Once again Tom wound up, and this time sent the ball in with all the
speed that was left to him. Again the bat came around.

"Strike three! Batter out!"

A wild yell arose. Here was the end of the ninth inning, and the game
was a tie!

"Oh, Songbird! do you think Brill will win?" exclaimed Grace,
anxiously.

"I certainly hope so. We've pulled up pretty well. We had only two
runs when they had five, remember."

"Hasn't Tom pitched pretty well?" questioned Minnie.

"Sure, he has! Those Roxley fellows are great batters. More than once
they have knocked a pitcher clean out of the box."

"Oh, I certainly hope Brill wins," murmured Nellie.

There was an intense silence when the tenth inning opened. Frank came
to the bat first, and knocked a little one, but managed to reach
first. Then, on a sacrifice hit, he advanced to second. Following
that, came a wild throw by the Roxley pitcher, and Frank dusted as
fast as he could for third.

"Now, Carson, hold him!" yelled a number of the Roxley followers to
their pitcher. "Don't let him get in!"