“You’ve no proof, Mr. Trayne. The Clippers are vouched for as amateurs by their owner, and even if he has put in a few ringers, that can’t hurt our standing, if we play them. And it would be a bad business to start something we can’t finish.”
Trayne saw the justice of this argument, and Merry caught up his glove, as the bell rang, and ran out. While he was warming up with Billy Mac, the other Fardale men began to work, and Merry’s judgment was soon vindicated by the fans, except in the case of Villum Kess.
The Dutch lad seemed awkward. He committed no glaring errors, but it seemed to the crowd that any one would have been better at second than he. However, Fardale was now committed, and every rooter hoped for the best as the Fardale yell began to ring out: “Ha, ha, ha! ’Rah, ’rah, ’rah! Rigger-boom! Zigger-boom! All hail--Fardale! Fardale! Fardale!”
The Clipper sympathizers had no regular yell, but they made good with a thunder of feet stamping, and a roar of shouts and yells. For an instant these fell silent while the two umpires announced the batteries, then they rose again into a wild storm as the Fardale nine trotted out and took the field.
“Play ball!” cried the strike umpire, adjusting his mask. Ironton stepped out.
“Ve vos all pehind you, Chip!” squawked Villum Kess, capering around second.
“Take your time, old man,” advised Clancy.
“Let this boob hit it,” grinned Billy Mac, as Ironton stepped into the box.
Frank paused. He had seen clearly that Green was a whirlwind, and decided to hold his best ball, the jump, in reserve. If Green was really Diggs, then he had his work cut out for him.
“Get on to that guy on second!” yelled a fan.
Villum Kess had come to rest plumb on his bag, and stood waiting.
“Play off there, you lobster!” shrieked another rooter frantically.
“Blay off yourselluf,” returned Villum hotly. “Shud oop und say less. Make a glam of yourselluf if I vas a lopster yes, no! Yaw! You vait till you show me!”
Frank nodded to Billy, and put over a low, straight ball. Ironton waited.
The Clipper shortstop was a wicked hitter, as Merry knew. Seeing that he stood up close to the plate, Chip put over a sharp inshoot, and again the umpire called a strike, as Ironton swung vainly.