Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-08-27

UN THE RUNNERS SPED, NEITHER bEE1N0
THE OTHER.
of by a narrow margin The other
two batters fell victims to the loop
the loop curve, and New York was
at the bat.
The easterners could do nothing
dragged along In the throes of pitch
ers' battle between Cratheson and
Dwight.
The monotonous call Of strike"
"ball' and other decisions by the de-
cider was beginning to tell on the
nerves of the strongest hearted rooters
Heavy clouds were looming up In the
direction Of the Palisades. and the
vast assemblage was beginning to
grow uneasy.
Big Dan was spellbound. The rapid
ity of the game to him was amazing
Seven innings had been reeled or and
a look at his watch showed Big Dan
that only twenty-seven minutes of time
had elapsed.
A sudden roar from the eastern
crowd suddenly aroused Dan from his
lethargic reverie. A big. broad shoul-
dered batter was approaching the
plate. every step being marked by
cheers from his admirers.
Dyke Monlin" the entire assem-
blage yelled the name in concert.
And who is Dyke Monlin?" asked
Dan of the stranger.
Dyke? Why. don't you know Dyke7
Dyke Monlin is the greatest pinch hit
ter and utility man in the world. He
broke up eight games last season by
hitting the bullseye in center field
and practically won the pennant for
his club"
This caused Dan to scan the field
more closely. Near the fence in CEN
ter he espicd huge target. In the
center was big black hole about the
size Of derby hat. By n few care
fully guarded questions Dan ascertain
ed that this target was used as an ex.
ira incentive for long hits.
If ball struck the outer edge about
two feet from the center. an automat-
ic spring flashed a huge placard bear
ing the number two" on top of the
board. This indicated that the batter
had earned two bases. A drive a little
closer to the center and the figure
three was hoisted. This meant three
bases. If the ball was driven squarely
in the center sky rocket was touched
OF and n lifelike portrait of the pres
ident of the United States appeared
on top of the board. draped in small
American flags. This meant that the
batter was entitled to home run as
well as a medal of honor from the gov
ernment.
Zone strike" rang out the automatic
caller.
1.-TWO strikes!" came before the echo
had hardly died out
Then Monlin acted. Swinging from
the hip he caught what Dwight called
his dead mans curve" sQuarely on
the nose. and the ball shot toward the
bullseye. 1t fell little short, how
ever, and dropped in the crowd, and
the umpire allowed but single Mon
lin had run to the right and was safe
y perched on the bag.
At this moment the heavy clouds
grew black. and peals of thunder again
warned the crowd of coming storm
There was great scurry for cover,
and then the rain came down in tor
rents. A suspension of play was ab.
solutely necessary. There was gloom
over the eastern side of the field. It
began to look as II rain would rob
New York of victory. They had no
thought but that Monlin would score.
and that would be the winning run.
Five minutes more and glad shout
arose from the crowd In the club
house. Rays of sunshine were trying
TO find their way through the dispers-
ing clouds. In two more minutes the
rain was over. and the flooded dia-
mond was bathed In sunshine.