Yale Murphy, the Great Short-Stop — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a Billy did not like Midge Murphy from the first moment he saw him. i g NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. No. &7. “ What is the matter with that fellow Curtain, Dutch ?” Midge asked one duy of the big pitcher of the Yale team, He quickly recognized that Midge was bright, clever,!as the two walked from their dining club to the class- and industrious in his studies, and now his catch had,room. proved he was also a great ball player. These two things galled Billy. “IT will do my best to keep Murphy off the team,” he said to himself. — But if Midge’s running catch pleased the boys on the Yale team, his batting gave them greater cause for liking him. They saw he would be a valuable addition to the team. The captain and other members got together that night and agreed if Midge would accept, he could have the posi- tion of center fielder. Midge did not hear of the decision until some hours later, when Dutch Carter came to his room. “Give me my pipe, Midge, and I’ll tell you a piece of news,” said the famous Yale pitcher, as he stretched his long legs on Midge’s sofa. - “Certainly, old chap,” said Midget, as he filled a big meerschaum pipe with the best Havana tobacco. “What if 1 should tell you you were chosen to play center field on the Yale team?” Midge stopped suddenly. He was filling a pipe for himself. “What?” : “‘T said: What if I should tell you were chosen to play center field on the Yale team ?” “‘I should say that you were a very decent fellow, and that the other members of the Yale team were gentlemen and scholars.” As the little fellow spoke, he went over and put his hand on Carter’s shoulder. ‘Well, do-you accept?” asked the latter. ‘““(Do ITaccept? Will a duck swim ?” And so it was arranged that Midge, who had been but a short time in Yale College, was chosen to play center fielder on the famous Yale team. CHAPTER VII. MIDGE IS MADE SHOT-STOP. Six months had passed, and Midge Murphy had greatly improved in his playing. During this time he and Dutch Carter had become close friends. . They were seen together everywhere, and Dutch thought there was no one in the world like Midge. As for Midge, he said Carter was one.of the most clever pitchers Yale ever had, as well as being the prince of, good fellows. Every member of the Yale team was in hard practice for the coming game between that college and Princeton. Reports from Princeton indicated that the boys were never in such good form before. The game was to come off at New Haven. During Midge’s six months at Yale he had discovered that Billy Curtain did not like him. While Billy did not dare give Midge any offense, Murphy noticed he scowled when in his company, and in many other ways showed his dislike. “Why do you ask ?” “Because I understand he has been talking about my ability as a ball player, and he has in many other ways tried to affront me.’ “He has not offered you any insult, has he?” asked Carter, indignantly. “No, he has not gone so far as that, but I don’t under- stand his dislike for me.” While Midge did not say so, he knew it would not be well for Billy Curtain to offer him any insult. He was very small, but those students who had come in contact with him, knew he had the courage of a lion, and that even if he were not so big as some others, every one knew he was one of the strongest and most athletic students in the college. “Oh, he’s only jealous, that’s all!” said Dutch, “ and es wouldn’t think anything more about him if I were you.’ “All rigbt, I'll follow your advice, old man,” said the little ball player; ‘‘but I don’t like to have anybody offended at me unless for cause, and I have never given Billy Curtain any reason to dislike me.” All that. week and the next, the Yale team practiced. Midge had done such good work at center field, that the captain of the team appointed him short-stop. He was one of the smallest and youngest short-stops Yale had ever seen. Every one liked him, and he had not an enemy in the college unless it was Billy Curtain. His fame had also spread to other cities. He had played a number of intercollegiate games, and had done so well that he shared the honors of the team | work with Dutch Carter and other famous Yale players. “T must play my best ball when we meet the Princeton team next week,” Midge said to himself aftera hard afternoon's practice. CHAPTER VIII. , THE EVE OF THE GREAT GAME, ‘‘Drat that fellow. I wish he was disabled the way I am,” said Billy Curtain one morning, as he walked on to the ground with his arm in a sling. It was a few days before the great.game between Prince- ton and Yale. Billy was an extra player, but the captain of the tean. had assured him he would surely be able to play one of the outfields. In a practice game the day before he had fallen and sprained his right arm. The sprain was a severe one, and Billy knew he would be unable to play. This fact made him sore, because Midge Murphy was in such excellent form, and playing such great ball. ‘“*T wonder if I could not——” muttered Billy. The thought that crossed Billy’s mind was a terrible one. For an instant he thought in some way of disabling Midge so that he could not play, but an instant later his pride as a student of Yale came to his rescue. S CGOMIGOOO (C(O)