Kansas University Weekly.
37
A vicious inshoot close around his neck misses the bat of the now thoroughly alive Haradin by about three inches. If the next ball had been an inshoot he would have sent it over the fence judging by the blow he aimed at it, but it proved to be an out and Haradin retired with a look of surprise and disgust.
Sharman next steps to the plate with all the confidence inspired by being the handsomest man on the team and who has never failed to hit it out for at least one bag. He retires to the bench after four contortions of the Cricket's body.
Then Priott, the gigantic left fielder, a slugger from Sluggerville, grasps the stick firmly and wildly beats the air. A foul ball raises false hopes and then Priott takes his way to the field with a great deal of respect for the Cricket.
But why continue to relate these discouraging details. Inning after inning passed away and still none of the team could cross the plate. Even the hitherto all powerful Jimmie batted like a Washburn man and fanned out regularly. Great was the consternation of the rooters as the boys went down in one, two, three, style before the all powerful arm of the cricket. The "laws," who had no men on the team, made sarcastic remarks about tennis racquets and ten foot poles. The engineers, who had five men on the team, were almost tearful in their exhortations to their favorites to "knock off the insulation," "close the circuit" and various other requests of a like character. The old professor remarked to the young lady, who wore the gold kite shaped badge that, "the inability of the boys to place a straight line tangent to a sphere was something remarkable. This remark nearly caused the young lady to swallow her gum. She only "took" French and chemistry, being excused from mathematics on account of her eyes—which her mother wrote "had never been strong." She thus missed what the old professor thought was a fine joke.
The game dragged along in this way until the fifth inning when N. S. U., scored two more. The sixth gave them two more. Now it was Jimmie's time to give his men a little talk, and he did it in a way that sent them to their places
with as much vim and vigor as if it was the first inning.
The ninth inning opened with no change in the score. The L. U. pitcher was nearly fagged and the visitors were hitting him hard, but the boys supported him in fine style.
Out goes one man, by a pop-up to Crawson at short. Then comes some quick batting and sharp fielding; one of those little flurries that confuses the observer and is liable to "rattle" the team. But Jimmie keeps his men well in hand and his orders few and sharp are quickly obeyed.
When the flurry ceases and the men straighten out in their places, the Cricket is standing on third but in the flurry a well fielded ball from Priott to the dead sure hand of "Pretty" Allen at second has sent another crestfallen N. S. U. man to the bench.
Now it is play ball. Score tied, two men out. "Play to the batter," says Captain Jimmie, but he waves a hand to quick-witted Sharman on third.
How is Jimmie in this crisis? Cool! Cool as if at practice. Throwing his head back and shaking his shaggy hair from his eyes, he settles the mask on his chin and patting his mit with his bare right hand he steps one pace nearer to the batter. A last touch of the mask, a last pat of the big mit and down he stoops, his right hand held downward between legs, his two fingers extended. He is "playing ball."
The gallant McKenzie—who once fought his way clear through the M. S. U., rush line, gives his worn-out arm an extra rub and takes note of the signal. Stooping low and "hugging the batter" Jimmie apparently does not see the Cricket taking a long lead off from third.
McKenzie throws the ball. The quick practiced eye of the Cricket tells him that it is a wild throw to the left and he starts for home as fast as his short legs will bring him.
There is a quick straightening of Jimmie's stalwart form, a long left arm shoots out, the swiftly flying ball strikes the firm mit and rebounds. Jimmie's right hand closes on the ball and sends it whirling toward third, where the expectant Sharman is standing. The Cricket