Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-08-20


blowing for IL o'clock. No doubt
clocks were striking also. and people
were going home to dinner. But the
dance program with Its little blue pen
ell lay in the dusty road. trampled by
the feet of passersby. As far from Don
AIDS stubby, earth stained fingers as
from his boys mind-all rude. male,
Homeric activity-were the sweet moth.
ings which should have been written
on 1t at this hour.
Maybe we'd better go round by the
little drug store and plaster up my
head; 1t feels kind O. queer. Say. we
got to buy some sandwiches at the
park. I'm as hungry as a hound dog.
Who's got the mon'?"
He had no desire to avoid n ScnSa-
tional episode. He was only too pre-
occupied with important things to stop
and play hero. Otherwise he might
have remembered to pause and obligc
his comrades with a dramatic moment
or two.
II ought to wash Off this blood he
allowed. Didn't I scratch my face up
rolling down there? l rolled most of
the way" He turned n battered coun,
tenance from one to another. I'm
afraid IL my folks see me looking like
this they'll take me out Of the game.
and some Of them are sure to be
there"
Lets go over to the creek" suggest
ed Dinkey Martin. But when they ar-
rived at the bank of the bowldcr check
ed stream controversy arose as to dry
ing convenicnces.
Use your shirt an leave II hangin'
on a limb-we'll get 1t after the game"
some one suggested.
The boy who had twice in one morn
ing pulled the whskers OF death put
up really serious objection to this.
I'D forget and go home without 1t.
and then mad miss It and scold me.
can stand most things. but mas
scolding gets me. I'll dry on my shirt
and put 1t back on. It'll feel nice and
cool"
One o'clock at the park saw strag-
glers beginning to gather for the 2
o'clock game and the Dons negotiating
for lunch. Donald ate two pOnderous
lined up his men and prepared for
battle.
Two o'clock came. and the familiar
cry, "Play BALI" The visitors, nn1-
ious for chance to bring In the pro-
fessionals they had secured. put for
ward their weakest players.
In the first inning the Mount Pisgah
boys made one home run and a three
bagger, and In the second inning one
run. 1t looked like easy victory.
but neither Donald nor Swaney was
deceived. They were aware that the
Bellevilles felt willing not to score
until they could bring in their hired
professional talent. At signal from
the manager one Of their players felt
his shin. groaned and limpcd of the
field. There was call for his substi-
tute, two calls. fusllade of catcalls,
tiger yells, the howl Of the jungle wolf.
for that substitute, for any substitute.
but none was forthcomingi
Instead note was put into the
hands Of the Belleville captain. In 1t
the professionals informed him that
conscience had at the last moment
seized them, as 1t were, by the throat.
and dragged them out Of the way OF
temptation. and reminded him that It
Is not all of glory to win-that honesty
and fair play are the best part of any
game. They added that they were
leaving for Bellcville on the next train.
but neglected to mention that these
fine sentiments had cost the manager
of the Dons IS.
The lame player recovered miracu-
lousy and drifted back to his base,
wearing sheepish grin. The Belle
villes had deliberately lost ground.
Their captain came to the bat with
the courage OF despair. He looked his
men over; they understood that, hav-
ing failed at treaohery, they were e1-
pected to do the impossible-and they
meant to try.
One run on two hits for the visit
ing team in the third inning. No score
for the home nine.
We're beat-we're beat right noww
groaned Sam as Donald came out
The manager of the home team
ground his teeth. A strip Of plaster
running the length of his forehead,
bramble scratches swelling on his sun
bistered face. he dropped the end Of
his bat TO earth and glared defiance.
Somewhere n clock struck 3-but not
IN that world which his spirit now
Inhabited. What need to tell the de-
tails of the boyish struggle. heat pal
pitating in the air. the sun glaring
down DitileSsly uDOn the dry baked
diamond with the cinder lines? Suf-
fee 1t to say that in the ninth inning,
after pulling forward and back. the
score stood to 7. Donald was again
at the bat. the captain Of the Belle
villes in the pitchers box.
Look out for him, Don" Sam had
whispered the warning. THAT fellow
can knock spots out Of anybody with
ball"
"He amt a-going to knock no spots
out of me-" Donald muttered from the
pit of his stomach.
The first ball came. Don clutched
his bat hard. lest 1t go or automati-
cally with all the fury of combat
which he felt running down his arms.
But that ball! 1t was an impossibility
such curves the treacherous Belle
villeite threw!
Don had tested his bat; he spat on
his hands. squared his legs, glowered
Mt the umpire, swung the bat on high