Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-06-04

IN that break ball of mine so hard that
1t nearly picked Piggy off his feet.
Good thing he held it, eh? Oh. these
fellows are only ~lucky-that's all. They
are just shutting their eyes and taking
Il clout at it"
Three innings to go" thought Bru-
no-"three innings"
Steve" he called. Sullivan moved
over and sat down by the acting man
ager. I'm going out to warm up for
y minute said the old man. Delay
this inning all you can"
Bruno and the change catcher Slip
ped out Of the side gate as the last of
the sixth began.
is that old fool going in:" demand
ed Nash. still smarting from the pep
pering which he had received.
You shut up".' snarled Sullivan.
These fellows have been numbering
speed today. Bruno will make suckers
OF EN-. See if he doesn't"
Can you do it," asked the catcher
%anxiously when Smelzer came back to
the bench. "How's the ARM"
Sore" said Bruno briefly. Pm
taking an awful chance, Steve. but if l
leave bud in there they'll just about
knock him endways next inning. l
guess the old girl will stand three in
nlngs all right, and the controls there.
That's the main thing. Well work
that mask trick on 'em if we get a
chance. l haven't tried it against this
club since June"
When Umpire Burke made the an
nouncement at the beginning of the
seventh the Canaries welcomed the an
nouncement with derisive boots and
jeers.
We'll, here's grandpa" they shout
ed. "Old man, what are you going to
do with that $4,000 curio?"
Bruno set his spikes in the box and
began to pitch. 1t was the first time
for many years that he had gone into
the box knowing that his arm was not
right He was grinning cheerfully
when he slipped over the first strike,
but the smile Don faded from his
face. The $4,000 arm. so long cod
died and nursed and petted like a spoil
ed child. was sending in its sharp pro-
test.
The nervous fans chirked up mar
velously when the first hitter splashed
out via third base and the second one
fouled to Sullivan. The third batter
and this was the demon Jimmy Nc
Lennon. whose hitting was taking him
to the big league next season-lined a
single into center and presumed upon
his luck to the extent OF attempting to
steal second base. The Hon. Stephen
Sullivan came up on his toes with a
perfect throw, and the chesty out
fielder persisted in a cloud OF dust and
a whirl OF arms and legs-Sullivan to
McRae.
Nice pegging, kid" said Smelzer as
the battery trundIed to the bench.
Yes; Mac had it waiting for him
when he slid,"-said Steve. "How's the
old girl? Hurt you much?"
Between themselves they usually re-
ferred to the $4,000 arm as the old
girl"
She's awful fretful around the
shoulder. You know, she amt been
feeling right since that twelve inning
game"
The Blue Jays succeeded in getting
two men on the bases in their half OF
the seventh. but Billy Keith, the first
baseman, sent a line drive fairly at
the shortstop's head. Instinct caused
that young man to throw up his hands
TO save his face, and the ball stuck,
was passed On for a double play, and
the side was out.
Take that horseshoe out of your
pocket" vociferated the faithful re-
tainers on the bleachers. You ought
to be arrested"
Bruno wriggled through the eighth
inning somehow. He was holding the
Canaries, but his arm was totaling the
cost for him as well as Il cash register
might have done the job. Every ball
cost him an effort, and the pain in the
shoulder was becoming unbearable.
The redoubtable "Wingo" Jones dou-
bled after two men were out. but the
next man poked a weak inield fly, and
Bruno trudged back to the bench with
the blessings of the multitude thun-
dering after him.
Bruno at bat was more or less of
a joke, and Oscar Petersen refused to
waste time with the old man. He
curved three strikes over for Smelzer,
and Bruno limped back to the bench.
Not o anything would he have taken
a hard swing at a ball. Two more
Blue Jays were plucked in quick Or
der, and Sullivan helped to peel off the
pitchers sweater.
WE'LL. Steve" said Bruno, sit looks
as if this one run lead will have to
do us"
One run is a whole lot when you
amt got it," said Steve philosophical
ly. Judging by the Grabbing on the
visitors bench. the Canaries thought
so too.
Corson. their catcher. was the stand
ard bearer of their forlorn hope.
Rube Corson was a dangerous bat
| for If hO could ,-o n L-Jl z.-.-l--- l.