Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-06-18
good idea how it is done. Hello,

with peculiar, Looping gait that car
ried him rapidly over the ground. Bnt
lie paused six or eight yards away, as
though suspicious of their intentions.
ooh, come on" called Rodgers,
impatently, "nobody's up to any
game. Ever play ball?"
Snaggles grinned and shook his
head.
"'Think YOU could learn?"
The red head bobbed vigorously,
and quick, wondering glow spread
over the calaverous, gool-naturel
face. Evidently to play ball was inst
now the height of Snaggles' ambition.
"We want somebody who can pitch
Just where he aims for, and who can
run fast, and who amt afraid of red
hot balls"
Snaggles grinned and held up his
big, horny hands.
81 guess they won't he feared to
grab anything in reach," he chuckled,
an I've often watched You fellers who
couldn't strike ball, an thought if l
was pitchin' I'd throw SOS to hit the
bat an save you the bother o strikin'
An as for runnin'-wall, I've chased
rabbits on the mountain, an cotched
'em, too"
'Brag's good dog" muttered Bill
! "Go out into the field and I will
send you up few tiies," ordered
Rodgers, "and then We'll practice
some regular games. Well soon see
what you're made Of"
They remained in the field until it
was too dark to play. and by that
time all the members had acquiesced
in Rodgers's views. Even Bill ac-
knowledged that being in circus was
not too much to pay for possible
victory over the WATERSHEDS. Snag-
giles had acquitted himself gloriously,
and he walked with them down the
street, proudly conscious that he had
been admitted to the charmed circle
of his most ambitious dreams.
1t lacked but two weeks to the
4th of August, and all their
spare time was now devoted
to practice. Snaggles was given
the position of pitcher, and watched
anxiously, for on his play would de-
pend much of their possible success.
At first he was a little awkward and
self conscious, but within week had
established himself in the boys con-
tidence, and thoroughly familiarizel
himself with the game. Evidently he
made baseball the study of his
thoughts by day and dreams by night
He was seldom seen without ball,
which was necessarily making expert
mental trips into the air in all man :
ner of curves and twists. One day he
invented peculiar curve, which
filed the boys with enthusiastic de-
light. If the WATERSHEDS did not
catch on to it, was the unanimous
verdict, they would have no show for
the championship.
AT last the momentous day arrived,
and the Hillviews aud WATERSHEDS met
on the field, the one eager and hope.
fnl, and the other confident and super
cilious. The visiting club went to
the bat first, and there were many
broad smiles exchanged among them
as the ungainly Snaggles hurried ex-
pectantly to the pitchers position.
But for time the Hillviews labored
under disadvantage; they were ner-
vous and excited, while their oppo-
nents were calm and nonchalant. The
close of the fifth inning found the
score 6 to 4, in favor of the Water
sides.
"This won't do" demonstrated
Rodgers, as the Hillviews scattered
toward their respective positions in
the field, "we've got to brace up. You
made an awful muff that last time,
Bill. just take the balls easy and
don't get excited. And you, Green,
don't stand so far from your base.
You've already let two men in by that
carelessness. Let's see if we can't
keep them from getting a run this in
ming. Give them some more of your
twisters, Snaggles, and don't be afraid
OF powder. And now, fellows, all of
you remember that on the next four
innings depends the championship.
Break your fingers and legs if you
want to, bnt don't make any more
mulls or wild throws"
This admOnition, or the fact that
the members of the visiting club were
beginning to have just-as.we ex-
pected expression, appeared to have a
marked effect. The Hillviews played
better, and were more concerted in
action. A hot ball, sent by Snaggles
to the second base, and from there
passed on the third. and then home,
made double play, and put out two
men. A moment later, Williams, the
catcher, adroitly took foul tip from
the strikers bat, and so the Water
sides went back into the field without
adding to their score.
| II was now Bills turn at the bat,
and the apprehension of his compan-
ions was presently justified by his be-
ing canght out on a foul. Then came
Snaggles, and as he awkwardly took
his position, the pitcher of the Water
sides delivered his ball with more
confidence than usual. 1t would be
easy to put that fellow out, he
thought.
The first ball was passed, but the
second was met by quick, sharp
blow, which sent it over the head of
the short-stop, and over the head of
the left fielder, who was running
backward, with his arms raised fran
tically in the air, and far out into the
grass, beyond the limits of the ball
ground. Before it could be recovered
and thrown to the pitcher, Snaggles
had made n circuit of the bases, and
was back receiving the congratulations
of his friends.
"Whew" Rodgers heard one of the
WATERSHEDS calculate, 81 wonder
where they picked up that streak of
lightning
After Snaggles came Andrews. with
IL base hit, which carried him to the
second; and Green. who was sent to
his first on called balls. Then short,
muscular fellow named ThomnsOn