The Washington times., 1922-09-03
sTHE VOLUNTEER" OR
CASEY'S COMEBACK


WALTER F. HALLECK writes
Of the great pleasure he had in
reading in Sundays Times sew
eral weeks ago the famous base.
ball classic, "Casey at the Bat"
and the sequel to "Casey at the
Bat" q few weeks later. He
sends US what he regards the
real sequel to the original poem,
"The Volunteer" and here it is:
The BuEviIIe team was surely up
The shances were were they'd win defeat.
and not undyinE fame.
Three men were hurt and two were
They had 70 make three hard-earned
runs in just three innings more.
sIt can't be DONE" the captain said'
tive got two pitchers In the field,
And should another man get spiked or
Tn. tsrm xoaId surely be down and
out, with eight men left to play.
'swe're up against It, anyhow. rs far
NY boz. sin.s hitting like they should.
and that's what worries me.
The luck IL with the other sidcj no
n. psniISsSs p%isStS tonsh S,, we but % we must take
our medicine and grin"
The eighth round opened-.one. two.
three-the enemy went down.
The Bugvtlie boys went out the samei
the captain wore q frown.
The first half of the ninth came round
two men had been put out. 49,.
when Bugville's catcher broke u thumo
and could not 70 the route.
A deathly silence settled DER the crowd
Defeat would be allotted them, they
with only eight men In the field 'twould
su.S nonaer ss'G that the captain cursed
the day he learned to play!
..Lend me q man to finish with" he
.I.,nS Sssyea yea .ne = MANI" % the foe replied.
my boy, you're In q dream.
We came TO win the pennant, too;
That's what we're doing here.
call for b volunteer.
The captain stood and pondered In
hstl4ss sort OF way; ,s h. wouId
els there within the Erandstand here"
his voice rang loud and clear,
"a man who has the sporting blood 70
be = voluntoerf"-
And again that awful silence settled
DER the multitude. .
Was there 2 man among snem WI"
such recklessness imbued?
The captain stood with cap In hand'
while hopeless was his glancej
And then Q short and stOcky man cried
out, "Pn take, q chance:
Into the field he bounded with step
both firm and hight
And calmly took his station In readi-
.rss mess ssms no, l. now beyond recall, I'll
last at least round.
Although I'm ancient. you will find me
muscular and sound"
His hair was sprinkled here and there
with little streaks Of grayi
Around his eyes and on his brow
bunch OF wrinkles lay.
The captain smiled despairinEly and
When '"S .!Ss's ;'psH ali @risStw one roeter
yelled; another, "Let him play"
"AlI right, 20 on" the captain sighedi )
The stranger turned around,
Took off his coat and collar, too, and
threw them on the ground.
The humor Of the situation seemed TO
hit them all:
A he donned the mask and mitt the
umpire yelled. "Play balP
Three balls the pitcher at him heaved,
three balls Of lightning speed;
The stranger caught them all with
case and did not seem to heed.
Each ball had been pronounced strike,
the side had been put out,
And as he sauntered to the bench &c
heard the rooters shout.
One BuRyiIle boy went out on strikes.
and one twas killed at first;
Tho captain saw them fail to hit and
Knashed his teeth and cursed.
The third man smashed . double, and
the fourth one swatted clear.