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12
“Ss HAPPY
DAYTS oe
touched the lower side of the ball and sent
n the air, revolving at the
ofa thousand aminute., It stood per-
fects still for the brief space of a second
before it started to descend,
Both the catcher and pitcher started out
in front of the batsman to catch it as it
n. The pitcher waited to let
Billy corral it, but it was revolving so fast
that the moment it struck the glove on
Billy’s band it dashed Straight! at the
pitcher’s face, about six feet a
uick as a flash of lightning the pitcher
caught it within an inch of his nose,
“Out!” yelled the umpire, and the audi-
ence fairly rose to their feet and yelled in
delight at the incident.
e batsman threw down the willow,
walked over to the side of his captain and
remarked that no swearing on earth could
make hii believe those boys were ama-
teurs,
“T feel that way myself,” said the cap-
tain, ‘but we must Keep doing our best,
for they are playing fai
“Oh, ves, they play fair enough, so far
as their work is concerned; at the same
time we are being ylayed for suckers, for
if they are really amateurs, they have had
the best coaching any Nine on earth ever
ad.’
The second man at the bat, after having
two strikes called on him, smashed out a
hot grounder t to left center and got to first
base before the ball was stopped. It was
so far out that he dashed forsecond, which
he reached by a slide that knocked all the
breath out of him
Jack Tilman touched him with the ball,
but told him at the same time that he was
safe. He lay for half a minute scarcely
able to move, and was lifted to his feet by
Jack and Zeb Martin,
The third man who took up the bat was
fortunate enough to strike the first ball
that came, and the man on second easily
got to third, Bat the batsman was caught
out by Marry Moore out in right field.
‘The fourth one vainly strove to hit the
ball, ‘and had three strikes called on hiin,
and each time the ball abided with the
catcher, who, so far, had not failed to stop
He threw down the bat, and the team
retired to the field without a run,
Robinson took up the willow and
faced the pitcher, who delivered him a
nt to get o
A) right, ” said the pitcher, ana he de-
. sive one with acurve that he had not
used before during the game. But Tedd 's
quick eye measured its course, and
smashed it with a crack that sounded like|®
a rifle shot,
whizzed past the pitcher's head, who
clutched at it, but missed it. Right center
sprinted past first and had reached second
ere the ball started on its way back, ‘The
fielder made the fatal mistake of sending
it ke second instead of to the home plate.
dashed for third like a streak of
grease lightning, as he knew it would be
topped at second an ave to be
thrown after him. Such ww was his 8)
that he passed third just as the ball was
going to the home plate from second.
very man, woman and child in the
vast audience rose up and yelled. The
chances were a hundred to one against
him. The pitcher sprang up, caught the
ball, and wheeled to intercept him, but
collided with thecatcher. ‘They both went
down together, squarely across ‘Teddy as
he lay face downward on the plate.
t was an accident, but the daring of
young Robinson challenged the highest
admiration of ever. ybody on the ground.
‘fhe roaring was like a storm atsea. As
he rose to his feet he exclaimed to the um-
pire
made it, but before I was half way
from third 1 thought I was a goner.”
Yes,” said the umpire, “the accident
saced you. All the same it was asplendid
play.
The pitcher was disposed to smash the
catcher for being in bis way, but the cap-
tain of his team caught him by the arm
and pushed him towards the box, saying
as he
“ The less ‘said about it the better.”
on the grand stand Fred Bagley
came near splitting his lungs cheering and
elling. It was the only four- bagger that
ad been made in the game, and not one
in a thousand in the crowd believed the
run could have been made at the time that
it was, .
When the noise subsided and Knatt had
taken up the bat, Bagley sprang to his feet
again and yelle
“ Four cheers tor | tke four-bagger !”
The response came from the crowd likea
clap of thunder. Ed McCoy ran up to
Teddy who wee brushing the dust off his
uniform and ing to pull himself to-
gether, Curched hint by the arm, and said :
“Mak ur bow to the crowd or I'll
smash your head [*
“Oh, go along with you,” said Teddy ;
“ {his is no time for makin:
bows,”
persist ted id; ‘it is the
vel ey, time to thake t
Still Teddy refused,” d Ed_ himself
dashed out tothe center of the diamond,
removed his cap from his head with his
left hand, placed his right on his heart and
made three profound bows in three differ-
ent directions, evoking another tremend-
ous roar of applau:
“His girl is lookin at him!” he cried;
“so I had to bow his thanks myself!”
**Good boy!” roared a strong-lunged
man in the grand stand.
“We are all goou boys!” he returned.
“*So you are; you have proved it!” yelled
the strong-lunged one again,
Just then Ed sawa young lady on the
grand stand waving a huge bouquet of
roses at him. She beckoned to him, He
far over the heads of thosein her front,
and he caught it. He made another pro-
found bow, returned to where Teddy was
standing and handed it to him.
The look of astonishment on Teddy's
face evoked roars of plaugnter, during
which Ed seized him by the back of the
neck with his right hand, pressed his left
against his stomach and forced him to
make a bow that came near tumbling him
over on his
Naturally that added to the hilarity of
the ennowds and again they rose up, and
the bit of by-play had somewhat inter-
raped the game, and the umpire had to
ut:
Play ball!”
e pitcher delivered a ball quickly,
which [<natt smashed to left center, where
it was Promptly caught, putting him out,
Patten followed hin at the bat, and a
strike was called on .
The next delivery came as though the
all was goi to pass through him; he
had to leap clear of the plate to avoid being
n One ball!” called out the umpire.
““What’s the matter with yout” Teddy
asked, the pitcher, “Are you getting
saNo”
dent.
Try it over again, then,”
good-naturedly,
he next ball was smashed straight out
fo left center into the hands of the left
“Out!” called the umpire,
Dick Crenshaw then took up the willow
and smashed out a two-bagger, but he had
a narrow escape from being put to sleep at
‘con.
“Taddie MeCo pranced up to the plate,
ook up the wi low and called out to him:
“Now come. home; Dick !”
“‘T will when you call me!” was the re-
Piva smashed the ball to right field and
dashed for first, which he reached abou
the time that Dick gained third.
'o the astonishment of both Nines, he
dashed for second to draw the ball to that
oint, to give Dick achance to cross the
ome plate. ‘The right fielder fell into the
trap and sent the ball to second without
giving a moment’s thought to his blunder,
was the reply; ‘‘it was an acci-
said Billy,
d was put to sleep, but Dick got home
safely,
CHAPTER VI.
HOW THE GAME WAS WON AND WHAT
WED,
THE Nine was retired, but the run had
been made, and the score now stood four
to nothing in favor of the Ilomesdale boys,
it remained at that figure for four more
nny
n the ninth and last inning their oppo-
nents made desperate efforts to break the
ine of goose-eygs on the board 4 by making
gam @no one in the vast.crowd believed,
et they played with their old-time skill
and energy to the very las!
The first two at the bat were quickly
was equally fortunate, after
having two strikes called on him, and the
man on second reached the home plate
after 2 tremendous slide,
TOW was his escape from being put
to seep that udm ment was called for,
afe ed the umpire, and the crowd
corp the is plucky play to the echo,
ad one man on second base}
ssiiony their best batsman tried to brin
home, Knatt delivered two balls which
he struck at and missed, and again two
strikes rere calle
side, which sent it straight up in the air,
revolving li p. The catcher essayed
to corral it, but the moment it touched his
ands its tremendous revolutions caused
it to fly from him,
He reached first base, while the man on
second settled on th
Excitement was he ‘at its highest pitch,
coe!
The third ball was touched on the lower
had backed the ream, but also in the hearts
f the plucky Ni
he next man BS “the bat, after one strike
had_ been called on him, smashed the ball
to right field, where it was caught out, but
the man at third sprinted over the plate.
e game was lost to them, and the
cheering for the victors continued several
minutes, Notwithstanding the game was
won, the victors went to the bat to finish
he inning. Their opponents hotly con-
tested to the end.
Teddy Robinson cautioned the Nine to
do their best to increase the score, Harr:
oore smashed out a two-bagger, lande
safely at second, and called to Knatt to
bring him home, The latter made asplen-
did strike, knocking the ball higher and
farther than had been done at any other
time during the game, but the outfielder
caught it amid a roar of applat
illy Patten made first base on ‘a bunted
ball, whilst Harry at the same time reached
second. Dick K (Crenshaw knocked a high
ball, and was cau
Ed McCoy, after two “strikes had been
called, scorched the grass with a hot
Rrounder, on which he reached first, whilst
dashed across the plate,
man, who was accounted
the fastest sprinter of the team. He
smashed out a three-bagger, and as he went
careering around the va: st crowd rose up
and yelled encouragem
Ile made the mistaice. of attempting a
home run and was put to sleep within ten
feet of the plate, thus ending the game
with a score of five to ‘
While the crowd was ‘joaring out their
satisfaction over the game the captain of
the defeated Nine walked over to Teddy
obinson extended his hand and said:
a have beaten us fairly, but you
must on eden me if I tell you that I do not
believe the statement which has been pub-
lished far and wide that yours is an ama-
e same,” replied Teddy, ‘this is
the first match game we ever played in our
lives; nor have we ever pla ame be-
fore outside of the little village where we
live, and that against only two other Nines
n the same county.
me Where do you live?” he was asked.
“We live in the woods, up near the foot
of the Adirondacks, Further than that I
am not permitted to say without the con-
sent of our manager.”
“IT guess your anager has put up a job
on iS said the
that time. hondreds had crowded
around the two captains, and the confu-
sion was so great they were pushed apart.
eeeres of men, who had lost heavily on the
game, were anxicus to get at the boys and
find out whence they came, Man
rere loudly protesting that they
trapped intoaskin game—that t they had
been pitted ‘against crack professionals
who were advertised as amateurs that had
never before played a match gam
any of them besieged the umpire for
information, but he told them he. knew
nothing whatever about the boys, nor
where they came from. ‘The crowd around
the Nine became so dense it was impossi-
ble for them to get a aye Angry voices
were heard all around them, and things
began | to look ugly.
n the grand “stand Fred Bagley and
arry ‘Parton stood up in their seats and
looked 01
“ Parry,” said Fred, ‘it looks as though | w
they are going to mob the boys, The police
ought to be called in todisperse the crowd.”
“Tam afraid that would only make mat-
ters worse,” said Parry. “If the. start &
Sight those boys will prove themselves re
mountain wildcats, and somebo: y
will be badly bur!
By that lime. Several policemen were
seen trying to force their way through the
crowd that surrounded the victorious Nine,
and the two men stood still and watched
5
a run, but that they could hope to win the| them.
Just then Parry Parton leaped down
from the grand stand and made his way to
the smaller group that surrounded the un:-
pire. There he found more than a score of
angry losers who were vainly trying to
fnd | out something about the winning |
He’ succeeded in reaching the side of the
umpire, to whom he was well kno’
moment the umpire saw him he sung out:
“Say, Parton, these fellows say they
have been buncoed out of their money,”
“They ought to be ashamed of them-
selves,” yreturned Parry, “for a fairer game
srgunde
“Oh, t
out a ache, loser in the crowd ;
backers of the game who have been bun-
“ Where does the bunco come in?” Parry
asked, facing the
“Why, it comes. in With the statement
that they are amateurs wh be have never
before played a match gam
“That statement is true,” said Party.
“Oh, tell that to the marines r
claimed bat a dozen in a choru
“Ty a thousand dollars which says
for bope revived hot only among those who
that iti is true,” replied Parry,
own. The | ¢.
was never played on these or any other | w,
ci
game was fair enough,” sung
“itis the i
it
“And I havea thousand dollars which’
says you can’t prove it !” exclaimed a man .
Nie bad lost three thousand dollars
«ST right,” said Parry, kes call you.
The umpire will hold the s
“Tl go you,” said the axe “drawin
roll of money from his pocket ‘and count
ing out a thousand dollars, wvhich.h
handed over to the umpire, saying
** Hold the stakes !”
The umpire took the roll of bills, and
looked inquiringly at Parry.
‘arr’
x
z
idn’t have the money, but he
looked over at the grand stand where Bag-
ley was still standing, beckoned to
him. Bagley promptly “joined him, and.
when Parton explained to. him the nature ~
of the wager, he promptly put up the
money. sot
“ Now,” said Parry, turning to the crowd
around him, ‘I'll tell you who these boys
are, and where they are from,” and he
so in a very few words, after which he.
turned to the umpire and a
“When you have catishes “yourself ‘of.
the trath of my statement, you can hand «
the stakes over to the winner, If you are’.
not satisfied that my statement is-true
pass the money over to the other man,”
rowd of bettors were thunder.’
struck, and the man who had made the
bet with the commercial drummer looked
You should have let us know where
they were from before the game
played,” said he,
“That has nothing to do with our bi
”
said Parry ; ‘don’ try to craw
“T never crawfish, retorted the, other,
and I'm neither a lobster or a crab,”
By this time the police had made:their
way to where the winning Nine was sur-_
rounded by the crowd and attempted™to:
disperse the gathering, telling them that...
they must leave the inclosure at once, -
oy wish to see our manager,"said Teddy
Robinson to one of the police
ed? o is he, and where is ‘he? ? ‘the offic
as
“Tle is over there 2 talking tothe umpire.
“Here,” said a fine looking man,:
wearing a plug shat and a heavy brown
mustache, seizing ‘eddy by the arm, “I
am a baseball manager, ‘and I am the man..
you want. to see.’
“TI guess not,” returned Teddy,
“*T guess yes,” said the other, still Hold.
ing to his arm, and jitempting to lead him ~
out of the crowd. “I have a proposition
fomake te to you that means a fortune for,
oth
Before “Teddy could make any reply an-
other man seized him by the other arm and
whispered in his ear:
“Tl give you and your Nine a thousand
dollars apiece to let me manage you for
one season,
The man on the other side of him heard
fist that sent him staggering back against
one of the policemen.
Before the officer could really understand
what had happened the man_ recovered
himself and dashed at the other with an
angry exclamation, The next moment
both were engaged in a fierce fight. Teddy
endeavored to get away, while the two
or three officers sprang forward to separate ‘
and arrest the two men.
In less than five seconds several others
were drawn into the fracas, while Teddy
felt himself seized around the waist from
behind, almost lifted from his feet, anda
hoarse’ voice in his left ear sai
“Come away—get out of this, “quick r
[ro BE CONTINUED.)
—
HAVE YOU READ THE LAST NUMBER
OF **PLUCK AND LUCK?” PRICE 5
CENTS. 32 PACES. COLORED COVER.
—_—_—— Ot
‘A little muskrat caused more trouble in Buf-
jalo ! the other night than is ever known to bave
one of the a
nimals.
eg
feed-pipe. It was after some fishing
around he dragged a inuiskeat out of the pipe
and dropped it on the floor
ser agi NTTTE
mate: