Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-09-28

holes In Il.
IN the first practice game Gabby
4 was sent in to catch for the re-
cruits and the regulars, by switching
signals every inning, endeavored 10
outwit him on the bases. Their plan
of campaign was all right, but
Gabby's chain-lightning right arm
put a fearful crimp into it. He may
not have interpreted the signals, but,
after he had twice caught Streak
Fowler attempting to steal second
base, he had established his local
reputation. Penny was right about
his being able to allow a base-runner
q lead and then catch him on sheer
speed. When it came to batting,
Gabby mauled Kinky Devine's best
offerings In a scandalous manner,
standing up to the plate with as much
easy grace and confidence as If he
had been pulverizing big league
pitchers all his life.
While Nelligan the ball player was
making good with the manager Nelli-
gan the human being was establish
ing himself with his teammates. They
did not take to him at first. They
were i'll at ease in his presence, partly
because of his almost uncannny in
telligence and partly because Gabby
had a disconcerting habit of looking
every speaker full in the face. as If
trying to read the thought behind the
eyes. (They did not know that the
poor fellow was trying to master lip
reading.) The opening wedge was
driven home when Nelligan horned
into" a very prosperous little crap
game which was running In Judge
Nagle's room, laid $40 note on the
floor and made six passes without
picking up cent
This guy can't talk" said the judge
sourly; "and he most certainly can't
hear anything; but, believe me, he's
ALL
THE poker experts with the club OBJ
Il served a wistful light in Gabby's
bright, inquiring eyes, and made signs
inviting him to take part in the pas
time. Theoretically, there should be
no better poker player in the world
than a man who can neither hear nor
speak Gabby used his eyes in the
game, and, being trained to read ex-
pressions, the things which he did to
Hollins, Curran, Richardson and Fer
ris were painful in the extreme.
This dummy can smell a bluff
mile away" said Roaring Bill" Cur
ran sadly, as he tossed away four
hearts and a spade. HE just out
guesses me, that's all"
In addition to these card-and dice
Gabby put on the
gloves with Willis Green,
the left fielder. For three seasons
Willis had been getting away with a
story that he had once fought and
won several ring battles under the
name of Joe Kelly. Gabby Nelligan
did not know this, and the boxing
bout was intended to be in the nature
Of surprise party for him. 1t was a
party, but Willis Green was
the victim.
Gabby laid away the Joe Kelly
myth. and but for interference would
have laid away the left fielder also.
AS it was, the dummy, handling the
big pillows with deftness, mauled
Green all over the dressing room,
blocked every one of the fielder
swings, and nearly jabbed his head off
his shoulders with a rasping straight
left-the prettiest blow of the fight
sr's catalogue, as we'll as the most
useful.
Gabby was "solid" with the Tourists
by the time they packed their traps
and started North He was zone OF
the BUNCH" though It was full
month before he had a chance in
real game.
II OE was a cautious manager, who
N believed In using an old and ex-
perienced player until he could stand
the pace no longer Phil McCarty. the
former star catcher, had seen his best
days, and his throwing arm was dying
in its socket The catcher who can
no longer shoot tho ball down to sec
ond base is ticketed through to the
baseball morgue; and, while Shad
hoped against judgment and expert
ence that Phil might round into his
old-time form, the season opened
with the visitors stealing bases at
will. Roe fell back upon Curran, who
was never a first-class catcher. ex-
perimented with him for several days