It stood flush with the sidewalk, and the contractor had laid down a board walk over the sidewalk, and had covered it with a roofed staging.
Just as Dick passed under this, still on a lope, a long pole was thrust quickly out from the blackness inside the building.

Between Dick's moving legs went the pole.
Bump! Down came Dick, on both hands and one knee.

Then he rolled over sideways.
Away back in the building the young pitcher heard fast-moving feet.
In a flash Dick tried to get up.

It took him more time than he had expected.

He clutched at one of the upright beams for support.
Half a dozen people had seen the fall.