The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-08-01

The Little Old Man, and His Great Act In
Left Field.

| Left Field.
"Play ball, old man?'',
"WaaI, scrter think ulster. Young.
ster''
''Will you? We want another man to
make up the sides"
MY legs are a little kinly, young
ster, but guess kin ercommerdate yer
Just ther same"
''All right, old man, conner
/ The little old fellow scrambled to his
feet without more ado, and with kind
of song-and-dance shuttle ambled into
the midst OF score or more boys on the
| common.
| The veteran was assigned to right
field and the game began. The oppo-
| sing nine came in for its final inning,
( and that to which the old man was as
| signed went into the field with the score
ten to eleven in favor of the latter
''Can you catch flies?'' asked the cap
| tain.
kin er duck swim?" was the grim
answer of the veteran
"All right Play left field this in
ningp' sang out the boy behind the bat,
at the same time motioning to the others
10 hasten into place.
''Sorter out n this direction" mum
bled the little old chap. as he struck
prancing gait for his old place in right
field.
1.-THE other SIDE" shouted a score or
more voices in chorus, while the specta-
torsconvulsed themselves with laughter.
'Know'd it, but sorter wanted to take
ther kinks out er me legs. Them yer
legs kinder want loos'n up, see?"
The last inning began.
Two boys went out, one on strikes
and the second on wild fly, but the
third boy managed to send sky scraper
into left field. This was the deciding
point of the game, for the two heaviest
batters were to follow.
''Get on to it, old man." shouted the
boys in the field and the spectators in
one voice.
The little old man vouchsafed no re-
ply.
He could not if he wished, for he was
all activity. Gliding out of his tatterred
coat as though the arms were creased,
he brushed his hat from his head almost
with the same motion that he sent his
shoes flying into the air.
With a single ''whoop," such as a Co.
manche might be credited with, he
shook the knots out of his limbs and
struck out with vim in the direction
the ball was taking.
1t was yet sailing through the air
peacefully but swiftly, and at a great
height. 1t seemed nip and tuck with
the old man.
Only once did he look upward as if to
guage the flying sphere, but with the
result only of increasing his speed.
The ball descended and as it was
about to strike him in the neck he
turned.
''Thump!'
The ball did not hit him in the neck,
but the chest, and
Not out" shouted the umpire.
Amt, hey!" screamed the old man,
waving the ball to and fro in his right
hand.
CONSERVATION reigned supreme. The
day was won, and that, too, through the
EXPERIENCES of the left field
Out" corrected the umpire; and then
WIG Gil III = hlop' SCHOol-ooyS anu SpecCa-
tors, broke into rousing cheer. The
left fielder, with the walk of conquer
ing hero, kicked his hat into the air,
gathered up his coat and with the noise
lessness of an Indian on the war trail,
glided into his well-worn Shoes
Glow did you do it?'' asked by
stander, as the little old man ambled |
from the field with purse of $40 in his
pocket and the boys cheering Justify
Dropped inter me shirt-see?"-
ton Globe