New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-02

any ball anywhere you want to place
it: makes anything you want from an
earned base to a clean home rum
never gives chance and never known
to hit a foul. Feel it, light as a feath-
| er in the hand, but heavy as lead
| 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!"
I felt it and poised it. It was in
appearance all that he claimed it to
be. En-
ut looks like an excellent one,' I
said; whats the price?"
II don't sell it," he answered.
s'Then,' said /, ''why did you bring
it to me if you didn't wish to sell it?''
at isn't for SALE" continued my
guest, "but don't mind lending it to
you for a year and day. You see |
| want to introduce the article, and"
But" made answer, ''if that is
your object, why not select q 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. I take it
that you are not a brilliant player.
Now, if you, by using my bat, are at
once TRANSFORMED into q famous play
er what more convincing testimonial
could be desired?''
every well, then," said he, 'Sjust
sign this receipt" and he pushed me
over a paper that I signed without
looking at.
II guess that I've dipped my pen into
the red ink by mistake" | said.
"Never mind, never mind,'' said he;
"that'l do. Would you oblige me
with the time? My eyes are not as
good as they used to be.
Irosc and went to the clock. When
7 turned around there was no one in
the room. My strange visitor had van
ished as suddenly as he had entered.
'EDevilish odd," soliloquized,
"devilish odd"
The bat was there. however, and
once or twice when I woke in the night
saw it gleam in the flashes OF light
ming.
Iawoke early on the morning of the
Hateful fourth, and at first thought
the odd events OF the night only a
dream. The bat, however, stood
where had lett it overnight. Taking
it and my travelling bag, I started for
the train. "Hullo," said I, as 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 was on the
train with my companion and we were
flying toward Somerville.
The new bat came in for notice and
favorable comment. OF course:
told them nothing Of how I came by
it. Good bat that,' said Thompson,
our short-stop, "good bat. Now,
Smithers! just you get a player to
match!"-and at this small wit they
all laughed. "Sorry you won't have
a chance to use it," said Morton, our
captain and catcher. (As usual, WIS
only 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.
'"This is pleasant" said Norton
"Well, Smithers, it let's you in, and
you'll have a chance ofusing the new
bat after al.'
It was a little after o'clock when
the game opened, the Actives at the
bat. 1t was a lovely midsummer
day. I can see the whole picture
bright and lifesome, even now, the
long, level field intensely green, lined
thickly at one end with gaZers; the
groups seated dispersed here and
there upon the grass; the boys seated
on the lenses, the people standing uI
on the carts and wagons; a brass
band horribly out of tune, playing
"Hail, Columbia" a refreshment tent
with a long queue ofpeop!e pressing uI
to a sloppy counter made OF q bOarC
on two beer-kegs; behind, all the white
town, over which streamed flags in
Vulnerable; BEFORE a stretch ofsmilins
champaign, with here and there a 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 {
grasshopper or the muAled 1appin!
Of a lazy flag. I 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
should be stationed.
There is always nervous period a
the beginning OF a ball or cricke
i. match or a game OF billiards tina
: characterizes no other sport, excep
perhaps an execution. 1t becomes ;
relief to hear the first click of the ba,
on the ball; with the first rush OF tn
. fielder the spell is broken.
I Glow ball!'' called the umpire. !
) couple Of deliveries-then came tn
7 warning cry, zone strikep' (all empha
l sis on the ssone); then a vicious blow
s and the batsman started to run, bu
: trotted back leisurely at the call 9
E. ssFoul!" and third base as leisurel.
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