Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 608 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

and giving Barker a shove, whispered: ** Be- hind the big house, at ten to-night!” The push sent Barker tumbling down a flight of steps that ended at one of the exit gates, and ere Dan could make his grip firm on his would- be prisoner, be found himself in the arms of Slicker, who was pulling him back toward the ball-ground. ‘*l hey a good mind ter fine you ten dollars for interrupting ther game in this hyar way,” exclaimed Slicker, sternly. He looked around him at the audience to see what they thought of this remark,and saw at once that it met with their approva]. A base-ball audience does not, asa rule, like to see a game interrupted for any cause, Dan Manly, although he knew that the provo- cation he had received should have been some excuse, was too earnest an admirer of the national game to object to discipline, even from Slicker Walker, the star crook. He went down into the pitcher’s box again, and the multitude settled into their seats, to resume their enjoyment of the great match. The cowardly trick of Barker had not injured the young detective, although his shoulder was a little sore, and he put in several of his curves rapidly, one after the other, with such effect that be retired the side beforeSlicker had cooled down after his display of authority among the spectators’ benches, One run had been scored for the New York Diamond Stars, and now the Albanys were going to the bat. Young Scott still sat on the players’ bench, taking hardly any interest in the game. He bad more important matters on his mind than base-bull, and since he had been compelled to break faith with Slicker, in regard to the turn- ing over of the game to the Diamond Stars, he knew too well that he mght expect to be pur- sued vindictively by the surly umpire. One, two, of the Albanys had been put out without scoring, and now Dan took the bat, with players on each of the three bases, | He took the bat and swung it around hishead to get the balanca of it. He found that in bat- ting, the bruise on his shoulder was likely to cause him some little trouble, but he bravely resolved not to heed the pain if he could only do his part toward securing victory for the club of his native city. The pitcher was a tall, powerful fellow, who sent in balls with tremendous force, and gen- erally straight, except when he substituted for them a delusive, slow delivery that was harder to meet than anything else. He made exactly the. same preliminary motions for either style of ball, and it was not until it had actually left his hand, that be gave auy hint to the batter of the sort of ball to expect. ‘* Now, Barney, give him one that will knock the daylights out of him!” yelled a boy from the cheap seats, whose parents had lived in New York all his life until a few weeks before, and who was therefore metropolitan in his ideas and sympathies to the very core of his heart. Barney Muggins, the Diamond Star pitcher, did not take his advice kindly, for he scowled in a way that should have made the boy quail. It failed in its effect, however, for American boys do not quail very readily. ‘*Play!” yelled Slicker, waitin’ fer?” Thus admonished, Mr, Muggins took his lance from the boy and measured Double- urve Dan, as if to consider whether he should eat him up after putting him out. Dan returned the look good-humoredly, and waited for the attack, At last it came, almost crawling from the itcher’s hand, and then, as it neared the back, king on a speed that threatened to send it a long way past the catcher and umpire, and into the solid wood of the back-stop, Dan wisely did not attempt to strike it. Like the New York batter who had first faced him, he wanted to get used to the pitcher’s delivery before he used bis bat. The ball had not been without good effect for the Albanys, however. In spite of the watch- fulness of Barney Muggins to prevent it, the player on third base stole home while the ball was on its way. It wasarisky thing to do, but Barney’s awkward delivery was calculated” to confuse the catcher, as well as the batsman, It was so in this case, and while the player behind the bat was chasing the ball toward the back- stop the run was scored. “*Rah for Albany! *Rah for the home club! “What are yer "Rab! ’Rah!” The yells that went up from the spectators brought an evil scowl to ugly Slicker Walker’s The Pitcher Detective’s Foil. ugly face, as he motioned to Barney to do his s Another ball, and this time Dan hit it. With terrific force the ball went down center-field plump into Barney Muggins’s hands, the con cussion throwing him flat on his back, but with- out making him release the ball. With that generous willingness to give due credit for aclever feat, by whosoever performed, that is characteristic of American crowds, the spectators cheered Barney Muggins to the echo as he arose to his feet with the ball aloft. This retired the Albanys, with the score one and one. The next seven innings went througb without any change. Barney Muggins and Double- Curve seemed te be actually invincible, As the Albanys went into the field for the ninth inning, Slicker went to the players’ bench and frowningly addressed Richard Scott: ‘‘ See hyar, young feller, the New Yorks have ter win this hyar game somehow. You must fix it.” ‘*How can I?” was Scott’s despairing re- sponse. ‘*Don’t care how yer do it, but yer must, somehow. If yer don’t, I'll put ther screws on yer, now, sure! That check for $500, is in good hands, and I hev only ter whisper ter hev it brought up ag’in’ yer, with Thompson Carr's name signed to it by—” ‘* Hush!” whispered Scott, in agony. ** Oh, Pll hush, uv course, I’m only a-sayin’ thet ef we don’t git this game you'll find that check presented at ther bank, an’ then you know PAS you'll be. Now, make up yer mind right quick! ‘‘ What can I do? How is it you know so much abcut my affairs?” Slicker shrugged his shoulders and gave his favorite reply: ‘‘It’s my bizness ter know. You heard what [ said, didn’t yer?” He took up his position as umpire, but waited a few moments before letting the game go on, retending that he had a stone in his shoe, aking off the shoe and shaking out the imagin- ary stone, gave Dick Scott time to walk over to Dan and whisper to him. “Dan, I wouldn’t try a curve with that fel- low. He has got it down very fine. A good straight ball will be more likely to balk him,” Without waiting for a reply, Dick strolled back. to the players’ bench, exchanging a hasty glance of meaning with Slicker as he passed him. Slicker’s head was bent over his shoe, as he fastened it on, and the look he gave Dick was nothing more than an elevation of the eyebrows and a barely perceptible turn of the head, But Double-Curve Dan saw it, ‘‘So! Slicker bas scared him into it, has he? And he comes to me and tries to mislead me, eh? Ah, Dick, Dick, my boy! You are in bad pangs! You had better have trusted Dan Man- y! The detective shook his head sadly, and then, dismissing the matter for the time, at least, with a heavy sigh, got ready to deliver his first ball. He looked over to Dick as he stood in position to make the delivery, and saw that the young man’s eyes were fixed upon him eagerly. “Yes, it is all very well, Dick, but I shall not follow your advice,” muttered Dan, as he care- fully sent one of his double-curves to the bats- man, ‘* One strike!” cried Slicker, with a vindictive frown, The big batsman looked uncomfortable, and a flush of annoyance overspread his face, Con- found those twists! He could not hit them. Another double-curve, and this time the bat caught the ball and sent it into right-field, The batsman made first base, but that was all, Barney Muggins came next. He brought his own special bat with him, and it was easy to see that he did not mean to be fooled by any pitcher. He was full of confidence in himself, and, moreover, he was mad because the Dia- mond Stars had not already walked away from the Albany buys in the game, The first bal he did not try; nor the second, The third he slashed at but missed, A slight smile of amusement on Dan’s face made Barney fairly foam. He would hit the next one or die! He did neither. With excellent intention, he cut at Dan Manly’s tantalizing twister, but he only thrashed the wind, while the ball dropped with a cheery slap into the hands of the catcher. ‘* Two strikes!” proclaimed Slicker; adding, between his clinched teeth: ‘‘ Curse him! If Barker an’ me don’t make it hot fer him afore __— TS er a The man on first base had tried to steal sec- ond, but the ball was flying toward him before he had got a yard away from first, and he wise- ly ran back. Barney realized that now was his time or never. He only had one more strike, and he must make that tell. Dan was equally deter- mined that the batsman should not hit it, if it could be helped, and prepared to put in a puz- zler, But, Barney prevailed this time. He caught the ball fairly on his bat, and while he reached only second base himself, the player on first got home. This made two for the Diamond Stars, and was all they got. In the language of the game, Barney “‘ died at third.” Another New Yorker suffered the same fate at second, and a third was ‘‘ out on strikes.” ‘‘Dan, you should have taken my advice,” said Scott, reproachfully, as the pitcher, some- what tired from his exertions in the box, took a seat by the side of the young man, and tak- ing up a tin pail of water, drank deeply and thankfully. Barney Muggins, more disgusted than ever that the Diamond Stars had not ‘‘ wiped the floor” with the Albanys, and foreseeing certain defeat if he did not prevent it, prepared to “ pitch the innings of bis life,” as he expressed it. e certainly did excellent work, and it was seldom that an Albany player managed to strike his curves, delivered at such an uncertain speed, that only the most vigilant attention served them, Dick Scott sat quietly by Dan Manly’s side, watching him and Slicker Walker alternately. At last he said, touching Dan on the shoulder: ‘Go on, Dan; you are the Jast one at bat for the Albanys. Two men are out already.” Dan Manly had heen apparently in a half doze, for he drew himself up with a start and looked around him with an expression very un- usual with him, ‘‘Um! I’m over-tired, I guess. I suppose it was being disturbed in the night, and playing here in the hot sun, I baven’t pitched a game before this season. It isn’t often I get so easily knocked out, though,” he muttered, as he stood up, und, with a yawn, picked up bis bat, ‘“ Hurry up, thar! ‘You’re keeping the game waitin’. Everybody ull git cold standin’ around this hyar way,” bawled Slicker. There was one man on first base, and both he and Dan would have to make runs if the Al- banys were to win. Dan saw this with the quickness of an expert ball-player, and made up his mind, notwithstand- ing that he felt so tired out, that the Albanys should win the game if he could influence the turn of the tide. He took another drink of water from the tin pail and walked swiftly but with a little uncer- tainty in his gait, toward the home plate. As he did so, Dick Scott threw the rest of the water in the tin pail upon the ground. Barney Muggins was disposed to be somewhat exultant now. He had pnt out two of the Al- bany boys easily. Now if he could retire the side and win the game for the Diamond Stars by the discomfiture of Double-Curve Dan he ‘would be as happy as the President of the United States, he told himself, Dan felt strangely dizzy as he took up his position at the home plate and awaited his ball. Somehow, Barney Muggins looked a very long way off, and he could hardly believe he was dis- tant only the regulation forty-five feet. “Play!” shouted Slicker. Dan saw Barney throw himself imto a para- lytic attitude, and then, hardly knowing what he did, he swung bis bat with all bis strength, There was a thud and a jar running up his arm and sending a pang through his sore shoul- der. ‘‘ Steady, Dan,” be muttered. ‘‘ Keep up for a little while, my boy!” With staggering steps he ran around the bases, “First! All right, so far! Second! Yes, that’s good! But how blind I am_ getting! What is all that shouting about? Where third base? Shall I ever reach it? Oh, yes; here it is. There! I bave touched it. Now, for home! Ah, how they yell, and how everything hums in my ears. Theré is something wrong with me, but I do not know what itis. Where —where—is—the—the—home plate? I can hard- ly keep my feet, and the world is—pitch—dark! Ab! At last! At last!” With a wild lurch, and a half-articulate cry, Double-Curve Dan fell across the home plate and the great match between the Diamond Stars he gits out uv this hyar town, then I'll drop | and the Albanys had ended in a victory for the my name uv Slicker.” latter. ’ o ? ~ « f 7 é . oo “ > i. ' : | A - * 1° Seed. i . ~~~ oe — > 4 : ‘ aad om