He tried a drop that almost hit the plate, but Frank did not bite.

Then Coulter sent over a high one, and still Merriwell refused to swing, and two balls had been called.
Coulter had a trick of holding a man close on first, and so Blossom had not obtained lead enough to attempt to steal second.
Frank felt that Coulter would make an attempt to get the next one over the outside or inside corner of the plate, as it would not do to have three balls in succession called without a single strike.
Merriwell was right.

Coulter sent one over the inside corner, using a straight ball.

Still Merriwell did not offer at it, for he could not have placed it in the right field if he had tried.
"One strike!" called the umpire.
Although he seemed quite unconcerned, Sport Harris had been nettled when Rattleton won the ten-dollar bet, and he now said: "I will go you even money, Rattleton, that Merriwell does not get a hit.

If he goes down on four balls the bet is off." "I'll stand you," nodded Harry, laughingly.