Yale Murphy, the Great Short-Stop — page 9: what you’re looking at

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No. 7. NEW YORK FIVE CENT LIBRARY. 9 " No, no, not that,” he muttered, ‘“‘for if I should disable The sky was Llue, not such a blue as the colors of Yale Midge Murphy, Yale might lose the game, and that would buta lighter, more heautiful blue: never do.” At the same noment Midge Murphy stuck his head out This thought did honor to Billy Curtain. of the window of his room, Dutch Carter did the same. It indicated he had some good in him after all, though| Both had gone to bed very early the night before, and his nature was such a very envious one. both had awakened with all the strength of their glorious Still, for the next couple of days, when Midge Murphy athletic young manbood. did some remarkable work in practice, Billy walked | Nothing else but the game that afternoon between the about the ball-field very much down-hearted. | Yale and Princeton was talked of in New Haven. As much as he disliked Midge, he did not want tosee| It was a general holiday. him disabled, for although he did not like to own up that | As Midge walked down the principal street, he thought such was the case, he appreciated the fact that the little to himself: short-stop was a wonderful player. | “This reminds me of Southland, and the day I won the ‘“How do you feel, Midge?” asked Dutch Carter of the! watch, when all the tradespeople closed up their shops in little short-stop, as he entered the great pitcher’s room honor cf the game between the Southiands and the Bridge- the night before the game with Princeton. waters.” “T never felt better in my life. How do you feel?” As the thought pleased Midge, he smiled. “T’m in excellent shape.” | Another thought which brought an expression of “Do you think you will be able to pitch the boys out all ‘pleasure to his face was that pretty Rose Short hed writ- right?” ,ten that she and her father and mother, together with “T will do my best.” 'Harry, intended to come on to New Haven to see the At this moment, Greenway, the catcher of Yale, entered gaine. Carter’s room. | Midge had arranged to provide them with seats, and he “Give me a pipe, Carter, old boy,” said Greenway. was on his way to the ball-field at that moment to see “Ves, anc where is my pipe?” asked Midge, as he | that the man in charge of the grand stand reserved good looked into Carter’s tobacco-box. ‘ones for his friends. “Do you think Iam going to supply you fellows with; Every train brought hundreds of pretty girls and their pipes all your lives?” cried the big pitcher, good naturedly. | escorts from neighboring cities and villages. ‘What else are you good for?” replied Midge. Specials from Boston and New York also brought great “Tam good enough for this,” cried Carter, as he ran crowds. toward Midge and seized him around the waist, at the! There was the usual delegation of Princeten rooters. same time raising him from the ground. The Princeton boys had arrived the night before, and Carter was so bigand muscular that he held Midge were ata hotel in the center of the town. over his head, although the little short-stop struggled | ‘‘Good-morning, Greenway, old man,” said Midge, as he fiercely. ishook hands heartily with the famous Yale catcher, ‘Now, what will you do, my little ball player?” cried| ‘“Good-morning, little fellow, how do you feel?” the big pitcher, as he laughed heartily. ‘“‘T feel like a winner.” “T will call it off, if you will.” “So do I.” “That’s all right. but don’t be gay again,” and Carter; <A small boy, who stood near by and heard the remarks lowered Midge to the floor. | of the two famous Yale players, told his companion, who After the three ball players had got their pipes and, said : settled down for a quiet smoke, Carter sxid : | “Dat’s all right. De Yale team will win, sure pop, “Boys, we will have to win that game to-morrow, if it | Cully, and don’t yer forgit it.” takes a leg.” | So great an interest had the games between the two “Veg,” said Midge, “if we don’t win I feel like losing colleges created, that the professors of each, together with both my legs.” their friends, occupied boxes. “Same here,” said Greenway. As the morning wore away, and the hour for the great The same enthusiasm which prevailed among the three 8%me drew near, the immense ball-field of Yale began to friends, Carter, Greenway, and Murphy, was seen in the. fill up. other players on the nine. The Short family, including Rose and Harry, had Yale must win at all hazards, or at least so thought the arrived an hour before the game was called. boys of the great New Haven college of learning. | Midge had seen them to their seats. | The meeting between Rose and Midge was more tender —_—— | than ever before. When he had shaken hands with the pretty girl, he turned to Harry and greeted him heartily. ‘‘Tam so glad you have made such a success at short- stop,” said Harry. “Thank you, Harry, you were always kind to me.” When each side had practiced the allotted half-hour, ;and the umpire advanced to call the game, there were , twenty thousand people scattered in and around the CHAPTER IX. THE GREAT YALE-PRINCETON GAME. It was a great day for New Haven. All the Yale players were up bright and early. The sun had just risen when Midge Murphy jumped ou of bed, and threw open the sash of his window. grand stand. “By Jove! but it’s a beautiful day,” he said, as he threw Midge felt very proud as he went to short-stop for the himself into his clothes. first inning. COMnmlcoOOKS.EO