Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-07-16

lay on the desk in front Of him, That
envelope contained blank contracts for
next season. but the bluff worked well.
Here's what money is coming to
you. Now, beat it!%
Some of the Keatsville players NAV
aave suspected the truth. but pride in
the team held them silent, and Red
Lynch and Jake Hartwell were whirled
away to new fields, quarreling as they
went. They had received 500 apiece
for the last bit of business, and they
felt, too late, that they had sold out
their athletic birthrights for a song,
and a pretty poor song at that.
"A stranger in Tucson, Ariz., would
nave no trouble in locating the sport
Ing center Of that sporty little south
western city. 1t was a billiard parlor
on the main street. recognized as the
official "hangout' for baseball players,
boxers and other professional gentle
men.
The particular stranger which we
AVE in mind made Il few casual ac-
quaintances, and, quite naturally, Pat
sy Delaney, the manager of the Tucson
Eagles, came by the information that
there was a new player in town.
Patsy sought out the stranger and
asked a few questions.
They tell me you've played base
ball." said he.
Some"
What positions"
Behind the bat mostly" said the
stranger, but | can play first or the
outfeld."
Hum! Hit any?"
"Oh, about two-ninety in the semipro
leagues around st. Louis"
Come on out to the park tomorrow
afternoon" suggested Delaney.
Needless to state, there was nothing
at all the matter with the way George
White of st. Louis" shaped up. His
throwing to the bases was nothing less
than a revelation, and he "got the ball
away with a snap that kept the sec
ond baseman and the shortstop up on
their toes all the while. Even Jack
Gibbs. the regular catcher, admitted
that White was the best ''pegger" he
had W. seen.
In the batting practice Lew Kelly.
the Eagles mainstay in the box, went
out on the slab under instructions to
put something on the BALI for the
stranger. Lew obeyed orders, but the
way White fell on his wide, round
house curve and spattered it to all cor
ners Of the lot was discouraging, to
say the least.
Hes a bear. Pat said the discom-
flied Kelly. Did you see the way he
murdered that drop ball Of mine?"
"You bet!." said the manager cheer
fully.
White asked for the verdict a few
minutes later.
GLOW about it," he said carelessly.
"Think you can use me?
"Use your calculated Delaney. 'You
bet your life I can use you! Two
games a week. The players split the
money sixty and forty after the man
agement takes out 25 per cent of the
gross"
"Uh-huh" said White, without en-
thusiasm. "And how much does this
cut usually run?"
"Never less than $25, and sometimes
as much as $4O," said Delaney, fully
expecting to see Whites eyes light up
at the news.
"Not good enough" said White cold
ly. "Ill tell you what I'll do. Make
it a guarantee of $50 a week and
you're on"
cpl try you for a week." Delaney
said.
This was on a Tuesday. Each after
noon some Of the players went to the
park for practice, and, as in every
town, the embryo diamond stars turn
ed out to assist them. On Thursday
six members of the Tucson team were
languidly, warming up on the field,
when a lanky, red headed young man
climbed down out Of the bleachers
where he had been sitting in solitary
judgment. The red headed stranger
removed his coat. vest, collar and tie.
and. borrowing a glove from a small
boy, took a place in line with the near
performers.
"Who's the br%icktop?" asked White.
"Looks to me like a pitcher"
Patsy scrutinized the newcomer.
You can search me-" he said. "Some
tramp ball player. I guess. The woods
are full of 'em."
"Well." said White, after some time
spent in watching the stranger. 81
don't know about his being a tramp.
Pat. but take 1t from me he sure is
one pippin Of a pitcher"
SIS that so?" said the manager, be-
ginning to show some interest. ~
hadn't noticed it."
SWELL, I have" announced White
positively. "Whe-e-w! What do you
know about that speed? Talk about q
smoke ball! Tell you what I'll do. I'll
get him to pitch some to me and We'll
turn him loose on these fellows in the