Test Bank for Modern Database Management 10th Edition by Hoffer
Test Bank for Modern Database Management 10th Edition by Hoffer
Test Bank for Modern Database Management 10th Edition by Hoffer
Test Bank for Modern Database Management 10th Edition by Hoffer
1. Test Bank for Modern Database Management 10th
Edition by Hoffer download
http://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-modern-database-
management-10th-edition-by-hoffer/
3. Instant digital products (PDF, ePub, MOBI) ready for you
Download now and discover formats that fit your needs...
Start reading on any device today!
Test Bank for Modern Database Management, 13th Edition,
Jeff Hoffer, Ramesh Venkataraman, Heikki Topi
https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-modern-database-
management-13th-edition-jeff-hoffer-ramesh-venkataraman-heikki-topi/
testbankbell.com
Solution Manual for Modern Database Management, 13th
Edition, Jeff Hoffer, Ramesh Venkataraman, Heikki Topi
https://testbankbell.com/product/solution-manual-for-modern-database-
management-13th-edition-jeff-hoffer-ramesh-venkataraman-heikki-topi/
testbankbell.com
Test Bank for Modern Database Management, 11/E 11th
Edition Jeffrey A. Hoffer, V. Ramesh, Heikki Topi
https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-modern-database-
management-11-e-11th-edition-jeffrey-a-hoffer-v-ramesh-heikki-topi/
testbankbell.com
Essentials of Database Management 1st Edition Hoffer
Solutions Manual
https://testbankbell.com/product/essentials-of-database-
management-1st-edition-hoffer-solutions-manual/
testbankbell.com
4. Test Bank for Modern Systems Analysis and Design 6th
Edition by Hoffer
https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-modern-systems-
analysis-and-design-6th-edition-by-hoffer/
testbankbell.com
Solution Manual for Modern Systems Analysis and Design,
7/E 7th Edition Jeffrey A. Hoffer, Joey George, Joe
Valacich
https://testbankbell.com/product/solution-manual-for-modern-systems-
analysis-and-design-7-e-7th-edition-jeffrey-a-hoffer-joey-george-joe-
valacich/
testbankbell.com
Test Bank for Database Systems: Design, Implementation &
Management, 11th Edition by Carlos Coronel and Steven
Morris
https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-database-systems-
design-implementation-management-11th-edition-by-carlos-coronel-and-
steven-morris/
testbankbell.com
Test Bank for Modern Dental Assisting, 10th Edition: Bird
https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-modern-dental-
assisting-10th-edition-bird/
testbankbell.com
Test Bank for Database Processing 15th Edition by Kroenke
https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-database-
processing-15th-edition-by-kroenke/
testbankbell.com
6. 1
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Test Bank for Modern Database Management 10th
Edition by Hoffer
Full download link at: https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-modern-
database-management-10th-edition-by-hoffer/
Modern Database Management, 10e (Hoffer/Ramesh/Topi)
Chapter 1 The Database Environment and Development Process
1) One application of data warehouses is:
A) shipping of information.
B) order processing.
C) decision support.
D) file updating.
Answer: C
Diff: 3 Page Ref:4
Topic: Introduction
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
2) Older systems that often contain data of poor quality are called ________ systems.
A) controlled
B) legacy
C) database
D) mainframe
Answer: B
Diff: 3 Page Ref:4
Topic: Introduction
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Conversion Costs
3) A database is an organized collection of ________ related data.
A) logically
B) physically
C) loosely
D) badly
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref:5
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
4) Which of the following types of data can be stored in a database?
A) Voice
B) Letters
C) Numbers
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:5
7. 2
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Data
8. 3
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
5) Data processed in a way that increases a user's knowledge is:
A) text.
B) graphics
C) information.
D) hyperlink.
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:6
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Data Versus Information
6) Data that describe the properties of other data are:
A) relationships.
B) logical.
C) physical.
D) none of the above.
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref:7
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Metadata
7) All of the following are properties of metadata EXCEPT:
A) data definitions.
B) processing logic.
C) rules or constraints.
D) data structures.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:7
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Metadata
8) One disadvantage of file processing systems is:
A) reduced data duplication.
B) program-data independence.
C) limited data sharing.
D) enforcement of integrity constraints.
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref:7
Topic: Traditional File Processing Systems
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Disadvantages of File Processing Systems
9. 4
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
9) Program-data dependence is caused by:
A) file descriptors being stored in each application.
B) data descriptions being stored on a server.
C) data descriptions being written into programming code.
D) data cohabiting with programs.
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Page Ref:9
Topic: Disadvantages of File Processing Systems
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Program-Data Dependence
10) Loss of metadata integrity is often a result of:
A) poor design.
B) unplanned and uncontrolled duplication of data.
C) decreased programmer productivity.
D) a large volume of file i/o.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:9
Topic: Disadvantages of File Processing Systems
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Duplication of Data
11) Organizations that utilize the file processing approach spend as much as ________ of their IS
development budget on maintenance.
A) 40 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 60 percent
D) 80 percent
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:9
Topic: Disadvantages of File Processing Systems
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Excessive Program Maintenance
12) A graphical system used to capture the nature and relationships among data is called a(n):
A) logical data model.
B) hypertext graphic.
C) ERD.
D) data model.
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:10
Topic: The Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Data Models
10. 5
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
13) A person, place, an object , an event or concept about which the organization wishes to
maintain data is called a(n):
A) relationship.
B) object.
C) attribute.
D) entity.
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref:10
Topic: The Database Approach
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Data Models
14) ________ are established between entities in a well-structured database so that the desired
information can be retrieved.
A) Entities
B) Relationships
C) Lines
D) Ties
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:10
Topic: The Database Approach
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Data Models
15) Relational databases establish the relationships between entities by means of common fields
included in a file called a(n) ________.
A) entity
B) relationship
C) relation
D) association
Answer: C
Diff: 3 Page Ref:10
Topic: The Database Approach
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Subtopic: Relational Databases
16) All of the following are primary purposes of a database management system (DBMS)
EXCEPT:
A) creating data.
B) updating data.
C) storing data.
D) providing an integrated development environment.
Answer: D
Diff: 3 Page Ref:11
Topic: The Database Approach
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Reflective Thinking
Subtopic: Database Management Systems
11. 6
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
17) A(n) ________ is often developed by identifying a form or report that a user needs on a
regular basis.
A) enterprise view
B) reporting document
C) user view
D) user snapshot
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:13
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Improved Data Sharing
18) ________ is a tool even non-programmers can use to access information from a database.
A) ODBC
B) Structured query language
C) ASP
D) Data manipulation query language
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref:14
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Improved Data Accessibility and Responsiveness
19) With the database approach, data descriptions are stored in a central location known as a(n):
A) server.
B) mainframe.
C) PC.
D) repository.
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:13
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Program-Data Independence
20) Which of the following is NOT an advantage of database systems?
A) Redundant data
B) Program-data independence
C) Better data quality
D) Reduced program maintenance
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref:13-14
Topic: The Database Approach
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Advantages of the Database Approach
12. 7
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
21) A user view is:
A) what a user sees when he or she looks out the window.
B) a table or set of tables.
C) a logical description of some portion of the database.
D) a procedure stored on the server.
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:13
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Improved Data Sharing
22) Which organizational function should set database standards?
A) Management
B) Application development
C) Technical services
D) None of the above
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref:13
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Enforcement of Standards
23) The most common source of database failures in organizations is:
A) lack of planning.
B) inadequate budget.
C) inadequate hardware.
D) failure to implement a strong database administration function.
Answer: D
Diff: 3 Page Ref:13-14
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology, Analytic Skills, Communication
Subtopic: Enforcement of Standards
24) A rule that CANNOT be violated by database users is called a:
A) password.
B) constraint.
C) program.
D) view.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref:14
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Improved Data Quality
13. 8
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
25) In a file processing environment, descriptions for data and the logic for accessing the data is
built into:
A) application programs.
B) database descriptors.
C) fields.
D) records.
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref:14
Topic: Advantages of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Reduced Program Maintenance
26) Databases may be more expensive to maintain than files because of:
A) the need for specialized personnel.
B) the complexity of the database environment.
C) backup and recovery needs.
D) all of the above.
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:15-16
Topic: Costs and Risks of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
27) Which of the following is NOT a cost and/or risk of the database approach?
A) Specialized personnel
B) Cost of conversion
C) Improved responsiveness
D) Organizational conflict
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref:15,16
Topic: Costs and Risks of the Database Approach
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
28) The need for consensus on data definitions is an example of which type of risk in the
database environment?
A) Specialized personnel needs
B) Organizational conflict
C) Conversion costs
D) Legacy systems
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:16
Topic: Costs and Risks of the Database Approach
AACSB: Communication, Ethical Reasoning
Subtopic: Organizational Conflict
14. 9
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
29) A knowledge base of information on facts about an enterprise is called a(n):
A) enterprise information system.
B) repository.
C) systems information unit.
D) database process.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref:16
Topic: Components of the Database Environment
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
30) Which of the following is software used to create, maintain, and provide controlled access to
databases?
A) Network operating system
B) User view
C) Database management system
D) Attribute
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:17
Topic: Components of the Database Environment
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
31) A centralized knowledge base of all data definitions, data relationships, screen and report
formats, and other system components is called a(n):
A) index.
B) data warehouse.
C) repository.
D) database management system.
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:16
Topic: Components of the Database Environment
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
32) CASE is a class of tools that:
A) assists the database administrator in maintaining a database.
B) provides guidelines for the physical design of a database.
C) provides management reporting tools.
D) automates the design of databases and application programs.
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Page Ref:16
Topic: Components of the Database Environment
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
15. 10
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
33) Languages, menus, and other facilities by which users interact with the database are
collectively called a(n):
A) client.
B) user interface.
C) icon.
D) development environment.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref:17
Topic: Components of the Database Environment
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
34) A relatively small team of people who collaborate on the same project is called a(n):
A) server group.
B) workgroup.
C) data collaborative.
D) typical arrangement.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref:18
Topic: The Range of Database Applications
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Two-Tier Client/Server Databases
35) A workgroup database is stored on a central device called a(n):
A) client.
B) server.
C) remote PC.
D) network.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:19
Topic: The Range of Database Applications
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Two-Tier Client/Server Databases
36) Which of the following is an integrated decision support database with content derived from
various operational databases?
A) Corporate data structure
B) Relational DBMS
C) Data warehouse
D) Client-server system
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:20
Topic: The Range of Database Applications
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Enterprise Applications
16. 11
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
37) A data warehouse derives its data from:
A) on-line transactions.
B) various operational data sources.
C) reports.
D) a datamart.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:20
Topic: The Range of Database Applications
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Enterprise Applications
38) E. F. Codd developed the relational model in the:
A) 1960s.
B) 1970s.
C) 1980s.
D) 1990s.
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Page Ref:21
Topic: Evolution of Database Systems
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
39) Which of the following is NOT an objective that drove the development and evolution of
database technology?
A) The need to provide greater independence between programs and data
B) The desire to manage increasing complex data types and structures
C) The desire to require programmers to write all file handling functionality
D) The need to provide ever more powerful platforms for decision support applications
Answer: C
Diff: 3 Page Ref:21
Topic: Evolution of Database Systems
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
40) The period that can be considered a "proof of concept" time was the:
A) 1950s.
B) 1960s.
C) 1970s.
D) 1990s.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:23
Topic: Evolution of Database Systems
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
17. 12
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
41) Database development begins with ________, which establishes the range and general
contents of organizational databases.
A) database design
B) cross-functional analysis
C) departmental data modeling
D) enterprise data modeling
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:24
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Analytic Skills
42) The traditional methodology used to develop, maintain and replace information systems is
called the:
A) Enterprise Resource Model
B) Systems Development Life Cycle
C) Unified Model
D) Systems Deployment Life Cycle
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Page Ref:25
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Subtopic: Systems Development Life Cycle
43) The SDLC phase in which every data attribute is defined, every category of data are listed
and every business relationship between data entities is defined is called the ________ phase.
A) planning
B) design
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:26
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Systems Development Life Cycle
44) The SDLC phase in which database processing programs are created is the ________ phase.
A) planning
B) design
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Page Ref:27
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Systems Development Life Cycle
18. 13
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
45) The SDLC phase in which the detailed conceptual data model is created is the ________
phase.
A) planning
B) design
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:26
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Systems Development Life Cycle
46) Organizing the database in computer disk storage is done in the ________ phase.
A) design
B) maintenance
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref:27
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Systems Development Life Cycle
47) An iterative methodology that rapidly repeats the analysis, design, and implementation
phases of the SDLC is called:
A) CASE.
B) CAD.
C) RAD.
D) MST.
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:28
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Alternative IS Development Approaches
48) One of the most popular RAD methods is:
A) automated design.
B) structured walkthrough.
C) prototyping.
D) crafting.
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Page Ref:28
Topic: Database Development Process
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Alternative IS Development Approaches
19. 14
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
49) The three-schema approach includes which of the following schemas?
A) Internal
B) Logical
C) Cross-functional
D) Dissecting
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref:30
Topic: Three-Schema Architecture for Database Development
AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Use of Information Technology
50) ________ analyze the business situation and identify the need for information and
information services to meet the problems or opportunities of the business.
A) Programmers
B) Users
C) Systems analysts
D) Database analysts
Answer: C
Diff: 1 Page Ref:31
Topic: Managing the People Involved in Database Development
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
51) ________ concentrate on determining the requirements for the database component of an
information system.
A) Database analysts
B) Systems analysts
C) Programmers
D) All of the above
Answer: A
Diff: 1 Page Ref:31
Topic: Managing the People Involved in Database Development
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
52) Which of the following will interfere with access to operational databases?
A) Unstructured and unpredictable use of data
B) Predictable use of data
C) Efficient transaction processing systems
D) All of the above
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Page Ref:35
Topic: Developing a Database Application for Pine Valley Furniture
AACSB: Analytic Skills, Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: A Current Pine Valley Furniture Company Project Request
20. 15
Copyright (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
53) Information is processed data.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref:6
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
54) In practice, databases today may contain either data or information.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref:7
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
55) Metadata are data that describe the properties of other data.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref:7
Topic: Basic Concepts and Definitions
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Subtopic: Metadata
56) Databases were developed as the first application of computers to data processing.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Page Ref:8
Topic: Traditional File Processing Systems
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
57) File processing systems have been replaced by database systems in most critical business
applications today.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref:8
Topic: Traditional File Processing Systems
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
58) Unplanned duplicate data files are the rule rather than the exception in file processing
systems.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Page Ref:9
Topic: Disadvantages of File Processing Systems
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Duplication of Data
59) With the traditional file processing approach, each application shares data files, thus enabling
much data sharing.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1 Page Ref:9
Topic: Disadvantages of File Processing Systems
AACSB: Use of Information Technology
Subtopic: Limited Data Sharing
23. CHAPTER XV
CAMERON’S CHALLENGE.
The boys were finishing their breakfast when John, the Chinaman,
appeared and stated that there was a gentleman at the door who
wished to speak with Frank.
Frank left the table and went to the door, Hodge following him, in
case there should be trouble.
Carey Cameron was waiting on the step.
“That heathen is decidedly inhospitable,” laughed Cameron
pleasantly, removing a cigarette from his lips and holding it between
a discolored thumb and forefinger. “He left me standing out here,
like a huckster. But I understand that visitors—with the exception of
yourselves—are not welcome in this house.”
Merriwell waited for the man to announce why he had called.
“I presume you’re surprised to see me here at this early hour,”
said the man. “Oh, I’m alone! There’s no trickery about it. You need
not be alarmed.”
“You quite mistake my feelings,” assured Merry.
“I have a proposition to make to you.”
“Have you?”
“I fancy you think it nervy of me, but I’m willing to explain and
apologize. You may have learned of the baseball mix-up in
Cartersville.”
24. “I have heard something about it.”
“Well, perhaps you know that I am manager of the new
Cartersville baseball team. Gaddis and his bunch of stiffs have been
put out of business. He has taken to the woods. Two of his best men
have signed with me. The others are in retirement.”
Merriwell wondered what the man was driving at.
“My team will be complete to-day and every man on hand ready
for business. I had arranged to open the season to-morrow with
Bloomfield. Received a message late last evening that Bloomfield
would not appear. The duffers! They are afraid to come.”
“If what I have heard about past methods of conducting baseball
here is true,” said Merry, “I don’t wonder that Bloomfield canceled.”
“Oh, somebody has been giving you a lot of hot air. You can’t
believe all you hear. It is possible the rooters have been rather rough
on visiting teams in the past, but I’m going to cut that out.”
“Are you?”
“Sure thing.”
“It’s a good idea,” said Hodge sarcastically.
“There’ll be no need of winning games in future by intimidating
visitors,” said Cameron. “When you learn the line-up of my team
you’ll agree that I have the players. Among them I have Johnson,
the great colored player, formerly of the Chicago Giants. Then there
is Moran, from Springfield; Hickey, of Indianapolis; Tonando, with
the Kansas City team last season; and Weaver, the great Indian
fielder. The others are just as good. I have a team that can defeat
anything on the turf in the middle West, and when we get into trim
we’ll be able to make some of the big leaguers hustle. I’m going to
give Cartersville and southern Iowa such baseball as was never
before seen in these parts.”
“How does this interest me?” inquired Frank.
25. “I’m coming to that. I presume you’re rather hot over your
treatment in this town.”
“You presume correctly.”
“Well, I don’t blame you; but you see Gaddis was given fair notice
to quit, and he persisted in holding on. He had no business to make
a contract with you. At that time he had been told to get out and
warned that he would not be able to play after a certain date. He
had an idea that the law would support him, and he attempted to
fight me and the majority of baseball people in town. We had to
make it good and hot for him. We began by driving visiting teams
out of the place without giving them a chance to play. We thought
Gaddis would throw up the sponge when he found he couldn’t get
teams here. At last we were compelled to get after Gaddis himself,
and yesterday he tumbled and skipped.”
“All this explaining does not justify you in the least.”
“Perhaps not; but there you are. I’m ready to apologize, if that
suits you better.”
“Even an apology can’t square it,” asserted Hodge.
“I’m very sorry,” declared Cameron. “I’ve told the boys that you
are to be treated with the utmost courtesy during the rest of your
stay in town.”
“Which will be very brief,” said Frank. “We shall leave on the ten
A.M. train to-day.”
“I hope not. I am here to offer you inducements to play with my
team to-morrow. It will be the opening game, and I know we’ll turn
out a mob of people.”
“When it comes to nerve,” said Bart, “that is just about the full
limit!”
“If you’ll play,” Cameron went on, “I’ll give you a fixed sum, or I’ll
pay you two-thirds the net gate receipts, win or lose. Besides that I’ll
26. put you up at the Mansion House, and the best Cartersville affords
shall be yours. Can you ask for anything fairer?”
“It sounds very fine,” laughed Merry; “but what we have seen and
heard has taught us the folly of dealing with you and the class of
people you represent.”
“Then you refuse?”
“Yes, sir!”
“You’re afraid! That’s what’s the matter! You have made a great
reputation, and you’re afraid of being defeated.”
“That is the very least of my fears, sir. We opened in Los Angeles
with the Chicago Cubs, defeating them two out of three games. I
hardly think we would fear you after that.”
“Oh, I don’t know! If you had lost all three games to the Chicagos
it would have been no disgrace. After your triumphant career this
season, you might feel sore if you dropped a game to a new team
here in Cartersville.”
“As far as possible,” said Merry, “I seek to deal with gentlemen.”
Cameron flushed the least bit, and a wicked look came to his eyes.
“I don’t fancy the insinuation!” he exclaimed. “I have apologized
and endeavored to set things straight. If you are looking for further
trouble——”
He checked himself, changing his manner in a moment.
“That’s nonsense!” he laughed. “I’m sorry you are afraid. I have
heard of you, Mr. Merriwell. You have a reputation for nerve, but it
seems that you have very little real nerve. You are challenged to
play my team. You dare not play! You know I can defeat you. You’re
a squealer!”
“All that sort of talk never drove me into anything I had decided
not to do, and never could,” said Frank.
27. Then, to his surprise, the mysterious woman, still wearing the
heavy veil, stepped quickly from the house and placed a hand on his
arm.
“Accept the challenge, Mr. Merriwell,” exclaimed the lips hidden
behind the veil. “Play him for my sake—and defeat him! You can do
it!”
“Do you realize, miss, the manner in which we shall be
handicapped? We are in a strange town, and a place where there is
little chance that we’ll be given a fair show. Even the umpire would
be against us.”
“To satisfy you on that point,” cried Cameron, “I’ll permit you to
select your own umpire. How is that? If you have a man with you
who can umpire the game, I’ll accept him. You can’t squeal—if you
have the nerve.”
“Play him!” again urged the mysterious woman. “For my sake!”
“With the understanding that I am to furnish the umpire——”
began Merry.
“It’s a go!” cried Cameron, in satisfaction. “With the team I shall
put onto the field, it will be an easy matter to defeat you. There’ll be
no need of anything but straight and legitimate baseball to do that.”
“Very well,” said Merry. “We’ll play you, Mr. Cameron.”
As Cameron departed the strange woman spoke excitedly to
Frank.
“You will win!” she declared. “I feel it! I know it! He is confident
there is no need to resort to crooked methods to defeat you. He’ll try
to get bets on the game. I hope he loses heavily. I’ll back you! I
have money. You shall take it and cover his bets.”
“I beg your pardon, miss,” protested Frank, “but I have certain
scruples about betting. I may have made wagers in the past, but I
am sure I shall never again do so, either with my own money or that
of another.”
28. “Let her bet on us, if she wants to,” urged Hodge warmly. “I, too,
feel it in my bones that we’ll take a fall out of Cameron’s great
aggregation. I know every fellow on the team will play as if for his
very life.”
Merry shook his head.
“I can make no exceptions to the rule I have laid down for myself,”
he said. “Even if Cameron is confident of success, and begins a
square game, he may resort to treachery if he becomes alarmed
before the finish. He’ll not intend to lose the opening game with his
team. That would disgust the tough element that is backing him. He
would lose prestige at once.”
Frank was immovable on his point.
The boys were greatly surprised when Merry informed them of the
challenge and acceptance.
“Py Shimminy!” cried Dunnerwurst. “Ve vill gif them der greatest
run their money for that you efer saw. Id vill peen a satisfaction to
dood them up. Yah!”
Frank explained that they were to supply the umpire, which
caused no small amount of satisfaction.
“We are to move to the Mansion House, fellows,” he said. “We’ll
impose on Miss Blake no longer.”
“You have not imposed on me in the least,” assured the hostess.
“If you defeat Cameron, I shall be more than repaid.”
“But we are going to pay you good, cold cash for what we have
received. That was the agreement.”
She began to demur, but Frank insisted that she had made that a
part of the agreement when she took them in, and at last she
consented to accept payment.
Having settled by compelling her to take twenty dollars, although
she was unwilling to the very last to accept more than ten, the boys
picked up and started off gayly for the hotel.
29. “I toldt you vot,” said Hans, as they descended the hill, “I vos glat
to got dot house oudt uf. No matteration vot you say, I vos
postiveness I seen a ghost last nighdt indo. Id scooted me by like a
streak of vind, und id gif me der shiverings all ofer your back. Dot
blace been haunted.”
Although they laughed at him, the Dutchman continued to insist
that he had seen a ghost.
As they marched into town they were observed with curiosity by
the people of the place. A mob of youngsters quickly gathered and
followed them along the street.
At the Mansion House they found Mat Madison and several of his
companions of the previous day standing on the steps. Apparently
they had been waiting for Frank and his team to appear.
Madison leered at Merry.
“Say,” he cried, “you won’t prance with your head so high in the
air after our team gits through with you to-morrow. We’ll take some
of the starch outer you.”
“Great blizzards!” exclaimed Badger. “Does that play on Cameron’s
team?”
“You bet,” answered the bruiser. “Cameron signed me for my
hittin’. There ain’t no pitcher in the business that I can’t hit.”
“That should make you tremble, Frank,” laughed Morgan.
None of the young thugs offered to molest Merry or his party as
they entered the hotel.
Cameron was waiting for them in the office.
“Here you are, I see!” he cried. “I was afraid you might back out,
after all, and try to skip out of town.”
“Your fears were quite groundless,” said Merriwell.
“Well, everything is fixed for you here. I told you I’d arrange it.
You’re to have the very best the house affords, and I’ll settle the
30. bills. I can afford to, considering the trimming we’re going to hand
out to you to-morrow.”
“You seem inclined to count your chickens before they are
hatched,” said Frank.
“Do you have an idea that you’ll win?”
“Of course.”
“Want to make a little wager?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I never bet.”
“A poor excuse is better than none. Of course, that means you
dare not bet.”
“It means just what I said—I never bet.”
“Oh, well, if any of your bunch feels like sporting a little I’ll be
open for business up to the time the umpire calls ‘Play!’ It adds
interest to any event to make a little wager on it. I’m not in baseball
for my health. We’re going to pay you the biggest part of the gate
money, and so I’ll have to catch some money somehow. Considering
your record, there ought to be some sports with nerve enough to
take a chance on you.”
Cameron’s manner was offensive, although it was not likely he
meant it to be.
The accommodations at the Mansion House were none too good,
and the place seemed poor enough after the plain comforts of the
private house they had just left. Nevertheless, they were inclined to
make the best of everything, kicking being in disfavor among them.
At the earliest opportunity Merry took occasion to seek information
concerning the mysterious woman who lived on the hill; but he soon
discovered that no one in the place knew much about her, save that
she had appeared some ten weeks before and leased the house for
31. the summer. The place was furnished, its owner having gone abroad
after the death of his wife. When Miss Blake moved in, no one
seemed to know. Shortly after taking the house she reappeared in
Cartersville, and the people of the town discovered that she as
occupying the house, together with a number of servants, both male
and female.
“No one could be found who had ever seen her without her heavy
veil. She had discouraged all efforts at familiarity or friendliness on
the part of the villagers. It appeared to be a matter of wonder that
Merriwell and his friends had been admitted to the house, as they
were the only ones outside the members of her household to cross
the threshold since she took possession. One old woman gossip of
the town had made repeated attempts to get in on one pretext or
another, but had been rebuffed each time. The townspeople were
not only piqued and mystified by the woman, they were not a little
offended, and the rougher element had threatened to tear the veil
from her face in order to see what she looked like.”
All this was interesting but unsatisfactory. Merry felt that he would
sincerely regret to leave Cartersville without solving the mystery of
the veiled woman.
33. CHAPTER XVI
AN ASTOUNDING WAGER.
The expected members of the new local team arrived before noon
that day. In the afternoon Cameron had them out for practice.
They were, indeed, for the most part, well-known players, seven
of them, at least, being professionals with records. Several were
league men who had been blacklisted for one offense or another.
Taken all together, they were a tough set and just the aggregation to
win a game by bulldozing when other methods failed. They made a
team that was certain to be heartily approved by the local toughs.
These players, the most of them, also stopped at the Mansion
House. They looked Frank’s team over, with no effort to conceal their
merriment and disdain. To them Merry’s players were a lot of
stripplings.
“We’ll eat ’em up,” said Big Hickey, the Indianapolis man. “Why,
dey won’t last t’ree innin’s.”
“Sho’ not,” chuckled Wash Johnson, the colored player from the
Chicago Giants. “Dey is a lot o’ college fellers. Nebber seen none o’
dem college fellers dat could play de game wid professionals. No,
sar.”
“They ain’t got-a da nerve,” observed Tony Tonando, the Italian
from Kansas City. “Sometimes they play one-a, two or three-a inning
first-a rate; but they no keep-a it up.”
34. “Easy frightened, easy frightened,” grunted Wally Weaver, the
Indian. “When they play too well, then jump in and scare them.
That’s easy.”
“Look here, you chaps,” said Tunk Moran, who had made a great
reputation on the Springfield, Illinois, team, but had been fired for
drinking, “I happen to know something about Frank Merriwell, and
you’re off your trolley if you think you’re going to win from him by
scaring him. If you beat that chap you’ll have to play baseball, and
don’t you forget it.”
The others laughed at this and ridiculed Moran.
“All right,” he growled. “Just you wait until after the game and see
if you don’t agree with me.”
The appearance of Cameron’s team in suits when they left the
hotel to march to the ball ground was the signal for a great
demonstration on the part of the youngsters of Cartersville, who
were waiting to escort them. The cheering brought a number of the
Merries to windows to look out, and they saw their opponents-to-be
set off down the street, followed by the admiring crowd.
“Behold the gladiators whom we are to meet in the arena!” cried
Jack Ready.
“They’re a hot bunch of old-stagers,” grunted Browning.
“It will keep us busy to cool them off,” said Frank. “Don’t get the
idea that they are has beens. Half of them could play on fast league
teams if they were not crooked and rebellious. They will go after us
savage, with the idea of taking the sand out of us at the very start.”
“On the other hand,” said Rattleton, “if we get a start on them
early in the game all the hoodlums will be against us and we’ll be in
danger of the mob.”
“I have thought about that,” declared Frank. “I have a plan. Come,
fellows, and we’ll talk it over.”
35. They gathered in one room, and Merry explained his plan,
speaking as follows:
“Rattleton is right in fancying it will not do to get a big lead on
those fellows at an early stage in the game. Of course, we might not
be able to do so, even if we tried; but should the opportunity offer,
we must still refrain from it and take chances on our ability to pull
out toward the end. Cameron has no idea of permitting us to take
the game under any circumstances. If we started off like winners the
hoodlums would be set on us. I’ve had more than one experience
with hoodlums. They can make it hot for any team by crowding
down to the base lines, insulting the players, stoning them and
doing a hundred things to rattle them. I am confident that, as long
as the crowd has a belief that the local team is sure to win it will
behave in a fairly decent manner. Cameron will make an effort to
hold the toughs in check. Therefore, we must resort to the
stratagem of keeping close to the enemy all through the game, with
the hope of winning at the very finish by an unexpected spurt that
will take them by surprise. Of course, we may lose in this manner;
but I am confident it is also our only chance of winning.”
“I think you are right, Merry,” agreed Hodge. “If you could fix it
with Cameron so that we may have our last turn at bat, there is a
possible show for us.”
“I’ll do what I can,” assured Merriwell, “although it is possible he
will refuse such a request if I make it. If we can’t get our last turn at
bat we’ll have to do the best we can. But I wish you all to keep in
mind the scheme I have proposed, and play from the start with the
idea of holding them down and keeping close to them, so that we
may have a chance at the finish.”
To this they agreed readily enough.
During the remainder of the day they saw nothing of the strange
woman who had befriended them.
The following morning, directly after breakfast, a stranger
appeared at the Mansion House.
36. He was a quiet, smooth-faced young man, and he registered as
“Warren Doom, Chicago.”
Doom betrayed interest at once when he learned there was to be
a baseball game in town that afternoon, and when he was told that
the locals were to meet Frank Merriwell’s team, his interest became
genuine enthusiasm. He was purchasing a cigar at the counter when
he received this bit of information.
“Going to play Merriwell’s team?” he cried. “Well, I struck this
place at the proper moment! I’ve seen Merriwell pitch once, and he’s
a wonder. I’ve always longed to see him again. Your team hasn’t a
chance against him.”
“What’s that?” exclaimed the man behind the counter disdainfully.
“I reckon you don’t know what you’re talking about. We’ve got a
team right here in this town that can skin anything outside the two
big leagues. Our players are professionals and crackajacks. This
Merriwell bunch looks like a lot of boys. They’re amateurs, and
Cartersville will bury them up this afternoon.”
“Oh, come, come!” smiled Doom. “It’s plain you are the one who
doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I don’t care how many
professionals you have, Merriwell will defeat you. I’ll bet on it.”
“How much will you bet?” was the hot inquiry.
“Anything from ten dollars to ten thousand.”
“That’s a bluff.”
“Is it? I’ll back it up.”
“Of course it is a bluff,” said another voice, as Carey Cameron,
puffing at a cigarette, came sauntering up. “The cocksure gentleman
never saw ten thousand dollars.”
Doom turned with his freshly lighted cigar in his mouth and his
hands in his pockets, surveying Cameron critically.
“Who are you?” he inquired. “Why are you so sudden to chip into
this?”
37. “I’m the manager of the Cartersville baseball team, and my name
is Cameron. I happened to hear you making a lot of bluff betting
talk, which I am positive you can’t back up.”
“How positive are you?”
“Positive enough to stake ten thousand dollars against a similar
sum that Cartersville will win to-day. Put up—or shut up!”
“I don’t happen to have ten thousand dollars in cash on my
person.”
“Of course not!” cried Cameron sneeringly. “Bluffers never are able
to make good.”
“I believe you have a good bank in town?”
“Yes; the First National.”
“Well, I have with me a certified check for ten thousand dollars,
and I believe the cashier at your bank will recognize it as good. If
you are not running a bluff I’ll step out to the bank with you and
deposit my check in the hands of one of the bank officials, with the
understanding that I am backing Frank Merriwell and you are to put
up a similar sum to back your own team. Now you put up—or shut
up!”
Cameron was somewhat surprised, but he recovered quickly, still
confident that Doom was still bluffing.
“Come on!” he almost shouted. “Come out to the bank! I can raise
ten thousand dollars if your old check is good. I’ll do it, too! It will
be like finding a small fortune.”
The man from Chicago was ready to go.
“But wait a moment,” said the manager of the local team. “I want
to tell you something. I hate to be fooled, and it makes me very
disagreeable. In case I accompany you to the bank and find this is
what I believe it to be—a bluff—you’ll be very sorry. I warn you that
you’ll leave Cartersville in such a condition that you’ll require medical
attention for some time to come.”
38. “Come on, man,” said Doom, with curling lips. “You are wasting
your breath. You’ll find I am in earnest, although I fancy you are the
one who will squeal.”
Together they left the hotel and started for the bank.
The man who had sold Doom a cigar and overheard this
conversation ran out after them and told what had happened to a
number of loiterers who were in front of the hotel. Immediately
these loiterers hustled away after Cameron and Doom, greatly
excited over what they had heard.
“Ten thousand dollars!” exclaimed one. “Cameron will make a
fortune off this first game!”
“I don’t believe it!” declared another. “Nobody is fool enough to
bet Cameron ten thousand dollars.”
“The man is joking,” was the opinion expressed by a third.
“Then it will be a mighty poor joke for him when Carey Cameron is
done with him,” said the first.
Outside the bank they lingered and waited. Cameron and Doom
were inside a full quarter hour, but finally they appeared.
Immediately the crowd besieged the manager of the local team to
know if such a bet had really been made.
“Sure thing,” nodded Cameron, with a smile of confidence. “This
gentleman had a certified check that was good, and I covered it.
There is a wager of ten thousand dollars on the result of the game
to-day.”
The report spread like wildfire. In less than an hour, it seemed,
every man, woman, and child over six years of age in Cartersville
knew of the amazing wager that had been made. The report was
wired to surrounding towns and carried into the country in various
ways.
By midday people from out of town began to appear in
Cartersville. At first they straggled in, but as the time passed they
39. came faster and thicker. They came from the country in conveyances
of all sorts, while the 12.48 P.M. train brought at least a hundred.
The streets took on a surprising appearance of life. Men gathered in
groups and discussed the wonderful bet that had been made. Some
were skeptical and pronounced it an advertising dodge on the part
of Cameron. Others there were who knew the stakeholder, or knew
those who did know him, and they protested that the wager was on
the level.
At any rate, never had so much excitement over a game of
baseball been aroused in such a brief time in the whole State of
Iowa.
A later train brought a still larger number of visitors, and the influx
from the country continued up to the hour for the game to begin.
No sooner were the gates opened at the ball ground than the
great crowd waiting outside made a push to get in and secure seats.
It required the united efforts of a number of local officers, who had
been summoned by Cameron for that purpose, to hold the eager
people back.
In the meantime Merriwell and his friends had learned of the
wager. At first all were inclined to laugh over it, thinking, like many
others, that it was an advertising scheme. After a while, however,
they began to have reasons to believe there was something of truth
in the report.
“By Jove!” cried Morgan. “We’ll be playing for a fortune this
afternoon, boys!”
“If such a bet has actually been made,” said Rattleton, “we won’t
have any show to win.”
“Wh-wh-why not?” demanded Gamp.
“Don’t you fancy for a moment that Carey Cameron is the sort to
lose that amount of money. He’ll fix it somehow so he can win.”
“Dost hear the croaker?” inquired Jack Ready. “Rattles, you have a
very weak heart.”
40. “See if I’m not right!” exclaimed Harry. “Cameron is no fool.”
“I am certain that he depends mainly on the skill of his players,”
said Frank. “He cannot believe it possible that a lot of amateurs
stand a show of downing those professionals. There will be nothing
crooked as long as it appears to him that his players have the best
chance to take the game. We must fool them, fellows.”
“We’ll do our best, Frank,” was the assurance they gave him.
Never had there been such a wonderful outpouring to witness a
baseball game in all that region. When Frank and his players entered
the inclosure they found the stand packed, the bleachers black with
people, and a great gathering held back by ropes stretched on both
sides of the field. Besides that, the officers employed by Cameron
were kept busy chasing spectators out of the outfield.
Not only did it seem that all Cartersville was there, but more than
a like number of people had come in from outside the town.
The Merries were received with a hearty cheer. They hurried to
their bench, lost no time in laying out their bats, pulling off their
sweaters, adjusting gloves and preparing for practice. At a word
from Frank they trotted briskly onto the field, and practice began.
Merry warmed up with Stretcher as catcher, while Hodge and
Starbright batted to the men practicing on the diamond and in the
field.
Frank was slow and deliberate in warming up. He did not use
speed, but limbered his arm gradually. Toward the last he threw two
or three fairly swift ones and let it go at that.
The players, however, went at it in earnest from the very start,
and both infield and outfield work was of a snappy and sensational
order.
At a quarter to three the local players, with Cameron leading
them, appeared. Instantly there was a great uproar from the toughs
of the town who had been supporting Cameron. They rose up and
41. yelled like a lot of Indians. Not only that, but they insisted that every
one else should yell and threatened those who did not.
“Them’s our boys!” they cried. “Cheer, you duffers—cheer!”
If any one declined to cheer he suddenly found himself beaten
over the head by two or three of the toughs, who insisted that he
must “open up,” and this came near causing a general riot.
Not for at least five minutes after the arrival of the Cartersville
team did the commotion cease. Even then there were symptoms of
anger and resentment in a number of places amid the crowd, and it
seemed as if a spark might fire the powder and bring about an
explosion.
Frank called his players from the field, and the home team went
out for practice.
Merry found an opportunity to speak with Cameron, but the local
manager insisted on his privilege of choosing innings, declining to
toss a coin for choice.
“All right,” smiled Frank. “Take your choice.”
Imagine his surprise when Cameron said:
“We’ll go to bat first.”
“Suit yourself,” nodded Frank, with pretended disappointment.
Cameron had played into his hands without knowing it.
The practice of the locals was soon over.
Then big Dick Starbright was accepted as the umpire. The time for
the game to begin had arrived. Merriwell gave the signal, and his
players ran out onto the field, scattering to their different positions.
Frank entered the pitcher’s box.
“Play ball!” cried Starbright.
At this point, to the astonishment of Frank, the mysterious veiled
woman darted onto the diamond and grasped his arm with her
42. gloved hand.
“Win this game, Frank Merriwell!” she urged huskily. “My fortune—
yes, my life—depends upon it!”
44. CHAPTER XVII
THE VEILED WOMAN’S SECRET.
“I assure you, Miss Blake, that I shall do my best to win,” said
Merriwell wonderingly; “but I can’t understand what you mean by
the statement that your fortune and your life depend upon it.”
“I am backing you.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“Why, I thought——”
“You know about the bet of ten thousand dollars on the result of
this game?”
“Of course. A gentleman from Chicago, by the name of Doom,
made that wager with Cameron.”
“Doom is my agent,” declared the woman.
“Impossible!”
“It is true. He wagered my money. It is all I have in the world. I
also happen to know that ten thousand dollars is practically all Carey
Cameron possesses. If I win he will be ruined. I must win.”
Frank was both perplexed and annoyed.
“I ask your pardon in advance for speaking plainly,” he said, “but I
must tell you that I think you very foolish to take such a risk. You
45. know all the chances are against us. If we win we must do so by
strategy. I cannot understand why you should make such a venture.”
“I hate Carey Cameron!” she hissed. “I wish to ruin him—to strip
him of his last dollar! He married my sister and treated her in the
most brutal and inhuman manner until he forced her to give him all
of her fortune, which he squandered in dissipation and gambling.
After that he used her in the most inhuman manner, making her a
prisoner in her own house. Her baby he starved and abused until the
poor thing died. In the end my sister’s mind gave way, and he
placed her in a madhouse.
“Why shouldn’t I hate him? Now you understand my reasons! I
have sworn to ruin him, and for that purpose I am living here in
Cartersville. He does not know me. He never saw my face, but I
bear a strong resemblance to my sister as she looked when he
married her, and I fear he might detect the resemblance should he
behold me unveiled. For that reason I keep my face hidden
constantly.
“You know my secret, Frank Merriwell. You are the first to whom I
have revealed it since coming here. I hope to strike a blow at him
to-day. If I fail—if you lose the game—my money will be gone, and I
shall have no means of keeping up the struggle. What will there be
for me then? I might as well be dead!”
At last Frank understood her secret, but that did not relieve him of
his vexation on account of her folly, as he considered it. He saw that
she was extremely impulsive. She had accepted this crude method
of seeking revenge on Cameron, without sufficiently considering the
danger that the result might be disastrous to herself; but now, as
the struggle was about to begin, a full realization of the peril made
her tremble and quake.
There was no rectifying her folly. The only way to save her was to
win the game.
“Play ball! play ball!” howled the rough element of the crowed.
“Put her off the field!”
46. “Merriwell has a mash!” shouted a man.
“Do your goo-gooing after the game,” advised another.
“Miss Blake,” said Frank earnestly, “you may rely on me to do my
best; but I warn you in advance that the chances are strongly in
favor of Cameron.”
“I have confidence in you,” she declared. “That is why I made that
wager. I have had confidence in you from the moment when I first
set eyes on you. Something tells me you are the sort of a man who
triumphs. You will win—you must!”
“It would be a great misfortune for me to lose,” confessed Frank;
“but you will be forced to bear uncertainty until the very end of the
game, as we dare not take the lead too soon.”
Once more declaring her confidence in him, and seeming not to
mind the cries of the crowd, she retired from the diamond and the
game began.
Following was the line-up of each team:
CARTERSVILLE. MERRIES.
Grady, cf. Ready, 3d b.
Moran, ss. Morgan, ss.
Johnson, 1st b. Badger, lf.
Madison, rf. Hodge, c.
Tonando, 3d b. Merriwell, p.
Gibson, lf. Gamp, cf.
Hickey, 2d b. Browning, 1st b.
Collins, c. Rattleton, 2d b.
Weaver, p. Dunnerwurst, rf.
A yell of delight went up from the crowd as Grady met the first
ball pitched and drove out a scorching single.
47. “We’re off! we’re off!” whooped Gibson, as he capered down to
the coaching line back of first. “Keep it going, Moran!”
Moran responded by bunting and attempting to “beat it out.”
On the bunt Grady reached second, but Frank got the ball and
threw Moran out at first.
“All right, chillun!” grinned Johnson, the colored player, as he ran
out to hit. “Why, we’s gwine to make a hundred right heah.”
Frank gave him a swift inshoot.
“G’way dar, ma-a-an!” shouted Johnson. “Yo’ll sho’ hurt yo’ wing if
yo’ tries to keep dat speed up.”
“One ball,” announced Starbright.
“Dat’s right, Mistah Umpiah,” commented the negro. “Make him git
’em ober de pan. If he do, I’s gwine to slam it right ober de fence.”
The next one was too far out.
“Two balls.”
“Come on, ma-a-an,” urged Johnson. “Yo’ll nebber fool dis chicken
dat way.”
Merry tried a high ball, using lots of speed.
The batter hit it fairly and laced it on a line far into the field.
“Yah! yah! yah!” he whooped, as he scooted for first. “Dat pitcher
was made fo’ me.”
Sitting on the bench, Carey Cameron saw Grady come home on
the hit, while Johnson reached third base.
“This is going to be too easy,” said Cameron, to one of the
substitutes. “It won’t do to run the score up too high and not give
those poor dubs a show, for it will disgust the crowd and hurt
baseball here for the rest of the season. I’ll have to hold the boys
down the moment they get the game well in hand.”
The crowd began to ridicule Frank.
48. “Is that the great pitcher we’ve heard about?”
“He’s a fake!”
“That’s not the genuine Frank Merriwell!”
“Take him out!”
“Knock him out of the box!”
“Put him in the stable!”
Mat Madison was the next batter. The big bruiser made an
insulting remark to Frank as he took his position at the plate.
“You’ll be a puddin’ for me,” he declared.
Instantly Merry resolved to strike Madison out. He gave Hodge a
signal which Bart understood.
Frank began with the double shoot. Madison fancied the first ball
pitched was just what he wanted and slashed at it with all his
strength.
He missed.
“Strike one!” cried Starbright.
“Accident,” said Madison. “I’ll hit the next one I go after.”
Merry reversed the curve, and Madison missed again, much to his
wonderment and disgust.
“Give me another just like that,” he urged.
“Here it is,” said Merry, and he actually pitched another of the
same sort as the last.
“You’re out!” declared Starbright, as the bruiser missed the third
time.
Madison was astounded and infuriated.
“Wait till my turn comes again!” he snarled, as he flung the bat
down.
49. “Get-a ready to score, you black-a rascal,” cried Tonando to
Johnson, as he danced out to the plate.
“I’s waitin’, ma-a-an,” retorted Johnson, dancing off third and back
again. “Just yo’ git any kind of a hit an’ see me cleave de air.”
Tonando let one pass and then met the next, getting a safe single
on a fast grounder that Rattleton failed to touch.
“Just as e-e-easy, chillun!” laughed Johnson, as he came home.
“Why, dis is a cinch!”
The crowd now redoubled its ridicule of Merriwell.
Gibson prepared to hit, being overconfident. To his surprise, he
missed twice. Then he put up an easy infield fly and was out, which
retired the side.
Cartersville had made two runs in the first inning, and every man
on the team felt that they might have obtained many more with
ease.
Without letting them secure too many runs, Merry had placed
them in a frame of mind that would enable him to deceive them for
a while, at least, before they awoke to their mistake.
The first three batters for the visitors fanned the air, seeming
utterly bewildered by the curves and speed of Weaver, the Indian
pitcher.
“Oh, you’re pretty stickers!” derided a small boy. “You won’t git a
hit to-day!”
In the second inning neither team scored, although it seemed
more by bungling good fortune than anything else that the Merries
held their opponents down.
The fact was that Cameron had warned his players not to get too
long a lead. He was perfectly at his ease, fully believing his team
quite outclassed the visitors and could win the game by heavy
batting in a single inning, if necessary.
50. In this manner the game slipped along with neither side making
further runs until the sixth inning.
In the last of the sixth the visitors sprang a surprise on Cameron’s
men. Morgan led off with a hit, Badger sacrificed him to second.
Hodge sacrificed him to third, and Frank brought him home with a
slashing two-bagger.
That made the spectators sit up and take notice.
It also aroused Carey Cameron, causing him to realize the possible
danger that the amateurs might make a spurt when such a thing
was least expected. He was relieved when Weaver struck Gamp out.
“We must have some more runs, boys,” said Cameron, as his
players gathered about him. “Jump right in now and make them. Not
too many, but enough to have the game safely in hand.”
They responded by getting a single score, and it seemed that pure
accident prevented the piling up of several more.
In the last of the seventh the Merries did not make a run, Weaver
seeming to have them at his mercy.
Again in the eighth, although Cartersville got two men onto the
sacks, no scores were made on either side.
The ninth inning opened with the score three to one in favor of
the locals.
“That’s really lead enough,” said Cameron; “but one or two more
runs will not spoil the game. I want you to make two scores, boys.
You have a fine opening, for Moran starts it.”
“I’ll agree to get a hit,” said Moran, “if they’ll just help me circle
the bags.”
He was positive he could get a hit then, but some of his conceit
evaporated when he fanned twice and was fooled both times.
There had not been much complaint against Starbright’s work as
umpire, for Cartersville was holding the lead and fancied that lead
51. could be increased any time. Just now Moran was unable to kick, as
he was swinging at the balls.
Apparently Merriwell put the next ball just where the batter
wanted it.
But again Moran missed, greatly to his dismay.
“Oh, you’re a mark!” sneered Madison. “Wait till I git at him! I ain’t
got no hits to-day, but I’ve been waitin’ for this chance.”
Johnson was in position to strike.
“Look out fo’ me, ma-a-an,” he grinned. “Dis time I puts it ober de
fence. Allus does it once in a game.”
He tried hard—too hard, in fact. Like Moran, he fell an easy victim
to Merriwell’s arts.
Frank was now pitching in his best form, having thrown off all
attempt at deception.
Madison swore he would get a hit. He realized that his reputation
as a heavy batter had suffered that day.
The crowd yelled and hooted at Frank, seeking to rattle him, but
his face was perfectly grave and he seemed deaf to the uproar. In
the stand he saw a veiled woman, who sat silent and rigid, her
gloved hands clasped. He knew she was watching him, her heart
heavy with despair, for it seemed that the locals had won.
At the beginning of the game Merry had resolved not to let
Madison get a hit. Now, as the fellow came up for the last time,
Frank pitched with bewildering speed, his curves being sharp and
baffling.
Although every ball pitched was a strike, Starbright had
confidence in Merry and declared two, at which the batter did not
offer, to be “balls.”
Then Merry wound up with his surprising slow ball, which seemed
to hang in the air, and Madison struck too soon.
52. “You’re out!” cried Starbright.
“Well, it’s all right, fellows,” laughed Cameron. “You have to hold
them down, that’s all. It’s easy for Weaver. The game is ours.”
Frank spoke to his players in low tones as they gathered around
him at the bench.
“We must go after it now,” he said. “There must be no tie. We
must win it in this inning—or lose it. You’re the first batter, Bart.”
Hodge was grim and determined as he walked to the plate. He let
the first ball pass, but hit the second and lined it out.
Hickey made a jump to one side, struck out his glove and caught
the ball. It was a handsome catch of what had looked like a safe
two-bagger.
Bart’s head dropped a moment as he turned back toward the
bench, but it came up at once, and he spoke to Frank, making
himself heard above the uproar, for the crowd was yelling like
madmen:
“You can do it just the same, Frank. That was a case of
horseshoes.”
Merry did not try for a long hit. One run would do no good. He
attempted to place a safe single, and drove a liner into an opening in
right field.
Gamp followed, but the hopes of the visitors sank when Joe
fanned out in the most dismal manner.
The only chance now seemed for Browning to make a long, safe
hit, and the big fellow tried for it. Instead of hitting as he expected,
he sent a slow one rolling toward Moran.
Never in all his life did Bruce cover ground as he did then. Those
who fancied him to be a huge, heavy, lazy fellow now saw him fairly
fly over the ground, and he reached first a good stride ahead of the
ball.
“Safe!” declared Starbright.
53. Sitting on the bench, Hodge groaned as he saw Rattleton, pale
and unsteady, step out to strike.
“It’s all off!” Bart muttered. “Harry can’t hit that pitching!”
Weaver flashed over a speedy one.
Harry did not move.
“One strike!” declared Starbright, his honesty compelling him to
declare it.
Weaver sent in another one.
Rattleton swung.
Crack!
Bart Hodge leaped into the air with a yell of astonishment and joy.
It was the hit of Rattleton’s whole career in baseball. Clean over
the most distant portion of centre-field fence sailed the ball,
disappearing from view.
A second yell escaped Bart’s lips, and he began “throwing
cartwheels,” while Merriwell, Browning, and Rattleton capered round
the bases and came home.
The spectators seemed dazed.
No one, however, was more dazed than Carey Cameron. He did
not move from the bench.
55. CHAPTER XVIII
IN THE CLUB CONSERVATORY.
Their experience with the sporting element of Cartersville had
been so unpleasant that Frank and his friends had no desire to
remain longer in the town. Greatly to their surprise they were not
molested in any way by the friends of Carey Cameron, who seemed
to have received a knockout blow, and the Merries left the town by
the first train for the East.
Their objective point was Ashport, where a gentleman by the
name of Robert Ashley had offered a magnificent trophy to be
contested for by all legitimate amateurs who wished to enter a
cross-country running contest. It was not that Frank, or any of his
team, intended to enter the contest that had influenced Merry to
take in Ashport on his journey to the East, but he had heard much
about the man who was promoting the event, and what he had
heard had been favorable.
Ashley was an Englishman, and shortly after graduating from
Oxford he had found himself, at the death of his father, left with but
a small portion of the fortune he had been led to believe he should
inherit. Quickly realizing that the income of this reduced fortune
would not support him in the style he desired, he put aside family
and caste prejudice against “trade” and formed an unfortunate
business alliance with a shrewd rascal, who quickly succeeded by
crooked methods in robbing him of what he had left, and then threw
him over to face the world.
56. By the sale of personal effects, Ashley raised something like three
hundred pounds, and with this in his pocket he bade farewell to
England and turned his face toward America.
There is no need to recount his career in this country, but let it
suffice to say that, after many hardships and severe struggles, he
“struck it rich” in Colorado. For him “the mining game” was a
successful one, and within five years after fortune turned, he retired
from the struggle, many times a millionaire. His success in the face
of disappointment and hard luck he attributed to his persistence,
endurance, and staying power; and many a time he averred that
these qualities—to some extent hereditary—had been cultivated,
developed, and brought to perfection by such school-day and college
sports as cross-country running and hare and hounds.
Ashley had conceived a great admiration and love for the country
in which he had retrieved his fallen fortunes. After a visit to his
former home in the old country, he returned to the United States
and finally settled near Ashport, on the Ohio River. Whether or not
he was attracted by the name of the town it is impossible to say; but
there he found precisely the sort of country he admired and his
fortune permitted him to purchase a large estate.
He soon became actively concerned in many charitable works and
he took a great interest in all sorts of healthy outdoor sports,
participating in such as were adapted to his years and encouraging
those in which he could not longer indulge. He founded the Ashport
Amateur Athletic Association, which, although located in the country,
was within easy range of many thriving towns and two large and
prosperous cities; and, in the two years of its existence, it had made
such rapid advancement in membership and achievement that it was
regarded as one of the leading organizations of the sort in the
country.
Among the members of the club were several former college men
of note in athletics, not the least of whom was Carl Prince, who
became known as the “Georgetown Wonder” when he had twice
broken the American college record in the quarter-mile run.