Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-07-23
FROsTBURG Md. SATURDAY, JULY 23 1910.

as IL already the punishment did not
far outweigh the crime.
But II the conduct Of my superior
was heartless that OF my associates
was doubly so. Without Il care as to
how deeply this degradation would
sink into q high strung. sensitive soul
such as mine thA Ihootcd and scofred
unrestrained'y as | limpcd to my new
position.
But time in its flight works wonder
full changes, and when next inning |
again faced The TwiStcr' all former
animosities in the face of a common
foe were forgotten. and my brother
players were shouting loud encourage
ments to me.
The game now stood - to IL against
us.
Watch err admonishcd Billy. who
was perched on first base. "Don't let
I'm fool you with a drop, old man."
Billy had familiarly dubbed me the
old man." Yah. yah. Watch out
watch out"
This supplementary outburSt was
brought forth by the unsportsmnnlike
conduct of The Twister" in delivering
the ball while | was attending the re-
marks Of my superior. swung deS-
perately. but too late. However.
evened up on the next pitch by strik-
ing too soon. but Billy. with the eyes
Of ball player only, naturally saw
none Of the beauties of this mathc-
matical equation. TO him the only
problem was how to get me to first
base. A quick summing up evident
ly convinced him there was but one
way.
LET him III: gu" he finally decided.
My blood rose at the heartless sug-
gestion AS if cenSure and reproof
were not enough to bear. My teeth
clinched in rebellion. Never. l. The
next moment | was bending and twist
ing into every conceivable shape in
frenzied effort to dodge the onComing
messenger of retribution. My mental
insurrection was bringing quick re-
buke. Finally in last paroXysm of
hope l threw myself fat upon my
face. But why wrestle with fate!
Better for me had met the inevitable
calmly standing. The ball then would
probably have struck me on the foot.
AS 1t was, it crashed into my ribs and
with a force that made me writhe In
agony.
However, when l struggled diZzily to
my feet | was the recipient Of hearty
congratulations from my teammates,
who deemed the incident n most rare
bit of good luck for me.
But the other side denounced the af-
fair unqualifedly. He jumped right
intu it. He tried tu git hit" they
charged hotly. and The Twister" un-
hesitatingly stamped the occurrence as
1.-The baby act"
AS soon as | could breathe without
bending double and pounding myself
on the back the reason for all this
clamor was made clear to me. For
having been hit by the pitcher, or,
rather, by the ball he had pitched,
was privileged to go to first base.
This | should have considered a
small recompense indeed for my suf-
ferings had 1t not been that there l
learned the true cause Of the catas-
trophe. Fate had nothing to do with
it. The Twister's" remark to the first
baseman explained 1t all upon purely
natural grounds. had simply run
into one of his "inshoots."
AS the inning ended with the score
IS to Is in our favor. we were highly
jubilant. but our joy was momentary,
as soon again our opponents were
forging slowly to the front.
1t was at this critical junCture Of the
game, when all might be won or lost
on single play. that the ball was hit
swiftly past me, and the batter started
on wild circle of the bases. followed
by cries of Foul ballr' from our side
and counter cries of Fair ball'' from
the other side. l remained neutral, the
situation being too intricate for my
comprehension.
AS usual. Tommy, Billy and the UNI
pire gravitated to the center Of the
diamond for the customary bout Of
polemics. The display this time. how
ever. was particularly lurid. fists being
shaken more vigorously and threats Of
bodily harm INDUCED in more fire.
Quently than heretofore. | was con-
graduating myself upon not being in
volved in this especially bitter contro-
versy when the umpire. probably driv
en- to accepting discretion as the bet
ter part of valor, decided to inaugu-
rate court Of inquiry.
Wen leave it to the old man. He
saw it" l heard him declare. and the
next moment the mighty triumvirate
were headed my way.
The move sent shiver Of apprehen-
sion through me. as my ignorance Of
the fine points of the game made 1t i'm
possible for me to show any partiality
for my captain.
A casuist may hold that none should
have been shown, but such n one never
served under a leader like Billy. For
my part was and shall continue to be
ready to lie, cheat or steal II by so
doing can escape the caustic rebukes
Of such a man.
"Where'd that ball go?" demanded
the terrible "Twister" gloweringly and
then without waiting for me supplying
the answer himself. ut hit right
there" he asserted, with savage
kick. spot several feet inside the
base line.
"Ah haw-you're crazy" stoutly re-
torted our champion. at didn't ell