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THAPPY DAYS"
name of the substitute pitcher of the
Crickets. -
He was aman of almost national repu-
tation as a pitcher, who had been expelled
from the league on account of some disrep-
utable practices,
‘The revelation created a good deal of ex-
citement in sporting circles, which caused
an inklux of lovers of the sport from New
York and Brooklyn and other nearby
places, who were anxious to see this young
a Tyrick who could pitch as the papers had
said,
One of the papers had stated that the
itcher of the Hempstead Nine had once
een a member of the league, where he
won quite a reputation in the box, but he
had been in business in Hempstead for
three years, and during that time had been
the pitcher of the amateur baseball Nine
ou,-boys,” said Myrick to his
companions after reading the various ac-
counts of the game, “if we win to-day
everyone of.us will have a right to wear
a feather in our caps.”
“I'd rather win the gate receipts,” said
oe.
“Well, we can’t get the gate receipts
unless we win, and if we win we'll be able
to buy the feathers,”
When the train from Riverhead came in
the boys were atthe station to welcome
their mascots, and a jolly party they made
when each one escorted his mascot to an
ice-cream saloon, where he treated her to
as much ice-cream as she could put away,
Someone of the Nine told his mascot
of the trouble at the hotel the night_he-
fore, and of the scrimmage between My-
rick and Al Bowman. Of course it re-
‘quired but a few minutes for every girl
of the party to get the news. Elsie Lane
when she heard it was sitting ata table
with Hal, turned to him and asked :
“Why did you and Al Bowman fight
last evening?” -
“T suppose it was on your account,” he
frankly replied, at which she turned quite
pale, saying:
**T hope not,”
Hle then explained to her just how it
came about, and she was very much grati-
fied to learn thet her name had not been
mentioned.
“I believe you were right when you -ac-
cused him of being at the bottom of it,
When I returned home last evening I
found this letter waiting for me.
may read it, for it mentions your name,
and I half suspect that Al is at the bot-
tom of that also, though it is not in hi
handwriting,” and she handed him a let-
ter as she spoke, which he found addressed
to her and post-marked Patchogue,
Je read it, and found that somebody
signing himself ** A I’riend,” had written
to her that it was reported in Patchogue
that Hal Myrick, captain of the Nine in
Blue, was paying her particular attention,
‘The writer stated that while he was an in-
dustrious youth he had no social standing
whatever among his home people, and that
his moral reputation was by no means
what it should be as a man, and stating
further that the letter was written solely
to protect an innocent young lady against
one of whom she doubtless knew nothing,
As Hal read the letter his face flushed,
and his eyes fairly snapped.
** Miss Lane,” said he, ‘‘ there is no man
living who can truthfully say that there is
any stain upon the name of myself or o:
any relative of mine. It is true that I’m
oor, with a mother to support, Isupport
her well and comfortably, and don’t owe a
dollarin the world. I am not yet nineteen
ears of age, yet I have paid for a little
ome out of my earnings, and every
month manage to put money in the bank.
It is true that Ido not mingle in what is
called society at Patchogue, for no poor
boy can do that in any part of the world;
but never in my life have I ever done any-
thing that I was ashamed to own up to,
hence I know that this letter has been
written by a personal enemy, yet Iam not
aware that in all Patchogue I havea single
personal enem ere.” .
“Mr. Myrick,” she replied, “it is not at
all. necessary for you to say even that
much, for the Riverhead people
the Patchogue folks every da
on these fair grounds, all of whom give
Poverty is no crime in
q Nobody expects a poor
boy to make a fortune before he is grown;
at least I do not, and I want to sa.
that the moment I read this letter, I made
up my mind to hand it to you and say that
I did not believe a single word in it.”
“I thank you,” said he, “for of all
young Jadies I’ve ever, met, I prize your
=
good opinion the most.
“TI don’t believe,” she returned, “that
any girl could have a better opinion of a
pouns man than I have of you, because
being very fond of the game of baseball, I
have watched you and all the boys in
your team. They are all young gentlemen
is | anything like that to-day. We
not one of them is wild or disposed to be
rude. When we get through with these
games here, I'm going to ask permission
of you to call on you at your home.”
“Oh, you have no need to ask that,”
said she; “I’ve already given you an invi-
tation to do so.”
“So you have, but I wanted to come in
another capacity than as a simple visitor,
The truth is (and.he blushed and stam-
mered a bit as be spoke) 1 have fallen in
love with you, and may as well own up to
it now as any other time. I want
you if you have any objections to my call-
ing on you as a lover, and a suitor for
your hand?” *
. “No objection in the world,” said she,
with glowing cheeks and a happy light in
S
er eyes. .
“Then you understand me, do you?” he
asked. .
“Yes, I hope I do.”
“That's all right, then; I expect to play
a better game to-day on the ball field than
ever before in my life, because my masco
has full possession of my heart.”
Others were ‘sitting so near that lover-
like demonstratisns were impossible ;
hence none of the other mascots were
aware of the engagement that was then
and there made between them. *
When the Hempstead baseball team
reached the fair grounds they hunted u
the Nine in Blue. They were pleased wit!
each other, The new-comers were dressed
in brand new uniform, making a really
fine appearance. They averaged up two
or three years older than the Ninein Blue,
while the pitcher was a fine business young
man some twenty-five or twenty-six years
5
°
age, .
The Nine in Blue, having been playing
every day during the week, their uniforms
were quite the worse for wear.
ease excuse. our appearance,” said
Hal to the captain of the Ilempstead Nine,
“We've been having a hot time of it, an
have had little time to spruce up.” .
. , that’s all right,” laughed the
Hempstead captain, “ We're going to try
to make it hotter still for you this after-
noon.’ .
“ That’s what I’ve heard,” returned Hal ;
“but we're going to do our best, and turn
on all the heat we can against you fel-
ows,
“Going to make it a roast, eh?”
“Yes, if wecan. We had a hot time of
it yesterday, but it was of a nature that
we didn’t like.”
“Oh, yes ;-I read about it in the papers,”
said the other, “I guess we won't have
y ‘ve gota
little girl with us who has been our mascot
for three years, and she is not yet ten years
old. I understand every member of your
team has got a masgotF
“So they have,” Iaughed Hal; ‘tand
they’re all big girls, too, {I'm very fond of
little girls, and the bigger they get the
better [ like ’em,” . °
“*T believe we're all built that way,” as-
sented the Hempstead man, “ but we have
so many pretty girls down our way that it
would be impossible for us to make a
choice of big ones out of so many without
getting into trouble,”
“ You're wise to avoid it,” laughed Hal.
“Why, we've had trouble on account of
our mascots already ; in fact, there’s been
two fights over one girl, and there may be
one or two more before the last game is
to you] 0
even if they are poor.’
“You are right,” assented Hal, ‘for
they are simply good, honest, jolly boys,
who earn every penny they receive, and
;
played.”
CHAPTER XVIII
THE GREAT GAME WITH NEMPSTEAD—HAL
INJURED AND FALLS, *
TuE game was called promptly to the
minute, and the Hempstead team went
to the bat, with the largest crowd of spec-
tators present that had so far appeared,
Asa matter of course, there was an im-
mense delegation present from Hempstead
city, which greeted their Ilome team with
much cheering, but the vast majority had
evidently become admirers of the Nine in
Blue, as was shown by the cheering when
Hal entered the box,
The entire bevy of pfetty mascots from
Riverhead was on hand, each girl with an
armful of red and white ro:
rs, aa
The first to take up the willow was a
handsome young man, who was evidently
very popular with the Hempstead delega-
tion, as he was greeted with a round of
cheers as he stepped upon the plate,
Ial was extremely careful, and had
warned his team to be on thealert to avoid
errors on their part, as well as to take ad-
vantage of those committed by their oppo-
nents, The first ba}l he delivered went at
the batsman in a swift spiral twist. ‘The
batsman struck at it with the evident in-
tention of smashing a good hit. Te
thrashed the air, and the ball landed in
Joe's hand.
“One strike !” called the umpire,
to ask | out.
| tonishment of everybody he smashed the ‘
first ballaway out to left field, and sprinted | Mickey ; but as the sphere came
The second delivery fared about the]second ona bunted ball, but was himself
same, and the members of the Hempstead | put to sleep on
team stood around watching with. the
deepest interest Hal's style of pitching. Jack sent him to second
ny
rst.
Dick got to first base on four balls, and
and Tom to third,
e third ball was hit, but with a glane- | by smashing the ball to right field.
ing blow, that sent it gyrating about thirty
feet in the air, finally landing it in
a
o
Out !” called the umpire.
The second man at the bat took first base
on four balls, and the third was pitched
. The fourth, after missing two,
smashed the third ball away out to right
center, an:
rst reache:
up one base, while the sixth smashed the
third ball tocenter field, on which the man
n third crossed the home plate safely ;
second, The fifth moved each | a
chance to win. ]
hands of Ilal, who leaped a few feet from | a suit of clothes for you—with perhaps a
the right of the box to catch it, kiss from your girl.’ . . Te
“e i * Bedad,” said Mickey, ‘‘the kiss’ll keep
we warm all winter, without any clothes,”
at which there wasa great laugh at the.
expense of his mascot, who showed herself
full of good sporting blood, for she rose ta
‘ot to first, while the man.on | her feet, waved a huge bouquet of flowers
**Now, Mickey,” said Hal, “‘now is your
i Bring Tom home, and it’s
t him, saying:
Bring im home, Mickey, and you can .
kiss every girl in the Nine!” .
“Yu um !” ejaculated Mickey, spit:
i the
01
but the one on second was put to sleep at | ting in his hands, and ‘bravely facing
third, thus retiring the Nine, with one run | pitcher.
for Hempstea
The first of the Nine in Blue to take up | it
the willow was Tom Muller. To the as-
“Let er go, you hoodoo
The first ball was a fair one; but he let
pass, -
- “One strike,” called out the umpire, '
“*Shure, an’ Oi didn’t stroike at all,” said
curving
away, landing safely at second, amid a|at him a second time, he smashed out a
roar of applause,
“A two-bagger, by George!” exclaimed | s
a strong-lunged m
“and he isn’t their best battér by any | t!
means, either !”
The pitcher of the Hempstead Team was
a little bit rattled, as he did not under-
stand that it was a bit of accidental good | “'
luck on Tom’s part, “
Phil Drake was the next to take up the
willow and was easily pitched out. Dick
Darley got first base on four balls, but
Jack Mason after missing two, smashed | _
the sphere to right field and was caught t
ut.
Then Mickey took it up, looked over at tl
his mascot and called out: .
“Now, darlint, be afther givin’ mea two-
bagger.” .
His mascot rose to her feet and waved a
did him no good, for he thrashed the air,
and the ball landed in the catcner’s hands,
Je looked reproachfully at his mascot,
and the crowd roared.
When he missed the seeond time, he
began to look as
Sn
it out to left center, where it struck the
pand of the outfielder, but got away from
him,
ing like the sea in a storm, as Dick dashed
across the plate, with Jack but a second
or two behind him, ~H
ond sprinting as for life, animated-by the
hot grounder which center field tried to
top but failed. It went bounding away
anon the grand stand, {to out fleld, with a speed that scorched
he grass,
‘Tom dashed across the home plate amid
a tremendous roar from the crowd,
Dick stopped at third, while Tom him-
elf rested at second, we
‘*Good for you, Mickey !”sung out Hal.
Thope the girls won't go back on you.”
shure, an’ if they do,” he returned,
Ss. 5
“it's a broken-hearted kid I’d be.
The score was now even, and JIal him-
elf took up the willow, hoping to be able
0 bring Dick home, who was resting on
ird,
Two strikes were called on him, and it
though it would be a
ame. But the ‘third ball he
nashed with a tremendous force, sending
rawn
The vast crowd rose to its feet roar-
al had passed sec-
glanced around at his mascot and asked in hope of making a home run, a re; .
wes ee iz a gular
a plaintive tone of voice: | lint?” four-bagger, But the ball was heading
Te yez mad wid me, darlin swiftly forthird base, which he tried to
While the crowd was laughing over the | re.
query the pi tcher delivered a curving ball at
him, which he smashed away out to center
field, and sprinted for first base while Dick 8
dashed. for second. ‘tom made for third,
which he reached just as Dick passed sec-
ond. Seeing the latter coming to third, he
ach by a tremendous slide. It was too
quick for him, and he was put to sleep,
@ was won, however, and he
prang to his feet, with his cap in his hand,
bowing right and left to the many thous-
ands i
ously, and which was kept up for several
that were cheering him so ‘vocifer-
broke for the home plate at the top of his minutes.
speed which he reached, while Dick went
down within six feet of the third base,
thus retiring the Nine from the field, with
one run to their credit,
In the second inning two were pitched
out on the Ilempstead side, whilst the
third died on second base, t
Of the Nine in Blue three were pitched | 7
out in succession, thus ending the inning
with no run foreither side, 8
In the third inning the Hempstead Nine
made one run, “while the Niue in /Blue
earned a goose-egg.
In the fourth and fifth innings neither
side made a run, but in the sixth the Nine| down ina heap on the ground
play I ever saw,’
The first to grasp his hand was the cap-
tain of the Hempstead Nine, who said, as
he shook it warmly:
“7 congratulate you. It was the best
“Thank you,” said Hal, “your Nine is
he best team I ever ran up against, but
m afraid I've hurt myself.”
He was seen to turn deathly pale as he
poke, and a moment later he started to-
wards the home plate as if to reach the
benches where he could sit down,
, and rolled
in Blue evened up the score, making it} over on his back, with his face turned to the
stand 2 to 2,
In the seventh and eighth innings each
side earned a run, placing the score 3 to 3,
Up to that time but few errors had been
committed by either Nine, and the splen-
did work done by both teams was greeted
y vociferous cheers from the vast crowds,
member was doing his best, the game was
ractically between the two pitchers, The
attery of each seemed to be about equal
in ability, and the pitchers, too, appeared
to be. evenly matched. Both of them
were handsome and popular, and the wild-
est enthusiasm was aroused by their fine
playing,
Inthe big crowd were sporting men from
New York an rooklyn, who moved
about quietly among the throng staking
large sums of money on the result of the
game, no odds being given by either side,
In the ninth inning the Ilempstead team
made one run, after two of their members
had been pitched out.
“Howly Mither o’ Moses!” exclaimed
Mickey, as the Nine in Blue went to the
bat, ‘it's two runs we have to make, and
it’s a pity me legs are so short.”
“Tlow about your gizzard, Mickey?”
sung out a voice in the crowd.
ke “Shure, an’ it’s full of sand,” he replied,
on me heart iz afther growing right onto
it. :
As the boys gathered at the home plate,
IIal Myrick cautioned each one to keep
e ont
Muller, ‘tand be sure you smash out a hot | fi
grounder,” .
_ Tom took up the willow, and, after miss
ing two balls, finally got to first base on a| i
unt,
Phil took up the bat, and sent Tom to
A STARTLING
AN
o his curves by this | spalpeen
the bat, Tom,” he added to| the
sky.
[ro BE CONTINUED.)
Po 0 a ¢
ARE YOU READING OUR LATEST LI-
. BRARIES? SEE FULL LISTS ON PAGE
While it was seen that every individual | 16 : st
oe '
(This story commenced in No. 195.)
Sinbad the Second:
The Wondrous Adventures
-of'a New Monte Cristo.
BY J. C. BRADLEY,
Author of “ The Hero of the Maine,” “ The
Lost School Ship,” “Afloat With Cap-
tain Kidd,” “ Under the Black Flag,”
“Out with a School Ship,” ete., etc.
CHAPTER XIX,
DISCOVERY—CON CREGAN
THE OLD CASTAWAY,
“It's a man-of-war!” cried Con.
“ Parbleu! for what is it here then.”
“Faith, Jack, it’s on account of the
we have on board. Shure, it’s
ritishers have chased us all the way
rom Plymouth.”
** Where are your eyes, Con?” he said.
“That ship is a m nant vessel, and sail-
ng ship, too, and it’s In pretty bad shape.”
Of course Con saw ina minute the mis-
take he had made, for it’ needed only one