The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-10-22

o foot over his head, he ran like q
fiend, jumped in the air what looked
like two feet, but was probably only
ten inches or SO. and caught the ball.
There was great clapping at this
among their crowd, and they gave
their yell for the first time. 1t was:
"Helter SHELTER, hobble gobble, siss,
boom, all DEMO, DEMO. Rah, rah, rahl"
The left fielder, whose name was Turn
ner grinned at me like gargoyle. The
fellow was disreputable-looking chap,
and made me feel sick. I determined
that would strike out next time be-
fore would send hit in his direction;
but I 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 / went back to
the corner where our fellows were
gathered L stripped of my sweater,
and then ] remembered for the first
time that had forgotten to take off
my vest, which had my watch in 1t.
1t was q nice gold one, which one Of
my dearest aunts had given me, and l
wouldn't have lost it for anything.
We usually gave our valuables to
Anderson TO keep. He had the deep.
est pockets, and the most of them, that
I ever saw in my life; but there was
Anderson 40 rods off under the trees
among all the ladies, and I didn't want
to take 1t clear over there. There was
o safe dressing-room In the school; but
1t was an eighth of 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 / 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 Gin 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 1t will be safe enough. I'm too
not to wear the vest, and Berrian's
right here"
"All correct" said Gardner, abb
sently, and listening while Berrian
called Worthley to bat, Gardner on
leck and Niles in the hole. "Still," he
added. suddenly. you'd better give 1t
10 Anderson. This 10 hard set around
,ere."
'Nonsensei" said, impatiently.
Who could touch it while Berrian is |
lose by SOP"
Gardner didn't say anything. Worth
ey had made base hit, and Gardner
vas called to bat.
l pinned the vest together hastily.
3errian was industriously jotting |
lown the assists and put-outs. He |
owed now In an aside to me that the |
umpire had just called two strikes on
Gardner when there had only been
me. He was getting very mad.
Look out for my watch, Berrian,"
said. confidentially. ut is under my
weater, right in my vest-pocket
here"
Then I settled down to the game.
'errian was qaivering with excite
nent. He probably knew as little of
THAT l had been saying to him as a
EN-. Gardner was now on first base,
Vorthley was stealing third, and Niles,
ur short" hard batsman, was up.
looked as though we might get In q
un. Niles gave a glorious hit; but 1t
eered of foul, and one of their long
.gged fielders caught 1t, so that we
'ere without run in spite of two men
n bases.
Turner was their first man at bat.
e was clean hitter; and the first
new down came swift ball In my d.
ection, considerably above my head.
Noted. probably, by his example, I
ave jump into the air which must
ave seemed as high as Turner's in the
ed; and ], too, caught the ball, and in
" turn put him out.
Now had chance to grin. knew
lat I hadn't received Turner's grin
18th much grace; but he received
line, as the umpire called "Outl" with
really vicious scowl. didn't care,
owever, under the circumstances.
e got three men out in short order,
nd the next inning opened without
run on either side. :
We had advanced to the fourth in
rg, and the score stood three to two
our favor, when 1t occurred to me
lat l might as well look after my |
etch. I strolled up to Berrian, there
re, and remarked, casually: II sup
IS my watch is all right"
Watch" he said, GROSSLY, keeping q
e waiting while he put down an
Tor for Gardner. "Where in thunder G
your watch, anyway? Haven't seen {
realized that he had paid no atten-