead of
trying to harm him, why don't you carry off the girl?"
"How can eet be done?"
"She's afraid of you. If you can get her away from here, I think she
will cow down and do anything you say. I don't believe she has real
courage. I'll help you."
"How?"
"Let me think. You must take her away to-night. Bring a carriage. Stop
near Merry Home, but far enough away not to be discovered. Come to the
house at an hour past midnight. You know the back way? If you don't, you
can find it. I'll be waiting for you. I'll let you in, and I'll help
you take that girl out of the house."
He looked at her with an expression of mingled doubt and admiration.
"You are a woman," he said. "How you dare to do such a theeng?"
"Dare?" she hoarsely cried. "I dare anything in a case like this!"
"But how can we take her out? She raise the disturbance."
"Oh, no, she won't. I know her room. She sleeps alone. A little
chloroform will quiet her. Leave the matter to me. Will you come? Do you
dare? If you haven't the courage to play this game, say so."
"I haf the courage!" cried Murillo suddenly. "I weel be there! Eef eet
ees a trap, look out for me! I am not the man who forgets!"
"Save your breath," said the woman. "Don't bother to threaten me. I'll
see you again to-night."
Then she turned and walked back to the athletic field, rejoined the
party in the grand stand, announced that she had changed her mind about
watching the game, chatted, laughed, and appeared wholly care-free and
at ease.
Not until the fifth inning could Merriwell's team score against the
Farnham Hall lads. It was mainly Sparkfair's wonderful pitching that
kept Frank and his friends from circling the bases. Dale had splendid
speed, dazzling shoots, and masterly control. In the fifth the Merries
tried the bunting game and filled the bases, with only one out. Badger
then came up and smashed out a fine two-bagger, driving in three runs.
Sparkfair then struck out Carson and Dunnerwurst. Although the head of
Frank's batting order came up in the sixth and Hodge reached third, no
scores were secured. In the seventh Gallup crossed the pan with a run.
Neither side could secure a tally in the eighth, and the ninth inning
opened with Merriwell's team three runs behind the youngsters.
"Oh, we've got you!" laughed Sparkfair. "We haven't been able to make a
run since the first inning, but those seven scores were enough."
"Yah," said Dunnerwurst "Dot Ephraim Gallup he didid der pizness. Der
game threw him avay."
"Gol dinged if yeou've gut anything to say!" rasped the Vermonter. "Yeou
started all the trouble."
"Uf Frankie had let der pitcher's plate stay py me a vhile longer, it
vould haf peen different. Der ball was chust gittin' control uf me ven
he tookt me oudt."
Farnham Hall did not score in the first half of the ninth.
Diamond was the first batter up for the Merries, and he laced out a
clean single.
"That's the stuff!" cried Frank. "Only three scores! We'll get 'em right
here!"
Browning lifted a fly to left field, and Bemis scooped it. Diamond
reached second. Gallup dropped a Texas Leaguer over the infield, and
Buck Badger walked out With a bat on his shoulder.
"It peen up to you, Padger!" cried Dunnerwurst. "See vot you coot dood
py der ball."
At this juncture Sparkfair issued his first pass, and Badger walked,
filling the bases. Berlin Carson tried to drive in some runs, but popped
up an infield fly and was out. Then Hans Dunnerwurst started forth.
"Oh, crackey!" groaned Ephraim Gallup. "It's all over naow!"
"Yah, it vos all ofer," nodded Hans. "A home run vill knock me. Der game
vos seddled."
It is probable that almost every one expected to see Hans strike out.
After making two strikes, the Dutchman secured a clean single, on which
Diamond and Gallup scored.
"Dot vos a mishdake," declared the Dutchman. "Der ball meant to strike
me twice as far as dot."
There was great anxiety on both sides as Bart Hodge walked out.
"You can dood it, Hotch!" shouted Hans.
Bart smashed the second ball pitched him, driving it out on a line.
Little Bob Bubbs thrust out his left mitt, and the ball spanked into it.
It stuck there.
The game was over, and Sparkfair's team had defeated the Merries by a
single run.