The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-09-23

boom, ah! DEMO, DEMO, Rah, rah, ,rah!"
The left fielder, whose name was Turn
ner grinned at me like a gargoyle. The
fellow, was disreputa able-looking chap,
and made me feel sick. 1 determined
that would strike out next time be-
fore would send hit In his direction;
but changed my mind about this
later, as you will see.
At first had put my sweater on
over my uniform, and had my vest
on under that. had been really chilly
while we had been waiting around for
the game to begin, but now was get
ting warmed up. When l went back to
the corner where our fellows were
gathered I stripped off my sweater,
and then l remembered for the first
time that had forgotten to take off
my vest, which had my watch in it.
1t was a nice gold one, which one of
my dearest aunts had given me, and l
wouldn't have lost 1t for anything.
We usually gave our valuables to
Anderson TO keep. He had the deep
est pockets, and the most of them, that
l ever saw in my life; but there was
Anderson 40 rods off under the trees
among all the ladies, and didn't want
to take 1t clear over there. There was
@ safe dressing-room III the school; but
it was an eighth of a mile across the
green to the school building, and was
altogether too much excited to leave
everything just now and go over there.
Berrian, our scorer, was sitting right
here, and I believed the watch would
be secure enough under his care.
II am going to leave my watch in
my vest pocket" said to Gardner,
our second" who was sin the hole"
and looking pretty anxious as the fellow
after me at the bat knocked little
grounder right into the shortstop's
hands, thus making two out for us. II
guess it will be safe enough. I'm too
hot to wear the vest, and Berrian's
right here"
"All correct" said Gardner, alb
sently, and listening while Derrian
called Wprthley to bat, Gardner on
deck and Niles in the hole. "Still," he
added, suddenly, you'd better give 1t
10 AuIuGTSOu. 41lS 10 " udIu SCG
here"
"Nonsensel" l said,' impatiently.
"Who could touch it while Berrian Is
close by so?"
Gardner didn't say anything. Worth
ley had made base hit, and Gardner
was called to bat.
I pinned the vest together hastily.
Berrian was industriously jotting
down the assists and put-outs. He
vowed now in an aside to me that the
umpire had just called two strikes on
Gardner when there had only been
one. He was getting very mad
"Look out for my watch, Berrian,"
I said, contidentially. ut is under my
sweater, right in my vest-pocket
there"
Then settled, down to the game.
Berrian was quivering with excite
ment. He probably knew as little of
what I had been saying to him as a
hen. Gardner was now on first base,
Worthley was stealing third, and Niles,
our Short" q hard batsman, was up.
It looked as though we might get in
run. Niles gave glorious hit; but it
veered off foul, and one of their long
legged fielders caught 1t, so that we
were without run in spite of two men
on bases.
Turner was their first man at bat.
He was clean hitter; and the first
knew down came swift ball in my d.
rection, considerably above my head.
Incited, probably, by his example, I
gave jump into the air which must
have seemed as high as Turner's in the
field; and I, too, caught the ball, and.in
my turn put him out.
Now I had a chance to grin. knew
that I hadn't received Turner's grin
with much grace; but he received
mine, as the umpire called "Out!" with
really vicious scowl. 1 didn't care,
however, under the circumstances.
We got three men out in short order,
and the next inning opened without
a run on either side.
We had, advanced to the fourth in
ming, and the score stood three to two
in our favor, when it occurred to me
that I might as well look after my
watch. strolled up to Berrian, there
fore, and remarked, casually, 81 sup
pos my watch is all right"
"Watch!"' he said, Grossly, keeping
me waiting while he put down an
error for Gardner. Where in thunder
is your watch, anyway? Haven't seen
it."
I realized that he had paid no atten-
ton to what ], had said when 1 left the
watch, and that he had not felt the
slightest responsibility for it. Ibegan
to tumble nervously among the clothes
on the ground beside him. 1t had been
growing warmer steadily all the after
noon, and several sweaters and jerseys
had been piled on top of my things.
Just as had excavated down to it
heard my name called "in the hole;"
but took my TIME to find out that the
vest had been unpinned, and that the
watch was missing. searched wildly
around among the miscellaneous heap
of'stuff, butin.those few confused min
utes I naturally discovered nothing.
My heart seemed to melt in what the
boys called dull, thickening sud-" as
l was summoned away to take my
place at the bat, and felt that my pre-