The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-07-07
THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP.

Blake uoald not be .ble 10 pitch ior thea
on the noueuious 4,h Of August
II e.n't be helped ssid Jack Rogers, di
mAlly. bis iolks are goins 10 move sres
v.y Of, sud Of course. he's soi TO so viii
them. He's iasi ~ ID uch cui up about 1
90 we are.
They looked si each other With blsuk
leustheuipg faces. They bad been worn
ina bard for three years 10 win tbs county
ohsr. pionship. and hsd always been
scored oat OF the contest before the season
wee bali over Bat ihis year the fort apes
Of the HilIsisss seemed to be on the rise,
They bad played better, aud one by one
bad beaten all the cluhs except the Wster
sides; snd with this crack. ehsmplou club
OF the couniy their score was even. No
xouder tbst every Hillview hesh thrilled
st the 4th OF August, and OF possible vic
tory and no wonder thst there was con
slernstion and dismsy on every face when
it was learned that their only good pitcher
vas going TO leave.
Might as well give up, sruuted Bill
Grove, IS be spitsfully kicked a stone
from his path; we can't do anything with
out crack pitcher to put up sssinst Hop
klns. OF the Watersidss; and most oi the
mem mbers agreed with him.
Who is the beet picher among us? asked
Rogers, feeling that bis position Is osp
tain demanded 40 extra effort to rally the
club. We want . hard handed, quick
eyed fellow, who can send = ball like q
thunder bolt
Bill grunted derisiyely.
II you'll drop the hard handed and
thunderbo't. be said. guess maybe the
club can furnish some qnick eyes. But
what's the mstter With Snsgglesi Pve
seen him split au inch board with his
fist.
Most OF them laughed and glanced at a
queer figure sitting on the fence, . few
yards away. Snsggles had come down
from a remote part Of the mountains .
month or two before, and as yet bad sp
p,rently been unable to sssinIilste oil the
wonders around him, for his moath was
contiu uslly open, IS though trying TO
grasp the flood OF new ideas thst was surg
ing toward him. He ives very tall and IN
gsinly, and very prone to make himself
the laughing stock OF whoever be came In
contact with, but be was gentle. obligiDg.
and invariably good nstured. None OF
the beys associated with him. except oc
essiotslly rs q joke, and to make him the
butt OF their ridicule. The idea that be
should be admitted to the select member
ship OF the Hillview Baseball Club was
something that none OF them had never
entertained.
Now. wouldn't wonder il he was Just
the man you want, Rodgers. Bill went on,
ssrcasticslly. He can throw . stone
sttsigbter than scme OF Us can shoot. /
have seen him knock squirrel of the top
OF q tree hundred feet high; and ss for
running gee whizzl once be gets them
legs to going. nothing short ois rife ball
can catch him. And be would be prime
I'D. We could hsvea . baseball club and
circus oil in one.
As be expected most Of the boys laugh
cd again: only Jack Rodgers seemed to
take the banter seriously. for . sudden
glesm came into his eyes and he glanced
ACROSS to where Bnaggles WAS intently
watching them.
believe you've struck the nail on the
head this time, Bill, il you never did be |
lore, be exclaimed emphsticslly. II I'm
not mistaken, Suaggles lie Just the man we
want. q
Oh. pshswl Come. nowl Get outl !
You're joking Why. he's regular
'carecrow rose an indignant chorus on oil /
i1es. q
Can't help IL, fellows. Rodgers said, c
turdily, we're 10 . tight place. We've 0
worked for that championship three b
vesrs, and now that its in sight il would q
De bad policy TO let it slip away. l don't q
lnow fellow that can take Blskes place, Il
,nless IT'S 5nsgglos. o
But be don't know how protested the Il
liscon certed Bill. ii
I'm not so sure. He's been on that
epoe watching US every practice day for Ii
he last six weeks. II he has never played b
lie must have pretty good idea how il is e
lone. Hello. Sosgglesl d
The csrioature on the fence sprsng light
y down, and came toward them. with Y
peculiar, loplng gait that carried him Il
'ver the ground. But be paused siI or u
light yards away. ~ though suspicious OF .
heir intentions. e.
Oh, come on, called Rodgers, impatient G
,, nobody's up to any game. Ever play b
,slls n
Sn.reles erinusd and shock bis head. i,
Think you could Learnt O.
The red head bobbed visorou ly. sod Il
|uick, woadsripg glow spread over the
good nsiursd fsce. Evident a
, to play ball was Just nov ibs height OF n
'nasgles' ambition. q
We want somebody who can pitch jusi
rhere be sims for, and who can run fast. Il
nd airsid Of redhot balls. Vi
Snsesles grioned aud held up hs big. !,
orny hands
| guess they WON'T be feared 10 grab .
nythins 10 resch. be chuckled. % I've b
iten vstcbed yon iellers who couldn't si
triks ball. 50 though, II vs pitchin
a lhrow so's TO bit the bat an save you q
be bother sirikin. Al ~ for ruuDin- !,