Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 581 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

’ — ee oe hg Og eg eg np eet eee eee | ge ee SF ee ee ee ee w ---—— ee ~ - < — > . - + ee (me eee eee —_- ~~. Py =? y ; P This some one else is a fair young girl, who in daintest of summer costumes, looks inexpressibly cool and bewitching as she intently watches | that skunk. Let him go, an every movement of the pitcher, Noel directs his attention between her and the game; but she, after Lestowing upon him the coolest of nods at the beginning of the playing, thus showing that she knows him, bas not noticed him since, He is evidently not one of her favorites, By her side sits a merry-faced lad of about seventeen. He is enough like her to b2 easily recognized as her brother, even if ber careless reliance upon him for explanations of knotty points in the game did not inaicate their relation- ‘ship. ‘* They must not win that game! They shall not, if I can help it!” hisses Noel under his breath, ‘‘ That fellow is not going to get ahead of me always. ‘I don’t like the way he looked up at—at—Ada just now, either.” Wy: great roar arises from the multitude around im. The big batter of the Bostons has at last managed to hit Double-Curve Dan. He has sent the ball flying into right field, and owing toa fumble by a New York player, has made a home run, Two more Boston men fail to hit the ball, but ‘get on bases. The gloomy “ih man behind the post in the grand stand grinds his teeth. Another butter goes in for the Boston’s, and Double Curve Dan prepares with more vare than usualto put in one of his most difficult balls, The batter is one of the quickest men in the Boston team, and has all along come nearer to hitting Double-Curve’s delivery than any one else. Now that the pitcher is a little nervous by the unexpected success of the big batter, the Bostons ry more hopeful than ever. Dan poises the ball, and with a lightning in vement sends it zigzagging toward the home late, just ‘as a bright ray of sunlight strikes Lim full in the eyes, and mukes his delivery un- certain, ) 2ut for that ray of light the ball could never i:ave been touched by the batter. It was just . enough to spoil the throw, and, with a thud, the bat strikes the ball and sends it again flying into right field, over the head of the fielder who fumbled the previous ball. A home run! Round the bases flies the batman. There were two men On bases, and both are in! Quick with that ball! The right-fielder does not fumble this time, but sends the ball plump into the hands of the pitcher. The batsman is rushing from third base, and Dan summons his strength to send the ball to home plate, and thus put him out, Just at the critical moment, as the ball leaves his hand, that flash of sunlight again blinds him, and the ball goes wide of the mark, allowing the Bostonian to make bis run. ‘* What is the matter with you?” demands the captain, angrily. ouble-Curve Dan points to the grand stand, where, half-concealed by a st, is Wilfred Noel, with a piece of looking-glass in his hand! ‘* That is what is the matter with me,” says Dan, quietly. Even a3 he speaks, the vast multitude in the cheaper seats see through the treacherous trick of Noel, and, with a wild roar, rush toward him, as if they would rend him limb from limb, CHAPTER II. THE MURDER. IT was a dangerous momenf for the dastard, Noel, . Not a vestige of mercy couid be traced in the faces of any of the maddened creatures that were rushing toward the grand stand. The treacherous act that had lost the game for the home team, in spite of the wonderful skill of the strange pitcher, must be punished, surely and promptly. The young man who was the object of their wrath gazed at the crowd for a moment with a contemptuous sneer, and then, as the foremost of them scrambled over the fence into the grand stand, he turned, and, with a mocking wave of his hand, disappeared, With a howl, they were after him; but, too late. A sihall stairway, not generally open to the public, had enabled him to elude his pursu- ers, for a time at least. The young girl to whom he had referred as Ada, turned a terrified glance in his direction and half-arose from her seat, as he vanished down the stairway, ; _—---rrrr nn ee ee a Double-Curve Dan. “Sit still, Ada!” said her brother. ‘‘ They won't burt you, and I’m sure Pp don’t care for I only hope the will catch him and give him what he deserves,” ‘*'Yes, I know he has done a mean thing, but—” ‘* But—nothing, Ada, hearted.” The young fellow was thoroughly disgusted with Noel. He could not see any good in a man who would deliberately betray his own ball team, The crowd saw that their prey had escaped them, and they gradually settled back into their places to see the end of the game, Double-Curve Dan did his best, but the odds were too great’ now, in the ninth inning, and the score at the conclusion of the game stood 4 to 2 for the Bostons. The spectators poured out of the big exit ates, talking about the game and discussing ifferent points of play made during the after- noon. The young pitcher walked wearily across the diamond and threw himself upon the players’ bench, Bee er Dan, they managed to knock us out, eh? The speaker was Liomel Lacey. He patted foticdiners Dan on the shoulder as he spoke. ‘‘ Yes, I am sorry, too,” returned Dan, ‘‘I believe we could have won but for—” ‘* But for that dirty trick of Wilfred Noel’s. Yes, we could,” joined in the captain of the New Yorks, as he walked up to thle two, ‘*T suppose he will be bounced now, sure, Cap?” asked Lacey. bs No.” “No? Why not?’ ; “Well,” hesitatingly, ‘‘he is a good pitcher, for one thing.” ‘‘ What is the good of that, when you can’t depend upon him? Besides he isn’t as g as— as— You are too soft- Double-Curve Dan looked up quickly. ‘“My name is Daniel Manly, though, as I told you, I have been called Double-Curve Dan up in Albany.” ‘* Daniel Manly! A good name for you, too, if I am any judge,” declared Lionel, heartily. ‘* Thanks!’ ‘*No, we cannot afford to release Wilfred Noel, though I suppose we shall have to fine him,” said the captain, reverting to the original subject of conversation. ‘**T should think he would be ashamed to show his face among the boys again,” cried Lionel. ‘*T would go and bury myself in a mud-bank if I had done such a sneaking trick as that.” ‘*Oh, you would, eb?” A soft, persuasive voice sounded in Lionel’s very ear, and turning quickly, be looked into the dark, cruel eyes of Wilfred Noel, ‘‘You think it was a sneaking trick, eh? Mind I don’t do some other trick that will be rather painful to you. I don’t allow boys to criticise my actions.” : The sneering smile habitual to him played across Noel’s features, showing bis white teeth like the snarl of a beast of prey. Lionel Lacey was about to make a sharp re- ply, which would undoubtedly have led to a violent scene then and there, but a look from Dan Manly restrained him. Somehow this handsome young stranger could throw a great deal of pr eg into his soft blue eyes—ex- pression that conveyed command as surely as spoken words, ‘* Haven’t I met you before?’ demanded Noel, abruptly of Dan. The latter looked coldly at his questioner. ** Possibly.” **T thought so. Where was it—in Albany?” ‘Tn Albany.” ‘Well, you played a pretty good game to- day. Allow me to congratulate you.” - ilfred Noel put out his hand, but Dan ignored it, and, with the single word, ‘‘ Thanks!” turned his back on the other. ‘*Curse you! Iwill be even with you yet,” muttered Noel, walking away. ‘*' You cannot always be on top, surely, I blocked your game to-day. That is a comfort, anyhow. What was the reason that the dark-visaged young man was such a bitter enemy of Double- Curve Dan? Was it only because the stranger had come here and shown a skill in the pitcher’s box that | put Noel in the shade, or was there another and greater reason? We shall see, Richard, or Dick Worth, captain of the New Yorks, saw the little epesode between the two pitchers and shook his head gravely, He knew the vengeful nature of Wilfred Noel. Pi ~~ “You want to look out for that man, Dan,” he said. ‘ He’s dangerous,” ‘*So am I, when it is worth while,” was the careless response, ‘Bully for you, old man! I like that talk,” joined in Lionel Lacey. But, Double-Curve Dan did not hear him, His gaze was fixed on an object that was evi- dexitly more interesting than anything else, Lacey followed the direction of Dan’s eyes, and was at once almost as much interrested as the new pitcher. ‘*Whew! Ain’t she a corker?’ he muttered under his breath, ‘‘ Coming right over here, too,’ Coming across the ball-ground was a young girl, Ada Hetherington—she upon whom Wil- fred’s gaze had been fixed as he stood behind the post in the grand stand. Her fair cheek was flushed with excitement as she walked quickly toward the group consisting of Double-Curve Dan, Lionel Lacey and Dick Werth, the cap- tain. Half-way across the ground from the grand stand she passed Wilfred Noel, but she ac- knowledged bis bow with only the slightest nod of her pretty bead, beedless of the fact that he was muttering curses upon everybody and ever thing as he saw himself treated with silent disdain, ‘*Mr, Manly, 1 felt that I must come and speak to you,” she burst out, as she held out her hand, Double-Curve Dan took it respectfully and bowed, ; ‘¢-You played such a splendid game,” she con- tinued, ‘‘and made sure we should win, I knew it was not your fault that the nasty Bos- ton club beat us,’ Miss Ada was very loyal] to the home team, and could not say anything too cruel of its op- ponents, ‘*The Bostons piped a good game, Miss Hetberington,” said the young pitcher, gravely, ‘and fully deserved their victory. I am not disposed to consider them ‘nasty’ because I played on the losing side.” ‘* No, no, of course not,” she returned, hastily. ‘*T did not mean that, But Ido wish that we had won,” ‘** Better luck next time!” putin Lacey, unable to contain himself longer. Dan Manly introduced the young fellow and Dick Worth to the girl, as a concession to the rules of common politeness, though he felt that rhaps he was somewhat overstepping the ounds of social requirements in doing so. ‘*Mr. Manly, my father would be pleased to see you, I know. Could you not call at the house this evening?” Double-Curve Dan’s face flushed with pleas- ure, and Lacey looked as if he would havegiven | a great deal to be included in the invitation, ‘*7—I shall be only too happy te come,” he answered, ‘Then here is our address. I kmow papa wants to see you, for he was talking about you only this morning. spore, of course, he did not know you were in New York,” ‘¢ Ada!” rurg out her brother’s voice, and that young gentleman, somewhat disturbed over los- ing his sister, hove in sight across the ball- ground, ‘*T am coming, Bob!” cried his sister, and with a graceful bow 'to the three young men, sbe walked away and disappeared with Boh through the exit gateway. Something caused Double-Curve Dan to has- ten after her, and she was still just outside the gate when he caught her. hig He had hardly time to note that Wilfred Noel was blocking her path, and that the girl was. trying in vain to pass, when the former turned wits on him and demanded: " hat are you following this young lady r ’ ‘‘ What are you interfering with her for?” was | Dan Manly’s quick retort, ‘‘T am not answerable to you !” ‘* No, but you are to me,” put in Bob, as he gave Noel an angry pusb. In a second, all the fierce passions of the dark- browed young man were aflame, and he sprung upon the boy with murder in his heart. His hand was uprai that a knife glittered in the inert P ‘s ee of that!” cried Dan, ‘‘ What are you oing - He grasped Noel’s wrist, and fora moment the two struggled desperately. . Both were about equal in strength, but Wil- fred had the advan of being fresh, while Dan felt the fatigue induced by his exertions in the game, . “== ecomic! séi, and Dan Manly saw > 5 pd ly S ro oe Pr _L .