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Jared grinned, the Hamptonites yelled and the umpire called:
Strike one!
All right for you, Mister Casey at the bat, snarled Jared, watch out for this one.
It came like a flash, a tricky, wavy curve. Rob swung with all his strength and missed!
Strike two!
A groan went up from the Scout supporters. Their chances of victory looked slim indeed now.
Wake up! Youre in a trance! scoffed Jared, grinning at Rob. Get out of the straw.
The straw in the red barn! suddenly flashed Rob, in a low, but far-reaching voice. It was pregnant with meaning and Jared turned white as death. He fumbled the ball with trembling fingers.
W-w-what do you mean? he managed to gasp.
Play ball! yelled the crowd impatiently.
Jared, his fright still on him, pitched. He made a wild fling. Rob trotted to first base. Merritt boomeranged to second.
Simon Jeffords got his base on balls, advancing Rob to second and Merritt to third. Everybody began to sit up and take renewed notice. A home run now would add four to the Scout score. Could they get it? Jared had shown that he could hold them down. Could he still keep up his gait?
And now out strolled Tubby Hopkins. He paused first to insert a huge chunk of chewing gum in his capacious cheek and then, not noticing in the least the laughter and joking that greeted his appearance, he lounged to his place, his jaws moving rhythmically.
Its up to you, Tubby. Bring home the bacon! some one yelled.
Hes got the bacon with him, shouted some other humorist.
Jared fixed his eyes quizzically on Tubby.
Like a bottle of anti-fat, kid? he sneered; and then, Oh, what I wont do to you! How do you like em?
Tubby stopped chewing an instant. His large eyes opened wide as if he had just heard Jareds voice.
Oh, I like em Panama fashion, if youve got any of those about you to-day, he said with a cherubic smile.
Zang! came the ball. It was as swift as any that Jared had yet thrown. He would have liked to see it knock the disconcerting fat youth on the head. But it did no such thing. With an agility unsuspected except by those who knew him, Tubby swung viciously at the spheroid.
Bin-go! yelled the rooters.
Off into left field a hot liner whizzed its way.
Go on! shrieked the Eagles and their supporters, dancing up and down in excitement.
Off darted Merritt from third. He shot across the home plate an instant later and scored amidst loud cheering. Hot after him flashed Rob, with Simon close behind. Excitement rose to a point where it was almost unbearable.
Tubby had shot like a stone from a sling the instant he made his hit. And now more like a steam roller the fat youth cavorted over the bases while the crowd went crazy. Pandemonium reigned.
Home! Home! Home! shrieked the raucous crowd in a frenzy.
Boys hugged each other and the Scouts danced up and down.
Tubby, with amazing speed, his short fat legs working like piston rods, flashed by first, second and third bases. The next instant a yell went up that split the air. A rotund form sky-hooted across the home plate and then, tripping up, went rolling like a tub of butter into the arms of Rob and his team-mates. Tubby had made one of the most sensational plays ever seen on the Hampton field, and foes as well as friends generously applauded the fat boy. But he paid no attention to the plaudits.