Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

6538 “Don’t get your burr filled up with funny ideas,” I snap. ‘ We’re here to play ball and beat these rubbernecks. How’ S the old wing, Andy?” “Pretty good,” Swanson grins confi- dently. Ferry Flour Mills was first to bat when the umpire called the game. Benny Means, our lead-off man, picked out a thin black club. “Get on, Benny,” “I says. thing to reach first.” Heaver Bartley, of the Redlight Rubber, had conflictin’ ideas, however. He forced Benny to miss three and then come back for a drink. Little Lister, our shortstop, and fast as a streak, next poked a weak grounder down third base and reached first on a fumble. The rubberites chattered away at a great rate to cheer Mr. - Bartley, but Lister promptly purloined second on the first ball. Bad baseball it was, at that; but he got away with it. ‘Sap one, Tommy!” I implore Dwyer, who was at the plate. He was one of the surest hitters on the team. Tommy tried hard, but this Bartley was no clown. He had speed, hooks, and a wonderful change of pace. By puttin’ stuff on every heave he set Dwyer down on strikes. Two in the grave, and a runner on second. Leander Lucas Smith adjusted his pink glasses, plucked out a weighty bludgeon, and carelessly ambled up to the obloid. “Here goes your old ball game!” Carl Miller bellows from the third base coachin’- line. “Back, you fielders!” shouts Eddie Kizer from first. . The rubber team let go a continual round of remarks as Leander dug his spikes into the dirt. “ Take off those specs!” “You'll never see the Ball, anyhow!” “‘ Get a telescope!” “Hound him outa there! outa there!” “ Be careful you don’t break his glasses, Bart!” “Razzberry for you, Goggles! you're at the opera?” “Any old Hound him Think Digitiz ry Go ogle 7 out. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The first strike was called on Leander. It looked low, but umpires will make mis- takes. I oughta know. After passin’ up two wide ones Leander swung and missed a curve, and the outcry started again: “You got his number, Bart!” “This bird is easy! Get him outa there!” “He can’t see em! alibi!” Bartley buzzed over a fast one, and Leander cut it on the seam, drivin’ it square into the hands of the second baseman. I'll bet his lunch-hooks ‘burned the remainder of the afternoon, but he hung onto the cherry. Three out. The Redlights romped in, full of jazz and ginger, but Andy Swanson wasn’t feel- in’ like Santa Claus, and they got no pres- ents from him. Up until the first of the sixth both pitch- ers were as stingy with blows as Caledo- nians, and the score-board was blank. Bartley was twirlin’ a beautiful game, but he had nothin’ on Andy Swanson. The latter’s smoke was pani the rubber- necks. ~ Joe Strong pushed a single into left to open Canto Six. Swanson helped himself to three nice swings and then handed his wand to the bat-boy. Benny Means dropped a bunt in front of the platter and beat it Lister let a fast one tickle a button on his blouse, and the bags were crammed. . “ Here’s where we do it!” I yell. “One out, Tommy! Smear it!” Eddie Kizer and Carl Miller were dancin’ on the coachin’-lines, the crowd was roarin’, and the Redlight team was darn nervous. Tommy Dwyer marched to the plate with his jaw out, and faced Bartley. The rubber pitcher refused to get fussed. The glasses are his ‘He was as cool as a vanilla frappe, and struck Tommy out. Two buried, and Leander Lucas Smith next on the list. It was the third appearance at the plate for Leander, and so far he had rapped out no knocks. His second time up had seen him fly out to deep right. _ The whiffin’ of Dwyer had heartened the rubbernecks a bit and they tried to razz Smith about his glasses, Leander said never Original from 1EOOO