Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-13
A WIZARD At THE BAT.


Dali uumos
The hero Of the tale has become DOS.
sessed Of Aladdin's lamp, and he sum
mons tho genie to win game Of base
ball that he himself had almost lost q
pitcher The following Is an account
OF the genie's appearance on the die.
mond
He unlocked his valise and took out
the lamp and rubbed II; instantly
Pulsifer Juhes stood before him, .
broad grin on his face.
I've been expecting you to call me
for the last hour" he said. Really, l
don't know when I've laughed SO
much"
You've seen the game, have your"
asked Chris, trying to assume care
less air.
Yes gigglcd tho genie, " had the
curiosity to be on hand. Such playing
Hel hel he! Say, did you ever sec
game Of baseball beforeP Honest,
now
between you and Bob and the rest
Of them" returned the boy hotly, "
was 10 ratified that couldn't play ut
all"
That's right, blame mel" shrieked
the genie. "Why don't you soy 1t was
oil my fault? See here, what do you
want this time?"
II want you to change yourself into
my double ind play the game for me.
Enough said" And the genie rushed
from the room.
From his window, Chris saw his
representative take his place to strike.
The three men preceding him had all
made base-hits, and the bases were
full. The genie's appearance was
greeted by u despairing groan from
the I.incoluvilles and une boy said
III we only had a batter like Phil
Burns he would bring In these three
men, but there's no show now
The first bull was an easy one, but
the genie missed it by ut least foot
ut which II Duscnbnry boy called out:
"lle has holes IN his hatl' and every
one laughed, though the manifesto
lions Of mirth on the part Of the Lin
colnvilcs were by no means as bolster
GUS as those in which the Dusenburys
saw fit to indulge
When the genie failed TO hit the
second ball, Chris murmurcd despair
ingly,
ale can build palaces, but he can't
play ball for sour apples | might
have known--By jingo"
The genie had struck the third
pitched bali such u terrific blow that
the bat broke in two. Toward the
barn. then over it, went the ball, every
boy in the field staring ut it in amaze
ment. Phil Burns hit was nothing
compared with II.
Down near third the Lincolnvlle
coacher was shrielng frantically;
Sprint, you snails, sprint! Gre-ea-t
Scott wasn't that u dandy crackl'
The attention Of the spectators was
almost diverted from the three men
already on bases, who were running
for home by the amazing swiftness Of
the genie as he scudded down to first.
Having arrived there he stopped and
stared about him, an expression Of per-
plexity upon his face, as II looking for
the ball.
In his excitement at this singular
conduct on the part Of his representa-
tive Chris entirely forgot himself and
yelled. Whats the matter with you?
RUM But luckily the tumult on the
diamond was 80 great that no one
heard him
What on earth ails you, Wagstaff2'
shouted the captain. Have you gone
to sleep thcre2'
By this time the boy who had been
on first when the strike was made
reached third, and started for the
hone-plate, the other two having al
ready scored.
The genie now apparently reused
himself, and resumed his run at the
same rate OF speed that had so aston
Isbed the boys when he was on his way
10 first He crossed second base like
an express train, whizzed down to third
like fash; and in another second,
after nearly running over the man
ahead Of him, landed on the home-plate,
having first turned complete double
,Vmcrsault.
lie did not appear TO be in the least
out of breath as he cried:
Score Wagsta'fln
A scene Of frenaicd enthusiasm in the
ranks Of the Lincolnites followed; the
seemed paralyzed with as
enlistment and dismay. - Albert
Stearns, In st. Nicholas.