Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-10-10
MARTY BROWN.
MASCOT"
By RALPH H. BARBOUR.

MARTY was a small, snub-nosed.
wi freckle-faced youth who had been
adopted as a mascot by the Summer
Vile Baseball club, and whose chief
| luty was to care for the bats. After
many victories, there came day of
disaster for the nine, with an injured
left fielder, and no one to put in his
place.
Boy Aver meanwhile had searched
| unsuccessfully for a player to take
the injured Webster's place, and had
Just concluded to apply to Vulcan's
| captain for one of his substitutes, when
he turned to find Marty at his side.
"Are yer lookin' fer a Teller to play
| left field?"
eyes," answered Bob, eagerly. "Do
you know of anyone?"
Marty nodded.
t'Who?"
"Me"
Bob stared in surprise, but Marty
| looked back without f1inching. 81 can
play, Bob; not like you, of course, but
| pretty well. And, besides, there amt
no one else, is there? Give me a show,
| will yer?"
Bob's surprise had given place to
deep thought. "Why not?" he asked
| himself. Of course Marty could play
| ball; what Summerville boy couldn't,
| to some extent? He turned and strobe
| to the bench, and Marty eagerly
| watched him comforting with the 9TH
ers. In a moment he turned and
| nodded. The last half of the last in
| ming began with the score IL to in IA
vor of Vulcan.
| "Play carefully, fellows" shouted
| Vulcan's captain, as Hamilton went to
bat. ''We've got to shut them OUT
eff youse can" muttered Marty,
seated on the bench between Bob and
Wolcott.
It looked as though they could. Bob
groaned as Hamilton popped a short
! fly into ACCOMPLISHMENTS hands, and
the rest of the fellows echoed the
! mournful sound.
Cliff it, Will; lift it!'' implored Bob
as Pickering STROBE to the plate. And
| lift it he did. Unfortunately, however,
when it descended it went plump into
the hands of right field. In the stand
half the throng were on its feet. Bob
| looked hopelessly at Warner as the
pitcher selected bat.
| "Cheerup, Bob!" cried tn e latter, grin
ming. I'm going to crack that ball or
know the reason whyi"
| The Vulcan pitcher was slow and
careful. They had taken the wearied
| Baker out and put in a new twirler
Warner let his first effort pass unno-
ticed, and looked surprised when the
umpire called it a strike. But he re
| ceived the next one with hearty vel
come, and sent it speeding away for 8
safe hit, taking first base amid the wild
cheers of the little group of blue-and
| white-decked watchers. Hamilton hur
| ried across to coach the runner, anc
Bob stepped to the plate. His contribu
ton was a swift liner that was toe
hot for the pitcher, one that placed
Warner on second and himself on first
Then, with Hamilton and Sleeper botf
coaching at the top of their lungs
the Vulcan catcher fumbled a ball a
which Howe had struck, and the two
runners moved on. The FESTIVE audi
ence had overlooked on to the field now
and excitement reigned supreme. An
other strike was called on Home, am
for a moment Summerville's chance
appeared to be hopeless. But minut
later the batter was limping to first
having been struck with the ball, an
the pitcher was angrily grinding hi
heel into the ground.
webster at bat!" called tn
scorer.
That's you, Marty" said Wolcot1
eff you never do another thing, N
boy, swat that ball.
Marty picked out bat and strod
courageously to the plate. A roar O
laughter greeted his appearance.
"Get on to Blue Jeans!" "Give us
home run, kidd" Say, now, SOM,
don't fall over your pants!"
It needed just that ridicule to disp<
Martyrs nervousness. He was angr.
| How could he help his pants" bein
long? he asked himself, indignant,
He'd show those dudes that pants
hadn't anything to do with hitting
baseball. He shut his teeth har,
gripped the bat tightly, and faced til
pitcher The latter smiled at his a,
versary, but was not willing to tai
any chances, with the bases full. An
so. needless of the requests to ITO:
him an easy one, joel" he delivered
swift, straight drop over the plate.
sStrike!" droned the little umIir