The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-03

there, sir, IS my patent III. K. bat
warranted to fit any hand and hi
any ball anywhere you want to plac,
it; makes anything you want from al
earned base to a clean home run
never gives chance and never known
to hit foul. Feel it, light as feath
er in the hand, but heavy as leac
when it strikes. Observe the perfec
ton OF the poise, the exquisite grace
OF the curves and lines. That's a bat
sir, that an enthusiast might give his
| soul for!'
! felt it and poised it. It was in
appearance all that he claimed it to
be.
ut looks like an excellent one"
said; what the price?'
81 don't sell it," he answered.
"Then, said /, ''why did you bring
it to me if you didn't wish to sell it?"
cit isn't for sale" continued my
guest, '"but | don't mind lending it to
you for a year and q day. You sec l
want to introduce the article, and"
"Rut," 1 made answer, elf that is
your object, why not select good and
well'known player?"
because" he said, in reply, eff I
did SO the player would receive much
OF the credit due to the bat. Itake it
that you are not q brilliant player.
Now, if you, by using my bat, are at
once transformed into a famous play
er what more convincing testimonial
could be deslred?'' ..@n
"True, true" I responded.
every we'll, them" said he, "just
sign this receipt" and he pushed me
over q paper that I signed without
looking at. ..s
II guess that I've dipped my pen into
the red ink by mistake" [ said.
"Never mind, never mind" said he;
"that'll do. Would you oblige me
with the time? My eyes are not as
good as they used to be. .-t
lrose and went to the clock. When
! turned around there was no one in
the room. My strange visitor had van
ished as suddenly as he had entered.
'Devilish odd," I soliloquized,
"devilish odd"
The bat was there. however, and
once or twice when l woke in the night
1 saw it gleam in the flashes OF light
ming. ..--...
l awoke early on the morning OF the
fateful fourth, and at first thought
the odd events OF the night only
dream: The bat, however, stood
where had left it overnight. Taking
it and my travelling bag, l started for
the train. "Hullo," said I, as I tried
the door, "the doors locked. How
did my friend get in last night? Per-
haps, though, locked the door after
he went out. That must have been
it. Anew minutes later I was on the
train with my companion and we were
flying toward Somerville. .....
The new bat came in for notice and
favorable comment. Oh course. I
told them nothing OF how I came by
it. "Good bat that" said Thompson,
our short-stop, good bat. Now,
Smlthers! just you get a. player to
match!'-and at this small wit they
all laughed. "Sorry you won't have
chance,to use it," said Morton, our
captain and catcher. (As usual, I was
only a substitute, the spare man kept
IN case of accident)
1t was nearly 2 O'Clock when the
cars glided into Somerville. Just as
we were stepping from the platform
some one behind passed too closely
upon Thompson and he fell forward |
heavily, trying to break his fall With
his hands. A cry of pain broke from
him as we picked him up; he had
sprained his wrist.
mIhis is pleasant" said Morton.
"Well, Smithers, it let's you in, and
you'll have a chance ofusing the new
bat after all.''
1t was little after O'Clock when
the game opened, the Actives at the
bat. It was a lovely midsummer
day. | can see the whole picture.
bright and lifesome, even now, the
long, level field intensely green, lined
thlckly at one end with gazers; the
groups seated dispersed here and
there upon the grass; the boys seated
on the lenses, the people standing up
on the carts and wagons; brass
band, horribly out Of tune, playing
Hail, Columbia" a refreshment tent
with long queue fpeople pressing up
to a sloppy counter made Of a board
on two beer-kegs; behind, all the white
town, over which streamed flags in
numerable; before, stretch of smiling
champaign, with here and there fall
tree whose branches streamed grace
FULLY before the wind.
Dead silence as the first OF the Act
ives stepped to the plate. You could
hear the strident "crick-crick" of a.
5rasshopper or the muff1ed Tapping
Of a lazy flag. [ was at center field
''Put him where he'll do most good
or least HARM" said the captain flat.
teringly, when it was debated where I
should be stationed.
There is always nervous period at
the beginning OF a ball or cricket
match or a game of billiards that
no other sport, except
perhaps an execution. It becomes a
relief to hear the first click Of the bat
On the ball; with the first rush Of the
fielder the spell is broken
Glow ball!'' called the umpire. A
couple Of deliveries-then came the
warming cry, "One strike!" (all empha-
SIS on the "one); then vicious blow.
and the batsman started to run, but
trotted back leisurely at the call of
FOUL and third base as leisurelv
trotted after the ball. Then came an
Y, - l