Four Afoot: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Highway

by Ralph Henry Barbour

  CHAPTER XVI

  WHEREIN NELSON AND BOB PLAY BALL AND LAURELVILLE MAKES A PROTEST

  That was a strange and wonderful game!

  Neither Nelson nor Bob--nor for that matter Tom nor Dan, who merelylooked on--ever quite forgot it. The first inning was not over beforeit became evident that in the annual contests between Mannig andLaurelville “everything went.” It was “anything to win,” and “dirtyplaying” was not only looked for but applauded vigorously. The rivalrywas intense, and the feeling between the opposing teams was not of thebest.

  That first inning ended without a score. Mannig had won the tossand had gone into the field. Nelson had disposed of the first threeLaurelville batsmen in short order, and his reputation, which hadgrown at leaps and bounds during the forenoon, went up still farther.He was variously said to be a “second-string” pitcher from the NewYork American team, an A1 twirler from the Hobokens, borrowed for theoccasion, and a youthful wonder from some small team in New Hampshire.Nelson, however, was quite unaware of the interest and curiosity whichhe was arousing.

  But if Laurelville had failed to get to first in that inning, Mannigcould boast of no better success. Her first three men went out quickly,Burns flying to shortstop, Morris striking out, and Kleinschmidt beingeasily beaten to first by the ball. There was all sorts of noise fromthe audience, and everybody, from the small boys along the base linesto the players themselves, showed intense excitement.

  Laurelville had no better luck during her second inning, Nelsondisposing of three men with exactly seventeen deliveries.

  Harrison, the Mannig second baseman, a fellow of twenty-six or -sevenyears and a powerful batter, opened up for his side in the last of thesecond. He didn’t find Mr. “Slim” Somes very difficult, it seemed, forhe caught the first ball delivered on the end of his bat and sent itflying over first baseman’s head for a hit. The next batsman sent himon to second and was caught himself at first. Then came Fultz, themanager, who played in center field. He had two strikes called on himbefore he offered. Then he found something to his liking and knockeda long fly into left field. Left fielder failed to get under it, andHarrison romped home. Fultz was safe on first.

  The Laurelville supporters jeered and shouted in an effort to drownthe wild acclaim of the Mannigites, but to little purpose. If Mannig’scheer wasn’t musical, it was at least powerful, and it made the welkinring for a while. By the time things had quieted down somewhat, Bobwas at the plate. Fultz evidently expected a sacrifice which wouldput him on second, but Bob wasn’t used to playing sacrifices with oneman out. The result was that on the first delivery Fultz streaked forsecond. The Laurelville catcher shot the ball down to shortstop, andFultz walked off the diamond to the hoots and catcalls of the enemy.The incident worried Bob somewhat, and in a moment he had struck out.Fultz was feeling a trifle sore and let Bob know it as they trotted outto the field together. But Bob expressed such deep contrition that themanager regained his temper and laughed it off.

  The first of the third brought the Laurelville tail-enders to the bat,but the tail-enders proved more formidable that inning than the headof the batting list had theretofore. The second man up--the first hadbeen easily disposed of--found Nelson for a two-bagger. The next man,the redoubtable Somes, got Nelson so rattled by his remarks and monkeytricks that Nelson gave him, very unwillingly, you may be certain, hisbase on balls. Then came a wild throw to third by Conly, who hoped tocatch the runner napping, and Laurelville scored her first run.

  If there had been noise before, there was pandemonium now!

  Kleinschmidt, the Blue’s left fielder, who had very neatly backed upthird baseman and so prevented a second tally, tossed the ball back toNelson in disgust. Burns, from third, was venting his anger on everyonewithin sound of his voice, and Nelson didn’t escape.

  “No more gifts, Tilford!” he cried. “If you can’t put them over, hithim with it! Only don’t let him walk!”

  Nelson turned back to the next batsman, suddenly experiencing a deepdislike for the whole business. They were all a crowd of muckers, hetold himself, and he wished he hadn’t agreed to pitch for them. Butnow that he was in it he had to keep it up. So he tried to steady downand dispose of the batter. But Conly was exasperated over his wildthrow and let the first delivery pass him, and the man on second got tothird. A hit would mean a second tally. Nelson tried an outcurve, butthe batsman only smiled. Then Nelson gave him a slow, straight ball,and the batter was caught for a strike. The score was two and one. Thencame a third ball, and Nelson wondered what Burns would say or do ifthe batsman walked to first. But a drop improved the situation, eventhough Nelson was still, to use baseball parlance, “in a hole.” Therewas only one thing to do, and that was to put the ball over the plateand trust to the fielders. So he did it. But he didn’t have to trustto the fielders. The man at bat found the delivery, and sent it hardand straight toward Nelson. It was coming so swiftly that he might havebeen excused for letting it pass. But he reached up and brought itdown, even though the shock staggered him for an instant, and then spedit to third. The inning was over, with the score one to one.

  Mannig trotted in, and Conly picked out his bat. He found what hewanted in Mr. Somes’s second delivery, and hit safe for one base.Nelson followed with an attempted sacrifice that worked so well thathe not only advanced Conly, but reached first safely himself by ahairbreadth. That decision of the umpire’s brought out wild protestfrom the Laurelville supporters, and an energetic “kick” from theGreen-and-White’s captain. But the umpire wasn’t the sort to let aplayer disturb him for very long, and soon the captain had retired tohis position, muttering and glowering. Burns fouled out to catcher, andKelly, the Mannig shortstop, was thrown out at first, Conly and Nelsoneach securing a change of base. When Kleinschmidt came to the plate,what was earnestly required was a safe hit, and, being an obligingchap, Kleinschmidt supplied it, sending the ball whizzing between firstand second basemen, and bringing in both Conly and Nelson. And Mannig’swar whoop sounded excruciatingly. Harrison waited for somethingpleasing, but waited a little bit too long, and the side was out. Butthree to one looked very good to Mannig, and Burns begged Nelson tohold the opponents down.

  By this time Nelson had forgotten his displeasure and went into thebox ready to do his level best. And he did it. The first two menstruck out like children, and, although the third reached his base ona hit and an error of shortstop’s, the fourth batsman could do nothingagainst Nelson’s puzzling delivery, and followed in the ignominiousfootsteps of the first couple. And Mannig cheered and capered, andshowed very plainly that they were terribly pleased about something.

  It was in the fourth that Bob vindicated himself. Simpson fanned out.Then Fultz, having reached first by being hit on the elbow with theball, stole second a moment later. Bob came to the plate and allowedtwo deliveries to pass him. The umpire confirmed his judgment. With twoballs to his credit, he wasn’t going to accept any old thing, and so hewaited for Mr. Somes to oblige him with something nice. And while hewaited, the first real trouble occurred.

  Fultz, down on second, was keeping both second baseman and shortstopvery much worried. He had shown his ability at stealing bases, and theywere watching him as though he were a mouse, and they two very hungrycats. That was all right, but when the shortstop, unseen by the umpire,who was back of the pitcher, undertook to hold Fultz by the arm, therunner objected. He not only objected, but showed the fact by sendingthe Laurelville player over on his back by a well-applied shove. Thenthe second baseman took a hand in the argument, and Fultz went downwith a blow on his jaw. At that moment the pitcher ran up with theball, and dug it, none too gently, into Fultz’s ribs, and, as Fultz wasreclining somewhat dazed a yard from base, Laurelville claimed that hehad been put out.

  But the umpire couldn’t see it that way. So time was called, and whileseveral incipient riots took place Mannig and Laurelville argued itover angrily, each side threatening to take its team off the field.Finally, the umpire took a hand at threatening. His threat was
thatif they didn’t go on with the game at once, he’d award it to Mannig.Whereupon the spectators were finally dispelled and the field cleared.

  The incident hadn’t increased the _entente cordiale_, and the opposingplayers eyed each other angrily. But in a moment there was a diversion.And Bob caused it. Others might have lost their heads for the timebeing, but not Bob. Mr. Somes, still aggrieved, was off his guard foran instant, and Bob took advantage of the fact. His bat met the nice,straight ball with a loud _crack_, and in a moment he was speedingaround the bases, and Fultz, sufficiently recovered from his treatmentto be able to run, trotted leisurely across the plate in a disdainfulmanner, which said as loudly as words, “It’s a shame to do it!”

  Away out, past center fielder, who was doing a lot of tall running, theball had dropped softly to the ground. Bob swung around second and madefor third. Center fielder reached the ball, scooped it up, and hustledit toward shortstop, who had run out for it. Bob spurned third baseunder flying feet and set his face homeward. A chaos of sound reigned.Shortstop swung about and threw the ball frantically to the plate,where the catcher, for what to him had seemed an age, had been awaitingit with outstretched hands.

  Friends of Mannig held their breath. Ball and runner were both speedingfor the same goal. It had seemed at first that Bob was certain of ahome run, but the fielding had been extremely fast, and now it appearedthat he was doomed to have his trouble for nothing. If someone had onlyhad the sense to hold him at third base!

  Simultaneously two things happened. The flying sphere settled with athud against the catcher’s mitt, and Bob, sliding over the ground in acloud of brown dust, touched the plate with the fingers of one eagerhand. Then down came the catcher’s hand and the ball, like a sledgehammer, and Bob straightened out his legs, rolled over on to his back,and lay very still.

  In an instant the plate, the catcher, the umpire, and the unconsciousform of Bob formed the vortex of a pushing, shouting maelstrom ofhumanity. Dan, who had been one of the first to reach Bob’s side,strove to raise him from the ground for fear that the struggling crowdwould trample upon him, but so close about him were the angry partisansof Mannig that he could only hold Bob in a sitting position, and begfor room and air. The catcher, white of face, hemmed in by the enemy,declared loudly that he had intended no harm, but he was no coward, andhis tone was so defiant that it only added to the wrath of the crowd.The umpire strove mightily for peace. So far no blow had been struck,although many hands were clinched and several arms were raised. Thecatcher was being jostled back and forth as the throng swayed hitherand thither. Dan, by dint of much tugging, at last lifted Bob in hisarms, and, aided now by Burns and a stranger, fought a way through thedense throng. Once on the bench, with a sopping towel at his head, Bobsoon regained consciousness and opened his eyes.

  “What’s up?” he asked weakly.

  “Oh, that blamed catcher took you in the side of the head with theball,” answered Dan angrily.

  “I know, but what”--he turned his head toward the shouting mass on thediamond--“what’s doing over there?”

  “Free fight, I guess,” said Dan.

  “That’s what,” said Burns, the light of battle in his eye. “Look afterhim and I’ll see if I can help.”

  With that he sped away and was lost in the throng which was pouring onto the field from the stand.

  “He didn’t mean anything,” cried Bob. “It’s all nonsense. Here, let meup, Dan!”

  He climbed to his feet, stood for an instant with blinking eyes, andthen, ere Dan could restrain him, was running toward the center ofthe gathering. Dan, calling, followed. But it was hard work gettingthrough, and long before he reached the scene of trouble the war wasaverted.

  Bob, shouldering his way into the struggling, shuffling mass with scantceremony, tore the catcher out of the hands of a big, ugly-faced tough.Only one or two of the Laurelville players had managed to reach thecatcher’s side, and for an instant Bob was mistaken by the Mannigitesfor another member of the enemy’s forces. A louder growl of rage wentup, but at that moment Bob lifted his voice above the pandemonium.

  “Get off the field!” he cried. “I’m not hurt! It was all an accident!Please get out of the way and let us finish the game!”

  “Accident!” exclaimed an ugly, incredulous voice. “Looks like anaccident, don’t it?”

  Bob coolly passed a hand over the discolored lump on the side of hishead and smiled.

  “That’s all it was,” he replied. “Accidents will happen. If you don’tget off the field at once, Laurelville will say we interfered with thegame and they couldn’t finish it. And as we haven’t played five inningsyet, we’ll get left!”

  “That’s so,” some one agreed. “Come on.”

  “Say, you’re a plucky one, kid!” cried another.

  Good nature returned, and, laughing and shoving, the throng fought itsway back. As it thinned away about the plate, the Laurelville captainran up. Seeing Bob, he turned and made for him.

  “Say, what’s the matter with you?” he cried, brandishing his fistunder Bob’s nose. “He didn’t mean to slug you, you baby! For two centsI’d----”

  A hand shot out and swung him about.

  “Shut up, Jack!” growled the catcher. “He’s all right; he ain’t madeany kick; he’s just been telling his crowd it was an accident. It wastoo.” He looked closely at Bob. Bob nodded.

  “Of course,” he answered. “I understand.”

  “Well, that’s all right,” said the captain a trifle sheepishly. “Ithought they were doing you up, Ted, old man.”

  “Well, I guess they would have if this fellow hadn’t butted in justwhen he did,” answered the catcher dryly. He glanced at Bob. “Muchobliged,” he muttered.

  Presently order was restored once more and the game went on. Conly wentout at second, after knocking what he and everyone else thought wasa safe two-bagger, and Nelson fell prey to Somes’s deceptive drops.And the teams changed sides with the score five to one, in favor ofMannig. The fifth inning commenced with the Laurelville captain atbat. He led off with a pop fly that ought to have been an easy out,but which was muffed by Harrison at second. The next man advancedthe captain and went out at first. Then came a clean two-bagger thatbrought Laurelville’s second tally. But after that there were no morehits, and, with the score now five to two, Mannig once more took itsinnings. But Burns, Kelly, and Kleinschmidt went out in quick orderwithout changing the figures. Laurelville trotted in to the bench, andher captain hailed Burns.

  “Say,” he asked, “where’s that pitcher of yours come from?”

  “What difference does that make?” asked Burns.

  “It makes a lot of difference. He played with some New Hampshire team,and you can’t get men from outside the State.”

  “Oh, come off! Who said so?”

  “It’s in the agreement,” was the reply.

  “I never saw it!”

  “Well, it’s there. And if you play that pitcher, we won’t go on withthe game.”

  “Oh, stop if you want to,” replied Burns sweetly. “I guess we’ve got itcinched all right.”

  “We’ll protest it,” was the answer. “You haven’t any business playingeither that pitcher or the fellow in center.”

  “Why didn’t you say something about it before we beat you?” demandedBurns angrily.

  “I didn’t know it,” was the answer.

  Burns hesitated, and then summoned Fultz. With Fultz went most of theMannig team. Thereupon the Laurelville players also joined the group,scenting trouble. Finally, Fultz called to Nelson.

  “Say, where do you live?” he asked.

  “Boston.”

  “How about you, Hethington?”

  “Portland, Maine,” replied Bob.

  “All right,” answered Fultz. “I suppose we’ll have to drop ’em. But Inever heard of the fool rule before! We’ll beat you, anyway,” he addedwrathfully.

  “Go ahead,” said the Laurelville captain cheerfully. “But you can’tcome any tric
ks like that on us. I guess we’ve got a good right toclaim the game as it is. You’ve played those fellows for five inningsalready.”

  “Protest all you like,” answered Burns. “If you didn’t want them toplay, you ought to have said so.”

  Fultz turned to Nelson and Bob.

  “They say we haven’t any right to play fellows from outside the State,”he explained. “First I ever knew it. I’m sorry. And we hate to lose youchaps. But I guess you’ve done pretty well for us. We’re much obliged,and if you want to change your mind about the pay, we’re still ready tohand over the money. I’ll see you after the game.”

  Nelson and Bob retired to the bench. Neither of them was sorry to getout of the game. Bob’s head was aching a good deal, and Nelson’s armwas beginning to feel pretty sore.

  “Think they can hold that lead of three runs?” asked Bob.

  “I don’t believe so,” Nelson replied. “Depends a good deal on theirpitcher. Who is he?”

  “A chap named Sullivan,” answered Bob. “Pretty poor, I guess.”

  “Well, let’s stay and see it out, anyway. Hello, you chaps!” he added,as Dan and Tom came up.

  “Hello, yourself,” replied Dan. “What’s the row?”

  Nelson explained, and Tom was highly indignant.

  “Ho-ho-ho-hope they ch-ch-ch--” he began.

  “Yes, indeed, Tommy,” said Bob soothingly, “but I don’t believe theywill choke. They may get beaten, but they probably won’t choke.”

  “You might run over and suggest it to them, though,” said Danhopefully. “They might be willing to oblige you.”

  It soon began to look bad for Mannig. The new pitcher was fast, andat times puzzling, but he was terribly wild. Conly alone saved histeam from utter rout for a while, stopping many a wild pitch. Thenthings began to happen. With one out, Laurelville located the ball, andstarted to hammer it to all parts of the diamond. Only the best sort offielding kept her from forging ahead then and there. With three men onbases and but one out, it surely looked for a while as though Mannig’ssun was about to set. But heady, fast work on the part of the infieldspoiled Laurelville’s chances, and only one run was added to her scorein that inning. But Laurelville trotted out looking hopeful. Next time,they hoped, they would have better luck. As the Mannig players returnedto the bench, it was plain to be seen that they feared defeat. Fultzthrew himself down beside Dan.

  “Gee!” he said. “That was a narrow squeak, wasn’t it?”

  “It surely was,” answered Dan. “You fellows did great work.”

  “Yes, that was a dandy double.”

  Presently Dan said:

  “Seems like you are playing against the Laurelville Fire Department.”

  Fultz looked puzzled.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Oh, a chap over there in the crowd was telling me about it awhileago,” answered Dan. “He says more than half the nine are firemen. Theyhave a volunteer department here, you know. He was wondering what wouldhappen if an alarm was rung in. He said he bet the Laurelville captainwould let the old town burn up.”

  And Dan chuckled at the idea.

  “Did he say just how many belonged to the Fire Department?” asked Fultzcarelessly.

  “Yes, he said seven out of the twelve players and subs. He told me whothey were, but I didn’t pay any attention.”

  “Well, I’m on deck,” said Fultz. “Guess I’ll find my bat.”

  But Dan, smiling at his thoughts, noticed that the manager hadapparently changed his mind. For, instead of going to where the batswere piled, he walked around the bench and across to where a group ofMannig citizens were watching the contest from the grass back of thirdbase. There he stooped and spoke to a youth in a dingy suit of clothes.Presently the youth arose, and he and Fultz wandered away togethertoward the end of the grand stand. As the Mannig batsman was at thatmoment making his second abortive strike at the ball, it is doubtful ifanyone save Dan noticed them. They conversed together a moment at thecorner of the stand, and then the youth lounged away out of sight, andFultz returned and selected his bat. When he had it he turned quicklyand glanced at Dan. Dan was apparently absorbed in the fate of thebatter.

  That was speedily decided, for he couldn’t resist a slow drop that hadevery appearance of a straight ball, and turned disgustedly away totoss his bat into the pile. But after that Mannig’s chances appeared tobrighten. With only one man out, she managed to get runners on secondand third, and for a time it looked as though she was about to pile upsome more tallies. The Mannig contingent became wildly enthusiastic,and their excruciating war whoop filled the air. But their hopes weredoomed to disappointment, for the two runners were obliged to stay justwhere they were while the succeeding pair of batsmen struck ignoblyout. And now the seventh inning began with the score five to three, infavor of the visitors.

  Once more the Laurelville players found Sullivan an easy riddle. Thefirst man up let drive a sizzling grounder between shortstop and thirdbaseman, and, by good running, barely made second ahead of the ball.The following batter worried the pitcher until in the end he was sentto first on four balls. Laurelville was yelling and whooping at a greatrate.

  “Here’s where we score!” cried the coachers back of first and third.“Any old thing will do, Eddie! A nice little three-bagger, if you can!You can’t miss ’em! He’s easy, he is! On your toes there, Jack! Downwith his arm, old man! _Hey!_”

  Then the third batsman cracked out a nice safe hit that was just twofeet out of first baseman’s reach, and although right fielder managedto get the ball to the plate in time to send the foremost runnerdoubling back to third, the bases were full, and there were no outs.