Yale Murphy, the Great Short-Stop — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

No. 87, “Well, here goes.” “Tails.” All eyes were on tin English penny as it fell to the ground. Midge Murphy, because of his small stature, was NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. ee —— y 5 “That's right, Midge. a You’re a aera es sure enough,” said Eddie Williams. Midge smiled. He did not care so much for the applause that greeted able to bend down and catch a glimpse of the coin before| his run as he did for the fact that, in making it he put the any one else. “Tt’s heads,” he cried. Heads it was. The Southland team had won the first toss. Southland team one run ahead of the Bridgewaters. The Southland team was lucky in the next three in- nings, and did not let the Bridgewater boys score. At the opening of the eighth inning, the score stood 1 to ‘‘Now, it’s your turn to toss, captain,” said Billy Bunce. | 0 in favor of the home team. Again the coin was tossed in the air. “ Tails.” . Again Midge Murphy cried, but not this time with the joyous shout he had done the previous moment. “Oh, pshaw! It’s heads!” Each captain had secured one throw. Captain Bunce was jubilant as he and his team took the field, “We must. look out for this fellow,” said Captain Bunce, as Captain Fisk of the Bridgewater boys walked to the plate. “Yes, that’s so,” said Midge, who had his hands on his There was great interest to see which would win the| knees and was bending down at short-stop. second. It was Captain Bunce’s turn to flip the penny. “Midge, you ery the coin this time; you’re lucky,” cried Charlie Peters. ‘““Yes, Midge, you see if you’ve got any better luck than I have,” said Captain Bunce, as he tossed the penny high, in the air. ‘‘Heads.” The voice of Midge Murphy could be heard halt a mile away. It was the voice of a full- lunged, healthy, honest, noble boy. “IT told you Midge was lucky,” cried Charlie Peters, as blow. he grasped the little player by the hand. The coin had fallen with the head-side up, and the ‘ Southland boys had the choice of first innings. “Midge, you’re a dandy,” cried Captain Bunce. After a moment’s pause, he said : ‘“We will take the field, Captain Fisk, if you please.” Captain Fisk took off his little gray cap in acknowledg- ment-of defeat, and said, gracefully : “Tf we have lost the toss, captain, we have not lost the 99 game. “Well, we'll see about that,” replied the other, in his good-natured way. CHAPTER IV. THE GAME. As Midget Murphy walked out into the field, and took his place at short-stop, he was gr eatly admired. All the pretty girls in the gr and stand looked on him with favor. All knew Midget thought a great deal of Rose Short, but there were many of Rose’s girl friends who had met Midge and liked him for his many good qualities. , “Play ball!” cried the umpire. Every boy on the Southland team was now on the alert. Each knew the Bridgewater boys were good players, and that he had to do his best to win. So clever did the teams play that not 4 run was made in the first three innings. Midge scored one run for the Southland team in the fourth inning. - As be ran in from third to home plate, the crowd went orazy. Captain Fisk was known as a very heavy batter, He was the star of the Bridgewater team. Captain Bunce motioned to the fielders to get away out. The fielders obeyed him. “Ah! that’s good. There are two strikes on him now,” cried Captain Bunce. It was true. The captain of the Bridgewater team had twice failed to hit the ball. He was not discouraged, however. He smiled as another ball came to him. Catching it on the end of his bat, he hit it a terrific It was a beautiful hit. . It sailed far over the third baseman’s head, and far out into the field, thus permitting Captain Fisk to reach second base. There was none out on the Bridgewater team. ‘Get down when you can, captain,” cried Frank House, the first lieutenant of the Bridgewaters. “All right, Frank.” The next ball delivered by the pitcher of the South- lands was wild. It passed the catcher. This was Captain Fisk’s chance. Like an arrow from a bow he ran to.third. The vatcher caught the ball, and sent it to third. Like the pitcher, he was wild. It went over the head of the third baseman. Had not Midge Murphy backed up the third baseman, Captain Fisk would surely have made a run. The captain was half-way between third base and home when he saw Midge had stopped the ball. He had just time to get back to third. “Hurrah! hurrah for Midge Murphy, the great short- stop,” cried a boy in the grand stand, which was echoed and re-echoed throughout the field. Midge had certainly made a good stop. fle had also prevented Captain Fisk making a run. ‘‘Steady now, boys!” cried Captain Bunce.. . Neither member of the Southland team spoke. There was a look of determination on their faces. Each would do everything in his power to prevent Cap- tain Fisk getting a run, that was certain. There were still none out, and the members of the home team looked to the pitcher to aid them in the situa- tion. The first batter went out on strikes. COIN So (CO) 0) OQ) (C