Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-05-06

path and who returned his thrusts with
satire. Courtenay did not seem to
mind wilkins any more than he would
a 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, 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 a
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 VIII
kins, 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 a streak
of bad luck. First their best inHelder
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-
phold fever. Thus In the space Of
month the Rlngolds were reduced from
the better to far inferior team.
"Why don't you try CourtenayT
asked a man who was sympathizing
with Captain Paddock
WHAT That Miss Nancy7 What
could he do at baseball2 He'd be all
right for tiddledewinks, but baseball
never"
"You can at least try him In prac-
tlce game"
yes; can do that. But what's the
use2 IL 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 kept
secret. But on the day OF the game
Wutu luC hlnkOiu ltum Wu6
out on to the oval Berthe, conspicuous
In n crimson silk handkerchief around
his neck, was among them. wilkins
remarked him with unconcealed as.
constituent.
Great ScOttP' he exclaimed SIS
that all they could do In making up
their deficiency We've got them
sure"
The game opened with lnconsplcuous
play on the part of the Rlngold team,
which had the Inning, till II came
Courtenay's turn at the bat. The
first ball sent him he knocked straight
up In the air, dropped the bat and
walked lelsurely 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
II did II landed In some other place.
Courtenay completed his walk, and
every one looked mystlhed. Some
maintained that the ball had gone
far out OF bounds, but the majority
declared that II had gone up In a
straight line and should have fallen
on the plate
After ten minutes spent Ia hunting
all over the field for II the hit was
declared foul The next ball received
by Courtenay lie sent dlagonally into
the corner OF the fence inclOslng the
field and again began his walk around
the bases, completing II 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 ball wheth-
er 1t came down IN u curve or whether
1t was sent from the bat Ia 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 body
protector; indeed, there seemed no
need for one, since he could catch any
ball.
When the game was over the Rim
Colds had scored largely, while the
Resigns 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 II seemed
that he had been shot out OF a gun.
The Ringolds wanted to take him up
on their shoulders and carry him
around the oval. but he protested so
firmly that they desisted.
Courtenay was last seen, with the
others. walking toward the dressing
rooms. No one could say that he had
seen him there or seen him leave
there Some thought that he had tax
en- a train that passed about the time
the game was over and gone TO his
home, wherever that was. Neverthe-
less the fact remains that without
word OF farewell to any one he left
the oval and the town.
Months afterward Kate Hathaway
met n student OF 49, university, to
whom she told the story Of Albert
Courtenay.
"oh, know who that Isl He's Ad
Crichton."
"And who Ii AID CrichtonT
80 called from the Admirable erich
ton who lived In the sixteenth cen
fury. He knew everything. beat every
one at any sort Of exercise and spoke
ten different languages Courtenay is
his counterpart He's queer duck
He's the wonder of our college"