Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-08-11
IN THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.

what do you keep him forp' oueried
Ned Edwards as his companion fastened
the dog kennel with n wooden button.
after having given its occupant his even
ing meal and goodnight pettinC.
Hes certainly Of no use. and must be
good deal of trouble"
" Yes, he's of no USE" REPLIED Jim
Harrington, "but tho time was when
old Maiorwsis my best friend and could
well earn his living, and it. only fair to
care for him in his old age now. will
not give him away for fear that he may
be abused. and / never could get up
enough courage to shoot the poor fell
- But why do you lock him upp'' con-
unued Ned. No one will steal him"
That's true" laughed his comrade,
but strange as It may seem the old
rascal has lately taken q notion to run
away, and so to keep him out of danger
built that kennel and shut him in. "
The boys were ut the gate now, and
Ned turned down the road toward
home.
You won't forget the match Satur-
day afternoon!" called jim after him:
" on the lower meadow at two o'clock
sharp. The Swampville Club have got
a new pitcher, and we've got to work
hard TO beat them" YIN
"All right! I'll be on hand'' shout
ed Ned, in reply, 'and the Beechen
Hill Stars will beat the Swampville
chaps two to one, You'll seel Good
night "
Thursday, Friday, Saturday. School
at last was over, and in the warm June
sunlight the rival ball players gathered
in the lower meadowfor the lone talked
of game which should decide the rela-
tive merits of the adjoining towns.
Upon this momentous occasion the
Swampville Rockets were attired in
suits of white, with brilliant red belts.
reminding one of circingles. while the
redoubtable Beechen Hill Stars
wore simple blue. With the PLAYERS
came great crowd of spectators and
camp followers upon either side, both
boys and dogs; and after the usual
skirmishing for innings, the necessary
amount of shouting, and the issuance of
lnnumerable orders from the respective
Captains TO their "men," the game
began.
Ii was a long and hard-fought battle.
The question was not in this case, rs in
some champion tournaments, how small
score one party could limit the other
to, but the rather how great a number
of runs each side could make before re-
firing.
1t was during the first inning that a
new spectator appeared upon the field,
in old MEjor, who had somehow es-
capped from his kennel, and, attracted
by he distant shouting, came slowly
trotting down the road. His master
observed him and called TO him. but the
old dog was wary. fearing to lose the
freedom Just gained, and took a position
at one side Of the field, within sight
of the players. but also within easy
reach of the cranberry swamp which
lay back Of the meadow, SO that retreat
might be open TO him in case he was
pursued. But his young master had
weightier matters upon his mind than
the capture of the runaway, and Major
remained undisturbed at his post as the
play went on. aa "a
The final struggle began. Every move
of the one party was anxiously watched
by the other, and il soon became evil
dent to the ''ins' that whateverl runs
they mnde must be- earned. One, two
men were out, and not single tally
had been scored when Jim Harrington
went TO the bat He was one Of the
best members of the "Stars. and the
entire club took heart as they saw the
resolute look upon his face as be grasped
the heavy pine club aud raised it over
his shoulder in waiting for the coming
ball
"Jim won't missr' cried some of his
more enthusiastic friends. eagerly.
"He's snre.to make one run, anyway.
There sl,eAcoesih - -
True enough, ut that nstantHarring-
ton Knocked. and the ball was seen fiy-
ing high through the cir, fairly passing