The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-28
A WIZARD AT THE BAT.
Aladdin's Genie Takes a Hand In = village
Ball Game.

Ball Game.
The hero of the tale has become pos
sessed of Aladdin's lamp, and he sum-
mons the genie to win game of base
ball that he himself had almost lost as
pitcher. The following is an account
of the genie's appearance on the dia-
mond:
He unlocked his valise and took out
the lamp and rubbed it; instantly
Pulsifer Jukes stood before him, q
broad grin on his face.
1--WE been expecting you to call me
for the last hour" he said. Really, I
don't know when I've laughed so
much"
You've seen the game, have youP"
asked Chris. trying to assume care
less air.
YES" giggled the genie, ST had the
curiosity to be on hand. Such playingl
He! hel he! Say, did you ever see a
game of baseball before? Honest,
now"
Between you and Bob and the rest
of Them" returned the boy holly, II
was SO ratified that couldn't play at
all"
That's right, blame mer' shriel1ed
the genie. why don't you say it was
all my fault? See here, what do you
want this time?'
II want you to change yourself into
my double and 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
&.11l &C
greeted by a despairing groan from
the Lincolnvilles, and one boy said:
eff we only had batter like Phil
Burns he would bring in these three
men; but there's no show now"
The first ball was an easy one, but
the genie missed it by at least foot,
at which a Dusenbury boy called out:
He has holes in his hat!' and every
one laughed, though the manifesto
tions of mirth on the part of the Lin
colnvilles 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 murmured despair
ingly:
''He can build palaces, but he can't
play ball for sour apples. 1 might
have known-By jingo!"
The genie had struck the third
pitched ball such a terrific blow that
the bat broke in two. Toward the
barn, then over it, went the ball, every
boy in the field staring at it in amaze
ment. Phil Burns hit was nothing
compared with it.
Down near third the Lincolnville
coacher was shrieking frantically:
Sprint, you snails, sprint! Gre-ea-t
Scott! wasn't that dandy crack"
The attention of the spectators was
almost diverted from the three men
already on bases, who were running
for home, by the amazing sswiftness 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 if 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 so great that no one
heard him.
What on earth ails you, Wagstaff?'
shouted the captain. Have you gone
to sleep there?"
by Un1S time Inc OOy VINO ndO Deen
on first when the strike was made
reached third, and started for the
home-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
ished the boys when he was on his way
to first. He crossed second base like
an express train, whizzed down to third
like a flash; and in another second,
after nearly running over the man
ahead of him, landed on the home-plate,
having first turned complete double
somersault.
He did not appear to be in the least
out of breath as he cried:
''Score Wagstaff!'
A scene of frenzied enthusiasm in the
ranks of the Lincolnites followed; the
Dusenburys seemed paralyzed with as
constituent and dismay. - Albert
Stearns, in st. Nicholas.
The Boston Boy Explains.
"Apropos of the peculiarly American
tendency to explain things" he was