Frank Merriwell's Catch — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

a 7 | TIP TOP WEEKLY. it came about that there was a rush of people toward that point of shore that. Frank approached. Some one proposed a cheer for Frank Merriwell, and it was given with a hearty will. Then aman cried: “Why, he’s one of them Sandy Point dudes that everybody said wouldn’t cut yr0 ice in the race.”? **Mebbe he didu’t cut no ice,’’ cried another, ‘‘but he cut water enough to win first purse.”? This caused a laugh. There were scores of pretty girls in the throng, and they regarded the handsome victor admiringly. “Merriwell could have flirted with almost any of them had he chosen, although he would have needed a proper introduction to not a few before they would have recognized him. At Camp Benson, however, there seemed to oe an unustial freedom, and it was not difficult to get acquainted with almost any one. Young Jadies who would ‘not have thought of such impropriety elsewhere often ventured to flirt mildly with strangers. Bruce Browning was lounging in the shade beneath a tree, with Dunnerwust at his side, awaiting Frank. ‘*Well, Merry,’’ he called, ‘‘you did the trick, but.I had begun to think you were not.in it.”? ‘““Vaw,’’ nodded Hans, ‘‘you hat pegun to think I vos nod in id, but ven you got der sdart der odder veller on I seen how der peesness peen goin’ toend. You vos a lulu, Vrankie!”? Hans dialect caused those in his vicin- ity to smile or laugh outright. Frank came ashore, and immediately he was surrounded by the ball players. (Mr. Merriwell,’’ said the captain of the Newport team, ‘‘we would like to have you umpire the game for us this afternoon. It begins right away.”’ “It will be a great favor, Mr. Merri- well,’’ declared the captain of the M. C. I.’s, with more politeness. ‘‘I assure you we shall regard it asa great favor.’ ‘“The position is not a pleasant one,’’ said Frank. ‘‘I’d much rather look on and see the game.’”’ ‘We will pay you if you-——”’ begun the Newport captain. Have you heard about “ Parson” Stanard? See The Half-Holiday. Frank stopped him. ‘€You cannot hire me for money to, umipire,’? he said, proniptly. - so—-—-? ‘Will you?’ cried several. ‘“Go ahead, Merry,’’ said Hodge. “Well,” laughed Frank, *‘I’ll do it.” One minute later criers were running over the ground aunouncing that the ball game that afternoon would be umpired by the great Yale pitcher, Frank Merriwell. Frank was given time to change his clothes, and then, still accompanied by Hodge, he went onto the ball ground. The ground wes not fenced, and it was completely surrounded bya throng of spectators. The M. C. I.’s were practic- ing. As Frank appeared, somebody shouted: ‘‘Here comes Merriwell!”? There was a great clapping of hands. Frank was dressed in a spotless white flannel suit, and he made a handsome ap- pearance. | The captains of the two teams ap- proached him, and he asked them about ground rules. They gave him the desired information, and then he was provided with a fresh Spaulding in an unbroken box. The Newports had practiced already, and the time for the game to begin was “Ie T did past, so Merriwell stepped out behind the . plate and called: ‘*Play ball!” CHAPTER IX. NEWPORT WINS. It had been decided that the M. C, I’.s should take the field, so they remained in their positions, and the game began with . a sharp two-bagger from Newport’s_ first. batter. To the astonishment of every- body, although he had been behind the plate when the ball was hit, Frank was down to second ahead of the runner, standing in just the proper position to see the play perfectly, and he pronounced the man safe on a close play, a decision that might have been disputed had he re- mained near the plate. In fact, the second baseinan opened his mouth to dispute the ruling, but closed up imme- diately on seeing that Frank was not more than ten feet away. SOMMIGIOO SS CO mn