The leather gone from his hand, he waited.

His heart seemed to stop.
To half the eyes that looked on, ball and runner seemed to reach the home plate at the same instant.

The umpire, crouching, squinting, had the best view of all.
It was an age before Dick, with the mists before his eyes, heard the faraway words for which thousands waited breathlessly: "Out at home---three out!" Three disheartened base runners turned and slouched dispiritedly toward the dressing rooms.
"You could have hit that ball a better swipe," growled Wayland's captain to the last man at bat.

The victim of the rebuke didn't answer.

He knew that he had faced a pitcher wholly rejuvenated by sheer grit and nerve force.
At its loudest the band was blaring forth "At the Old Ball Game," and thousands were following with the words.