Yale Murphy, the Great Short-Stop — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

No. 87. NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. }1 = = ——__—___ ON = ws They were talking about Midget Murphy and his won-|street address. If you decide to accept my offer, telegraph derful playing. me and : wal meet you in New York any time or place ——___ ~ ~~ While the Princeton professor was a little vexed that] you say.” his college had not won the game, he could not but ad-| With a hearty shake of the hand, Mr. Wheeler wag mire Midget Murphy. gone. At this moment the colored man antisvedl with a letter. Midge quickly broke the seal. ‘What, another?” he gasped. Midge was so excited that he ran to Dutch Carter’s room. The great Yale pitcher was smokingas usual. “Oh, Dutch! such news,” he gasped, when he regained his breath. “Mr. Wheeler of the New York team offered me a place to-night, and just now Pe received a letter from the manager of the Boston team.’ ‘‘The devil you have,” and Carter junapes nearly ten feet in the air. ‘You're in luck, Midge.” The professors only voiced the sentiments of all New Haven. Every one was sounding his praises and telling his or her neighbor that Murphy was a credit to the city. An enterprising photographer, who had a good picture of the now famous little short-stop, had small photos made which he sold in large numbers. “See that pretty girl over there, Midge?” said the great pitcher, Carter, as the two walked down the main street of the city the morning following the game. “Yes: what of her?” ““Don’t you see she wears Yale blue on her bosom with your picture in the middle.” Midge gave a quick glance at the girl, and saw what: Carter said was true. “Come away, old boy,” he said. “She might recognize me, and then——” “Well, and then——” ‘“Well, I don’t want her to see me.” -Midge, although quite a young man by this time, did not like to be praised, and was anxious to get away from the young lady for fear she might want to speak to him. “You haven’t got gall enough to carry you around the block, Midge,” said Yale’s great pitcher. Midge smiled. He knew what a modest fellow Carter was himself. When Midge reached his room, he found a card, which read : urphy and his won-|streot address. If you decide to cussed the two offers. Midge asked Carter’s advice. “Tf I were you I would go to New sOEKS at once.’ “1 will, I will start in the morning.” “That’s right, old man; don’t neglect your oppor- tunities. Make hay while the sun shines. You will not falways be young and active.’ “Good-night, Dutch.” “Good-night, Midge.” Before the two students separated they renewed as- surances of undying friendship. One hundred Yale students, who knew of Midge Mur- phy’s departure and the cause of it, were at the depot to see him off. ‘‘Good-by, old chap,” they cried, in a chorus; ‘‘be good W. B. WHEELER, and never forget old Yale.” New York City. , “Never while there’s a drop of blood in my veins,” said the young short-stop, who walked into a car of the moving train to hide his emotion. He was leaving dear old Yale with its associations and friendships, and the thought saddened him. ‘‘Ah! me,” he said to himself, “but then who knows but I may make a success on the New York team ?” ‘““Who can Mr. Wheeler be, and what does he want with me, I wonder?” Midge looked at the card again and again. Calling to the colored servant, who attended to the wants of himself and a dozen other students, Midge asked him if Mr. Wheeler said he would return. “Yes, Massa Murphy, de gent done say dat he’d be back dis evenin’ at eight o’clock.” “Tll wait and see Mr. Wheeler,” was Midge’s comment to himself. Eight o’clock arrived, and with it Mr. Wheeler. As he advanced to Midge, and took him by the hand, he said : ‘““You don’t know Big} Mr. Murphy, but I do you, that is at least by reputation.” “T admit, sir, you have the advantage of me.’ “Tam one of’ the directors in the New York Base-Ball Club.” Midge opened his eyes wide. What could one of the directors of the New York Base- Ball Club want with him, he wondered ? Midge was not left long in doubt. “T came tu ask you to join the New York team.’ Midge sank down on a convenient sofa. He could hardly believe his ears. He had never hoped for such an honor. “You—you must give me time to congider, ” he finally said. ‘“I—I do not know what to say.” “You can have all the time you want. Here ii ismy Wall CHAPTER XI. MIDGE MURPHY BECOMES A GIANT. Midge lost no time the next morning in calling on Mr, Wheeler. “Ah! Show Mr. Murphy in at once,” that gentleman’s cheery voice was heard saying when the little short-stop’s name was brought in to the director of the New York team. “Iam more than glad to see you, Mr. Murphy.” When Midge had taken the seat offered him, Mr. Wheeler said, eagerly : ‘‘Have you decided to join the New Yorks?” “Veg, Ihave consulted with my friends, and they all agree that I would be foolish to refuse.’, “Good! then we unly have to sign you and arrange. the other details, such as salary, etc.’ “Those matters can be easily arranged, sir.’ “Tet us take a run up to the Polo Grounds this after- noon. I want to introduce you to Captain Johnnie Ward, Far into the night Midge and his friend Carter dis- — COMnnlcloOOKS.EO©