“But Ted’s terrors have a chance at bat,” returned Hazelton.

“It won’t do them any good,” Captain Dick affirmed.  “Greg, signal for all the hard ones.  Don’t have any mercy on my arm.  This is the last inning and the last game of the series.  I can stand being crippled.”

“The last inning and the last game, unless the Souths score now,” Holmes answered.

“Don’t let ’em score!” Dick insisted.  “Remember, kill me with hard work, but don’t let the Souths score!”

Ted Teall went to bat first for his side.

Chapter XVII

DODGE AND RIPLEY HEAR SOMETHING

Teall’s grin, as he swung his stick and waited, was more impudent than ever.  He meant to show the bumptious Centrals a thing or two.

Then in came Dick’s wickedest drop ball, and it looked so good that Captain Ted took a free chance.

“Strike one!” remarked Umpire Tozier.

Some of the grin vanished from Ted’s face, but his eyes now flashed the fire of resolve.

“Strike two!”

Teall began to feel little tremors running all up and down his spine.

“Steady, you idiot!” he warned himself.

“Ball one!”

Captain Teall began to feel better.  Perhaps Dick’s arm was beginning to grow stale.

“Strike three.  Out!”

Ted started for the bench, hurling his bat before him.  He was full of self-disgust.

“A fellow never can guess when he has Dick thrashed,” he said to a South beside him.

“I didn’t expect to see you play out before him in the ninth, Ted,” replied the classmate.

“Neither did I,” muttered Teall gloomily.

“Strike three!  Out!” sounded Umpire Tozier’s droning voice.

Then Ted sat up straight, rubbing his eyes.

“Two out, and no one on bases!” groaned Ted.  “Oh, fellows—–­those of you who have a chance—–­do something.  For goodness’ sake, do something to save South Grammar.”

A few agonized moments passed while those at the batting benches looked on at the fellow now performing by the plate.

“Strike three!  Out!” remarked Ben Tozier decisively.  Then the game was given to the Central Grammar boys by a score of five to four.  The championship of the local Grammar League was also awarded them.

Ted gulped down hard.  Some of his fellows looked decidedly mad.

“It’s a shame!” choked Wells.

“No; it isn’t, either,” Ted disputed.  “Dick Prescott and his fellows beat us fairly.  Come on we’ll congratulate ’em.”

Good sportsman that he was, Ted almost limped across the field, followed by some of his players, to where Dick and the other Central Grammar players were surrounded by their friends.

“Prescott, you fellows are wonders!” broke forcefully from Captain Ted.

“Nothing like it,” Captain Dick laughed modestly.  “Some one had to win, you know, and the luck came to us.”