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Rh score stood 6 to 4 in favor of Frank Holden's nine. If Tom should manage to bring both Dick and himself in it would tie the score. But Tom was not known for his home-run qualities.

Frank Holden made a signal to Sam and then sent in a low, swift ball. Tom made a swing at it. But he was too slow.

"Strike one!" sang out Will Faley, the umpire. "Try it some more, Tom."

Again the ball came in and this time Tom struck at it with all his might.

Crack! The ashen stick met the horsehide and the ball went whizzing off to the right of the home plate, in the direction of a number of students who were crossing the grounds.

"Foul!" sang out the umpire, as the sphere curved through the air.

"You can't get it, Sam!" called out Max Spangler. "It's too far off already!"

"Look out, you fellows!" yelled Frank, from the pitcher's box. "If you don't"

Before he could finish the crowd walking across the grounds looked up and commenced to scatter, to give Sam a chance to catch the ball, which had gone quite high in the air. But before the young est Rover could reach the sphere down it came—straight on the fancy straw hat of a dudish youth, crushing the article over its wearer's head.