CHAPTER XXVIII.
A COMPACT.
Madge Morton overtook Jose Murillo.
"A word with you," she said. "We are far enough from the field so thatwe'll not be seen if we step aside beneath the trees."
"Eet ees a pleasure," he bowed, although his face wore a puzzledexpression.
Beneath the trees the woman turned and faced him squarely.
"There's a girl back yonder that you're smashed on," she said.
He shook his head.
"What ees eet to be smashed?"
"Oh, I mean you're struck on her--you're in love with her. It's thatlittle soft-spoken, black-eyed chit."
"You mean Senyorita Garcia?"
"Yes, that's the girl. You've followed her here all the way fromMexico."
"Eet ees right. I have follaired her."
"Now what do you propose to do? Are you going to quit? Are you going tothrow up your hand? Are you going to lay down?"
Again he shook his head.
"Eet ees not plain to me what you mean, senyorita."
"I'm married--at least, I have been. Call me senyora, if you don'tchoose to call me Mrs. Morton. Are you going to give that girl up? Areyou going to let her baffle you? You're a man of determination. Iunderstand you had trouble with Gregory Carker last night."
"_Si, si, senyora._ Eet ees lucky for heem I deed not reach heem with myknife. I weel reach heem yet!"
She clutched his arm.
"No," she cried, "you must not! I love him! I'm going to marry him!"
"Ees eet true?" gasped Murillo, in surprise. "I thought he was----"
"Oh, he has a silly notion that he cares for your black-eyed Juanita.He's mistaken, that's all. Keep her away from him a week, and he'llforget her. Give me a week, and I'll win him back again. Instead oftrying to harm him, why don't you carry off the girl?"
"How can eet be done?"
"She's afraid of you. If you can get her away from here, I think shewill cow down and do anything you say. I don't believe she has realcourage. I'll help you."
"How?"
"Let me think. You must take her away to-night. Bring a carriage. Stopnear Merry Home, but far enough away not to be discovered. Come to thehouse at an hour past midnight. You know the back way? If you don't, youcan find it. I'll be waiting for you. I'll let you in, and I'll helpyou take that girl out of the house."
He looked at her with an expression of mingled doubt and admiration.
"You are a woman," he said. "How you dare to do such a theeng?"
"Dare?" she hoarsely cried. "I dare anything in a case like this!"
"But how can we take her out? She raise the disturbance."
"Oh, no, she won't. I know her room. She sleeps alone. A littlechloroform will quiet her. Leave the matter to me. Will you come? Do youdare? If you haven't the courage to play this game, say so."
"I haf the courage!" cried Murillo suddenly. "I weel be there! Eef eetees a trap, look out for me! I am not the man who forgets!"
"Save your breath," said the woman. "Don't bother to threaten me. I'llsee you again to-night."
Then she turned and walked back to the athletic field, rejoined theparty in the grand stand, announced that she had changed her mind aboutwatching the game, chatted, laughed, and appeared wholly care-free andat ease.
Not until the fifth inning could Merriwell's team score against theFarnham Hall lads. It was mainly Sparkfair's wonderful pitching thatkept Frank and his friends from circling the bases. Dale had splendidspeed, dazzling shoots, and masterly control. In the fifth the Merriestried the bunting game and filled the bases, with only one out. Badgerthen came up and smashed out a fine two-bagger, driving in three runs.
Sparkfair then struck out Carson and Dunnerwurst. Although the head ofFrank's batting order came up in the sixth and Hodge reached third, noscores were secured. In the seventh Gallup crossed the pan with a run.
Neither side could secure a tally in the eighth, and the ninth inningopened with Merriwell's team three runs behind the youngsters.
"Oh, we've got you!" laughed Sparkfair. "We haven't been able to make arun since the first inning, but those seven scores were enough."
"Yah," said Dunnerwurst "Dot Ephraim Gallup he didid der pizness. Dergame threw him avay."
"Gol dinged if yeou've gut anything to say!" rasped the Vermonter. "Yeoustarted all the trouble."
"Uf Frankie had let der pitcher's plate stay py me a vhile longer, itvould haf peen different. Der ball was chust gittin' control uf me venhe tookt me oudt."
Farnham Hall did not score in the first half of the ninth.
Diamond was the first batter up for the Merries, and he laced out aclean single.
"That's the stuff!" cried Frank. "Only three scores! We'll get 'em righthere!"
Browning lifted a fly to left field, and Bemis scooped it. Diamondreached second. Gallup dropped a Texas Leaguer over the infield, andBuck Badger walked out With a bat on his shoulder.
"It peen up to you, Padger!" cried Dunnerwurst. "See vot you coot doodpy der ball."
At this juncture Sparkfair issued his first pass, and Badger walked,filling the bases. Berlin Carson tried to drive in some runs, but poppedup an infield fly and was out. Then Hans Dunnerwurst started forth.
"Oh, crackey!" groaned Ephraim Gallup. "It's all over naow!"
"Yah, it vos all ofer," nodded Hans. "A home run vill knock me. Der gamevos seddled."
It is probable that almost every one expected to see Hans strike out.After making two strikes, the Dutchman secured a clean single, on whichDiamond and Gallup scored.
"Dot vos a mishdake," declared the Dutchman. "Der ball meant to strikeme twice as far as dot."
There was great anxiety on both sides as Bart Hodge walked out.
"You can dood it, Hotch!" shouted Hans.
Bart smashed the second ball pitched him, driving it out on a line.Little Bob Bubbs thrust out his left mitt, and the ball spanked into it.It stuck there.
The game was over, and Sparkfair's team had defeated the Merries by asingle run.