The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-10

ers all abount announced The coming con-
test. The local press under the biggest
blacklist headlines possible to its fonts.
limited darkly at a ''phenofenon" in tire
pitchers box for the home team. Placards
also warned citizens 10 do their Satur~
day buying betimes. as every shop wo-li
be shut during the hours of the game.
Local patriotism had risen to a passion,
and swept through il in a tidal wave.
Still mystery lay thick and murk over
the pitcher, and some other things. One
of them was why not one Of the nine had
showed his face at Mike Grogan's saloon,
which heretofore had been baseball
headquarters. Beyond that there was in
credible rumors of no beer on the grounds
not even the customary TWO kegs for
the team. The Dutchman who had COM
monty owned that profitable privilege ad
swearing in extra deputy marshals whose
business 1t should be to suppress swear
ing. and all sorts of riotous language.
The visiting club was amazed at its re-
ception. There were no white-clad players
in wait to drag them off to Grogan's for
a social guzzle Instead Colonel and Bill
Reed met them and took them to the
hotel while the Gallia city band went
alcng, Ilaying its loudest. The strains
came to HARDWOOD as he was slipping into
his suit. He was not to 60 with the pro-
cession, but to meet the team at the
grounds.
1t was a great procession-the band at
the head, pulling doggedly through a Sou
sa march; next the bus bearing Center
porters in white with blue caps and hose;
after them another bus full of Gallias.
also in white but red on heads and feet:
then swarms of buggies, hacks and farm
wagons. packed with friends of both
mines; last of all frayed-out drizze of
small boys, intent upon finding cracks or
nf-hn through
they might at least view the promised
land
1t would be hard to say whether there
was more curiosity or anxiety, in the
glances which Gallia City folk bent upon
their champions. Interest of course cen
tered on the "phenom.' The strain was
not relieved when careful counting show
ed in the Gallia bus only eight regular
players and two substitutes Gloom deep
enCd percept;b;H. Those who had given
odds on Gallia felt their coin already as
good as lost They began to feel also that
they had been badly scotland by their
own. Without new blood in the home team
the game was a gift to Centerport-and so
far there was no sign of new blood.
About a minute after the appointed
hour the umpire sent the Gallias to the
field and the Centcrports to the bench.
Their short stop spat loyalty upon the
cleaning new ball and rolled it in the
dirt so the pitcher might easily grip it.
There had been preliminary practice by
both teams. Galla partisans were amaz-
ed, and somewhat cheered to see the sub
s,itute pitcher go to the bench not the
box. The points were empty. Almost be-
fore anybody could remark 1t. out from
the dressing room beneath the grand
stand, shot slight wiry figure in white
with red stocking and red cap. When the
figure walked briskly into the pitchers
place a buzz rippled clean around the
ground Centerports captain seemed 10
kick but at a low word from the UNI
pire dropped back saying to himself:
Fer Gawds sake!'
Batter up called the umpire. A mod
ern Goliath, big Jim Bunker, stalked up
to the plate.
PLAY BALL" cried the umpire The ball
was passed. Brent faced the mighty slug
ger with a little irritating smile.
Say, jim" bawfed the captain, "either
this here 'phenom' is young, or it was
picked mighty green. Anyway it aint big
enough to send ball across the rubber.
1t oughter be set playin, marbles. This
'aint no place for children. Now, then,
Jim, swat 'er over the fence and break
the 'phenom's heart"
You just watch my smoke" Jim said.
when l hit 'er a lick, she'll look like
saucer I'm going to knock the damn
thing flat"
sweaiin this game" a deputy marshal
said, touching the big batsmans elbow.
IAN right boss! 1 didn't know this was
a prayer meetin," Jim said, amaZement
in every line of his face.
All eyes were fast on the pitcher, the
phenom. He certainly looked too slight for
the game he was up>against. Would he
fail? Harwood screwed the ball into the
palm of his right hand, sprang forward,
then lightly, swiftly, as an archer might
loose a tense bow-string, loosed his arm,
and sent the ball kissing across the plate
to raise a puff of sand between the plate
and Reed.
lone striker cried the umpire.
HELP shouted Jim. II didn't see itp'
HARDWOOD silently pitched a wrthing rise
that wound over the plate to the utter
confoundins of the batter.
1.-TWO strikes said the umpire.
Thought it was agoin to be low ball,
Jim said apologeticaliy 10 his captain.
The captain glowerd. Bin Reed put on the
Dat. HARDWOOD gripped the ball peculiarly,
a sign 10 Bill that the pitch would be
wide out-curve. The ball started appar-
emily for Jims stomach. jim doubted il
would agree with him-he jumped very
far back from the plate. just the ball,
twisting Ike a serpent sailed right over
the middle of the rubber.
Three strkesl Strikers outr' bawled
the umpire, batter up"
The crowd was at first too amazed to
applaud. 1t could hardly believe it's eyes.
A stripping had struck OUT the invinci-
BILE Jim Bunker. Jim skunk towards the
bench, growing at what he called "the
empire" He was promptly slenced by
the assertion that the empire" was all
right-it was himself, Jim Bunker, who
had an oyster in his forehead in place of
an eye.
When Centerrort's captain had said that
he went TO the bat himself. Harwood smil-
I'd. Back al college il had been said that
his grin as by his curves. The grin was
slow, insinualing, exasperating, calculat-
Ell to drive the coolest batter wild. Har-
wood stood a half minute rubbing the ball
and grinnirS al the captain.
Aw, gil a move on We, there, kid
suarled the batter Harwood grinned.
Needn't be 'fraid. I'll bust the burned
hing! Gimme er crack at 'er an I'll
show We a tr ok with hole in it, Ye amt
pitchin to no blind man this trip" the
captain went on.
The parson kept on glinning.
The batter Rot explosively red. Har-
wood, watching him narrowly gave the
ball a little hift. and pitched a wabbling
"dew-drop' toward the hot captain. Cen
terports man was too disguised and too
mad to see 1t. The ball went over the
plate-a strike was promptly called. Then
Harwood repeated the pitch 1t seemed
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