Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-12-05
CUSTY SAVED
THE GAME,

had spilled considerable fire Into his
makeup. His hair was red, and his
whole face, from his snub nose to his
big ears. was spattered all over with
rusty red freckles. His real name
was Augustine. though every one had
forgotten 1t. Gusty he had been from
his cradle up.
There was no one to love Gusty. His
father was too busy, and his mother
was dead. Other persons chose pref.
ty little boys to love. Gusty took 1t
out in being great He could shin up
tree quicker than any other boy In
school. He was always ready to wres.
tie with any boy who challenged him
regardless of size. His record as q
fisherman was quoted In the next
township, ind so were his swimming
feats, but most Of all he gloried in
baseball.
Hartville. where Gusty lived. was a
factory town Of about 1000 inhabi-
tants 1t boosted a famous baseball
nine, one with which the teams in the
neIghboring towns were eager to COM
pete and still more eager to score
victory over.
Gusty never missed game. He
rarely had the fifteen cent admission
fee, but there was tall. slim trunked
tree Just out side the high board fence
of the ball ground up which Gusty
went like squirrel. Here he had a
full view Of the field.
He sat there one Saturday in the fall
watching with great excitement
game between the Hartvilles and the
Northingtons. 1t was contest for the
final yearly championship.
1t was the eighth inning and the
score stood 9 to 2 when a dispute
arose Hartville was at the bat. Both
teams and Il crowd Of onlOokers surg
ed about the umplres. 1t was finally
decided in favor Of the home team.
and the crowd drifted back into the
place. Gusty from his vantage point
saw the aagry Northingtons swoop
baG1. and as they went a group Of
three or four scuffied, as though by &C.
cident. against the bag that marked
the third base and moved It about
three feet farther from second base.
where Hartville had a man.
No one noticed the trick but Gusty.
whose soul was aflre In an instant. He
slipped nimbly down the tree and over
the fence and ran like deer for third
base. Before any one noticed him he
WAS standing on the Sand bag shouting
to the umpire to stop the game The
Northington third baseman tried to
stite him and pull him Off the base,
but Gusty scratched at him like wild
cat.
The crowd gathered around the two,
ard Gusty told his story. The dis.
lance was measured. and Gusty's stnte.
meat found correct. The game was
called OF. and the teams separated
with much hard feeling on both sides.
Amid taunts and jeers Gusty slipped
of toward home unnoticed by all OK
cept the big Northington bully who
tad moved the base. he started after
Gusty with IN ugly scowl on his face
nd caught up with him just as he was
passing the tree where he had watched
the game.
Iii, you young imp! Thought you
did q mighty smart thing spelling our
game. Here's the tree where you spy
out. IL It? Well. up with you quicker
than lightning. and I'll see that you
stay there until you get enough Of IT,"
"You will. will your" said new
voice that set all the nerves In Gusty's
body tingling with delight. and the
Hartville pitcher. Gusty's hero of
heroes. threw the Northington player
fat and sat squarely on him. In due
time apologies were made and Gusty
was walking proudly down the street
side by side with his hero. When they
reached the corner. where each went
a different way. the big pitcher held
out his hand In such cordial, broth
erly way that the shy, unloved young
ster felt something hard rise In his
throat.
you're a game little chap" and the
big boy gave him q friendly slap on
the shoulder. Say. aren't you the
boy that catches so many Ash7"
Gusty nodded.
"Well. guess you and will have
to go into partnership. think my
mother would like to borrow you
sometimes to help me eat up her crul'
lers. You can show me where the
trout bite best and IN teach you all ]
know about baseball and football"
So this u how Gnsty lost his loneli'
ness and found big brother
ksIesp'o Ash.
The DESTRUCTIVE philippine volcanoes
have value for ono thing at least
eko I,a.Iao As,nfh1o