"A SCRUB GAME."
Notwithstanding the gloom of the morning, the day came off bright
and fine, and by the time the train was due from the West, bringing
the Jonesville boys, the weather was perfect. A serene October sky
bent over Catalpa, and the bright river flowed rippling toward the
Mississippi, its banks red and yellow with autumnal foliage. Crossing
the bridge from North Catalpa and from the farming settlements to the
north were strings of buggies, lumber-wagons and other vehicles; and
not a few sight-seers jogged along on horseback, all with their faces
set toward the Agricultural Fair Grounds, just above the town and lying
to the southward. Catalpa is built on a slope that descends from the
rolling prairie to the bank of Stone River. Once out of the town, one
reaches a lovely stretch of undulating ground skirted by a dead level
plain, admirably adapted for a base ball field. The original use of the
Fair Grounds had almost been forgotten when the ball clubs of Catalpa
began to practice within the enclosure. The Northern District fair
had gone farther North, and the grounds were left to chance comers--a
travelling circus, or an occasional amateur racing match.
To-day, the blue and white flag of the Catalpas floated proudly from
what had once been the Judges' stand, while the pale green colors of
the Jonesvillians hung lazily from a staff driven into the ground to
the westward of the track. For more than an hour before the time set
for the calling of the game, a steady stream of people poured into the
enclosure. The battered and rickety seats had been patched up to bear
the weight of those who were willing to pay the small fee exacted for
the privilege; but the mass of the spectators were grouped together in
the open spaces to the westward and southward of these, and farther
around the ring was a thin line of vehicles of various descriptions.
Men and women on horseback, young girls crowded into wagon-boxes, and
boys ramping around on scrubby mustangs, filled up the background.
It was a pretty sight. And while the crowd waited for the hour to
arrive, much scientific base ball gossip drifted about the enclosure.
Village lads who had worked hard or had teased with uncommon assiduity
to secure the "two bits" needed to gain admission to the grounds,
chaffed each other vociferously and exchanged learned comments on the
playing and the qualities of the combatants.
"Oh you should have seen John Brubaker play right field that day when
the Catalpas sent the Jonesvillers home with a big headache," said
one of these small critics, as he viewed with admiration Brubaker's
stalwart form reclining at ease in the shade of the judges' stand.
"Why he just everlastingly got away with the ball every time one of
the Jonesvillers gave him one. Then there was Lew Morris, there's no
player in the Jonesvillers, 'cept it is Larry Boyne, that can catch a
ball like Lew, and why the Catalpas keep him in the left field, I don't
know."
"Oh you talk too much with your mouth, you, Bill, you," cried a bigger
base ball connoisseur. "What do you know about the game? Why, I saw
the Jonesvillians, three years ago, when they first played the old
Catalpas, I mean the soldier boys. That was playing, now I tell you.
Hurrah! There comes the Nine!"
Pretty Alice Howell, sitting in her father's carriage and accompanied
by the Judge and her severe-looking aunt, Miss Anstress, clapped her
hands at the sight, for the two Nines drew near to each other and the
game was called. The dignified Judge smiled at the girl's enthusiasm,
but, as he looked around, he saw that multitudes of other young ladies,
as well as ladies no longer young--mothers and aged spinsters, watched
the preliminaries of the game with absorbing interest.
The Jonesville Nine were not so well developed, physically, as the
Catalpas. They were mostly farmer's sons, born and bred on the low
prairies to the westward of Stone River. It is a region long famous
for its prevailing fever-and-ague epidemic. The sallow faces of
some of the Jonesville players suggested quinine and "cholagogue,"
just then a favorite specific among the ague-smitten population of
Northern Illinois. Nor were the members of the visiting Nine as uniform
in size and appearance as the Catalpas. The breadth of chest and
vigorous outline of the home nine were not repeated in the forms of the
Jonesville boys.
[Illustration: "PRETTY ALICE HOWELL, SITTING IN HER FATHER'S CARRIAGE,
AND ACCOMPANIED BY THE JUDGE AND HER SEVERE LOOKING AUNT, MISS
ANSTRESS, CLAPPED HER HANDS AT THE SIGHT."--Page 18.]
The Catalpas were well chosen with an eye to symmetry and uniformity.
They were all brawny and athletic young fellows. As they were mostly
men of leisure, they had had plenty of time to practice, and they were
apparently ready to give good account of themselves. Chiefly on Al
Heaton, the stalwart catcher, did the eyes of the multitude rest with
favor. He was a tall, shapely young fellow, with a ruddy and oval face,
bright brown eyes, a keen glance, and a sinewy length of limb that gave
him pre-eminence in the field.
The batting game of the Catalpas was better than that of the
Jonesvillians, as all previous encounters had shown. But the fielding
of the Jonesville boys was far better than that of any other nine with
whom they had measured their strength and skill. And Larry Boyne, a
fresh-faced and laughing young man from Sugar Grove, but a member of
the Jonesville Nine, was the champion catcher of the whole region.
So long as the Jonesville Nine held on to Larry, they felt sure of
victory. Larry Boyne was a trifle shorter than the average of his
comrades. His round and well-poised head was covered with a shock of
curly flaxen hair, and his sturdy legs, muscular arms and ample chest
gave token of a large stock of reserved power. "That's the best looking
Jonesvillian of them all" was the secret thought of many an observant
girl and the open criticism of many a loud-talking spectator.
This is the manner of placing the two Clubs:--
_Catalpas._
Lewis Morris, L.F.
Charlie King, P.
Hart Stirling, 2d B.
Will Sprague, 3d B.
John Brubaker, R.F.
Hiram Porter, 1st B.
George Buckner, C.F.
Albert Heaton, C.
Ben Burton, S.S.
_Jonesvilles._
Studley, 2d B.
Larry Boyne, C.
Morrison, 1st B.
Ellis, P.
Wheeler, C.F.
Martin, L.F.
Simpson, 3d B.
Berthelet, R.F.
Alexander, S.S.
The Catalpas won the toss and went to the field, with due consideration
for the improvement of their chances in the final innings, and the game
began with a comfortable feeling pervading the champions of the home
nine. The winning of the toss was a good omen, everybody thought.
A buzz of half-suppressed excitement swept over the field as Studley,
of the Jonesville Nine, went first to the bat. He sent a low ball to
second base which Hart Stirling failed to hold, and Studley got to
first base. Larry Boyne followed and sent up a sky-high ball, and
Studley, having stolen to second and third base, got safely home,
while Larry reached second base. Morrison sent a good right fielder,
on which he got half-way around, while Larry, with a rush, made the
home run, adding one more to the score of the Jonesvilles. Alice
bit her lip with vexation, but some of the more magnanimous of the
townspeople commented, under their breath, "Good for the red-cheeked
Irishman!"
Great things were expected of Ellis, the champion pitcher of the
Jonesvillians, who went next to the bat, and who was reckoned as nearly
as good with the bat as with the ball; but he made a poor strike,
and, with a long-drawn "Oh-h-h!" from the sympathetic friends of the
home club, the ball dropped near the home base and the young champion
of Jonesville went out on his first. Next, Morrison, in his haste
to get to third base, was put out by Will Sprague, and the fortunes
of the visitors visibly waned. Wheeler, who went next to the bat,
provoked a murmur of approbation from the spectators, who were now
warming up to the game, and who admired the handsome proportions and
springy movements of the center fielder of the Jonesvillers. He sent
a resounding ball safely to the right field, got to first base, but,
overrunning the second base, was neatly put out by Hart Stirling, the
second base man of the Catalpas. Thus closed the innings--two runs for
the visiting Nine.
"Not much to brag of," remarked Bill Van Orman, the big pitcher of the
Dean County Nine. "Not much to brag of, and I don't think that the
Jonesvillians are feeling first rate over this. Let them wait until
Al Heaton and Charlie King get after them. Then they'll sing small, I
allow."
"Hush up, you, there goes Lew Morris to the bat for the Catalpas. He'll
show them something. Look at that chist of his! Golly! don't I remember
him, though!" remarked Hank Mitchell.
Lew Morris, tall, handsome and sinewy, deserved the praises lavished
upon him, as he stood, modestly but confidently, to open the innings
for the Catalpas. But, to the great disappointment of his admirers, he
failed to make a hit and was sent to first base on three called balls.
Charlie King justified the expectations of his friends by striking a
tremendous ball to right field, on which Lew Morris tallied one, but
in trying to get to second base, was put out by Studley in excellent
style. Hart Stirling followed, making the first quarter, and Will
Sprague went to second base on a strong hit to right field, which
brought Stirling home. John Brubaker next went to the bat, with an air
of serene confidence, but he failed to satisfy the expectations of the
on-lookers, and went out on a foul tip.
"Your champions do not seem to be in good condition, to-day, Alice,"
said the Judge, demurely. "I am just beginning to become interested
in the game, and I must say that I shouldn't like to see the Catalpas
beaten."
"Thank you, papa," said Alice, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I
thought you would get waked up if you once saw the play and realized
how much depends on the game to-day."
"It's the championship of the Northern District, is it not, my child?"
"Yes, and if the Catalpas don't win now, I am afraid--well, I don't
know what I am afraid of. But they will be dreadfully discouraged."
"So shall I be," said the Judge, gravely turning his eyes to the stand,
where Hiram Porter, the first base man of the home nine, and an honor
man in his class at Ann Arbor, had taken up the bat. Hiram retrieved
the failing fortunes of the Catalpas by a powerful ball to center field
on which he reached the first base. George Buckner, who followed, sent
a high ball which was beautifully caught by Studley, on second base,
amidst murmurs of applause, as if the townsmen and townswomen of the
Catalpas were half-ashamed to give full expression to their extorted
admiration of the visitors' good play.
"That was well done, anyway," remarked Hank Mitchell, "and that winds
up the first inning with three outs and three runs to two for the
Jonesvillians. Come, you must wake up, Catalpas, or we shall get licked
again."
"Wait until the Catalpas come in on the last innings, and then you'll
see some fun. They are laying low for black ducks, and don't you
forget that. We've tried them too many times, Hank, and you know it."
This was Van Orman's shrewd comment, as the second inning began with
Martin, the Jonesville left fielder, at the bat. He should not have
made the first base "by rights" as the observant Hank remarked, under
his breath, but Charlie King and Hiram Porter fumbled the ball, and
he got safely to first. Simpson struck the ball straight into the
pitcher's hands and went out ignominiously. Then Berthelet went out
on three strikes, and the spirits of the sympathetic spectators rose
perceptibly. Two out and no runs for the visitors.
"Things are looking dark for your friends from Jonesville," said the
Judge. "And, by the way, isn't there danger of their getting what you
call 'a goose-egg' in this game, Alice?"
"O yes, papa," she answered, "I shouldn't wonder the least bit if they
should be whitewashed in this inning, but there are so many chances
against it that I wouldn't like to boast too much beforehand. Those
Jonesville boys are awful sly!"
"That's Sam Alexander at the bat now, trying in vain to strike the
ball." And, as Alice spoke, Alexander walked to first base on called
balls, and Martin cleverly made his home run, scoring one for the
Jonesvillians. "So they will not be whitewashed, at all events," said
Alice, with a little sigh.
Studley now made his second base by a ground ball to third base which
Will Sprague failed to stop, and by which also Alexander came home.
Larry Boyne, smiling, but keenly alive to the critical condition of
affairs, now went to the bat, made a magnificent ball to center field
and went to first base whither he was quickly followed by Morrison, and
Studley scored another run for the Jonesville Nine. Next, amidst great
excitement, for the play was now waxing hot, Ellis struck a splendid
right fielder, by which Larry and Morrison easily reached the home
plate and Studley got to second base. The spectators trembled with
excitement as Wheeler made a capital safe hit to center field, Studley
got in, Wheeler reached the second base, stole to third, and, by the
wild throwing of the Catalpas, got home on a passed ball.
Next, Martin got to first base on a slow ball to right field, and then
home on passed balls. He was followed by Simpson, after two strikes,
on which he got to first base and came dangerously near being put out
by Hart Stirling, who made a fine one-handed catch amidst the ringing
applause of the spectators, Alice Howell's small handmaid exciting much
mirth by her shrill exclamation of "isn't he grand!" when Hart, with a
tremendous leap, secured the ball as it was flying far above his head.
Berthelet then went out on a foul tip leaving Simpson on the base and
closing the innings for the Jonesvillians. Al Heaton having gone to the
bat for the Catalpas, made his first base on called balls, and when Ben
Burton, who succeeded him at the bat, made a good hit, he reached third
base. Burton then got to second base, and Al Heaton reached the home
plate, while Larry Boyne was attempting to throw Burton out at second
base. Lew Morris next got to first base through the muffing of Studley,
but was forced out by Charlie King, who sharply followed him to the
first. Will Sprague sent the ball well up into the sky, but Berthelet,
the agile and keen-eyed young Frenchman in the right field, caught it
handsomely, and Will retired in good order. John Brubaker went to first
base, and then Ellis, the Jonesville pitcher, made a muff with his
ball, giving the Catalpas one tally. Hiram Porter followed with a safe
hit, but George Buckner went out on a foul ball and the inning closed
with a score of ten for the Jonesville boys and eight for the Catalpas.
The Jonesvilles opened the third inning by sending Alexander to the
bat. He was sent to first base on called balls, and was followed by
Studley, who sent a ball to Ben Burton at short stop, but which Ben
muffed, and Studley got safely to first base. Larry Boyne followed
with a winged ball which he sent flying to the right field and which
enabled him to reach second base and brought Alexander and Studley
home. Morrison sent an air ball to left field, by which he reached
first base, and Larry came home. Then Ellis hit a ground ball to Ben
Burton at short stop, which Ben muffed again, allowing Larry to come
home and Ellis to get to first base. Wheeler made first base on a
ground ball to left field, and Martin sent a slow ball to center field
which reached the first base before him. During the passage of the
ball, however, Morrison came home, and Ellis subsequently tallied on a
passed ball. Simpson went to the bat and was struck out, and Berthelet,
who followed, was neatly caught out on a foul fly by Ben Burton, who
thus partially retrieved his reputation and the inning was closed for
the Jonesvilles.
The showing for the Catalpas was now pretty dark, and it did not
improve during their next inning. Al Heaton, who led for the home nine,
was put out in attempting to steal from first to second base, and Ben
Burton, who followed him, met with a similar disaster. Lew Morris
went to first base on a ball to short stop which Alexander overthrew
to first base. Next, Charlie King hit an air ball which was caught by
Alexander at short stop, leaving three out with Morris dead on the
second base. The score then stood, Jonesvilles, 15; Catalpas, 8.
"A whitewash!" cried Hank Mitchell, uncertain whether he ought to exult
as an old adversary of the home club, or be downcast as a citizen of
the town of Catalpa. But, his patriotism rallying in time, he cried to
Andrew Jackson Simis, a Jonesville spectator, "I s'pose you think your
boys are going to get away with us, this time? Just you wait till the
last innings, and then you will see them come up with a rush."
"They'd better begin to rush pretty quick, then," was the sneering
answer. "I guess your goose is cooked." There was a stir among the Dean
County Nine, who, with their friends, sat together at the end of the
range of seats, when this unfriendly remark was flung out. There were
threatening glances and clenched fists in the group of Catalpa boys.
"Here! here! no squabbling!" cried Deputy Sheriff Wheeler, hurrying up,
as his vigilant eye fell on the angry-looking knot of lads. "These men
are visitors; can't you behave yourselves?"
But the Catalpas were in nowise cast down. Lew Morris, their captain,
went among the boys and impressed on them something of his own cheerful
courage and roused them to the importance of making a tremendous effort
in the next inning. Perhaps the Jonesvillians were unduly elated. Their
first man at the bat, Alexander, was put out by sending the ball almost
directly into the hands of Hiram Porter at first base. Then Studley
sent a good ball to center field, on which he went to first base, and
went to second while Larry Boyne was batting. Larry tipped a foul fly
which Al Heaton caught, and Morrison, who succeeded him, was caught out
in a precisely similar manner, and the inning closed with Studley left
on the second base and a "whitewash" for the visitors.
There was great uproar in the crowd around the field, as soon as the
Catalpas went in their turn to the bat. The townsfolk forgot all
decorum in their delight over the semblance of victory thus snatched
from defeat. They cheered the Catalpas as they came in from the field,
and by their noise, at least, showed that no impartial judgment
could be expected from the majority of the spectators. Judge Howell
critically looked over the crowd and remarked to Alice that he thought
it was bad mannered in the townspeople to exult over the defeat or
reverses of their visitors.
"But it is because they know that the Catalpas are going to be beaten,
after all," said Alice, with a tone of great despondency.
"Going to be beaten?" asked the Judge, with surprise. "Why, haven't
they just given the Jonesvilles a whitewash, as I think you call it,
and the score is 15 to 8, with your favorites going to the bat?"
"Yes, papa, that is so; but you see that the Jonesvillians play a much
better fielding game than the Catalpas, and I am sure that our club
will never be able to regain what they have lost."
Miss Alice soon began to think that she had lost hope too soon, for the
Catalpas scored three runs in their inning, Hart Stirling having made
a home run on a tremendous ball sent to left field where it was muffed
shamefully, first by Martin and then by Simpson. Will Sprague and John
Brubaker followed him successfully, and Hiram Porter, who had made his
first base, was put out by Morrison. The same fate overtook George
Buckner and Al Heaton, who were put out by the active and vigilant
first base man of the Jonesvilles. Nevertheless, the inning closed
with a decided gain for the home nine, the score being 15 for the
Jonesvilles, 11 for the Catalpas.
There was intense but suppressed excitement all around the field, as
the visitors sent Ellis to the bat, and he was at once caught out by
Hart Stirling on a fly sent to second base. Wheeler made first base,
and Martin, who followed him, was put out on first base, while Wheeler
came home on a ball balked by Charlie King. Simpson was put out on
first base, and the Catalpas took their inning, sending Ben Burton to
the bat. He was caught out by Studley; then Lew Morris was put out at
first base by a ball sent by Alexander to Morrison; next Charlie King
went out on called balls, and, amidst cries of "another whitewash!" the
inning closed with a score of 16 to 11, in favor of the visitors.
In the sixth inning, the Jonesvilles added eight to their score, and
the Catalpas gained seven, thus making the home nine a little more
hopeful, although the relative distance of the two nines was not
changed. The feature of this inning was a grand hit to the center
field made by Larry Boyne, on which he made first base and brought
home Alexander and Studley, who were on the second and third bases,
respectively. The score stood thus: Jonesvilles, 24, Catalpas, 18. And
there was no exultation in the ranks of the townsfolk.
Larry Boyne went to the bat in the next inning, for the visiting Nine.
He sent a magnificent air ball so high that it seemed lost in the misty
blue of the October sky. But it descended straight into the hands of
John Brubaker in the right field, and a chorus of "ah-h-h's" went up
from the assembled multitude. Morrison was caught out on a foul fly;
Ellis shared his fate, and Wheeler was put out on first base. Great was
the exultation among the citizens of Catalpa. The Jonesvillers had been
again whitewashed. The short October day was wearing on apace, but the
chances of the Catalpas were improving as the light went down in the
west.
The home nine added three to their score in the inning, home runs being
made by John Brubaker, Hiram Porter, and George Buckner. Al Heaton
and Ben Burton were both put out by foul flies. Charlie King was put
out on first base, leaving Lew Morris on third base. But as the score
stood 24 for the Jonesvilles and 21 for the home nine, the spirits of
the majority of the spectators, whose sympathies were all one way,
began to rise. Perhaps the Jonesvillers would be sent home without the
championship.
But these hopes were dashed by the next inning, which was the eighth,
the Jonesvilles having gained one run, while the Catalpas were
ignominiously "whitewashed." The visitors showed their good qualities
in the field by a fine double play in their inning. Hart Stirling being
on the first base, Will Sprague hit short to Ellis, who sent the ball
to Studley at second base, cutting off Stirling; and John Brubaker, in
attempting to steal from first to second base, was run out by Studley
and Morrison.
Nobody stirred from the field, although the day was dying slowly and
the simple habits of the Catalpa women called them home to their
household duties. The decisive inning was near at hand, and as Alice
stood up in her father's carriage, in order to get a better view of
the game, the hitherto orderly crowd closed in around the players.
Spectators and players drew a long breath as Larry Boyne went to the
bat for the Jonesvilles. He wielded the bat with great skill and
dexterity; but Charlie King's pitching was wonderfully clever, and
Larry went out on a foul tip to Al Heaton, catcher. Morrison made third
base on a safe hit; Ellis made first base and Morrison came home on a
ball muffed by Charlie King, and then Martin, on a center field ball
hit, brought Ellis and Wheeler home. Simpson now made first base on a
hit to the right field, and an overthrow brought Martin home and gave
second base to Simpson. Berthelet was caught out on a foul fly by Al
Heaton, and Simpson, in attempting to steal home, was run out by Al
Heaton and Will Sprague.
"Three out on the last inning!" roared two or three of the Dean County
Nine, great hulking fellows, who stood near the carriage of the Judge.
Alice looked at them reproachfully, although her cheeks were ruddy with
half-suppressed excitement.
"It's real mean of them, isn't it, papa?" she said. "They will not seem
to consider that we should be very angry if we were treated thus in
Jonesville."
Now went Hiram Porter, big and handsome Hiram, to the bat for the
Catalpas. Hiram looked as tall as a giant in the gathering twilight,
and he stood up in manly fashion. But Hiram was put out on first base
by a ball sent by Studley to Morrison, and George Buckner, who followed
him, had great ado to save himself. But he made first base, and Al
Heaton next sent a singing ball to center field, on which he went to
second base and Buckner to third. Ben Burton then undertook to bat
Buckner home, but he was, himself, put out on first base. Lew Morris
then took the bat, sent a high ball to center field and secured the
first base. Charlie King followed to the first, and amidst despondent
cries of "Three out!" the game and the inning ended with a score of 29
for the Jonesville Nine and 23 for the Catalpas.
Deputy Sheriff Wheeler, forgetting for the time his official dignity,
stood up in what was once the judges' stand and shouted, "Three cheers
for the champions of Northern Illinois! Now, then! Hip! Hip! Hip!"
The cheers were given with a pretty good will, considering how great
was the disappointment of the townspeople. The captain of the Catalpas
set a laudable and manly example to his comrades by going straight to
Larry Boyne, the captain of the Jonesville Nine, and, grasping him
warmly by the hand, congratulating him on the victory so honorably and
handsomely won.
"Of course you can't expect that a fellow can say that he is glad to
have lost the day; but you have worked hard for the pennant, and it
belongs to you without any grumbling."
Larry, with his ruddy face still ruddier than before, responded in
frank fashion and then the crowd began to melt away, for the darkness
was coming on. Passing by the Judge's carriage, yet entangled in the
throng of vehicles, Larry glanced up at the pretty girl whom he had
noticed with distant admiration. The Judge intercepted his glance, and
leaning over with what was meant to be a gracious smile, said, "This
is Larry Boyne, the famous catcher of the down-river nine? Well, I
congratulate you, young man, on your well-won victory and on your own
beautiful playing."
Larry very much taken aback by this unexpected condescension from the
great man of Catalpa, touched his cap, blushed and stammered and gladly
rejoined his comrades.
"Fine young man, that," said the Judge, sententiously, as his carriage
slowly drew out of the crowd and moved toward the gate.
"If a few such players as he were in the place of some of the muffs in
the Catalpa Nine," said Alice, "I think that the championship of the
whole State would belong in this town."
"Why I do believe my little daughter is crying!" cried the Judge.
"I am not crying," said Alice stoutly. "But I confess that I am mad
enough to cry. Are we always going to be beaten by every scrubby nine
that comes here, I'd like to know?"
Dr. Selby, the staid and dignified village town apothecary, who was
walking by the carriage, heard the indignant outburst, and looking up,
said with a smile, "We've got the timber here for a first-class nine,
Miss Alice, but the thing is to get the timber together."
Judge Howell, with his grandest manner, said, "If there is any movement
to retrieve the honor of Catalpa in the base ball field, please count
on my assistance and support."