The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-15
THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
IN Frank n. sEeei.

/ lie Blake would not De Aole 10 pi1N"
for them on the momentous ith OF Au-
gust.
He's got TO-" cried Tom Andrews
excitedly; why. fellows. II will break
US all up II be don't"
Cant be helped" said Jack Rodg-
ers. dismally. his folks are going to
move a long way on. and. OF course
he's got TO 90 with thin. He's Just as
much cut-up about II as We are"
They looked at each other with
blank. lengthening faces. They had
been working hard for three years TO
win the county championship, and had
always been scored out Of the contest
before the season was half over. But
this year the fortunes OF the Hillyie~s
seemed to be on the rise They had
played better. and one by one had beat
en- all the clubs except the WATERSHEDS;
and with this crack. champion club oil
the county their score was even. No
wonder that every Hillylew heart
thrilled at the thought Of the 9Th OF
August. and OF possible victory; and
no wonder that there was consterna-
ton and dismay on every face when
II was learned that their only good
| pitcher was going to leave.
might as well give up" grunted
Bill Grove. as he splteiully kicked a
stone from his path; I'VE can't do any
thing without a crack pitcher TO put
up against Hopkins. OF the Water
Sides: and most Of the members
agreed with him.
who Is the best pitcher among u.s.
asked Rodgers. feeling that his posi-
tion as captain demanded an extra eff
fort to rally the club. I'VE want a
hard-handed. quick-eyed fellow. who
can send in a ball like thunderbolt.
Bill grunted derisiyely.
III you'll drop the hard-handed and
thunderbolt," he said. 81 guess maybe
the club can furnish a few quick eyes.
But what's the matter with Snag-
gles7 I've seen him split an inch board
with his fist"
Most OF them laughed and glanced
az a queer figure sitting on the fence,
few yards away. snAggles had come
down from a remote part Of the noun
tains a month or two before, and as yet
had apparently been unable to assim-
ilate all the wonders around him, for
his mouth was continually open. as
though trying to grasp the food d new
ideas that was surging toward him.
He was very tall and ungainly. and
very prone to make himself the laugh
ing-stock OF whoever he came In con-
tact with: but he was gentle oblig-
ing. and invariably good-natured. None
Of the boys associated with him. except
occasionally as a Joke. and to make
him the butt OF their ridIeule. The
idea that he should be admitted 10 the
select membership OF the Hillyiew
Baseball Club was something that none
OF them had ever entertained.
Nov. l wouldn't wonder IL he was
Just the man you want. Rodgers Bill
went on. sarcastically. "He can throw
stone straighter than some OF us car
shoot. I've seen him knock a squire
on the top OF tree a hundred feet
high; and as for running-gee whiE
once he gets them legs TO going. moth
ing short OF a rifle ball can catch him
And he would be n prime ad. w,
could have a baseball club and circus
all In one"
As he expected. most OF the boys
laughed again; only Jack Rogers seem.
ed TO take the banter seriously. for a
sudden CLEAN came into his eyes and
he glanced across TO where Snaggles
was intently watching them.
Il believe you've struck the nail on
the head this time. Bill. II you never
did before" he exclaimed. emphatical.
ly. III I'm not mistaken. Snaggles ii
Just the man We want"
"oh, pshaw" Come. now" "Gei
outv You're joking" why. he's q
regular scarecroww rose an Indignant
chorus on all sides.
Cant help II. fellows" Rodgers
said. sturdily. we're in tight place
We've worked for that championship
three years, and now that it's In sigh
Il would be bad policy to let II sir
away. | don't know a fellow who car
take Blake's place. unless it's Srag
giles"
But he don't know how" protested
the disconnected Bill.
I'm not so sure. He's been on tina
fence watching us every practice dal
for the last six weeks. II he has neve
played, he must have pretty good ldei
how II is done. Hello. Snaggles"
The caricature on the fence spranl
lightly down. and came toward them
with a peculiar. Looping gait that car
ried him rapidly over the ground. Bu
he paused six or eight yards away. a
though suspicious OF their intentions
"oh. come on" called Rodgers. i'm
patiently. "nobody's up TO any game
Ever play ball2"
snaggles grlnned and shook his head
Think you could learn?"
The red head bobbed vigorously, ant
quick. wondering glow spread owe
the cadaverous, good-natured face. Ev
identity 20 play ball was just now IN
height Of snaggles' ambition.
I'VE want somebody who can pitc
Just where he aims for, and who ca
run fast. and who amt afraid Of red
hot balls"
Snaggles grinned and held up HI
big. horny hands.
II guess they won't be feared {
grab anything in reach" he chuckle,
"an' I've often watched you fellers VII
couldn't strike a ball, an thought II
was pitchin' ia throw SOS to hit N
bat an save you the bother o. strikin
An for runnin'-wall, I've chased raj
bits on the mountain, an cotched 'en
too"
"Brag's a good dog. muttered Bill.
Go out into the field and will sen