Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-14

thing concerning his nnteccdents. eaclt
asking him one or more questions. H.
answered them In five different Ian
guages. With bit of chalk he madr
a caricature OF wilkins that set every
one who looked nj II laughing The
blum baseball man against the versa
tile scholar was like bread clul,
against rapicr OF Damascus steel
wilkins became furious al this un.
path and who returned his thrusis with
satire. Courtcnay did not seem to
mind wilkins any more than he would
gnat. never manifesting toward him
the slightest hostility.
Kate Hathaway was no less at sea
with regard TO Mr.. Courtenay than
were tho 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
10 what no said she felt lifted into u
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 n biri
TO ancient Greece. Rome or Egypt.
Meanwhile the competing clubs were
making up and practiring Paddock
had selected the better team. and VII.
kins. who knew his cncmy'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 n streak
OF bad luck. First their best infelder
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 Gown with ~,
phoid fever. Thus In the space of n
month the Ringolds were reduced from
the better TO a far inferior team.
why don't you try Courtcnay;"
asked man who was sympathizing
with Captain Paddock
What! That Miss Nancy? What
could he do at baseball? He'd lie all
right for tiddledewinks. but baseball
never"
You can at least try him In prac.
tice game"
Yes; can do that. But what's the
use? II would be time lost
Paddock's friend insisted. and Cour.
tenay was invited to show what he
could do. He accepted the INVITATION
What he did on the diamond was KEEP,
secret. But on the day OF the game
when the Ringold team was walking
out on to the oval BERTHE. conspicuous
in a crimson silk handkerchief around
his neck. was among them. wilkins
remarked him with unconccaled rs.
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 Il came
Courtenay's turn at the bat. The
Hiol uun scnt MN ut huo'h'u rlIHi-ht
up In the air. dropped The bat and
walked leisufrcly around the bases
Every man OF the opposing team stood
looking up for the ball to come down.
but either II did not come down or II
1t did It landed In some other place
Courtenay completed his walk. and
every one looked mystitied 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.
After ten minutes spent in hunting
all over the field for II 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 bali
was found.
During the game Captain Paddock
put the substitute into various posi-
tIons. and he did MS well IN one MS In
another. He would catch ball wheih-
er It came down In curve or whether
Il was sent from the bat In a llnc par
allel to the ground When lie 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 body
protector: indeed. there seemed M
need for one. since he could catch any
ball.
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. lie had made but
few runs himself. and then II seemed
that he had been shot out OF gun.
The Ringolds wanted 20 take him up
on their shoulders aud carry him
around the oval. but he protested 50
firmly that they desIsted.
Courtenay was last seen. with the
others. walking toward the dressing
rooms. No one could say that lie had
seen him there or seen him leave
there. Some thought that he had TAX
en- a train that passed about the tine