Happy Days: Tom Taylor, The Boy Who Worried Blanco — page 12: what you’re looking at

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Sepa with a roar of applause from the 1 ong Island crowd. As the game then stood the Nine in Blue had five runs to their credit, while the Crickets had none, ** Say, Myrick,” sung out somebody from the grand stand, ‘‘ you want to look out now; they’re putting upa job on you.” ‘* What sort of a job?’ called out My- rick. ‘*That pitcher is a professional.” A roar of pers protests went up from the Long Islan ity rooters, over a score of whom threatened to go up on the grand stand and smash the feliow’s head if he didn’t shut up. ** Oh, that’sall right !” sungout Hal. **Play ball!” called the umpire, The new pitcher threw off his coat and vest, whilst Will Durham went to the bat. He pitched a fair ball, but Will missed it, and it landed in the catcher’s hands, ‘* One strike!” called out the umpire. The second ball was but a repetition of the first, ““'T’wo strikes |” The Nine in Blue were watching with deepest interest, “Say, Will !” called out Mickey, “‘ hit ’er this toime,” but Will fanned the air and the catcher failed to stop the ball, Quick as a flash Will dashed to first base, where he landed safely. “Oh, that’s good as a hit,” sung out Mickey, as Hans Ulmer took up the wil- low. ut Hans was quickly pitched out, and the Nine went to the field. Again a voice called out from the grand stand that the Crickets’ new pitcher was a professional, and many angry threats were made by the Long Island City root- ers to smash the fellow’s head if he didn’t shut up. “That's all right,” sung out Hal. ‘‘ We don’t care if he is a professional. He’s only one of the Nine. Professionals are not the best ball psgeee in the world,” He went into the box, whilst Joe put on the mask and gloves, The first man at the bat was pitched out as easily as Hans had been, for they had not yet got onto the peculiar twist ane zig-zag course which Hal gave to his alls, The second one shared the same fate, whereat the vast crowd yelled and cheer- ed to the intense disgust of the backers of the Crickets, whose captain suggested to Lo substitute pitcher that he go to the at. He did so, and after missing two balls, smashed a high one that landed in Mickey Finn's hands, thus retiring the Nine with- out their having made a silgle base, ** Whoop!” yelled Mickey, “he’s a pro- ey. ped is he? Bedad, but it’s dead easy e is.” The roaring of the big crowd was partic- ularly exasperating to the Long Island City fellows, who remained sullenly silent. As the Nine in Blue went to the bat they received an ovation. Tom Miller was the first to take up the willow, and quickly had two strikes called on him; but the third ball he bunted, and made a dash to first. He got there just in the nick of time amid a good deal of laughter, Phil Drake followed, and was pitched out. But Dick, after fanning the air once, made a splendid hit, sending the ball away out to left field and Miller to second, rest- ing at first himself. ack then took up the willow, but was itched out, Mickey followed and met a like fate, whereat the Crickets howled with exultation. ‘* What’s the matter with you fellows?” asked Mickey. ‘‘Are you laughing over your nest of goose eggs?” ‘Oh, you just wait, you little runt!” called out one of the Crickets. ‘* We're just getting onto you fellows.” . Well, you haven’t got on yet,” retorted Mickey, ‘for you make more fuss overa rotten goose egg than anybody I ever saw.” The Nine in Blue went to the field again, and as Hal entered the box a girlish voice was heard calling out to him from among the mascots: ‘ Se *‘ Now, Hal, pitch them right out again! Hal looked around, and saw Elsie Lane shaking a bouquet of roses at him. **T will if you'll help me,” said he, * We'll aii help you,” she replied, and at that the entire bevy of pretty mascots rose to their feet, waving bouquets of red and white roses, It was a beautiful sight, which the big crowd appreeiated by uproarious mens The first man at the bat was quickly pitched out, and the second one following met the same fate in short order. “Oh, you darlints,” sung out Mickey, kissing both hands at the mascots, ** You're all big lumps of sugar! Shure, an’ if Na do that again I’ll ate every lump Ov ye The third man at the bat showed great nervousness, for while they were familiar with the curves of the average pitcher they couldn’t get on to the uncertain zig- zag course of Myrick’s balls, “ss BAPPYT DATS Ce” AS SSS SS ae oe Se eee S Hal delivered him a dizzy one, and he fanned the air. Joe caught the ball, and returned it to the pitcher. The second one was even more dizzy than the first, and the batsman more rattled. Again Joe sent it back to Hal, who was about to deliver it again, when Mickey sung out to the mascots: ** Now, darlints, put a twist on that ball that'll make the batsman cross-eyed look- in’ fer it.” Everybody in the vast audience seemed to hold his breath as the sphere went through the air like an aerial corkscrew. Swish! went the bat, and “‘spat” said the ball, as it landed in the catcher’s hands, and again the Crickets were sent to the field, **Oh, glory !” sung out Mickey, turning a handspring on the way to the home plate; ‘“‘look at the mascots? Did the world ever see such beauties?” and he threw kisses to each of the nine girls, who amidst uproarious laughter and applause resumed their seats to hide their blushing faces behind the huge bouquets of flowers, The Crickets were rattled, for they plain- ly saw that while their substitute pitcher was able to pitch out the Ninein Blue, Myrick was equally efficient in putting them out. It began to look as though neither side would be able to make another run, and that the score already made would give the game to the Nine in Blue. It was then that man epee began slipping around through the Long Island City crowd, quietly looking for bets and giving odds; but the backers of the Crickets had already put up their money, so that but few more bets were made, Yet some of them pretended to believe that the Crickets would soon get on to Myrick’s pitching and pull them through, Before going to the bat the Nine in Blue ran over to their mascots, and each received fresh roses from the girls. Elsie Lane was blushingly happy and radiant with smiles, as she pinned a red and white rose on the breast of Hal’s blue shirt, ti ad pitched that game grandly,” said she, ‘“‘It was you who did it,” he replied, ‘‘and I’m going to do that every time, if you'll help me as you did then.” **1’]l do my best,” said she, as he turned away to go to the box, CHAPTER XIV, , THE GREAT GAME WITH THE CRICKETS, THE Nine in Blue held the score down to 5 to 0 up to the beginning of the ninth inning, in spite of all the good pitching of the professional] pitcher who had vol- unteered to help the Crickets out; but they had not been able to add another run to it. It was well and truly a battle ofthe pitchers, and the excitement in the crowd was almost at fever heat, The Crickets went tothe bat at the be- pentes of the inning, and the first ball elivered was smashed away out to center field, to the very great surprise of even Hal himself. Before it could be stopped and fielded he reached second base, amidst the wildest sort of cheering from the Crick- ets’ backers. But the next manat the bat fanned the air three times without so much as touching the ball, The third one smash- ed it well out to left field, where Dick Dar- ley stopped it, but it got away from him, and he and Jack Mason collided in an ef- fort to field it, thus retarding the sending of it home several precious seconds, The base runner was a sprinter, and ran for all he was worth, passing over the home plate on his stomach, making the first run for the Crickets in the game, The Long Island City crowd went wild over the run, shouting and yelling like lunatics, while the members of the Nine shook hands with the successful runner, ‘**Won’t somebody give ’im a stick uv candy!” sung out Mickey, “‘shure an’ talent loike that ought to be encouraged,” The next at the bat had two strikes called on him, and everybody seemed to hold his breath as he stood waiting for the third ball, but by the merest accident he smashed out a hot grounder that fairly aoe the grass on its way out to left eld, | He, too, was a sprinter, and dashed on for second base, which he reached in a tre- mendous slide just as the ball landed in Hans Ulmer’s hands, and again pande- monium broke loose among the backers of the Crickets. The fourth man at the bat was easily pitched cut, and the one that followed had two strikes called on him, and the fate of the Nine seemed to hang on the next ball to be delivered, It went at him like an aerial corkscrew, and he struck blindly. But he smashed it away out to right field, and the man at second sprinted for third. As the ball was sailing through the air towards the home plate he dashed forward with a tre- mendous spurt, arriving at the goal at the same time as the ball, But it was so close when Joe touched him with the ball that it was extremely difficult for any one to see whether or not he had touched the plate before the ball touched him, Both sides called for judgment, but the umpire, who was standing close by, keenly watching every move, called: ‘Out !” ‘* Not a bit of it !” yelled a strong-lunged man, among the Long Island City fellows ; and again a wildrush of the mob swept over the field. ‘*We won't have it!” they yelled. ‘‘He is safe! He is safe !” Hal Myrick sprang upon the bench, and called out: ** Let them have it! Let them have it!” The police used their clubs vigorously in trying to drive the mob off the field, and many a head was soundly thumped. But as hundreds had heard Hal call out to the umpire to let them have it, many of them retired without further urging, and after some minutes quiet was restored, **Captain Myrick,” called out the um- pire, ‘‘that fellow was out, but if you are willing to let them have it, I will so rule.” ** All right, Mr, Umpire, we can afford to be generous, but it is the last run we in- tend to let them make,” He went into the box again and made good his threat by pitching out the next man who took up the willow. That prac- tically settled the game with a score of 5 to 2 in favor of the Nine in Blue, amid the wildest cheering from the vast crowd, The rest of the inning with the Nine in Blue at the bat was simply an effort on the art of the pitcher to show his skill in the Ox, Hal told his team to do their best, as though they had the game yet to win, and they did, only one of them being pitched out. But two were put to sleep on bases, Thus ended the great game, which had caused more excitement than any other during the week, As soon as the game was finished, Hal went to the captain of the Crickets and asked if the man who had pitched for them was a professional. **He used to be, but is not now,” was the abe ** What is his name?” Hal asked, ** Really I don’t know, but I'll try to find out for you,” and he went away as if to do so. He failed, however, to return, and Hal became fully convinced that he did not intend to reveal the identity of the stranger, He lost no time in making his way over to the bevy of girls who had acted as mas- cots for the buoys, where he thanked each one of girls for adding interest to the game and helping them out with it. **[ never saw such beautiful pitching in my life,” said Elsie Lane, as she congratu- lated him upon his victory. é ete it is your work,” he laughingly re- ied, ‘*No, indeed,” she protested; ‘‘every- body gives youcredit forit, Iam not so superstitious as to believe that a mascot has anything to do with the game, except in a sentimental sense,” ‘* Neither am I where mascots in general are concernedy but when a fellow’s mascot is a pretty girl, whose smile he is anxious to win, I do believe init, for then a man throws his heart and soul into his work when nothing else on earth could make him do so. If you girls will stick to us until the end of the week we'll win every game and treat you all to a splendid din- ner.” ‘*Oh, my!” ‘exclaimed one of the girls, ** we will do that and help you all we can to win,” A great crowd had gathered around the Nine and their mascots, including many Powe from Patchogue, the home of the ine in Blue team, The Patchogue girls, though, were angry with the boys for re- taining the Riverhead girls as their mas- cots, so they would not come about them or have anything to do with them, The Patchogue boys, though, were there to admire the mascots, and many of them asked to be introduced. They had a jolly time, and an houror so after the game ended the boys escorted their mascots to the train and saw them safely aboard, Elsie Lane again invited Hal to return with them to Riverhead and spend the night there, promising to bring him back again safely the next day, but he refused the in- vitation,to go, saying that it was necessary for him to remain with the team and do a little practice the next morning, CHAPTER XV. THE MAN WHO LOST, As soon as the train left with the mas- cots, the entire Nine went to,the office of the superintendent of the fair grounds, to ascertain from him the name of the next team they would ge ’ against, and learned that it was a crack Nine from Hempstead. ‘And I look for you boys to lose the game,” said the rere gce ** for they have beaten two Nines that were made up of professionals,” ** We're not afraid of them,” said Hal. ‘‘I hope you won't be,” returned the su- deferens *fand I will also say that I ope you will win the game, for you boys f ie BO |) have behaved well and put up such a good game that thousands of people have vis- ited the fair, who otherwise would not have attended,” ‘*T am glad to hear that, sir, and I prom- ise you that we'll do our level best to beat Hempstead, but I hope they won’t have such a crowd as we had here to-day.” ‘Oh, there’s no danger of that,” returned the superintendent, ‘‘ for there isn’t much of a rough element in Hempstead, besides the Hempstead Nine is made up of young gentlemen who know how to behave them- selves, ‘‘ Well, it was a rough crowd to-day, and at one time I thought we would have to - leave the field. If I hadn’t suggested to the umpire to give them that run there would have been a nasty old free fight.” ‘* No doubt of it,” assented the superin- tendent, ‘‘and I will see to it hereafter that we don’t have any more Nines playing here made up of toughs, I think to-morrow, though, we'll have a larger crowd than ever.’ **T hope so,” said Hal, ‘‘ for that means more money for us if we win. How much do you think the gate receipts were to- | day ?” - “They must have been over one thou- sand dollars,” was the reply, “‘for I’m quite sure there were over ten thousand admissions,” After leaving the superintendent’s office, the Nine went to the little hotel where they were stopping retired to their rooms, washed up, and put off their baseball suits, after which they went down and sat on the piazza to talk with acquaintances and cool off. They were talking with some of the officers of the fair association, while quite a number of strangers were standing around listening. One of them wasa burly fellow with a huge black mustache, and wore a plug hat and sack coat. He seemed anxious to hear everything that was said, but for half an hour or so made no remark to any one out on the piazza until he was joined by half a dozen other fellows, who came out from the bar-room, Then head- dressed Hal by asking him: ‘*Say, do you think that was a square game ?” ‘Tt was,sir,” replied Hal, “so far as the Nine in Biue are concerned.” ‘‘ Well, I don’t,” said the man, ‘* What was wrong about it?’ Hal asked in return, ‘* Why, the Crickets’ pitcher sold out !” ‘**To whom ?” Hal asked. ‘‘That’s what I'd like to find out,” said the other, ‘‘ for I’m out one hundred dollars on the game.” ** Why do you think he sold out ?” ‘* Because I know that he is a good pitch- er, for I’ve seen him pitch many a game, and there was a lot of us backed the Crick- ets on his account.” ** Well,” said Hal, ‘if he sold out none of our team know anything about it, as there isn’t one in the Nine that has any money with which to buy off anybody.” ‘*Oh, we don’t. think that you fellows did it, but it was some blokes who were backing your Nine,” ** Well, I don’t know anything about that,” returned Hal, ‘‘ but we do know that if he didn’t do his best we don’t want to run up against him again, for he pitch- ed us out worse that any other we have ever met, and that is why I’m satisfied that he did not sell out. I believe he did his best,” ‘*Oh, that’s beeause you do not know anything about his pitching. I don’t blame you fellows, though, except to say that the game ought to be called a draw, and played over,” **Surely,” said Hal, ‘“‘you don’t mean that ?” “Yes Ido; every word of it.” “And do you really,think it would be fair for us to do that?” Hal asked, as if very much astonished, ** Well, I'm surprised, for it seems to me utterly impossible for a square man to en- tertain any such idea,” **Do you mean to say I’m nota square man ?” ‘Oh, no, Idon't know anything about you, sir. I simply say that I cannot under- stand how a square man would look at it — “Wel off you, you would understand it,” said the fellow in rather a menacing tone of voice. ‘*T don’t think I would,” returned Hal, looking him ue in the face, ** forlam not in the habit o : opinions changed by the force of another man’s will or might.” Just at that moment Hal saw among the companions of the rough sport the face of Al Bowman, the discarded lover of Elsie Lane. He noticed too, an expression of malignant expectancy in his eyes. The impression instantly flashed through his mind that they were friends of Bowmans who were there for the potpese of making trouble. He looked about him, and found that every member of the Nine was present, ready to take part in any trouble. tha( might turn up. 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