The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-12-04

Ool OO!COO, VII llOU OClCCU c1 SOOSA e~AAO
well-known player"
Because" he said, in reply, eff I
did so the player would receive much
of the credit due to the bat. take it
that you are not brilliant player.
Now, if you, by using my bat, are at
once transformed into famous play
er what more convincing testimonial
could be deslred?"
"True, true" l responded.
every well, then,' said he,' Gust
sign this receipt" and he pushed me
over a paper that l signed without
looking at.
II guess that I've dipped my peninto
the red ink by mistake" l 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.
Irosc 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," l soliloquized,
"devilish odd"
The bat was there. however, and
once or twice when l woke in the night
saw it gleam in the flashes of light
ming.
awoke 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 l had left it overnight. Taking
it and my travelling bag, l 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
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. l
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
matchP'-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, 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.
This 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 8 o'clock when
the game opened, the Actives at the
bat. 1t was a lovely midsummer
day. 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 up
on the carts and wagons; a brass
band, horribly out of tune, playing
"Hail, Columbia" refreshment tent
with a long queue ofpeople pressing up
to a sloppy counter made of board
on two beer-kegs; behind, all the white
town, over which streamed flags in
Vulnerable; before, a stretch ofsmiling
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 muffled Tapping
of 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 l
should be stationed.
There is always a nervous period at
the beginning of ball or cricket
match or a game of billiards that
characterizes no other sport, except
perhaps an execution. 1t 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
warning cry, Zone strike!' (all empha-
sis on the ''one); then q vicious blow,
and the batsman started to run, but
trotted back leisurely at the call OF
"Foul'' and third base as leisurely
trotted after the ball. Then came an
other couple of deliveries. There was
a slight "click." The left fielder ran
forward like hound, and selling the
ball as it was bounding toward him,
hurled it to first base. There was a
dull thud as the baseman received it
and held it over his head; then the
monotonous voice of the umpire, sNot
out" The first striker had made this
base. Two others followed and the
bases were full.
CHOW, then!''-why do people say
"Now then?" called the captain, as
the fourth batsman strobe to the
plate, "play deep out there" and in
obedience to the order we of the outer
field retired still further out. The
first ball that the player received suit
ed him, and he drove it sharply to the
center. The white sphere, perfectly
kissing with its speed, passed about
ten feet over the second baseman's
head and came straight at me.
/ heard the cheers OF the crowd; (