human
What's the matter with Putnam? growled Pierson.
gpt
Has he got a grudge against Merriwell, or does he intend to lose this game anyway?
human
He's asleep, said Collingwood, wearily.
gpt
He's stuck on Gordon.
human
He must be thick if he can't see Gordon is rapidly losing his nerve. Why, the fellow is liable to go to pieces at any minute and let those Willies run in a score that will be an absolute disgrace.
gpt
Go down and talk to him, Pierson.
human
Not much! I am too well known to the Harvard gang. They wouldn't do a thing to me--not a thing!
gpt
Then let's get out of here. It makes me sick to hear that Harvard yell. I can't stand it, Pierson.
human
Wait. I want to see Merriwell go into the box, if they will let him at all. That's what I came for.
gpt
But he can't save the game now. The Yale crowd is not doing any batting. All Harvard has to do is to hold them down, and they scarcely have touched Coulter since the second inning.
human
That's right, but the fellow is easy, Coll. If they ever should get onto him--
gpt
How can they? They are not batters.
human
That is true, he admitted.
gpt
They are weak with the stick. Diamond is the only man who seems to know how to go after a ball properly. He is raw, but there is mighty good stuff in that fellow. If he sticks to baseball he will be on the regular team before he finishes his course.
human
I believe Merriwell has shown up well as a batter in practice.
gpt
He certainly has.
human
Well, I should think Old Put would use him for his hitting, if for nothing else. He is needed.
gpt
It seems to me that there is a nigger in the woodpile.
human
You think Merriwell is held back for reasons not known?
gpt
I do.
human
Say, by jingoes! I am going down and talk to Putnam. If he doesn't give Merriwell a trial he's a chump.
gpt
Hold on.
human
What for? If I wait it will be too late for Merriwell to go in on the first of the seventh.
gpt
Perhaps Merriwell may stand on his dignity and refuse to go in at all at this late stage of the game.
human
He wouldn't be to blame if he did, for he can't win out.
gpt
Something is up. Hello! Merriwell is getting out of his sweater! I believe Putnam is going to send him out!
human
Somebody ought to go down and rap Putnam on the coco with a big heavy club! growled Collingwood.
gpt
He should have made the change long ago. The Harvard Willies have been piling up something every inning.