CHAPTER XVIII.
THE GRIT OF THE GRAND OLD GAME In that half of the inning it was one, two, three---down and out! Even Fred Ripley found himself gasping with admiration of Prescott's wonderfully true pitching.
Yet the joy of the home fans was somewhat curbed when Gridley went to bat and her third man struck out after two of the nine had reached bases.
So the first inning closed without score.

Gardiner had found that Gridley was "good," and the latter realized that even young Prescott's pitching could not do it all.
The first five innings went off quickly, neither side scoring.
"It'll be a tie at dark," sighed some of the fans.
"Oh, well, a tie doesn't score against Gridley," others added, consolingly.
In the five innings Dick Prescott had to run twice.

The first time he was left at first base.

The second time he had reached second, and was cautiously stealing third, when Gridley's batsman, Captain Purcell, struck his side out on a foul hit.
"How's your wrist holding up ?" asked Purcell, in a low tone, as Dick came in.
"It feels strong.
"Do you think Darrin had better have the rest of the game ?" "Not on account of my wrist." "But can you run the bases to the end ?" "If it doesn't call for any more running than we've had," smiled Dick.
Then he caught the ball, held it an instant, signaled, and let drive.

It was the same Gardiner batsman whom Prescott had struck out at the opening of the game.