The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-07-07

Greek. He was sitting at table In
the club one day with 1--WE men. They
fell to trying to get from him some
thing concerning his antecedents, each;
asking him one or more questions. He
answered them in five different Ian
guages. With a bit Of chalk he made
q caricature of Wilkins that set every
one who looked at 1t laughing. The
blur baseball man against the versa
tile scholar was like a bread club
against rapier Of Damascus steel.
Wilkins became furious at this un-
known creature who had crossed his
path and who returned his thrusts with
satire. Courtenay did not seem to
mind wilkins any more than he would
q gnat, never manifesting toward him
the slightest hostility.
Kate Hathaway was no less at sea
with regard to Mr.. Courtenay than
were the others. He seemed to like
her society. but never made love to
her. nor did he tell her more about
himself than he told them. There was
certainly fascination In the man she
could not account for. When listening
to what he said she felt lifted into
different atmosphere. At times he
would chat with her about the poll
tics Of their native land. but no sooner
had he interested her in the subject
than he would skim away like a bird
to ancient Greece, Rome or Egypt
Meanwhile the competing clubs were
making up and practicing. Paddock
had selected the better team, and vii.
kns. who knew his enemy's strength
and the weakness of several of his
own men. was feeling very much dis
couraged. But during the term of
practice the Ringold team had streak
of bad luck. First their best inaelder
was hit in the face by ball and In
capacitated, then their next strongest
man fell and broke his leg, and lastly
their pitcher was taken down with ty-
phoid fever Thus in the space of a
month the Ringolds were reduced from
the better to far inferior team.
"Why don't you try Courtenay?"
asked Il man who was sympathizing
with Captain Paddock.
What! That Miss Nancy? What
could he do at baseball? He'd be all
right for tiddledewinks, but baseball
never"
You can at least try him in a prac-
tice game
Eyes; l can do that. But what's the
use? 1t would be time lost.'
Paddock's friend insisted, and Cour-
| TN,
could do. He accepted the invitation.
What he did on the diamond was kept
secret. But on the day Of the game
| when the Ringold team was walking
out on to the oval BERTHE, conspicuous
in crimson silk handkerchief around
his neck, was among them. Wilkins
remarked him with unconcealed as
constituent.
| ''Great Scott" he exclaimed. lis
that all they could do in making up
their deficiency? We've got them
sure"
The game opened with inconspicuous
! play on the part of the Ringold team,
which had the inning, till it came
Courtenay's turn at the bat. The
first ball sent him he knocked straight
up in the air, dropped the bat and
walked leisurely around the bases.
Every man Of the opposing team stood
looking up for the ball to come down,
but either it did not come down or If
it did it landed in some other place.
Courtenay completed his walk, and
every one looked mystifed. Some
maintained that the ball had gone
far out Of bounds, but the majority
declared that it had gone up in a
straight line and should have fallen
on the plate.
all over the field for 1t the hit was
declared foul. The next ball received
by Courtenay he sent diagonally into
the corner of the fence inclosing the
field and again began his walk around
the bases. completing 1t before the ball
was found.
During the game Captain Paddock
put the substitute into various posi-
lions, and he did as well in one as in
another. He would catch a ball wheth-
er It came down in a curve or whether
It was sent from the bat in a line par
allel to the ground. When he pitched
the batter never touched the ball. .
When behind the batter no pitcher
could give ball that he could not
catch. He declined to use a body
protector; indeed, there seemed no
need for one, since he could catch any
ball. .1:sS!s ~ .YSMzs3Ezes~
When the game was over the Rim
colds had scored largely, while the
Roslyns had made but three or four
runs. Courtenay had carried the game
on his shoulders, and that without any
apparent effort. He had made but
few runs himself, and then It seemed
that he had been shot out Of gun.
The Ringolds wanted to take him up
on their shoulders and carry him
around the oval. but he protested 80
firmly that they desisted.