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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39020-h.zip b/39020-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e06e09 --- /dev/null +++ b/39020-h.zip diff --git a/39020-h/39020-h.htm b/39020-h/39020-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..189b30d --- /dev/null +++ b/39020-h/39020-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7342 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bert Wilson’s Fadeaway Ball, by J. W. Duffield. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 35%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.tdl {text-align: left;} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + +/* ===================== */ +/* DACSoft custom styles */ +/* ===================== */ + +/* Indented paragraph - replacement */ +p { + margin-top: .51em; + margin-bottom: .49em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +/* Unindented paragraph style */ +.noi { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +/* Centered unindented paragraph style */ +.noic { + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Drop caps */ +p.cap { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +p.cap:first-letter { + float: left; + padding-right: 3px; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: 83%; +} + +/* Table cell alignments */ +td.tdrb { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + +td.tdrt { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: top; +} + +.author { + font-size: 1.25em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +.works { + font-size: .75em; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +/* Smaller page numbers - replacement */ +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + color: gray; +} /* page numbers */ + + +/* Transcriber's Notes - replacement. */ +.tnote { + background-color: #E6E6FA; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; +} + +.tntitle { + font-size: 1.25em; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball, by J. W. Duffield + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball + +Author: J. W. Duffield + +Release Date: March 1, 2012 [EBook #39020] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERT WILSON'S FADEAWAY BALL *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings, Rod Crawford and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 491px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="491" height="600" alt="cover" title="cover" /> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> + +<p>A Table of Contents has been added by the transcriber for the +convenience of the reader; it was not present in the original.</p> + +<p>Remaining transcriber’s notes are at the end of the text.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width: 20%;" /> +<col style="width: 70%;" /> +<col style="width: 10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl"></td> + <td class="tdrt">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">I.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Touching Second</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">II.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Making the Team</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">16</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">III.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">The “Inside” Game</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">33</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">The Triple Play</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">53</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">V.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Winning His Spurs</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">65</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The Fire</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">93</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Taking His Medicine</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">107</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Shooting Them Over</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">123</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A Gallant Rescue</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">144</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">X.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">A Wild Ride</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">160</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdrt">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">The Ninth Inning</a></td> + <td class="tdrb">182</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>BERT WILSON’S<br /> +Fadeaway Ball</h1> + +<p class="p4 noic">BY</p> + +<p class="noi author">J. W. DUFFIELD</p> + +<p class="works"><span class="smcap">Author of “Bert Wilson at the Wheel,”<br /> +“Bert Wilson, Marathon Winner,”<br /> +“Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator.”</span> +</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<p class="noic">Copyright, 1913, By</p> + +<p class="noic">SULLY AND KLEINTEICH</p> + +<p class="p2 noic"><i>All rights reserved.</i></p> + +<p class="noic">Published and Printed, 1924, by<br /> +Western Printing & Lithographing Company<br /> +Racine, Wisconsin<br /> +Printed in U. S. A.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>Bert Wilson’s Fadeaway Ball</h1> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Touching Second</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">Crack!—and the ball soared into center field, +while the batter, swift as a flash, sped down +to first. A tremendous roar went up from the +thirty thousand loyal “fans” who packed the +grandstands and filled the bleachers to overflowing. +Staid citizens danced up and down like +howling dervishes, hats were tossed into the air +or jovially crushed on their owners’ heads, and +happy riot reigned everywhere. Pandemonium +broke loose.</p> + +<p>The fight for the pennant had been a bitter one +all season. First one team and then another +had taken the lead, while the whole country had +been as excited as though the fate of an empire +hung in the balance. The third chief contender, +fighting grimly to the last, had fallen hopelessly +behind, and the contest had narrowed down to a +life-and-death struggle between the Giants and the +Cubs. The team from the Western city had hung +on doggedly and every battle had been fought +“for blood.” Contesting every inch, they had at +last drawn up on even terms with the leaders, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +to-day’s game was to decide which club should be +hailed as champions of the National League and, +later on, do battle with the leaders of the American +League for the proud title of Champions of +the World.</p> + +<p>The excitement was intense, and, to a foreigner, +would have been inconceivable. Men stood in +line all the night before to make sure of tickets +when the gates should open in the morning. The +newspapers devoted columns of space to the +gladiators of the opposing teams. Delegations +poured in on special trains from neighboring +cities. The surface cars and elevated trains, +packed to the limit, rolled up to the grounds and +deposited their sweltering throngs. The lines of +ticket buyers extended for blocks, and the speculators +did a rushing business. Long before the hour +set for the game to begin, the grounds were +crowded to suffocation, and thousands, unable to +get in, were turned away from the gates.</p> + +<p>The scene within was inspiring. A band +played popular airs, while those within hearing +joined lustily in the chorus. The great field, +gleaming like green velvet beneath the afternoon +sun, had been especially groomed and rolled for +this day of days. The base lines, freshly marked, +stood out in white and dazzling relief. All four +sides of the huge enclosure held their thousands +of enthusiasts, and the host of special policemen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +had their hands full to keep them from encroaching +on the diamond. As each white-uniformed +athlete of the home team came from the club +house for preliminary practice, he was boisterously +and affectionately greeted.</p> + +<p>Nor did the gray-clad visitors come short of a +cordial reception. The great crowd hoped that +the home team would win, but they were fair, +and, mingled with the good-natured chaffing, was +a wholesome respect and fear of their prowess. +Above all they wanted a rattling game and a +hair-raising finish, with the Giants winning “by +an eyelash.”</p> + +<p>The bell rang. The Giants took their places +in the field and the umpire cried “Play ball!” +The head of the Cubs’ batting order came to the +plate and the game was on. From the start it +was a battle “for keeps.” Both teams were “on +their toes.” It meant not only honor but lucre. +The winners would contest in the World’s Series, +and this meant thousands of dollars for every +player. Every point was bitterly fought, and +plays were made that under other circumstances +would not even have been attempted. For eight +innings, Fortune divided her favors equally, and +it looked as though the game were destined to go +into extra innings.</p> + +<p>The Cubs were easily disposed of in their half +of the ninth, and the Giants came to the bat. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +crowd, which had been alternately on the heights +of hope or in the depths of despair, rose to their +feet and cheered them wildly. The batters were +frantically besought to “hit it on the seam,” +“give the ball a ride,” “show them where you +live.” The players responded nobly. By the +time that two were out, a Giant was perched on +third and another on first. The shortstop, a +sure hitter in a pinch, strode to the plate. Now, +indeed, excitement was at fever heat. A safe hit +into the outfield would bring the man on third +to the plate with the winning run.</p> + +<p>The visitors were plainly worried. The “Peerless +Leader” came in from first, ostensibly to advise +the pitcher, but really to give him a moment’s +rest before the final test. Hoots of derision +showed the spectators’ appreciation of the trick. +The pitcher glanced at the man dancing about +third, wound up deliberately and let the ball go +with all the force of his brawny arm. The batter +caught it squarely “on the trademark” and +shot it like a rifle bullet into center field, while +the man on third tore down the line and came +like a racehorse to the plate. He crossed the +rubber with the winning run, and thirty thousand +men went stark, raving mad.</p> + +<p>The man on first ran part way toward second, +and then, seeing that his comrade would certainly +score, turned and scurried to the club house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +in right field. The jubilant crowd began to invade +the diamond. Suddenly the second baseman +of the visitors secured the ball, rushed to +his base, and then, surrounded by his teammates, +ran toward the umpire, waving his hands wildly.</p> + +<p>The crowd, at first bewildered, then angered, +soon became panic-stricken. Few of them understood +the nature of the claim. They only felt +that the hard-won victory was being called in +question, and a tidal wave of wrath and resentment +swept over the field.</p> + +<p>The point made by the quick-witted second +baseman was simple, but sufficiently important to +engage the grave attention of the umpires. His +contention was that the man on first had not +touched second base, and, as he was legally compelled +to leave first in order to make room for +the batter and had not touched second before the +ball got there, he was <i>forced out</i>, and therefore +the run didn’t count. The rules on this point +were clear and explicit. If the claim was granted, +three men were out, no run had come in and the +score was still a tie at one to one.</p> + +<p>The final decision was held in suspense, and +the throng passed out, more like a funeral than +a triumphal procession. Disputes were rife +among heated partisans, and in all the vast city +that night and, in a lesser degree, in every city +from New York to San Francisco, the game was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +fought over and over again. The unfortunate +first baseman almost lost his mind over the blunder. +There was more pity than bitterness felt +toward him, however, as it was known that he +had merely followed a general custom that had +been taken as a matter of course.</p> + +<p>Among the crowd that filed out of the gates +were Bert Wilson and his inseparable friends, +Dick Trent and Tom Henderson. With them +also was a Mr. Hollis, a gentleman much older +than they in years, but quite as young in spirit. +He had been in charge of the summer camp from +which the boys had recently returned, and the respect +and confidence that his sterling character +evoked had become steadily stronger. They +were all very fond of the great national game, +and had shared the enthusiasm over the supposed +victory of the home team. Now, from the reaction, +their ardor was correspondingly dampened.</p> + +<p>“There’s no use talking,” broke out Tom hotly, +“it was a low down trick. They couldn’t beat +us with the bat, so they try to do it on a quibble.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said Dick, “it’s about a stand +off. We may have been a little bit better off in +brawn, but they had it on us in the matter of +brain. Whatever we may think of their sportsmanship, +their wits were not wool gathering.”</p> + +<p>“And after all,” chimed in Bert, “it is brain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +that counts to-day in baseball as well as in everything +else. More and more, the big leaguers are +putting a premium on quick thinking. The mere +‘sand lot slugger’ is going to the rear, and the +college man is coming to the front. It isn’t that +the collegian is necessarily any brainier, but he +has been taught how to use his brains. This is +simply a case where the husky hit of the Giants’ +short-stop was wasted because of the nimble +wit of the Cubs’ second baseman. It was hit +against wit, and wit won out.”</p> + +<p>“All the same,” maintained Tom, “it was +taking advantage of a technicality. The same +thing has been done a hundred times, and there +has never been a kick about it. Whenever a +player has been sure that the winning run has +come in, he has considered it all over, and made a +break for the clubhouse. I don’t think the question +has ever been raised before.”</p> + +<p>“Yes it has,” said Mr. Hollis. “That same +quick thinker made a point of it the other day in +Pittsburgh, and that is all the more reason why +the home team ought to have been wide awake. +But there is nothing to be gained by post mortems, +and anyway the thing isn’t settled yet. It looks +rather bad for us now, but there will be a full discussion +of the matter and the umpires may find +something in the rules that will cover the case +and give us the run. Even if they don’t, it leaves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +it a tie, and the game will have to be played +over. We may win then and get the pennant +after all.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” said Tom, “but just at present +I know how they felt in Mudville:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘O somewhere birds are singing and somewhere children shout,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But there’s no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.’”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A few days later when the point had been decided +in favor of the Cubs and the game played +over, only to result in a conclusive victory for +the men from the shore of Lake Michigan, the +chums met in Bert’s rooms.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Dick, “I see that they put it over, +all right. They’ve copped the pennant and we +are only an ‘also ran.’”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Tom, “that hit by Tinker over +Seymour’s head did the business. But there’s +no use crying over spilt milk. We’ll stand them +on their heads next year and get even.”</p> + +<p>“By the way, Bert,” asked Dick, changing the +subject, “have you heard from your examinations +yet? How did you make out?”</p> + +<p>“Fine,” answered Bert. “I heard from the +Dean this morning and he says that I passed with +something to spare. The chemical and electrical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +marks were especially good. He says that the +questions along those lines were unusually severe, +but they didn’t strike me that way. I suppose +it’s because I’m so interested in them that they +come easy.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, old scout,” cried Dick, delightedly. +“I’m tickled to death that the thing +is settled. You’ll find that we have one of the +finest scientific schools in the country. I’ve been +there a year now, and it’s come to seem like +home. I’ll show you the ropes and we’ll room +together. I only wish Tom here were coming +along with us next week.”</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said Tom ruefully, “but Father +seems to think I’d better stick to my engineering +course right here in New York. It isn’t that he +thinks the course is any better than at your college, +if as good. I suppose the real reason is +that he wants me to be where I can live at home. +I’m going to get Mr. Hollis to have a talk with +him. Perhaps he can show him that it would be +a good thing for me to get away from home and +be thrown on my own responsibility. Dad’s +pretty stubborn when he gets an idea in his head, +but he thinks a lot of Mr. Hollis, and what he +says will go a long way with him.”</p> + +<p>It was a wholesome group of young fellows +that thus discussed their future plans. They +were the best type of manly, red-blooded American<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +youth, full of energy and ambition and alive +to their finger tips. Tom was of medium height, +while Bert and Dick were fully six feet tall. All +were strongly built and looked as though they +could give a good account of themselves in any +contest, whether of mind or body. A similarity +of tastes and habits had drawn them closely together, +and among their friends they were jokingly +referred to as the “Three Guardsmen.” +They were rarely apart, and now their plans for +the coming school year were destined to cement +their friendship still more firmly. In reality with +them it was “one for all and all for one.”</p> + +<p>All of them had chosen their life work along +practical and scientific lines. The literary professions +did not tempt them strongly. Dick, +who was the elder, was preparing to become a +mining engineer, and had already spent a year +at college with that end in view. Tom aimed at +civil engineering while Bert was strongly drawn +toward electrical science and research. This +marvelous field had a fascination for him that he +could not resist. His insight was so clear, he +leaped so intuitively from cause to conclusion, +that it was felt that it would be almost a crime if +he were not permitted to have every advantage +that the best scientific schools could give him. +For a long time past he had been studying nights, +preparing for his entrance examinations, and now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +that he had passed them triumphantly, nothing +intervened between him and his cherished ambition.</p> + +<p>Absorbed as he was in his studies, however, he +spent enough time in athletic sports to keep himself +in superb physical condition. His was the old +Greek ideal of a “sound mind in a sound body.” +His favorite sport was baseball, and, like most +healthy young Americans, he was intensely fond +of the great game. In public school and high +school he had always “made the team.” Although +at times he had played every position in +the infield and outfield and behind the bat, he +soon gravitated towards the pitcher’s box, and for +the last three years had played that position +steadily. He was easily the best “flinger” in the +Inter-Scholastic League, and had received more +than one invitation to join some of the semi-professional +teams that abound in the great city. +He elected, however, to remain purely and simply +an amateur. Even when a “big league” scout, +who had watched him play, gave him a quiet tip +that his club would take him on the Spring training +trip to Texas and pay all his expenses, with a +view to finding out whether he was really “major +league timber,” the offer did not tempt him. He +had no idea of making a business of his chosen +sport, but simply a pleasant though strenuous +recreation. With him, it was “sport for sport’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +sake”; the healthy zest of struggle, the sheer +physical delight in winning.</p> + +<p>And now, as they talked over the coming year, +the athletic feature also came to the fore.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if I’ll have the slightest show to +make the baseball team,” said Bert. “I suppose, +as a newcomer I’ll be a rank outsider.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you believe that for a minute,” replied +Dick warmly. “Of course there’ll be lots of competition +and a raft of material to pick from. I +suppose when the coach sends out the call for +candidates in the Spring, there’ll be dozens of +would-be players and a bunch too of have-beens +that will trot out on the diamond to be put +through their paces. One thing is certain, +though, and that is that you’ll get your chance. +There may be a whole lot of snobbery in college +life—though there isn’t half as much as people +think—but, out on the ball field, it’s a pure democracy. +The only question there is whether +you can deliver the goods. If you can, they don’t +care whether you’re a new man or an old-timer. +All they want is a winner.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” chimed in Tom, “they’ll find that +they have one in Bert. Just show them a little of +the ‘big medicine’ you had in that last game with +Newark High when you put out the side on +three pitched balls. Gee, I never saw a more disgusted +bunch of ball tossers. Just when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +thought they had the game all sewed up and put +away in their bat bag, too.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” said Bert, “but you must +remember that those high school fellows were a +different proposition from a bunch of seasoned +old college sluggers. When I come up against +them, if I ever do, they’ll probably smash the +back fences with the balls I feed to them.”</p> + +<p>“Some of them certainly can slaughter a +pitcher’s curves,” laughed Dick. “Old Pendleton, +for instance, would have the nerve to start a +batting rally against three-fingered Brown, and +Harry Lord wouldn’t be hypnotized even if +Matty glared at him.”</p> + +<p>“I understand you did some fence breaking +yourself last Spring on the scrubs,” said Tom. +“Steve Thomas told me you were the heaviest +batter in college.”</p> + +<p>“O, I don’t know,” returned Dick modestly, +“I led them in three-base hits and my batting +average was .319, but Pendleton was ahead of +me in the matter of home runs. I hope to do +better next Spring, though, as Ainslee, the coach, +gave me some valuable tips on hitting them out. +At first I swung too much and tried to knock the +cover off the ball. The result was that when I +did hit the ball it certainly traveled some. But +many a time I missed them because I took too +long a swing. Ainslee showed me how to chop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +at the ball with a sharp, quick stroke that caught +it just before the curve began to break. Then +all the power of my arms and shoulders +leaned up against the ball at just the right second. +Ainslee says that Home-Run Baker uses +that method altogether, and you know what kind +of a hitter he is. I got it down pretty fine before +the season ended, and if I make the team +next Spring——”</p> + +<p>“If you make it,” said Bert incredulously. +“As though it wasn’t a dead certainty.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it,” protested Dick, seriously. +“You never can tell from year to year. You +can’t live on your reputation at college. There +may be a regular Hal Chase among the new recruits, +and he may win the first base position over +me without half trying. It’s a good thing it is so, +too, because we have to keep hustling all the +time or see somebody else step into our shoes. +The result is that when the team is finally licked +into shape by the coaches, it represents the very +best the college can turn out. It’s a fighting machine +that never knows when it is whipped and +never quits trying until the last man is out in the +ninth inning.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” broke in Tom, “and that’s what makes +college baseball so much more pleasing than +the regular professional game. The fellows go +at it in such deadly earnest. It is the spirit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +Napoleon’s Marshal: ‘The Old Guard dies, but +never surrenders.’ The nine may be beaten, but +not disgraced, and, when the game is over, the +winning team always knows that it has been in a +fight.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Bert, as the fellows rose to go, +“if we do make the team, it won’t be through +lack of trying if we fail to land the pennant.”</p> + +<p>“No,” laughed Dick. “Our epitaph at least +will be that of the Texas cowboy,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +“‘He done his blamedest—angels can no more.’” +</div> + +<p>A week later, the three friends—for Tom and +Mr. Hollis had won his father over—stood on +the deck of a Sound steamer, saying goodby to +those who had come to see them off. Mr. Hollis +wrung Bert’s hand, just as the last bell rang and +he prepared to go down the gangway.</p> + +<p>“Good luck, Bert, and whatever else you do, +don’t forget to touch second.”</p> + +<p>He smiled at Bert’s puzzled expression, and +added: “I mean, my boy, be thorough in all +you do. End what you begin. Don’t be satisfied +with any half-way work. Many a man has +made a brilliant start, but a most dismal finish. +In work, in play, in the whole great game of life—touch +second.”</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></h2> + +<h3>“<span class="smcap">Making the Team</span>”</h3> + + +<p class="cap">The Fall and Winter passed quickly. Bert +and Dick roomed together in one of the +dormitories close to the main buildings, while +Tom had his quarters on the floor below. The +feeling of strangeness, inevitable at the start, +soon wore off, and they quickly became a part of +the swarming life that made the college a little +world of its own.</p> + +<p>Here, too, as in the greater world outside, Bert +found all sorts and conditions. There were the +rich and the poor, the polished and the uncouth, +the lazy and the energetic, good fellows and bad. +But the good predominated. The great majority +were fine, manly fellows, sound to the core. +Dick’s wide acquaintanceship with them and his +familiarity with college customs were immensely +helpful to Bert from the beginning, and he was +soon a general favorite.</p> + +<p>The football season had been a triumphant one, +and another gridiron championship had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +added to the many that had preceded it. There +had been a surplus of good material left over +from the year before, and the time was so short +that Bert had not tried for the team. At the +outset, too, his studies taxed him so heavily that +he did not feel justified in giving the necessary attention +to the great game, that, in his estimation, +almost divided honors with baseball. He had +done a little playing with the scrubs, however, and +on his class team, and the qualities he displayed +in “bucking the line” had marked him out to +the coaches, as a factor to be reckoned with in +the following seasons.</p> + +<p>The Christmas holidays had come and gone +almost before he knew it, and when he returned +for his second term, he buckled down to work +with all his might. His chosen field of electricity +held constant surprises for him, as it became more +familiar. If he had any specialty, it was wireless +telegraphy. There was an irresistible attraction +in the mysterious force that bound the +ends of the earth together by an electric spark, +that leaped over oceans with no conductor but +the air, that summoned help for sinking vessels +when all other hope was gone. He felt that the +science was as yet only in its infancy, and that it +held untold possibilities for the future. The +splendidly equipped laboratories gave him every +opportunity and encouragement for original<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +work, and his professors foresaw a brilliant future +for the enthusiastic young student.</p> + +<p>Spring came early that year. A soft wind blew +up from the south, the sun shone warmly on the +tender grass, the sap stirred blindly in the trees. +It stirred also in the veins of the lusty college +youth and called them to the outdoor life.</p> + +<p>Going down the hall, one morning, to his recitation +room, Bert came across an eager group +surrounding the bulletin board. He crowded +nearer and saw that it was the call of the coach +to baseball candidates to report on the following +day. His heart leaped in response and the +morrow seemed long in coming.</p> + +<p>Dressed in the old baseball togs that had done +yeoman service on many a hard-fought field, he +with Dick and Tom, who were quite as eager as +himself, reported for the tryout. Perhaps a +hundred ambitious youngsters were on hand, all +aflame with desire to make the team and fight for +the glory of Alma Mater. It was apparent at a +glance, however, that many had ambition but +nothing else. The qualities that had made them +heroes on some village nine were plainly inadequate, +when it came to shaping up for a college +team. The hopes of many faded away when they +saw the plays made by the seasoned veterans, +who nonchalantly “ate up” balls and did stunts +in practice that would have called out shouts of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +applause in a regular game. But whether +marked for acceptance or rejection, all were as +frolicsome as colts turned out to pasture. It +was good to be young and to be alive.</p> + +<p>The coach threaded his way through the +groups with an eye that apparently saw nothing, +but, in reality, saw everything. He was a famous +pitcher, known from one end of the country to +the other. Himself an old-time graduate, he had +the confidence of the faculty and the unbounded +respect and admiration of the students. He had +been given full charge and was an absolute autocrat. +Whatever he said “went,” and from his +decision there was no appeal. He played no +favorites, was not identified with any clique, and +his sole desire was to duplicate the success of the +preceding season and turn out a winner.</p> + +<p>To do this, he realized, would be no easy task. +While his two chief rivals had maintained their +strong teams almost intact, his own was “shot to +pieces.” Three had graduated, and they were +among his heaviest hitters. Good old Pendleton, +who had been a tower of strength at first +base, who could take them with equal ease to right +or left and “dig them out of the dirt,” and whose +hard slugging had many a time turned defeat into +victory, would be hard to replace. His pitching +staff was none too good. Winters lacked control, +and Benson’s arm was apt to give out about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +the seventh inning. Hinsdale was a good backstop, +but his throwing to second was erratic. +They had done too much stealing on him last +year. Barry would be sadly missed at third, and +it would be mighty hard to find a capable guardian +for the “difficult corner.” It was clear +that he faced a tough problem, and the only solution +was to be found, if at all, in the new material.</p> + +<p>As he glanced musingly around his eyes fell on +Bert. They rested there. He knew a thoroughbred +when he saw one, and this was undeniably +a thoroughbred. The lithe form, supple as a +leopard’s, the fine play of shoulder muscles that +the uniform could not conceal, the graceful but +powerful swing, the snap with which the ball shot +from his fingers as though released by a spring—all +these he noticed in one practised glance. He +sauntered over to where Bert was pitching.</p> + +<p>“Done much in the pitching line?” he asked +carelessly.</p> + +<p>“A little,” answered Bert modestly, “only on +high school nines though.”</p> + +<p>“What have you got in stock?” asked the +coach.</p> + +<p>“Not much besides the old ‘roundhouse’ +curve,” replied Bert. “I don’t think so much of +my incurve, though I’m trying to make it break a +little more sharply. I can do a little ‘moist’<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +flinging, too, though I haven’t practised that +much.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t,” said the coach. “Cut out the spitball. +It’s bound to hurt your arm in the long +run. Trot out your curve and let’s have a look +at it. Easy now,” he said as Bert wound up, +“don’t put too much speed in it. You’ll have +plenty of chances to do that later on.”</p> + +<p>The ball left Bert’s hand with a jerk, and, +just before it reached the center of the plate, +swept in a sharp, tremendous curve to the outside, +so that the catcher just touched it with the end of +his fingers.</p> + +<p>“Not so bad,” commented the coach carelessly, +though his eyes lighted up. “Here, Drake,” he +called to a burly veteran who was looking on with +interest, “take your wagon tongue and straighten +out this youngster’s curves.”</p> + +<p>The good-natured giant, thus addressed, picked +up his bat and came to the plate.</p> + +<p>“Get it over the plate now, kid, and I’ll kill +it,” he grinned.</p> + +<p>A little flustered by this confidence, Bert sent +one in waist high, just cutting the corner. Drake +swung at it and missed it by six inches.</p> + +<p>“One strike,” laughed the coach, and Drake, +looking a little sheepish, set himself for the next.</p> + +<p>“Give him a fast one now, shoulder high,” +ordered the coach. Again the ball sped toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +the plate and Drake struck at it after it had passed +him and thudded into the catcher’s glove.</p> + +<p>“Gee, I can’t hit them if I can’t see them,” +he protested, and the coach chuckled.</p> + +<p>“No,” he said, as Bert poised himself for a +third pitch, “no more just now. I don’t want +you to throw your arm out at practice. There +are other days coming, and you won’t complain +of lack of work. Come out again to-morrow,” +and he walked away indifferently, while his heart +was filled with exultation. If he had not unearthed +a natural-born pitcher, he knew nothing +about ball players.</p> + +<p>Drake was more demonstrative. While Bert +was putting on his sweater, he came up and +clapped him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Say, Freshie,” he broke out, “that was a +dandy ball you whiffed me with. You certainly +had me guessing. If that swift one you curled +around my neck had hit me, I would have been +seeing stars and hearing the birdies sing. And +I nearly broke my back reaching for that curve. +You’ve surely got something on the ball.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’d have got me all right, if I’d kept +on,” answered Bert. “That was probably just +a fluke, and I was lucky enough to get away with +it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can call it a fluke if you like,” rejoined +Drake, “but to me it looked suspiciously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +like big league pitching. Go to it, my boy, and +I’ll root for you to make the team.”</p> + +<p>Bert flushed with pleasure at this generous +meed of praise, doubly grateful as coming from +an upper class man and hero of the college diamond. +Dick coming up just then, they said good-by +to Drake and started toward their dormitory.</p> + +<p>“What’s this I hear about you, Bert?” asked +Dick; “you’ve certainly made yourself solid with +Ainslee. I accidentally heard him telling one of +the assistant coaches that, while of course he +couldn’t be sure until he’d tried you out a little +more, he thought he’d made a find.”</p> + +<p>“One swallow doesn’t make a summer,” answered +Bert. “I had Drake buffaloed all right, +but I only pitched two balls. He might knock +me all over the lot to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Sufficient unto the day are the hits thereof,” +rejoined Dick; “the fact is that he <i>didn’t</i> hit you, +and he has the surest eye in college. If he had +fouled them, even, it would have been different, +but Ainslee said he missed them by a mile. And +even at that you weren’t at full speed, as he told +you not to cut loose to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Bert, “if the lightning strikes my +way, all right. But now I’ve got to get busy +on my ‘Sci’ work, or I’ll surely flunk to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>The next day Bert was conscious of sundry curious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +glances when he went out for practice. News +travels fast in a college community and Drake +had passed the word that Ainslee had uncovered +a “phenom.” But the coach had other views +and was in no mood to satisfy their curiosity. +He had turned the matter over in his mind the +night before and resolved to bring Bert along +slowly. To begin with, while delighted at the +boy’s showing on the first time out, he realized +that this one test was by no means conclusive. +He was naturally cautious. He was “from Missouri” +and had to be “shown.” A dozen questions +had to be answered, and, until they were, +he couldn’t reach any definite decision. Did the +boy have stamina enough to last a full game? +Was that wonderful curve of his under full control? +Was his heart in the right place, or, under +the tremendous strain of a critical game, would +he go to pieces? Above all, was he teachable, +willing to acknowledge that he did not “know it +all,” and eager to profit by the instruction that +would be handed out in the course of the training +season? If all these questions could be answered +to his satisfaction, he knew that the most important +of all his problems—that of the pitcher’s box—was +already solved, and that he could devote +his attention to the remaining positions on the +team.</p> + +<p>Pursuing this plan of “hastening slowly,” he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +cut out all “circus” stunts in this second day’s +practice. Bert was instructed to take it easy, and +confine himself only to moderately fast straight +balls, in order to get the kinks out of his throwing +arm. Curves were forbidden until the newness +wore off and his arm was better able to stand the +strain. The coach had seen too many promising +young players ruined in trying to rush the season, +and he did not propose to take any such chances +with his new find.</p> + +<p>His keen eyes sparkled, as from his position behind +the pitcher, he noted the mastery that Bert +had over the ball. He seemed to be able to put +it just where he wished. Whether the coach +called for a high or a low ball, straight over the +center of the plate or just cutting the corners, +the ball obeyed almost as though it were a living +thing. Occasionally it swerved a little from the +exact “groove” that it was meant to follow, but +in the main, as Ainslee afterward confided to his +assistant, “the ball was so tame that it ate out of +his hand.”</p> + +<p>He was far too cautious to say as much to +Bert. Of all the dangers that came to budding +pitchers, the “swelled head” was the one he +most hated and detested.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said as he pretended to suppress a +yawn, “your control is fairly good for a beginner. +Of course I don’t know how it will be on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +the curves, but we’ll try them out too before +long.”</p> + +<p>“That,” he went on warming to his subject, +“is the one thing beyond all others you want to +work for. No matter how much speed you’ve +got or how wide your curve or how sharp your +break, it doesn’t amount to much, unless you can +put the ball where you want it to go. Of course, +you don’t want to put every ball over the plate. +You want to make them ‘bite’ at the wide ones. +But when you are ‘in the hole,’ when there +are two strikes and three balls, the winning +pitcher is the one that nine times out of ten can +cut the plate, and do it so surely that the umpire +will have no chance to call it a ball. One of the +greatest pitchers I ever knew was called the +‘Curveless Wonder.’ He didn’t have either an +incurve or an outcurve that was worth mentioning. +But he had terrific speed, and such absolute +ability to put the ball just where he wanted it, +that for years he stood right among the headliners +in the major leagues. Take my word for +it, Wilson, a pitcher without control is like the +play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Don’t +forget that.”</p> + +<p>The respect with which Bert listened was deepened +by his knowledge that Ainslee was himself +famous, the country over, in this same matter of +control. A few more comments on minor points,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +and the coach walked away to watch the practice +of his infield candidates.</p> + +<p>Now that Pendleton had graduated, the logical +successor of the great first baseman seemed to +be Dick Trent, who had held the same position +on the scrubs the year before, and who had pressed +Pendleton hard for the place. The first base +tradition demands that it be occupied by a heavy +batter, and there was no doubt that in this particular +Dick filled the bill. His average had been +well above the magic .300 figures that all players +covet, and now that he had conquered his propensity +to excessive swinging, he might fairly be +expected to better these figures this year. As a +fielder, he was a sure catch on thrown balls either +to right or left, and his height and reach were a +safe guarantee that not many wild ones would +get by him. He was lightning quick on double +plays, and always kept his head, even in the most +exciting moments of the game. If he had any +weakness, it was, perhaps, that he did not cover +quite as deep a field as Pendleton used to, but +that was something that careful coaching could +correct. None of the other candidates seemed +at all above the average, and, while yet keeping +an open mind, the coach mentally slated Dick for +the initial bag.</p> + +<p>Second and short, as he said to himself with a +sigh of relief, were practically provided for.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +Sterling at the keystone bag and White at shortfield +were among the brightest stars of the college +diamond, and together with Barry and Pendleton +had formed the famous “stonewall” infield that +last year had turned so many sizzling hits to +outs.</p> + +<p>Barry—ah, there was a player! A perfect +terror on hard hit balls, a fielder of bunts that +he had never seen excelled, even among professional +players. He remembered the screeching +liner that he had leaped into the air and pulled +down with one hand, shooting it down to first for +a double play in the last game of the season. It +had broken up a batting rally and saved the game +when it seemed lost beyond redemption.</p> + +<p>Well, there were as good fish in the sea as ever +were caught, and no man was so good but what +another just as good could be found to take his +place. But where to find him? There was the +rub. That cub trying out now at third—what +was his name?—he consulted the list in his hand—oh, +yes, Henderson—he rather fancied his +style. He certainly handled himself like a ball +player. But there—you never could tell. He +might simply be another “false alarm.”</p> + +<p>At this moment the batter sent a scorching +grounder toward third, but a little to the left of +the base. Tom flung himself toward it, knocked +it down with his left hand, picked it up with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +right and scarcely waiting to get “set” shot it +like a flash to first. The coach gasped at the +scintillating play, and White called out:</p> + +<p>“Classy stuff, kid, classy stuff. That one certainly +had whiskers on it.”</p> + +<p>“Hey, there, Henderson,” yelled the coach, “go +easy there. Float them down. Do you want to +kill your arm with that kind of throwing?”</p> + +<p>But to himself he said: “By George, what a +‘whip’ that fellow’s got. That ball didn’t rise +three inches on the way to first. And it went into +Drake knee high. That youngster will certainly +bear watching.”</p> + +<p>And watch him he did with the eye of a hawk, +not only that afternoon, but for several weeks +thereafter until the hope became a certainty that +he had found a worthy successor to the redoubtable +Barry, and his infield would be as much of a +“stonewall” that season as the year before. +With Hodge in right, Flynn in center and Drake +in left, his outfield left nothing to be desired, +either from a fielding or batting point of view, +and he could now devote himself entirely to the +development of his batteries.</p> + +<p>Under his masterly coaching, Bert advanced +with great rapidity. He had never imagined +that there was so much in the game. He learned +from this past-master in the art how to keep the +batter “hugging first”; the surest way of handling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +bunts; the quick return of the ball for the +third strike before the unsuspecting batter can get +“set,” and a dozen other features of “inside +stuff” that in a close game might easily turn the +scale. Ainslee himself often toed the plate and +told Bert to send in the best he had. His arm +had attained its full strength, under systematic +training, and he was allowed to use his curves, +his drop, his rise ball and the swift, straight one +that, as Flynn once said, “looked as big as a balloon +when it left his hand, but the size of a pea +when it crossed the plate.”</p> + +<p>One afternoon, when Ainslee had taken a hand +in the batting practice, Bert fed him an outcurve, +and the coach smashed it to the back fence. A +straight high one that followed it met with no +better fate. It was evident that Ainslee had his +“batting eye” with him that afternoon, and +could not be easily fooled.</p> + +<p>“Send in the next,” he taunted, good-naturedly, +“I don’t think you can outguess me to-day.”</p> + +<p>A little nettled at his discomfiture, Bert wound +up slowly. For some time past he had been +quietly trying out a new delivery that he had +stumbled upon almost by accident. He called it +his “freak” ball. He had thrown it one day +to Dick, when, after the regular practice, they +were lazily tossing the ball to and fro. It had +come in way below where Dick’s hands were waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +for it, and the latter was startled. It was a +“lulu,” he said emphatically. It could not be +classed with any of the regulation curves. Bert +had kept it under cover until he could get perfect +control of it. Now he had got it to the +point where he could put it just where he wanted +it, and as he looked at the smiling face of the +coach he resolved to “uncork” it.</p> + +<p>He took a long swing and let it go. It came +to the plate like a bullet, hesitated, slowed, then +dropped down and in, a foot below the wild lunge +that the coach made for it. His eyes bulged, +and he almost dropped the bat.</p> + +<p>“What was that?” he asked. “How did you +do it? Put over another one.”</p> + +<p>A second one proved just as puzzling, and the +coach, throwing his bat aside, came down to the +pitcher’s box. He was clearly excited.</p> + +<p>“Now, what was it?” he asked; “it wasn’t +an incurve, a drop, or a straight, but a sort of +combination of them all. It was a new one on +me. How do you hold your hand when you +throw it?”</p> + +<p>“Why,” replied Bert, “when I throw it, the +palm is held toward the ground instead of toward +the sky, as it is when I pitch an outcurve. The +wrist is turned over and the hand held down with +the thumb toward the body, so that when the ball +slips off the thumb with a twisting motion it curves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +in toward the batter. I grip it in the same way +as an outcurve. Just as it twists off the thumb +I give it a sharp snap of the wrist. It spins up +to the plate, goes dead, then curves sharply down +and in.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the coach, “it’s certainly a dandy. +We must develop it thoroughly, but we’ll do it on +the quiet. I rather think we’ll have a surprise +for ‘our friends the enemy,’ when the race begins. +It’s just as well to have an ace up our +sleeve. That ball is in a class by itself. It just +seems to melt while you are trying to locate it. +If I were to give it a name at all, I’d call it a +‘fadeaway.’”</p> + +<p>And so Bert’s new delivery was christened. As +they walked back to the college both were exultant. +They would have been still more so, if at +that moment they had begun to realize the havoc +and dismay that would be spread among their +opponents before the season ended by Bert’s fadeaway +ball.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The “Inside” Game</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Well, Tom, I see that you lead off in the +batting order,” said Bert, as they sat in +his rooms at the close of the day’s work.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Tom, “Ainslee seems to think +that I am a good waiter, as well as a pretty fair +sprinter, and I suppose that is the reason he selected +me.”</p> + +<p>“‘They also serve who only stand and wait,’” +recited Dick, who was always ready with an apt +quotation.</p> + +<p>“Well,” laughed Bert, “I don’t suppose the +poet ever dreamed of that application, but, all +the same, it is one of the most important things +in the game to lead off with a man who has nerve +and sense enough to wait. In the first place, the +pitcher is apt to be a little wild at the start and +finds it hard to locate the plate. I know it’s an +awful temptation to swing at a good one, if it is +sandwiched in between a couple of wild ones, and, +of course, you always stand the chance of being +called out on strikes. But at that stage of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +game he is more likely to put over four balls +than three strikes, and if you do trot down to +first, you’ve got three chances of reaching home. +A sacrifice will take you down to second, and then +with only one man out and two good batters coming +up, a single to the outfield brings you home.”</p> + +<p>“Then, too, you went around the bases in fifteen +seconds flat, the other day,” said Dick, “and +that’s some running. I noticed Ainslee timing +you with his split-second watch, and when he put +it back in his pocket he was smiling to himself.”</p> + +<p>“Flynn comes second, I see,” said Bert, consulting +his list, “and that’s a good thing too. He +is one of the best ‘place’ hitters on the team. +He has the faculty that made Billy Keeler famous, +of ‘hitting them where they ain’t.’ He’s a dandy +too at laying down a bunt, just along the third-base +line. If any man can advance you to second, +Flynn can.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Tom, “with Drake up next, swinging +that old wagon tongue of his, and then Dick +coming on as a clean-up hitter, it will have to be +pretty nifty pitching that will keep us from denting +the home plate.”</p> + +<p>“Last year the team had a general batting +average of .267,” chimed in Dick. “If we can +match that this year, I guess there’ll be no complaint. +As a matter of fact, however, I’m a little +dubious of doing that, especially with old Pendleton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +off the team. But if we come short a little +there, I am counting on Bert holding down +the batters on the other nines enough to make up +for it.”</p> + +<p>“If I get a chance, I’ll do my very best,” said +Bert, “but perhaps I won’t pitch in a regular +game all season. You know how it is with a +Freshman. He may have to sit on the bench all +the time, while the upper class pitchers take their +turn in the box. They’ve won their spurs and I +haven’t. They’ve ‘stood the gaff’ under the +strain of exciting games, and pulled victories out +of the fire. I might do it too, but nobody knows +that, and I probably would not be called on to go +in the box, except as a last resort. They may +believe that I have the curve, but they are not at +all sure that I have the nerve. Winters and Benson +are going along now like a house afire, and +if they are at top speed when the season begins +I’ll see the pennant won or lost from my seat on +the bench.”</p> + +<p>“Neither one of them has anything on you,” +maintained Tom stoutly. “Of course they are, +in a certain sense, veterans, and then, too, they +have the advantage of having faced before many +of the players on the other teams. That counts +for a lot, but you must remember that Hinsdale +has caught for the last two years, and he knows +these things as well as the pitchers. He knows<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +their weak and their strong points, the ones that +simply kill a low outcurve, but are as helpless as +babies before a high fast one. He could quickly +put you on to the batters’ weakness. But outside +of that you’ve got them faded. You have more +speed than Winters and more endurance than +Benson. Neither one of them has a license to +beat you at any stage of the pitching game.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it’s your friendship rather than your +judgment that’s talking now, Tom,” smiled Bert.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Dick, “it isn’t. Tom’s right. +You’ve got everything that they have, and then +some. Winters’ rise ball is certainly a peach, +but it hasn’t the quick jump yours has just before +it gets to the plate. My eye isn’t so bad, but in +practice I bat under it every time. Even when +I don’t miss it altogether, I hit it on the underside +and raise a fly to the fielders. It’s almost impossible +to line it out. And your fast high one is so +speedy that a fellow backs away from the plate +when he sees it coming. I don’t know that your +outcurve is any better than Benson’s, but you certainly +have it under better control.”</p> + +<p>“On the dead quiet,” he went on, “I’m rather +worried about Winters this year, anyway. I +think he’s gone back. He’s in with a fast bunch, +and I fear has been going the pace. His fine +work in the box last year made him a star and +turned his head. It brought him a lot of popularity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +and I’m afraid he isn’t the kind that can +stand prosperity. He doesn’t go at his work in +the right spirit this year. You all saw how he +shirked the other day when we were training for +wind.”</p> + +<p>They readily recalled the incident to which Dick +alluded. The practice had been strenuous that +day, but the coach had been insistent. As a wind +up, he had called for a run around the track to +perfect their wind and endurance, as well as to +get off some of the superfluous flesh that still interfered +with their development. The players +were tired, but, as the trainer didn’t ask them to +do what he was unwilling to do himself, they lined +up without protest and trotted behind him around +the track.</p> + +<p>At one place, there was a break in the fence +which had not yet been repaired. Twice they +made the circuit of the track, and some of them +were blowing hard, when the relentless leader +started on the third round. As they came abreast +of the break, Winters, with a wink, slipped out +of the line and got behind the fence. Here he +stayed, resting, while the others jogged along. +They made two circuits more, and when they +came to where he was, Winters, fresh as a daisy, +and grinning broadly, slipped into line again, and +trotted along as though nothing had happened. +The joke seemed certainly on the coach, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +hadn’t once turned his head, but pounded steadily +along, in apparent unconsciousness that one of his +sheep had not been following his leader. At the +bench, after the sixth round, he slowed up.</p> + +<p>“Good work, boys,” he said pleasantly, “that +makes six full laps for all of us except Winters. +We’ll wait here, while he takes his other +two.”</p> + +<p>The grin faded from Winters’ face, to be replaced +by a hot flush, as his eyes fell before the +steady look of the coach. There was no help for +it, however. He had been caught “red-handed,” +and with a sheepish glance at his laughing comrades, +he started on his lonely run around the +course while they stood and watched him. Twice +he made the circuit and then rejoined his companions. +The coach said nothing more, as he felt +that the culprit had been punished enough, but +the story was too good to keep, and Winters was +“joshed” unmercifully by his mates. The incident +deepened the general respect felt for the +coach, and confirmed the conviction that it was +useless to try to fool him, as he had “eyes in the +back of his head.”</p> + +<p>He certainly needed all his keenness, in order +to accomplish the task he had set himself. The +time was wearing away rapidly, and before long +he would have to rejoin his own team for the +championship season. There had been a good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +deal of rain, and practice in the field had been +impossible for days at a time.</p> + +<p>To be sure he had the “cage” for use in rainy +weather. This was a large rectangular enclosure, +perhaps twice as long as the distance from +the pitcher’s box to home plate. The sides were +made of rope that stopped the batted balls. +There was ample room for battery work, and +here, in bad weather, the pitchers and catchers +toiled unceasingly, while the other players cultivated +their batting eye, and kept their arms limber +by tossing the ball about. But, at best, it +was a makeshift, and did not compare for a +moment with work in the open air on the actual +diamond. And the days that now remained for +that were distressingly few.</p> + +<p>So he drove them on without mercy. No galley +slaves worked harder than these college boys +for their temporary master. He was bound that +not an ounce of superfluous flesh should remain +on their bones at the beginning of the season. +Gradually his work began to tell. The soreness +and lameness of the first days disappeared. Arnica +and witch hazel were no longer at a premium. +The waistbands went in and the chests stood out. +Their eyes grew bright, their features bronzed, +their muscles toughened, and before long they +were like a string of greyhounds tugging at the +leash.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>He noted the change with satisfaction. Superb +physical condition was the first essential of +a winning team. His problem, however, was far +from solved. It was only changed. He had +made them athletes. Now he must make them +ball players.</p> + +<p>Individually they were that already, in the +purely mechanical features of the game. They +were quick fielders, speedy runners and heavy +batters. But they might be all these, and yet +not be a winning team. They needed team work, +the deft fitting in of each part with every other, +the quick thinking that, in a fraction of a second, +might change defeat to victory.</p> + +<p>His quick eye noticed, in the practice games, +how far they came short of his ideal. Flynn, +the other day, when he caught that fly far out +in center, had hurled it into the plate when he had +no earthly chance of getting the runner. If he +had tried for Ames, who was legging it to third, +it would have been an easy out. A moment later +Ames counted on a single.</p> + +<p>Then there was that bonehead play, when, with +Hinsdale on third and Hodge on first, he had +given the signal for Hodge to make a break for +second, so as to draw a throw from the catcher +and thus let Hinsdale get in from third. Hodge +had done his part all right, but Hinsdale had been +so slow in starting that the catcher was waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +for him with the ball, when he was still twenty +feet from the plate.</p> + +<p>He hated to think of that awful moment, +when, with the bases full, White had deliberately +tried to steal second, where Dick was already +roosting. The crestfallen way in which White +had come back to the bench, amid ironical cheers +and boisterous laughter, was sufficient guarantee +that that particular piece of foolishness would +never be repeated. Luckily, it had only been in +a practice game. Had it happened in a regular +contest, a universal roar would have gone up +from one end of the college world to the other, +and poor White would never have heard the last +of it.</p> + +<p>The coach was still sore from this special exhibition +of “solid ivory,” when, after their bath +and rubdown, he called the boys together.</p> + +<p>“Now, fellows,” he said, “I am going to talk +to you as though you were human beings, and I +want you to bring your feeble intelligence to +bear, while I try to get inside your brain pans. +They say that Providence watches over drunkards, +fools and the Congress of the United +States. I hope it also includes this bunch of alleged +ball players. If ever any aggregation +needed special oversight, this crowd of ping-pong +players needs it. Now, you candidates for the +old ladies’ home, listen to me.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>And listen they did, while he raked them fore +and aft and rasped and scorched them, until, +when he finally let them go, their faces were flaming. +No one else in college could have talked +to them that way and “gotten away with it.” +But his word was law, his rule absolute, and, behind +his bitter tongue, they realized his passion +for excellence, his fierce desire of winning. It +was sharp medicine, but it acted like a tonic, and +every man left the “dissecting room,” as Tom +called it, determined from that time on he would +play with his brains as well as his muscles.</p> + +<p>As the three chums went toward their rooms, +they were overtaken by “Reddy,” the trainer of +the team. With the easy democracy of the ball +field, he fell into step and joined in the conversation.</p> + +<p>“Pretty hot stuff the old man gave you, just +now,” he said, with his eyes twinkling.</p> + +<p>“Right you are,” replied Bert, “but I guess +we deserved it. I don’t wonder that he was on +edge. It certainly was some pretty raw baseball +he saw played to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” assented Reddy, frankly. “It almost +went the limit. And yet,” he went on consolingly, +“it might have been worse. He only +tried to steal one base with a man already on it. +Suppose he’d tried to steal three.”</p> + +<p>The boys laughed. Reddy was a privileged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +character about the college. The shock of fiery +hair, from which he had gained his nickname, +covered a shrewd, if uneducated, mind. He had +formerly been a big league star, but had fractured +an ankle in sliding to second. The accident had +only left a slight limp, but it had effectually destroyed +his usefulness on the diamond. As a +trainer and rubber, however, he was a wonder, +and for many years he had been connected with +the college in that capacity. It was up to him to +keep the men in first-class condition, and he +prided himself on his skill. No “charlie horse” +could long withstand his ministrations, and for +strains and sprains of every kind he was famous +in the athletic world. His interest in and loyalty +to the college was almost as great as that of the +students themselves. He was in the full confidence +of the coach, and was regarded by the latter +as his right hand. If one was the captain +of the college craft, the other was the first mate, +and between them they made a strong combination. +He was an encyclopedia of information on +the national game. He knew the batting and +fielding averages of all the stars for many years +past, and his shrewd comments on men and things +made him a most interesting companion. His +knowledge of books might be limited, but his +knowledge of the world was immense. He had +taken quite a fancy to Bert and shared the conviction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +of the coach that he was going to be a +tower of strength to the team. He never missed +an opportunity of giving him pointers, and Bert +had profited greatly by his advice and suggestion. +Now, as they walked, he freed his mind along +the same lines followed by the coach a little +earlier.</p> + +<p>“That was the right dope that Ainslee gave +you, even if it was mixed with a little tabasco,” +he said. “It’s the ‘inside stuff’ that counts. I’d +rather have a team of quick thinkers than the +heaviest sluggers in the league.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he went on, warming to his subject, +“look at the Phillies when Ed Delehanty, the +greatest natural hitter that ever lived, was in +his prime. Say, I saw that fellow once make +four home runs in one game against Terry of the +Brooklyns. I don’t suppose that a heavier batting +bunch ever existed than the one they had in +the league for three seasons, handrunning. Besides +Ed himself, there was Flick and Lajoie, and +a lot of others of the same kind, every one of +them fence-breakers. You couldn’t blame any +pitcher for having palpitation of the heart when +he faced that gang. They were no slouches in +the field, either. Now, you’d naturally think that +nobody would have a chance against them. +Every year the papers touted them to win the +pennant, but every year, just the same, they came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +in third or fourth at the end of the season. +Now, why was it they didn’t cop the flag? I’ll +tell you why. It was because every man was +playing for himself. He was looking out for his +record. Every time a man came to the bat, he’d +try to lose the ball over the back fence. They +wouldn’t bunt, they wouldn’t sacrifice, they +wouldn’t do anything that might hurt that precious +record of theirs. It was every man for +himself and no man for the team, and they didn’t +have a manager at the head of them that was +wise enough or strong enough to make them do +as they were told.</p> + +<p>“Now, on the other hand, look at the White +Sox. Dandy fielders, but for batting—why, if +they fell in the river they wouldn’t strike the +water. All around the league circuit, they were +dubbed the ‘Hitless Wonders.’ But they were +quick as cats on their feet, and just as quick in +knowing what to do at any stage of the game. +What hits they did get counted double. They +didn’t get men on the bases as often as the Phillies, +but they got them home oftener, and that’s +what counts when the score is added up. That +sly old fox, Comiskey, didn’t miss a point. It +was a bunt or a sacrifice or a long fly to the outfield +or waiting for a base on balls or anything +else he wanted. The men forgot about themselves +and only thought of the team, and those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +same ‘Hitless Wonders’ won the pennant in a +walk.</p> + +<p>“Now, that’s just the difference between dumb +and brainy playing and that’s what makes Ainslee +so hot when he sees a bonehead stunt like that one +this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose that you saw no end of that inside +stuff pulled off while you were in the big league,” +said Tom. “What do you think is the brightest +bit of thinking you ever saw on the ball +field?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Reddy musingly, “that’s hard to +tell. I’ve certainly seen some stunts on the diamond +that would make your hair curl. Some of +them went through, and others were good enough +to go through, even if they didn’t. It often depends +on the way the umpire looks at it. And +very often it gets by, because the umpire doesn’t +look at it at all. Many’s the time I’ve seen Mike +Kelly of the old Chicagos—the receiving end of +the ten-thousand-dollar battery—cut the corners +at third when the umpire wasn’t looking, and +once I saw him come straight across the diamond +from second to the plate without even making a +bluff of going to third. Oh, he was a bird, was +Mike.</p> + +<p>“I shall never forget one day when the Chicagos +were behind until they came to the plate +for their ninth inning. They were a husky<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +bunch of swatters and never more dangerous +than when they were behind. Well, they made +two runs in that inning, tieing the score and then +putting themselves one to the good. The Bostons +came in for their last turn at the bat and by the +time two men were out they had the bases full. +One safe hit to the outfield was all they needed, +and they sent a pinch-hitter to the bat to bring +in the fellows that were dancing about on the +bases.</p> + +<p>“It was a dreary, misty afternoon, and, from +the grandstand you could hardly see the fielders. +Mike was playing right that day, and the man +at the bat sent a screaming liner out in his direction. +He saw at a glance that he couldn’t possibly +get his hands on it, but he turned around and +ran with the ball, and, at the last moment, jumped +into the air and apparently collared it. He waved +his hands as a signal that he had it and made off +to the clubhouse. The umpire called the batter +out and the game was over. His own teammates +hadn’t tumbled to the trick, until Mike told them +that he hadn’t come anywhere near the ball, and +that at that very moment it was somewhere out +on the playing field. It came out later, and there +was some talk of protesting the game, but nothing +ever came of it. When it came to quick +work, Mike was certainly ‘all wool and a yard +wide.’”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys did not express an opinion as to the +moral quality of the trick, and Reddy went on:</p> + +<p>“Perhaps the slickest thing I ever saw was +one that Connie Mack put over on old Cap Anson +of the Chicagos, and, believe me, anybody +who could fool him was going some. His playing +days are over now, and all you kids know +of him is by reputation, but, take him by and +large, a better player never pulled on a glove. +Well, as I was saying, Anson was playing one +day in Pittsburgh and Mack was catching against +him. It had been a game of hammer and tongs +right up to the last inning. The Chicagos, as +the visiting team, came to the bat first in the ninth +inning. The Pittsburghs were one ahead and all +they needed to win was to hold the Chicagos +scoreless. Two were out and two on bases when +old ‘Pop’ Anson came to the bat. There wasn’t +a man in the league at that time that a pitcher +wouldn’t rather have seen facing him than the +‘Big Swede.’ However, there was no help for +it, and the twirler put on extra steam and managed +to get two strikes on him. The old man +set himself for the third, with fierce determination +to ‘kill’ the ball or die in the attempt. +Mack walked up to the pitcher and told him to +send in a ball next time, and then, the instant the +ball was returned to him, to put over a strike. +The pitcher did as directed, and sent over a wide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +one. Of course, Anson didn’t offer to hit it, but +Mack caught it.</p> + +<p>“‘Third strike,’ he said, throwing off his mask +and shin-guards, as though the game were over.</p> + +<p>“‘Third strike nothing,’ growled Anson. +‘What’s the matter with you, anyway?’ and +the umpire also motioned Connie back to the plate.</p> + +<p>“‘Why, wasn’t that a strike?’ said Mack, coming +back to the plate. At the same instant the +pitcher sent a beauty right over the center of the +rubber. Mack caught it, and before Anson knew +the ball had been pitched, the umpire said, +‘You’re out.’</p> + +<p>“Holler? Say, you could have heard him +from Pittsburgh to Chicago. It went, though. +You see, Anson, looking at Connie without his +mask or shin-guards, was figuring that he would +have to get into all that harness again, before the +game went on. He took too much for granted, +and it doesn’t pay to do that in baseball. I don’t +suppose he ever forgave Connie for making him +look like thirty cents before that holiday crowd. +And I don’t suppose that Mack would have taken +a thousand dollars for the satisfaction it gave +him to tally one on the old man.</p> + +<p>“You fellows wouldn’t believe me, I suppose, +if I told you I seen a dog pull some of that inside +stuff once? Sure, I ain’t fooling, although +of course the pup didn’t know he was doing it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +It was in Detroit when a big game was on and +the home team was at the bat. They needed +three runs to win and there were two men on +bases. The batter lined out a peach between left +and center. There were no automobiles in those +days, but a whole raft of carriages were down +back of center field. A big coach dog saw the +ball coming and chased it, got it in his mouth and +scooted down under the bleachers, the left and +center fielders yelling to him to drop it and racing +after him like mad. He was a good old +rooter for the home team, all right, though, and, +by the time they got it away from him, the whole +bunch had crossed the plate and the game was +won. The home team boys found out whom he +belonged to, and clubbed together and got him a +handsome collar.</p> + +<p>“Another funny thing I seen one time that +makes me laugh whenever I think of it,” continued +Reddy, “was when a high fly was hit to +left field with three men on bases. It ought to +have been an easy out and nine times out of ten +would have been. But, as luck would have it, the +ball slipped through the fielder’s fingers and went +into the outside upper pocket of his baseball +shirt. He tried desperately to get it out, but it +was wedged in so tight he couldn’t. All this +time the men were legging it around the bases. +At last, Mitchell—that was the fellow’s name—ran<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +in toward third and caught the batter, just as +he was rounding the base on his way to home. +He grabbed him and hugged him tight and they +fell to the ground together. Say, you’d have died +laughing if you’d seen them two fellows wrestling, +Mitchell trying to force the other man’s hand +into his pocket so that the ball could touch him, +and the other fighting to keep his hand out. It +was a hard thing for the umpire to settle, but he +finally let the run count on the ground that Mitchell +had no right to interfere with him. Poor +old Mitchell was certainly up against it that day, +good and plenty.”</p> + +<p>By this time they had reached the college dormitory, +and the boys reluctantly bade Reddy +good-by. They had been immensely amused and +interested by his anecdotes, although they did not +altogether agree with his easy philosophy of life. +To Reddy all was fair in love or war or baseball, +provided you could “put it over.”</p> + +<p>“But it isn’t,” said Bert, as they went upstairs. +“Strategy is one thing and cheating is another. +It’s all right to take your opponent unawares and +take advantage of his carelessness or oversight. +If he’s slow and you’re quick, if he’s asleep and +you’re awake, you’ve got a perfect right to profit +by it. Now take for instance that case of Mack +and Anson. Whether that was a strike or a ball +was a thing to be decided by the umpire alone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +and Anson ought not to have paid any attention +to Mack’s bluff. Then, too, because Mack usually +put on his mask and shin-guards before the +ball was pitched, Anson had no right to assume +that he would <i>always</i> do so. Mack acted perfectly +within his rights, and Anson was simply +caught napping and had no kick coming.</p> + +<p>“But when you come to ‘cutting the corners’ +and pretending that the ball was caught when it +wasn’t, that isn’t straight goods. It’s ‘slick,’ all +right, but it is the slickness of the crooked gambler +and the three-card monte man. It’s playing +with marked cards and loaded dice, and I don’t +care for any of it in mine.”</p> + +<p>“Right you are, old fellow,” said Tom, heartily, +clapping him on the back, “my sentiments to +a dot. I want to win and hate to lose, but I’d +rather lose a game any day than lie or cheat about +it.”</p> + +<p>Which he was to prove sooner than he expected.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Triple Play</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">The days flew rapidly by and the time drew +near for the Spring trip. All the members +of the team were to get a thorough trying out +in actual games with the crack teams of various +colleges before the regular pennant race began. +Then the “weeding out” process would have +been completed, and only those remain on the +team who had stood the test satisfactorily. The +trip was to take about two weeks, and they were +to “swing around the circle” as far west as Cincinnati +and as far south as Washington.</p> + +<p>They did not expect much trouble in coming +back with a clean score. As one of the “Big +Three,” their team was rarely taken into camp +by any of the smaller colleges. They usually won, +occasionally tied, but very seldom lost. Yet, once +in a while, their “well-laid schemes” “went +agley” and they met with a surprise party from +some husky team that faced them unafraid and +refused to be cowed by their reputation.</p> + +<p>Bert’s college was one of the largest and most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +important in the country. The “Big Three” +formed a triangular league by themselves alone. +Each played three games with each of the other +two, and the winner of the majority was entitled +to claim the championship of the “Big Three.” +And it was generally, though not officially, admitted, +that the team capable of such a feat was the +greatest college baseball team in the whole country. +Their games were followed by the papers with +the greatest interest and fully reported. The +“Blues,” as Bert’s college was usually referred +to on account of the college colors, had won the +pennant the year before from the “Grays” and +the “Maroons,” their traditional opponents, +after a heart-breaking struggle, and columns of +newspaper space had been devoted to the concluding +game. This year, however, the prediction +had been freely made that history would not +repeat itself. Both the Grays and Maroons were +composed of tried and tested veterans, while, as +we have seen, Ainslee had been compelled to fill +several important positions with new material. +No matter how good this might prove to be, it +takes time and practice to weld it together in one +smooth machine, and it is seldom done in a single +season.</p> + +<p>Moreover, the time was at hand when Ainslee +would have to rejoin his own team, and his keen +eye still noted a number of rough places that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +needed planing and polishing. For this reason he +was all the more anxious to secure good results +during this trip. After it was over, he would have +to turn over the team to a manager and to Reddy, +the assistant coach and trainer. The manager +would confine himself chiefly to the technical and +financial features, but it was arranged that Reddy +should have full charge of the team on the field. +Ainslee reposed implicit confidence in him because +of his shrewd judgment, his knowledge of men, +and his vast baseball experience.</p> + +<p>West Point was to be their first stop, and it +was a jolly crowd, full of the joy and zest of +living, that embarked on the steamer <i>Hendrik +Hudson</i>, and sailed up the lordly river, the finest +in the world, as most of the boys agreed, though +some, who had traveled, were inclined to favor +the claims of the Rhine to that distinction. They +were disposed to envy the Dutch explorer, who, +first among civilized men, had sailed up the river +that bore his name and feasted his eyes upon its +incomparable beauty; a delight that contrasted so +strongly with the final scene when he and his little +son had been thrust by a mutinous crew into an +open boat on storm-tossed Arctic waters, and left +to perish miserably. The reward, as Dick cynically +insisted, of most of the world’s great benefactors, +who have been stoned, burned, or otherwise +slain by their fellows, while posterity, too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +late, has crowned them with laurels and honored +them with monuments.</p> + +<p>The game with Uncle Sam’s cadets was a fight +“for blood,” as was entirely appropriate for future +soldiers. In the seventh, with the cadets one +run behind, one of them attempted to steal from +second to third. Hinsdale got the ball down to +Tom like a shot, but, in the mix-up, it was hard +to tell whether the runner had made the base or +not. The umpire at first called it out, but the +captain of the cadets kicked so vigorously that the +umpire asked Tom directly whether he had +touched him in time.</p> + +<p>For an instant Tom hesitated, but only for an +instant. Then he straightened up and answered +frankly:</p> + +<p>“No, I didn’t; he just beat me to it.”</p> + +<p>It is only just to Tom’s companions to say that, +after the first minute of disappointment, they felt +that he could and should have done nothing else. +The standard of college honor is high, and when +it came to a direct issue, few, if any, of the boys +would have acted differently. Even Reddy, with +his free and easy views on winning games “by +hook or crook,” as long as you win them, felt a +heightened respect for Tom, although he shook +his head dubiously when the man from third came +home on a sacrifice, tieing the score.</p> + +<p>The tie still persisted in the ninth, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +game went into extra innings. In the tenth the +Blues scored a run and the cadets made a gallant +effort to do the same, or even “go them one +better.” A man was on second and another on +third, when one of their huskiest batters came to +the plate. He caught the ball squarely “on the +seam” and sent it straight toward third, about +two feet over Tom’s head. He made a tremendous +jump, reached up his gloved hand and the +ball stuck there. That of course put out the batter. +The man on third, thinking it was a sure hit, +was racing to the plate. As Tom came down, he +landed right on the bag, thus putting out the +runner, who had turned and was desperately trying +to get back. In the meantime the man on second, +who had taken a big lead, had neared third. +As he turned to go back to second, Tom chased +him and touched him just before he reached the +bag. Three men were out, the game was won, +and Tom was generously cheered, even by the +enemy, while his comrades went wild. He had +made a “triple play unassisted,” the dream of +every player and one of the rarest feats ever +“pulled off” on the baseball diamond.</p> + +<p>During the trip, Winters and Benson occupied +the pitcher’s box more often than Bert, and it was +evident that, despite Bert’s showing in the early +spring practice, both Ainslee and Reddy were +more inclined to pin their faith this season on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +their tested stars than on the new recruit. They +really believed that Bert had “more on the ball” +than either of the others, but were inclined to let +him have a year on the bench before putting him +in for the “big” games. They knew the tremendous +importance of experience and they also +knew how nerve-racking was the strain of playing +before a crowd of perhaps twenty-five thousand +frenzied rooters. Bert <i>might</i> do this, but Winters +and Benson had actually <i>done</i> it, and they could +not leave this significant fact out of their calculations. +So they carried him along gradually, never +letting up on their instruction and advice and +occasionally putting him in to pitch one or two +innings to relieve the older men after the game +was pretty surely won.</p> + +<p>Bert was too sensible and sportsmanlike to resent +this, and followed with care and enthusiasm +the training of his mentors. A better pair of +teachers could not have been found and Bert +made rapid progress. Something new was constantly +coming up, and, as he confided to Dick, +he never dreamed there was such a variety of +curves. There was “the hook,” “the knuckle,” +“the palm,” “the high floater,” “the thumb +jump,” “the cross fire,” and so many others that +there seemed to be no end to them. But though +he sought to add them all to his repertory, he +followed Ainslee’s earnest urging to perfect his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +wonderful fadeaway, and gave more attention to +that than to any other.</p> + +<p>“And to think,” he said to Tom, one day, “it +isn’t so very long ago that people didn’t believe +it was possible to throw a curve ball at all and +learned men wrote articles to show that it couldn’t +be done.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Tom, “they remind me of the eminent +scientist who wrote a book proving, to his +own satisfaction, at least, that a vessel couldn’t +cross the Atlantic under steam. But the first copy +of the book that reached America was brought +over by a steamer.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” chimed in Dick, “they were like the +farmer who had read the description of a giraffe +and thought it a fairy story. One day a circus +came to town with a giraffe as one of its attractions. +The farmer walked all around it, and +then, turning to his friends, said stubbornly, +‘There ain’t no such animal.’”</p> + +<p>Reddy joined in the laugh that followed and +took up the conversation. “Well,” he said, +while the others in the Pullman car in which they +were traveling drew around him, for they always +liked to see him get started on his recollections, +“the honor of having discovered the curve rests +between Arthur Cummings and Bobby Mathews. +It’s never been clearly settled which ‘saw it +first.’ Before their time it used to be straight,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +fast ones and a slow teaser that was thrown underhand. +But even at that, don’t run away with the +idea that those old fellows weren’t some pitchers. +Of course, they were handicapped by the fact +that at first they had to keep on pitching until the +player hit it. The four-ball rule, and making a +foul count for a hit, and all those modern things +that have been invented to help the pitcher, hadn’t +been thought of then. Naturally, that made +heavy batting games. Why, I know that the old +Niagara team of Buffalo won a game once by +201 to 11.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” broke in Ainslee, “and the first college +game in 1859 was won by Amherst over Williams +by a score of 66 to 32.”</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said Hinsdale, “the outfielders in +those days must have had something to do, chasing +the ball.”</p> + +<p>“They certainly did,” agreed Reddy, “but, of +course, that sort of thing didn’t last very long. +The pitchers soon got the upper hand, and then, +good-by to the big scores.</p> + +<p>“I suppose,” he went on, “that the real beginning +of baseball, as we know it to-day, goes back +to the old ‘Red Stockings’ of Cincinnati, in ’69 +and ’70. There was a team for you. George +and Harry Wright and Barnes and Spalding, and +a lot of others just as good, went over the country +like a prairie fire. There wasn’t anybody that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +could stand up against them. Why, they went all +though one season without a single defeat. It +got to be after a while that the other teams felt +about them just as they say boxers used to feel +when they stood up against Sullivan. They were +whipped before they put up their hands. The +next year they got their first defeat at the hands +of the old Atlantics of Brooklyn. I was a wee bit +of a youngster then, but I saw that game through +a hole in the fence. Talk about excitement! At +the end of the ninth inning the score was tied, +and the Atlantics were anxious to stop right there. +It was glory enough to tie the mighty Red Stockings—a +thing that had never been done before—without +taking any further chances. But Harry +Wright, the captain, was stubborn—I guess he +was sorry enough for it afterwards—and the +game went on, only to have the Atlantics win +in the eleventh by a score of 7 to 6. I’ve +seen many a game since, but never one to equal +that.</p> + +<p>“Of course the game has kept on improving all +the time. I ain’t denying that. There used to be +a good deal of ‘rough stuff’ in the old days. The +gamblers started in to spoil it, and sometimes as +much as $20,000 would be in the mutual pools +that used to be their way of betting. Then, too, +the players didn’t use to get much pay and, with +so much money up, it was a big temptation to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +‘throw’ games. It got to be so, after a while, +that you wouldn’t know whether the game +was on the level or not. The only salvation of +the game was to have some good strong men +organize and put it on a solid footing and weed +out the grafters. They did this and got a gang +of them ‘dead to rights’ in the old Louisville +team. They expelled four of them and barred +them from the game forever, and, although they +moved heaven and earth to get back, they never +did. And since that time the game has been as +clean as a hound’s tooth. As a matter of fact, it’s +about the only game in America, except perhaps +football, that you can count on as being absolutely +on the square.</p> + +<p>“It’s a great sport, all right, and I don’t wonder +it is called the national game. It’s splendid +exercise for every muscle of the body and every +faculty of the brain. Rich or poor, great or small, +everybody with a drop of sporting blood in his +veins likes it, even if he can’t play it. At the +Washington grounds a box seat is reserved for +the President, and I notice that no matter how +heavy the ‘cares of state,’ he’s usually on hand +and rooting for the home team. Why, I’ve heard +that when the committee went to notify Lincoln +that he was nominated for President, he was out +at the ball ground, playing ‘one old cat,’ and the +committee had to wait until he’d had his turn at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +bat. It may not be true, but it’s good enough +to be.”</p> + +<p>“And not only is it our national game,” put in +Ainslee, “but other countries are taking it up as +well. They have dandy baseball teams in Cuba +and Japan, that would make our crack nines hustle +to beat them, and, in Canada, it is already +more popular than cricket.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve heard,” said Tom, “that not long ago +they made a cable connection with some island +way up in the Arctic Circle. The World’s Series +was being played then, and the very first message +that came over the cable from the little bunch of +Americans up there was: ‘What’s the score?’”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” laughed Ainslee, “it gets in the blood, +and with the real ‘dyed in the wool’ fan it’s the +most important thing in the world. You’ve heard +perhaps of the pitcher who was so dangerously +sick that he wasn’t expected to live. The family +doctor stood at the bedside and took his temperature. +He shook his head gravely.</p> + +<p>“‘It’s 104,’ he said.</p> + +<p>“‘You’re a liar,’ said the pitcher, rousing himself, +‘my average last season was .232, and it +would have been more if the umpire hadn’t +robbed me.’”</p> + +<p>The train drew up at Washington just then, +and the laughing crowd hustled to get their traps +together. Here they played the last game of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +season with the strong Georgetown University +nine, and just “nosed them out” in an exciting +game that went eleven innings. While in the city +they visited the Washington Monument, that +matchless shaft of stone that dwarfs everything +else in the National Capital. Of course the boys +wanted to try to catch a ball dropped from the +top, but the coach would not consent.</p> + +<p>“Only two or three men in the world have +been able to do that,” he said, “and they took +big chances. I’ve had too much trouble getting +you fellows in good condition, to take any needless +risks.”</p> + +<p>So the boys turned homeward, bronzed, +trained, exultant over their string of well-earned +victories, and, in the approving phrase of Reddy, +“fit to fight for a man’s life.” Ainslee left them +at New York to join his team amid a chorus of +cheers from the young athletes that he had done +so much to form. From now on, it was “up to +them” to justify his hopes and bring one more +pennant to the dear old Alma Mater.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Winning His Spurs</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Play ball!” shouted the umpire, and the +buzz of conversation in the grandstand +ceased. All eyes were fastened on the two teams +about to enter on the first important game of the +season, and people sat up straight and forgot +everything else, so great was their interest in the +forthcoming event.</p> + +<p>All the games that the Blues had played up to +this time had been with teams over which they +felt reasonably sure of winning a victory, but the +nine they had to face to-day was a very different +proposition. Most of the young fellows composing +it were older and had had more experience +than the Blues, and the latter knew that they +would have to do their very utmost to win, if win +they did. The thing they most relied on, however, +was the fact that their pitcher was very +good, and they believed that he would probably +win the day for them.</p> + +<p>Of course, they had a lot of confidence in themselves, +too, but the importance of a steady, efficient<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +pitcher to any team can hardly be exaggerated. +It gives them a solid foundation on which +to build up a fast, winning team, and nobody realized +this better than Mr. Ainslee, their veteran +coach.</p> + +<p>“Only give me one good pitcher,” he was wont +to say, “and I’ll guarantee to turn out a team +that will win the college championship.”</p> + +<p>The star on the college team this year, Winters, +was, without doubt, an exceptionally good pitcher. +He had considerable speed and control, and his +curves could generally be counted on to elude the +opposing batsmen. He was the only son in a +wealthy family, however, and, as a consequence, +had a very exaggerated idea of his own importance. +He was inclined to look down on the fellows +who did not travel in what he called “his +set,” and often went out of his way to make himself +disagreeable to them.</p> + +<p>As Dick put it, “He liked to be the ‘main +squeeze,’” and he had been much irritated over +the way in which Bert had attracted the coach’s +attention, and the consequent talk on the campus +regarding the “new pitcher.” He and his friends +made it a point to sneer at and discredit these +stories, however, and to disparage Bert on every +possible occasion.</p> + +<p>The veteran trainer had not forgotten, however, +and moreover he was worried in secret<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +about Winters. It was, of course, his duty to +see that all the players attended strictly to business, +and let no outside interests interfere with +their training. Of late, however, he had heard +from several sources that Winters had been seen +in the town resorts at various times when he was +supposed to be in bed, and Reddy knew, none +better, what that meant.</p> + +<p>However, he hoped that the pitcher would not +force him to an open rebuke, and so had said +nothing as yet. Nevertheless, as has been said, +he kept Bert in mind as a possible alternative, +although he hoped that he would not be forced +to use him.</p> + +<p>“He’s had too little experience yet,” he mused. +“If I should put him in a game, he’d go up like +a rocket, most likely. Them green pitchers can’t +be relied upon, even if he did fool Ainslee,” and +the veteran, in spite of his worry, was forced to +smile over the memory of how Bert had struck +the great coach out in practice.</p> + +<p>Previous to the actual start of the game both +teams had been warming up on the field, and each +had won murmurs of applause from the grandstands. +To the wise ones, however, it was apparent +that the Blues were a trifle shaky in fielding +work, and many were seen to shake their heads +dubiously.</p> + +<p>“The youngsters will have to do some tall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +hustling if they expect to win from the visitors,” +one gray-haired man was heard to say, “but they +say they have a crackerjack pitcher, that’s one +thing in their favor.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course,” agreed his friend, “but it’s +not only that; the other fellows have had a whole +lot more experience than our boys. And that +counts an awful lot when it comes to a pinch.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right, it does,” acquiesced the other; +“however, there’s no use crossing the bridge till +we come to it. We’ll hope for the best, anyway.”</p> + +<p>After a little more practice both teams retired +to the clubhouse to make their last preparations. +Not many minutes later everything was in readiness, +and the teams trotted into their positions. +Of course, the visitors went to bat first, and then +could be heard the umpire’s raucous cry of “Play +ball!” that ushered in the game.</p> + +<p>A wave of handclapping and a storm of encouraging +shouts and yells swept over the grandstand, +and then ensued a breathless silence. The +first two balls Winters pitched were wild, but then +he steadied down, and struck the first batter out. +The second man up swung wildly, but after having +two strikes called, popped an easy fly toward +first base that Dick smothered “easier than rolling +off a log,” as he afterwards said. The third +man met with no better fate, and Winters struck +him out with apparent ease.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the fielders trotted in, the elderly gentleman +who had entertained such doubts before chuckled, +“Well, now if our boys can only get in a little +stick work, and keep on holding them down like +this, it looks as though they might win, after +all.”</p> + +<p>Tom was the first man up at the bat for the +Blues. But the pitcher opposed to him had lots +of “stuff” on his delivery, and the best Tom +could do was to lift an easy foul that dropped +into the catcher’s glove.</p> + +<p>The next man up was struck out, as was also +the third, and the inning ended without a run for +either team.</p> + +<p>From his seat on the substitutes’ bench, Bert +had watched the game up to this point with eager +eyes, and had felt that he would almost have +given ten years of his life to take part in it. He +knew there was practically no chance of this, +however, and so with a sigh of regret settled back +to watch the further progress of the game.</p> + +<p>The next two innings also passed without a +run scored on either side, and it became more and +more evident as the game went on that this was +to be a pitchers’ battle.</p> + +<p>The first man up at bat for the visitors at the +beginning of the fourth inning was considered +their heaviest hitter, and as he walked up to the +plate he was swinging two bats, one of which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +threw aside as he stepped to the plate. From +the way he crouched in readiness for the ball it +could be seen that he meant business, and the +coach called Winters over to him.</p> + +<p>“You want to be mighty careful what you feed +this man,” he whispered, “and whatever you do, +keep them low. He likes high balls, and if you +give him one up as high as his shoulder, he’ll +swat it, sure.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you can bet he won’t get a hit off me,” +replied Winters, carelessly. “I’ve got that team +eating out of my hand.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure of that, my lad,” warned +the coach, but Winters only smiled in a superior +fashion and strolled back to the box.</p> + +<p>The first ball he pitched was an incurve, but +it looked good to the batter, and he swung at it +viciously. He missed it clean, and the umpire +shouted, “One strike!”</p> + +<p>This made Winters a little careless, and the +next ball he pitched was just the one that the +coach had warned him against. The batter took +a step forward, swung fiercely at the ball, and +there was a sharp crack as the ball and bat connected. +The ball shot back with the speed of a +bullet, and the outfielders started in hopeless +chase. Baird, the batter, tore around the bases, +and amid a veritable riot of cheering from the +visiting rooters and a glum silence from the home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +supporters, charged across the sack for a home +run!</p> + +<p>Too late now Winters thought of Reddy’s +warning, and wished he had given it more heed. +He knew that in so close a contest as this promised +to be, one run would probably be enough to +win the game, and this knowledge made him nervous. +The breaks from training that he had been +guilty of lately began to tell, also, and he commenced +to lose confidence, a fatal thing in a +pitcher. However, he managed to get through +the inning somehow, and walked to the bench with +a crestfallen air.</p> + +<p>The coach forbore to reproach him just then, +as he knew that it would probably do more harm +than good. However, he kept a sharp eye on +him, and inwardly was very much worried. He +knew that Benson was not speedy enough to stand +much chance against as strong a team as they +were now playing, and though a great admirer of +Bert, he did not know whether he had the stamina +to go a full game. He resolved to give Winters +every chance to recover himself, and prayed +that he would be able to do so.</p> + +<p>The first man of the home team to go to bat +struck out on the hot curves served up to him, but +Dick connected with the ball for a clean two-base +hit. A great cheer went up at this feat, but it +was destined to have little effect. The second<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +man fouled out and the third raised an easy fly +to the pitcher’s box, and so Dick’s pretty drive +did them no good.</p> + +<p>In the fifth inning Winters’ pitching became +more and more erratic, and to Reddy’s experienced +eye it became evident that he would soon +“blow up.” So he strolled over to the substitutes’ +bench and sat down beside Bert.</p> + +<p>“How does your arm feel to-day, Wilson?” +he inquired. “Do you feel as though you could +pitch if I happened to need you?”</p> + +<p>Bert’s heart gave a great leap, but he managed +to subdue his joy as he realized the trainer’s meaning, +and answered, “Why, yes, I think I could +make out all right. Do you think you will need +me?”</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s just a chance that I may,” replied +Reddy, “and I want you to be ready to +jump out and warm up the minute I give you the +signal.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll be ready, sir, I can promise you that,” +replied Bert, earnestly, and the trainer appeared +a little more hopeful as he turned away.</p> + +<p>“I can at least count on that young chap doing +the best that is in him, at any rate,” he thought; +“he certainly doesn’t look like a quitter to me.”</p> + +<p>In their half of the fifth inning the home team +was unable to make any headway against the opposing +pitcher’s curves, which seemed to get better<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +and better as the game progressed. Dick felt, +in some mysterious way, that his team was losing +heart, and his one hope was that the coach would +give Bert a chance to pitch. The boys, one after +another, struck out or lifted easy flies, and not +one man reached first base.</p> + +<p>The visitors now came to bat again, and the +first ball Winters pitched was slammed out into +left field for a two-base hit. The next batter up +stepped to the plate with a grin on his face, and +one of his teammates called, “Go to it, Bill. Eat +’em alive. We’ve got their goat now.”</p> + +<p>The man thus adjured leaned back, and as +Winters delivered a slow, easy ball he swung +viciously and sent a smoking grounder straight +for the pitcher’s box. The ball passed Winters +before he had time to stoop for it, but White, +the shortstop, made a pretty pick-up, and slammed +the ball to Dick at first. The ball arrived a second +too late to put the runner out, however, and +in the meantime the first man had reached third. +Now was a crucial moment, and everything depended +on the pitcher. All eyes were fastened on +him, but from something in his attitude Reddy +knew that he was on the verge of a breakdown. +Nor was he mistaken in this, for out of the next +five balls Winters pitched, only one strike was +called. The rest were balls, and the umpire motioned +to the batter to take first base. Of course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +this advanced the man on first to second base, +thus leaving all the bases full and none out.</p> + +<p>As Winters was winding up preparatory to delivering +one of his erstwhile famous drops, Reddy +motioned to Bert, and in a second the latter was +up and had shed his sweater. He trotted over to +where Reddy was standing, and said, “You +wanted me, didn’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Reddy, in a tense voice; “get +Armstrong there”—motioning toward the substitute +catcher—“and warm up as quickly as you +can. Take it easy, though!” he commanded; +“don’t start in too hard! You might throw your +arm out on the first few balls. Just limber up +gradually.”</p> + +<p>“All right, sir,” replied Bert, and called to +Armstrong.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Winters had pitched two wild +balls, and the visiting rooters were yelling like +maniacs. The third ball was an easy inshoot, and +the batter, making a nice calculation, landed it +fair and square. It flew over into left field, between +the pitcher’s box and third base, and before +it could be returned to the waiting catcher two +runners had crossed the plate. This made the +score three to none in favor of the visitors, with +two men on base and none out. Matters looked +hopeless indeed for the home team, and one of +the spectators groaned, “It’s all over now but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +shouting, fellows. Winters is up higher than a +kite, and we’ve got nobody to put in his place. +This game will just be a slaughter from now on.”</p> + +<p>“How about young Wilson?” asked his +friend. “I heard the other day that he had +showed up pretty well in practice. It looks now +as though Reddy meant to put him in the box. +See, he’s warming up over there right now.”</p> + +<p>“Ye gods and little fishes!” lamented the +other. “Now we are cooked, for fair. It was +bad enough with Winters pitching, but now when +they put that greenhorn Freshie in, we’ll just be +a laughing stock, that’s all. Why doesn’t the band +play the funeral march?”</p> + +<p>“Aw, wait and see,” said the other. “I don’t +suppose we’ve got the ghost of a show, but Dick +Trent was telling me of some pretty good stunts +this boy Wilson has pulled off before this. He +was telling me about a race in which Wilson drove +a car across the tape a winner after a dickens of a +grilling race. Any fellow that’s got nerve enough +to drive a racing auto ought to be able to hold his +own at baseball or anything else. You just sit +tight and don’t groan so much, and he may show +us something yet.”</p> + +<p>“Forget it, Bill, forget it,” returned the other. +“They’ve got our team running, and they’ll keep +it running, take my word for it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed another, “we might as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +well go home now as to wait for the slaughter. +This game is over, right now.”</p> + +<p>“Hey, look at that!” yelled the first speaker, +excitedly. “There goes Wilson into the box. +Three cheers for Wilson, fellows. Now! One! +two! three!”</p> + +<p>The cheers were given by the faithful fans, but +they had given up hope. It was indeed, as the +rooter had said, however, and Bert was actually +being given an opportunity to pitch in a big game, +when he had only been with the team a few +months! Many a pitcher has been a substitute +until his junior year, and never had a chance like +this one. And, to tell the truth, Reddy himself +would have been the last one to put what he considered +an inexperienced pitcher into the box, if +he had had any alternative. Now, however, it +was a case of having no choice, because he knew +that the game was irretrievably lost if Winters +continued to pitch, so he put Bert in as a forlorn +hope, but without any real expectation that he +would win.</p> + +<p>As he noticed the confident way in which Bert +walked to the box, however, he plucked up courage +a little, but immediately afterward shook his +head. “Pshaw,” he thought, “they’ve got too +big a lead on us. If Wilson can only hold them +down so that they don’t make monkeys of us, it +will be more than I have a right to hope.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>For all Bert’s nonchalant air, however, it must +not be thought that he was not excited or nervous. +He had had comparatively little baseball experience +in such fast company as this. He had +learned, however, to keep a cool and level head in +times of stress, and he knew that everything depended +on this. So he just gritted his teeth, and +when he motioned to the catcher to come up and +arrange signals, the latter hardly suspected what +a turmoil was going on under Bert’s cool +exterior.</p> + +<p>“Just take it easy, kid,” he advised. “Don’t +try to put too much stuff on the ball at first, and +pitch as though we were only practising back of +the clubhouse. Don’t let those blamed rooters +get you nervous, either. Take your time before +each ball, and we’ll pull through all right. Now, +just get out there, and show them what you’ve +got.”</p> + +<p>Bert took his position in the box, and the umpire +tossed him a brand new ball. Remembering +the catcher’s advice, he wound up very deliberately, +and pitched a swift, straight one square +over the middle of the plate. The batsman had +expected the “greenhorn” to try a fancy curve, +and so was not prepared for a ball of this kind. +“One str-r-rike!” yelled the umpire, and the +catcher muttered approvingly to himself. The +batter, however, took a fresh grip on his bat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +and resolved to “knock the cover off” the next +one. Bert delivered a wide out curve, and the +batter swung hard, but only touched the ball, for +a foul, and had another strike called on him. +“Aw, that kid’s running in luck,” he thought. +“But watch me get to him this time.”</p> + +<p>The next ball Bert pitched looked like an easy +one, and the batter, measuring its flight carefully +with his eye, drew his bat back and swung with +all the weight of his body. Instead of sending +the ball over the fence, however, as he had confidently +expected, the momentum of his swing was +spent against empty air, and so great was its force +that the bat flew out of his hand. “Three +strikes,” called the umpire, and amid a riot of +cheering from the home rooters the batter gazed +stupidly about him.</p> + +<p>“By the great horn spoon,” he muttered, under +his breath, “somebody must have come along +and stolen that ball just as I was going to hit it. +I’ll swear that if it was in the air when I swung +at it that I would have landed it.”</p> + +<p>As he walked to the bench the captain said, +“What’s the matter with you, Al? Has the +freshie got you buffaloed?”</p> + +<p>“Aw, nix on that, cap,” replied the disgruntled +batter. “Wait until you get up there. Either +that kid’s having a streak of luck or else he’s got +that ball hypnotized. That last one he pitched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +just saw my bat coming and dodged under it. I +think he’s got ’em trained.”</p> + +<p>“Why, you poor simp,” laughed the captain; +“just wait till I get up there. Why, we all saw +that last ball you bit on so nicely. It was a +cinch, wasn’t it, boys?”</p> + +<p>It sure was, they all agreed, but the unfortunate +object of these pleasantries shook his head +in a puzzled way, and stared at Bert.</p> + +<p>As it happened, the next batter was the same +who had scored the home run in the first part of +the game, and he swaggered confidently to the +plate.</p> + +<p>Bert had overheard what the coach had told +Winters in regard to this batter, so he delivered +a low ball, which the batter let pass. “One ball,” +called the umpire, and the captain of the visitors’ +team remarked, “I thought he couldn’t last. +That was just a streak of ‘beginner’s luck,’ that’s +all.”</p> + +<p>The next ball looked good to the batsman, and +he lunged hard at the white sphere. It was a +tantalizing upshoot, however, and he raised an +easy fly to Dick at first. The man on second had +become so absorbed in watching Bert, that when +Dick wheeled like lightning and snapped the ball +to second, he was almost caught napping, and +barely got back in time.</p> + +<p>The home rooters, who up to now had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +rather listless in their cheering, now started in +with a rush, and a veritable storm of cheering and +singing shook the grandstand. The coach drew a +deep breath, and began to allow himself the luxury +of a little hope.</p> + +<p>The third man up was the captain, who had +boasted so of what he was going to do to the +“green” pitcher. As he rose to go to the plate +he remarked, “Watch me, now, Al, and I’ll +show you what it is like to swat a ball over the +fence.”</p> + +<p>He selected a very heavy bat, and stepped +jauntily to the plate. Bert had been warned to do +his best against this man, as he was popularly +known as the “pitcher’s hoodoo.” He resolved +to use his “fadeaway” ball for all it was worth, +and shook his head at all the catcher’s signals +until the latter signaled for the fadeaway. He +then nodded his head, and wound up very deliberately. +Then he pitched what looked like a +straight, fast ball to the expectant batsman. The +latter gripped his bat and put all his strength into +what he fondly hoped would be a “homer.” His +bat whistled as it cut the air, but in some mysterious +way failed to even touch the ball, which +landed with a loud “plunk!” in the catcher’s mitt. +A roar of derisive laughter went up from the +rooters, and the captain looked rather foolish. +“That’s mighty queer,” he thought, “there must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +be something the matter with the balance of this +bat. I guess I’ll try another.” Accordingly, he +took a fresh bat, and waited with renewed confidence +for the next ball. This time he swung +more carefully, but with no better result. “Two +strikes!” barked the umpire, and the frenzied +rooters stood up on their seats and yelled themselves +hoarse. “Wilson! Wilson! Wilson!” +they roared in unison, and Bert felt a great surge +of joy go through him. His arm felt in perfect +condition, and he knew that if called upon he +could have pitched the whole game and not have +been overtired. He handled the ball carefully, +and fitted it in just the right position in his hand. +He resolved to try the same ball once more, as +he thought the batter would probably think that +he would try something else. This he did, and +although the batter felt sure that he had this ball +measured to the fraction of an inch, his vicious +swing encountered nothing more substantial than +air.</p> + +<p>“Three strikes!” called the umpire, and amid +a storm of cheering and ridicule from the grandstand +the discomfited batter slammed his bat down +and walked over to his teammates.</p> + +<p>It was now Al’s turn to crow, and he did so +unmercifully. “What’s the matter, cap?” he inquired, +grinning wickedly. “That kid hasn’t got +your goat, has he? Where’s that homer over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +fence that you were alluding to a few minutes +ago?”</p> + +<p>“Aw, shut up!” returned the captain, angrily. +“That Freshie’s got a delivery that would fool +Ty Cobb. There’s no luck about that. It’s just +dandy pitching.”</p> + +<p>“I could have told you that,” said the other, +“but I thought I’d let you find it out for yourself. +That boy’s a wonder.”</p> + +<p>The home team trotted in from the field eagerly, +and there was a look in their eyes that Reddy +was glad to see. “They’ve got some spirit and +confidence in them now,” he thought. “I certainly +think I’ve got a kingpin pitcher at last. +But I’d better not count my chickens before +they’re hatched. He may go all to pieces in the +next inning.”</p> + +<p>As they came in, Dick and Tom slapped Bert +on the back. “We knew you could do it, old +scout!” they exulted. “What will old Winters’ +pals have to say after this?”</p> + +<p>Reddy said little, but scanned Bert’s face carefully, +and seemed satisfied. “I guess you’ll do, +Wilson,” he said. “We’ll let you pitch this game +out, and see what you can do.”</p> + +<p>Sterling was the first man up, and he walked to +the plate with a resolve to do or die written on +his face. He planted his feet wide apart, and +connected with the first pitched ball for a hot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +grounder that got him safely to first base. The +rooters cheered frantically, and the cheering grew +when it was seen that Bert was the next batter. +This was more in recognition, however, of his +good work in the box. Heavy hitting is not expected +of a pitcher, and nobody looked to see +Bert do much in this line. While he had been +watching the game from the bench, he had studied +the opposing pitcher’s delivery carefully, and +had learned one or two facts regarding it. He +felt sure that if the pitcher delivered a certain +ball, he would be able to connect with it, but was +disappointed at first. Bert bit at a wide out +curve, and fouled the next ball, which was a fast, +straight one. But as the pitcher wound up for +the third one Bert’s heart leaped, for he saw +that this was going to be the ball that he had +been hoping for. He grasped his bat near the +end, for Bert was what is known as a “free +swinger,” and crouched expectantly. The ball +came to him like a shot, but he swung his bat +savagely and clipped the ball with terrific force +toward third base. Almost before the spectators +realized that the ball had been hit, Bert was +racing toward first base, and the man already +on base was tearing up the sod toward second.</p> + +<p>The ball scorched right through the hands of +the third baseman, and crashed against the left +field fence. The fielders scurried wildly after it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +but before they could return it to the infield, the +man on first base had scored, and Bert was on +third.</p> + +<p>“We’ll win yet! We’ll win yet! We’ll win +yet!” croaked a rooter, too hoarse to yell any +longer. “What’s the matter with Wilson?” +and in one vast roar came the answer, “HE’S +ALL RIGHT!”</p> + +<p>The home team players were all dancing +around excitedly, and they pounded Hinsdale unmercifully +on the back, for he was up next. “Bust +a hole through the fence, Hinsdale,” they roared; +“they’re on the run now. Go in and break a bat +over the next ball!”</p> + +<p>“Hin” fairly ran to the plate in his eagerness, +and, as he afterward said, he felt as though he +“couldn’t miss if he tried.” The first ball over +the plate he slammed viciously at the pitcher, who +stopped the ball, but fumbled it a few seconds, +thus giving him a chance to get to first. The +pitcher then hurled the ball to the home plate, +in the hope of cutting off Bert from scoring, but +was a fraction of a second too late, and Bert raced +in with one more run.</p> + +<p>The pitcher now tightened up, however, and +put his whole soul into stopping this winning +streak, and it looked as though he had succeeded. +The next two batters struck out on six pitched +balls, and the visiting rooters had a chance to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +exercise their voices, which had had a rest for +some time. Drake was up next, and he knocked +out a long fly that looked good, but was pulled +down by a fielder after a pretty run. This ended +the sixth inning, and the visitors were still one run +ahead.</p> + +<p>As Bert was about to go onto the field, Reddy +said, “Don’t take it too hard, Wilson. Don’t +mind if they do hit a ball sometimes. If you try +to strike each man out without fail, it makes too +great a tax on your arm. Let the fielders work +once in a while.”</p> + +<p>With these instructions in mind, Bert eased up +a little in the next inning, but the visitors had no +chance to do any effective slugging. Twice they +got a man on first base, but each time Bert struck +out the following batter or only allowed him to +hit the ball for an easy fly that was smothered +without any trouble.</p> + +<p>Consequently the visitors failed to score that +inning, but they were still one run ahead, and +knew that if they could hold Bert’s team down +they would win the game.</p> + +<p>The home team failed to “get to” the ball for +anything that looked like a run, and the seventh +inning ended with no change in the score.</p> + +<p>“Well, Wilson, it’s up to you to hold them +down,” said Reddy, as the players started for +their positions in the beginning of the eighth inning.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +“Do you feel as though you could do it?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I’ll do my best,” replied Bert, modestly. +“My arm feels stronger than it did when +I started, so I guess I’m good for some time yet, +at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“All right, go in and win,” replied Reddy, +with a smile, and Bert needed no urging.</p> + +<p>The first man to bat for the visitors was the +one called Al, who had first had a taste of Bert’s +“fadeaway.” He swung viciously on the first ball +that Bert offered him, which happened to be a +fast in-curve. By a combination of luck and skill +he managed to land the sphere for a safe trip to +first. The cover of the ball was found to be torn +when it was thrown back. Consequently, Bert +had to pitch with a new ball, and failed to get +his customary control. Much to his disgust he +pitched four balls and two strikes, and the batter +walked to first, forcing the man already on first to +second base.</p> + +<p>“Yah, yah!” yelled a visiting rooter. “It’s +all over. He’s blowing up! Pitcher’s got a glass +arm! Yah! Yah!”</p> + +<p>Others joined him in this cry, and Reddy +looked worried. “That’s enough to rattle any +green pitcher,” he thought. “I only hope they +don’t know what they’re talking about, and I +don’t think they do. Wilson’s a game boy, or +I’m very much mistaken.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Don’t let ’em scare you, Bert,” called Dick, +from first base. “Let ’em yell their heads off +if they want to. Don’t mind ’em.”</p> + +<p>“No danger of that,” returned Bert, confidently. +“Just watch my smoke for a few minutes, +that’s all.”</p> + +<p>Bert struck out the next batter in three pitched +balls, and the clamor from the hostile rooters +died down. The next batter was the captain, and +he was burning for revenge, but popped a high +foul to Hinsdale, the catcher, and retired, saying +things not to be approved. The third man was +struck out after Bert had had two balls called on +him, and this ended the visitors’ half of the eighth +inning.</p> + +<p>The home team could make no better headway +against the visitors’ pitching and team work, however, +and the inning ended without a tally. The +score stood three to two in the visitors’ favor, +and things looked rather dark for the home boys.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the ninth the visitors sent +a pinch hitter, named Burroughs, to the plate to +bat in place of Al, who by now had an almost +superstitious fear of Bert’s delivery, and declared +that “he couldn’t hit anything smaller than a +football if that Freshie pitched it.”</p> + +<p>Burroughs was hampered by no such feelings, +however, and, after two strikes had been called +on him, he managed to connect with a fast,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +straight ball and sent it soaring into the outfield. +It looked like an easy out, but at the last moment +the fielder shifted his position a little too much, +and the ball dropped through his fingers. Before +he could get it in, the runner had reached third +base, where he danced excitedly and emitted +whoops of joy.</p> + +<p>Bert felt a sinking sensation at his heart, as he +realized how much depended on him. The next +man up made a clever bunt, and although he was +put out, Burroughs reached home ahead of the +ball, bringing in another run.</p> + +<p>He was rewarded with a storm of applause +from the visiting rooters, and it seemed as though +all hope had departed for the home team.</p> + +<p>With the next batter Bert made unsparing use +of his fadeaway, and struck him out with little +trouble. The third man shared the same fate, +but it seemed as though the game were irretrievably +lost. A two-run lead in the ninth inning +seemed insurmountable, and Reddy muttered +things under his breath. When the boys came +trooping over to the bench, he said, “What’s the +matter with you fellows, anyway? What good +does it do for Wilson to hold the other team +down, if you don’t do any stick work to back him +up? Get in there now, and see if you can’t knock +out a few runs. A game is never finished until the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +last half of the ninth inning, and you’ve got a +good chance yet. Go to it.”</p> + +<p>Every chap on the team resolved to make a run +or die in the attempt, and Reddy could see that +his speech had had some effect.</p> + +<p>Dick was the first batter up, and he selected a +heavy “wagon tongue” and stepped to the plate. +The pitcher may have been a little careless, but +at any rate Dick got a ball just where he wanted +it, and swung with all his strength. The ball +fairly whistled as it left the bat and dashed along +the ground just inside the right foul line. Dick +sprinted frantically around the bases, and got to +third before he was stopped by Tom, who had +been waiting for him. “No further, old sock,” +said Tom, excitedly. “That was a crackerjack +hit, but you could never have got home on it. +Gee! if Hodge will only follow this up we’ve got +a chance.”</p> + +<p>Hodge was a good batter, and he waited stolidly +until he got a ball that suited him. Two +strikes were called on him, and still he waited. +Then the pitcher sent him a long out curve, and +Hodge connected with the ball for a safe one-bag +hit, while Dick raced home. It looked bright for +the home team now, but the next batter struck +out, and although Hodge made a daring slide to +second, a splendid throw cut him off.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sterling was up next, and on the third pitched +ball he managed to plant a short drive in left +field that got him safely to first base. Then it +was Bert’s turn at the bat, and a great roar +greeted him as he stepped to the plate.</p> + +<p>“Win your own game, Wilson,” someone +shouted, and Bert resolved to do so, if possible.</p> + +<p>He tried to figure out what the pitcher would +be likely to offer him, and decided that he would +probably serve up a swift, straight one at first. +He set himself for this, but the pitcher had different +ideas, and sent over a slow drop that Bert +swung at, a fraction of a second too late. +“Strike,” called the umpire, and the hostile fans +yelled delightedly. The next one Bert drove out +for what looked like a good hit, but it turned +out to be a foul. “Two strikes,” barked the umpire, +and some of the people in the grandstand +rose as if to leave, evidently thinking that the +game was practically over.</p> + +<p>Bert watched every motion of the pitcher as +he wound up, and so was pretty sure what kind +of a ball was coming. The pitcher was noted for +his speed, and, almost at the moment the ball left +his hand, Bert swung his bat straight from the +shoulder, with every ounce of strength he possessed +in back of it. There was a sharp crack +as the bat met the ball, and the sphere mounted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +upward and flew like a bullet for the center field +fence.</p> + +<p>As if by one impulse, every soul in the grandstand +and bleachers rose to his or her feet, and a +perfect pandemonium of yells broke forth. The +fielders sprinted madly after the soaring ball, but +they might have saved themselves the trouble. It +cleared the fence by a good ten feet, and Bert cantered +leisurely around the bases, and came across +the home plate with the winning run.</p> + +<p>Then a yelling, cheering mob swept down on +the field, and enveloped the players. In a moment +Bert and some of the others were hoisted +up on broad shoulders, and carried around the +field by a crowd of temporary maniacs. It was +some time before Bert could get away from his +enthusiastic admirers, and join the rest of his +teammates.</p> + +<p>As he entered the dressing rooms, Reddy +grasped his hand, and said, “Wilson, you have +done some great work to-day, and I want to congratulate +you. From now on you are one of the +regular team pitchers.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir,” replied Bert, “but I don’t +deserve any special credit. We all did the best +we could, and that was all anybody could do.”</p> + +<p>So ended the first important game of the season, +and Bert’s position in the college was established +beyond all question. Winters’ friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +made a few half-hearted efforts to detract from +his popularity, but were met with such a cold +reception that they soon gave up the attempt, +and Bert was the undisputed star pitcher of the +university team.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Fire</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Gee whiz! I’m glad I don’t have to do +this every day,” said Tom, as he stood, +ruefully regarding his trunk, whose lid refused +to close by several inches.</p> + +<p>“I’m jiggered if I see why it should look like +that. Even with the fellows’ things, it isn’t half +as full as it was when I came from home, and it +didn’t cut up like that.”</p> + +<p>The Easter holidays were approaching, and +“the three guardsmen” had received a most cordial +invitation from Mr. Hollis to spend them +with him at his home.</p> + +<p>Feeling the strain of the baseball season, the +fellows were only too glad of a short breathing +spell and had gratefully accepted the invitation. +They were looking forward with eager anticipation +to the visit.</p> + +<p>They would not need very much luggage for +just a few days’ stay, so, as Tom owned a small +steamer trunk, they had decided to make it serve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +for all three. The fellows had brought their +things in the night before and left Tom to pack +them.</p> + +<p>Tom had heard people say that packing a trunk +was a work of time, and had congratulated himself +on the quickness and ease with which that +particular trunk was packed; but when he encountered +the almost human obstinacy with which that +lid resisted his utmost efforts, he acknowledged +that it wasn’t “such a cinch after all.”</p> + +<p>After one more ineffectual effort to close it, +he again eyed it disgustedly.</p> + +<p>“I can’t do a blamed thing with it,” he growled, +and then catching the sound of voices in Dick’s +room overhead, he shouted:</p> + +<p>“Come on in here, fellows, and help me get +this apology for a trunk shut.”</p> + +<p>When Dick and Bert reached him, Tom was +stretched almost full length on the trunk and +raining disgusted blows in the region of the lock.</p> + +<p>He looked so absurdly funny that the fellows +executed a war dance of delight and roared with +laughter, and then proceeded to drag Tom bodily +off the trunk.</p> + +<p>Landing him with scant ceremony on the floor, +they proceeded to show the discomfited Freshman +that a trunk lid with any spirit could not consent +to close over an indiscriminate mixture of underwear, +pajamas, suits of clothes, collar boxes, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +shoe and military brushes—most of these latter +standing upright on end.</p> + +<p>With the brushes lying flat, boxes stowed away +in corners, and clothing smoothly folded, the +balky trunk lid closed, as Tom, grinning sheepishly, +declared, “meeker a hundred times than +Moses.”</p> + +<p>This disposed of, and dressed and ready at +last, their thoughts and conversation turned with +one accord to the delightful fact that Mr. Hollis +was to send the old “Red Scout” to take them +to his home.</p> + +<p>The very mention of the name “Red Scout” +was sufficient to set all three tongues going at +once, as, during the half-hour before they could +expect the car, they recalled incidents of that most +glorious and exciting summer at the camp, when +the “Red Scout” had been their unending source +of delight.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember,” said Tom, “the first +time we went out in her, when we were so crazy +with the delight of it that we forgot everything +else, and gave her the speed limit, and came near +to having a once-for-all smash-up?”</p> + +<p>They certainly did. “And,” said Dick, “the +day we gave poor old Biddy Harrigan her first +‘artymobile’ ride. Didn’t she look funny when +the wind spread out that gorgeous red feather?”</p> + +<p>They all laughed heartily at this recollection,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +but their faces grew grave again as they recalled +the time when, the brake failing to work, they +rushed over the bridge with only a few inches +between them and disaster.</p> + +<p>“That certainly was a close call,” said Bert, +“but not so close as the race we had with the +locomotive. I sure did think then that our time +had come.”</p> + +<p>“But,” Tom broke in, “‘all’s well that ends +well,’ and say, fellows, <i>did</i> it end well with us? +Will you ever forget that wonderful race with +the ‘Gray Ghost’? Great Scott! I can feel my +heart thump again as it did that final lap. And +that last minute when the blessed old ‘Red Scout’ +poked her nose over the line—<i>ahead</i>!” and in +his excitement Tom began forging around the +room at great speed, but made a rush for the +window at the sound of a familiar “toot, to-oo-t.”</p> + +<p>“There she is,” he announced joyfully, and, +taking the stairs three steps at a time, and crossing +the campus in about as many seconds, they +gave three cheers for the old “Red Scout,” which +bore them away from college scenes with its old-time +lightning speed.</p> + +<p>Easter was late that year and spring had come +early. There had been a number of warm days, +and already the springing grass had clothed the +earth in its Easter dress of soft, tender green. +Tree buds were bursting into leaf, and in many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +of the gardens that they passed crocuses were +lifting their little white heads above the ground. +Robins flashed their red and filled the air with +music. Spring was everywhere! And, as the +warm, fragrant air swept their faces they thrilled +with the very joy of living, and almost wished +the ride might last forever.</p> + +<p>At last, “There is Mr. Hollis’ house, the large +white one just before us,” said the chauffeur, and, +so swiftly sped the “Red Scout” that almost before +the last word was spoken, they stopped and +were cordially welcomed by Mr. Hollis.</p> + +<p>As they entered the hall they stood still, looked, +rubbed their eyes and looked again. Then Tom +said in a dazed way, “Pinch me, Bert, I’m dreaming.” +For there in a row on either side of the +hall stood every last one of the fellows who had +camped with them that never-to-be-forgotten +summer. Bob and Frank and Jim Dawson, Ben +Cooper and Dave and Charlie Adams, and—yes—peeping +mischievously from behind the door, +Shorty, little Shorty! who now broke the spell +with:</p> + +<p>“Hello, fellows. What’s the matter? Hypnotized?”</p> + +<p>Then—well it was fortunate for Mr. Hollis +that he was used to boys, and so used also to +noise; for such a shouting of greetings and babel +of questions rose, that nobody could hear anybody<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +else speak. Little they cared. They were +all together once more, with days of pure pleasure +in prospect. Nothing else mattered; and Mr. +Hollis, himself as much a boy at heart as any +one of them, enjoyed it all immensely.</p> + +<p>Glancing at the clock, he suddenly remembered +that dinner would soon be served, and drove the +three latest arrivals off to their room to prepare.</p> + +<p>Short as the ride had seemed to the happy automobilists, +it had lasted several hours. Though +they had eaten some sandwiches on the way, they +were all in sympathy with Tom who, while they +prepared for dinner confided to his chums that +he was a “regular wolf!”</p> + +<p>It goes without saying that they all did ample +justice to that first dinner, and that there never +was a jollier or more care-free company. None +of the boys ever forgot the wonderful evening +with Mr. Hollis.</p> + +<p>A man of large wealth and cultivated tastes, +his home was filled with objects of interest. He +spared no pains to make his young guests feel at +home and gave them a delightful evening.</p> + +<p>The pleasant hours sped so rapidly that all +were amazed when the silvery chimes from the +grandfather’s clock in the living room rang out +eleven o’clock, and Mr. Hollis bade them all +“good-night.”</p> + +<p>They had not realized that they were tired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +until they reached their rooms. Once there, however, +they were glad to tumble into their comfortable +beds, and, after a unanimous vote that +Mr. Hollis was a brick, quiet reigned at last.</p> + +<p>To Bert in those quiet hours came a very vivid +dream. He thought he was wandering alone +across a vast plain in perfect darkness at first, in +which he stumbled blindly forward.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there came a great flash of lightning +which gleamed for a moment and was gone. Instantly +there came another and another, one so +closely following the other that there was an almost +constant blinding glare, while all the while +the dreamer was conscious of a feeling of apprehension, +of impending danger.</p> + +<p>So intense did this feeling become and so painful, +that at last the dreamer awoke—to find that +it was not all a dream! The room was no +longer dark and he saw a great light flashing outside +his window pane. Springing from bed it +needed only one glance to show him that the +wing of the neighboring house only a few hundred +feet away was in flames.</p> + +<p>Giving the alarm, and at the same time pulling +on a few clothes, he rushed out of the house and +over to the burning building. So quick was his +action that he had entered into the burning +house and shouted the alarm of fire before Mr. +Hollis and his guests realized what was happening.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +Very soon all the inmates of Mr. Hollis’ +house and of the neighboring houses rushed to +the scene to do what they could, while awaiting +the arrival of the local fire engines.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Bert had stopped a screaming, +hysterical maid as she was rushing from the house +and compelled her to show him where her +mistress slept. The poor lady’s room was in the +burning wing and Bert and Mr. Hollis, who had +now joined him, broke open the door. They +found her unconscious from smoke and, lifting +her, carried her into the open air.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be learned from the maids. +One had fainted and the other was too hysterical +from fright to speak coherently. One of the +neighbors told them that the owner was away on +business and not expected home for several days. +He asked if the child were safe, and just at that +moment the little white-clad figure of a child +about six years old appeared at one of the upper +gable windows.</p> + +<p>By this time, though the engines had arrived, +and were playing streams of water on the burning +building, the fire had spread to the main house +and both the lower floors were fiercely burning. +Entrance or escape by the stairways was an impossibility, +and the longest ladders reached barely to +the second story windows. The local fire company +was not supplied with nets.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seemed to all that the little child must perish, +and, to add to the horror of the scene, the +child’s mother had regained consciousness, and, +seeing her little one in such mortal danger, rushed +frantically toward the burning house. She was +held back by tender but strong hands. She could +do nothing to help her child, but her entreaties +to be allowed to go to her were heart-breaking.</p> + +<p>All but one were filled with despair. Bert, +scanning the building for some means of rescue, +saw that a large leader pipe ran down a corner +of the building from roof to ground, and was secured +to the walls of the house by broad, iron +brackets. The space between it and the window +where the child stood seemed to be about three +feet. If he could climb that leader by means of +those iron supports, he might be able to leap +across the intervening space and reach the window.</p> + +<p>All this passed through Bert’s mind with lightning-like +rapidity. He knew that if he failed to +reach the window—well, he would not consider +that.</p> + +<p>Coming to quick decision, he ran forward, +dodged the detaining hands stretched out, and before +anyone had an inkling of his purpose, was +climbing the ladder from bracket to bracket. +More than one called frantically to come back,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +but with the thought of that despairing mother, +and with his eyes fixed on the little child in the +window, he went on steadily up, foot by foot, until, +at last, he was on a level with the window. +Now he found that distance had deceived him +and that the window was fully five feet away instead +of three.</p> + +<p>The crowd, standing breathless now, and still +as death, saw him pause and every heart ached +with apprehension, fearing that he would be +forced to return and leave the little one to her +awful fate. Eyes smarted with the intensity with +which they stared. Could he with almost nothing +to brace his feet upon, spring across that five +feet of wall? He could not even take a half-minute +to think. The flames might at any second +burst through the floor into the room in +which the little child had taken refuge. He +dared not look down, but in climbing he had noticed +that the flames, as the wind swayed +them, were sweeping across the ladders. He +must decide.</p> + +<p>His resolve was taken, and he gathered his +muscles together for the spring.</p> + +<p>Now, Bert, you have need to call upon all your +resources. Well for you that your training on +the diamond has limbered and strengthened +your muscles, steadied your nerves, quickened +your eye, taught you lightning perception and calculation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +and decision. You have need of them +all now. Courage, Bert! Ready, now!</p> + +<p>The frantic mother saw him gather himself +together and spring to what seemed to be certain +death. His fingers grip the window sill, but, as +his weight drags upon them, they slip. Ah! he +never can hold that smooth surface—and many +turn away their faces, unable to bear the sight. +But look! he is still there. His fingers desperately +tighten their grip upon the sill, and now +he begins to draw himself up, slowly, reaching inside +the window for a firmer hold. He has his +knee on the sill—and a great shout goes up from +the crowd as he drops inside the window beside +the child.</p> + +<p>But their relief was short-lived, for now the +same thought seized everyone. How was he to +get back? He could not return the way he went +up, for, even unhampered by the child, he could +not make the leap back to the pipe. With anxious, +despairing eyes, they watched the window from +which great clouds of smoke were pouring now, +mingled with tiny tongues of flame.</p> + +<p>It seemed an hour that they had waited, but it +was only a few moments before the brave fellow +reappeared at the window, with the child wrapped +in a blanket, strapped firmly to his shoulders. +Another moment and a long woolen blanket +dangled from the window sill, and with the agility<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +of a monkey Bert began to let himself down +hand over hand. With beating hearts into which +hope had begun again to creep, the breathless +people watched him.</p> + +<p>But surely the flames, sweeping now up and +out from the second story window will shrivel +that blanket and burn it through. But they do +not, for though they wrap themselves fiercely +about it, they seem unable to destroy it; and now +his feet touch the topmost round of the ladder. +Another moment and his hands are upon it also.</p> + +<p>Now at last the crowd bursts into cheer upon +cheer. Willing hands reach up and seize the +now almost exhausted young hero, and lift him +and his burden to the ground.</p> + +<p>The child, thanks to the blanket in which Bert +had wrapped her, was unhurt and in a moment +was sobbing in her mother’s arms, that happy +mother who, overcome with joy, could only strain +her rescued treasure to her heart with murmured +words of love and thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>Bert’s friends crowded around him with joyful +congratulations, while Mr. Hollis, filled with +rejoicing at his young friend’s wonderful escape +from death and with admiration for his fearless +bravery, grasped him by the hand, saying, “I’m +proud of you, Bert, I’m proud of you! You’re +a hero.”</p> + +<p>Bert winced at that close grip and Mr. Hollis,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +looking down, saw that the hands were badly +burned and hurried him from the scene, the admiring +fellows closely following.</p> + +<p>The mother with her child had been taken +away by kind and sympathetic friends, but not +before she had thanked Bert with full heart for +giving her child back to her.</p> + +<p>No king ever held higher court or with more +devoted or admiring subjects than did Bert while +they waited at Mr. Hollis’ home for the coming +of a doctor to dress his burns. Nothing was +talked of but the exciting events of the day and +Bert’s share in them. With faces still glowing +with excitement, they lived over again all the +events of the early morning, and Bert had to answer +all sorts of questions as to “How he ever +came to think of that leader pipe?” “What he +would have done if the blanket had burned +through?” and a dozen others.</p> + +<p>“Well,” Shorty summed up, “Bert sure is a +wonder,” to which there was a hearty assent.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the doctor put an end to all +this to Bert’s great relief, for he was much too +modest to enjoy being praised.</p> + +<p>The burns were found to be not very serious, +but the pain added to the great physical exertion +and the intense nervous strain had brought poor +Bert almost to the breaking point, and the doctor +ordered him to bed.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>Very gladly he settled down after so many +hours of excitement with Mr. Hollis’ parting +words in his ears, “If I had a son like you, Bert, +I should be very proud of him to-day.”</p> + +<p>He was drifting happily into dreamland when +Tom poked his head inside the door and said, +“You’ve got to answer one more question before +you go to sleep, old man. What charm did you +work around that old blanket you came down on +from the window so that it would not burn?”</p> + +<p>“Made it soaking wet, bonehead,” came the +sleepy reply, and Tom vanished.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Taking His Medicine</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">The team had been tested almost to its limit +this season, and the strain was beginning +to show. Each player was worked up to the +highest possible nervous tension, and no man can +last long under such conditions. Even with professional +players this condition becomes very +apparent in a hard-fought series, and so was +even more plainly seen among these comparatively +inexperienced contestants for the honor of +their alma mater.</p> + +<p>Another thing that tended strongly to demoralize +them was the fact of Bert’s being unable +to play. His burned hands, while rapidly +mending, were still unable to grip the ball. Of +course, they knew that this was merely a temporary +calamity, but even to have the pitcher on +whom they had based their strongest hopes out +of commission for almost two weeks meant much +to them. Winters and Benson, while undoubtedly +good pitchers, fell considerably short of the +standard set by Bert, and all the players realized +this.</p> + +<p>Of course, it may be argued that they should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +not allow themselves to be affected by anything +of this kind, but no one who has not actually been +a ball player can fully realize what it means to +a team, when they are nearing the end of a neck +and neck struggle, to be deprived of their star +pitcher. It must also be remembered that Bert, +while not by any means as good a batter as he +was a pitcher, was nevertheless a strong batsman, +and had the happy faculty of “swatting +them out” at the time when they would do the +most good. On this account, his loss was felt +more keenly than would have ordinarily been the +case.</p> + +<p>Another thing, but one that was never openly +alluded to, was the knowledge that each boy had, +that Winters was not the pitcher he had been once +upon a time. His breaks from training were becoming +more and more frequent, and all that the +coach could say in the way of threat or entreaty +seemed to have no effect. Winters had gotten in +with a fast set, and no argument or persuasion +could induce him to see the error of his way.</p> + +<p>Reddy did not dare to remove him from the +team, however, as that would have left him only +one pitcher of any value, namely, Benson, and nobody +knew better than the wily trainer that Benson +could seldom be depended on to pitch good +ball during an entire game.</p> + +<p>Again and again Reddy had cursed the fate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +that deprived him of his star pitcher at such a +crucial time, but of course, as is usually the case, +that did little good. It was too late now to try +to develop another pitcher, even had he known +of anyone capable of training for that important +post, which he did not.</p> + +<p>So he just set his jaw, and resolved to make +the best of what he had. Up to to-day, which +was destined to see one of the season’s most important +battles, he had managed, by dint of skillful +coaching and substituting at critical moments, +to maintain the lead that the team had gained +largely through Bert’s remarkable work in the +box.</p> + +<p>He felt that if the team won to-day’s game, +they would have a comfortable lead until Bert +was able to resume his pitching. If, on the other +hand, they lost, he realized that they would have +small chance of winning the championship. No +one would have suspected from his outward appearance +what thoughts were going on in his +mind, but if they had, they would have been astonished. +To the players, and to everybody +else, he presented such a calm and composed exterior +that the boys felt more confident the minute +they saw him. As the time for the game +drew near, he gathered the boys together in the +clubhouse, and proceeded to make a little speech +and give them some valuable advice.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>They listened attentively, and went out on the +diamond with a do-or-die expression written on +their faces. Needless to say, Bert was there, and +nobody felt worse than he over his misfortune.</p> + +<p>“Gee!” he exclaimed to Tom, ruefully, “this +is certainly what you might call tough luck. Here +I am, with my arm feeling better than it ever did +before, and just on account of a few pesky burns +I can’t pitch.”</p> + +<p>“It’s tough, all right, and no mistake,” sympathized +Dick, “but never mind. If Winters can +only do half way decent pitching, we’ll come +through all right.”</p> + +<p>Bert said nothing, not wishing to discourage +his friend, but to himself he admitted that things +had a rather bad aspect. The team they were +to play to-day was noted for its heavy batters, +and he knew that it would take a pitcher in the +most perfect condition to stand the strain of nine +long innings against such sluggers. His thoughts +were not of the pleasantest, therefore, as he sat +on the bench, nibbling a blade of grass, and +watched the practice of the two teams with critical +eyes.</p> + +<p>Murray, reputed to be the heaviest hitter on +the Maroon team, was knocking out flies to his +teammates, and Bert was forced to admire the +confident way in which he lined the ball out, +without ever missing a swing.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>His own team was playing with snap and +ginger, though, and this fact comforted Bert +somewhat.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he thought to himself, “the teams +seem to be about equally matched, and if nothing +out of the ordinary happens, we ought to have a +good show to win. I only hope that all the rumors +I’ve been hearing about Winters lately are +not true.”</p> + +<p>As Bert had seen, both teams showed up well +in the preliminary practice, and each made several +plays that evoked applause from the grandstands +and bleachers.</p> + +<p>Soon the umpire walked out on the field, adjusting +his mask and protecting pads, and the +crowds settled down for a couple of hours of +what they realized would be intense excitement.</p> + +<p>“Battery for the Maroons, Moore and Hupfel!” +shouted the umpire. “For the Blues, Winters +and Hinsdale!”</p> + +<p>As they were the visitors to-day, the Blues of +course went to the bat first. They were quickly +retired by snappy work and took the field. +Winters seemed in fine form, and struck out the +opposing batters in good shape, only one getting +a hit, and he was caught stealing.</p> + +<p>This ended the first inning, with no runs scored +for either side, and Reddy began to feel more +confident. However, little could be prophesied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +regarding the outcome at this early stage of the +game, and Reddy walked over to the bench and +sat down beside Bert.</p> + +<p>“Well, my boy,” he said, “if they don’t get +any more hits off us than they did in that inning, +we won’t be so bad off, after all. Winters seems +to be in fine shape, don’t you think?”</p> + +<p>“He certainly does,” replied Bert, “he’s holding +them down in fine style. You couldn’t ask for +better pitching than he’s putting up.”</p> + +<p>“Ye couldn’t, fer a fact,” said the trainer, and +both settled back to see what the Blues would accomplish +in their turn at bat.</p> + +<p>Dick was next on the batting list, and he strode +to the plate with his usual jaunty step. He +waited two balls before he got one to suit him, +but then landed out a hot grounder, and just +managed to beat it to first base.</p> + +<p>“That’s good! that’s good!” yelled Reddy, +dancing about on one leg. “The boys are beginning +to get their batting caps on now, and it +won’t be long before we have a string of runs +longer than a Dachshund. Go to it, Blues, go +to it!”</p> + +<p>Poor Reddy! His high hopes were doomed +to fall quickly. Hodge struck out, and with +lightning-like rapidity the catcher snapped the +ball down to second. For once, Dick was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +fraction of a second too slow, and the ball beat +him to the base by a hair’s breadth.</p> + +<p>“Two out!” yelled the umpire, and Reddy +dropped into his seat with a dismal groan. +White, the strong hitting shortstop, was the next +batsman, but after knocking two high flies, he +was struck out by a fast inshoot.</p> + +<p>However, Winters appeared to be pitching airtight +ball, and while a few feeble flies were garnered +from his delivery, the fielders had no difficulty +in catching them.</p> + +<p>When the home team came to bat, their first +man up, who happened to be the catcher, cracked +out a swift, low fly between Winters and Tom, +and tore around to second base before the ball +came in from the field.</p> + +<p>To Reddy’s keen eyes, studying carefully every +phase and mood of game and man, it was apparent +that Winters’ confidence was shaken a little +by this occurrence. His pitching to the next batter +was wild, and he finally gave the man a base +on balls. Bert leaned forward intently, and his +eyes were fairly glued on the players. Oh, if he +could only go out there and pitch for the rest of +the game! But he knew this was impossible +with his hands in the condition they were, and he +uttered an impatient exclamation.</p> + +<p>With two men on bases and none out, matters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +began to look doubtful for the devoted Blues. +The very first ball Winters pitched to the next +batter was hit for a long two-bagger, and the +runner on second cantered leisurely home.</p> + +<p>Now even the fans in the bleachers realized +that something was amiss with the pitcher of the +Blues, and those opposed to them set up an uproarious +clapping and hooting in the hope of +rattling him still further. This was not wholly +without effect, and Bert noted with ever-growing +anxiety that Winters appeared to be unable to +stand quietly in the box during the pauses in the +game, but fidgeted around nervously, at one time +biting his nails, and at another, shifting constantly +from one foot to the other. A meaner +nature than our hero might have been glad to +note the discomfiture of one whom he had every +reason to dislike, but Bert was not built after such +a pattern. His one thought was that the college +would suffer heavily if this game were lost, and +he hardly gave a thought to his private +grievances. The college was the thing that +counted.</p> + +<p>Winters, by a great effort, tightened up a little +after this, and with the help of snappy support +retired the Maroons, but not before the latter +had garnered another precious run.</p> + +<p>The visiting team did nothing, however, for +although they got a runner to third at one time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +he was put out by a quick throw from pitcher +to first.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the second inning, and to the casual +observer it seemed as though the teams +were pretty evenly matched. To Reddy’s practised +eye, however, it was apparent that the Blues +had a little the edge on their opponents, except in +the matter of pitching. Here, indeed, it was +hard to tell who was the better pitcher, the Maroon +boxman or Winters. Both were pitching +good ball, and Reddy realized that it would probably +narrow down to a question of which one had +the greater staying power.</p> + +<p>“If only we had young Wilson pitching,” he +thought to himself, “I would breathe a whole lot +easier. However, there’s no use crossing a +bridge till you come to it, and I may be having all +my worriment for nothin’. Somethin’ tells me, +though, that we’re goin’ to have trouble before +this game is over. May all the Saints grant +that I’m wrong.”</p> + +<p>For the next three innings, however, it appeared +as though the trainer’s forebodings were +without foundation. Both teams played with +snap and dash, and as yet only two runs had been +scored.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the sixth inning, Tom was +slated as the first man up, and he walked to the +plate filled with a new idea Bert had given him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +“Wait until about the fourth ball that that fellow +pitches,” Bert had told him, “and then +bounce on it good and plenty. The first two or +three balls he pitches are full of steam, but then, +if nobody has even struck at them, he gets careless, +and puts one over that you ought to be able +to land on without any trouble. You just try +that and see what happens.”</p> + +<p>This Tom proceeded to do, and found that it +was indeed as Bert had said. The first ball +pitched seemed good, but Tom let it go by, and +had a strike called on him. The next one was a +ball, but the third one was a hot curve that +looked good, and ordinarily Tom would have +taken a chance and swung at it. Now, however, +he was resolved to follow Bert’s advice to the +letter, and so allowed the ball to pass him. “Gee, +that guy’s scared stiff,” someone yelled from the +bleachers, and the crowd laughed. It certainly +did seem as though Tom had lost his nerve, and +his teammates, who were not in on the secret yet, +looked puzzled. Tom paid no attention to the +shouts from the grandstand, and his well-known +ability as a “waiter” stood him in good stead. +True to Bert’s prediction, the pitcher eased up a +little when winding up for the next ball, and Tom +saw that he shared the general impression that he +had lost his nerve. The ball proved to be a +straight, fast one, and Tom slugged it squarely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +with all the strength in his body. Amid a hoarse +roar from the watching thousands, he tore around +the bases and slid into third before he was stopped +by White, who was waiting for him.</p> + +<p>“Gee, Tom!” ejaculated the excited and delighted +shortstop. “How in time did you ever +think of such a clever trick. You sure fooled +that pitcher at his own game.”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t my idea, it was Bert’s,” said Tom, +truthfully.</p> + +<p>“Whoever’s it was, it was a crackerjack one, +at any rate,” said White, jubilantly. “If Flynn +can only get a hit now we’ll have a run, and +it looks as though we would need all that we can +get.”</p> + +<p>Flynn, in accordance with instructions from +Reddy, laid an easy bunt down toward first base, +and, although he was put out, Tom scurried over +the plate about two jumps in front of the ball, +and the first run for the Blues had been scored.</p> + +<p>The small band of loyal rooters for the Blues +struck up one of the familiar college songs, and +things looked bright for their team. The opposing +pitcher was not to be fooled again, however, +and while Drake was waiting for a ball +to suit him he was struck out, much to the delight +of the hostile fans.</p> + +<p>Thus at the end of the seventh inning the score +stood two to one in favor of the Maroons, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +their pitcher was “as good as new,” as he himself +put it.</p> + +<p>Now Dick went to bat, and waited, with no +sign of the nervousness that was beginning to be +manifested by his teammates, for a ball that was +to his liking. He let the first one go past, but +swung hard at the second, and cracked out a hot +liner right at the pitcher. Most pitchers would +have let a smoking fly like that pass them, for +fear of injuring their hands, but evidently this +boxman was not lacking in nerve. The ball +cracked into his outstretched mitt with a report +like a pistol shot, and he held on to it.</p> + +<p>“Out!” shouted the umpire, and Dick, who +had started to sprint to first, walked to the bench +with a disgusted air.</p> + +<p>“Hang it all, anyway,” he exclaimed disgustedly, +“who’d have thought he would stop +that one? I could just see myself resting peacefully +at second base, and then he has to go and do +a thing like that. A mean trick, I call it.”</p> + +<p>Dick made a pretence of taking the matter in +this light manner in order to keep up the spirits +of his teammates, but not by any means because +he felt happy about it. Quite the contrary.</p> + +<p>Hodge, the right fielder, came up next, but only +succeeded in popping up a feeble fly that the third +baseman caught easily after a short run in. +White waited patiently for one to suit him, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +while he was waiting, three strikes were called on +him, and he retired in a crestfallen manner.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Reddy had been talking to +Winters. “How do you feel, Winters?” he +had inquired anxiously, “do you feel strong +enough to hold them down for the rest of this +game?”</p> + +<p>“Aw, don’t worry yourself about me,” Winters +had replied in a surly voice. “I’m all +right. I never felt better in my life,” but something +in his voice belied his words.</p> + +<p>“All right,” returned the trainer, “but remember +this, my lad: if we put Benson in now, we +might be able to hold them down. I’m going to +take your say so, though, and let you pitch the +next inning. If they get to you, however, you’ll +have to take your medicine. It will be too late +then to put Benson in, and of course Wilson is in +no shape to pitch. Now, it’s up to you.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” growled Winters. Then +he suddenly flared up: “I suppose if that blamed +Freshie were in condition you’d have put him in +to pitch long ago, wouldn’t you?”</p> + +<p>“That I would, my lad,” returned Reddy, in +an ominously quiet voice. “Now, go in there +and pitch, and don’t give me any more back talk +that you’ll be sorry for afterward.”</p> + +<p>Winters seemed about to make some hot reply +to this, but after a moment’s hesitation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +thought better of it, and turned sullenly away, +putting on his glove as he walked slowly to his +position.</p> + +<p>He vented his anger on the first few balls he +pitched, and they went over the plate with speed +and to spare. This did not last long, however, +and after he had struck out one man his speed +began to slacken. The second man up landed a +high fly into right field that Hodge, although he +made a brave try for it, was unable to get to in +time. The runner raced around to third before +he was stopped by the warning cries of his teammates.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got ’em going! We’ve got ’em going!” +chanted the home rooters in one mighty +chorus, and Winters scowled at them viciously.</p> + +<p>The next five balls he pitched were “wild as +they make ’em,” and only one strike was registered. +In consequence the batter walked leisurely +to first, and as he neared Winters said, “Much +obliged, old chap.” If looks could have killed, +Winters would surely have been a murderer, but +fortunately it takes more than that to kill a ball +player, and so the game went on without interruption.</p> + +<p>The following batter made a clever sacrifice +bunt, and the man on third brought home a run, +while the one on first reached second.</p> + +<p>“Gee, it’s all over now, I’m afraid,” groaned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +Bert to himself. “Winters is up in the air sky +high, and after their argument Reddy probably +will not put Benson in, because he’s cold and it +would do no good. We’ll be baked brown on +both sides before this game is finished.”</p> + +<p>And Bert was not far wrong. The +Maroons landed on Winters “like a ton of +brick,” as Tom afterward said, and proceeded +to wipe up the field with him. The game became +a massacre, and when the home team was +finally retired the score stood six to one in their +favor.</p> + +<p>When Winters came in from the field he was +white and shaking, and Reddy felt sorry for him. +“Just the same,” he reflected, “this will teach +him a lesson, maybe, and it may lead to his sticking +more closely to regulations and the training +table. Midnight booze-fighting and good ball +playing don’t mix very well.” Reddy might +have gone further, and said that “booze fighting” +did not mix very well with anything worth +while, and not have been far wrong.</p> + +<p>Actuated by these reflections, the trainer resolved +to make Winters pitch out the rest of the +game, as it was hopelessly lost anyway, in the +hope of making him reform.</p> + +<p>The Blues were thoroughly demoralized by +this time, and their half-hearted attempts to score +met with little success. Hinsdale, after both the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +batsmen preceding him had been struck out, +landed on the ball for a long high fly into center, +and got to second on it. He went no further, +however, as Tom lifted a high foul to the opposing +catcher. Of course this ended the game, as it +would have been useless to finish the ninth inning.</p> + +<p>The Maroon rooters rose in a body and +rent the air with their songs and college yells. +The loyal Blues present did their best, but could +not make themselves heard amidst the general +uproar.</p> + +<p>“The Blues haven’t got a chance for the +pennant now,” exulted one rooter to his friend. +“They’re on the downward road now, and will +stay there till the end of the season. You watch +and see if they don’t.”</p> + +<p>But there was a Freshman pitcher on the bench +that knew better.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Shooting Them Over</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">Bert and Dick and some of the other fellows +were having a discussion. They had +been talking on various topics, and, as was usually +the case, the talk had drifted around to baseball. +They had discussed the game pro and con, when +Dick said:</p> + +<p>“I wonder how fast a pitcher really can throw +a ball, anyway. Of course, there’s no possibility +of such a thing, but it certainly would be interesting, +if we could measure the speed of a pitched +ball, and settle the question once and for all.”</p> + +<p>“That’s easy,” laughed Bert. “You just +stand up there, Dick, and give me a baseball and +let me hit you with it. If it kills you, we will +know it was going pretty fast, but if it just cripples +you, we will be forced to the conclusion that the +ball wasn’t traveling so very fast, after all.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that certainly is a brilliant idea,” snorted +Dick, “and there is only one thing that keeps me +from doing it. If, as you say, it should kill me, +you fellows would have settled the question, all +right, but then it would be too late for me to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +share in the knowledge. Therefore, I guess +we’ll leave the question open for the present.”</p> + +<p>“Aw, gee, Dick,” laughed one of the others, +“you certainly have a mean disposition. Here +you are in college, and yet you evidently haven’t +enough of the college spirit to make a sacrifice of +yourself for the general good. Besides, it +doesn’t show the scientific desire for knowledge +that we would like to see in you, does it, fellows?” +appealing to the laughing group.</p> + +<p>Everybody seemed to think the same thing, +judging from the unanimous chorus of assent to +this speech, but, strange to say, Dick proved very +obstinate, and refused to offer his services in the +capacity of official tester.</p> + +<p>“But seriously, fellows,” said one of the boys, +John Bennett by name, “I don’t see why we +couldn’t do something of the kind. I shouldn’t +think it would be so hopeless, after all.”</p> + +<p>At first they thought he was joking, but when +they realized that he was in earnest, a chorus of +ridicule arose. Bennett refused to be hooted +down, however, and finally managed to get a +hearing.</p> + +<p>“You see, it’s this way,” he explained: “My +father, as you all know, manufactures guns and +rifles of all descriptions. Now, some people +with a little more sense in their noodles than you +poor boobs,” with a sarcastic inflection, “have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +asked what the speed of a rifle bullet was, and +what’s more, have managed to find out. Going +on the same principle, I don’t see why we couldn’t +find out the speed of a baseball.”</p> + +<p>“How do they find that out?” asked one, unbelievingly, +“a rifle bullet has been known to go +pretty fast at times, you know.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean it, do you?” asked Bennett, +sarcastically. “I always thought bullets crept +along the ground something after the manner of +snails, or something equally fast, didn’t you fellows?”</p> + +<p>“Go on, go on,” they laughed, “if you’ve got +an idea in what you call your brain, for heaven’s +sake get it out before you forget it. Go on and +tell us how it is that they measure the speed of a +bullet.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s this way,” said Bennett, “they arrange +an electric wire in front of the muzzle of +the gun, so that as the bullet comes out it is +bound to break it. Then, the object at which +the gun is aimed is also connected up by electricity. +Observe, gentlemen, what happens when the gun +is discharged. The bullet, as it saunters from +the gun, cuts the electric wire, and by so doing +registers the exact fraction of a second that this +happens. When it hits the target, a similar process +takes place, and then of course it is a +simple matter to subtract the time the bullet left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +the gun from the time it hit the target, and thus, +gentlemen, we arrive at the result, namely, the +time it took the bullet to go across the intervening +distance. I trust, gentlemen (and others), +that I have made myself perfectly clear."</p> + +<p>“Aw,” spoke up one of the fellows, popularly +known as “Curley,” “who couldn’t think +of a simple thing like that. The only reason +that I didn’t think of it right off was that it was +too easy for me even to consider.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, sure, we all understand that perfectly,” +replied Bennett, “but, seriously, fellows, if you +would care to try the experiment, I am sure that +my father would help us all he could. It +wouldn’t be any trick at all for him to rig up +something on the same principle that would give +us an accurate idea of how fast Bert, for instance, +could propel a baseball through the surrounding +atmosphere. Say the word, and I’ll +write to him about it to-night. We ought to +hear from him by the day after to-morrow, at the +latest.”</p> + +<p>Bert saw that Bennett was in earnest, and so +said:</p> + +<p>“It certainly would be very interesting, old +man. I’ve often wondered just what speed I was +capable of, and I don’t see why your plan +shouldn’t be feasible. What do you think, +Dick?”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I think it would be well worth the try, at all +events,” replied Dick, “and say, fellows, while +we were about it, Bennett’s father might be willing +to show us over the factory and give us an +idea of how the guns are made. Do you think +he would, old top?” addressing Bennett.</p> + +<p>“Surest thing you know,” responded the latter, +heartily. “I know he would be glad to have +you come, even if you are a bunch of bums,” +smilingly.</p> + +<p>“All right, we’ll consider that settled, then,” +said Bert. “You write to him right away, and +we’ll try our little experiment as soon as possible. +Believe me, I’m anxious to try it. I sure +would like to know.”</p> + +<p>Thus the matter was settled, and after a little +more talk and speculation on the same subject, +the boys dispersed to their rooms to prepare recitations +for the morrow.</p> + +<p>A day or so later, when some of them had forgotten +about the proposed test, Bennett came up +to the group assembled in Bert’s and Dick’s room, +and said:</p> + +<p>“See here, fellows! What did I tell you? I +just received this letter from dad, and he says to +go as far as we like. He says that he spoke of +the matter to the foreman of the testing department, +and he thinks our plan is feasible.”</p> + +<p>“Gee, that’s fine,” exclaimed Tom, who was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +of the group. “How long did he think it would +be before he would be ready?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, pretty near any time that we could get to +the factory. Of course, it will take him a few +days to rig up the apparatus, but he says he will +have it ready by next Saturday, and as that is a +holiday for most of us, I think it would be a +good time to go. How would that suit you, +Bert?”</p> + +<p>“First rate,” replied Bert, “I’ll take it as easy +as I can this week in the line of pitching, so that +I will have full strength for the test. I’ll have +to establish a record,” laughingly.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what we can do,” said Walter +Harper, one of the “subs” on the team, “let’s +get up a race between Bert’s baseball and a bullet. +I think that Bert ought to beat a bullet +easily.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” laughed Bert, “maybe I can’t exactly +beat a bullet, but I’ll bet my ball will have more +curve on it than any bullet ever invented.”</p> + +<p>“That reminds me of a story I heard the +other day,” spoke up one. “The father of a +friend of mine went out to hunt deer last fall. +He had fair luck, but everybody was talking +about a deer that had been fooling all the hunters +for several seasons. It seems that this deer was +such an expert dodger, that when anyone started +to shoot at him he would run around in circles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +and thus avoid the bullet. Well, my friend’s +father thought over the matter for a long time, +and finally hit on a plan to outwit the deer. Can +you guess how he did it?”</p> + +<p>Many were the schemes offered by the ingenious +listeners, but none of them seemed satisfactory. +Finally all gave up the problem, and +begged the story teller to give them the explanation.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said, “it’s very simple, and I’m surprised +and grieved that none of you fatheads +have thought of it. Why, he simply bent the +barrel of the gun around, so that when the bullet +came out it chased the deer around in circles, +and killed him without any trouble. Now——” +but here he was interrupted by a storm of indignant +hoots and hisses, and rushed from the room +amid a perfect shower of books of all descriptions.</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said Tom, “I’ve heard some queer +hunting stories, but that one was the limit. +Many a man has died for less.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, he’s more to be pitied than +scorned,” laughed Dick, and they proceeded to +discuss the details of Saturday’s trip.</p> + +<p>“It will be no end of fun, I can promise you,” +said Bennett. “It’s really an education in itself +to go through that factory and see the way things +are done. You can bet there’s no time or effort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +wasted there. Everything is figured down to the +very last word for efficiency, and if all the world +were run on the same basis it would be a pretty +fine place to live in.”</p> + +<p>“List to the philosopher, fellows,” said Bert. +“I’m afraid Bennett’s studies are going to his +head, and he’s actually beginning to believe what +the profs tell him.”</p> + +<p>“That is indeed a sign of failing mental powers,” +laughed Tom. “I’m afraid that if we don’t +do something for our poor friend, he will degenerate +until finally he becomes nothing but a +‘greasy grind.’ After that, of course, he can +sink no lower.”</p> + +<p>“Aw, you fellows think you’re funny, don’t +you,” grunted Bennett, disgustedly, “you’re such +boneheads that when somebody with real brains, +like myself, for instance, gets off a little gem of +thought you are absolutely incapable of appreciating +it.”</p> + +<p>“Fellows,” said Bert, gravely, “we have made +an important discovery. Bennett has brains. We +know this is so, because he himself admits it. +Well, well, who would have suspected it?”</p> + +<p>This sally was greeted with laughter, but, seeing +that Bennett was becoming a little angry, +Bert changed the subject, and they were soon deep +in details of the forthcoming trip. Dick was +delegated to buy the tickets, and when all had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +paid in their money it was seen that twenty-four +were going.</p> + +<p>“That will just be a good crowd,” said Bert. +“We’ll leave here on the 9:21 train, and that +will take us to W—— at a little after ten. We +can look over the factory in the morning, and +tell Mr. Bennett how to run it,”—with a mischievous +glance at Bennett, “and in the afternoon, +gentlemen, I will make my world renowned +attempt to pitch a baseball against time. Do +you think that will suit your father, John?”</p> + +<p>“Sure, that will be all right,” answered Bennett, +and so the matter was settled.</p> + +<p>The following Saturday turned out to be ideal, +and everybody was in high spirits when they gathered +at the station. They had to wait ten or +fifteen minutes for the train, which had been delayed, +but they found plenty to do in the meantime. +They sang, played leap frog, and in a +dozen other ways gave vent to their high spirits. +Some of the passengers envied their light hearts, +and remembered the days when they, too, had +been full of life and fun, and the world had just +been a place to be merry in.</p> + +<p>The waiting passed like a flash, and before they +knew it the train came into sight around a curve. +When it drew up they all made a rush to get on, +and before the train was finally started again had +almost driven the conductor frantic.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Byes will be byes, though,” he grinned to himself, +later on, “and be the same token, Oi don’t begrudge +the youngsters any of their fun, even if it +did hold the thrain back a full three minutes. +Have a good time while yer living, says Oi, for +yez’ll be a long time dead.”</p> + +<p>The train fairly flew along, as the engineer +was making up for lost time, and it was not long +before the conductor sang out, “W——!” and +they had arrived. They all tumbled off, and Tom, +to save time, went through the car window.</p> + +<p>“Be gorry, yez are a wild bunch of youngsters,” +said the old conductor to Bert. “But Oi +remember when Oi was a lad Oi was the same +way, so Oi fergives yez the delays and worriments +yez have caused me this day. Have a good toime, +and luck be wid yez.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” laughed Bert; “won’t you come +along?”</p> + +<p>“Thank ye kindly, but Oi guess Oi’ll have to +deny meself the pleasure, me bye,” grinned the +conductor, and the train drew out of the station.</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said Tom, as he gazed around, “I +don’t think we’ll have much trouble locating the +factory, Bennett. It seems to be a rather conspicuous +part of the landscape.”</p> + +<p>It was, indeed. The whole town was founded +on the factory industry, and practically every +able-bodied man in the place worked there. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +factory was an immense six-story affair, with +acres and acres of floor space. All around it +were streets lined with comfortable-looking cottages, +in which the workmen lived. Everything +had a prosperous and neat appearance, and the +boys were agreeably surprised. Most of them +had expected to see a grimy manufacturing town, +and were quite unprepared for the clean community +they saw spread out before them.</p> + +<p>Bennett headed them straight toward the factory, +but as they went along pointed out features +of the town.</p> + +<p>“You see,” he explained, “the whole town is +practically part of the factory. When that was +established a few houses were built around it, and +as the factory grew, the town grew along with it, +until now it is what you see it. We have one of +the biggest gun manufacturing plants in the world +here,” he added, proudly.</p> + +<p>“It certainly is some class, John,” admitted +Bert; “it’s bigger and cleaner than I ever expected +it would be.”</p> + +<p>Soon they had reached the factory itself, and +Bennett ushered them into the office. There they +were presented to a gray-haired man whom John +proudly introduced as his father, and they were +made perfectly at home.</p> + +<p>After a little talk, Mr. Bennett pressed a button, +and a capable looking man appeared.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sawkins,” said Mr. Bennett, “here are the +young men for whom we’ve been turning the factory +upside down the last few days. Just show +them around, will you, and explain things to +them a little.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” acquiesced Sawkins, who was the +foreman. “Step right this way, gentlemen.”</p> + +<p>The following two hours were probably among +the most interesting any of the boys had ever +known. The foreman started at the beginning, +showing them the glowing molten metal in immense +cauldrons. He was a man of considerable +education, and great mechanical ability. He explained +every process in words as free as possible +of technicalities, and the young fellows felt that +they understood everything that he undertook to +explain. He showed them how the metal was +cast, how the guns were bored out, the delicate +rifling cut in, and a thousand other details. His +listeners paid close attention to everything he +said, and seeing this, he took extra pains to make +everything clear to them. As he said to Mr. Bennett +afterward, “It was a pleasure to talk to a +bunch of men that understood what was told +them.”</p> + +<p>Finally they came to the testing room, and this +proved, if possible, even more interesting than +what had gone before. The foreman showed +them the various ranges, and some of the penetrating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +feats of which the rifles were capable. +It was almost unbelievable.</p> + +<p>“See this little toy?” he said, picking out a +beautifully made gun from a rack on the wall. +“The projectile discharged from this arm will +penetrate over forty-five planks, each one seven-eighths +of an inch thick. And then, look at this,”—holding +up an ax-head with three clean holes +bored through it—“here’s what it can do to tempered +steel. I don’t think it would be very +healthy to stand in its way.”</p> + +<p>“No, I guess it wouldn’t,” said Dick. “I’d +prefer to be somewhere else when one of those +bullets was wandering around loose.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Sawkins then showed them some photographs +of bullets taken while in flight. At first +sight this seems an impossibility, but nevertheless +it is an accomplished fact. The method used is +much the same as John Bennett has described in +the early part of this chapter. As the bullet +leaves the gun it cuts a wire, which in turn snaps +the shutter of a very high-speed camera. The +lenses on a camera of this kind are very expensive, +a single lens sometimes costing five hundred +dollars.</p> + +<p>Then the foreman showed them the apparatus +that they had rigged up to test the speed of Bert’s +pitching. After examining the ingenious arrangement +the boys were lavish in their praise. Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +Sawkins made light of this, but it was easy to see +that he was pleased.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s nothing much,” he said. “I just +fooled around a little bit, and soon had this +planned out. It was easy for me, because when +I was a little younger I used to do a little myself +in the pitching line on our local team, so I knew +about what would be required.”</p> + +<p>While they were discussing this, Mr. Bennett +strolled in, and asked the enthusiastic group what +they thought of what they had seen so far.</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said Tom, impulsively, “it certainly is +the greatest ever, Mr. Bennett. I never had any +idea there was such an awful lot to know about +gun-making. On thinking it over,” he added, +laughing, “I don’t think of a single way that we +could improve matters; do you, fellows?”</p> + +<p>“You are more modest than my son, then,” +said Mr. Bennett, and there was a twinkle in his +eye as he spoke. “Every time John comes here +he has a lot of ideas that he is sure will better +anything we have here at present. However, I +have just been in this line for the last thirty years +or so, and so, of course, have lots to learn.”</p> + +<p>“Aw, cut it out, Dad,” grumbled the younger +Bennett. “As far as I can find out, you’ve never +tried any of the things I’ve proposed, and so how +do you know how good or bad they are?”</p> + +<p>“Well, the only objection to your plans was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +that they would generally have meant building a +new factory to carry them out. Otherwise I have +no fault to find with them,” returned Mr. Bennett.</p> + +<p>After a little further talk, Mr. Bennett insisted +that the boys come home to his house for luncheon. +Needless to say, they had no very strong +objections to this, and were easily persuaded.</p> + +<p>The proprietor’s home was a large, comfortable +mansion, and the good cheer offered within +carried out the impression received without. +There was an abundance of good fare, and the +young fellows rose from the table at last with +a satisfied air.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bennett had quite a long talk with Bert +during the progress of the meal, and seemed very +much interested in him. It turned out that Mr. +Bennett was quite a baseball enthusiast himself, +so he entered heartily into Bert’s enthusiasm over +the game.</p> + +<p>“I used to be quite some player myself when +I was your age,” he told Bert, “only I used to +play a different position. I usually played catcher, +and was on my team at H——. In those days +we never bothered with catcher’s mitts, however, +and we catchers worked with bare hands. Once +I was catching in this manner, and a ball caught +my thumb and half tore it off. I was so excited +at the time, though, that I never noticed it, until<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +one of my teammates noticed blood on the ball +and called my attention to it. After that, when +my thumb healed, you may be sure I caught with +a glove. You can see the scar still,” and he +showed the boys the scar of what had evidently +been a nasty wound.</p> + +<p>“Well, boys,” he said, at the conclusion of +this narrative, “what do you say if we go on +back to the factory and make that test of young +Wilson’s speed. I am very much interested, I +assure you.”</p> + +<p>Of course there were no objections raised to +this, and after a pleasant walk they arrived +again at the factory. They proceeded directly +to the testing room, and Bert shed his coat and +vest.</p> + +<p>“Come ahead, Dick; you catch for me until I +warm up, will you?” he said, and Dick ran to +the requisite distance and donned a catcher’s mitt +that he had brought along for the purpose. Bert +pitched him a few easy balls, and then began to +work up a little speed. As he shot them to Dick +with ever-increasing pace, Mr. Bennett’s face +lighted up with interest, and finally he said, “Say, +just let me try catching a few, will you, Trent? +It’s a long time since I’ve had a catcher’s mitt on, +but I’d like to take a try at it just for the fun +of the thing.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” responded Dick, promptly, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +handed his glove to Mr. Bennett. The latter +donned it quickly, and punched it a few resounding +blows to “put a hole in it.” “All right, my +boy,” he said, when the glove was prepared to his +satisfaction. “Shoot ’em over, and don’t be +afraid to put some speed into ’em. You can’t +send them too fast to suit me.”</p> + +<p>Bert sent over a few easy ones at first, just to +see how Mr. Bennett would handle them. The +latter caught the offerings in a practised manner, +and said, “Come on, young man, put some whiskers +on the ball. That wasn’t the best you could +do, was it?”</p> + +<p>Bert made no answer to this, but on his next +pitch his arm swung around like a flail, and the +ball left his hand as though propelled by a catapult. +The factory owner managed to catch the +ball, but he wrung his hand. “Ouch!” he exclaimed, +“that ball stung my hand pretty hard +right through the glove.”</p> + +<p>Young Bennett laughed in unholy glee, and +danced about first on one foot and then on the +other. “That’s one on you, dad,” he crowed; +“but you ought to feel lucky that you even caught +the ball. If Bert wanted to, he could pitch a ball +that you couldn’t even touch. Give him a fadeaway, +Bert.”</p> + +<p>“Fadeaway, you say,” grunted his father. +“There never was a pitcher yet that could pitch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +a ball that I couldn’t even touch. Give me a +sample of this wonderful ball, Wilson.”</p> + +<p>“All right, sir,” said Bert, and grinned. He +wound up in the old familiar way that the boys +knew so well, and shot over a ball that Mr. Bennett +figured was a “cinch.” He held his glove +in what he thought was the proper place, but at +the last moment the ball dropped abruptly and +swung under the glove, missing it by several +inches.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll be hanged,” muttered Mr. Bennett, +gazing stupidly at his glove. He soon recovered +himself, however, and handed the glove back to +Dick. “You’ve certainly got a wonderful ball +there, Wilson,” he said. “You fooled me very +neatly, and I have no excuse to offer.” Which +showed the fellows that Mr. Bennett was a +“good sport.”</p> + +<p>Pretty soon Bert announced himself as ready +for the speed test, and Mr. Bennett led the way +over to what looked like an empty hoop, but +which, upon closer inspection, was seen to be +crossed and recrossed by a web of fine, hairlike +wires.</p> + +<p>“These wires are so connected,” explained Mr. +Bennett, “that no matter where the ball goes, provided, +of course, that it goes somewhere inside +the hoop, it will break a wire, and the exact second +will be recorded. Then, there is another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +hoop fifty feet away,” pointing to a similar contrivance +nearer the other end of the testing +room, “and all you have to do, Wilson, is to +pitch the ball through both hoops. That back +hoop is a good deal bigger than any catcher’s +glove, so you oughtn’t to have any difficulty doing +it. Do you think you can manage that all right?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I guess I can do that,” replied Bert, +and took up his position about eight or ten feet +this side of the front hoop. Dick tossed him the +ball, and Bert fitted it carefully in his hand. Then +he drew his arm back as far as possible, and a +second later the ball shot from his fingers at a +terrific pace. It struck almost the exact center of +the first hoop, parting the fragile wires as though +they had been so many cobwebs, and shot through +the second hoop about a foot from its edge.</p> + +<p>“Good shot!” exclaimed Mr. Bennett, and he +and the foreman hurried to the recording instruments, +and started figuring up the time.</p> + +<p>“Gee, Bert,” said Tom, “I don’t think I ever +saw you pitch a faster ball, even when the team +has been in a tight place in the ninth inning. I’d +almost swear I saw it smoke as it went through +the air.”</p> + +<p>“Well, fast or slow, it was the best I could do, +anyway,” said Bert, “so there’s no use worrying +about it.”</p> + +<p>In a short time, Mr. Bennett and the foreman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +had arrived at a result, and hurried over to where +the boys were discussing the probable outcome of +the test.</p> + +<p>“You sent that ball at the rate of 114 feet a +second, which is equivalent to about eighty-three +or eighty-four miles an hour!” he exclaimed. +“In other words, you could throw a ball after the +Twentieth Century express traveling at its average +speed and overtake it. As you probably +know, any object traveling at a speed of a mile +a minute traverses eighty-eight feet in one second, +and it is on this that we have based our calculations.”</p> + +<p>“Say, Bert, that certainly was going some,” +said Dick, proudly, and the others were not far +behind in congratulating our hero on his truly +astonishing performance. It is safe to say that +few professional pitchers could better Bert’s +record.</p> + +<p>After the excitement had died down somewhat, +John Bennett proposed that they have a shooting +contest, and his idea met with instant approval. +John had had unlimited facilities for perfecting +himself in this art since a boy, however, and outclassed +any of the others both at long and short-distance +shooting.</p> + +<p>When they had grown tired of this, it was +growing late, and Bert proposed that they return. +Needless to say, nobody wanted to go, but they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +had no choice, and so proceeded to take their +leave. They all thanked their host heartily, also +the good-natured and obliging foreman.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bennett shook Bert’s hand last of all, and +as he ushered them to the door, said, “I’m going +to take a holiday and see the next big game in +which you pitch, Wilson. I’m quite anxious to see +you in action.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll all be glad to see you, I’m sure,” returned +Bert, “and nothing would give me greater +pleasure than to show you over the college after +the game.”</p> + +<p>“Much obliged,” replied Mr. Bennett, and +watched the laughing, singing group until it was +hidden by a turn in the road.</p> + +<p>The return journey seemed much longer than +it had that morning, but they arrived at last, and +voted it one of the best days they had ever known. +The news of Bert’s feat soon spread over the +campus, and when it reached Reddy’s ears, he +nodded his head sagely.</p> + +<p>“Just make believe I don’t know a crack +pitcher when I see one,” he grinned to himself.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Gallant Rescue</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">“Say, fellows, what have you got on hand +for to-day?” asked Tom, as he burst into +the “sanctum-sanctorum,” as Bert and Dick +called their room, and sank into an easy chair.</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” said Bert, turning from a not too +promising survey of the surrounding country, +“absolutely and emphatically nothing! This +promises to be one of the slowest days in my +short and brilliant career——”</p> + +<p>“Hear, hear!” cried Tom from the depths of +his chair. “That’s fine for a starter, old top. +Keep it up and perhaps you can actually persuade +us that you amount to something. It’s rather a +hopeless task, but it wouldn’t do any harm to +try.”</p> + +<p>“You’re such a bonehead that you don’t recognize +real worth when you see it,” Bert retorted, +good-naturedly. “There’s another one,” he +added, pointing to Dick, who was trying to figure +out a calculus problem. “He prefers grinding in +calculus to listening to an interesting tale of my +trials and tribulations.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>“It isn’t a question of preference, it’s a case of +dire necessity,” Dick sighed, despondently. “If +only I hadn’t cut class the other day I would be +all right, but as it is I’ll have to cram to make +up for it. Oh, if I only had the fellow who +invented calculus here, I’d——” and in the absence +of anything better Dick pulled his own mop +of tangled hair and applied himself furiously to +the solving of what he called “an unsolvable +problem.”</p> + +<p>“Poor old chap, never mind,” consoled Tom. +“When I come back to-night with old Pete under +my arm I’ll tell you just how I caught him.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say that you are going fishing +for old Pete to-day?” Dick asked, forgetting +all about calculus in his excitement.</p> + +<p>“Sure,” Tom replied, placidly. “Didn’t we +agree that the first clear Saturday we had off we’d +take for our fishing trip?”</p> + +<p>“So we did, but that was so long ago that I’d +clean forgotten it. Why didn’t you remind us +of it sooner, Tom? You would have spared me +a lot of useless worry as to how I was going to +spend a baseball-less day.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think of it myself until I came into +the room,” Tom admitted, “but I suppose Dick +can’t go with us now. It’s too bad he cut the +other day,” he added, with a sly glance at the discarded +calculus.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Don’t let it worry you,” Dick retorted. “Do +you suppose that anything in earth could keep +me from hunting Old Pete to-day, now that you +have brought him so forcibly to my mind? Go +on down and get your tackle, Tom. Bert and I +will join you in no time.”</p> + +<p>“But, really, Dick,” Tom protested, with mock +severity, “don’t you realize that duty——”</p> + +<p>“Get out before I put you out,” roared Dick, +making a dash for Tom, who promptly disappeared +through the door.</p> + +<p>“Since you insist,” laughed the fugitive +through the keyhole, “meet me on the campus +in half an hour.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll be there with bells on,” said Bert and +Dick with one voice, and at once began their +preparations for the trip.</p> + +<p>As Dick put the calculus back on the shelf, he +said, half apologetically, “I’ll see you to-night, +old fellow.”</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Half an hour later, the trio were swinging rapidly +down the road, carrying their fishing poles +and tackle. This was an outing that they had +planned for early in the season, but up to this +time they had had no opportunity to carry it out. +Nearly every Saturday they had had extra baseball +practice, or something unexpected had come +up, but now at last they had their chance and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +were only too anxious to take advantage of it. +Besides them was Pete.</p> + +<p>Old Pete was a huge pickerel who was sly and +wary beyond the general run of fishes. Many a +confident angler had come to the lake, absolutely +certain of his ability to land the big fellow, only +to return, sheepish and crestfallen, to acknowledge +his defeat.</p> + +<p>So it was no wonder that our fellows were +excited at the prospect of a game of hide-and-seek +with the biggest and most cunning of the +pickerel family.</p> + +<p>“Just think,” Bert was saying, “what it will +mean if we land him. Almost all the other fellows +in college have tried it without success, and +if we could manage to bring back Old Pete we +would be popular heroes.”</p> + +<p>“I know, but there’s not much chance of that,” +Tom sighed. “If old Si Perkins couldn’t catch +him napping, I’m afraid we can’t.”</p> + +<p>“Never say die, Tom,” Dick said, gaily. “A +day like this makes you feel equal to anything.”</p> + +<p>“So say I,” Bert added, heartily. “Say, do +you see that mill in front of us? Well, that belongs +to Herr Hoffmeyer, and it’s one of the +classiest little mills I ever saw.”</p> + +<p>“It sure is working some, but where do they +get the power?” Dick asked.</p> + +<p>“Why, there’s a dam right back of the mill.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +You can’t see it from here, but when we get a +little nearer I’ll point it out to you. See,” he +added, as they neared the mill, “isn’t that a great +arrangement. Alongside the mill there is a narrow, +deep sluice. In this is arranged a large +paddle wheel and, as the water rushes through, +it acts on the paddles and turns the wheel. By +a system of cogs the power is then transmitted to +the grinding stone.”</p> + +<p>“That sure is fine,” said Tom. “I don’t know +that I have ever had a chance to see a working +mill at such close range. Just look how the water +rushes through that sluice. I wouldn’t like to +get in the way.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” said Dick. “The current must be +very strong the other side of the dam.”</p> + +<p>“You bet your life it is. If anybody should +get caught in it, I wouldn’t give that,” snapping +his fingers, “for his chance of life.”</p> + +<p>At this moment a bald-headed, red-faced man +appeared at the door of the mill. He regarded +the boys with a broad smile on his face as he +carefully dusted his hands on his white apron.</p> + +<p>“Goot morning, young shentlemens,” he said, +affably. “Fine morning, fine morning, fine +morning,” and after each repetition of this sentiment +he shook his head vigorously and his smile +became broader.</p> + +<p>“It is, indeed, sir,” Bert said. “We stopped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +for a moment to see your mill in operation. It’s +a very fine mill,” he added.</p> + +<p>“Yah, yah,” the big miller assented, cheerfully, +“it’s a very goot mill. For over five year +now by me it has worked. Von’t you step on the +insides for a minute, young shentlemens?”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing,” said Tom. “Come on, fellows. +It isn’t often you get a chance to see a real mill +working. Old Pete can wait, I guess,” and so, +led by the good-natured Herr Hoffmeyer, the trio +entered the mill.</p> + +<p>For the better part of an hour they wandered +around to their hearts’ content. The miller +showed the working of the mill wheels, and led +the way into every nook and cranny, explaining +as they went.</p> + +<p>At last, when they had seen everything there +was to be seen, the boys thanked their host heartily, +and started on their way once more. Before +they rounded a bend in the road, they turned for a +last look at the mill. At the door stood their erstwhile +host, honest, round face shining like the +moon, while the rays of the sun glanced off in +little golden darts from the smooth surface of his +bald head.</p> + +<p>“Well, that was some adventure,” Bert exclaimed. +“I’ve always wanted to see the inside +of a mill, and now I’ve realized my heart’s desire.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I like Herr Hoffmeyer, too,” Tom said, +“even if I did think he was a trifle weak in the +head at first. Isn’t this the pickerel stream?” +he asked, a minute later.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but the fellows say that the big pickerel +is further down the stream. Come along.” With +these words, Bert led them down the bank until +they reached a shady spot, shaded by spreading +trees, and carpeted with green and velvety moss.</p> + +<p>“This place looks good to me,” said Dick; +“let’s camp here.”</p> + +<p>“I guess this ought to be about right,” Bert +agreed.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the reels were fixed, the hooks +were baited, and the lines were lowered carefully +into the clear depths of the stream.</p> + +<p>“This is what you might call comfort,” said +Tom, as he leaned lazily against a convenient +tree.</p> + +<p>“Bet your life,” Bert agreed.</p> + +<p>“Now, if Pete will only consent to come along +and get the hook, like any other respectable, right-minded +fish, my contentment would be absolute.”</p> + +<p>“Huh,” Tom grunted sarcastically. “He’d be +likely to do that, wouldn’t he, especially if you +keep up this gabfest?”</p> + +<p>“I guess a little polite conversation won’t scare +that wary old reprobate. I imagine he’s heard +so much conversation that couldn’t be called exactly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +polite, especially when he calmly detaches +the bait from the hook without stopping to leave +his card, that he wouldn’t mind our talk at all.”</p> + +<p>“Shut up,” said Tom, in a low voice, “I’ve got +a bite, and the line’s pulling hard.”</p> + +<p>Then, amid a breathless silence, Tom gave a +quick, experienced pull to the line, and landed—not +the renowned old Pete, but a small-sized sunfish, +that wriggled and twisted desperately in its +efforts to get away.</p> + +<p>At this minute Bert happened to glance at +Tom’s face, and the look he found there was so +eloquent of absolute dismay and chagrin, that he +burst into a shout of uncontrollable laughter, in +which Dick joined him.</p> + +<p>“That was sure one on you, old man,” he said, +when he had breath enough.</p> + +<p>“Humph,” Tom grunted, disgustedly, “it sure +was a sell. I thought I had old Pete cinched that +time. However,” he added, “I don’t see that +you fellows have much to say. You haven’t even +caught a sunfish.”</p> + +<p>“Not so you could notice it,” Dick agreed +cheerfully. “There’s plenty of time yet, though, +and all things come to him who waits. I’m right +on the job, when it comes to waiting.”</p> + +<p>Bert, who had been thinking his own thoughts, +suddenly broke into the conversation with an +irrelevant “Say, fellows, did you ever hear the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +story of the man who went for a sail on a windy +day——”</p> + +<p>“And a man coming out of the cabin asked +him,” Tom broke in, “if the moon had come up +yet, and he answered, ‘No, but everything else +has’? Yes, we’ve heard that old chestnut cracked +before.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it just struck me,” Bert mused, “that +it fitted your case pretty well.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose it does, in a way,” Tom admitted, +“but you just wait and see if I don’t land that +old rascal before night.”</p> + +<p>“Go in and win, my boy, and take my blessing. +It doesn’t make much difference who does +the catching so long as he is caught,” Dick said, +and once more leaned his broad back against the +tree with a sigh of content.</p> + +<p>But into Tom’s head had come a scheme, and +he determined to carry it out at the very first +opportunity. For a long time the trio sat on the +grassy bank, listening to the myriad indescribable +sounds of spring. They watched the gorgeous +butterfly as it winged its lazily graceful way from +blossom to blossom, and heard the buzzing of the +bee as it invaded the heart of flowerland, and +stole its nectar. The perfumed air, hot from the +touch of the sun, stole upon their senses, and +made them delightfully lazy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Bert gave a jerk to his line and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +landed a fair-sized pickerel. Their luck had +changed, and in a short time they had a very +good mess of fish. But the great pickerel seemed +farther from showing himself than ever.</p> + +<p>Tom landed the next fish, but, instead of taking +it off the hook, he threw the line, fish, and all +back into the water.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” Dick asked. “We have +plenty of bait left, and there’s no use in wasting +a perfectly good fish.”</p> + +<p>“Wait,” Tom remarked, laconically.</p> + +<p>They had not long to wait, however, for in a +few minutes there was another jerk on Tom’s +line.</p> + +<p>“Catch hold, fellows,” Tom cried, “and help +me pull. Gee, I can’t hold it, much less pull it +in.”</p> + +<p>Intensely excited, Dick added his strength to +Tom’s and pulled hard.</p> + +<p>“Pull, pull!” Tom cried, almost crazy with +excitement. “We can’t lose him now. Come on! +Come on!—now!”</p> + +<p>And with one concerted effort they pulled the +line up, falling over one another in their attempt +to keep their balance. And there, at their feet, +was the largest pickerel they had ever seen—old +Pete. Quick as a flash, Tom landed on the prize, +just in time to keep it from slipping back into the +water.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Look at him, look at him, fellows!” Tom +shouted. “Here’s old Pete, the biggest pickerel +in the world, the wary old codger that has defied +every fisherman for miles around, and has even +eluded the deadly machinations of Si Perkins. +Don’t stand there like wooden statues—come +here and help me unhook this old reprobate. +Why don’t you say something?”</p> + +<p>“For the very good reason,” Bert answered, +drily, “that you haven’t given us a chance. And +for the second reason, I am so dazed I can’t +realize our good fortune.”</p> + +<p>“Our good fortune,” Tom repeated, scornfully. +“You mean my brains and common sense. +Who thought of putting that fish back into the +water to fool old Pete, I’d like to know?”</p> + +<p>“You did, and we are perfectly willing to give +you all the credit,” said Bert. “The really important +thing is that he’s caught. I can hardly +believe it yet. Isn’t he a beauty?” he added, +enthusiastically. “Look at the length of him, +and the thickness—— Say, fellows, I bet we +could feed the whole college on him for a +month.”</p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t wonder,” Bert laughed. “I, for +one, have never seen his equal, and never expect +to again.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” Tom demanded, sharply, as +a cry of terror rent the air. “Let’s find out.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + +<p>“It sounded further down the stream, near the +mill. Come on, fellows. Hurry!” and Bert instinctively +took command, as he always did in +cases of emergency.</p> + +<p>As the boys burst through the bushes further +down, the cry came again, a wild call for help, +and they saw a white clad figure struggling desperately +against the force of the current.</p> + +<p>With a shout of encouragement Bert plunged +into the water, and with long, powerful strokes +was nearing the spot where the girl had disappeared. +Once more the figure rose to the surface, +but Bert knew it was for the last time. The girl +was terribly close to the sluice, and as Bert swam +he felt the tug of the current.</p> + +<p>Just as the girl was about to go under, Bert +caught her dress and pulled her to the surface. +But how, how, could he swim with his burden +against the current to the bank, which seemed to +him a hundred miles off!</p> + +<p>With resolute courage he mustered his strength +and began the struggle with that merciless current. +One stroke, two, three,—surely he was +gaining, and a great wave of joy and hope welled +up in his heart. He <i>must</i> make it, for not only +was his life at stake, but the life of the young +girl dependent upon his success. But it became +harder and harder to make headway, and finally +he realized that he was barely holding his own—that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +he had to exert all his remaining strength to +prevent them both from being drawn through the +sluice to a cruel death below.</p> + +<p>Desperately he strove to push against that +mighty wall of water, that, like some merciless +giant, was forcing him and his helpless burden, +inch by inch, to destruction. In the agony of his +soul a great cry of despair broke from his lips. +“It will all be over soon,” he muttered. “I +wouldn’t care so much for myself, but the girl,” +and he looked down at the pale face and dark, +tangled hair of the girl he was giving his life to +save. They were very, very close to the entrance +of the sluice now, and nearing it more swiftly +every moment. But what was that black object +coming toward them so rapidly?</p> + +<p>“Bert, Bert, keep up your courage. I’m coming!” +cried Dick’s voice. “I’ll be with you in a +minute. Just a minute, old fellow.”</p> + +<p>Oh, could Dick reach them in time. Bert could +only pray for strength to hold on for a few minutes. +He was very near them now, and shouting +encouragement at every stroke. Now he was +beside them, and had taken the girl from Bert’s +nerveless grasp. “Here, take this rope, old fellow,” +he cried, “put it over your head, quick. +That’s the way. Now let the fellows on shore +pull you in.”</p> + +<p>Bert wondered afterward why he had not felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +any great exultation at his sudden and almost +miraculous deliverance. As it was, only a great +feeling of weariness settled down upon him, and +he wanted to sleep—sleep. Then the sky came +down to meet the earth, and everything went +black before his eyes.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>“Bert, dear old Bert, wake up. You’re safe. +You’re safe. Don’t you hear me, old fellow?” +a voice at a great distance was saying, and Bert +opened uncomprehending eyes on a strange +world.</p> + +<p>“Hello, fellows,” he said, with the ghost of +his old smile. “Came pretty near to ‘shuffling +off this mortal coil,’ didn’t I? Where is——” he +asked, looking around, inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“The girl you so bravely rescued?” came a +sweet voice behind him. “And who never, never +can repay you for what you have done to-day if +she lives forever?”</p> + +<p>With the assistance of his friends Bert got to +his feet and faced the girl who had so nearly +gone to her death with him. For the first time +in his life he felt embarrassed.</p> + +<p>“Please don’t thank me,” he said; “I’m repaid +a thousandfold when I see you standing +there safe. It might so easily have been the other +way,” and he shuddered at the thought.</p> + +<p>Before the girl could answer, another figure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +strode forth and grasped our hero’s hand in both +of his.</p> + +<p>“Professor Davis,” Bert exclaimed, as he recognized +one of the college professors.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it’s Mr. Davis, Bert, and he owes you +a debt of gratitude he can never cancel. Bert, it +was my daughter you rescued from a hideous +death to-day, and, dear boy, from this day, you +can count on me for anything in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Professor; I don’t deserve all +this——”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you do, my boy—every bit of it and +more, and now,” he added, seeing that the strain +was telling on Bert, “I think you, Dick, and Tom +had better get Bert home as quickly as you can. +This daughter of mine insisted on staying until +you revived, but I guess she will excuse you, now. +I’d ask you to take supper with us to-night, but I +know that what you most need is rest. It is only +a pleasure deferred, however.”</p> + +<p>As they turned to go, the girl held out her +hands to Tom and Dick, and lastly to Bert. “I +am very, very grateful,” she said, softly.</p> + +<p>“And I am very, very grateful that I have +been given a chance to serve you,” he answered, +and watched her disappear with her father +through the bushes.</p> + +<p>Then he turned to Dick and Tom. “You fellows +deserve more credit than I, a thousand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +times more,” he said, in a voice that was a trifle +husky.</p> + +<p>“Huh,” said Tom, “all that I did was to run +to the nearest house for a rope, and all Dick did +was to hand you the rope, while Professor Davis +and I hauled you in.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s all,” Bert repeated, softly, “that’s +all.”</p> + +<p>“Well, come on, Bert, it’s time you got back +to college. I guess you’re about all in,” said +Dick, putting his arm through Bert’s and starting +off in the direction of the college.</p> + +<p>“Say, you forgot something,” Tom said, suddenly. +“You forgot all about old Pete.”</p> + +<p>“So we did,” Dick exclaimed; “suppose you +go and get the fish and poles, if they are still +there, and join us at the crossing.”</p> + +<p>And they did meet at the crossing, and jogged +along home, their bodies tired, but their hearts at +rest, while their friendship was welded still more +strongly by one other experience, shared in +common.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Wild Ride</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">It was a rather gloomy morning on which +the team started for the college where they +were to play one of the most important games of +the series. If they won, they would eliminate the +Grays and have only to contend with the Maroons; +if they lost, all their splendid work of the +season might have gone for nought.</p> + +<p>They were a sober bunch, therefore, as they +gathered at the railway station to await their +train. There was little of the usual joking and +horse play to be seen, but this may have been +partly due to the depressing state of the weather. +As the train came in sight, however, they chirked +up somewhat at the thought of having something +to occupy their minds, and piled aboard their +special car in a little more cheerful mood. A +dense, clammy fog hung low over the ground, and +it was impossible to see more than a hundred feet +or so into it in any direction.</p> + +<p>The town in which they were to play to-day +was almost a hundred miles distant, and so they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +had a considerable journey ahead of them. The +train was a little behind time, and was making +extra speed in an effort to catch up with its schedule. +They had traversed several miles, and were +relieving the monotony of the journey with jokes +and riddles. As they passed over a particularly +high trestle, and looked down into the dizzy void +below, Sterling, the second baseman, said:</p> + +<p>“Say, fellows, this trestle reminds me of a +story I heard a little while ago. If somebody +would beg me to real hard, I might be induced +to tell it to you.”</p> + +<p>“Go ahead!” “Shoot!” “Let’s hear it!” +came a chorus of supplication, and Sterling said, +“Well, if you insist, I suppose I will have to tell +it to you. The scene of this thrilling anecdote is +laid in the Far West, when it was much wilder +and woollier than it is at present. It seems that +two horse thieves had been captured by a band of +‘vigilantes,’ and after a trial notable for its brevity +and lack of hampering formalities, they were +both sentenced to be hanged. It was in a country +in which there were no trees worthy of the name, +and the only available place for the execution +within several miles was a high railroad bridge. +To this, accordingly, the ‘vigilantes’ conducted +their prisoners, one of whom was a Swede and +the other of Irish persuasion. The two were +forced to draw lots to see which one should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +hanged first, and, as it turned out, the Swede drew +the short straw, and so was pronounced the first +victim of justice.</p> + +<p>“The noose of a stout lariat was fastened +around his neck, and when everything was ready +he was shoved off the bridge. As the strain of +his weight came on the rope, however, the knot +of the noose became untied, and the Swede fell +to the rushing river below. He was not hurt +much, and those on the bridge saw him swim to +the bank and scramble ashore. There was no +way of getting at him, so the lynchers had to +satisfy themselves with many and varied oaths. +The Irishman, of course, had watched the proceeding +in a fascinated manner, and as the cowboys +tied the rope around his neck, he said, in +an imploring voice, ‘For Hivin’s sake, byes, tie +the rope tight this time, for I can’t swim a +stroke.’”</p> + +<p>Hearty laughter greeted Sterling’s narrative, +and the boys felt in better spirits after it.</p> + +<p>“That reminds me of a story I heard once,” +began Hinsdale. “It was when I was on a visit +to my uncle’s ranch in Montana, and——”</p> + +<p>But he was interrupted by a crash that sounded +as though the end of the world had come, and +the car in which they were riding reared up in +the air like a bucking horse. It rose almost to +a perpendicular position, and then crashed over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +on its side. It scraped along a few rods in this +position, and then came to a grinding halt.</p> + +<p>For a few seconds there was silence, and then +a pandemonium of muffled screams and cries +broke forth. Bert’s voice was the first to be +heard in their car, and it inquired, anxiously, +“Where are you, Dick, Tom, and the rest of +you? Are you alive yet? Here, you, get off my +neck, will you, and give me a chance to breathe.”</p> + +<p>There was a general scramble and struggle +among the debris, and soon one boy after another +climbed and crawled through the broken windows +until finally they all stood accounted for. Many +had painful scratches and bruises, but none were +hurt at all seriously. Reddy, the trainer, drew +a sigh of relief. “Thank Heaven for its mercies,” +said he, fervently, and then, “Well, me lads, get +a wiggle on, and we’ll see if everybody else has +been as lucky as we have. From the looks of +things up forward there, it’s more than I dare +hope.”</p> + +<p>The front part of the train, which had sustained +the greatest shock of the collision, was +indeed a terrible spectacle. Running full speed, +the two trains had crashed into each other out of +the fog before their engineers had fairly realized +that anything was amiss. The locomotives were +practically demolished, and one huge Mogul lay +on its side beside the roadbed, steam still hissing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +from its broken pipes. The other engine still +was on the rails, but its entire front had been +demolished, and it was a total wreck. The +coaches immediately back of the locomotives had +been driven on by the momentum of the cars back +of them, and had been partly telescoped; that is, +the cars in the rear had plowed half way through +before their progress was checked. To add to +the horror of the scene, thin red flames were licking +up from the wreckage, probably started by the +coals from the engine. Many of the passengers +were unable to extricate themselves from the +wreckage, being pinned down by beams and other +heavy articles. Their cries and supplications to +be saved were pitiful as they saw the hungry +flames gathering headway and eating their way +toward them, and Reddy turned fiercely to the +horror-stricken boys. “Here, what are ye standing +around for?” he snarled. “Git back to our +car and get out the axes and fire extinguishers +there. You can get at them if you try. Come +on; hurry!” and the trainer sprinted back toward +the rear cars, followed in a body by the willing +and eager boys. In less time than it takes to tell +it, they returned, some with axes and some with +extinguishers. The latter could make little progress +against the flames, however, which by now +had gained considerable headway, so the boys, +assisted by such other of the passengers who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +in a position to do so, proceeded to chop and dig +their way to the imprisoned unfortunates. Person +after person they dragged out in this manner, +until they had rescued all but one man.</p> + +<p>He was pinned down by a timber that had all +the weight of one of the heavy trucks on it, and +it seemed impossible that they could get him out +before the fire got to him. Already they could +feel its intense heat as they chopped and pulled, +wrenched and lifted, in a frenzy of haste. Nearer +and nearer crept the all-embracing fire, until eyebrows +and hair began to singe with the deadly +heat, and they were forced to work in relays, relieving +each other every minute or so.</p> + +<p>“For God’s sake, if you can’t get me out of +here before the fire reaches me, kill me,” pleaded +the unfortunate prisoner, “don’t let me roast here +by degrees!”</p> + +<p>“No danger of that,” gasped Bert, as he swung +a huge timber aside that under ordinary circumstances +he would have been unable even to move. +“We’ll have you out in a jiffy, now.”</p> + +<p>“Come on boys, we’ve got to move this +truck,” yelled Reddy. “Here, everybody get +hold on this side, and when I say pull, <i>pull</i> for +your lives! Now! get hold! Ready?”</p> + +<p>“Yes!” they gasped between set teeth.</p> + +<p>“Pull!” fairly screamed Reddy, and every +man and boy grasping the obstinate mass of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +twisted metal put every ounce of strength in his +body into one supreme effort. The mass swayed, +gave, and then toppled back where it had been before!</p> + +<p>“Don’t give up!” yelled Bert, frantically, as +he saw some of the men release their hold and +turn away, evidently despairing of accomplishing +their object. “Try it again! For God’s sake +remember you’re men, and try again! It’s a +human life that’s at stake!”</p> + +<p>Thus adjured, they returned to the task, and +at the signal from Reddy, wrenched and tore +frantically at the inert mass that appeared to +mock their puny efforts.</p> + +<p>“Keep it up, keep it up!” gritted Reddy. +Slowly but surely, every muscle straining to its +utmost and threatening to snap under the terrific +strain, they raised the heavy truck, and with one +last mad heave and pull sent it toppling down the +railroad embankment.</p> + +<p>With a wild yell they fell upon the few light +timbers lying between them and the imprisoned +man, and soon had him stretched out safely beside +the track. On examination it proved that he +had an arm wrenched and several minor injuries, +but nothing fatal.</p> + +<p>“Nothing I can say will express half the gratitude +I feel toward you young men,” he said, smiling +weakly up into the faces of the boys grouped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +about him, “you have saved me from a horrible +death, and I will never forget it.”</p> + +<p>While waiting for the arrival of the wrecking +crew and a doctor, the rescued man had considerable +further talk with the members of the team, +and they learned, much to their surprise, that he +was an alumnus of their college. Their pleasure +at this discovery was very great, and that of the +stranger seemed little less.</p> + +<p>“The old college has done me a whole lot of +good, all through my life,” he said, “but never +as much as it did to-day, through her baseball +team. You will hear further from me, young +men.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it was nothing much to do,” deprecated +Bert, “we did the only thing there was to be +done under the circumstances, and that was all +there was to it!”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it,” insisted the gentleman. +“Why, just take a look at your faces. You are +all as red as though you had been boiled, and your +eyebrows are singed. I declare, anybody looking +at us would think that you had had a good +deal harder time of it than I had.”</p> + +<p>And nothing the boys could say would induce +him to alter his opinion of their heroism in the +slightest degree.</p> + +<p>Soon they heard a whistle far down the track, +and shortly afterward the wrecking train hove in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +view. It consisted, besides the locomotive and +tender, of a tool car, in which were stored all +kinds of instruments, jacks, etc., that could possibly +be required, and a flat car on which a sturdy +swinging crane was mounted. The railroad +company had also sent several physicians, who +were soon busily engaged in taking proper care +of the injured.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the crew of the wrecking +train, headed by a burly foreman, got in strenuous +action, and the boys marveled at the quick +and workmanlike manner in which they proceeded +to clear the line. As is the case with all wrecking +crews, their orders were to clear the road +for traffic in the shortest time regardless of expense. +The time lost in trying to save, for instance, +the remains of a locomotive or car for +future use, would have been much more valuable +than either.</p> + +<p>A gang of Italians were set to work clearing +off the lighter portion of the wreckage, and the +wrecking crew proper proceeded to get chains +under the locomotive that remained on the tracks. +It was so twisted and bent that not one of its +wheels would even turn, so it was impossible to +tow it away. The only solution of the problem, +then, was to lift it off the track. After the crew +had placed and fastened the chains to the satisfaction +of the foreman, who accompanied the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +process with a string of weird oaths, the signal +was given to the man operating the steam crane to +“hoist away.”</p> + +<p>The strong engine attached to the massive +steel crane began to whirr, and slowly the great +mass of the locomotive rose, inch by inch, into +the air. When the front part was entirely clear +of the tracks, the operator touched another lever, +and the crane swung outward, carrying the huge +locomotive with it as a child might play with a +toy. It was a revelation of the unlimited might +of that powerful monster, steam.</p> + +<p>Further and further swung the crane, until +the locomotive was at right angles to the track, +with its nose overhanging the embankment. +Then, with the foreman carefully directing every +movement with uplifted hand and caustic voice, +the locomotive was lowered gently down the embankment, +partly sliding and partly supported +by the huge chain, every link of which was almost +a foot long.</p> + +<p>In speaking of this chain afterward one of the +boys said he wished he had stolen it so that he +might wear it as a watch-chain.</p> + +<p>The engine finally came to rest at the foot of +the incline, and the chain was slackened and cast +off. Then the crane took the next car in hand, +and went through much the same process with it. +Car after car was slid down the embankment,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +and in an incredibly short time the roadway was +cleared of wreckage. Then it was seen that several +rails had been ripped up, but these were +quickly replaced by others from racks built along +the right of way, such as the reader has no doubt +often seen.</p> + +<p>In a little over an hour from the time the +wrecking crew came on the scene the last bolt +on the rail connecting plates had been tightened, +and the track was ready again for traffic.</p> + +<p>“Gee,” exclaimed Tom, “that was quick work, +for fair. Why, if anybody had asked me, I +would have said that no train would have been +able to use this roadway for at least a day. That +crew knows its business, and no mistake.”</p> + +<p>“They sure do,” agreed Dick, “they cleared +things up in jig time. But it only shows what can +be done when you go about it in the right way.”</p> + +<p>“I only wish we had had that crane when we +were trying to lift the truck up,” said the trainer, +who had sauntered up to the group. “It +wouldn’t have been any trick at all with that little +pocket instrument.”</p> + +<p>“No,” laughed Bert. “I think that in the +future I will carry one around with me in case of +emergencies. You don’t know when it might +come in handy.”</p> + +<p>“Great head, great head,” approved Dick, +solemnly, and then they both laughed heartily,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +and the others joined in. After their recent narrow +escape from death, life seemed a very pleasant +and jolly thing.</p> + +<p>But suddenly Bert’s face sobered. “How the +dickens are we going to get to the game in +time?” he inquired. “The service is all tied up, +and it will be hours and hours before we can get +there.”</p> + +<p>This was indeed a problem, and there seemed +to be no solution. There was no other railroad +running within twenty miles of this one, and while +a trolley line connecting the towns was building, +it had not as yet been completed. As Tom +expressed it, “they were up against it good and +plenty.”</p> + +<p>While they were discussing the problem, and +someone had despairingly suggested that they +walk, Mr. Clarke, the gentleman whom the boys +had rescued from the wreck, strolled up, with his +arm neatly done up in a sling. His face looked +pale and drawn, but aside from the wrenched +arm he appeared none the worse for his harrowing +experience.</p> + +<p>When informed of the problem facing the +team, he appeared nonplussed at first, but then +his face lightened up.</p> + +<p>“My home isn’t more than a mile from here,” +he said, “and I have recently bought a large +seven-passenger automobile. You could all pack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +into that without much trouble, and there is a fine +macadam road leading from within a few blocks +of my house to the town for which you are bound. +But there,” and his face clouded over, “I forgot. +I discharged my chauffeur the other day, and I +have not had time as yet to engage another. I +don’t know whom I could get to drive the car. I +can’t do it on account of my broken arm.”</p> + +<p>“Shucks, that’s too bad,” said Reddy, in a disappointed +tone, “that would be just the thing, if +we only had someone to run it. That’s what I +call tough luck. I guess there’s no game for us +to-day, boys, unless we think of something else.”</p> + +<p>But here Bert spoke up. “If Mr. Clarke +wouldn’t be afraid to trust the car to me,” he +said, “I know how to drive, and I can promise +we will take the best care of it. I know that car +fore and aft, from radiator to taillight.”</p> + +<p>“Why, certainly, go as far as you like,” said +Mr. Clarke, heartily. “If you are sure you can +handle it I will be only too glad to let you have +it. Nothing I can do will repay a thousandth +part of what I owe you boys.”</p> + +<p>“You’re sure you’re capable of handling a +car, are you, Wilson?” inquired the trainer, with +a searching look. “I don’t want to take a chance +on getting mixed up in any more wrecks to-day. +The one we’ve had already will satisfy me for +some time to come.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Watch me,” was all Bert said, but Dick and +Tom both chimed in indignantly, “I guess you +don’t know whom we have with us,” said Tom, +“why, Bert has forgotten more about automobiles +than I ever knew, and I’m no slouch at that +game.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” confirmed Dick. “Bert’s +some demon chauffeur, Reddy. Believe me, we’ll +have to move some, too, if we expect to get to +D—— in time for the game. Why!” he exclaimed, +glancing at his watch, “it’s after one +now, and we’re due to be at the grounds at 2:30. +How far is it, Mr. Clarke, from your house to +D——?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Clarke calculated a moment, and then +said, “Why, I guess it must be from fifty to +fifty-five miles. You’ll have to burn up the road +to get there in anything like time,” he said, and +glanced quizzically at Bert.</p> + +<p>“That’s easy,” returned the latter, “a car like +yours ought to be capable of seventy miles an +hour in a pinch.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Clarke nodded his head. “More than +that,” he said, “but be careful how you try any +stunts like seventy miles an hour. I don’t care +about the car, but I don’t want the old college to +be without a baseball team owing to an automobile +smashup.”</p> + +<p>“Never fear,” said Bert, confidently. “You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +may be sure I will take no unnecessary chances. +I don’t feel as though I wanted to die yet awhile.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Mr. Clarke, and proceeded +to give them directions on the shortest way to +reach his home. When he had finished, Reddy +sang out, “All right, boys, let’s get a move on. +Double quick now! We haven’t a minute to +lose.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly the whole team started off at a +swinging trot, and it was not long before Mr. +Clarke’s handsome residence came into view. +Mr. Clarke had given them a note, which they +presented to his wife, who met them at the door. +She was much agitated at the news contained +therein, but, after a few anxious questions, proceeded +to show them where the machine was located, +and gave them the key to the garage. +They raced down a long avenue of stately trees, +and soon came to the commodious stone garage. +Reddy unlocked the doors, and swung them wide.</p> + +<p>“Gee, what a machine,” breathed Bert, and +stood a moment in mute admiration. The automobile +was of the very latest pattern, and was +the finest product of an eminent maker. The sun +sparkled on its polished enamel and brass work. +But Bert had no eyes for these details. He +raised the hood and carefully inspected the engine. +Then he peered into the gasoline and oil +tanks, and found both plentifully supplied.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right,” he announced, after this inspection. +“Pile in someway, and we’ll get a move +on. What time is it, Tom?”</p> + +<p>“Just twenty-five minutes of two,” announced +Tom, after consulting his watch. “I hope we +don’t get arrested for speeding, that’s all. This +reminds me of the old ‘Red Scout’ days, doesn’t +it you, Dick?”</p> + +<p>“It sure does,” agreed the latter, with a +reminiscent smile. “We’ll have to go mighty +fast to break the records we made then, won’t +we, old sock?” slapping Bert on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>“That’s what,” agreed Bert, as he cranked +the motor.</p> + +<p>The big engine coughed once or twice, and then +settled down into a contented purring. Bert +threw in the reverse and backed out of the garage. +He handled the big car with practised +hands, and Reddy, who had been watching him +carefully, drew a sigh of relief. “I guess he +knows his business, all right,” he reflected, and +settled back on the luxurious cushions of the tonneau. +The car was packed pretty solidly, you +may be sure, and everyone seated on the cushions +proper had somebody else perched on his lap. +This did not matter, however, and everybody was +too excited to feel uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>As they passed the porch, they stopped, and +Mrs. Clarke, who had been waiting to see them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +off, gave Bert directions on how to find the main +road. “Follow the road in front of the house +due south for about half or three-quarters of a +mile,” she said, “and then turn to your left on +the broad, macadam road that you will see at +about this point. That will take you without a +break to D——. Be careful of that car, +though,” she said to Bert, “I’m almost afraid of +it, it’s so very powerful.”</p> + +<p>“It will need all its power to-day,” said Bert, +smiling, and they all said good-bye to Mrs. +Clarke. Then Bert slipped in the clutch, and the +big car glided smoothly out on the road in front +of the house, and in a very short time they +came to the main road of which Mrs. Clarke had +spoken.</p> + +<p>“Now, Bert, let her rip,” said Dick, who was +in the seat beside our hero. Bert did.</p> + +<p>Little by little he opened the throttle till the +great machine was rushing along the smooth road +at terrific speed. Faster and faster they flew. +The wind whistled in their ears, and all who were +not holding on to their caps lost them. There +was no time to stop for such a trivial item, and +indeed nobody even thought of such a thing. To +get to the game, that was the main thing. Also, +the lust of speed had entered their hearts, and +while they felt horribly afraid at the frightful +pace, there was a certain mad pleasure in it, too.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +The speedometer needle crept up and up, till it +touched the sixty-mile-an-hour mark. Reddy +wanted to tell Bert to slacken speed, but feared +that the boys would think he was “scared,” so +said nothing. Bert’s heart thrilled, and the +blood pounded madly through his veins. His +very soul called for speed, speed! and he gradually +opened the throttle until it would go no +further. The great car responded nobly, and +strained madly ahead. The whirring gears +hummed a strident tune, and the explosions from +the now open muffler sounded in an unbroken +roar. The passengers in the machine grew dizzy, +and some were forced to close their eyes to protect +them from the rushing, tearing wind. The +fields on both sides streaked away in back of +them like a vari-colored ribbon, and the gray +road seemed leaping up to meet them. The +speedometer hand pointed to eighty miles an hour, +and now there was a long decline in front of +them. The boys thought that then Bert would +surely reduce the power somewhat, but apparently +no such thought entered his mind. Down +the long slope they swooped, and then—What +was that in front of them, that they were approaching +at such terrific speed? At a glance +Bert saw that it consisted of two farm wagons +traveling along toward them at a snail’s pace, +their drivers engaged in talk, and oblivious of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +the road in front of them. Bert touched the +siren lever, and a wild shriek burst from the tortured +siren. The drivers gave one startled +glance at the flying demon approaching them, +and then started to draw up their horses to opposite +sides of the road. They seemed fairly +to crawl and Bert felt an awful contraction of his +heart. What if they could not make it? He +knew that it would have been folly to apply the +brakes at the terrific speed at which they were +traveling, and his only chance lay in going between +the two wagons.</p> + +<p>Slowly—slowly—the wagons drew over to the +side of the road, and Bert calculated the distance +with straining eyes. His hands gripped +the wheel until his knuckles stood out white and +tense.</p> + +<p>Now they were upon the wagons—and +through! A vision of rearing horses, excited, +gesticulating drivers—and they were through, +with a scant half foot to spare on either side.</p> + +<p>A deep sigh went up from the passengers +in the car, and tense muscles were relaxed. +Gradually, little by little, Bert reduced the speed +until they were traveling at a mere forty miles +an hour, which seemed quiet, safe and slow, after +their recent hair-raising pace. Reddy pulled out +his handkerchief and mopped his forehead, +which was beaded with perspiration.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>“We looked death in the face that time,” he +declared, gravely. “I never expected to get out +of that corner alive. If we had hit one of those +wagons, it would have been all up with us. For +heaven’s sake, Wilson, take it a little easier in +the future, will you? I don’t want to decorate +a marble slab in the morgue just yet awhile.”</p> + +<p>Tom pulled out his watch, and found that it +was after two o’clock. “We can’t be far from +the town now,” he declared. “I’ll bet that’s it, +where you see the steeple over there in the distance.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what it is,” chimed in several of the +others, who had been to the town before; “we’ll +get there with time to spare.”</p> + +<p>The intervening mile or so was covered in a +jiffy, and the car entered the town. Almost immediately +they were recognized by some in +the crowd, and were greeted with cheers. A +couple of young fellows whom they knew jumped +up on the running-board as Bert slowed down for +them.</p> + +<p>“Gee,” said one, “there’s some class to you +fellows, all right, all right. It isn’t every baseball +team that can travel around the country in a +giddy buzz wagon like the one you have there. +Who belongs to it, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s too long a story to tell now,” said +the trainer. “We’ll tell you all about it after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +the game. It’s about time we were starting in to +practise a little.”</p> + +<p>They soon arrived at the grounds, and were +greeted by an ovation. The news of the wreck +had just been telegraphed in, and the spectators +had been a sorely disappointed lot until the arrival +of the car bearing the Blues. The news +had spread over the field, and some of the spectators +had started to leave, thinking that, of +course, there would be no game.</p> + +<p>These soon returned, however, and settled +down to see the struggle.</p> + +<p>It would seem as though the Blues would +have little energy left after such an exciting day +as they had passed through, but such is the wonderful +elasticity and recuperative powers of youth, +that they played one of the snappiest games of +the season, and after a hotly contested fight +won out by a score of four to two.</p> + +<p>As they returned to the clubhouse after the +game, they were surprised beyond measure to +see Mr. Clarke waiting for them. He greeted +them with a smile, and shook hands all around +with his uninjured arm.</p> + +<p>“I caught the first train that went through,” +he explained, “and got here in time to see the +last inning. You fellows put up a cracker-jack +game, and I think you are an honor to the old +college. It was a wonder you did not lose.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +After what you have been through to-day I +should not have been a bit surprised or disappointed.”</p> + +<p>They thanked him for his kind speech, and then +nothing would do but that they must have supper +with him at the most expensive hotel in town. +Needless to say, this meal was done ample justice, +and when Mr. Clarke informed them that he had +hired rooms for them for the night the announcement +was greeted with a cheer.</p> + +<p>“I have telegraphed home, so nobody will be +worried about you,” he said. “They know you’re +in safe hands,” and his eyes twinkled.</p> + +<p>It was a tired lot of athletes that tumbled up to +bed that night, and soon they were sleeping the +deep, dreamless sleep of healthy exhaustion.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Ninth Inning</span></h3> + + +<p class="cap">The morning of the all-important day on +which the Blues and Maroons were to lock +horns in order that the pennant question might +be finally settled dawned gloriously. There was +not a cloud in the sky and scarcely a breath of +wind stirring. A storm two days before had +cooled the air and settled the dust, and altogether +a finer day for the deciding struggle could not +have been imagined.</p> + +<p>The game was to be played on the enemy’s +grounds, and that, of course, gave them a great +advantage. This was further increased by the +fact that it was Commencement Week, and from +all parts of the country great throngs of the old +graduates had been pouring for days into the little +town that held so large a place in their memories +and affections. They could be depended on +to a man to be present that afternoon, rooting +with all their might and yelling their heads off +to encourage the home team.</p> + +<p>However, they would not have it all their own +way in that matter, although of course they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +would be in the majority. The train that brought +Bert and his comrades on the day before was +packed with wildly enthusiastic supporters, and +a whole section of the grandstand would be reserved +for them. They had rehearsed their songs +and cheers and were ready to break loose at any +time on the smallest provocation and “make +Rome howl.” And, as is the way of college +rooters, they had little doubt that when they took +the train for home they would carry their enemies’ +scalps at their belts. They would have +mobbed anybody for the mere suggestion that +their favorites could lose.</p> + +<p>They packed the hotel corridors with an exuberant +and hilarious crowd that night that “murdered +sleep” for any one within earshot, and it +was in the “wee, sma’ hours” when they at last +sought their beds, to snatch a few hours’ sleep +and dream of the great game on the morrow. +Not so the team themselves, however. They had +been carried away to a secluded suite, where after +a good supper and a little quiet chat in which +baseball was not permitted to intrude, they were +tucked away in their beds by their careful trainer +and by ten o’clock were sleeping soundly.</p> + +<p>At seven the next morning they were astir, and, +after a substantial breakfast, submitted themselves +to “Reddy’s” rubdown and massage, at +the conclusion of which their bodies were glowing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +their eyes bright, and they felt “fine as +silk,” in Reddy’s phrase, and ready for anything. +It was like getting a string of thoroughbreds +thoroughly groomed and sending them to the post +fit to race for a kingdom. To keep them from +dwelling on the game, Reddy took them for a +quiet stroll in the country, returning only in time +for a leisurely though not hearty dinner, after +which they piled into their ’bus and started for +the ball field.</p> + +<p>As they drove into the carriage gate at the +lower end of the field they fairly gasped at the +sight that met their eyes. They had never +played before such a tremendous crowd as this. +Grandstands and bleachers, the whole four sides +of the field were packed with tier upon tier of +noisy and jubilant rooters. Old “grads,” pretty +girls and their escorts waving flags, singing songs, +cheering their favorites, shouting their class +cries, made a picture that, once seen, could +never be forgotten.</p> + +<p>“Some crowd, all right,” said Dick to Bert, as +they came out on the field for preliminary practise.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Bert, “and nine out of ten of +them expect and hope to see us lose. We must +put a crimp in that expectation, from the stroke +of the gong.”</p> + +<p>“And we will, too,” asserted Tom, confidently,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +“they never saw the day when they were a better +team than ours, and it’s up to our boys to prove +it to them, right off the reel.”</p> + +<p>“How does your arm feel to-day?” asked +Dick. “Can you mow them down in the good old +way, if you go in the box?”</p> + +<p>“Never felt better in my life,” rejoined Bert. +“I feel as though I could pitch all day if necessary.”</p> + +<p>“That sounds good,” said Dick, throwing his +arm over Bert’s shoulder. “If that’s the way +you feel, we’ve got the game sewed up already.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure, old man,” laughed Bert. +“You’d better ‘knock wood.’ We’ve seen too +many good things go wrong to be sure of anything +in this world of chance. By the way,” he +went on, “who is that fellow up near our bench? +There’s something familiar about him. By +George, it’s Ainslee,” and they made a rush toward +the stalwart figure that turned to meet them +with a smile of greeting.</p> + +<p>“In the name of all that’s lucky,” cried Dick, +as he grasped his hand and shook it warmly, +“how did you manage to get here? I thought +you were with your team at Pittsburgh. There’s +no man on earth I’d rather see here to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” returned the coach, his face flushing +with pleasure at the cordial greeting, “I pitched +yesterday, and as it will be two or three days before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +my turn in the box comes round again, I +made up my mind it was worth an all-night’s journey +to come up here and see you whale the life +out of these fellows. Because of course that’s +what you’re going to do, isn’t it? You wouldn’t +make me spend all that time and money for nothing, +would you?” he grinned.</p> + +<p>“You bet we won’t,” laughed Dick, “just watch +our smoke.”</p> + +<p>The presence of the coach was an inspiration, +and they went on for their fifteen minutes’ practise +with a vim and snap that sobered up the +over-confident rooters on the other side. Their +playing fairly sparkled, and some of the things +put across made the spectators catch their breath.</p> + +<p>Just in front of the grandstand, Bert and +Winters tried out their pitching arms. Commencing +slowly, they gradually increased their pace, +until they were shooting them over with railroad +speed. The trainer and manager, reinforced by +Mr. Ainslee, carefully watched every ball +thrown, so as to get a line on the comparative +speed and control. While they intended to use +Bert, other things being equal, nobody knew better +than they that a baseball pitcher is as variable +as a finely strung race horse. One day he is invincible +and has “everything” on the ball; the +next, a village nine might knock him all over the +lot.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>But to-day seemed certainly Bert’s day. He +had “speed to burn.” His curves were breaking +sharply enough to suit even Ainslee’s critical eye, +and while Winters also was in fine fettle, his control +was none too good. Hinsdale was called into +the conference.</p> + +<p>“How about it, Hin?” asked Ainslee. “How +do they feel when they come into the glove?”</p> + +<p>“Simply great,” replied the catcher, “they almost +knock me over, and his change of pace is +perfect.”</p> + +<p>“That settles it,” said Ainslee, and the others +acquiesced.</p> + +<p>So that when at last the starting gong rang +and a breathless silence fell over the field, as Tom +strode to the plate, Bert thrilled with the knowledge +that he had been selected to carry the +“pitching burden,” and that upon him, more than +any other member of the team, rested that day’s +defeat or victory.</p> + +<p>The lanky, left-handed pitcher wound up deliberately +and shot one over the plate. Tom +didn’t move an eyelash.</p> + +<p>“Strike one!” called the umpire, and the home +crowd cheered.</p> + +<p>The next one was a ball.</p> + +<p>“Good eye, old man!” yelled Dick from the +bench. “You’ve got him guessing.”</p> + +<p>The next was a strike, and then two balls followed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +in rapid succession. The pitcher measured +the distance carefully, and sent one right over the +center of the rubber. Tom fouled it and grinned +at the pitcher. A little off his balance, he sent +the next one in high, and Tom trotted down to +first, amid the wild yells of his college mates.</p> + +<p>Flynn came next with a pretty sacrifice that put +Tom on second. Drake sent a long fly that the +center fielder managed to get under. But before +he could get set for the throw in, Tom, who +had left second the instant the catch was made, +slid into third in a cloud of dust just before the +ball reached there.</p> + +<p>“He’s got his speed with him to-day,” muttered +Ainslee, “now if Trent can only bring him +home.”</p> + +<p>But Tom had other views. He had noticed +that the pitcher took an unusually long wind-up. +Then too, being left-handed, he naturally faced +toward first instead of third, as he started to deliver +the ball. Foot by foot, Tom increased his +lead off third, watching the pitcher meanwhile, +with the eye of a hawk. Two balls and one +strike had been called on Dick, when, just as the +pitcher began his wind-up, Tom made a dash for +the plate and came down the line like a panic-stricken +jack-rabbit.</p> + +<p>Warned by the roar that went up from the excited +crowd, the pitcher stopped his wind-up, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +hurriedly threw the ball to the catcher. But the +unexpectedness of the move rattled him and he +threw low. There was a mixup of legs and arms, +as Tom threw himself to the ground twenty feet +from the plate and slid over the rubber, beating +the ball by a hair. The visiting crowd went wild, +and generous applause came even from the home +rooters over the scintillating play, while his +mates fairly smothered him as he rose and trotted +over to the bench.</p> + +<p>“He stole home,” cried Reddy, whose face +was as red as his hair with excitement. “The +nerve of him! He stole home!”</p> + +<p>It was one of the almost impossible plays that +one may go all through the baseball season without +seeing. Not only did it make sure of one +precious run—and that run was destined to look +as big as a mountain as the game progressed—but +it had a tendency to throw the opposing team +off its balance, while it correspondingly inspired +and encouraged the visitors.</p> + +<p>However, the pitcher pulled himself together, +and although he passed Dick to first by the four-ball +route, he made Hodge send up a high foul +to the catcher and the side was out.</p> + +<p>The home crowd settled back with a sigh of relief. +After all, only one run had been scored, and +the game was young. Wait till their heavy artillery +got into action and there would be a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +different story to tell. They had expected that +Winters, the veteran, would probably be the one +on whom the visitors would pin their hopes for +the crucial game, and there was a little rustle of +surprise when they saw a newcomer move toward +the box. They took renewed hope when they +learned that he was a Freshman, and that this +was his first season as a pitcher. No matter how +good he was, it stood to reason that when their +sluggers got after him they would quickly “have +his number.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Wilson,” said Ainslee, as Bert drew +on his glove, “the fellows have given you a run +to start with. You can’t ask any more of them +than that. Take it easy, don’t let them rattle +you, and don’t use your fadeaway as long as +your curves and fast straight ones are working +right. Save that for the pinches.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered Bert, “if the other fellows +play the way Tom is doing, I’ll have nothing +left to ask for in the matter of support, and it’s +up to me to do the rest.”</p> + +<p>For a moment as he faced the head of the +enemy’s batting order, and realized all that depended +on him, his head grew dizzy. The immense +throng of faces swam before his eyes and +Dick’s “Now, Bert, eat them up,” seemed to come +from a mile away. The next instant his brain +cleared. He took a grip on himself. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +crowd no longer wavered before his eyes. He +was as cold and hard as steel.</p> + +<p>“Come, Freshie,” taunted Ellis, the big first +baseman, as he shook his bat, “don’t cheat me +out of my little three bagger. I’ll make it a +homer if you don’t hurry up.”</p> + +<p>He jumped back as a swift, high one cut the +plate right under his neck.</p> + +<p>“Strike,” called the umpire.</p> + +<p>“Naughty, naughty,” said Ellis, but his tone +had lost some of its jauntiness.</p> + +<p>The next was a wide outcurve away from the +plate, but Ellis did not “bite,” and it went as a +ball.</p> + +<p>Another teaser tempted him and he lifted a +feeble foul to Hinsdale, who smothered it easily.</p> + +<p>Hart, who followed, was an easy victim, raising +a pop fly to Sterling at second. Gunther, the +clean-up hitter of the team, sent a grounder to +short that ordinarily would have been a sure out, +but, just before reaching White, it took an ugly +bound and went out into right. Sterling, who was +backing up White, retrieved it quickly, but +Gunther reached first in safety. The crowd +roared their delight.</p> + +<p>“Here’s where we score,” said one to his neighbor. +“I knew it was only a matter—Thunder! +Look at that.”</p> + +<p>“That” was a lightning snap throw from Bert<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +to Dick that caught Gunther five feet off first. +The move had been so sudden and unexpected +that Dick had put the ball on him before the +crowd fairly realized that it had left the pitcher’s +hand. It was a capital bit of “inside stuff” that +brought the Blues to their feet in tempestuous +cheering, as Bert walked in to the bench.</p> + +<p>“O, I guess our Freshie is bad, all right,” +shouted one to Ellis, as he walked to his position.</p> + +<p>“We’ll get him yet,” retorted the burly fielder. +“He’ll blow up when his time comes.”</p> + +<p>But the time was long in coming. In the next +three innings, only nine men faced him, and four +of these “fanned.” His “whip” was getting +better and better as the game progressed. His +heart leaped with the sense of mastery. There +was something uncanny in the way the ball obeyed +him. It twisted, curved, rose and fell like a thing +alive. A hush fell on the crowd. All of them, +friend and foe, felt that they were looking at a +game that would make baseball history. Ainslee’s +heart was beating as though it would break +through his ribs. Could he keep up that demon +pitching? Would the end come with a rush? +Was it in human nature for a mere boy before +that tremendous crowd to stand the awful strain? +He looked the unspoken questions to Reddy, who +stared back at him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>“He’ll do it, Mr. Ainslee, he’ll do it. He’s +got them under his thumb. They can’t get to +him. That ball fairly talks. He whispers to it +and tells it what to do.”</p> + +<p>The other pitcher, too, was on his mettle. +Since the first inning, no one of his opponents had +crossed the rubber. Only two hits had been garnered +off his curves and his drop ball was working +beautifully. He was determined to pitch his +arm off before he would lower his colors to this +young cub, who threatened to dethrone him as +the premier twirler of the league. It looked +like a pitchers’ duel, with only one or two runs deciding +the final score.</p> + +<p>In the fifth, the “stonewall infield” cracked. +Sterling, the “old reliable,” ran in for a bunt and +got it easily, but threw the ball “a mile” over +Dick’s head. By the time the ball was back in +the diamond, the batter was on third, and the +crowd, scenting a chance to score, was shouting +like mad. The cheer leaders started a song that +went booming over the field and drowned the defiant +cheer hurled at them in return. The coachers +danced up and down on the first and third +base lines, and tried to rattle Bert by jeers and +taunts.</p> + +<p>“He’s going up now,” they yelled, “all aboard +for the air ship. Get after him, boys. It’s all +over but the shouting.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Bert had no idea of going up in the air. +The sphere whistled as he struck out Allen on +three pitched balls. Halley sent up a sky scraper +that Sterling redeemed himself by getting under +in fine style. Ellis shot a hot liner straight to the +box, that Bert knocked down with his left hand, +picked up with his right, and got his man at first. +It was a narrow escape from the tightest of tight +places, and Ainslee and Reddy breathed again, +while the disgusted home rooters sat back and +groaned. To get a man on third with nobody +out, and yet not be able to get him home. +Couldn’t they melt that icicle in the pitcher’s box? +What license did he have anyway to make such +a show of them?</p> + +<p>The sixth inning passed without any sign of the +icicle thawing, but Ainslee detected with satisfaction +that the strain was beginning to tell on the big +southpaw. He was getting noticeably wild and +finding it harder and harder to locate the plate. +When he did get them over, the batters stung +them hard, and only superb support on the part +of his fielders had saved him from being scored +upon.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the seventh, the crowd, as +it always does at that stage, rose to its feet and +stretched.</p> + +<p>“The lucky seventh,” it shouted. “Here’s +where we win.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had scarcely settled down in their seats +however, when Tom cracked out a sharp single +that went like a rifle shot between second and +short. Flynn sent him to second with an easy +roller along the first base line. The pitcher settled +down and “whiffed” Drake, but Dick caught +one right on the end of the bat and sent it screaming +out over the left fielder’s head. It was a +clean home run, and Dick had followed Tom over +the plate before the ball had been returned to +the infield.</p> + +<p>Now it was the Blues’ turn to howl, and they +did so until they were hoarse, while the home +rooters sat back and glowered and the majority +gave up the game as lost. With such pitching to +contend against, three runs seemed a sure winning +lead.</p> + +<p>In the latter half of the inning, however, things +changed as though by magic. The uncertainty +that makes the chief charm of the game asserted +itself. With everything going on merrily with +the visitors, the goddess of chance gave a twist +to the kaleidoscope, and the whole scene took on +a different aspect.</p> + +<p>Gunther, who was still sore at the way Bert +had showed him up at first, sent up a “Texas +leaguer” just back of short. White turned and +ran for it, while big Flynn came rushing in from +center. They came together with terrific force and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +rolled over and over, while the ball fell between +them.</p> + +<p>White rose dizzily to his feet, but Flynn lay +there, still and crumpled. His mates and some +of the opposing team ran to him and bore him to +the bench. It was a clean knockout, and several +minutes elapsed before he regained consciousness +and was assisted from the field, while Ames, a +substitute outfielder, took his place. Tom had +regained the ball in the meantime and held +Gunther at second. The umpire called “play” +and the game went on.</p> + +<p>But a subtle something had come over the +Blues. An accident at a critical time like this +was sure to be more or less demoralizing. Their +nerves, already stretched to the utmost tension, +were not proof against the sudden shock. Both +the infield and outfield seemed to go to pieces all +at once. The enemy were quick to take advantage +of the changed conditions. Gunther took a +long lead off second, and, at a signal from his +captain, started for third. Hinsdale made an +awful throw that Tom only stopped by a sideway +leap, but not in time to get the runner. Menken +sent a grounder to White that ordinarily he +would have “eaten up,” but he fumbled it +just long enough to let the batter get to first, +while Gunther cantered over the plate for their +first run of the game amid roars of delight from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +the frantic rooters. It looked as though the long-expected +break was coming at last.</p> + +<p>The next man up struck out and the excitement +quieted down somewhat, only to be renewed with +redoubled fervor a moment later, when Halley +caught a low outcurve just below the waist and +laced it into center for a clean double. Smart +fielding kept the man on first from getting further +than third, but that seemed good enough. Only +one man was out and two were on bases, and one +of their heaviest batters was coming up. Bert +looked him over carefully and then sent him deliberately +four wide balls. He planned to fill the +bases and then make the next man hit into a double +play, thus retiring the side.</p> + +<p>It was good judgment and Ainslee noted it +with approval. Many a time he had done the +same thing himself in a pinch and “gotten away +with it.”</p> + +<p>As Bert wound up, he saw out of the corner of +his eye that Halley was taking a long lead off +second. Quick as lightning, he turned and shot +the ball to White, who ran from short to cover +the base. The throw was so true that he could +easily have nailed Halley, as he frantically tried +to get back. But although White had pluckily insisted +on being allowed to play, his head was still +spinning like a top from the recent collision, and +a groan went up from the “Blue” supporters as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +the ball caromed off his glove and rolled out to +center. The three men on bases fairly burned +up the base lines as they galloped around the bags, +and when Ames’ hurried return of the ball went +over Hinsdale’s head to the grand stand, all the +bases were cleared, and the score stood four to +three in favor of the home team. It had all occurred +so suddenly that the visitors were in a +daze, and the home nine itself could hardly realize +how quickly the tables had been turned.</p> + +<p>For a moment rage took possession of Bert. +What was the matter with the fellows anyway? +Why were they playing like a bunch of “Rubes”? +Did they expect him to win the game all by himself? +Was the victory to be snatched away just +as it was within sight? Were these jubilant, yelling +rooters, dancing about and hugging each +other, to send him and his comrades away, downcast +and beaten? Were they to “laugh last” and +therefore “best”? And the fellows hundreds of +miles away, gathered at this moment around the +bulletin board of the dear old college——</p> + +<p>No! No! A thousand times, no! In a moment +he was himself again—the same old Bert, +cool, careful, self-reliant. He stooped down and +pretended to tie his shoe lace, in order to give his +comrades a moment to regain their self-possession. +Then he straightened up and shot a beauty right +over the plate. The batter, who had been ordered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +to wait and take advantage of Bert’s expected +case of “rattles,” let it go by. Two perfect +strikes followed and the batter was out. The +next man up dribbled a roller to the box and Bert +threw him out easily. The inning was over, and +Bert had to take off his cap to the storm of cheers +that came from the “Blue” supporters as he +walked to the bench.</p> + +<p>Ainslee scanned him carefully for any sign of +collapse after this “baptism of fire.” Where +were the fellow’s nerves? Did he have any? +Bert met his glance with an easy smile, and the +coach, reassured, heaved a sigh of relief. No +“yellow streak” there, but clear grit through +and through.</p> + +<p>“It’s the good old fadeaway from now on, +Wilson,” he said as he clapped him on the back, +“usually I believe in letting them hit and remembering +that you have eight men behind you to +help you out. But just now there’s a little touch +of panic among the boys, and while that would +soon wear off, you only have two innings left. +This game has got to be won in the pitcher’s box. +Hold them down and we will bat out a victory +yet.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered Bert; “I’ve only used +the fadeaway once or twice this game, and they’ve +had no chance to size it up. I’ll mix it in with +the others and try to keep them guessing.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>Drake and Dick made desperate attempts to +overcome the one run advantage in their half of +the eighth. Each cracked out a hot single, but +the three that followed were unable to bring them +home, despite the frantic adjurations of their +friends to “kill the ball.”</p> + +<p>Only one more inning now, one last chance to +win as a forlorn hope, or fall fighting in the last +ditch.</p> + +<p>A concerted effort was made to rattle Bert +as he went into the box, but for all the effect it +had upon him, his would-be tormentors might as +well have been in Timbuctoo. He was thoroughly +master of himself. The ball came over +the plate as though shot from a gatling gun for +the first batter, whose eye was good for curves, +but who, twice before, had proved easy prey for +speedy ones. A high foul to the catcher disposed +of him. Allen, the next man up, set himself for +a fast one, and was completely fooled by the lazy +floater that suddenly dropped a foot below his bat, +just as it reached the plate. A second and third +attempt sent him sheepishly back to the bench.</p> + +<p>“Gee, that was a new one on me,” he muttered. +“I never saw such a drop in my life. It was just +two jerks and a wiggle.”</p> + +<p>His successor was as helpless as a baby before +the magical delivery, and amid a tempest of +cheers, the Blues came in for their last turn at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +bat. Sterling raised their hopes for a moment +by a soaring fly to center. But the fielder, running +with the ball, made a beautiful catch, falling as he +did so, but coming up with the ball in his hand. +Some of the spectators started to leave, but +stopped when White shot a scorcher so hot that +the second baseman could not handle it. Ames +followed with a screaming single to left that put +White on third, which he reached by a desperate +slide. A moment later Ames was out stealing +second, and with two men out and hope nearly +dead, Bert came to the plate. He caught the +first ball pitched on the end of his bat and sent it +on a line between right and center. And then +he ran.</p> + +<p>How he ran! He rounded first like a frightened +deer and tore toward second. The wind +whistled in his ears. His heart beat like a trip +hammer. He saw as in a dream the crowds, +standing now, and shouting like fiends. He heard +Dick yelling: “Go it, Bert, go it, go it!” He +caught a glimpse of Tom running toward third +base to coach him in. He passed second. The +ground slipped away beneath his feet. He was +no longer running, he was flying. The third +baseman tried to block him, but he went into him +like a catapult and rolled him over and over. +Now he was on the road to home. But the ball +was coming too. He knew it by the warning cry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +of Reddy, by the startled urging of Tom, by the +outstretched hands of the catcher. With one tremendous +effort he flung himself to the ground and +made a fallaway slide for the plate, just touching it +with his finger tips, as the ball thudded into the +catcher’s mitt. Two men in and the score five to +four, while the Blues’ stand rocked with thunders +of applause.</p> + +<p>“By George,” cried Ainslee, “such running! +It was only a two base hit, and you stretched it +into a homer.”</p> + +<p>The next batter was out on a foul to left, and +the home team came in to do or die. If now they +couldn’t beat that wizard of the box, their gallant +fight had gone for nothing. They still had courage, +but it was the courage of despair. They +were used to curves and rifle shots. They might +straighten out the one and shoot back the other, +but that new mysterious delivery, that snaky, tantalizing, +impish fadeaway, had robbed them of +confidence. Still, “while there was life there +was hope,” so——</p> + +<p>Ainslee and Reddy were a little afraid that +Bert’s sprint might have tired him and robbed +him of his speed. But they might have spared +their fears. His wind was perfect and his splendid +condition stood him in good stead. He was +a magnificent picture of young manhood, as for +the last time he faced his foes. His eyes shone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +his nerves thrilled, his muscles strained, his heart +sang. His enemies he held in the hollow of his +hand. He toyed with them in that last inning as +a cat plays with a mouse. His fadeaway was +working like a charm. No need now to spare +himself. Ellis went out on three pitched balls. +Hart lifted a feeble foul to Hinsdale. Gunther +came up, and the excitement broke all bounds.</p> + +<p>The vast multitude was on its feet, shouting, +urging, begging, pleading. A hurricane of cheers +and counter cheers swept over the field. Reddy +was jumping up and down, shouting encouragement +to Bert, while Ainslee sat perfectly still, pale +as death and biting his lips till the blood came. +Bert cut loose savagely, and the ball whistled over +the plate. Gunther lunged at it.</p> + +<p>“One strike!” called the umpire.</p> + +<p>Gunther had been expecting the fadeaway that +had been served to the two before him, and was +not prepared for the swift high one, just below +the shoulder. Bert had outguessed him.</p> + +<p>Hinsdale rolled the ball slowly back along the +ground to the pitcher’s box. Bert stopped, picked +it up leisurely, and then, swift as a flash, snapped +it over the left hand corner of the plate. Before +the astonished batsman knew it was coming, Hinsdale +grabbed it for the second strike.</p> + +<p>“Fine work, Bert!” yelled Dick from first. +“Great head.”</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gunther, chagrined and enraged, set himself +fiercely for the next. Bert wound up slowly. +The tumult and the shouting died. A silence as +of death fell on the field. The suspense was +fearful. Before Bert’s eyes came up the dear old +college, the gray buildings and the shaded walks, +the crowd at this moment gathered there about +the bulletin—— Then he let go.</p> + +<p>For forty feet the ball shot toward the plate +in a line. Gunther gauged it and drew back his +bat. Then the ball hesitated, slowed, seemed +to reconsider, again leaped forward, and, eluding +Gunther’s despairing swing, curved sharply down +and in, and fell like a plummet in Hinsdale’s eager +hands.</p> + +<p>“You’re out,” cried the umpire, tearing off his +mask. The crowd surged down over the field, +and Bert was swallowed up in the frantic rush of +friends and comrades gone crazy with delight. +And again he saw the dear old college, the gray +buildings and the shaded walks, the crowd at this +moment gathered there about the bulletin——.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Some days after his fadeaway had won the +pennant—after the triumphal journey back to the +college, the uproarious reception, the bonfires, the +processions, the “war dance” on the campus—Bert +sat in his room, admiring the splendid souvenir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +presented to him by the college enthusiasts. +The identical ball that struck out +Gunther had been encased in a larger one of +solid gold, on which was engraved his name, together +with the date and score of the famous +game. Bert handled it caressingly.</p> + +<p>“Well, old fellow,” he said, half aloud, “you +stood by me nobly, but it was a hard fight. I +never expect to have a harder one.”</p> + +<p>He would have been startled, had he known of +the harder one just ahead. That Spring he had +fought for glory; before the Summer was over +he would fight for life. How gallant the fight +he made, how desperate the chances he took, and +how great the victory he won, will be told in</p> + +<p class="p2 noic">“<span class="smcap">Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator</span>.”</p> + + +<p class="p4 noic">THE END</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p> + +<p>Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> + +<p>Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> + +<p>The author’s long dash style has been preserved.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball, by J. W. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball + +Author: J. W. Duffield + +Release Date: March 1, 2012 [EBook #39020] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERT WILSON'S FADEAWAY BALL *** + + + + +Produced by Donald Cummings, Rod Crawford and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Notes: + + --A Table of Contents has been added by the transcriber for the + convenience of the reader; it was not present in the original. + + --Remaining transcriber's notes are at the end of the text. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. TOUCHING SECOND 1 + II. "MAKING THE TEAM" 16 + III. THE "INSIDE" GAME 33 + IV. THE TRIPLE PLAY 53 + V. WINNING HIS SPURS 65 + VI. THE FIRE 93 + VII. TAKING HIS MEDICINE 107 + VIII. SHOOTING THEM OVER 123 + IX. A GALLANT RESCUE 144 + X. A WILD RIDE 160 + XI. THE NINTH INNING 182 + + + + + BERT WILSON'S + Fadeaway Ball + + BY + + J. W. DUFFIELD + + AUTHOR OF "BERT WILSON AT THE WHEEL," + "BERT WILSON, MARATHON WINNER," + "BERT WILSON, WIRELESS OPERATOR." + + + + + Copyright, 1913, By + SULLY AND KLEINTEICH + + _All rights reserved._ + + Published and Printed, 1924, by + Western Printing & Lithographing Company + Racine, Wisconsin + Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TOUCHING SECOND + + +Crack!--and the ball soared into center field, while the batter, swift +as a flash, sped down to first. A tremendous roar went up from the +thirty thousand loyal "fans" who packed the grandstands and filled the +bleachers to overflowing. Staid citizens danced up and down like howling +dervishes, hats were tossed into the air or jovially crushed on their +owners' heads, and happy riot reigned everywhere. Pandemonium broke +loose. + +The fight for the pennant had been a bitter one all season. First one +team and then another had taken the lead, while the whole country had +been as excited as though the fate of an empire hung in the balance. +The third chief contender, fighting grimly to the last, had fallen +hopelessly behind, and the contest had narrowed down to a life-and-death +struggle between the Giants and the Cubs. The team from the Western city +had hung on doggedly and every battle had been fought "for blood." +Contesting every inch, they had at last drawn up on even terms with the +leaders, and to-day's game was to decide which club should be hailed as +champions of the National League and, later on, do battle with the +leaders of the American League for the proud title of Champions of the +World. + +The excitement was intense, and, to a foreigner, would have been +inconceivable. Men stood in line all the night before to make sure of +tickets when the gates should open in the morning. The newspapers +devoted columns of space to the gladiators of the opposing teams. +Delegations poured in on special trains from neighboring cities. The +surface cars and elevated trains, packed to the limit, rolled up to the +grounds and deposited their sweltering throngs. The lines of ticket +buyers extended for blocks, and the speculators did a rushing business. +Long before the hour set for the game to begin, the grounds were crowded +to suffocation, and thousands, unable to get in, were turned away from +the gates. + +The scene within was inspiring. A band played popular airs, while those +within hearing joined lustily in the chorus. The great field, gleaming +like green velvet beneath the afternoon sun, had been especially groomed +and rolled for this day of days. The base lines, freshly marked, stood +out in white and dazzling relief. All four sides of the huge enclosure +held their thousands of enthusiasts, and the host of special policemen +had their hands full to keep them from encroaching on the diamond. As +each white-uniformed athlete of the home team came from the club house +for preliminary practice, he was boisterously and affectionately +greeted. + +Nor did the gray-clad visitors come short of a cordial reception. The +great crowd hoped that the home team would win, but they were fair, and, +mingled with the good-natured chaffing, was a wholesome respect and +fear of their prowess. Above all they wanted a rattling game and a +hair-raising finish, with the Giants winning "by an eyelash." + +The bell rang. The Giants took their places in the field and the umpire +cried "Play ball!" The head of the Cubs' batting order came to the plate +and the game was on. From the start it was a battle "for keeps." Both +teams were "on their toes." It meant not only honor but lucre. The +winners would contest in the World's Series, and this meant thousands of +dollars for every player. Every point was bitterly fought, and plays were +made that under other circumstances would not even have been attempted. +For eight innings, Fortune divided her favors equally, and it looked as +though the game were destined to go into extra innings. + +The Cubs were easily disposed of in their half of the ninth, and the +Giants came to the bat. The crowd, which had been alternately on the +heights of hope or in the depths of despair, rose to their feet and +cheered them wildly. The batters were frantically besought to "hit it +on the seam," "give the ball a ride," "show them where you live." The +players responded nobly. By the time that two were out, a Giant was +perched on third and another on first. The shortstop, a sure hitter in a +pinch, strode to the plate. Now, indeed, excitement was at fever heat. A +safe hit into the outfield would bring the man on third to the plate +with the winning run. + +The visitors were plainly worried. The "Peerless Leader" came in from +first, ostensibly to advise the pitcher, but really to give him a +moment's rest before the final test. Hoots of derision showed the +spectators' appreciation of the trick. The pitcher glanced at the man +dancing about third, wound up deliberately and let the ball go with all +the force of his brawny arm. The batter caught it squarely "on the +trademark" and shot it like a rifle bullet into center field, while the +man on third tore down the line and came like a racehorse to the plate. +He crossed the rubber with the winning run, and thirty thousand men went +stark, raving mad. + +The man on first ran part way toward second, and then, seeing that his +comrade would certainly score, turned and scurried to the club house in +right field. The jubilant crowd began to invade the diamond. Suddenly +the second baseman of the visitors secured the ball, rushed to his base, +and then, surrounded by his teammates, ran toward the umpire, waving his +hands wildly. + +The crowd, at first bewildered, then angered, soon became panic-stricken. +Few of them understood the nature of the claim. They only felt that the +hard-won victory was being called in question, and a tidal wave of wrath +and resentment swept over the field. + +The point made by the quick-witted second baseman was simple, but +sufficiently important to engage the grave attention of the umpires. His +contention was that the man on first had not touched second base, and, +as he was legally compelled to leave first in order to make room for the +batter and had not touched second before the ball got there, he was +_forced out_, and therefore the run didn't count. The rules on this +point were clear and explicit. If the claim was granted, three men were +out, no run had come in and the score was still a tie at one to one. + +The final decision was held in suspense, and the throng passed out, more +like a funeral than a triumphal procession. Disputes were rife among +heated partisans, and in all the vast city that night and, in a lesser +degree, in every city from New York to San Francisco, the game was +fought over and over again. The unfortunate first baseman almost lost +his mind over the blunder. There was more pity than bitterness felt +toward him, however, as it was known that he had merely followed a +general custom that had been taken as a matter of course. + +Among the crowd that filed out of the gates were Bert Wilson and his +inseparable friends, Dick Trent and Tom Henderson. With them also was a +Mr. Hollis, a gentleman much older than they in years, but quite as +young in spirit. He had been in charge of the summer camp from which the +boys had recently returned, and the respect and confidence that his +sterling character evoked had become steadily stronger. They were all +very fond of the great national game, and had shared the enthusiasm over +the supposed victory of the home team. Now, from the reaction, their +ardor was correspondingly dampened. + +"There's no use talking," broke out Tom hotly, "it was a low down trick. +They couldn't beat us with the bat, so they try to do it on a quibble." + +"I don't know," said Dick, "it's about a stand off. We may have been a +little bit better off in brawn, but they had it on us in the matter of +brain. Whatever we may think of their sportsmanship, their wits were not +wool gathering." + +"And after all," chimed in Bert, "it is brain that counts to-day in +baseball as well as in everything else. More and more, the big leaguers +are putting a premium on quick thinking. The mere 'sand lot slugger' is +going to the rear, and the college man is coming to the front. It isn't +that the collegian is necessarily any brainier, but he has been taught +how to use his brains. This is simply a case where the husky hit of the +Giants' short-stop was wasted because of the nimble wit of the Cubs' +second baseman. It was hit against wit, and wit won out." + +"All the same," maintained Tom, "it was taking advantage of a +technicality. The same thing has been done a hundred times, and there +has never been a kick about it. Whenever a player has been sure that the +winning run has come in, he has considered it all over, and made a break +for the clubhouse. I don't think the question has ever been raised +before." + +"Yes it has," said Mr. Hollis. "That same quick thinker made a point of +it the other day in Pittsburgh, and that is all the more reason why the +home team ought to have been wide awake. But there is nothing to be +gained by post mortems, and anyway the thing isn't settled yet. It looks +rather bad for us now, but there will be a full discussion of the matter +and the umpires may find something in the rules that will cover the case +and give us the run. Even if they don't, it leaves it a tie, and the +game will have to be played over. We may win then and get the pennant +after all." + +"I hope so," said Tom, "but just at present I know how they felt in +Mudville: + + "'O somewhere birds are singing and somewhere children shout, + But there's no joy in Mudville--mighty Casey has struck out.'" + +A few days later when the point had been decided in favor of the Cubs +and the game played over, only to result in a conclusive victory for the +men from the shore of Lake Michigan, the chums met in Bert's rooms. + +"Well," said Dick, "I see that they put it over, all right. They've +copped the pennant and we are only an 'also ran.'" + +"Yes," replied Tom, "that hit by Tinker over Seymour's head did the +business. But there's no use crying over spilt milk. We'll stand them on +their heads next year and get even." + +"By the way, Bert," asked Dick, changing the subject, "have you heard +from your examinations yet? How did you make out?" + +"Fine," answered Bert. "I heard from the Dean this morning and he says +that I passed with something to spare. The chemical and electrical +marks were especially good. He says that the questions along those lines +were unusually severe, but they didn't strike me that way. I suppose +it's because I'm so interested in them that they come easy." + +"Good for you, old scout," cried Dick, delightedly. "I'm tickled to +death that the thing is settled. You'll find that we have one of the +finest scientific schools in the country. I've been there a year now, +and it's come to seem like home. I'll show you the ropes and we'll room +together. I only wish Tom here were coming along with us next week." + +"So do I," said Tom ruefully, "but Father seems to think I'd better +stick to my engineering course right here in New York. It isn't that he +thinks the course is any better than at your college, if as good. I +suppose the real reason is that he wants me to be where I can live at +home. I'm going to get Mr. Hollis to have a talk with him. Perhaps he +can show him that it would be a good thing for me to get away from home +and be thrown on my own responsibility. Dad's pretty stubborn when he +gets an idea in his head, but he thinks a lot of Mr. Hollis, and what he +says will go a long way with him." + +It was a wholesome group of young fellows that thus discussed their +future plans. They were the best type of manly, red-blooded American +youth, full of energy and ambition and alive to their finger tips. Tom +was of medium height, while Bert and Dick were fully six feet tall. All +were strongly built and looked as though they could give a good account +of themselves in any contest, whether of mind or body. A similarity of +tastes and habits had drawn them closely together, and among their +friends they were jokingly referred to as the "Three Guardsmen." They +were rarely apart, and now their plans for the coming school year were +destined to cement their friendship still more firmly. In reality with +them it was "one for all and all for one." + +All of them had chosen their life work along practical and scientific +lines. The literary professions did not tempt them strongly. Dick, who +was the elder, was preparing to become a mining engineer, and had +already spent a year at college with that end in view. Tom aimed at +civil engineering while Bert was strongly drawn toward electrical +science and research. This marvelous field had a fascination for him +that he could not resist. His insight was so clear, he leaped so +intuitively from cause to conclusion, that it was felt that it would be +almost a crime if he were not permitted to have every advantage that the +best scientific schools could give him. For a long time past he had been +studying nights, preparing for his entrance examinations, and now that +he had passed them triumphantly, nothing intervened between him and his +cherished ambition. + +Absorbed as he was in his studies, however, he spent enough time in +athletic sports to keep himself in superb physical condition. His was +the old Greek ideal of a "sound mind in a sound body." His favorite +sport was baseball, and, like most healthy young Americans, he was +intensely fond of the great game. In public school and high school he +had always "made the team." Although at times he had played every +position in the infield and outfield and behind the bat, he soon +gravitated towards the pitcher's box, and for the last three years had +played that position steadily. He was easily the best "flinger" in the +Inter-Scholastic League, and had received more than one invitation to +join some of the semi-professional teams that abound in the great city. +He elected, however, to remain purely and simply an amateur. Even when a +"big league" scout, who had watched him play, gave him a quiet tip that +his club would take him on the Spring training trip to Texas and pay all +his expenses, with a view to finding out whether he was really "major +league timber," the offer did not tempt him. He had no idea of making a +business of his chosen sport, but simply a pleasant though strenuous +recreation. With him, it was "sport for sport's sake"; the healthy zest +of struggle, the sheer physical delight in winning. + +And now, as they talked over the coming year, the athletic feature also +came to the fore. + +"I wonder if I'll have the slightest show to make the baseball team," +said Bert. "I suppose, as a newcomer I'll be a rank outsider." + +"Don't you believe that for a minute," replied Dick warmly. "Of course +there'll be lots of competition and a raft of material to pick from. I +suppose when the coach sends out the call for candidates in the Spring, +there'll be dozens of would-be players and a bunch too of have-beens +that will trot out on the diamond to be put through their paces. One +thing is certain, though, and that is that you'll get your chance. There +may be a whole lot of snobbery in college life--though there isn't +half as much as people think--but, out on the ball field, it's a pure +democracy. The only question there is whether you can deliver the goods. +If you can, they don't care whether you're a new man or an old-timer. +All they want is a winner." + +"Well," chimed in Tom, "they'll find that they have one in Bert. Just +show them a little of the 'big medicine' you had in that last game with +Newark High when you put out the side on three pitched balls. Gee, +I never saw a more disgusted bunch of ball tossers. Just when they +thought they had the game all sewed up and put away in their bat bag, +too." + +"That's all right," said Bert, "but you must remember that those high +school fellows were a different proposition from a bunch of seasoned old +college sluggers. When I come up against them, if I ever do, they'll +probably smash the back fences with the balls I feed to them." + +"Some of them certainly can slaughter a pitcher's curves," laughed Dick. +"Old Pendleton, for instance, would have the nerve to start a batting +rally against three-fingered Brown, and Harry Lord wouldn't be hypnotized +even if Matty glared at him." + +"I understand you did some fence breaking yourself last Spring on the +scrubs," said Tom. "Steve Thomas told me you were the heaviest batter in +college." + +"O, I don't know," returned Dick modestly, "I led them in three-base +hits and my batting average was .319, but Pendleton was ahead of me in +the matter of home runs. I hope to do better next Spring, though, as +Ainslee, the coach, gave me some valuable tips on hitting them out. At +first I swung too much and tried to knock the cover off the ball. The +result was that when I did hit the ball it certainly traveled some. But +many a time I missed them because I took too long a swing. Ainslee +showed me how to chop at the ball with a sharp, quick stroke that +caught it just before the curve began to break. Then all the power of my +arms and shoulders leaned up against the ball at just the right second. +Ainslee says that Home-Run Baker uses that method altogether, and you +know what kind of a hitter he is. I got it down pretty fine before the +season ended, and if I make the team next Spring----" + +"If you make it," said Bert incredulously. "As though it wasn't a dead +certainty." + +"Not a bit of it," protested Dick, seriously. "You never can tell from +year to year. You can't live on your reputation at college. There may be +a regular Hal Chase among the new recruits, and he may win the first +base position over me without half trying. It's a good thing it is so, +too, because we have to keep hustling all the time or see somebody else +step into our shoes. The result is that when the team is finally licked +into shape by the coaches, it represents the very best the college can +turn out. It's a fighting machine that never knows when it is whipped +and never quits trying until the last man is out in the ninth inning." + +"Yes," broke in Tom, "and that's what makes college baseball so much +more pleasing than the regular professional game. The fellows go at it +in such deadly earnest. It is the spirit of Napoleon's Marshal: 'The +Old Guard dies, but never surrenders.' The nine may be beaten, but not +disgraced, and, when the game is over, the winning team always knows +that it has been in a fight." + +"Well," said Bert, as the fellows rose to go, "if we do make the team, +it won't be through lack of trying if we fail to land the pennant." + +"No," laughed Dick. "Our epitaph at least will be that of the Texas +cowboy, + +"'He done his blamedest--angels can no more.'" + +A week later, the three friends--for Tom and Mr. Hollis had won his +father over--stood on the deck of a Sound steamer, saying goodby to +those who had come to see them off. Mr. Hollis wrung Bert's hand, just +as the last bell rang and he prepared to go down the gangway. + +"Good luck, Bert, and whatever else you do, don't forget to touch +second." + +He smiled at Bert's puzzled expression, and added: "I mean, my boy, be +thorough in all you do. End what you begin. Don't be satisfied with any +half-way work. Many a man has made a brilliant start, but a most dismal +finish. In work, in play, in the whole great game of life--touch +second." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +"MAKING THE TEAM" + + +The Fall and Winter passed quickly. Bert and Dick roomed together in +one of the dormitories close to the main buildings, while Tom had his +quarters on the floor below. The feeling of strangeness, inevitable at +the start, soon wore off, and they quickly became a part of the swarming +life that made the college a little world of its own. + +Here, too, as in the greater world outside, Bert found all sorts and +conditions. There were the rich and the poor, the polished and the +uncouth, the lazy and the energetic, good fellows and bad. But the good +predominated. The great majority were fine, manly fellows, sound to the +core. Dick's wide acquaintanceship with them and his familiarity with +college customs were immensely helpful to Bert from the beginning, and +he was soon a general favorite. + +The football season had been a triumphant one, and another gridiron +championship had been added to the many that had preceded it. There had +been a surplus of good material left over from the year before, and the +time was so short that Bert had not tried for the team. At the outset, +too, his studies taxed him so heavily that he did not feel justified +in giving the necessary attention to the great game, that, in his +estimation, almost divided honors with baseball. He had done a little +playing with the scrubs, however, and on his class team, and the +qualities he displayed in "bucking the line" had marked him out to the +coaches, as a factor to be reckoned with in the following seasons. + +The Christmas holidays had come and gone almost before he knew it, and +when he returned for his second term, he buckled down to work with all +his might. His chosen field of electricity held constant surprises for +him, as it became more familiar. If he had any specialty, it was +wireless telegraphy. There was an irresistible attraction in the +mysterious force that bound the ends of the earth together by an +electric spark, that leaped over oceans with no conductor but the air, +that summoned help for sinking vessels when all other hope was gone. He +felt that the science was as yet only in its infancy, and that it +held untold possibilities for the future. The splendidly equipped +laboratories gave him every opportunity and encouragement for original +work, and his professors foresaw a brilliant future for the enthusiastic +young student. + +Spring came early that year. A soft wind blew up from the south, the sun +shone warmly on the tender grass, the sap stirred blindly in the trees. +It stirred also in the veins of the lusty college youth and called them +to the outdoor life. + +Going down the hall, one morning, to his recitation room, Bert came +across an eager group surrounding the bulletin board. He crowded nearer +and saw that it was the call of the coach to baseball candidates to +report on the following day. His heart leaped in response and the morrow +seemed long in coming. + +Dressed in the old baseball togs that had done yeoman service on many a +hard-fought field, he with Dick and Tom, who were quite as eager as +himself, reported for the tryout. Perhaps a hundred ambitious youngsters +were on hand, all aflame with desire to make the team and fight for the +glory of Alma Mater. It was apparent at a glance, however, that many had +ambition but nothing else. The qualities that had made them heroes on +some village nine were plainly inadequate, when it came to shaping up +for a college team. The hopes of many faded away when they saw the plays +made by the seasoned veterans, who nonchalantly "ate up" balls and did +stunts in practice that would have called out shouts of applause in a +regular game. But whether marked for acceptance or rejection, all were +as frolicsome as colts turned out to pasture. It was good to be young +and to be alive. + +The coach threaded his way through the groups with an eye that apparently +saw nothing, but, in reality, saw everything. He was a famous pitcher, +known from one end of the country to the other. Himself an old-time +graduate, he had the confidence of the faculty and the unbounded respect +and admiration of the students. He had been given full charge and was an +absolute autocrat. Whatever he said "went," and from his decision there +was no appeal. He played no favorites, was not identified with any +clique, and his sole desire was to duplicate the success of the preceding +season and turn out a winner. + +To do this, he realized, would be no easy task. While his two chief +rivals had maintained their strong teams almost intact, his own was +"shot to pieces." Three had graduated, and they were among his heaviest +hitters. Good old Pendleton, who had been a tower of strength at first +base, who could take them with equal ease to right or left and "dig them +out of the dirt," and whose hard slugging had many a time turned defeat +into victory, would be hard to replace. His pitching staff was none +too good. Winters lacked control, and Benson's arm was apt to give +out about the seventh inning. Hinsdale was a good backstop, but his +throwing to second was erratic. They had done too much stealing on him +last year. Barry would be sadly missed at third, and it would be mighty +hard to find a capable guardian for the "difficult corner." It was clear +that he faced a tough problem, and the only solution was to be found, if +at all, in the new material. + +As he glanced musingly around his eyes fell on Bert. They rested there. +He knew a thoroughbred when he saw one, and this was undeniably a +thoroughbred. The lithe form, supple as a leopard's, the fine play of +shoulder muscles that the uniform could not conceal, the graceful but +powerful swing, the snap with which the ball shot from his fingers as +though released by a spring--all these he noticed in one practised +glance. He sauntered over to where Bert was pitching. + +"Done much in the pitching line?" he asked carelessly. + +"A little," answered Bert modestly, "only on high school nines though." + +"What have you got in stock?" asked the coach. + +"Not much besides the old 'roundhouse' curve," replied Bert. "I don't +think so much of my incurve, though I'm trying to make it break a little +more sharply. I can do a little 'moist' flinging, too, though I haven't +practised that much." + +"Don't," said the coach. "Cut out the spitball. It's bound to hurt your +arm in the long run. Trot out your curve and let's have a look at it. +Easy now," he said as Bert wound up, "don't put too much speed in it. +You'll have plenty of chances to do that later on." + +The ball left Bert's hand with a jerk, and, just before it reached the +center of the plate, swept in a sharp, tremendous curve to the outside, +so that the catcher just touched it with the end of his fingers. + +"Not so bad," commented the coach carelessly, though his eyes lighted +up. "Here, Drake," he called to a burly veteran who was looking on with +interest, "take your wagon tongue and straighten out this youngster's +curves." + +The good-natured giant, thus addressed, picked up his bat and came to +the plate. + +"Get it over the plate now, kid, and I'll kill it," he grinned. + +A little flustered by this confidence, Bert sent one in waist high, just +cutting the corner. Drake swung at it and missed it by six inches. + +"One strike," laughed the coach, and Drake, looking a little sheepish, +set himself for the next. + +"Give him a fast one now, shoulder high," ordered the coach. Again the +ball sped toward the plate and Drake struck at it after it had passed +him and thudded into the catcher's glove. + +"Gee, I can't hit them if I can't see them," he protested, and the coach +chuckled. + +"No," he said, as Bert poised himself for a third pitch, "no more just +now. I don't want you to throw your arm out at practice. There are other +days coming, and you won't complain of lack of work. Come out again +to-morrow," and he walked away indifferently, while his heart was filled +with exultation. If he had not unearthed a natural-born pitcher, he knew +nothing about ball players. + +Drake was more demonstrative. While Bert was putting on his sweater, he +came up and clapped him on the shoulder. + +"Say, Freshie," he broke out, "that was a dandy ball you whiffed me +with. You certainly had me guessing. If that swift one you curled around +my neck had hit me, I would have been seeing stars and hearing the +birdies sing. And I nearly broke my back reaching for that curve. You've +surely got something on the ball." + +"Oh, you'd have got me all right, if I'd kept on," answered Bert. "That +was probably just a fluke, and I was lucky enough to get away with it." + +"Well, you can call it a fluke if you like," rejoined Drake, "but to me +it looked suspiciously like big league pitching. Go to it, my boy, and +I'll root for you to make the team." + +Bert flushed with pleasure at this generous meed of praise, doubly +grateful as coming from an upper class man and hero of the college +diamond. Dick coming up just then, they said good-by to Drake and +started toward their dormitory. + +"What's this I hear about you, Bert?" asked Dick; "you've certainly made +yourself solid with Ainslee. I accidentally heard him telling one of the +assistant coaches that, while of course he couldn't be sure until he'd +tried you out a little more, he thought he'd made a find." + +"One swallow doesn't make a summer," answered Bert. "I had Drake +buffaloed all right, but I only pitched two balls. He might knock me +all over the lot to-morrow." + +"Sufficient unto the day are the hits thereof," rejoined Dick; "the fact +is that he _didn't_ hit you, and he has the surest eye in college. If he +had fouled them, even, it would have been different, but Ainslee said he +missed them by a mile. And even at that you weren't at full speed, as he +told you not to cut loose to-day." + +"Well," said Bert, "if the lightning strikes my way, all right. But now +I've got to get busy on my 'Sci' work, or I'll surely flunk to-morrow." + +The next day Bert was conscious of sundry curious glances when he went +out for practice. News travels fast in a college community and Drake had +passed the word that Ainslee had uncovered a "phenom." But the coach had +other views and was in no mood to satisfy their curiosity. He had turned +the matter over in his mind the night before and resolved to bring Bert +along slowly. To begin with, while delighted at the boy's showing on +the first time out, he realized that this one test was by no means +conclusive. He was naturally cautious. He was "from Missouri" and had to +be "shown." A dozen questions had to be answered, and, until they were, +he couldn't reach any definite decision. Did the boy have stamina enough +to last a full game? Was that wonderful curve of his under full control? +Was his heart in the right place, or, under the tremendous strain of a +critical game, would he go to pieces? Above all, was he teachable, +willing to acknowledge that he did not "know it all," and eager to +profit by the instruction that would be handed out in the course of +the training season? If all these questions could be answered to his +satisfaction, he knew that the most important of all his problems--that +of the pitcher's box--was already solved, and that he could devote his +attention to the remaining positions on the team. + +Pursuing this plan of "hastening slowly," he cut out all "circus" +stunts in this second day's practice. Bert was instructed to take it +easy, and confine himself only to moderately fast straight balls, in +order to get the kinks out of his throwing arm. Curves were forbidden +until the newness wore off and his arm was better able to stand the +strain. The coach had seen too many promising young players ruined in +trying to rush the season, and he did not propose to take any such +chances with his new find. + +His keen eyes sparkled, as from his position behind the pitcher, he +noted the mastery that Bert had over the ball. He seemed to be able to +put it just where he wished. Whether the coach called for a high or a +low ball, straight over the center of the plate or just cutting the +corners, the ball obeyed almost as though it were a living thing. +Occasionally it swerved a little from the exact "groove" that it was +meant to follow, but in the main, as Ainslee afterward confided to his +assistant, "the ball was so tame that it ate out of his hand." + +He was far too cautious to say as much to Bert. Of all the dangers that +came to budding pitchers, the "swelled head" was the one he most hated +and detested. + +"Well," he said as he pretended to suppress a yawn, "your control is +fairly good for a beginner. Of course I don't know how it will be on +the curves, but we'll try them out too before long." + +"That," he went on warming to his subject, "is the one thing beyond all +others you want to work for. No matter how much speed you've got or how +wide your curve or how sharp your break, it doesn't amount to much, +unless you can put the ball where you want it to go. Of course, you +don't want to put every ball over the plate. You want to make them +'bite' at the wide ones. But when you are 'in the hole,' when there are +two strikes and three balls, the winning pitcher is the one that nine +times out of ten can cut the plate, and do it so surely that the umpire +will have no chance to call it a ball. One of the greatest pitchers I +ever knew was called the 'Curveless Wonder.' He didn't have either an +incurve or an outcurve that was worth mentioning. But he had terrific +speed, and such absolute ability to put the ball just where he wanted +it, that for years he stood right among the headliners in the major +leagues. Take my word for it, Wilson, a pitcher without control is like +the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Don't forget that." + +The respect with which Bert listened was deepened by his knowledge that +Ainslee was himself famous, the country over, in this same matter of +control. A few more comments on minor points, and the coach walked away +to watch the practice of his infield candidates. + +Now that Pendleton had graduated, the logical successor of the great +first baseman seemed to be Dick Trent, who had held the same position on +the scrubs the year before, and who had pressed Pendleton hard for the +place. The first base tradition demands that it be occupied by a heavy +batter, and there was no doubt that in this particular Dick filled the +bill. His average had been well above the magic .300 figures that all +players covet, and now that he had conquered his propensity to excessive +swinging, he might fairly be expected to better these figures this year. +As a fielder, he was a sure catch on thrown balls either to right or +left, and his height and reach were a safe guarantee that not many wild +ones would get by him. He was lightning quick on double plays, and +always kept his head, even in the most exciting moments of the game. If +he had any weakness, it was, perhaps, that he did not cover quite as +deep a field as Pendleton used to, but that was something that careful +coaching could correct. None of the other candidates seemed at all above +the average, and, while yet keeping an open mind, the coach mentally +slated Dick for the initial bag. + +Second and short, as he said to himself with a sigh of relief, were +practically provided for. Sterling at the keystone bag and White at +shortfield were among the brightest stars of the college diamond, and +together with Barry and Pendleton had formed the famous "stonewall" +infield that last year had turned so many sizzling hits to outs. + +Barry--ah, there was a player! A perfect terror on hard hit balls, a +fielder of bunts that he had never seen excelled, even among professional +players. He remembered the screeching liner that he had leaped into the +air and pulled down with one hand, shooting it down to first for a double +play in the last game of the season. It had broken up a batting rally and +saved the game when it seemed lost beyond redemption. + +Well, there were as good fish in the sea as ever were caught, and no man +was so good but what another just as good could be found to take his +place. But where to find him? There was the rub. That cub trying out now +at third--what was his name?--he consulted the list in his hand--oh, +yes, Henderson--he rather fancied his style. He certainly handled +himself like a ball player. But there--you never could tell. He might +simply be another "false alarm." + +At this moment the batter sent a scorching grounder toward third, but a +little to the left of the base. Tom flung himself toward it, knocked +it down with his left hand, picked it up with the right and scarcely +waiting to get "set" shot it like a flash to first. The coach gasped at +the scintillating play, and White called out: + +"Classy stuff, kid, classy stuff. That one certainly had whiskers on +it." + +"Hey, there, Henderson," yelled the coach, "go easy there. Float them +down. Do you want to kill your arm with that kind of throwing?" + +But to himself he said: "By George, what a 'whip' that fellow's got. +That ball didn't rise three inches on the way to first. And it went into +Drake knee high. That youngster will certainly bear watching." + +And watch him he did with the eye of a hawk, not only that afternoon, +but for several weeks thereafter until the hope became a certainty that +he had found a worthy successor to the redoubtable Barry, and his +infield would be as much of a "stonewall" that season as the year +before. With Hodge in right, Flynn in center and Drake in left, his +outfield left nothing to be desired, either from a fielding or batting +point of view, and he could now devote himself entirely to the +development of his batteries. + +Under his masterly coaching, Bert advanced with great rapidity. He had +never imagined that there was so much in the game. He learned from this +past-master in the art how to keep the batter "hugging first"; the +surest way of handling bunts; the quick return of the ball for the +third strike before the unsuspecting batter can get "set," and a dozen +other features of "inside stuff" that in a close game might easily turn +the scale. Ainslee himself often toed the plate and told Bert to send +in the best he had. His arm had attained its full strength, under +systematic training, and he was allowed to use his curves, his drop, his +rise ball and the swift, straight one that, as Flynn once said, "looked +as big as a balloon when it left his hand, but the size of a pea when it +crossed the plate." + +One afternoon, when Ainslee had taken a hand in the batting practice, +Bert fed him an outcurve, and the coach smashed it to the back fence. +A straight high one that followed it met with no better fate. It was +evident that Ainslee had his "batting eye" with him that afternoon, and +could not be easily fooled. + +"Send in the next," he taunted, good-naturedly, "I don't think you can +outguess me to-day." + +A little nettled at his discomfiture, Bert wound up slowly. For some +time past he had been quietly trying out a new delivery that he had +stumbled upon almost by accident. He called it his "freak" ball. He had +thrown it one day to Dick, when, after the regular practice, they were +lazily tossing the ball to and fro. It had come in way below where +Dick's hands were waiting for it, and the latter was startled. It was a +"lulu," he said emphatically. It could not be classed with any of the +regulation curves. Bert had kept it under cover until he could get +perfect control of it. Now he had got it to the point where he could put +it just where he wanted it, and as he looked at the smiling face of the +coach he resolved to "uncork" it. + +He took a long swing and let it go. It came to the plate like a bullet, +hesitated, slowed, then dropped down and in, a foot below the wild lunge +that the coach made for it. His eyes bulged, and he almost dropped the +bat. + +"What was that?" he asked. "How did you do it? Put over another one." + +A second one proved just as puzzling, and the coach, throwing his bat +aside, came down to the pitcher's box. He was clearly excited. + +"Now, what was it?" he asked; "it wasn't an incurve, a drop, or a +straight, but a sort of combination of them all. It was a new one on me. +How do you hold your hand when you throw it?" + +"Why," replied Bert, "when I throw it, the palm is held toward the +ground instead of toward the sky, as it is when I pitch an outcurve. +The wrist is turned over and the hand held down with the thumb toward +the body, so that when the ball slips off the thumb with a twisting +motion it curves in toward the batter. I grip it in the same way as an +outcurve. Just as it twists off the thumb I give it a sharp snap of the +wrist. It spins up to the plate, goes dead, then curves sharply down and +in." + +"Well," said the coach, "it's certainly a dandy. We must develop it +thoroughly, but we'll do it on the quiet. I rather think we'll have a +surprise for 'our friends the enemy,' when the race begins. It's just as +well to have an ace up our sleeve. That ball is in a class by itself. It +just seems to melt while you are trying to locate it. If I were to give +it a name at all, I'd call it a 'fadeaway.'" + +And so Bert's new delivery was christened. As they walked back to the +college both were exultant. They would have been still more so, if at +that moment they had begun to realize the havoc and dismay that would be +spread among their opponents before the season ended by Bert's fadeaway +ball. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE "INSIDE" GAME + + +"Well, Tom, I see that you lead off in the batting order," said Bert, as +they sat in his rooms at the close of the day's work. + +"Yes," said Tom, "Ainslee seems to think that I am a good waiter, as +well as a pretty fair sprinter, and I suppose that is the reason he +selected me." + +"'They also serve who only stand and wait,'" recited Dick, who was +always ready with an apt quotation. + +"Well," laughed Bert, "I don't suppose the poet ever dreamed of that +application, but, all the same, it is one of the most important things +in the game to lead off with a man who has nerve and sense enough to +wait. In the first place, the pitcher is apt to be a little wild at the +start and finds it hard to locate the plate. I know it's an awful +temptation to swing at a good one, if it is sandwiched in between a +couple of wild ones, and, of course, you always stand the chance of +being called out on strikes. But at that stage of the game he is more +likely to put over four balls than three strikes, and if you do trot +down to first, you've got three chances of reaching home. A sacrifice +will take you down to second, and then with only one man out and two +good batters coming up, a single to the outfield brings you home." + +"Then, too, you went around the bases in fifteen seconds flat, the other +day," said Dick, "and that's some running. I noticed Ainslee timing you +with his split-second watch, and when he put it back in his pocket he +was smiling to himself." + +"Flynn comes second, I see," said Bert, consulting his list, "and that's +a good thing too. He is one of the best 'place' hitters on the team. He +has the faculty that made Billy Keeler famous, of 'hitting them where +they ain't.' He's a dandy too at laying down a bunt, just along the +third-base line. If any man can advance you to second, Flynn can." + +"Yes," said Tom, "with Drake up next, swinging that old wagon tongue of +his, and then Dick coming on as a clean-up hitter, it will have to be +pretty nifty pitching that will keep us from denting the home plate." + +"Last year the team had a general batting average of .267," chimed in +Dick. "If we can match that this year, I guess there'll be no complaint. +As a matter of fact, however, I'm a little dubious of doing that, +especially with old Pendleton off the team. But if we come short a +little there, I am counting on Bert holding down the batters on the +other nines enough to make up for it." + +"If I get a chance, I'll do my very best," said Bert, "but perhaps I +won't pitch in a regular game all season. You know how it is with a +Freshman. He may have to sit on the bench all the time, while the upper +class pitchers take their turn in the box. They've won their spurs and I +haven't. They've 'stood the gaff' under the strain of exciting games, +and pulled victories out of the fire. I might do it too, but nobody +knows that, and I probably would not be called on to go in the box, +except as a last resort. They may believe that I have the curve, but +they are not at all sure that I have the nerve. Winters and Benson are +going along now like a house afire, and if they are at top speed when +the season begins I'll see the pennant won or lost from my seat on the +bench." + +"Neither one of them has anything on you," maintained Tom stoutly. "Of +course they are, in a certain sense, veterans, and then, too, they have +the advantage of having faced before many of the players on the other +teams. That counts for a lot, but you must remember that Hinsdale has +caught for the last two years, and he knows these things as well as the +pitchers. He knows their weak and their strong points, the ones that +simply kill a low outcurve, but are as helpless as babies before a high +fast one. He could quickly put you on to the batters' weakness. But +outside of that you've got them faded. You have more speed than Winters +and more endurance than Benson. Neither one of them has a license to +beat you at any stage of the pitching game." + +"Perhaps it's your friendship rather than your judgment that's talking +now, Tom," smiled Bert. + +"No," said Dick, "it isn't. Tom's right. You've got everything that they +have, and then some. Winters' rise ball is certainly a peach, but it +hasn't the quick jump yours has just before it gets to the plate. My eye +isn't so bad, but in practice I bat under it every time. Even when I +don't miss it altogether, I hit it on the underside and raise a fly to +the fielders. It's almost impossible to line it out. And your fast high +one is so speedy that a fellow backs away from the plate when he sees it +coming. I don't know that your outcurve is any better than Benson's, but +you certainly have it under better control." + +"On the dead quiet," he went on, "I'm rather worried about Winters this +year, anyway. I think he's gone back. He's in with a fast bunch, and I +fear has been going the pace. His fine work in the box last year made +him a star and turned his head. It brought him a lot of popularity, and +I'm afraid he isn't the kind that can stand prosperity. He doesn't go at +his work in the right spirit this year. You all saw how he shirked the +other day when we were training for wind." + +They readily recalled the incident to which Dick alluded. The practice +had been strenuous that day, but the coach had been insistent. As a wind +up, he had called for a run around the track to perfect their wind and +endurance, as well as to get off some of the superfluous flesh that +still interfered with their development. The players were tired, but, as +the trainer didn't ask them to do what he was unwilling to do himself, +they lined up without protest and trotted behind him around the track. + +At one place, there was a break in the fence which had not yet been +repaired. Twice they made the circuit of the track, and some of them +were blowing hard, when the relentless leader started on the third +round. As they came abreast of the break, Winters, with a wink, slipped +out of the line and got behind the fence. Here he stayed, resting, while +the others jogged along. They made two circuits more, and when they came +to where he was, Winters, fresh as a daisy, and grinning broadly, +slipped into line again, and trotted along as though nothing had +happened. The joke seemed certainly on the coach, who hadn't once +turned his head, but pounded steadily along, in apparent unconsciousness +that one of his sheep had not been following his leader. At the bench, +after the sixth round, he slowed up. + +"Good work, boys," he said pleasantly, "that makes six full laps for all +of us except Winters. We'll wait here, while he takes his other two." + +The grin faded from Winters' face, to be replaced by a hot flush, as his +eyes fell before the steady look of the coach. There was no help for it, +however. He had been caught "red-handed," and with a sheepish glance at +his laughing comrades, he started on his lonely run around the course +while they stood and watched him. Twice he made the circuit and then +rejoined his companions. The coach said nothing more, as he felt that +the culprit had been punished enough, but the story was too good to +keep, and Winters was "joshed" unmercifully by his mates. The incident +deepened the general respect felt for the coach, and confirmed the +conviction that it was useless to try to fool him, as he had "eyes in +the back of his head." + +He certainly needed all his keenness, in order to accomplish the task he +had set himself. The time was wearing away rapidly, and before long he +would have to rejoin his own team for the championship season. There had +been a good deal of rain, and practice in the field had been impossible +for days at a time. + +To be sure he had the "cage" for use in rainy weather. This was a large +rectangular enclosure, perhaps twice as long as the distance from the +pitcher's box to home plate. The sides were made of rope that stopped +the batted balls. There was ample room for battery work, and here, in +bad weather, the pitchers and catchers toiled unceasingly, while the +other players cultivated their batting eye, and kept their arms limber +by tossing the ball about. But, at best, it was a makeshift, and did not +compare for a moment with work in the open air on the actual diamond. +And the days that now remained for that were distressingly few. + +So he drove them on without mercy. No galley slaves worked harder than +these college boys for their temporary master. He was bound that not an +ounce of superfluous flesh should remain on their bones at the beginning +of the season. Gradually his work began to tell. The soreness and +lameness of the first days disappeared. Arnica and witch hazel were no +longer at a premium. The waistbands went in and the chests stood out. +Their eyes grew bright, their features bronzed, their muscles toughened, +and before long they were like a string of greyhounds tugging at the +leash. + +He noted the change with satisfaction. Superb physical condition was the +first essential of a winning team. His problem, however, was far from +solved. It was only changed. He had made them athletes. Now he must make +them ball players. + +Individually they were that already, in the purely mechanical features +of the game. They were quick fielders, speedy runners and heavy batters. +But they might be all these, and yet not be a winning team. They needed +team work, the deft fitting in of each part with every other, the quick +thinking that, in a fraction of a second, might change defeat to +victory. + +His quick eye noticed, in the practice games, how far they came short of +his ideal. Flynn, the other day, when he caught that fly far out in +center, had hurled it into the plate when he had no earthly chance of +getting the runner. If he had tried for Ames, who was legging it to +third, it would have been an easy out. A moment later Ames counted on a +single. + +Then there was that bonehead play, when, with Hinsdale on third and +Hodge on first, he had given the signal for Hodge to make a break for +second, so as to draw a throw from the catcher and thus let Hinsdale get +in from third. Hodge had done his part all right, but Hinsdale had been +so slow in starting that the catcher was waiting for him with the ball, +when he was still twenty feet from the plate. + +He hated to think of that awful moment, when, with the bases full, White +had deliberately tried to steal second, where Dick was already roosting. +The crestfallen way in which White had come back to the bench, amid +ironical cheers and boisterous laughter, was sufficient guarantee that +that particular piece of foolishness would never be repeated. Luckily, +it had only been in a practice game. Had it happened in a regular +contest, a universal roar would have gone up from one end of the college +world to the other, and poor White would never have heard the last of +it. + +The coach was still sore from this special exhibition of "solid ivory," +when, after their bath and rubdown, he called the boys together. + +"Now, fellows," he said, "I am going to talk to you as though you were +human beings, and I want you to bring your feeble intelligence to bear, +while I try to get inside your brain pans. They say that Providence +watches over drunkards, fools and the Congress of the United States. I +hope it also includes this bunch of alleged ball players. If ever any +aggregation needed special oversight, this crowd of ping-pong players +needs it. Now, you candidates for the old ladies' home, listen to me." + +And listen they did, while he raked them fore and aft and rasped and +scorched them, until, when he finally let them go, their faces were +flaming. No one else in college could have talked to them that way and +"gotten away with it." But his word was law, his rule absolute, and, +behind his bitter tongue, they realized his passion for excellence, his +fierce desire of winning. It was sharp medicine, but it acted like a +tonic, and every man left the "dissecting room," as Tom called it, +determined from that time on he would play with his brains as well as +his muscles. + +As the three chums went toward their rooms, they were overtaken by +"Reddy," the trainer of the team. With the easy democracy of the ball +field, he fell into step and joined in the conversation. + +"Pretty hot stuff the old man gave you, just now," he said, with his +eyes twinkling. + +"Right you are," replied Bert, "but I guess we deserved it. I don't +wonder that he was on edge. It certainly was some pretty raw baseball he +saw played to-day." + +"Sure," assented Reddy, frankly. "It almost went the limit. And yet," he +went on consolingly, "it might have been worse. He only tried to steal +one base with a man already on it. Suppose he'd tried to steal three." + +The boys laughed. Reddy was a privileged character about the college. +The shock of fiery hair, from which he had gained his nickname, covered +a shrewd, if uneducated, mind. He had formerly been a big league star, +but had fractured an ankle in sliding to second. The accident had only +left a slight limp, but it had effectually destroyed his usefulness on +the diamond. As a trainer and rubber, however, he was a wonder, and for +many years he had been connected with the college in that capacity. It +was up to him to keep the men in first-class condition, and he prided +himself on his skill. No "charlie horse" could long withstand his +ministrations, and for strains and sprains of every kind he was famous +in the athletic world. His interest in and loyalty to the college was +almost as great as that of the students themselves. He was in the full +confidence of the coach, and was regarded by the latter as his right +hand. If one was the captain of the college craft, the other was the +first mate, and between them they made a strong combination. He was an +encyclopedia of information on the national game. He knew the batting +and fielding averages of all the stars for many years past, and his +shrewd comments on men and things made him a most interesting companion. +His knowledge of books might be limited, but his knowledge of the +world was immense. He had taken quite a fancy to Bert and shared the +conviction of the coach that he was going to be a tower of strength to +the team. He never missed an opportunity of giving him pointers, and +Bert had profited greatly by his advice and suggestion. Now, as they +walked, he freed his mind along the same lines followed by the coach a +little earlier. + +"That was the right dope that Ainslee gave you, even if it was mixed +with a little tabasco," he said. "It's the 'inside stuff' that counts. +I'd rather have a team of quick thinkers than the heaviest sluggers in +the league. + +"Why," he went on, warming to his subject, "look at the Phillies when Ed +Delehanty, the greatest natural hitter that ever lived, was in his +prime. Say, I saw that fellow once make four home runs in one game +against Terry of the Brooklyns. I don't suppose that a heavier batting +bunch ever existed than the one they had in the league for three +seasons, handrunning. Besides Ed himself, there was Flick and Lajoie, +and a lot of others of the same kind, every one of them fence-breakers. +You couldn't blame any pitcher for having palpitation of the heart when +he faced that gang. They were no slouches in the field, either. Now, +you'd naturally think that nobody would have a chance against them. +Every year the papers touted them to win the pennant, but every year, +just the same, they came in third or fourth at the end of the season. +Now, why was it they didn't cop the flag? I'll tell you why. It was +because every man was playing for himself. He was looking out for his +record. Every time a man came to the bat, he'd try to lose the ball +over the back fence. They wouldn't bunt, they wouldn't sacrifice, they +wouldn't do anything that might hurt that precious record of theirs. It +was every man for himself and no man for the team, and they didn't have +a manager at the head of them that was wise enough or strong enough to +make them do as they were told. + +"Now, on the other hand, look at the White Sox. Dandy fielders, but for +batting--why, if they fell in the river they wouldn't strike the water. +All around the league circuit, they were dubbed the 'Hitless Wonders.' +But they were quick as cats on their feet, and just as quick in knowing +what to do at any stage of the game. What hits they did get counted +double. They didn't get men on the bases as often as the Phillies, but +they got them home oftener, and that's what counts when the score is +added up. That sly old fox, Comiskey, didn't miss a point. It was a bunt +or a sacrifice or a long fly to the outfield or waiting for a base on +balls or anything else he wanted. The men forgot about themselves and +only thought of the team, and those same 'Hitless Wonders' won the +pennant in a walk. + +"Now, that's just the difference between dumb and brainy playing and +that's what makes Ainslee so hot when he sees a bonehead stunt like that +one this afternoon." + +"I suppose that you saw no end of that inside stuff pulled off while you +were in the big league," said Tom. "What do you think is the brightest +bit of thinking you ever saw on the ball field?" + +"Well," said Reddy musingly, "that's hard to tell. I've certainly seen +some stunts on the diamond that would make your hair curl. Some of them +went through, and others were good enough to go through, even if they +didn't. It often depends on the way the umpire looks at it. And very +often it gets by, because the umpire doesn't look at it at all. Many's +the time I've seen Mike Kelly of the old Chicagos--the receiving end of +the ten-thousand-dollar battery--cut the corners at third when the +umpire wasn't looking, and once I saw him come straight across the +diamond from second to the plate without even making a bluff of going to +third. Oh, he was a bird, was Mike. + +"I shall never forget one day when the Chicagos were behind until they +came to the plate for their ninth inning. They were a husky bunch of +swatters and never more dangerous than when they were behind. Well, +they made two runs in that inning, tieing the score and then putting +themselves one to the good. The Bostons came in for their last turn at +the bat and by the time two men were out they had the bases full. +One safe hit to the outfield was all they needed, and they sent a +pinch-hitter to the bat to bring in the fellows that were dancing about +on the bases. + +"It was a dreary, misty afternoon, and, from the grandstand you could +hardly see the fielders. Mike was playing right that day, and the man at +the bat sent a screaming liner out in his direction. He saw at a glance +that he couldn't possibly get his hands on it, but he turned around and +ran with the ball, and, at the last moment, jumped into the air and +apparently collared it. He waved his hands as a signal that he had it +and made off to the clubhouse. The umpire called the batter out and the +game was over. His own teammates hadn't tumbled to the trick, until Mike +told them that he hadn't come anywhere near the ball, and that at that +very moment it was somewhere out on the playing field. It came out +later, and there was some talk of protesting the game, but nothing ever +came of it. When it came to quick work, Mike was certainly 'all wool and +a yard wide.'" + +The boys did not express an opinion as to the moral quality of the +trick, and Reddy went on: + +"Perhaps the slickest thing I ever saw was one that Connie Mack put over +on old Cap Anson of the Chicagos, and, believe me, anybody who could +fool him was going some. His playing days are over now, and all you kids +know of him is by reputation, but, take him by and large, a better +player never pulled on a glove. Well, as I was saying, Anson was playing +one day in Pittsburgh and Mack was catching against him. It had been a +game of hammer and tongs right up to the last inning. The Chicagos, as +the visiting team, came to the bat first in the ninth inning. The +Pittsburghs were one ahead and all they needed to win was to hold the +Chicagos scoreless. Two were out and two on bases when old 'Pop' Anson +came to the bat. There wasn't a man in the league at that time that a +pitcher wouldn't rather have seen facing him than the 'Big Swede.' +However, there was no help for it, and the twirler put on extra steam +and managed to get two strikes on him. The old man set himself for the +third, with fierce determination to 'kill' the ball or die in the +attempt. Mack walked up to the pitcher and told him to send in a ball +next time, and then, the instant the ball was returned to him, to put +over a strike. The pitcher did as directed, and sent over a wide one. +Of course, Anson didn't offer to hit it, but Mack caught it. + +"'Third strike,' he said, throwing off his mask and shin-guards, as +though the game were over. + +"'Third strike nothing,' growled Anson. 'What's the matter with you, +anyway?' and the umpire also motioned Connie back to the plate. + +"'Why, wasn't that a strike?' said Mack, coming back to the plate. At the +same instant the pitcher sent a beauty right over the center of the +rubber. Mack caught it, and before Anson knew the ball had been pitched, +the umpire said, 'You're out.' + +"Holler? Say, you could have heard him from Pittsburgh to Chicago. It +went, though. You see, Anson, looking at Connie without his mask or +shin-guards, was figuring that he would have to get into all that +harness again, before the game went on. He took too much for granted, +and it doesn't pay to do that in baseball. I don't suppose he ever +forgave Connie for making him look like thirty cents before that holiday +crowd. And I don't suppose that Mack would have taken a thousand dollars +for the satisfaction it gave him to tally one on the old man. + +"You fellows wouldn't believe me, I suppose, if I told you I seen a dog +pull some of that inside stuff once? Sure, I ain't fooling, although of +course the pup didn't know he was doing it. It was in Detroit when a +big game was on and the home team was at the bat. They needed three runs +to win and there were two men on bases. The batter lined out a peach +between left and center. There were no automobiles in those days, but a +whole raft of carriages were down back of center field. A big coach dog +saw the ball coming and chased it, got it in his mouth and scooted down +under the bleachers, the left and center fielders yelling to him to drop +it and racing after him like mad. He was a good old rooter for the home +team, all right, though, and, by the time they got it away from him, the +whole bunch had crossed the plate and the game was won. The home team +boys found out whom he belonged to, and clubbed together and got him a +handsome collar. + +"Another funny thing I seen one time that makes me laugh whenever I +think of it," continued Reddy, "was when a high fly was hit to left +field with three men on bases. It ought to have been an easy out and +nine times out of ten would have been. But, as luck would have it, the +ball slipped through the fielder's fingers and went into the outside +upper pocket of his baseball shirt. He tried desperately to get it out, +but it was wedged in so tight he couldn't. All this time the men were +legging it around the bases. At last, Mitchell--that was the fellow's +name--ran in toward third and caught the batter, just as he was +rounding the base on his way to home. He grabbed him and hugged him +tight and they fell to the ground together. Say, you'd have died +laughing if you'd seen them two fellows wrestling, Mitchell trying to +force the other man's hand into his pocket so that the ball could touch +him, and the other fighting to keep his hand out. It was a hard thing +for the umpire to settle, but he finally let the run count on the ground +that Mitchell had no right to interfere with him. Poor old Mitchell was +certainly up against it that day, good and plenty." + +By this time they had reached the college dormitory, and the boys +reluctantly bade Reddy good-by. They had been immensely amused and +interested by his anecdotes, although they did not altogether agree with +his easy philosophy of life. To Reddy all was fair in love or war or +baseball, provided you could "put it over." + +"But it isn't," said Bert, as they went upstairs. "Strategy is one thing +and cheating is another. It's all right to take your opponent unawares +and take advantage of his carelessness or oversight. If he's slow and +you're quick, if he's asleep and you're awake, you've got a perfect +right to profit by it. Now take for instance that case of Mack and +Anson. Whether that was a strike or a ball was a thing to be decided +by the umpire alone, and Anson ought not to have paid any attention +to Mack's bluff. Then, too, because Mack usually put on his mask and +shin-guards before the ball was pitched, Anson had no right to assume +that he would _always_ do so. Mack acted perfectly within his rights, +and Anson was simply caught napping and had no kick coming. + +"But when you come to 'cutting the corners' and pretending that the ball +was caught when it wasn't, that isn't straight goods. It's 'slick,' all +right, but it is the slickness of the crooked gambler and the three-card +monte man. It's playing with marked cards and loaded dice, and I don't +care for any of it in mine." + +"Right you are, old fellow," said Tom, heartily, clapping him on the +back, "my sentiments to a dot. I want to win and hate to lose, but I'd +rather lose a game any day than lie or cheat about it." + +Which he was to prove sooner than he expected. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE TRIPLE PLAY + + +The days flew rapidly by and the time drew near for the Spring trip. All +the members of the team were to get a thorough trying out in actual +games with the crack teams of various colleges before the regular +pennant race began. Then the "weeding out" process would have been +completed, and only those remain on the team who had stood the test +satisfactorily. The trip was to take about two weeks, and they were to +"swing around the circle" as far west as Cincinnati and as far south as +Washington. + +They did not expect much trouble in coming back with a clean score. As +one of the "Big Three," their team was rarely taken into camp by any of +the smaller colleges. They usually won, occasionally tied, but very +seldom lost. Yet, once in a while, their "well-laid schemes" "went +agley" and they met with a surprise party from some husky team that +faced them unafraid and refused to be cowed by their reputation. + +Bert's college was one of the largest and most important in the country. +The "Big Three" formed a triangular league by themselves alone. Each +played three games with each of the other two, and the winner of the +majority was entitled to claim the championship of the "Big Three." And +it was generally, though not officially, admitted, that the team capable +of such a feat was the greatest college baseball team in the whole +country. Their games were followed by the papers with the greatest +interest and fully reported. The "Blues," as Bert's college was usually +referred to on account of the college colors, had won the pennant the +year before from the "Grays" and the "Maroons," their traditional +opponents, after a heart-breaking struggle, and columns of newspaper +space had been devoted to the concluding game. This year, however, the +prediction had been freely made that history would not repeat itself. +Both the Grays and Maroons were composed of tried and tested veterans, +while, as we have seen, Ainslee had been compelled to fill several +important positions with new material. No matter how good this might +prove to be, it takes time and practice to weld it together in one smooth +machine, and it is seldom done in a single season. + +Moreover, the time was at hand when Ainslee would have to rejoin his own +team, and his keen eye still noted a number of rough places that needed +planing and polishing. For this reason he was all the more anxious to +secure good results during this trip. After it was over, he would have +to turn over the team to a manager and to Reddy, the assistant coach and +trainer. The manager would confine himself chiefly to the technical and +financial features, but it was arranged that Reddy should have full +charge of the team on the field. Ainslee reposed implicit confidence in +him because of his shrewd judgment, his knowledge of men, and his vast +baseball experience. + +West Point was to be their first stop, and it was a jolly crowd, full of +the joy and zest of living, that embarked on the steamer _Hendrik +Hudson_, and sailed up the lordly river, the finest in the world, as +most of the boys agreed, though some, who had traveled, were inclined to +favor the claims of the Rhine to that distinction. They were disposed to +envy the Dutch explorer, who, first among civilized men, had sailed up +the river that bore his name and feasted his eyes upon its incomparable +beauty; a delight that contrasted so strongly with the final scene when +he and his little son had been thrust by a mutinous crew into an open +boat on storm-tossed Arctic waters, and left to perish miserably. +The reward, as Dick cynically insisted, of most of the world's great +benefactors, who have been stoned, burned, or otherwise slain by their +fellows, while posterity, too late, has crowned them with laurels and +honored them with monuments. + +The game with Uncle Sam's cadets was a fight "for blood," as was +entirely appropriate for future soldiers. In the seventh, with the +cadets one run behind, one of them attempted to steal from second to +third. Hinsdale got the ball down to Tom like a shot, but, in the +mix-up, it was hard to tell whether the runner had made the base or not. +The umpire at first called it out, but the captain of the cadets kicked +so vigorously that the umpire asked Tom directly whether he had touched +him in time. + +For an instant Tom hesitated, but only for an instant. Then he +straightened up and answered frankly: + +"No, I didn't; he just beat me to it." + +It is only just to Tom's companions to say that, after the first minute +of disappointment, they felt that he could and should have done nothing +else. The standard of college honor is high, and when it came to a +direct issue, few, if any, of the boys would have acted differently. +Even Reddy, with his free and easy views on winning games "by hook or +crook," as long as you win them, felt a heightened respect for Tom, +although he shook his head dubiously when the man from third came home +on a sacrifice, tieing the score. + +The tie still persisted in the ninth, and the game went into extra +innings. In the tenth the Blues scored a run and the cadets made a +gallant effort to do the same, or even "go them one better." A man was +on second and another on third, when one of their huskiest batters came +to the plate. He caught the ball squarely "on the seam" and sent it +straight toward third, about two feet over Tom's head. He made a +tremendous jump, reached up his gloved hand and the ball stuck there. +That of course put out the batter. The man on third, thinking it was a +sure hit, was racing to the plate. As Tom came down, he landed right on +the bag, thus putting out the runner, who had turned and was desperately +trying to get back. In the meantime the man on second, who had taken a +big lead, had neared third. As he turned to go back to second, Tom +chased him and touched him just before he reached the bag. Three men +were out, the game was won, and Tom was generously cheered, even by +the enemy, while his comrades went wild. He had made a "triple play +unassisted," the dream of every player and one of the rarest feats ever +"pulled off" on the baseball diamond. + +During the trip, Winters and Benson occupied the pitcher's box more +often than Bert, and it was evident that, despite Bert's showing in the +early spring practice, both Ainslee and Reddy were more inclined to pin +their faith this season on their tested stars than on the new recruit. +They really believed that Bert had "more on the ball" than either of the +others, but were inclined to let him have a year on the bench before +putting him in for the "big" games. They knew the tremendous importance +of experience and they also knew how nerve-racking was the strain of +playing before a crowd of perhaps twenty-five thousand frenzied rooters. +Bert _might_ do this, but Winters and Benson had actually _done_ it, and +they could not leave this significant fact out of their calculations. So +they carried him along gradually, never letting up on their instruction +and advice and occasionally putting him in to pitch one or two innings +to relieve the older men after the game was pretty surely won. + +Bert was too sensible and sportsmanlike to resent this, and followed +with care and enthusiasm the training of his mentors. A better pair of +teachers could not have been found and Bert made rapid progress. +Something new was constantly coming up, and, as he confided to Dick, he +never dreamed there was such a variety of curves. There was "the hook," +"the knuckle," "the palm," "the high floater," "the thumb jump," "the +cross fire," and so many others that there seemed to be no end to them. +But though he sought to add them all to his repertory, he followed +Ainslee's earnest urging to perfect his wonderful fadeaway, and gave +more attention to that than to any other. + +"And to think," he said to Tom, one day, "it isn't so very long ago that +people didn't believe it was possible to throw a curve ball at all and +learned men wrote articles to show that it couldn't be done." + +"Yes," said Tom, "they remind me of the eminent scientist who wrote a +book proving, to his own satisfaction, at least, that a vessel couldn't +cross the Atlantic under steam. But the first copy of the book that +reached America was brought over by a steamer." + +"Yes," chimed in Dick, "they were like the farmer who had read the +description of a giraffe and thought it a fairy story. One day a circus +came to town with a giraffe as one of its attractions. The farmer walked +all around it, and then, turning to his friends, said stubbornly, 'There +ain't no such animal.'" + +Reddy joined in the laugh that followed and took up the conversation. +"Well," he said, while the others in the Pullman car in which they were +traveling drew around him, for they always liked to see him get started +on his recollections, "the honor of having discovered the curve rests +between Arthur Cummings and Bobby Mathews. It's never been clearly +settled which 'saw it first.' Before their time it used to be straight, +fast ones and a slow teaser that was thrown underhand. But even at that, +don't run away with the idea that those old fellows weren't some +pitchers. Of course, they were handicapped by the fact that at first +they had to keep on pitching until the player hit it. The four-ball +rule, and making a foul count for a hit, and all those modern things +that have been invented to help the pitcher, hadn't been thought of +then. Naturally, that made heavy batting games. Why, I know that the old +Niagara team of Buffalo won a game once by 201 to 11." + +"Yes," broke in Ainslee, "and the first college game in 1859 was won by +Amherst over Williams by a score of 66 to 32." + +"Gee," said Hinsdale, "the outfielders in those days must have had +something to do, chasing the ball." + +"They certainly did," agreed Reddy, "but, of course, that sort of thing +didn't last very long. The pitchers soon got the upper hand, and then, +good-by to the big scores. + +"I suppose," he went on, "that the real beginning of baseball, as we +know it to-day, goes back to the old 'Red Stockings' of Cincinnati, in +'69 and '70. There was a team for you. George and Harry Wright and +Barnes and Spalding, and a lot of others just as good, went over the +country like a prairie fire. There wasn't anybody that could stand up +against them. Why, they went all though one season without a single +defeat. It got to be after a while that the other teams felt about +them just as they say boxers used to feel when they stood up against +Sullivan. They were whipped before they put up their hands. The next +year they got their first defeat at the hands of the old Atlantics of +Brooklyn. I was a wee bit of a youngster then, but I saw that game +through a hole in the fence. Talk about excitement! At the end of the +ninth inning the score was tied, and the Atlantics were anxious to stop +right there. It was glory enough to tie the mighty Red Stockings--a +thing that had never been done before--without taking any further +chances. But Harry Wright, the captain, was stubborn--I guess he was +sorry enough for it afterwards--and the game went on, only to have the +Atlantics win in the eleventh by a score of 7 to 6. I've seen many a +game since, but never one to equal that. + +"Of course the game has kept on improving all the time. I ain't denying +that. There used to be a good deal of 'rough stuff' in the old days. The +gamblers started in to spoil it, and sometimes as much as $20,000 would +be in the mutual pools that used to be their way of betting. Then, too, +the players didn't use to get much pay and, with so much money up, it +was a big temptation to 'throw' games. It got to be so, after a while, +that you wouldn't know whether the game was on the level or not. The +only salvation of the game was to have some good strong men organize and +put it on a solid footing and weed out the grafters. They did this and +got a gang of them 'dead to rights' in the old Louisville team. They +expelled four of them and barred them from the game forever, and, +although they moved heaven and earth to get back, they never did. And +since that time the game has been as clean as a hound's tooth. As a +matter of fact, it's about the only game in America, except perhaps +football, that you can count on as being absolutely on the square. + +"It's a great sport, all right, and I don't wonder it is called the +national game. It's splendid exercise for every muscle of the body and +every faculty of the brain. Rich or poor, great or small, everybody with +a drop of sporting blood in his veins likes it, even if he can't play +it. At the Washington grounds a box seat is reserved for the President, +and I notice that no matter how heavy the 'cares of state,' he's usually +on hand and rooting for the home team. Why, I've heard that when the +committee went to notify Lincoln that he was nominated for President, he +was out at the ball ground, playing 'one old cat,' and the committee had +to wait until he'd had his turn at bat. It may not be true, but it's +good enough to be." + +"And not only is it our national game," put in Ainslee, "but other +countries are taking it up as well. They have dandy baseball teams in +Cuba and Japan, that would make our crack nines hustle to beat them, +and, in Canada, it is already more popular than cricket." + +"I've heard," said Tom, "that not long ago they made a cable connection +with some island way up in the Arctic Circle. The World's Series was +being played then, and the very first message that came over the cable +from the little bunch of Americans up there was: 'What's the score?'" + +"Yes," laughed Ainslee, "it gets in the blood, and with the real 'dyed +in the wool' fan it's the most important thing in the world. You've +heard perhaps of the pitcher who was so dangerously sick that he wasn't +expected to live. The family doctor stood at the bedside and took his +temperature. He shook his head gravely. + +"'It's 104,' he said. + +"'You're a liar,' said the pitcher, rousing himself, 'my average last +season was .232, and it would have been more if the umpire hadn't robbed +me.'" + +The train drew up at Washington just then, and the laughing crowd +hustled to get their traps together. Here they played the last game of +the season with the strong Georgetown University nine, and just "nosed +them out" in an exciting game that went eleven innings. While in the +city they visited the Washington Monument, that matchless shaft of stone +that dwarfs everything else in the National Capital. Of course the boys +wanted to try to catch a ball dropped from the top, but the coach would +not consent. + +"Only two or three men in the world have been able to do that," he said, +"and they took big chances. I've had too much trouble getting you +fellows in good condition, to take any needless risks." + +So the boys turned homeward, bronzed, trained, exultant over their +string of well-earned victories, and, in the approving phrase of Reddy, +"fit to fight for a man's life." Ainslee left them at New York to join +his team amid a chorus of cheers from the young athletes that he had +done so much to form. From now on, it was "up to them" to justify his +hopes and bring one more pennant to the dear old Alma Mater. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +WINNING HIS SPURS + + +"Play ball!" shouted the umpire, and the buzz of conversation in the +grandstand ceased. All eyes were fastened on the two teams about to +enter on the first important game of the season, and people sat up +straight and forgot everything else, so great was their interest in the +forthcoming event. + +All the games that the Blues had played up to this time had been with +teams over which they felt reasonably sure of winning a victory, but the +nine they had to face to-day was a very different proposition. Most of +the young fellows composing it were older and had had more experience +than the Blues, and the latter knew that they would have to do their +very utmost to win, if win they did. The thing they most relied on, +however, was the fact that their pitcher was very good, and they +believed that he would probably win the day for them. + +Of course, they had a lot of confidence in themselves, too, but the +importance of a steady, efficient pitcher to any team can hardly be +exaggerated. It gives them a solid foundation on which to build up a +fast, winning team, and nobody realized this better than Mr. Ainslee, +their veteran coach. + +"Only give me one good pitcher," he was wont to say, "and I'll guarantee +to turn out a team that will win the college championship." + +The star on the college team this year, Winters, was, without doubt, an +exceptionally good pitcher. He had considerable speed and control, and +his curves could generally be counted on to elude the opposing batsmen. +He was the only son in a wealthy family, however, and, as a consequence, +had a very exaggerated idea of his own importance. He was inclined to +look down on the fellows who did not travel in what he called "his set," +and often went out of his way to make himself disagreeable to them. + +As Dick put it, "He liked to be the 'main squeeze,'" and he had been +much irritated over the way in which Bert had attracted the coach's +attention, and the consequent talk on the campus regarding the "new +pitcher." He and his friends made it a point to sneer at and discredit +these stories, however, and to disparage Bert on every possible +occasion. + +The veteran trainer had not forgotten, however, and moreover he was +worried in secret about Winters. It was, of course, his duty to see +that all the players attended strictly to business, and let no outside +interests interfere with their training. Of late, however, he had heard +from several sources that Winters had been seen in the town resorts at +various times when he was supposed to be in bed, and Reddy knew, none +better, what that meant. + +However, he hoped that the pitcher would not force him to an open +rebuke, and so had said nothing as yet. Nevertheless, as has been said, +he kept Bert in mind as a possible alternative, although he hoped that +he would not be forced to use him. + +"He's had too little experience yet," he mused. "If I should put him in +a game, he'd go up like a rocket, most likely. Them green pitchers can't +be relied upon, even if he did fool Ainslee," and the veteran, in spite +of his worry, was forced to smile over the memory of how Bert had struck +the great coach out in practice. + +Previous to the actual start of the game both teams had been warming up +on the field, and each had won murmurs of applause from the grandstands. +To the wise ones, however, it was apparent that the Blues were a trifle +shaky in fielding work, and many were seen to shake their heads +dubiously. + +"The youngsters will have to do some tall hustling if they expect to +win from the visitors," one gray-haired man was heard to say, "but they +say they have a crackerjack pitcher, that's one thing in their favor." + +"Yes, of course," agreed his friend, "but it's not only that; the other +fellows have had a whole lot more experience than our boys. And that +counts an awful lot when it comes to a pinch." + +"You're right, it does," acquiesced the other; "however, there's no +use crossing the bridge till we come to it. We'll hope for the best, +anyway." + +After a little more practice both teams retired to the clubhouse to make +their last preparations. Not many minutes later everything was in +readiness, and the teams trotted into their positions. Of course, the +visitors went to bat first, and then could be heard the umpire's raucous +cry of "Play ball!" that ushered in the game. + +A wave of handclapping and a storm of encouraging shouts and yells swept +over the grandstand, and then ensued a breathless silence. The first two +balls Winters pitched were wild, but then he steadied down, and struck +the first batter out. The second man up swung wildly, but after having +two strikes called, popped an easy fly toward first base that Dick +smothered "easier than rolling off a log," as he afterwards said. The +third man met with no better fate, and Winters struck him out with +apparent ease. + +As the fielders trotted in, the elderly gentleman who had entertained +such doubts before chuckled, "Well, now if our boys can only get in a +little stick work, and keep on holding them down like this, it looks as +though they might win, after all." + +Tom was the first man up at the bat for the Blues. But the pitcher +opposed to him had lots of "stuff" on his delivery, and the best Tom +could do was to lift an easy foul that dropped into the catcher's glove. + +The next man up was struck out, as was also the third, and the inning +ended without a run for either team. + +From his seat on the substitutes' bench, Bert had watched the game up to +this point with eager eyes, and had felt that he would almost have given +ten years of his life to take part in it. He knew there was practically +no chance of this, however, and so with a sigh of regret settled back to +watch the further progress of the game. + +The next two innings also passed without a run scored on either side, +and it became more and more evident as the game went on that this was to +be a pitchers' battle. + +The first man up at bat for the visitors at the beginning of the fourth +inning was considered their heaviest hitter, and as he walked up to +the plate he was swinging two bats, one of which he threw aside as he +stepped to the plate. From the way he crouched in readiness for the ball +it could be seen that he meant business, and the coach called Winters +over to him. + +"You want to be mighty careful what you feed this man," he whispered, +"and whatever you do, keep them low. He likes high balls, and if you +give him one up as high as his shoulder, he'll swat it, sure." + +"Oh, you can bet he won't get a hit off me," replied Winters, carelessly. +"I've got that team eating out of my hand." + +"Don't be too sure of that, my lad," warned the coach, but Winters only +smiled in a superior fashion and strolled back to the box. + +The first ball he pitched was an incurve, but it looked good to the +batter, and he swung at it viciously. He missed it clean, and the umpire +shouted, "One strike!" + +This made Winters a little careless, and the next ball he pitched was +just the one that the coach had warned him against. The batter took a +step forward, swung fiercely at the ball, and there was a sharp crack as +the ball and bat connected. The ball shot back with the speed of a +bullet, and the outfielders started in hopeless chase. Baird, the +batter, tore around the bases, and amid a veritable riot of cheering +from the visiting rooters and a glum silence from the home supporters, +charged across the sack for a home run! + +Too late now Winters thought of Reddy's warning, and wished he had given +it more heed. He knew that in so close a contest as this promised to be, +one run would probably be enough to win the game, and this knowledge +made him nervous. The breaks from training that he had been guilty of +lately began to tell, also, and he commenced to lose confidence, a fatal +thing in a pitcher. However, he managed to get through the inning +somehow, and walked to the bench with a crestfallen air. + +The coach forbore to reproach him just then, as he knew that it would +probably do more harm than good. However, he kept a sharp eye on him, +and inwardly was very much worried. He knew that Benson was not speedy +enough to stand much chance against as strong a team as they were now +playing, and though a great admirer of Bert, he did not know whether he +had the stamina to go a full game. He resolved to give Winters every +chance to recover himself, and prayed that he would be able to do so. + +The first man of the home team to go to bat struck out on the hot curves +served up to him, but Dick connected with the ball for a clean two-base +hit. A great cheer went up at this feat, but it was destined to have +little effect. The second man fouled out and the third raised an easy +fly to the pitcher's box, and so Dick's pretty drive did them no good. + +In the fifth inning Winters' pitching became more and more erratic, and +to Reddy's experienced eye it became evident that he would soon "blow +up." So he strolled over to the substitutes' bench and sat down beside +Bert. + +"How does your arm feel to-day, Wilson?" he inquired. "Do you feel as +though you could pitch if I happened to need you?" + +Bert's heart gave a great leap, but he managed to subdue his joy as he +realized the trainer's meaning, and answered, "Why, yes, I think I could +make out all right. Do you think you will need me?" + +"Well, there's just a chance that I may," replied Reddy, "and I want you +to be ready to jump out and warm up the minute I give you the signal." + +"I'll be ready, sir, I can promise you that," replied Bert, earnestly, +and the trainer appeared a little more hopeful as he turned away. + +"I can at least count on that young chap doing the best that is in him, +at any rate," he thought; "he certainly doesn't look like a quitter to +me." + +In their half of the fifth inning the home team was unable to make any +headway against the opposing pitcher's curves, which seemed to get +better and better as the game progressed. Dick felt, in some mysterious +way, that his team was losing heart, and his one hope was that the coach +would give Bert a chance to pitch. The boys, one after another, struck +out or lifted easy flies, and not one man reached first base. + +The visitors now came to bat again, and the first ball Winters pitched +was slammed out into left field for a two-base hit. The next batter up +stepped to the plate with a grin on his face, and one of his teammates +called, "Go to it, Bill. Eat 'em alive. We've got their goat now." + +The man thus adjured leaned back, and as Winters delivered a slow, easy +ball he swung viciously and sent a smoking grounder straight for the +pitcher's box. The ball passed Winters before he had time to stoop for +it, but White, the shortstop, made a pretty pick-up, and slammed the +ball to Dick at first. The ball arrived a second too late to put the +runner out, however, and in the meantime the first man had reached +third. Now was a crucial moment, and everything depended on the pitcher. +All eyes were fastened on him, but from something in his attitude Reddy +knew that he was on the verge of a breakdown. Nor was he mistaken in +this, for out of the next five balls Winters pitched, only one strike +was called. The rest were balls, and the umpire motioned to the batter +to take first base. Of course this advanced the man on first to second +base, thus leaving all the bases full and none out. + +As Winters was winding up preparatory to delivering one of his erstwhile +famous drops, Reddy motioned to Bert, and in a second the latter was up +and had shed his sweater. He trotted over to where Reddy was standing, +and said, "You wanted me, didn't you?" + +"Yes," replied Reddy, in a tense voice; "get Armstrong there"--motioning +toward the substitute catcher--"and warm up as quickly as you can. Take +it easy, though!" he commanded; "don't start in too hard! You might +throw your arm out on the first few balls. Just limber up gradually." + +"All right, sir," replied Bert, and called to Armstrong. + +In the meantime Winters had pitched two wild balls, and the visiting +rooters were yelling like maniacs. The third ball was an easy inshoot, +and the batter, making a nice calculation, landed it fair and square. It +flew over into left field, between the pitcher's box and third base, and +before it could be returned to the waiting catcher two runners had +crossed the plate. This made the score three to none in favor of the +visitors, with two men on base and none out. Matters looked hopeless +indeed for the home team, and one of the spectators groaned, "It's all +over now but the shouting, fellows. Winters is up higher than a kite, +and we've got nobody to put in his place. This game will just be a +slaughter from now on." + +"How about young Wilson?" asked his friend. "I heard the other day that +he had showed up pretty well in practice. It looks now as though Reddy +meant to put him in the box. See, he's warming up over there right now." + +"Ye gods and little fishes!" lamented the other. "Now we are cooked, for +fair. It was bad enough with Winters pitching, but now when they put +that greenhorn Freshie in, we'll just be a laughing stock, that's all. +Why doesn't the band play the funeral march?" + +"Aw, wait and see," said the other. "I don't suppose we've got the ghost +of a show, but Dick Trent was telling me of some pretty good stunts this +boy Wilson has pulled off before this. He was telling me about a race in +which Wilson drove a car across the tape a winner after a dickens of a +grilling race. Any fellow that's got nerve enough to drive a racing auto +ought to be able to hold his own at baseball or anything else. You just +sit tight and don't groan so much, and he may show us something yet." + +"Forget it, Bill, forget it," returned the other. "They've got our team +running, and they'll keep it running, take my word for it." + +"That's right," agreed another, "we might as well go home now as to +wait for the slaughter. This game is over, right now." + +"Hey, look at that!" yelled the first speaker, excitedly. "There goes +Wilson into the box. Three cheers for Wilson, fellows. Now! One! two! +three!" + +The cheers were given by the faithful fans, but they had given up hope. +It was indeed, as the rooter had said, however, and Bert was actually +being given an opportunity to pitch in a big game, when he had only been +with the team a few months! Many a pitcher has been a substitute until +his junior year, and never had a chance like this one. And, to tell +the truth, Reddy himself would have been the last one to put what he +considered an inexperienced pitcher into the box, if he had had any +alternative. Now, however, it was a case of having no choice, because he +knew that the game was irretrievably lost if Winters continued to pitch, +so he put Bert in as a forlorn hope, but without any real expectation +that he would win. + +As he noticed the confident way in which Bert walked to the box, however, +he plucked up courage a little, but immediately afterward shook his head. +"Pshaw," he thought, "they've got too big a lead on us. If Wilson can +only hold them down so that they don't make monkeys of us, it will be +more than I have a right to hope." + +For all Bert's nonchalant air, however, it must not be thought that he +was not excited or nervous. He had had comparatively little baseball +experience in such fast company as this. He had learned, however, +to keep a cool and level head in times of stress, and he knew that +everything depended on this. So he just gritted his teeth, and when he +motioned to the catcher to come up and arrange signals, the latter +hardly suspected what a turmoil was going on under Bert's cool exterior. + +"Just take it easy, kid," he advised. "Don't try to put too much stuff +on the ball at first, and pitch as though we were only practising back +of the clubhouse. Don't let those blamed rooters get you nervous, +either. Take your time before each ball, and we'll pull through all +right. Now, just get out there, and show them what you've got." + +Bert took his position in the box, and the umpire tossed him a brand new +ball. Remembering the catcher's advice, he wound up very deliberately, +and pitched a swift, straight one square over the middle of the plate. +The batsman had expected the "greenhorn" to try a fancy curve, and so +was not prepared for a ball of this kind. "One str-r-rike!" yelled the +umpire, and the catcher muttered approvingly to himself. The batter, +however, took a fresh grip on his bat, and resolved to "knock the cover +off" the next one. Bert delivered a wide out curve, and the batter swung +hard, but only touched the ball, for a foul, and had another strike +called on him. "Aw, that kid's running in luck," he thought. "But watch +me get to him this time." + +The next ball Bert pitched looked like an easy one, and the batter, +measuring its flight carefully with his eye, drew his bat back and swung +with all the weight of his body. Instead of sending the ball over the +fence, however, as he had confidently expected, the momentum of his +swing was spent against empty air, and so great was its force that the +bat flew out of his hand. "Three strikes," called the umpire, and amid a +riot of cheering from the home rooters the batter gazed stupidly about +him. + +"By the great horn spoon," he muttered, under his breath, "somebody must +have come along and stolen that ball just as I was going to hit it. I'll +swear that if it was in the air when I swung at it that I would have +landed it." + +As he walked to the bench the captain said, "What's the matter with you, +Al? Has the freshie got you buffaloed?" + +"Aw, nix on that, cap," replied the disgruntled batter. "Wait until you +get up there. Either that kid's having a streak of luck or else he's got +that ball hypnotized. That last one he pitched just saw my bat coming +and dodged under it. I think he's got 'em trained." + +"Why, you poor simp," laughed the captain; "just wait till I get up +there. Why, we all saw that last ball you bit on so nicely. It was a +cinch, wasn't it, boys?" + +It sure was, they all agreed, but the unfortunate object of these +pleasantries shook his head in a puzzled way, and stared at Bert. + +As it happened, the next batter was the same who had scored the home run +in the first part of the game, and he swaggered confidently to the +plate. + +Bert had overheard what the coach had told Winters in regard to this +batter, so he delivered a low ball, which the batter let pass. "One +ball," called the umpire, and the captain of the visitors' team +remarked, "I thought he couldn't last. That was just a streak of +'beginner's luck,' that's all." + +The next ball looked good to the batsman, and he lunged hard at the +white sphere. It was a tantalizing upshoot, however, and he raised an +easy fly to Dick at first. The man on second had become so absorbed in +watching Bert, that when Dick wheeled like lightning and snapped the +ball to second, he was almost caught napping, and barely got back in +time. + +The home rooters, who up to now had been rather listless in their +cheering, now started in with a rush, and a veritable storm of cheering +and singing shook the grandstand. The coach drew a deep breath, and +began to allow himself the luxury of a little hope. + +The third man up was the captain, who had boasted so of what he was +going to do to the "green" pitcher. As he rose to go to the plate he +remarked, "Watch me, now, Al, and I'll show you what it is like to swat +a ball over the fence." + +He selected a very heavy bat, and stepped jauntily to the plate. Bert +had been warned to do his best against this man, as he was popularly +known as the "pitcher's hoodoo." He resolved to use his "fadeaway" ball +for all it was worth, and shook his head at all the catcher's signals +until the latter signaled for the fadeaway. He then nodded his head, and +wound up very deliberately. Then he pitched what looked like a straight, +fast ball to the expectant batsman. The latter gripped his bat and put +all his strength into what he fondly hoped would be a "homer." His bat +whistled as it cut the air, but in some mysterious way failed to even +touch the ball, which landed with a loud "plunk!" in the catcher's mitt. +A roar of derisive laughter went up from the rooters, and the captain +looked rather foolish. "That's mighty queer," he thought, "there must +be something the matter with the balance of this bat. I guess I'll try +another." Accordingly, he took a fresh bat, and waited with renewed +confidence for the next ball. This time he swung more carefully, but +with no better result. "Two strikes!" barked the umpire, and the +frenzied rooters stood up on their seats and yelled themselves hoarse. +"Wilson! Wilson! Wilson!" they roared in unison, and Bert felt a great +surge of joy go through him. His arm felt in perfect condition, and he +knew that if called upon he could have pitched the whole game and not +have been overtired. He handled the ball carefully, and fitted it in +just the right position in his hand. He resolved to try the same ball +once more, as he thought the batter would probably think that he would +try something else. This he did, and although the batter felt sure that +he had this ball measured to the fraction of an inch, his vicious swing +encountered nothing more substantial than air. + +"Three strikes!" called the umpire, and amid a storm of cheering and +ridicule from the grandstand the discomfited batter slammed his bat down +and walked over to his teammates. + +It was now Al's turn to crow, and he did so unmercifully. "What's the +matter, cap?" he inquired, grinning wickedly. "That kid hasn't got your +goat, has he? Where's that homer over the fence that you were alluding +to a few minutes ago?" + +"Aw, shut up!" returned the captain, angrily. "That Freshie's got a +delivery that would fool Ty Cobb. There's no luck about that. It's just +dandy pitching." + +"I could have told you that," said the other, "but I thought I'd let you +find it out for yourself. That boy's a wonder." + +The home team trotted in from the field eagerly, and there was a look in +their eyes that Reddy was glad to see. "They've got some spirit and +confidence in them now," he thought. "I certainly think I've got a +kingpin pitcher at last. But I'd better not count my chickens before +they're hatched. He may go all to pieces in the next inning." + +As they came in, Dick and Tom slapped Bert on the back. "We knew you +could do it, old scout!" they exulted. "What will old Winters' pals have +to say after this?" + +Reddy said little, but scanned Bert's face carefully, and seemed +satisfied. "I guess you'll do, Wilson," he said. "We'll let you pitch +this game out, and see what you can do." + +Sterling was the first man up, and he walked to the plate with a resolve +to do or die written on his face. He planted his feet wide apart, and +connected with the first pitched ball for a hot grounder that got him +safely to first base. The rooters cheered frantically, and the cheering +grew when it was seen that Bert was the next batter. This was more in +recognition, however, of his good work in the box. Heavy hitting is not +expected of a pitcher, and nobody looked to see Bert do much in this +line. While he had been watching the game from the bench, he had studied +the opposing pitcher's delivery carefully, and had learned one or two +facts regarding it. He felt sure that if the pitcher delivered a certain +ball, he would be able to connect with it, but was disappointed at +first. Bert bit at a wide out curve, and fouled the next ball, which was +a fast, straight one. But as the pitcher wound up for the third one +Bert's heart leaped, for he saw that this was going to be the ball that +he had been hoping for. He grasped his bat near the end, for Bert was +what is known as a "free swinger," and crouched expectantly. The ball +came to him like a shot, but he swung his bat savagely and clipped the +ball with terrific force toward third base. Almost before the spectators +realized that the ball had been hit, Bert was racing toward first base, +and the man already on base was tearing up the sod toward second. + +The ball scorched right through the hands of the third baseman, and +crashed against the left field fence. The fielders scurried wildly after +it, but before they could return it to the infield, the man on first +base had scored, and Bert was on third. + +"We'll win yet! We'll win yet! We'll win yet!" croaked a rooter, too +hoarse to yell any longer. "What's the matter with Wilson?" and in one +vast roar came the answer, "HE'S ALL RIGHT!" + +The home team players were all dancing around excitedly, and they +pounded Hinsdale unmercifully on the back, for he was up next. "Bust a +hole through the fence, Hinsdale," they roared; "they're on the run now. +Go in and break a bat over the next ball!" + +"Hin" fairly ran to the plate in his eagerness, and, as he afterward +said, he felt as though he "couldn't miss if he tried." The first ball +over the plate he slammed viciously at the pitcher, who stopped the +ball, but fumbled it a few seconds, thus giving him a chance to get to +first. The pitcher then hurled the ball to the home plate, in the hope +of cutting off Bert from scoring, but was a fraction of a second too +late, and Bert raced in with one more run. + +The pitcher now tightened up, however, and put his whole soul into +stopping this winning streak, and it looked as though he had succeeded. +The next two batters struck out on six pitched balls, and the visiting +rooters had a chance to exercise their voices, which had had a rest for +some time. Drake was up next, and he knocked out a long fly that looked +good, but was pulled down by a fielder after a pretty run. This ended +the sixth inning, and the visitors were still one run ahead. + +As Bert was about to go onto the field, Reddy said, "Don't take it too +hard, Wilson. Don't mind if they do hit a ball sometimes. If you try to +strike each man out without fail, it makes too great a tax on your arm. +Let the fielders work once in a while." + +With these instructions in mind, Bert eased up a little in the next +inning, but the visitors had no chance to do any effective slugging. +Twice they got a man on first base, but each time Bert struck out the +following batter or only allowed him to hit the ball for an easy fly +that was smothered without any trouble. + +Consequently the visitors failed to score that inning, but they were +still one run ahead, and knew that if they could hold Bert's team down +they would win the game. + +The home team failed to "get to" the ball for anything that looked like +a run, and the seventh inning ended with no change in the score. + +"Well, Wilson, it's up to you to hold them down," said Reddy, as the +players started for their positions in the beginning of the eighth +inning. "Do you feel as though you could do it?" + +"Why, I'll do my best," replied Bert, modestly. "My arm feels stronger +than it did when I started, so I guess I'm good for some time yet, at +any rate." + +"All right, go in and win," replied Reddy, with a smile, and Bert needed +no urging. + +The first man to bat for the visitors was the one called Al, who had +first had a taste of Bert's "fadeaway." He swung viciously on the first +ball that Bert offered him, which happened to be a fast in-curve. By a +combination of luck and skill he managed to land the sphere for a safe +trip to first. The cover of the ball was found to be torn when it was +thrown back. Consequently, Bert had to pitch with a new ball, and failed +to get his customary control. Much to his disgust he pitched four balls +and two strikes, and the batter walked to first, forcing the man already +on first to second base. + +"Yah, yah!" yelled a visiting rooter. "It's all over. He's blowing up! +Pitcher's got a glass arm! Yah! Yah!" + +Others joined him in this cry, and Reddy looked worried. "That's enough +to rattle any green pitcher," he thought. "I only hope they don't know +what they're talking about, and I don't think they do. Wilson's a game +boy, or I'm very much mistaken." + +"Don't let 'em scare you, Bert," called Dick, from first base. "Let 'em +yell their heads off if they want to. Don't mind 'em." + +"No danger of that," returned Bert, confidently. "Just watch my smoke +for a few minutes, that's all." + +Bert struck out the next batter in three pitched balls, and the clamor +from the hostile rooters died down. The next batter was the captain, and +he was burning for revenge, but popped a high foul to Hinsdale, the +catcher, and retired, saying things not to be approved. The third man +was struck out after Bert had had two balls called on him, and this +ended the visitors' half of the eighth inning. + +The home team could make no better headway against the visitors' +pitching and team work, however, and the inning ended without a tally. +The score stood three to two in the visitors' favor, and things looked +rather dark for the home boys. + +At the beginning of the ninth the visitors sent a pinch hitter, named +Burroughs, to the plate to bat in place of Al, who by now had an almost +superstitious fear of Bert's delivery, and declared that "he couldn't +hit anything smaller than a football if that Freshie pitched it." + +Burroughs was hampered by no such feelings, however, and, after two +strikes had been called on him, he managed to connect with a fast, +straight ball and sent it soaring into the outfield. It looked like an +easy out, but at the last moment the fielder shifted his position a +little too much, and the ball dropped through his fingers. Before he +could get it in, the runner had reached third base, where he danced +excitedly and emitted whoops of joy. + +Bert felt a sinking sensation at his heart, as he realized how much +depended on him. The next man up made a clever bunt, and although he was +put out, Burroughs reached home ahead of the ball, bringing in another +run. + +He was rewarded with a storm of applause from the visiting rooters, and +it seemed as though all hope had departed for the home team. + +With the next batter Bert made unsparing use of his fadeaway, and struck +him out with little trouble. The third man shared the same fate, but it +seemed as though the game were irretrievably lost. A two-run lead in the +ninth inning seemed insurmountable, and Reddy muttered things under his +breath. When the boys came trooping over to the bench, he said, "What's +the matter with you fellows, anyway? What good does it do for Wilson to +hold the other team down, if you don't do any stick work to back him up? +Get in there now, and see if you can't knock out a few runs. A game is +never finished until the last half of the ninth inning, and you've got +a good chance yet. Go to it." + +Every chap on the team resolved to make a run or die in the attempt, and +Reddy could see that his speech had had some effect. + +Dick was the first batter up, and he selected a heavy "wagon tongue" and +stepped to the plate. The pitcher may have been a little careless, but +at any rate Dick got a ball just where he wanted it, and swung with +all his strength. The ball fairly whistled as it left the bat and +dashed along the ground just inside the right foul line. Dick sprinted +frantically around the bases, and got to third before he was stopped by +Tom, who had been waiting for him. "No further, old sock," said Tom, +excitedly. "That was a crackerjack hit, but you could never have got +home on it. Gee! if Hodge will only follow this up we've got a chance." + +Hodge was a good batter, and he waited stolidly until he got a ball that +suited him. Two strikes were called on him, and still he waited. Then +the pitcher sent him a long out curve, and Hodge connected with the ball +for a safe one-bag hit, while Dick raced home. It looked bright for the +home team now, but the next batter struck out, and although Hodge made a +daring slide to second, a splendid throw cut him off. + +Sterling was up next, and on the third pitched ball he managed to plant +a short drive in left field that got him safely to first base. Then it +was Bert's turn at the bat, and a great roar greeted him as he stepped +to the plate. + +"Win your own game, Wilson," someone shouted, and Bert resolved to do +so, if possible. + +He tried to figure out what the pitcher would be likely to offer him, +and decided that he would probably serve up a swift, straight one at +first. He set himself for this, but the pitcher had different ideas, +and sent over a slow drop that Bert swung at, a fraction of a second +too late. "Strike," called the umpire, and the hostile fans yelled +delightedly. The next one Bert drove out for what looked like a good +hit, but it turned out to be a foul. "Two strikes," barked the umpire, +and some of the people in the grandstand rose as if to leave, evidently +thinking that the game was practically over. + +Bert watched every motion of the pitcher as he wound up, and so was +pretty sure what kind of a ball was coming. The pitcher was noted for +his speed, and, almost at the moment the ball left his hand, Bert swung +his bat straight from the shoulder, with every ounce of strength he +possessed in back of it. There was a sharp crack as the bat met the +ball, and the sphere mounted upward and flew like a bullet for the +center field fence. + +As if by one impulse, every soul in the grandstand and bleachers rose to +his or her feet, and a perfect pandemonium of yells broke forth. The +fielders sprinted madly after the soaring ball, but they might have +saved themselves the trouble. It cleared the fence by a good ten feet, +and Bert cantered leisurely around the bases, and came across the home +plate with the winning run. + +Then a yelling, cheering mob swept down on the field, and enveloped the +players. In a moment Bert and some of the others were hoisted up on +broad shoulders, and carried around the field by a crowd of temporary +maniacs. It was some time before Bert could get away from his +enthusiastic admirers, and join the rest of his teammates. + +As he entered the dressing rooms, Reddy grasped his hand, and said, +"Wilson, you have done some great work to-day, and I want to congratulate +you. From now on you are one of the regular team pitchers." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Bert, "but I don't deserve any special credit. +We all did the best we could, and that was all anybody could do." + +So ended the first important game of the season, and Bert's position in +the college was established beyond all question. Winters' friends made +a few half-hearted efforts to detract from his popularity, but were met +with such a cold reception that they soon gave up the attempt, and Bert +was the undisputed star pitcher of the university team. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FIRE + + +"Gee whiz! I'm glad I don't have to do this every day," said Tom, as he +stood, ruefully regarding his trunk, whose lid refused to close by +several inches. + +"I'm jiggered if I see why it should look like that. Even with the +fellows' things, it isn't half as full as it was when I came from home, +and it didn't cut up like that." + +The Easter holidays were approaching, and "the three guardsmen" had +received a most cordial invitation from Mr. Hollis to spend them with +him at his home. + +Feeling the strain of the baseball season, the fellows were only too +glad of a short breathing spell and had gratefully accepted the +invitation. They were looking forward with eager anticipation to the +visit. + +They would not need very much luggage for just a few days' stay, so, as +Tom owned a small steamer trunk, they had decided to make it serve for +all three. The fellows had brought their things in the night before and +left Tom to pack them. + +Tom had heard people say that packing a trunk was a work of time, and +had congratulated himself on the quickness and ease with which that +particular trunk was packed; but when he encountered the almost +human obstinacy with which that lid resisted his utmost efforts, he +acknowledged that it wasn't "such a cinch after all." + +After one more ineffectual effort to close it, he again eyed it +disgustedly. + +"I can't do a blamed thing with it," he growled, and then catching the +sound of voices in Dick's room overhead, he shouted: + +"Come on in here, fellows, and help me get this apology for a trunk +shut." + +When Dick and Bert reached him, Tom was stretched almost full length on +the trunk and raining disgusted blows in the region of the lock. + +He looked so absurdly funny that the fellows executed a war dance of +delight and roared with laughter, and then proceeded to drag Tom bodily +off the trunk. + +Landing him with scant ceremony on the floor, they proceeded to show the +discomfited Freshman that a trunk lid with any spirit could not consent +to close over an indiscriminate mixture of underwear, pajamas, suits of +clothes, collar boxes, and shoe and military brushes--most of these +latter standing upright on end. + +With the brushes lying flat, boxes stowed away in corners, and +clothing smoothly folded, the balky trunk lid closed, as Tom, grinning +sheepishly, declared, "meeker a hundred times than Moses." + +This disposed of, and dressed and ready at last, their thoughts and +conversation turned with one accord to the delightful fact that Mr. +Hollis was to send the old "Red Scout" to take them to his home. + +The very mention of the name "Red Scout" was sufficient to set all three +tongues going at once, as, during the half-hour before they could expect +the car, they recalled incidents of that most glorious and exciting +summer at the camp, when the "Red Scout" had been their unending source +of delight. + +"Do you remember," said Tom, "the first time we went out in her, when we +were so crazy with the delight of it that we forgot everything else, and +gave her the speed limit, and came near to having a once-for-all +smash-up?" + +They certainly did. "And," said Dick, "the day we gave poor old Biddy +Harrigan her first 'artymobile' ride. Didn't she look funny when the +wind spread out that gorgeous red feather?" + +They all laughed heartily at this recollection, but their faces grew +grave again as they recalled the time when, the brake failing to work, +they rushed over the bridge with only a few inches between them and +disaster. + +"That certainly was a close call," said Bert, "but not so close as the +race we had with the locomotive. I sure did think then that our time had +come." + +"But," Tom broke in, "'all's well that ends well,' and say, fellows, +_did_ it end well with us? Will you ever forget that wonderful race with +the 'Gray Ghost'? Great Scott! I can feel my heart thump again as it did +that final lap. And that last minute when the blessed old 'Red Scout' +poked her nose over the line--_ahead_!" and in his excitement Tom began +forging around the room at great speed, but made a rush for the window +at the sound of a familiar "toot, to-oo-t." + +"There she is," he announced joyfully, and, taking the stairs three +steps at a time, and crossing the campus in about as many seconds, they +gave three cheers for the old "Red Scout," which bore them away from +college scenes with its old-time lightning speed. + +Easter was late that year and spring had come early. There had been a +number of warm days, and already the springing grass had clothed the +earth in its Easter dress of soft, tender green. Tree buds were bursting +into leaf, and in many of the gardens that they passed crocuses were +lifting their little white heads above the ground. Robins flashed their +red and filled the air with music. Spring was everywhere! And, as the +warm, fragrant air swept their faces they thrilled with the very joy of +living, and almost wished the ride might last forever. + +At last, "There is Mr. Hollis' house, the large white one just before +us," said the chauffeur, and, so swiftly sped the "Red Scout" that +almost before the last word was spoken, they stopped and were cordially +welcomed by Mr. Hollis. + +As they entered the hall they stood still, looked, rubbed their +eyes and looked again. Then Tom said in a dazed way, "Pinch me, +Bert, I'm dreaming." For there in a row on either side of the hall +stood every last one of the fellows who had camped with them that +never-to-be-forgotten summer. Bob and Frank and Jim Dawson, Ben Cooper +and Dave and Charlie Adams, and--yes--peeping mischievously from behind +the door, Shorty, little Shorty! who now broke the spell with: + +"Hello, fellows. What's the matter? Hypnotized?" + +Then--well it was fortunate for Mr. Hollis that he was used to boys, and +so used also to noise; for such a shouting of greetings and babel of +questions rose, that nobody could hear anybody else speak. Little they +cared. They were all together once more, with days of pure pleasure in +prospect. Nothing else mattered; and Mr. Hollis, himself as much a boy +at heart as any one of them, enjoyed it all immensely. + +Glancing at the clock, he suddenly remembered that dinner would soon be +served, and drove the three latest arrivals off to their room to +prepare. + +Short as the ride had seemed to the happy automobilists, it had lasted +several hours. Though they had eaten some sandwiches on the way, they +were all in sympathy with Tom who, while they prepared for dinner +confided to his chums that he was a "regular wolf!" + +It goes without saying that they all did ample justice to that first +dinner, and that there never was a jollier or more care-free company. +None of the boys ever forgot the wonderful evening with Mr. Hollis. + +A man of large wealth and cultivated tastes, his home was filled with +objects of interest. He spared no pains to make his young guests feel at +home and gave them a delightful evening. + +The pleasant hours sped so rapidly that all were amazed when the silvery +chimes from the grandfather's clock in the living room rang out eleven +o'clock, and Mr. Hollis bade them all "good-night." + +They had not realized that they were tired until they reached their +rooms. Once there, however, they were glad to tumble into their +comfortable beds, and, after a unanimous vote that Mr. Hollis was a +brick, quiet reigned at last. + +To Bert in those quiet hours came a very vivid dream. He thought he was +wandering alone across a vast plain in perfect darkness at first, in +which he stumbled blindly forward. + +Suddenly there came a great flash of lightning which gleamed for a +moment and was gone. Instantly there came another and another, one so +closely following the other that there was an almost constant blinding +glare, while all the while the dreamer was conscious of a feeling of +apprehension, of impending danger. + +So intense did this feeling become and so painful, that at last the +dreamer awoke--to find that it was not all a dream! The room was no +longer dark and he saw a great light flashing outside his window pane. +Springing from bed it needed only one glance to show him that the wing +of the neighboring house only a few hundred feet away was in flames. + +Giving the alarm, and at the same time pulling on a few clothes, he +rushed out of the house and over to the burning building. So quick was +his action that he had entered into the burning house and shouted the +alarm of fire before Mr. Hollis and his guests realized what was +happening. Very soon all the inmates of Mr. Hollis' house and of the +neighboring houses rushed to the scene to do what they could, while +awaiting the arrival of the local fire engines. + +In the meantime Bert had stopped a screaming, hysterical maid as she was +rushing from the house and compelled her to show him where her mistress +slept. The poor lady's room was in the burning wing and Bert and Mr. +Hollis, who had now joined him, broke open the door. They found her +unconscious from smoke and, lifting her, carried her into the open air. + +Nothing could be learned from the maids. One had fainted and the other +was too hysterical from fright to speak coherently. One of the neighbors +told them that the owner was away on business and not expected home for +several days. He asked if the child were safe, and just at that moment +the little white-clad figure of a child about six years old appeared at +one of the upper gable windows. + +By this time, though the engines had arrived, and were playing streams +of water on the burning building, the fire had spread to the main house +and both the lower floors were fiercely burning. Entrance or escape by +the stairways was an impossibility, and the longest ladders reached +barely to the second story windows. The local fire company was not +supplied with nets. + +It seemed to all that the little child must perish, and, to add to the +horror of the scene, the child's mother had regained consciousness, and, +seeing her little one in such mortal danger, rushed frantically toward +the burning house. She was held back by tender but strong hands. She +could do nothing to help her child, but her entreaties to be allowed to +go to her were heart-breaking. + +All but one were filled with despair. Bert, scanning the building for +some means of rescue, saw that a large leader pipe ran down a corner of +the building from roof to ground, and was secured to the walls of the +house by broad, iron brackets. The space between it and the window where +the child stood seemed to be about three feet. If he could climb that +leader by means of those iron supports, he might be able to leap across +the intervening space and reach the window. + +All this passed through Bert's mind with lightning-like rapidity. He +knew that if he failed to reach the window--well, he would not consider +that. + +Coming to quick decision, he ran forward, dodged the detaining hands +stretched out, and before anyone had an inkling of his purpose, was +climbing the ladder from bracket to bracket. More than one called +frantically to come back, but with the thought of that despairing +mother, and with his eyes fixed on the little child in the window, he +went on steadily up, foot by foot, until, at last, he was on a level +with the window. Now he found that distance had deceived him and that +the window was fully five feet away instead of three. + +The crowd, standing breathless now, and still as death, saw him pause +and every heart ached with apprehension, fearing that he would be forced +to return and leave the little one to her awful fate. Eyes smarted with +the intensity with which they stared. Could he with almost nothing to +brace his feet upon, spring across that five feet of wall? He could not +even take a half-minute to think. The flames might at any second burst +through the floor into the room in which the little child had taken +refuge. He dared not look down, but in climbing he had noticed that the +flames, as the wind swayed them, were sweeping across the ladders. He +must decide. + +His resolve was taken, and he gathered his muscles together for the +spring. + +Now, Bert, you have need to call upon all your resources. Well for you +that your training on the diamond has limbered and strengthened your +muscles, steadied your nerves, quickened your eye, taught you lightning +perception and calculation and decision. You have need of them all now. +Courage, Bert! Ready, now! + +The frantic mother saw him gather himself together and spring to what +seemed to be certain death. His fingers grip the window sill, but, as +his weight drags upon them, they slip. Ah! he never can hold that smooth +surface--and many turn away their faces, unable to bear the sight. But +look! he is still there. His fingers desperately tighten their grip upon +the sill, and now he begins to draw himself up, slowly, reaching inside +the window for a firmer hold. He has his knee on the sill--and a great +shout goes up from the crowd as he drops inside the window beside the +child. + +But their relief was short-lived, for now the same thought seized +everyone. How was he to get back? He could not return the way he went +up, for, even unhampered by the child, he could not make the leap back +to the pipe. With anxious, despairing eyes, they watched the window from +which great clouds of smoke were pouring now, mingled with tiny tongues +of flame. + +It seemed an hour that they had waited, but it was only a few moments +before the brave fellow reappeared at the window, with the child wrapped +in a blanket, strapped firmly to his shoulders. Another moment and a +long woolen blanket dangled from the window sill, and with the agility +of a monkey Bert began to let himself down hand over hand. With beating +hearts into which hope had begun again to creep, the breathless people +watched him. + +But surely the flames, sweeping now up and out from the second story +window will shrivel that blanket and burn it through. But they do not, +for though they wrap themselves fiercely about it, they seem unable to +destroy it; and now his feet touch the topmost round of the ladder. +Another moment and his hands are upon it also. + +Now at last the crowd bursts into cheer upon cheer. Willing hands reach +up and seize the now almost exhausted young hero, and lift him and his +burden to the ground. + +The child, thanks to the blanket in which Bert had wrapped her, was +unhurt and in a moment was sobbing in her mother's arms, that happy +mother who, overcome with joy, could only strain her rescued treasure to +her heart with murmured words of love and thanksgiving. + +Bert's friends crowded around him with joyful congratulations, while Mr. +Hollis, filled with rejoicing at his young friend's wonderful escape +from death and with admiration for his fearless bravery, grasped him by +the hand, saying, "I'm proud of you, Bert, I'm proud of you! You're a +hero." + +Bert winced at that close grip and Mr. Hollis, looking down, saw that +the hands were badly burned and hurried him from the scene, the admiring +fellows closely following. + +The mother with her child had been taken away by kind and sympathetic +friends, but not before she had thanked Bert with full heart for giving +her child back to her. + +No king ever held higher court or with more devoted or admiring subjects +than did Bert while they waited at Mr. Hollis' home for the coming of a +doctor to dress his burns. Nothing was talked of but the exciting events +of the day and Bert's share in them. With faces still glowing with +excitement, they lived over again all the events of the early morning, +and Bert had to answer all sorts of questions as to "How he ever came to +think of that leader pipe?" "What he would have done if the blanket had +burned through?" and a dozen others. + +"Well," Shorty summed up, "Bert sure is a wonder," to which there was a +hearty assent. + +The arrival of the doctor put an end to all this to Bert's great relief, +for he was much too modest to enjoy being praised. + +The burns were found to be not very serious, but the pain added to the +great physical exertion and the intense nervous strain had brought poor +Bert almost to the breaking point, and the doctor ordered him to bed. + +Very gladly he settled down after so many hours of excitement with Mr. +Hollis' parting words in his ears, "If I had a son like you, Bert, I +should be very proud of him to-day." + +He was drifting happily into dreamland when Tom poked his head inside +the door and said, "You've got to answer one more question before you go +to sleep, old man. What charm did you work around that old blanket you +came down on from the window so that it would not burn?" + +"Made it soaking wet, bonehead," came the sleepy reply, and Tom +vanished. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +TAKING HIS MEDICINE + + +The team had been tested almost to its limit this season, and the strain +was beginning to show. Each player was worked up to the highest possible +nervous tension, and no man can last long under such conditions. Even +with professional players this condition becomes very apparent in a +hard-fought series, and so was even more plainly seen among these +comparatively inexperienced contestants for the honor of their alma +mater. + +Another thing that tended strongly to demoralize them was the fact of +Bert's being unable to play. His burned hands, while rapidly mending, +were still unable to grip the ball. Of course, they knew that this was +merely a temporary calamity, but even to have the pitcher on whom they +had based their strongest hopes out of commission for almost two weeks +meant much to them. Winters and Benson, while undoubtedly good pitchers, +fell considerably short of the standard set by Bert, and all the players +realized this. + +Of course, it may be argued that they should not allow themselves to be +affected by anything of this kind, but no one who has not actually been +a ball player can fully realize what it means to a team, when they are +nearing the end of a neck and neck struggle, to be deprived of their +star pitcher. It must also be remembered that Bert, while not by any +means as good a batter as he was a pitcher, was nevertheless a strong +batsman, and had the happy faculty of "swatting them out" at the time +when they would do the most good. On this account, his loss was felt +more keenly than would have ordinarily been the case. + +Another thing, but one that was never openly alluded to, was the +knowledge that each boy had, that Winters was not the pitcher he had +been once upon a time. His breaks from training were becoming more and +more frequent, and all that the coach could say in the way of threat or +entreaty seemed to have no effect. Winters had gotten in with a fast +set, and no argument or persuasion could induce him to see the error of +his way. + +Reddy did not dare to remove him from the team, however, as that would +have left him only one pitcher of any value, namely, Benson, and nobody +knew better than the wily trainer that Benson could seldom be depended +on to pitch good ball during an entire game. + +Again and again Reddy had cursed the fate that deprived him of his star +pitcher at such a crucial time, but of course, as is usually the case, +that did little good. It was too late now to try to develop another +pitcher, even had he known of anyone capable of training for that +important post, which he did not. + +So he just set his jaw, and resolved to make the best of what he had. Up +to to-day, which was destined to see one of the season's most important +battles, he had managed, by dint of skillful coaching and substituting +at critical moments, to maintain the lead that the team had gained +largely through Bert's remarkable work in the box. + +He felt that if the team won to-day's game, they would have a comfortable +lead until Bert was able to resume his pitching. If, on the other hand, +they lost, he realized that they would have small chance of winning the +championship. No one would have suspected from his outward appearance +what thoughts were going on in his mind, but if they had, they would have +been astonished. To the players, and to everybody else, he presented such +a calm and composed exterior that the boys felt more confident the minute +they saw him. As the time for the game drew near, he gathered the boys +together in the clubhouse, and proceeded to make a little speech and give +them some valuable advice. + +They listened attentively, and went out on the diamond with a do-or-die +expression written on their faces. Needless to say, Bert was there, and +nobody felt worse than he over his misfortune. + +"Gee!" he exclaimed to Tom, ruefully, "this is certainly what you might +call tough luck. Here I am, with my arm feeling better than it ever did +before, and just on account of a few pesky burns I can't pitch." + +"It's tough, all right, and no mistake," sympathized Dick, "but never +mind. If Winters can only do half way decent pitching, we'll come +through all right." + +Bert said nothing, not wishing to discourage his friend, but to himself +he admitted that things had a rather bad aspect. The team they were to +play to-day was noted for its heavy batters, and he knew that it would +take a pitcher in the most perfect condition to stand the strain of nine +long innings against such sluggers. His thoughts were not of the +pleasantest, therefore, as he sat on the bench, nibbling a blade of +grass, and watched the practice of the two teams with critical eyes. + +Murray, reputed to be the heaviest hitter on the Maroon team, was +knocking out flies to his teammates, and Bert was forced to admire the +confident way in which he lined the ball out, without ever missing a +swing. + +His own team was playing with snap and ginger, though, and this fact +comforted Bert somewhat. + +"Well," he thought to himself, "the teams seem to be about equally +matched, and if nothing out of the ordinary happens, we ought to have a +good show to win. I only hope that all the rumors I've been hearing +about Winters lately are not true." + +As Bert had seen, both teams showed up well in the preliminary practice, +and each made several plays that evoked applause from the grandstands +and bleachers. + +Soon the umpire walked out on the field, adjusting his mask and +protecting pads, and the crowds settled down for a couple of hours of +what they realized would be intense excitement. + +"Battery for the Maroons, Moore and Hupfel!" shouted the umpire. "For +the Blues, Winters and Hinsdale!" + +As they were the visitors to-day, the Blues of course went to the bat +first. They were quickly retired by snappy work and took the field. +Winters seemed in fine form, and struck out the opposing batters in good +shape, only one getting a hit, and he was caught stealing. + +This ended the first inning, with no runs scored for either side, and +Reddy began to feel more confident. However, little could be prophesied +regarding the outcome at this early stage of the game, and Reddy walked +over to the bench and sat down beside Bert. + +"Well, my boy," he said, "if they don't get any more hits off us than +they did in that inning, we won't be so bad off, after all. Winters +seems to be in fine shape, don't you think?" + +"He certainly does," replied Bert, "he's holding them down in fine +style. You couldn't ask for better pitching than he's putting up." + +"Ye couldn't, fer a fact," said the trainer, and both settled back to +see what the Blues would accomplish in their turn at bat. + +Dick was next on the batting list, and he strode to the plate with his +usual jaunty step. He waited two balls before he got one to suit him, +but then landed out a hot grounder, and just managed to beat it to first +base. + +"That's good! that's good!" yelled Reddy, dancing about on one leg. "The +boys are beginning to get their batting caps on now, and it won't be +long before we have a string of runs longer than a Dachshund. Go to it, +Blues, go to it!" + +Poor Reddy! His high hopes were doomed to fall quickly. Hodge struck +out, and with lightning-like rapidity the catcher snapped the ball down +to second. For once, Dick was the fraction of a second too slow, and +the ball beat him to the base by a hair's breadth. + +"Two out!" yelled the umpire, and Reddy dropped into his seat with a +dismal groan. White, the strong hitting shortstop, was the next batsman, +but after knocking two high flies, he was struck out by a fast inshoot. + +However, Winters appeared to be pitching airtight ball, and while a few +feeble flies were garnered from his delivery, the fielders had no +difficulty in catching them. + +When the home team came to bat, their first man up, who happened to be +the catcher, cracked out a swift, low fly between Winters and Tom, and +tore around to second base before the ball came in from the field. + +To Reddy's keen eyes, studying carefully every phase and mood of game +and man, it was apparent that Winters' confidence was shaken a little by +this occurrence. His pitching to the next batter was wild, and he +finally gave the man a base on balls. Bert leaned forward intently, and +his eyes were fairly glued on the players. Oh, if he could only go +out there and pitch for the rest of the game! But he knew this was +impossible with his hands in the condition they were, and he uttered an +impatient exclamation. + +With two men on bases and none out, matters began to look doubtful for +the devoted Blues. The very first ball Winters pitched to the next +batter was hit for a long two-bagger, and the runner on second cantered +leisurely home. + +Now even the fans in the bleachers realized that something was amiss +with the pitcher of the Blues, and those opposed to them set up an +uproarious clapping and hooting in the hope of rattling him still +further. This was not wholly without effect, and Bert noted with +ever-growing anxiety that Winters appeared to be unable to stand quietly +in the box during the pauses in the game, but fidgeted around nervously, +at one time biting his nails, and at another, shifting constantly from +one foot to the other. A meaner nature than our hero might have been +glad to note the discomfiture of one whom he had every reason to +dislike, but Bert was not built after such a pattern. His one thought +was that the college would suffer heavily if this game were lost, and he +hardly gave a thought to his private grievances. The college was the +thing that counted. + +Winters, by a great effort, tightened up a little after this, and with +the help of snappy support retired the Maroons, but not before the +latter had garnered another precious run. + +The visiting team did nothing, however, for although they got a runner +to third at one time, he was put out by a quick throw from pitcher to +first. + +Thus ended the second inning, and to the casual observer it seemed as +though the teams were pretty evenly matched. To Reddy's practised eye, +however, it was apparent that the Blues had a little the edge on their +opponents, except in the matter of pitching. Here, indeed, it was hard +to tell who was the better pitcher, the Maroon boxman or Winters. Both +were pitching good ball, and Reddy realized that it would probably +narrow down to a question of which one had the greater staying power. + +"If only we had young Wilson pitching," he thought to himself, "I would +breathe a whole lot easier. However, there's no use crossing a bridge +till you come to it, and I may be having all my worriment for nothin'. +Somethin' tells me, though, that we're goin' to have trouble before +this game is over. May all the Saints grant that I'm wrong." + +For the next three innings, however, it appeared as though the trainer's +forebodings were without foundation. Both teams played with snap and +dash, and as yet only two runs had been scored. + +At the beginning of the sixth inning, Tom was slated as the first man +up, and he walked to the plate filled with a new idea Bert had given +him. "Wait until about the fourth ball that that fellow pitches," Bert +had told him, "and then bounce on it good and plenty. The first two or +three balls he pitches are full of steam, but then, if nobody has even +struck at them, he gets careless, and puts one over that you ought to be +able to land on without any trouble. You just try that and see what +happens." + +This Tom proceeded to do, and found that it was indeed as Bert had said. +The first ball pitched seemed good, but Tom let it go by, and had a +strike called on him. The next one was a ball, but the third one was a +hot curve that looked good, and ordinarily Tom would have taken a chance +and swung at it. Now, however, he was resolved to follow Bert's advice to +the letter, and so allowed the ball to pass him. "Gee, that guy's scared +stiff," someone yelled from the bleachers, and the crowd laughed. It +certainly did seem as though Tom had lost his nerve, and his teammates, +who were not in on the secret yet, looked puzzled. Tom paid no attention +to the shouts from the grandstand, and his well-known ability as a +"waiter" stood him in good stead. True to Bert's prediction, the pitcher +eased up a little when winding up for the next ball, and Tom saw that he +shared the general impression that he had lost his nerve. The ball proved +to be a straight, fast one, and Tom slugged it squarely with all the +strength in his body. Amid a hoarse roar from the watching thousands, he +tore around the bases and slid into third before he was stopped by White, +who was waiting for him. + +"Gee, Tom!" ejaculated the excited and delighted shortstop. "How in time +did you ever think of such a clever trick. You sure fooled that pitcher +at his own game." + +"It wasn't my idea, it was Bert's," said Tom, truthfully. + +"Whoever's it was, it was a crackerjack one, at any rate," said White, +jubilantly. "If Flynn can only get a hit now we'll have a run, and it +looks as though we would need all that we can get." + +Flynn, in accordance with instructions from Reddy, laid an easy bunt +down toward first base, and, although he was put out, Tom scurried over +the plate about two jumps in front of the ball, and the first run for +the Blues had been scored. + +The small band of loyal rooters for the Blues struck up one of the +familiar college songs, and things looked bright for their team. The +opposing pitcher was not to be fooled again, however, and while Drake +was waiting for a ball to suit him he was struck out, much to the +delight of the hostile fans. + +Thus at the end of the seventh inning the score stood two to one in +favor of the Maroons, and their pitcher was "as good as new," as he +himself put it. + +Now Dick went to bat, and waited, with no sign of the nervousness that +was beginning to be manifested by his teammates, for a ball that was to +his liking. He let the first one go past, but swung hard at the second, +and cracked out a hot liner right at the pitcher. Most pitchers would +have let a smoking fly like that pass them, for fear of injuring their +hands, but evidently this boxman was not lacking in nerve. The ball +cracked into his outstretched mitt with a report like a pistol shot, and +he held on to it. + +"Out!" shouted the umpire, and Dick, who had started to sprint to first, +walked to the bench with a disgusted air. + +"Hang it all, anyway," he exclaimed disgustedly, "who'd have thought he +would stop that one? I could just see myself resting peacefully at +second base, and then he has to go and do a thing like that. A mean +trick, I call it." + +Dick made a pretence of taking the matter in this light manner in order +to keep up the spirits of his teammates, but not by any means because he +felt happy about it. Quite the contrary. + +Hodge, the right fielder, came up next, but only succeeded in popping up +a feeble fly that the third baseman caught easily after a short run in. +White waited patiently for one to suit him, but while he was waiting, +three strikes were called on him, and he retired in a crestfallen +manner. + +In the meantime, Reddy had been talking to Winters. "How do you feel, +Winters?" he had inquired anxiously, "do you feel strong enough to hold +them down for the rest of this game?" + +"Aw, don't worry yourself about me," Winters had replied in a surly +voice. "I'm all right. I never felt better in my life," but something in +his voice belied his words. + +"All right," returned the trainer, "but remember this, my lad: if we put +Benson in now, we might be able to hold them down. I'm going to take +your say so, though, and let you pitch the next inning. If they get to +you, however, you'll have to take your medicine. It will be too late +then to put Benson in, and of course Wilson is in no shape to pitch. +Now, it's up to you." + +"That's all right," growled Winters. Then he suddenly flared up: "I +suppose if that blamed Freshie were in condition you'd have put him in +to pitch long ago, wouldn't you?" + +"That I would, my lad," returned Reddy, in an ominously quiet voice. +"Now, go in there and pitch, and don't give me any more back talk that +you'll be sorry for afterward." + +Winters seemed about to make some hot reply to this, but after a +moment's hesitation, thought better of it, and turned sullenly away, +putting on his glove as he walked slowly to his position. + +He vented his anger on the first few balls he pitched, and they went +over the plate with speed and to spare. This did not last long, however, +and after he had struck out one man his speed began to slacken. The +second man up landed a high fly into right field that Hodge, although he +made a brave try for it, was unable to get to in time. The runner raced +around to third before he was stopped by the warning cries of his +teammates. + +"We've got 'em going! We've got 'em going!" chanted the home rooters in +one mighty chorus, and Winters scowled at them viciously. + +The next five balls he pitched were "wild as they make 'em," and only +one strike was registered. In consequence the batter walked leisurely to +first, and as he neared Winters said, "Much obliged, old chap." If looks +could have killed, Winters would surely have been a murderer, but +fortunately it takes more than that to kill a ball player, and so the +game went on without interruption. + +The following batter made a clever sacrifice bunt, and the man on third +brought home a run, while the one on first reached second. + +"Gee, it's all over now, I'm afraid," groaned Bert to himself. "Winters +is up in the air sky high, and after their argument Reddy probably will +not put Benson in, because he's cold and it would do no good. We'll be +baked brown on both sides before this game is finished." + +And Bert was not far wrong. The Maroons landed on Winters "like a ton of +brick," as Tom afterward said, and proceeded to wipe up the field with +him. The game became a massacre, and when the home team was finally +retired the score stood six to one in their favor. + +When Winters came in from the field he was white and shaking, and Reddy +felt sorry for him. "Just the same," he reflected, "this will teach him +a lesson, maybe, and it may lead to his sticking more closely to +regulations and the training table. Midnight booze-fighting and good +ball playing don't mix very well." Reddy might have gone further, and +said that "booze fighting" did not mix very well with anything worth +while, and not have been far wrong. + +Actuated by these reflections, the trainer resolved to make Winters +pitch out the rest of the game, as it was hopelessly lost anyway, in the +hope of making him reform. + +The Blues were thoroughly demoralized by this time, and their +half-hearted attempts to score met with little success. Hinsdale, after +both the batsmen preceding him had been struck out, landed on the ball +for a long high fly into center, and got to second on it. He went no +further, however, as Tom lifted a high foul to the opposing catcher. Of +course this ended the game, as it would have been useless to finish the +ninth inning. + +The Maroon rooters rose in a body and rent the air with their songs and +college yells. The loyal Blues present did their best, but could not +make themselves heard amidst the general uproar. + +"The Blues haven't got a chance for the pennant now," exulted one rooter +to his friend. "They're on the downward road now, and will stay there +till the end of the season. You watch and see if they don't." + +But there was a Freshman pitcher on the bench that knew better. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SHOOTING THEM OVER + + +Bert and Dick and some of the other fellows were having a discussion. +They had been talking on various topics, and, as was usually the case, +the talk had drifted around to baseball. They had discussed the game pro +and con, when Dick said: + +"I wonder how fast a pitcher really can throw a ball, anyway. Of course, +there's no possibility of such a thing, but it certainly would be +interesting, if we could measure the speed of a pitched ball, and settle +the question once and for all." + +"That's easy," laughed Bert. "You just stand up there, Dick, and give me +a baseball and let me hit you with it. If it kills you, we will know it +was going pretty fast, but if it just cripples you, we will be forced to +the conclusion that the ball wasn't traveling so very fast, after all." + +"Yes, that certainly is a brilliant idea," snorted Dick, "and there is +only one thing that keeps me from doing it. If, as you say, it should +kill me, you fellows would have settled the question, all right, but +then it would be too late for me to share in the knowledge. Therefore, +I guess we'll leave the question open for the present." + +"Aw, gee, Dick," laughed one of the others, "you certainly have a mean +disposition. Here you are in college, and yet you evidently haven't +enough of the college spirit to make a sacrifice of yourself for the +general good. Besides, it doesn't show the scientific desire for +knowledge that we would like to see in you, does it, fellows?" appealing +to the laughing group. + +Everybody seemed to think the same thing, judging from the unanimous +chorus of assent to this speech, but, strange to say, Dick proved very +obstinate, and refused to offer his services in the capacity of official +tester. + +"But seriously, fellows," said one of the boys, John Bennett by name, "I +don't see why we couldn't do something of the kind. I shouldn't think it +would be so hopeless, after all." + +At first they thought he was joking, but when they realized that he was +in earnest, a chorus of ridicule arose. Bennett refused to be hooted +down, however, and finally managed to get a hearing. + +"You see, it's this way," he explained: "My father, as you all know, +manufactures guns and rifles of all descriptions. Now, some people with +a little more sense in their noodles than you poor boobs," with a +sarcastic inflection, "have asked what the speed of a rifle bullet was, +and what's more, have managed to find out. Going on the same principle, +I don't see why we couldn't find out the speed of a baseball." + +"How do they find that out?" asked one, unbelievingly, "a rifle bullet +has been known to go pretty fast at times, you know." + +"You don't mean it, do you?" asked Bennett, sarcastically. "I always +thought bullets crept along the ground something after the manner of +snails, or something equally fast, didn't you fellows?" + +"Go on, go on," they laughed, "if you've got an idea in what you call +your brain, for heaven's sake get it out before you forget it. Go on and +tell us how it is that they measure the speed of a bullet." + +"Well, it's this way," said Bennett, "they arrange an electric wire in +front of the muzzle of the gun, so that as the bullet comes out it is +bound to break it. Then, the object at which the gun is aimed is also +connected up by electricity. Observe, gentlemen, what happens when the +gun is discharged. The bullet, as it saunters from the gun, cuts the +electric wire, and by so doing registers the exact fraction of a second +that this happens. When it hits the target, a similar process takes +place, and then of course it is a simple matter to subtract the time +the bullet left the gun from the time it hit the target, and thus, +gentlemen, we arrive at the result, namely, the time it took the bullet +to go across the intervening distance. I trust, gentlemen (and others), +that I have made myself perfectly clear." + +"Aw," spoke up one of the fellows, popularly known as "Curley," "who +couldn't think of a simple thing like that. The only reason that I +didn't think of it right off was that it was too easy for me even to +consider." + +"Oh, sure, we all understand that perfectly," replied Bennett, "but, +seriously, fellows, if you would care to try the experiment, I am sure +that my father would help us all he could. It wouldn't be any trick at +all for him to rig up something on the same principle that would give us +an accurate idea of how fast Bert, for instance, could propel a baseball +through the surrounding atmosphere. Say the word, and I'll write to him +about it to-night. We ought to hear from him by the day after to-morrow, +at the latest." + +Bert saw that Bennett was in earnest, and so said: + +"It certainly would be very interesting, old man. I've often wondered +just what speed I was capable of, and I don't see why your plan +shouldn't be feasible. What do you think, Dick?" + +"I think it would be well worth the try, at all events," replied Dick, +"and say, fellows, while we were about it, Bennett's father might be +willing to show us over the factory and give us an idea of how the guns +are made. Do you think he would, old top?" addressing Bennett. + +"Surest thing you know," responded the latter, heartily. "I know he +would be glad to have you come, even if you are a bunch of bums," +smilingly. + +"All right, we'll consider that settled, then," said Bert. "You write to +him right away, and we'll try our little experiment as soon as possible. +Believe me, I'm anxious to try it. I sure would like to know." + +Thus the matter was settled, and after a little more talk and speculation +on the same subject, the boys dispersed to their rooms to prepare +recitations for the morrow. + +A day or so later, when some of them had forgotten about the proposed +test, Bennett came up to the group assembled in Bert's and Dick's room, +and said: + +"See here, fellows! What did I tell you? I just received this letter +from dad, and he says to go as far as we like. He says that he spoke of +the matter to the foreman of the testing department, and he thinks our +plan is feasible." + +"Gee, that's fine," exclaimed Tom, who was of the group. "How long did +he think it would be before he would be ready?" + +"Oh, pretty near any time that we could get to the factory. Of course, +it will take him a few days to rig up the apparatus, but he says he will +have it ready by next Saturday, and as that is a holiday for most of us, +I think it would be a good time to go. How would that suit you, Bert?" + +"First rate," replied Bert, "I'll take it as easy as I can this week in +the line of pitching, so that I will have full strength for the test. +I'll have to establish a record," laughingly. + +"I'll tell you what we can do," said Walter Harper, one of the "subs" on +the team, "let's get up a race between Bert's baseball and a bullet. I +think that Bert ought to beat a bullet easily." + +"Well," laughed Bert, "maybe I can't exactly beat a bullet, but I'll bet +my ball will have more curve on it than any bullet ever invented." + +"That reminds me of a story I heard the other day," spoke up one. "The +father of a friend of mine went out to hunt deer last fall. He had fair +luck, but everybody was talking about a deer that had been fooling all +the hunters for several seasons. It seems that this deer was such an +expert dodger, that when anyone started to shoot at him he would run +around in circles and thus avoid the bullet. Well, my friend's father +thought over the matter for a long time, and finally hit on a plan to +outwit the deer. Can you guess how he did it?" + +Many were the schemes offered by the ingenious listeners, but none of +them seemed satisfactory. Finally all gave up the problem, and begged +the story teller to give them the explanation. + +"Well," he said, "it's very simple, and I'm surprised and grieved that +none of you fatheads have thought of it. Why, he simply bent the barrel +of the gun around, so that when the bullet came out it chased the deer +around in circles, and killed him without any trouble. Now----" but here +he was interrupted by a storm of indignant hoots and hisses, and rushed +from the room amid a perfect shower of books of all descriptions. + +"Gee," said Tom, "I've heard some queer hunting stories, but that one +was the limit. Many a man has died for less." + +"Oh, well, he's more to be pitied than scorned," laughed Dick, and they +proceeded to discuss the details of Saturday's trip. + +"It will be no end of fun, I can promise you," said Bennett. "It's +really an education in itself to go through that factory and see the way +things are done. You can bet there's no time or effort wasted there. +Everything is figured down to the very last word for efficiency, and if +all the world were run on the same basis it would be a pretty fine place +to live in." + +"List to the philosopher, fellows," said Bert. "I'm afraid Bennett's +studies are going to his head, and he's actually beginning to believe +what the profs tell him." + +"That is indeed a sign of failing mental powers," laughed Tom. "I'm +afraid that if we don't do something for our poor friend, he will +degenerate until finally he becomes nothing but a 'greasy grind.' After +that, of course, he can sink no lower." + +"Aw, you fellows think you're funny, don't you," grunted Bennett, +disgustedly, "you're such boneheads that when somebody with real brains, +like myself, for instance, gets off a little gem of thought you are +absolutely incapable of appreciating it." + +"Fellows," said Bert, gravely, "we have made an important discovery. +Bennett has brains. We know this is so, because he himself admits it. +Well, well, who would have suspected it?" + +This sally was greeted with laughter, but, seeing that Bennett was +becoming a little angry, Bert changed the subject, and they were soon +deep in details of the forthcoming trip. Dick was delegated to buy the +tickets, and when all had paid in their money it was seen that +twenty-four were going. + +"That will just be a good crowd," said Bert. "We'll leave here on the +9:21 train, and that will take us to W---- at a little after ten. We can +look over the factory in the morning, and tell Mr. Bennett how to run +it,"--with a mischievous glance at Bennett, "and in the afternoon, +gentlemen, I will make my world renowned attempt to pitch a baseball +against time. Do you think that will suit your father, John?" + +"Sure, that will be all right," answered Bennett, and so the matter was +settled. + +The following Saturday turned out to be ideal, and everybody was in high +spirits when they gathered at the station. They had to wait ten or +fifteen minutes for the train, which had been delayed, but they found +plenty to do in the meantime. They sang, played leap frog, and in a +dozen other ways gave vent to their high spirits. Some of the passengers +envied their light hearts, and remembered the days when they, too, had +been full of life and fun, and the world had just been a place to be +merry in. + +The waiting passed like a flash, and before they knew it the train came +into sight around a curve. When it drew up they all made a rush to get +on, and before the train was finally started again had almost driven the +conductor frantic. + +"Byes will be byes, though," he grinned to himself, later on, "and be +the same token, Oi don't begrudge the youngsters any of their fun, even +if it did hold the thrain back a full three minutes. Have a good time +while yer living, says Oi, for yez'll be a long time dead." + +The train fairly flew along, as the engineer was making up for lost +time, and it was not long before the conductor sang out, "W----!" and +they had arrived. They all tumbled off, and Tom, to save time, went +through the car window. + +"Be gorry, yez are a wild bunch of youngsters," said the old conductor +to Bert. "But Oi remember when Oi was a lad Oi was the same way, so Oi +fergives yez the delays and worriments yez have caused me this day. Have +a good toime, and luck be wid yez." + +"Thanks," laughed Bert; "won't you come along?" + +"Thank ye kindly, but Oi guess Oi'll have to deny meself the pleasure, +me bye," grinned the conductor, and the train drew out of the station. + +"Gee," said Tom, as he gazed around, "I don't think we'll have much +trouble locating the factory, Bennett. It seems to be a rather +conspicuous part of the landscape." + +It was, indeed. The whole town was founded on the factory industry, +and practically every able-bodied man in the place worked there. The +factory was an immense six-story affair, with acres and acres of floor +space. All around it were streets lined with comfortable-looking +cottages, in which the workmen lived. Everything had a prosperous and +neat appearance, and the boys were agreeably surprised. Most of them had +expected to see a grimy manufacturing town, and were quite unprepared +for the clean community they saw spread out before them. + +Bennett headed them straight toward the factory, but as they went along +pointed out features of the town. + +"You see," he explained, "the whole town is practically part of the +factory. When that was established a few houses were built around it, +and as the factory grew, the town grew along with it, until now it is +what you see it. We have one of the biggest gun manufacturing plants in +the world here," he added, proudly. + +"It certainly is some class, John," admitted Bert; "it's bigger and +cleaner than I ever expected it would be." + +Soon they had reached the factory itself, and Bennett ushered them into +the office. There they were presented to a gray-haired man whom John +proudly introduced as his father, and they were made perfectly at home. + +After a little talk, Mr. Bennett pressed a button, and a capable looking +man appeared. + +"Sawkins," said Mr. Bennett, "here are the young men for whom we've been +turning the factory upside down the last few days. Just show them +around, will you, and explain things to them a little." + +"Certainly," acquiesced Sawkins, who was the foreman. "Step right this +way, gentlemen." + +The following two hours were probably among the most interesting any of +the boys had ever known. The foreman started at the beginning, showing +them the glowing molten metal in immense cauldrons. He was a man of +considerable education, and great mechanical ability. He explained every +process in words as free as possible of technicalities, and the young +fellows felt that they understood everything that he undertook to +explain. He showed them how the metal was cast, how the guns were bored +out, the delicate rifling cut in, and a thousand other details. His +listeners paid close attention to everything he said, and seeing this, +he took extra pains to make everything clear to them. As he said to Mr. +Bennett afterward, "It was a pleasure to talk to a bunch of men that +understood what was told them." + +Finally they came to the testing room, and this proved, if possible, +even more interesting than what had gone before. The foreman showed them +the various ranges, and some of the penetrating feats of which the +rifles were capable. It was almost unbelievable. + +"See this little toy?" he said, picking out a beautifully made gun from +a rack on the wall. "The projectile discharged from this arm will +penetrate over forty-five planks, each one seven-eighths of an inch +thick. And then, look at this,"--holding up an ax-head with three clean +holes bored through it--"here's what it can do to tempered steel. I +don't think it would be very healthy to stand in its way." + +"No, I guess it wouldn't," said Dick. "I'd prefer to be somewhere else +when one of those bullets was wandering around loose." + +Mr. Sawkins then showed them some photographs of bullets taken while in +flight. At first sight this seems an impossibility, but nevertheless it +is an accomplished fact. The method used is much the same as John +Bennett has described in the early part of this chapter. As the bullet +leaves the gun it cuts a wire, which in turn snaps the shutter of a +very high-speed camera. The lenses on a camera of this kind are very +expensive, a single lens sometimes costing five hundred dollars. + +Then the foreman showed them the apparatus that they had rigged up to +test the speed of Bert's pitching. After examining the ingenious +arrangement the boys were lavish in their praise. Mr. Sawkins made +light of this, but it was easy to see that he was pleased. + +"Oh, it's nothing much," he said. "I just fooled around a little bit, +and soon had this planned out. It was easy for me, because when I was a +little younger I used to do a little myself in the pitching line on our +local team, so I knew about what would be required." + +While they were discussing this, Mr. Bennett strolled in, and asked the +enthusiastic group what they thought of what they had seen so far. + +"Gee," said Tom, impulsively, "it certainly is the greatest ever, Mr. +Bennett. I never had any idea there was such an awful lot to know about +gun-making. On thinking it over," he added, laughing, "I don't think of +a single way that we could improve matters; do you, fellows?" + +"You are more modest than my son, then," said Mr. Bennett, and there was +a twinkle in his eye as he spoke. "Every time John comes here he has a +lot of ideas that he is sure will better anything we have here at +present. However, I have just been in this line for the last thirty +years or so, and so, of course, have lots to learn." + +"Aw, cut it out, Dad," grumbled the younger Bennett. "As far as I can +find out, you've never tried any of the things I've proposed, and so how +do you know how good or bad they are?" + +"Well, the only objection to your plans was that they would generally +have meant building a new factory to carry them out. Otherwise I have no +fault to find with them," returned Mr. Bennett. + +After a little further talk, Mr. Bennett insisted that the boys come +home to his house for luncheon. Needless to say, they had no very strong +objections to this, and were easily persuaded. + +The proprietor's home was a large, comfortable mansion, and the good +cheer offered within carried out the impression received without. There +was an abundance of good fare, and the young fellows rose from the table +at last with a satisfied air. + +Mr. Bennett had quite a long talk with Bert during the progress of the +meal, and seemed very much interested in him. It turned out that Mr. +Bennett was quite a baseball enthusiast himself, so he entered heartily +into Bert's enthusiasm over the game. + +"I used to be quite some player myself when I was your age," he told +Bert, "only I used to play a different position. I usually played +catcher, and was on my team at H----. In those days we never bothered +with catcher's mitts, however, and we catchers worked with bare hands. +Once I was catching in this manner, and a ball caught my thumb and half +tore it off. I was so excited at the time, though, that I never noticed +it, until one of my teammates noticed blood on the ball and called my +attention to it. After that, when my thumb healed, you may be sure I +caught with a glove. You can see the scar still," and he showed the boys +the scar of what had evidently been a nasty wound. + +"Well, boys," he said, at the conclusion of this narrative, "what do you +say if we go on back to the factory and make that test of young Wilson's +speed. I am very much interested, I assure you." + +Of course there were no objections raised to this, and after a pleasant +walk they arrived again at the factory. They proceeded directly to the +testing room, and Bert shed his coat and vest. + +"Come ahead, Dick; you catch for me until I warm up, will you?" he said, +and Dick ran to the requisite distance and donned a catcher's mitt that +he had brought along for the purpose. Bert pitched him a few easy balls, +and then began to work up a little speed. As he shot them to Dick with +ever-increasing pace, Mr. Bennett's face lighted up with interest, and +finally he said, "Say, just let me try catching a few, will you, Trent? +It's a long time since I've had a catcher's mitt on, but I'd like to +take a try at it just for the fun of the thing." + +"Certainly," responded Dick, promptly, and handed his glove to Mr. +Bennett. The latter donned it quickly, and punched it a few resounding +blows to "put a hole in it." "All right, my boy," he said, when the +glove was prepared to his satisfaction. "Shoot 'em over, and don't be +afraid to put some speed into 'em. You can't send them too fast to suit +me." + +Bert sent over a few easy ones at first, just to see how Mr. Bennett +would handle them. The latter caught the offerings in a practised +manner, and said, "Come on, young man, put some whiskers on the ball. +That wasn't the best you could do, was it?" + +Bert made no answer to this, but on his next pitch his arm swung around +like a flail, and the ball left his hand as though propelled by a +catapult. The factory owner managed to catch the ball, but he wrung his +hand. "Ouch!" he exclaimed, "that ball stung my hand pretty hard right +through the glove." + +Young Bennett laughed in unholy glee, and danced about first on one foot +and then on the other. "That's one on you, dad," he crowed; "but you +ought to feel lucky that you even caught the ball. If Bert wanted to, he +could pitch a ball that you couldn't even touch. Give him a fadeaway, +Bert." + +"Fadeaway, you say," grunted his father. "There never was a pitcher yet +that could pitch a ball that I couldn't even touch. Give me a sample of +this wonderful ball, Wilson." + +"All right, sir," said Bert, and grinned. He wound up in the old +familiar way that the boys knew so well, and shot over a ball that Mr. +Bennett figured was a "cinch." He held his glove in what he thought was +the proper place, but at the last moment the ball dropped abruptly and +swung under the glove, missing it by several inches. + +"Well, I'll be hanged," muttered Mr. Bennett, gazing stupidly at his +glove. He soon recovered himself, however, and handed the glove back to +Dick. "You've certainly got a wonderful ball there, Wilson," he said. +"You fooled me very neatly, and I have no excuse to offer." Which showed +the fellows that Mr. Bennett was a "good sport." + +Pretty soon Bert announced himself as ready for the speed test, and Mr. +Bennett led the way over to what looked like an empty hoop, but which, +upon closer inspection, was seen to be crossed and recrossed by a web of +fine, hairlike wires. + +"These wires are so connected," explained Mr. Bennett, "that no matter +where the ball goes, provided, of course, that it goes somewhere inside +the hoop, it will break a wire, and the exact second will be recorded. +Then, there is another hoop fifty feet away," pointing to a similar +contrivance nearer the other end of the testing room, "and all you have +to do, Wilson, is to pitch the ball through both hoops. That back hoop +is a good deal bigger than any catcher's glove, so you oughtn't to have +any difficulty doing it. Do you think you can manage that all right?" + +"Why, I guess I can do that," replied Bert, and took up his position +about eight or ten feet this side of the front hoop. Dick tossed him the +ball, and Bert fitted it carefully in his hand. Then he drew his arm +back as far as possible, and a second later the ball shot from his +fingers at a terrific pace. It struck almost the exact center of the +first hoop, parting the fragile wires as though they had been so many +cobwebs, and shot through the second hoop about a foot from its edge. + +"Good shot!" exclaimed Mr. Bennett, and he and the foreman hurried to +the recording instruments, and started figuring up the time. + +"Gee, Bert," said Tom, "I don't think I ever saw you pitch a faster +ball, even when the team has been in a tight place in the ninth inning. +I'd almost swear I saw it smoke as it went through the air." + +"Well, fast or slow, it was the best I could do, anyway," said Bert, "so +there's no use worrying about it." + +In a short time, Mr. Bennett and the foreman had arrived at a result, +and hurried over to where the boys were discussing the probable outcome +of the test. + +"You sent that ball at the rate of 114 feet a second, which is +equivalent to about eighty-three or eighty-four miles an hour!" he +exclaimed. "In other words, you could throw a ball after the Twentieth +Century express traveling at its average speed and overtake it. As you +probably know, any object traveling at a speed of a mile a minute +traverses eighty-eight feet in one second, and it is on this that we +have based our calculations." + +"Say, Bert, that certainly was going some," said Dick, proudly, and the +others were not far behind in congratulating our hero on his truly +astonishing performance. It is safe to say that few professional +pitchers could better Bert's record. + +After the excitement had died down somewhat, John Bennett proposed that +they have a shooting contest, and his idea met with instant approval. +John had had unlimited facilities for perfecting himself in this art +since a boy, however, and outclassed any of the others both at long and +short-distance shooting. + +When they had grown tired of this, it was growing late, and Bert +proposed that they return. Needless to say, nobody wanted to go, but +they had no choice, and so proceeded to take their leave. They all +thanked their host heartily, also the good-natured and obliging foreman. + +Mr. Bennett shook Bert's hand last of all, and as he ushered them to the +door, said, "I'm going to take a holiday and see the next big game in +which you pitch, Wilson. I'm quite anxious to see you in action." + +"We'll all be glad to see you, I'm sure," returned Bert, "and nothing +would give me greater pleasure than to show you over the college after +the game." + +"Much obliged," replied Mr. Bennett, and watched the laughing, singing +group until it was hidden by a turn in the road. + +The return journey seemed much longer than it had that morning, but they +arrived at last, and voted it one of the best days they had ever known. +The news of Bert's feat soon spread over the campus, and when it reached +Reddy's ears, he nodded his head sagely. + +"Just make believe I don't know a crack pitcher when I see one," he +grinned to himself. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A GALLANT RESCUE + + +"Say, fellows, what have you got on hand for to-day?" asked Tom, as he +burst into the "sanctum-sanctorum," as Bert and Dick called their room, +and sank into an easy chair. + +"Nothing," said Bert, turning from a not too promising survey of the +surrounding country, "absolutely and emphatically nothing! This promises +to be one of the slowest days in my short and brilliant career----" + +"Hear, hear!" cried Tom from the depths of his chair. "That's fine for a +starter, old top. Keep it up and perhaps you can actually persuade us +that you amount to something. It's rather a hopeless task, but it +wouldn't do any harm to try." + +"You're such a bonehead that you don't recognize real worth when you see +it," Bert retorted, good-naturedly. "There's another one," he added, +pointing to Dick, who was trying to figure out a calculus problem. "He +prefers grinding in calculus to listening to an interesting tale of my +trials and tribulations." + +"It isn't a question of preference, it's a case of dire necessity," Dick +sighed, despondently. "If only I hadn't cut class the other day I would +be all right, but as it is I'll have to cram to make up for it. Oh, if I +only had the fellow who invented calculus here, I'd----" and in the +absence of anything better Dick pulled his own mop of tangled hair and +applied himself furiously to the solving of what he called "an +unsolvable problem." + +"Poor old chap, never mind," consoled Tom. "When I come back to-night +with old Pete under my arm I'll tell you just how I caught him." + +"Do you mean to say that you are going fishing for old Pete to-day?" +Dick asked, forgetting all about calculus in his excitement. + +"Sure," Tom replied, placidly. "Didn't we agree that the first clear +Saturday we had off we'd take for our fishing trip?" + +"So we did, but that was so long ago that I'd clean forgotten it. Why +didn't you remind us of it sooner, Tom? You would have spared me a lot +of useless worry as to how I was going to spend a baseball-less day." + +"I didn't think of it myself until I came into the room," Tom admitted, +"but I suppose Dick can't go with us now. It's too bad he cut the other +day," he added, with a sly glance at the discarded calculus. + +"Don't let it worry you," Dick retorted. "Do you suppose that anything +in earth could keep me from hunting Old Pete to-day, now that you have +brought him so forcibly to my mind? Go on down and get your tackle, Tom. +Bert and I will join you in no time." + +"But, really, Dick," Tom protested, with mock severity, "don't you +realize that duty----" + +"Get out before I put you out," roared Dick, making a dash for Tom, who +promptly disappeared through the door. + +"Since you insist," laughed the fugitive through the keyhole, "meet me +on the campus in half an hour." + +"We'll be there with bells on," said Bert and Dick with one voice, and +at once began their preparations for the trip. + +As Dick put the calculus back on the shelf, he said, half +apologetically, "I'll see you to-night, old fellow." + + * * * * * + +Half an hour later, the trio were swinging rapidly down the road, +carrying their fishing poles and tackle. This was an outing that they +had planned for early in the season, but up to this time they had had no +opportunity to carry it out. Nearly every Saturday they had had extra +baseball practice, or something unexpected had come up, but now at last +they had their chance and were only too anxious to take advantage of +it. Besides them was Pete. + +Old Pete was a huge pickerel who was sly and wary beyond the general run +of fishes. Many a confident angler had come to the lake, absolutely +certain of his ability to land the big fellow, only to return, sheepish +and crestfallen, to acknowledge his defeat. + +So it was no wonder that our fellows were excited at the prospect of a +game of hide-and-seek with the biggest and most cunning of the pickerel +family. + +"Just think," Bert was saying, "what it will mean if we land him. Almost +all the other fellows in college have tried it without success, and if +we could manage to bring back Old Pete we would be popular heroes." + +"I know, but there's not much chance of that," Tom sighed. "If old Si +Perkins couldn't catch him napping, I'm afraid we can't." + +"Never say die, Tom," Dick said, gaily. "A day like this makes you feel +equal to anything." + +"So say I," Bert added, heartily. "Say, do you see that mill in front of +us? Well, that belongs to Herr Hoffmeyer, and it's one of the classiest +little mills I ever saw." + +"It sure is working some, but where do they get the power?" Dick asked. + +"Why, there's a dam right back of the mill. You can't see it from here, +but when we get a little nearer I'll point it out to you. See," he +added, as they neared the mill, "isn't that a great arrangement. +Alongside the mill there is a narrow, deep sluice. In this is arranged a +large paddle wheel and, as the water rushes through, it acts on the +paddles and turns the wheel. By a system of cogs the power is then +transmitted to the grinding stone." + +"That sure is fine," said Tom. "I don't know that I have ever had a +chance to see a working mill at such close range. Just look how the +water rushes through that sluice. I wouldn't like to get in the way." + +"Nor I," said Dick. "The current must be very strong the other side of +the dam." + +"You bet your life it is. If anybody should get caught in it, I wouldn't +give that," snapping his fingers, "for his chance of life." + +At this moment a bald-headed, red-faced man appeared at the door of +the mill. He regarded the boys with a broad smile on his face as he +carefully dusted his hands on his white apron. + +"Goot morning, young shentlemens," he said, affably. "Fine morning, fine +morning, fine morning," and after each repetition of this sentiment he +shook his head vigorously and his smile became broader. + +"It is, indeed, sir," Bert said. "We stopped for a moment to see your +mill in operation. It's a very fine mill," he added. + +"Yah, yah," the big miller assented, cheerfully, "it's a very goot mill. +For over five year now by me it has worked. Von't you step on the +insides for a minute, young shentlemens?" + +"Sure thing," said Tom. "Come on, fellows. It isn't often you get a +chance to see a real mill working. Old Pete can wait, I guess," and so, +led by the good-natured Herr Hoffmeyer, the trio entered the mill. + +For the better part of an hour they wandered around to their hearts' +content. The miller showed the working of the mill wheels, and led the +way into every nook and cranny, explaining as they went. + +At last, when they had seen everything there was to be seen, the boys +thanked their host heartily, and started on their way once more. Before +they rounded a bend in the road, they turned for a last look at the +mill. At the door stood their erstwhile host, honest, round face shining +like the moon, while the rays of the sun glanced off in little golden +darts from the smooth surface of his bald head. + +"Well, that was some adventure," Bert exclaimed. "I've always wanted to +see the inside of a mill, and now I've realized my heart's desire." + +"I like Herr Hoffmeyer, too," Tom said, "even if I did think he was a +trifle weak in the head at first. Isn't this the pickerel stream?" he +asked, a minute later. + +"Yes, but the fellows say that the big pickerel is further down the +stream. Come along." With these words, Bert led them down the bank until +they reached a shady spot, shaded by spreading trees, and carpeted with +green and velvety moss. + +"This place looks good to me," said Dick; "let's camp here." + +"I guess this ought to be about right," Bert agreed. + +In a few minutes the reels were fixed, the hooks were baited, and the +lines were lowered carefully into the clear depths of the stream. + +"This is what you might call comfort," said Tom, as he leaned lazily +against a convenient tree. + +"Bet your life," Bert agreed. + +"Now, if Pete will only consent to come along and get the hook, like any +other respectable, right-minded fish, my contentment would be absolute." + +"Huh," Tom grunted sarcastically. "He'd be likely to do that, wouldn't +he, especially if you keep up this gabfest?" + +"I guess a little polite conversation won't scare that wary old +reprobate. I imagine he's heard so much conversation that couldn't be +called exactly polite, especially when he calmly detaches the bait from +the hook without stopping to leave his card, that he wouldn't mind our +talk at all." + +"Shut up," said Tom, in a low voice, "I've got a bite, and the line's +pulling hard." + +Then, amid a breathless silence, Tom gave a quick, experienced pull to +the line, and landed--not the renowned old Pete, but a small-sized +sunfish, that wriggled and twisted desperately in its efforts to get +away. + +At this minute Bert happened to glance at Tom's face, and the look he +found there was so eloquent of absolute dismay and chagrin, that he +burst into a shout of uncontrollable laughter, in which Dick joined him. + +"That was sure one on you, old man," he said, when he had breath enough. + +"Humph," Tom grunted, disgustedly, "it sure was a sell. I thought I had +old Pete cinched that time. However," he added, "I don't see that you +fellows have much to say. You haven't even caught a sunfish." + +"Not so you could notice it," Dick agreed cheerfully. "There's plenty of +time yet, though, and all things come to him who waits. I'm right on the +job, when it comes to waiting." + +Bert, who had been thinking his own thoughts, suddenly broke into the +conversation with an irrelevant "Say, fellows, did you ever hear the +story of the man who went for a sail on a windy day----" + +"And a man coming out of the cabin asked him," Tom broke in, "if the +moon had come up yet, and he answered, 'No, but everything else has'? +Yes, we've heard that old chestnut cracked before." + +"Well, it just struck me," Bert mused, "that it fitted your case pretty +well." + +"I suppose it does, in a way," Tom admitted, "but you just wait and see +if I don't land that old rascal before night." + +"Go in and win, my boy, and take my blessing. It doesn't make much +difference who does the catching so long as he is caught," Dick said, +and once more leaned his broad back against the tree with a sigh of +content. + +But into Tom's head had come a scheme, and he determined to carry it out +at the very first opportunity. For a long time the trio sat on the +grassy bank, listening to the myriad indescribable sounds of spring. +They watched the gorgeous butterfly as it winged its lazily graceful way +from blossom to blossom, and heard the buzzing of the bee as it invaded +the heart of flowerland, and stole its nectar. The perfumed air, hot +from the touch of the sun, stole upon their senses, and made them +delightfully lazy. + +Suddenly, Bert gave a jerk to his line and landed a fair-sized pickerel. +Their luck had changed, and in a short time they had a very good mess of +fish. But the great pickerel seemed farther from showing himself than +ever. + +Tom landed the next fish, but, instead of taking it off the hook, he +threw the line, fish, and all back into the water. + +"What's that for?" Dick asked. "We have plenty of bait left, and there's +no use in wasting a perfectly good fish." + +"Wait," Tom remarked, laconically. + +They had not long to wait, however, for in a few minutes there was +another jerk on Tom's line. + +"Catch hold, fellows," Tom cried, "and help me pull. Gee, I can't hold +it, much less pull it in." + +Intensely excited, Dick added his strength to Tom's and pulled hard. + +"Pull, pull!" Tom cried, almost crazy with excitement. "We can't lose +him now. Come on! Come on!--now!" + +And with one concerted effort they pulled the line up, falling over one +another in their attempt to keep their balance. And there, at their +feet, was the largest pickerel they had ever seen--old Pete. Quick as a +flash, Tom landed on the prize, just in time to keep it from slipping +back into the water. + +"Look at him, look at him, fellows!" Tom shouted. "Here's old Pete, the +biggest pickerel in the world, the wary old codger that has defied every +fisherman for miles around, and has even eluded the deadly machinations +of Si Perkins. Don't stand there like wooden statues--come here and help +me unhook this old reprobate. Why don't you say something?" + +"For the very good reason," Bert answered, drily, "that you haven't +given us a chance. And for the second reason, I am so dazed I can't +realize our good fortune." + +"Our good fortune," Tom repeated, scornfully. "You mean my brains and +common sense. Who thought of putting that fish back into the water to +fool old Pete, I'd like to know?" + +"You did, and we are perfectly willing to give you all the credit," said +Bert. "The really important thing is that he's caught. I can hardly +believe it yet. Isn't he a beauty?" he added, enthusiastically. "Look at +the length of him, and the thickness---- Say, fellows, I bet we could +feed the whole college on him for a month." + +"I shouldn't wonder," Bert laughed. "I, for one, have never seen his +equal, and never expect to again." + +"What's that?" Tom demanded, sharply, as a cry of terror rent the air. +"Let's find out." + +"It sounded further down the stream, near the mill. Come on, fellows. +Hurry!" and Bert instinctively took command, as he always did in cases +of emergency. + +As the boys burst through the bushes further down, the cry came again, +a wild call for help, and they saw a white clad figure struggling +desperately against the force of the current. + +With a shout of encouragement Bert plunged into the water, and with long, +powerful strokes was nearing the spot where the girl had disappeared. +Once more the figure rose to the surface, but Bert knew it was for the +last time. The girl was terribly close to the sluice, and as Bert swam he +felt the tug of the current. + +Just as the girl was about to go under, Bert caught her dress and pulled +her to the surface. But how, how, could he swim with his burden against +the current to the bank, which seemed to him a hundred miles off! + +With resolute courage he mustered his strength and began the struggle +with that merciless current. One stroke, two, three,--surely he was +gaining, and a great wave of joy and hope welled up in his heart. He +_must_ make it, for not only was his life at stake, but the life of the +young girl dependent upon his success. But it became harder and harder +to make headway, and finally he realized that he was barely holding his +own--that he had to exert all his remaining strength to prevent them +both from being drawn through the sluice to a cruel death below. + +Desperately he strove to push against that mighty wall of water, that, +like some merciless giant, was forcing him and his helpless burden, inch +by inch, to destruction. In the agony of his soul a great cry of despair +broke from his lips. "It will all be over soon," he muttered. "I +wouldn't care so much for myself, but the girl," and he looked down at +the pale face and dark, tangled hair of the girl he was giving his life +to save. They were very, very close to the entrance of the sluice now, +and nearing it more swiftly every moment. But what was that black object +coming toward them so rapidly? + +"Bert, Bert, keep up your courage. I'm coming!" cried Dick's voice. +"I'll be with you in a minute. Just a minute, old fellow." + +Oh, could Dick reach them in time. Bert could only pray for strength to +hold on for a few minutes. He was very near them now, and shouting +encouragement at every stroke. Now he was beside them, and had taken the +girl from Bert's nerveless grasp. "Here, take this rope, old fellow," he +cried, "put it over your head, quick. That's the way. Now let the +fellows on shore pull you in." + +Bert wondered afterward why he had not felt any great exultation at +his sudden and almost miraculous deliverance. As it was, only a +great feeling of weariness settled down upon him, and he wanted to +sleep--sleep. Then the sky came down to meet the earth, and everything +went black before his eyes. + + * * * * * + +"Bert, dear old Bert, wake up. You're safe. You're safe. Don't you hear +me, old fellow?" a voice at a great distance was saying, and Bert opened +uncomprehending eyes on a strange world. + +"Hello, fellows," he said, with the ghost of his old smile. "Came pretty +near to 'shuffling off this mortal coil,' didn't I? Where is----" he +asked, looking around, inquiringly. + +"The girl you so bravely rescued?" came a sweet voice behind him. "And +who never, never can repay you for what you have done to-day if she +lives forever?" + +With the assistance of his friends Bert got to his feet and faced the +girl who had so nearly gone to her death with him. For the first time in +his life he felt embarrassed. + +"Please don't thank me," he said; "I'm repaid a thousandfold when I see +you standing there safe. It might so easily have been the other way," +and he shuddered at the thought. + +Before the girl could answer, another figure strode forth and grasped +our hero's hand in both of his. + +"Professor Davis," Bert exclaimed, as he recognized one of the college +professors. + +"Yes, it's Mr. Davis, Bert, and he owes you a debt of gratitude he can +never cancel. Bert, it was my daughter you rescued from a hideous death +to-day, and, dear boy, from this day, you can count on me for anything +in the world." + +"Thank you, Professor; I don't deserve all this----" + +"Yes, you do, my boy--every bit of it and more, and now," he added, +seeing that the strain was telling on Bert, "I think you, Dick, and Tom +had better get Bert home as quickly as you can. This daughter of mine +insisted on staying until you revived, but I guess she will excuse you, +now. I'd ask you to take supper with us to-night, but I know that what +you most need is rest. It is only a pleasure deferred, however." + +As they turned to go, the girl held out her hands to Tom and Dick, and +lastly to Bert. "I am very, very grateful," she said, softly. + +"And I am very, very grateful that I have been given a chance to serve +you," he answered, and watched her disappear with her father through the +bushes. + +Then he turned to Dick and Tom. "You fellows deserve more credit than I, +a thousand times more," he said, in a voice that was a trifle husky. + +"Huh," said Tom, "all that I did was to run to the nearest house for a +rope, and all Dick did was to hand you the rope, while Professor Davis +and I hauled you in." + +"Yes, that's all," Bert repeated, softly, "that's all." + +"Well, come on, Bert, it's time you got back to college. I guess you're +about all in," said Dick, putting his arm through Bert's and starting +off in the direction of the college. + +"Say, you forgot something," Tom said, suddenly. "You forgot all about +old Pete." + +"So we did," Dick exclaimed; "suppose you go and get the fish and poles, +if they are still there, and join us at the crossing." + +And they did meet at the crossing, and jogged along home, their bodies +tired, but their hearts at rest, while their friendship was welded still +more strongly by one other experience, shared in common. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A WILD RIDE + + +It was a rather gloomy morning on which the team started for the college +where they were to play one of the most important games of the series. +If they won, they would eliminate the Grays and have only to contend +with the Maroons; if they lost, all their splendid work of the season +might have gone for nought. + +They were a sober bunch, therefore, as they gathered at the railway +station to await their train. There was little of the usual joking +and horse play to be seen, but this may have been partly due to the +depressing state of the weather. As the train came in sight, however, +they chirked up somewhat at the thought of having something to occupy +their minds, and piled aboard their special car in a little more +cheerful mood. A dense, clammy fog hung low over the ground, and it +was impossible to see more than a hundred feet or so into it in any +direction. + +The town in which they were to play to-day was almost a hundred miles +distant, and so they had a considerable journey ahead of them. The +train was a little behind time, and was making extra speed in an effort +to catch up with its schedule. They had traversed several miles, and +were relieving the monotony of the journey with jokes and riddles. As +they passed over a particularly high trestle, and looked down into the +dizzy void below, Sterling, the second baseman, said: + +"Say, fellows, this trestle reminds me of a story I heard a little while +ago. If somebody would beg me to real hard, I might be induced to tell +it to you." + +"Go ahead!" "Shoot!" "Let's hear it!" came a chorus of supplication, and +Sterling said, "Well, if you insist, I suppose I will have to tell it to +you. The scene of this thrilling anecdote is laid in the Far West, when +it was much wilder and woollier than it is at present. It seems that two +horse thieves had been captured by a band of 'vigilantes,' and after a +trial notable for its brevity and lack of hampering formalities, they +were both sentenced to be hanged. It was in a country in which there +were no trees worthy of the name, and the only available place for the +execution within several miles was a high railroad bridge. To this, +accordingly, the 'vigilantes' conducted their prisoners, one of whom was +a Swede and the other of Irish persuasion. The two were forced to draw +lots to see which one should be hanged first, and, as it turned out, +the Swede drew the short straw, and so was pronounced the first victim +of justice. + +"The noose of a stout lariat was fastened around his neck, and when +everything was ready he was shoved off the bridge. As the strain of his +weight came on the rope, however, the knot of the noose became untied, +and the Swede fell to the rushing river below. He was not hurt much, and +those on the bridge saw him swim to the bank and scramble ashore. There +was no way of getting at him, so the lynchers had to satisfy themselves +with many and varied oaths. The Irishman, of course, had watched the +proceeding in a fascinated manner, and as the cowboys tied the rope +around his neck, he said, in an imploring voice, 'For Hivin's sake, +byes, tie the rope tight this time, for I can't swim a stroke.'" + +Hearty laughter greeted Sterling's narrative, and the boys felt in +better spirits after it. + +"That reminds me of a story I heard once," began Hinsdale. "It was when +I was on a visit to my uncle's ranch in Montana, and----" + +But he was interrupted by a crash that sounded as though the end of the +world had come, and the car in which they were riding reared up in the +air like a bucking horse. It rose almost to a perpendicular position, +and then crashed over on its side. It scraped along a few rods in this +position, and then came to a grinding halt. + +For a few seconds there was silence, and then a pandemonium of muffled +screams and cries broke forth. Bert's voice was the first to be heard in +their car, and it inquired, anxiously, "Where are you, Dick, Tom, and +the rest of you? Are you alive yet? Here, you, get off my neck, will +you, and give me a chance to breathe." + +There was a general scramble and struggle among the debris, and soon one +boy after another climbed and crawled through the broken windows until +finally they all stood accounted for. Many had painful scratches and +bruises, but none were hurt at all seriously. Reddy, the trainer, drew a +sigh of relief. "Thank Heaven for its mercies," said he, fervently, and +then, "Well, me lads, get a wiggle on, and we'll see if everybody else +has been as lucky as we have. From the looks of things up forward there, +it's more than I dare hope." + +The front part of the train, which had sustained the greatest shock of +the collision, was indeed a terrible spectacle. Running full speed, the +two trains had crashed into each other out of the fog before their +engineers had fairly realized that anything was amiss. The locomotives +were practically demolished, and one huge Mogul lay on its side beside +the roadbed, steam still hissing from its broken pipes. The other engine +still was on the rails, but its entire front had been demolished, and it +was a total wreck. The coaches immediately back of the locomotives had +been driven on by the momentum of the cars back of them, and had been +partly telescoped; that is, the cars in the rear had plowed half way +through before their progress was checked. To add to the horror of the +scene, thin red flames were licking up from the wreckage, probably +started by the coals from the engine. Many of the passengers were unable +to extricate themselves from the wreckage, being pinned down by beams and +other heavy articles. Their cries and supplications to be saved were +pitiful as they saw the hungry flames gathering headway and eating their +way toward them, and Reddy turned fiercely to the horror-stricken boys. +"Here, what are ye standing around for?" he snarled. "Git back to our car +and get out the axes and fire extinguishers there. You can get at them if +you try. Come on; hurry!" and the trainer sprinted back toward the rear +cars, followed in a body by the willing and eager boys. In less time +than it takes to tell it, they returned, some with axes and some with +extinguishers. The latter could make little progress against the flames, +however, which by now had gained considerable headway, so the boys, +assisted by such other of the passengers who were in a position to do +so, proceeded to chop and dig their way to the imprisoned unfortunates. +Person after person they dragged out in this manner, until they had +rescued all but one man. + +He was pinned down by a timber that had all the weight of one of the +heavy trucks on it, and it seemed impossible that they could get him out +before the fire got to him. Already they could feel its intense heat as +they chopped and pulled, wrenched and lifted, in a frenzy of haste. +Nearer and nearer crept the all-embracing fire, until eyebrows and hair +began to singe with the deadly heat, and they were forced to work in +relays, relieving each other every minute or so. + +"For God's sake, if you can't get me out of here before the fire reaches +me, kill me," pleaded the unfortunate prisoner, "don't let me roast here +by degrees!" + +"No danger of that," gasped Bert, as he swung a huge timber aside that +under ordinary circumstances he would have been unable even to move. +"We'll have you out in a jiffy, now." + +"Come on boys, we've got to move this truck," yelled Reddy. "Here, +everybody get hold on this side, and when I say pull, _pull_ for your +lives! Now! get hold! Ready?" + +"Yes!" they gasped between set teeth. + +"Pull!" fairly screamed Reddy, and every man and boy grasping the +obstinate mass of twisted metal put every ounce of strength in his body +into one supreme effort. The mass swayed, gave, and then toppled back +where it had been before! + +"Don't give up!" yelled Bert, frantically, as he saw some of the men +release their hold and turn away, evidently despairing of accomplishing +their object. "Try it again! For God's sake remember you're men, and try +again! It's a human life that's at stake!" + +Thus adjured, they returned to the task, and at the signal from Reddy, +wrenched and tore frantically at the inert mass that appeared to mock +their puny efforts. + +"Keep it up, keep it up!" gritted Reddy. Slowly but surely, every muscle +straining to its utmost and threatening to snap under the terrific +strain, they raised the heavy truck, and with one last mad heave and +pull sent it toppling down the railroad embankment. + +With a wild yell they fell upon the few light timbers lying between them +and the imprisoned man, and soon had him stretched out safely beside the +track. On examination it proved that he had an arm wrenched and several +minor injuries, but nothing fatal. + +"Nothing I can say will express half the gratitude I feel toward you +young men," he said, smiling weakly up into the faces of the boys +grouped about him, "you have saved me from a horrible death, and I will +never forget it." + +While waiting for the arrival of the wrecking crew and a doctor, the +rescued man had considerable further talk with the members of the team, +and they learned, much to their surprise, that he was an alumnus of +their college. Their pleasure at this discovery was very great, and that +of the stranger seemed little less. + +"The old college has done me a whole lot of good, all through my life," +he said, "but never as much as it did to-day, through her baseball team. +You will hear further from me, young men." + +"Oh, it was nothing much to do," deprecated Bert, "we did the only thing +there was to be done under the circumstances, and that was all there was +to it!" + +"Not a bit of it," insisted the gentleman. "Why, just take a look at +your faces. You are all as red as though you had been boiled, and your +eyebrows are singed. I declare, anybody looking at us would think that +you had had a good deal harder time of it than I had." + +And nothing the boys could say would induce him to alter his opinion of +their heroism in the slightest degree. + +Soon they heard a whistle far down the track, and shortly afterward the +wrecking train hove in view. It consisted, besides the locomotive and +tender, of a tool car, in which were stored all kinds of instruments, +jacks, etc., that could possibly be required, and a flat car on which a +sturdy swinging crane was mounted. The railroad company had also sent +several physicians, who were soon busily engaged in taking proper care +of the injured. + +In the meantime, the crew of the wrecking train, headed by a burly +foreman, got in strenuous action, and the boys marveled at the quick and +workmanlike manner in which they proceeded to clear the line. As is the +case with all wrecking crews, their orders were to clear the road for +traffic in the shortest time regardless of expense. The time lost in +trying to save, for instance, the remains of a locomotive or car for +future use, would have been much more valuable than either. + +A gang of Italians were set to work clearing off the lighter portion of +the wreckage, and the wrecking crew proper proceeded to get chains under +the locomotive that remained on the tracks. It was so twisted and bent +that not one of its wheels would even turn, so it was impossible to tow +it away. The only solution of the problem, then, was to lift it off +the track. After the crew had placed and fastened the chains to the +satisfaction of the foreman, who accompanied the process with a string +of weird oaths, the signal was given to the man operating the steam +crane to "hoist away." + +The strong engine attached to the massive steel crane began to whirr, +and slowly the great mass of the locomotive rose, inch by inch, into the +air. When the front part was entirely clear of the tracks, the operator +touched another lever, and the crane swung outward, carrying the huge +locomotive with it as a child might play with a toy. It was a revelation +of the unlimited might of that powerful monster, steam. + +Further and further swung the crane, until the locomotive was at right +angles to the track, with its nose overhanging the embankment. Then, +with the foreman carefully directing every movement with uplifted +hand and caustic voice, the locomotive was lowered gently down the +embankment, partly sliding and partly supported by the huge chain, every +link of which was almost a foot long. + +In speaking of this chain afterward one of the boys said he wished he +had stolen it so that he might wear it as a watch-chain. + +The engine finally came to rest at the foot of the incline, and the +chain was slackened and cast off. Then the crane took the next car in +hand, and went through much the same process with it. Car after car was +slid down the embankment, and in an incredibly short time the roadway +was cleared of wreckage. Then it was seen that several rails had been +ripped up, but these were quickly replaced by others from racks built +along the right of way, such as the reader has no doubt often seen. + +In a little over an hour from the time the wrecking crew came on the +scene the last bolt on the rail connecting plates had been tightened, +and the track was ready again for traffic. + +"Gee," exclaimed Tom, "that was quick work, for fair. Why, if anybody +had asked me, I would have said that no train would have been able to +use this roadway for at least a day. That crew knows its business, and +no mistake." + +"They sure do," agreed Dick, "they cleared things up in jig time. But it +only shows what can be done when you go about it in the right way." + +"I only wish we had had that crane when we were trying to lift the truck +up," said the trainer, who had sauntered up to the group. "It wouldn't +have been any trick at all with that little pocket instrument." + +"No," laughed Bert. "I think that in the future I will carry one around +with me in case of emergencies. You don't know when it might come in +handy." + +"Great head, great head," approved Dick, solemnly, and then they both +laughed heartily, and the others joined in. After their recent narrow +escape from death, life seemed a very pleasant and jolly thing. + +But suddenly Bert's face sobered. "How the dickens are we going to get +to the game in time?" he inquired. "The service is all tied up, and it +will be hours and hours before we can get there." + +This was indeed a problem, and there seemed to be no solution. There was +no other railroad running within twenty miles of this one, and while a +trolley line connecting the towns was building, it had not as yet been +completed. As Tom expressed it, "they were up against it good and +plenty." + +While they were discussing the problem, and someone had despairingly +suggested that they walk, Mr. Clarke, the gentleman whom the boys had +rescued from the wreck, strolled up, with his arm neatly done up in a +sling. His face looked pale and drawn, but aside from the wrenched arm +he appeared none the worse for his harrowing experience. + +When informed of the problem facing the team, he appeared nonplussed at +first, but then his face lightened up. + +"My home isn't more than a mile from here," he said, "and I have +recently bought a large seven-passenger automobile. You could all pack +into that without much trouble, and there is a fine macadam road leading +from within a few blocks of my house to the town for which you are +bound. But there," and his face clouded over, "I forgot. I discharged my +chauffeur the other day, and I have not had time as yet to engage +another. I don't know whom I could get to drive the car. I can't do it +on account of my broken arm." + +"Shucks, that's too bad," said Reddy, in a disappointed tone, "that +would be just the thing, if we only had someone to run it. That's what I +call tough luck. I guess there's no game for us to-day, boys, unless we +think of something else." + +But here Bert spoke up. "If Mr. Clarke wouldn't be afraid to trust the +car to me," he said, "I know how to drive, and I can promise we will +take the best care of it. I know that car fore and aft, from radiator to +taillight." + +"Why, certainly, go as far as you like," said Mr. Clarke, heartily. "If +you are sure you can handle it I will be only too glad to let you have +it. Nothing I can do will repay a thousandth part of what I owe you +boys." + +"You're sure you're capable of handling a car, are you, Wilson?" +inquired the trainer, with a searching look. "I don't want to take a +chance on getting mixed up in any more wrecks to-day. The one we've had +already will satisfy me for some time to come." + +"Watch me," was all Bert said, but Dick and Tom both chimed in +indignantly, "I guess you don't know whom we have with us," said Tom, +"why, Bert has forgotten more about automobiles than I ever knew, and +I'm no slouch at that game." + +"That's right," confirmed Dick. "Bert's some demon chauffeur, Reddy. +Believe me, we'll have to move some, too, if we expect to get to D---- +in time for the game. Why!" he exclaimed, glancing at his watch, "it's +after one now, and we're due to be at the grounds at 2:30. How far is +it, Mr. Clarke, from your house to D----?" + +Mr. Clarke calculated a moment, and then said, "Why, I guess it must be +from fifty to fifty-five miles. You'll have to burn up the road to get +there in anything like time," he said, and glanced quizzically at Bert. + +"That's easy," returned the latter, "a car like yours ought to be +capable of seventy miles an hour in a pinch." + +Mr. Clarke nodded his head. "More than that," he said, "but be careful +how you try any stunts like seventy miles an hour. I don't care about +the car, but I don't want the old college to be without a baseball team +owing to an automobile smashup." + +"Never fear," said Bert, confidently. "You may be sure I will take no +unnecessary chances. I don't feel as though I wanted to die yet awhile." + +"All right," said Mr. Clarke, and proceeded to give them directions on +the shortest way to reach his home. When he had finished, Reddy sang +out, "All right, boys, let's get a move on. Double quick now! We haven't +a minute to lose." + +Accordingly the whole team started off at a swinging trot, and it was +not long before Mr. Clarke's handsome residence came into view. Mr. +Clarke had given them a note, which they presented to his wife, who met +them at the door. She was much agitated at the news contained therein, +but, after a few anxious questions, proceeded to show them where the +machine was located, and gave them the key to the garage. They raced +down a long avenue of stately trees, and soon came to the commodious +stone garage. Reddy unlocked the doors, and swung them wide. + +"Gee, what a machine," breathed Bert, and stood a moment in mute +admiration. The automobile was of the very latest pattern, and was the +finest product of an eminent maker. The sun sparkled on its polished +enamel and brass work. But Bert had no eyes for these details. He raised +the hood and carefully inspected the engine. Then he peered into the +gasoline and oil tanks, and found both plentifully supplied. + +"All right," he announced, after this inspection. "Pile in someway, and +we'll get a move on. What time is it, Tom?" + +"Just twenty-five minutes of two," announced Tom, after consulting his +watch. "I hope we don't get arrested for speeding, that's all. This +reminds me of the old 'Red Scout' days, doesn't it you, Dick?" + +"It sure does," agreed the latter, with a reminiscent smile. "We'll have +to go mighty fast to break the records we made then, won't we, old +sock?" slapping Bert on the shoulder. + +"That's what," agreed Bert, as he cranked the motor. + +The big engine coughed once or twice, and then settled down into a +contented purring. Bert threw in the reverse and backed out of the +garage. He handled the big car with practised hands, and Reddy, who +had been watching him carefully, drew a sigh of relief. "I guess he +knows his business, all right," he reflected, and settled back on the +luxurious cushions of the tonneau. The car was packed pretty solidly, +you may be sure, and everyone seated on the cushions proper had somebody +else perched on his lap. This did not matter, however, and everybody was +too excited to feel uncomfortable. + +As they passed the porch, they stopped, and Mrs. Clarke, who had been +waiting to see them off, gave Bert directions on how to find the main +road. "Follow the road in front of the house due south for about half or +three-quarters of a mile," she said, "and then turn to your left on the +broad, macadam road that you will see at about this point. That will +take you without a break to D----. Be careful of that car, though," she +said to Bert, "I'm almost afraid of it, it's so very powerful." + +"It will need all its power to-day," said Bert, smiling, and they all +said good-bye to Mrs. Clarke. Then Bert slipped in the clutch, and the +big car glided smoothly out on the road in front of the house, and in a +very short time they came to the main road of which Mrs. Clarke had +spoken. + +"Now, Bert, let her rip," said Dick, who was in the seat beside our +hero. Bert did. + +Little by little he opened the throttle till the great machine was +rushing along the smooth road at terrific speed. Faster and faster they +flew. The wind whistled in their ears, and all who were not holding on +to their caps lost them. There was no time to stop for such a trivial +item, and indeed nobody even thought of such a thing. To get to the +game, that was the main thing. Also, the lust of speed had entered their +hearts, and while they felt horribly afraid at the frightful pace, there +was a certain mad pleasure in it, too. The speedometer needle crept up +and up, till it touched the sixty-mile-an-hour mark. Reddy wanted to +tell Bert to slacken speed, but feared that the boys would think he was +"scared," so said nothing. Bert's heart thrilled, and the blood pounded +madly through his veins. His very soul called for speed, speed! and he +gradually opened the throttle until it would go no further. The great +car responded nobly, and strained madly ahead. The whirring gears hummed +a strident tune, and the explosions from the now open muffler sounded in +an unbroken roar. The passengers in the machine grew dizzy, and some +were forced to close their eyes to protect them from the rushing, +tearing wind. The fields on both sides streaked away in back of them +like a vari-colored ribbon, and the gray road seemed leaping up to meet +them. The speedometer hand pointed to eighty miles an hour, and now +there was a long decline in front of them. The boys thought that then +Bert would surely reduce the power somewhat, but apparently no such +thought entered his mind. Down the long slope they swooped, and +then--What was that in front of them, that they were approaching at such +terrific speed? At a glance Bert saw that it consisted of two farm +wagons traveling along toward them at a snail's pace, their drivers +engaged in talk, and oblivious of the road in front of them. Bert +touched the siren lever, and a wild shriek burst from the tortured +siren. The drivers gave one startled glance at the flying demon +approaching them, and then started to draw up their horses to opposite +sides of the road. They seemed fairly to crawl and Bert felt an awful +contraction of his heart. What if they could not make it? He knew that +it would have been folly to apply the brakes at the terrific speed at +which they were traveling, and his only chance lay in going between the +two wagons. + +Slowly--slowly--the wagons drew over to the side of the road, and Bert +calculated the distance with straining eyes. His hands gripped the wheel +until his knuckles stood out white and tense. + +Now they were upon the wagons--and through! A vision of rearing horses, +excited, gesticulating drivers--and they were through, with a scant half +foot to spare on either side. + +A deep sigh went up from the passengers in the car, and tense muscles +were relaxed. Gradually, little by little, Bert reduced the speed until +they were traveling at a mere forty miles an hour, which seemed quiet, +safe and slow, after their recent hair-raising pace. Reddy pulled out +his handkerchief and mopped his forehead, which was beaded with +perspiration. + +"We looked death in the face that time," he declared, gravely. "I never +expected to get out of that corner alive. If we had hit one of those +wagons, it would have been all up with us. For heaven's sake, Wilson, +take it a little easier in the future, will you? I don't want to +decorate a marble slab in the morgue just yet awhile." + +Tom pulled out his watch, and found that it was after two o'clock. "We +can't be far from the town now," he declared. "I'll bet that's it, where +you see the steeple over there in the distance." + +"That's what it is," chimed in several of the others, who had been to +the town before; "we'll get there with time to spare." + +The intervening mile or so was covered in a jiffy, and the car entered +the town. Almost immediately they were recognized by some in the crowd, +and were greeted with cheers. A couple of young fellows whom they knew +jumped up on the running-board as Bert slowed down for them. + +"Gee," said one, "there's some class to you fellows, all right, all +right. It isn't every baseball team that can travel around the country +in a giddy buzz wagon like the one you have there. Who belongs to it, +anyway?" + +"Oh, it's too long a story to tell now," said the trainer. "We'll tell +you all about it after the game. It's about time we were starting in to +practise a little." + +They soon arrived at the grounds, and were greeted by an ovation. The +news of the wreck had just been telegraphed in, and the spectators had +been a sorely disappointed lot until the arrival of the car bearing the +Blues. The news had spread over the field, and some of the spectators +had started to leave, thinking that, of course, there would be no game. + +These soon returned, however, and settled down to see the struggle. + +It would seem as though the Blues would have little energy left after +such an exciting day as they had passed through, but such is the +wonderful elasticity and recuperative powers of youth, that they played +one of the snappiest games of the season, and after a hotly contested +fight won out by a score of four to two. + +As they returned to the clubhouse after the game, they were surprised +beyond measure to see Mr. Clarke waiting for them. He greeted them with +a smile, and shook hands all around with his uninjured arm. + +"I caught the first train that went through," he explained, "and got +here in time to see the last inning. You fellows put up a cracker-jack +game, and I think you are an honor to the old college. It was a wonder +you did not lose. After what you have been through to-day I should not +have been a bit surprised or disappointed." + +They thanked him for his kind speech, and then nothing would do but that +they must have supper with him at the most expensive hotel in town. +Needless to say, this meal was done ample justice, and when Mr. Clarke +informed them that he had hired rooms for them for the night the +announcement was greeted with a cheer. + +"I have telegraphed home, so nobody will be worried about you," he said. +"They know you're in safe hands," and his eyes twinkled. + +It was a tired lot of athletes that tumbled up to bed that night, +and soon they were sleeping the deep, dreamless sleep of healthy +exhaustion. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE NINTH INNING + + +The morning of the all-important day on which the Blues and Maroons were +to lock horns in order that the pennant question might be finally +settled dawned gloriously. There was not a cloud in the sky and scarcely +a breath of wind stirring. A storm two days before had cooled the air +and settled the dust, and altogether a finer day for the deciding +struggle could not have been imagined. + +The game was to be played on the enemy's grounds, and that, of course, +gave them a great advantage. This was further increased by the fact that +it was Commencement Week, and from all parts of the country great +throngs of the old graduates had been pouring for days into the little +town that held so large a place in their memories and affections. They +could be depended on to a man to be present that afternoon, rooting with +all their might and yelling their heads off to encourage the home team. + +However, they would not have it all their own way in that matter, +although of course they would be in the majority. The train that +brought Bert and his comrades on the day before was packed with wildly +enthusiastic supporters, and a whole section of the grandstand would be +reserved for them. They had rehearsed their songs and cheers and were +ready to break loose at any time on the smallest provocation and "make +Rome howl." And, as is the way of college rooters, they had little doubt +that when they took the train for home they would carry their enemies' +scalps at their belts. They would have mobbed anybody for the mere +suggestion that their favorites could lose. + +They packed the hotel corridors with an exuberant and hilarious crowd +that night that "murdered sleep" for any one within earshot, and it was +in the "wee, sma' hours" when they at last sought their beds, to snatch +a few hours' sleep and dream of the great game on the morrow. Not so the +team themselves, however. They had been carried away to a secluded +suite, where after a good supper and a little quiet chat in which +baseball was not permitted to intrude, they were tucked away in their +beds by their careful trainer and by ten o'clock were sleeping soundly. + +At seven the next morning they were astir, and, after a substantial +breakfast, submitted themselves to "Reddy's" rubdown and massage, at the +conclusion of which their bodies were glowing, their eyes bright, and +they felt "fine as silk," in Reddy's phrase, and ready for anything. It +was like getting a string of thoroughbreds thoroughly groomed and +sending them to the post fit to race for a kingdom. To keep them from +dwelling on the game, Reddy took them for a quiet stroll in the country, +returning only in time for a leisurely though not hearty dinner, after +which they piled into their 'bus and started for the ball field. + +As they drove into the carriage gate at the lower end of the field they +fairly gasped at the sight that met their eyes. They had never played +before such a tremendous crowd as this. Grandstands and bleachers, the +whole four sides of the field were packed with tier upon tier of noisy +and jubilant rooters. Old "grads," pretty girls and their escorts waving +flags, singing songs, cheering their favorites, shouting their class +cries, made a picture that, once seen, could never be forgotten. + +"Some crowd, all right," said Dick to Bert, as they came out on the +field for preliminary practise. + +"Yes," said Bert, "and nine out of ten of them expect and hope to see us +lose. We must put a crimp in that expectation, from the stroke of the +gong." + +"And we will, too," asserted Tom, confidently, "they never saw the day +when they were a better team than ours, and it's up to our boys to prove +it to them, right off the reel." + +"How does your arm feel to-day?" asked Dick. "Can you mow them down in +the good old way, if you go in the box?" + +"Never felt better in my life," rejoined Bert. "I feel as though I could +pitch all day if necessary." + +"That sounds good," said Dick, throwing his arm over Bert's shoulder. +"If that's the way you feel, we've got the game sewed up already." + +"Don't be too sure, old man," laughed Bert. "You'd better 'knock wood.' +We've seen too many good things go wrong to be sure of anything in this +world of chance. By the way," he went on, "who is that fellow up near +our bench? There's something familiar about him. By George, it's +Ainslee," and they made a rush toward the stalwart figure that turned to +meet them with a smile of greeting. + +"In the name of all that's lucky," cried Dick, as he grasped his hand +and shook it warmly, "how did you manage to get here? I thought you were +with your team at Pittsburgh. There's no man on earth I'd rather see +here to-day." + +"Well," returned the coach, his face flushing with pleasure at the +cordial greeting, "I pitched yesterday, and as it will be two or three +days before my turn in the box comes round again, I made up my mind it +was worth an all-night's journey to come up here and see you whale the +life out of these fellows. Because of course that's what you're going to +do, isn't it? You wouldn't make me spend all that time and money for +nothing, would you?" he grinned. + +"You bet we won't," laughed Dick, "just watch our smoke." + +The presence of the coach was an inspiration, and they went on for +their fifteen minutes' practise with a vim and snap that sobered up the +over-confident rooters on the other side. Their playing fairly sparkled, +and some of the things put across made the spectators catch their +breath. + +Just in front of the grandstand, Bert and Winters tried out their +pitching arms. Commencing slowly, they gradually increased their pace, +until they were shooting them over with railroad speed. The trainer and +manager, reinforced by Mr. Ainslee, carefully watched every ball thrown, +so as to get a line on the comparative speed and control. While they +intended to use Bert, other things being equal, nobody knew better than +they that a baseball pitcher is as variable as a finely strung race +horse. One day he is invincible and has "everything" on the ball; the +next, a village nine might knock him all over the lot. + +But to-day seemed certainly Bert's day. He had "speed to burn." His +curves were breaking sharply enough to suit even Ainslee's critical eye, +and while Winters also was in fine fettle, his control was none too +good. Hinsdale was called into the conference. + +"How about it, Hin?" asked Ainslee. "How do they feel when they come +into the glove?" + +"Simply great," replied the catcher, "they almost knock me over, and his +change of pace is perfect." + +"That settles it," said Ainslee, and the others acquiesced. + +So that when at last the starting gong rang and a breathless silence +fell over the field, as Tom strode to the plate, Bert thrilled with the +knowledge that he had been selected to carry the "pitching burden," and +that upon him, more than any other member of the team, rested that day's +defeat or victory. + +The lanky, left-handed pitcher wound up deliberately and shot one over +the plate. Tom didn't move an eyelash. + +"Strike one!" called the umpire, and the home crowd cheered. + +The next one was a ball. + +"Good eye, old man!" yelled Dick from the bench. "You've got him +guessing." + +The next was a strike, and then two balls followed in rapid succession. +The pitcher measured the distance carefully, and sent one right over the +center of the rubber. Tom fouled it and grinned at the pitcher. A little +off his balance, he sent the next one in high, and Tom trotted down to +first, amid the wild yells of his college mates. + +Flynn came next with a pretty sacrifice that put Tom on second. Drake +sent a long fly that the center fielder managed to get under. But before +he could get set for the throw in, Tom, who had left second the instant +the catch was made, slid into third in a cloud of dust just before the +ball reached there. + +"He's got his speed with him to-day," muttered Ainslee, "now if Trent +can only bring him home." + +But Tom had other views. He had noticed that the pitcher took an +unusually long wind-up. Then too, being left-handed, he naturally faced +toward first instead of third, as he started to deliver the ball. Foot +by foot, Tom increased his lead off third, watching the pitcher +meanwhile, with the eye of a hawk. Two balls and one strike had been +called on Dick, when, just as the pitcher began his wind-up, Tom made a +dash for the plate and came down the line like a panic-stricken +jack-rabbit. + +Warned by the roar that went up from the excited crowd, the pitcher +stopped his wind-up, and hurriedly threw the ball to the catcher. But +the unexpectedness of the move rattled him and he threw low. There was a +mixup of legs and arms, as Tom threw himself to the ground twenty feet +from the plate and slid over the rubber, beating the ball by a hair. The +visiting crowd went wild, and generous applause came even from the home +rooters over the scintillating play, while his mates fairly smothered +him as he rose and trotted over to the bench. + +"He stole home," cried Reddy, whose face was as red as his hair with +excitement. "The nerve of him! He stole home!" + +It was one of the almost impossible plays that one may go all through +the baseball season without seeing. Not only did it make sure of one +precious run--and that run was destined to look as big as a mountain as +the game progressed--but it had a tendency to throw the opposing team +off its balance, while it correspondingly inspired and encouraged the +visitors. + +However, the pitcher pulled himself together, and although he passed +Dick to first by the four-ball route, he made Hodge send up a high foul +to the catcher and the side was out. + +The home crowd settled back with a sigh of relief. After all, only one +run had been scored, and the game was young. Wait till their heavy +artillery got into action and there would be a different story to tell. +They had expected that Winters, the veteran, would probably be the one +on whom the visitors would pin their hopes for the crucial game, and +there was a little rustle of surprise when they saw a newcomer move +toward the box. They took renewed hope when they learned that he was a +Freshman, and that this was his first season as a pitcher. No matter how +good he was, it stood to reason that when their sluggers got after him +they would quickly "have his number." + +"Well, Wilson," said Ainslee, as Bert drew on his glove, "the fellows +have given you a run to start with. You can't ask any more of them than +that. Take it easy, don't let them rattle you, and don't use your +fadeaway as long as your curves and fast straight ones are working +right. Save that for the pinches." + +"All right," answered Bert, "if the other fellows play the way Tom is +doing, I'll have nothing left to ask for in the matter of support, and +it's up to me to do the rest." + +For a moment as he faced the head of the enemy's batting order, and +realized all that depended on him, his head grew dizzy. The immense +throng of faces swam before his eyes and Dick's "Now, Bert, eat them +up," seemed to come from a mile away. The next instant his brain +cleared. He took a grip on himself. The crowd no longer wavered before +his eyes. He was as cold and hard as steel. + +"Come, Freshie," taunted Ellis, the big first baseman, as he shook his +bat, "don't cheat me out of my little three bagger. I'll make it a homer +if you don't hurry up." + +He jumped back as a swift, high one cut the plate right under his neck. + +"Strike," called the umpire. + +"Naughty, naughty," said Ellis, but his tone had lost some of its +jauntiness. + +The next was a wide outcurve away from the plate, but Ellis did not +"bite," and it went as a ball. + +Another teaser tempted him and he lifted a feeble foul to Hinsdale, who +smothered it easily. + +Hart, who followed, was an easy victim, raising a pop fly to Sterling at +second. Gunther, the clean-up hitter of the team, sent a grounder to +short that ordinarily would have been a sure out, but, just before +reaching White, it took an ugly bound and went out into right. Sterling, +who was backing up White, retrieved it quickly, but Gunther reached +first in safety. The crowd roared their delight. + +"Here's where we score," said one to his neighbor. "I knew it was only a +matter--Thunder! Look at that." + +"That" was a lightning snap throw from Bert to Dick that caught Gunther +five feet off first. The move had been so sudden and unexpected that +Dick had put the ball on him before the crowd fairly realized that it +had left the pitcher's hand. It was a capital bit of "inside stuff" that +brought the Blues to their feet in tempestuous cheering, as Bert walked +in to the bench. + +"O, I guess our Freshie is bad, all right," shouted one to Ellis, as he +walked to his position. + +"We'll get him yet," retorted the burly fielder. "He'll blow up when his +time comes." + +But the time was long in coming. In the next three innings, only nine +men faced him, and four of these "fanned." His "whip" was getting better +and better as the game progressed. His heart leaped with the sense of +mastery. There was something uncanny in the way the ball obeyed him. It +twisted, curved, rose and fell like a thing alive. A hush fell on the +crowd. All of them, friend and foe, felt that they were looking at a +game that would make baseball history. Ainslee's heart was beating as +though it would break through his ribs. Could he keep up that demon +pitching? Would the end come with a rush? Was it in human nature for a +mere boy before that tremendous crowd to stand the awful strain? He +looked the unspoken questions to Reddy, who stared back at him. + +"He'll do it, Mr. Ainslee, he'll do it. He's got them under his thumb. +They can't get to him. That ball fairly talks. He whispers to it and +tells it what to do." + +The other pitcher, too, was on his mettle. Since the first inning, no +one of his opponents had crossed the rubber. Only two hits had been +garnered off his curves and his drop ball was working beautifully. He +was determined to pitch his arm off before he would lower his colors to +this young cub, who threatened to dethrone him as the premier twirler of +the league. It looked like a pitchers' duel, with only one or two runs +deciding the final score. + +In the fifth, the "stonewall infield" cracked. Sterling, the "old +reliable," ran in for a bunt and got it easily, but threw the ball "a +mile" over Dick's head. By the time the ball was back in the diamond, +the batter was on third, and the crowd, scenting a chance to score, was +shouting like mad. The cheer leaders started a song that went booming +over the field and drowned the defiant cheer hurled at them in return. +The coachers danced up and down on the first and third base lines, and +tried to rattle Bert by jeers and taunts. + +"He's going up now," they yelled, "all aboard for the air ship. Get +after him, boys. It's all over but the shouting." + +But Bert had no idea of going up in the air. The sphere whistled as he +struck out Allen on three pitched balls. Halley sent up a sky scraper +that Sterling redeemed himself by getting under in fine style. Ellis +shot a hot liner straight to the box, that Bert knocked down with his +left hand, picked up with his right, and got his man at first. It was a +narrow escape from the tightest of tight places, and Ainslee and Reddy +breathed again, while the disgusted home rooters sat back and groaned. +To get a man on third with nobody out, and yet not be able to get him +home. Couldn't they melt that icicle in the pitcher's box? What license +did he have anyway to make such a show of them? + +The sixth inning passed without any sign of the icicle thawing, but +Ainslee detected with satisfaction that the strain was beginning to tell +on the big southpaw. He was getting noticeably wild and finding it +harder and harder to locate the plate. When he did get them over, the +batters stung them hard, and only superb support on the part of his +fielders had saved him from being scored upon. + +At the beginning of the seventh, the crowd, as it always does at that +stage, rose to its feet and stretched. + +"The lucky seventh," it shouted. "Here's where we win." + +They had scarcely settled down in their seats however, when Tom cracked +out a sharp single that went like a rifle shot between second and short. +Flynn sent him to second with an easy roller along the first base line. +The pitcher settled down and "whiffed" Drake, but Dick caught one right +on the end of the bat and sent it screaming out over the left fielder's +head. It was a clean home run, and Dick had followed Tom over the plate +before the ball had been returned to the infield. + +Now it was the Blues' turn to howl, and they did so until they were +hoarse, while the home rooters sat back and glowered and the majority +gave up the game as lost. With such pitching to contend against, three +runs seemed a sure winning lead. + +In the latter half of the inning, however, things changed as though by +magic. The uncertainty that makes the chief charm of the game asserted +itself. With everything going on merrily with the visitors, the goddess +of chance gave a twist to the kaleidoscope, and the whole scene took on +a different aspect. + +Gunther, who was still sore at the way Bert had showed him up at first, +sent up a "Texas leaguer" just back of short. White turned and ran for +it, while big Flynn came rushing in from center. They came together with +terrific force and rolled over and over, while the ball fell between +them. + +White rose dizzily to his feet, but Flynn lay there, still and crumpled. +His mates and some of the opposing team ran to him and bore him to the +bench. It was a clean knockout, and several minutes elapsed before he +regained consciousness and was assisted from the field, while Ames, a +substitute outfielder, took his place. Tom had regained the ball in the +meantime and held Gunther at second. The umpire called "play" and the +game went on. + +But a subtle something had come over the Blues. An accident at a critical +time like this was sure to be more or less demoralizing. Their nerves, +already stretched to the utmost tension, were not proof against the +sudden shock. Both the infield and outfield seemed to go to pieces all at +once. The enemy were quick to take advantage of the changed conditions. +Gunther took a long lead off second, and, at a signal from his captain, +started for third. Hinsdale made an awful throw that Tom only stopped by +a sideway leap, but not in time to get the runner. Menken sent a grounder +to White that ordinarily he would have "eaten up," but he fumbled it just +long enough to let the batter get to first, while Gunther cantered over +the plate for their first run of the game amid roars of delight from the +frantic rooters. It looked as though the long-expected break was coming +at last. + +The next man up struck out and the excitement quieted down somewhat, +only to be renewed with redoubled fervor a moment later, when Halley +caught a low outcurve just below the waist and laced it into center for +a clean double. Smart fielding kept the man on first from getting +further than third, but that seemed good enough. Only one man was out +and two were on bases, and one of their heaviest batters was coming up. +Bert looked him over carefully and then sent him deliberately four wide +balls. He planned to fill the bases and then make the next man hit into +a double play, thus retiring the side. + +It was good judgment and Ainslee noted it with approval. Many a time he +had done the same thing himself in a pinch and "gotten away with it." + +As Bert wound up, he saw out of the corner of his eye that Halley was +taking a long lead off second. Quick as lightning, he turned and shot +the ball to White, who ran from short to cover the base. The throw was +so true that he could easily have nailed Halley, as he frantically tried +to get back. But although White had pluckily insisted on being allowed +to play, his head was still spinning like a top from the recent +collision, and a groan went up from the "Blue" supporters as the ball +caromed off his glove and rolled out to center. The three men on bases +fairly burned up the base lines as they galloped around the bags, and +when Ames' hurried return of the ball went over Hinsdale's head to the +grand stand, all the bases were cleared, and the score stood four to +three in favor of the home team. It had all occurred so suddenly that +the visitors were in a daze, and the home nine itself could hardly +realize how quickly the tables had been turned. + +For a moment rage took possession of Bert. What was the matter with the +fellows anyway? Why were they playing like a bunch of "Rubes"? Did +they expect him to win the game all by himself? Was the victory to be +snatched away just as it was within sight? Were these jubilant, yelling +rooters, dancing about and hugging each other, to send him and his +comrades away, downcast and beaten? Were they to "laugh last" and +therefore "best"? And the fellows hundreds of miles away, gathered at +this moment around the bulletin board of the dear old college---- + +No! No! A thousand times, no! In a moment he was himself again--the same +old Bert, cool, careful, self-reliant. He stooped down and pretended to +tie his shoe lace, in order to give his comrades a moment to regain +their self-possession. Then he straightened up and shot a beauty right +over the plate. The batter, who had been ordered to wait and take +advantage of Bert's expected case of "rattles," let it go by. Two +perfect strikes followed and the batter was out. The next man up +dribbled a roller to the box and Bert threw him out easily. The inning +was over, and Bert had to take off his cap to the storm of cheers that +came from the "Blue" supporters as he walked to the bench. + +Ainslee scanned him carefully for any sign of collapse after this +"baptism of fire." Where were the fellow's nerves? Did he have any? Bert +met his glance with an easy smile, and the coach, reassured, heaved a +sigh of relief. No "yellow streak" there, but clear grit through and +through. + +"It's the good old fadeaway from now on, Wilson," he said as he clapped +him on the back, "usually I believe in letting them hit and remembering +that you have eight men behind you to help you out. But just now there's +a little touch of panic among the boys, and while that would soon wear +off, you only have two innings left. This game has got to be won in the +pitcher's box. Hold them down and we will bat out a victory yet." + +"All right," answered Bert; "I've only used the fadeaway once or twice +this game, and they've had no chance to size it up. I'll mix it in with +the others and try to keep them guessing." + +Drake and Dick made desperate attempts to overcome the one run advantage +in their half of the eighth. Each cracked out a hot single, but the +three that followed were unable to bring them home, despite the frantic +adjurations of their friends to "kill the ball." + +Only one more inning now, one last chance to win as a forlorn hope, or +fall fighting in the last ditch. + +A concerted effort was made to rattle Bert as he went into the box, but +for all the effect it had upon him, his would-be tormentors might as +well have been in Timbuctoo. He was thoroughly master of himself. The +ball came over the plate as though shot from a gatling gun for the first +batter, whose eye was good for curves, but who, twice before, had proved +easy prey for speedy ones. A high foul to the catcher disposed of him. +Allen, the next man up, set himself for a fast one, and was completely +fooled by the lazy floater that suddenly dropped a foot below his bat, +just as it reached the plate. A second and third attempt sent him +sheepishly back to the bench. + +"Gee, that was a new one on me," he muttered. "I never saw such a drop +in my life. It was just two jerks and a wiggle." + +His successor was as helpless as a baby before the magical delivery, and +amid a tempest of cheers, the Blues came in for their last turn at bat. +Sterling raised their hopes for a moment by a soaring fly to center. But +the fielder, running with the ball, made a beautiful catch, falling +as he did so, but coming up with the ball in his hand. Some of the +spectators started to leave, but stopped when White shot a scorcher so +hot that the second baseman could not handle it. Ames followed with a +screaming single to left that put White on third, which he reached by a +desperate slide. A moment later Ames was out stealing second, and with +two men out and hope nearly dead, Bert came to the plate. He caught the +first ball pitched on the end of his bat and sent it on a line between +right and center. And then he ran. + +How he ran! He rounded first like a frightened deer and tore toward +second. The wind whistled in his ears. His heart beat like a trip hammer. +He saw as in a dream the crowds, standing now, and shouting like fiends. +He heard Dick yelling: "Go it, Bert, go it, go it!" He caught a glimpse +of Tom running toward third base to coach him in. He passed second. The +ground slipped away beneath his feet. He was no longer running, he was +flying. The third baseman tried to block him, but he went into him like a +catapult and rolled him over and over. Now he was on the road to home. +But the ball was coming too. He knew it by the warning cry of Reddy, by +the startled urging of Tom, by the outstretched hands of the catcher. +With one tremendous effort he flung himself to the ground and made a +fallaway slide for the plate, just touching it with his finger tips, as +the ball thudded into the catcher's mitt. Two men in and the score five +to four, while the Blues' stand rocked with thunders of applause. + +"By George," cried Ainslee, "such running! It was only a two base hit, +and you stretched it into a homer." + +The next batter was out on a foul to left, and the home team came in +to do or die. If now they couldn't beat that wizard of the box, their +gallant fight had gone for nothing. They still had courage, but it was +the courage of despair. They were used to curves and rifle shots. They +might straighten out the one and shoot back the other, but that new +mysterious delivery, that snaky, tantalizing, impish fadeaway, had +robbed them of confidence. Still, "while there was life there was hope," +so---- + +Ainslee and Reddy were a little afraid that Bert's sprint might have +tired him and robbed him of his speed. But they might have spared their +fears. His wind was perfect and his splendid condition stood him in +good stead. He was a magnificent picture of young manhood, as for the +last time he faced his foes. His eyes shone, his nerves thrilled, his +muscles strained, his heart sang. His enemies he held in the hollow of +his hand. He toyed with them in that last inning as a cat plays with a +mouse. His fadeaway was working like a charm. No need now to spare +himself. Ellis went out on three pitched balls. Hart lifted a feeble +foul to Hinsdale. Gunther came up, and the excitement broke all bounds. + +The vast multitude was on its feet, shouting, urging, begging, pleading. +A hurricane of cheers and counter cheers swept over the field. Reddy was +jumping up and down, shouting encouragement to Bert, while Ainslee sat +perfectly still, pale as death and biting his lips till the blood came. +Bert cut loose savagely, and the ball whistled over the plate. Gunther +lunged at it. + +"One strike!" called the umpire. + +Gunther had been expecting the fadeaway that had been served to the two +before him, and was not prepared for the swift high one, just below the +shoulder. Bert had outguessed him. + +Hinsdale rolled the ball slowly back along the ground to the pitcher's +box. Bert stopped, picked it up leisurely, and then, swift as a flash, +snapped it over the left hand corner of the plate. Before the astonished +batsman knew it was coming, Hinsdale grabbed it for the second strike. + +"Fine work, Bert!" yelled Dick from first. "Great head." + +Gunther, chagrined and enraged, set himself fiercely for the next. Bert +wound up slowly. The tumult and the shouting died. A silence as of death +fell on the field. The suspense was fearful. Before Bert's eyes came up +the dear old college, the gray buildings and the shaded walks, the crowd +at this moment gathered there about the bulletin---- Then he let go. + +For forty feet the ball shot toward the plate in a line. Gunther gauged +it and drew back his bat. Then the ball hesitated, slowed, seemed to +reconsider, again leaped forward, and, eluding Gunther's despairing +swing, curved sharply down and in, and fell like a plummet in Hinsdale's +eager hands. + +"You're out," cried the umpire, tearing off his mask. The crowd surged +down over the field, and Bert was swallowed up in the frantic rush of +friends and comrades gone crazy with delight. And again he saw the dear +old college, the gray buildings and the shaded walks, the crowd at this +moment gathered there about the bulletin----. + + * * * * * + +Some days after his fadeaway had won the pennant--after the triumphal +journey back to the college, the uproarious reception, the bonfires, +the processions, the "war dance" on the campus--Bert sat in his +room, admiring the splendid souvenir presented to him by the college +enthusiasts. The identical ball that struck out Gunther had been encased +in a larger one of solid gold, on which was engraved his name, together +with the date and score of the famous game. Bert handled it caressingly. + +"Well, old fellow," he said, half aloud, "you stood by me nobly, but it +was a hard fight. I never expect to have a harder one." + +He would have been startled, had he known of the harder one just ahead. +That Spring he had fought for glory; before the Summer was over he would +fight for life. How gallant the fight he made, how desperate the chances +he took, and how great the victory he won, will be told in + +"BERT WILSON, WIRELESS OPERATOR." + + +THE END + + + + + Transcriber's Notes: + + --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. + + --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + + --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. + + --The author's long dash style has been preserved. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball, by J. W. 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