Baseball Joe, Captain of the Team; or, Bitter Struggles on the Diamond

s condition and afraid that he was going to fall, pu

" he counseled. "Wh

perately to get a grip on himself. "I suddenly

nk of water and then sit down on the bench for a few minutes. I'll as

e Joe returned to his practice with M

im. He sat down beside him, and the two conversed in whispers, casting surreptitious

hing Jackwell whispered to him. His face seemed suddenly to have been

nager of the Chicago team, who had chaffed him unmercifully about the playing o

glowering at them. "Didn't you hear the bell ring for

"I wish you'd put somebody else in my pla

" put in Bowen. "I fe

he fellow that bought them would get stung. What do you mean, sick? Are you si

" suggested Jackwell, rather lamely. "A touch

tell me to," put in Bowen. "B

me reason their excuses did not ring true. Yet their pale faces

fellows go over to the club doctor and let him find out what's the

after a consultation with Robbie, put Renton in Jackwell's pla

hey shot the ball across the diamond. Dazzling plays and almost impossible catches brought round after round of applause from the spe

the star twirler of the Cubs, picked up the ball and went in

!" cried t

nto the box and wound

well for the benefit of those who have not read the preceding volumes of this serie

he had taken naturally. His coolness, quick thinking, good judgment and powerful arm specially fitted him for the box. He soon became known for his skill as a twirler on his home team, and his reputation spread

ol and pitched his team to victory over his rivals. His field was widened when he went to Yale,

league team, always on the alert for talent, and he made Joe an offer to join the Pittston team of the Cen

the St. Louis team of the National League. Now he was really in fast company, and had to test his skill against the

and had never ceased congratulating himself on the stroke that brought Joe to his team. He soon became its mainstay, and had been the main factor in winning the championsh

the ball it was very often ticketed for a homer, and at every city on the League circuit thousands were attracted to the games not only to see a marvelous exhibition of pitching but to see Matson "knock out another home run." What celebrity he gained by his work in both

el Varley, a charming girl whose life he had saved in a runaway accident, and he had

o Joe himself. He and Joe had become the closest of chums, and on a visit to Riverside Jim had fallen a vic

cago ball field, where the Cubs and Giants faced ea

s first at bat. He was a good hitter and

t of the plate. Axander came back with a slow one that lobbed up to the plate looking as big as a balloon. Curry nearly dislocated his spine

ew away two of them, tapped each of his heels with the othe

alarm, and see me murder

grinne

you?" he asked. "Well, you'll be only a

fouled off, making the second strike. Then came a ball and then a third str

!" shouted

s bat in chagrin and

k and belted it into the rightfield stands. It looked like a sure homer, and the contingent of loyal Giant rooters burst into a cheer. Bu

for glasses lately?

d that functionary. "Another wise crack

st by a quick throw from the pitcher, and the inning ended without a score. Burkett, who found himself in his regular position at first, put on hi

" McRae growled. "Did you see the wa

friend. "'Twas enough to make a man tear his hair out by the roots. But the game's young yet

him by fans everywhere that even the Chicago partisans welcomed his coming with a hearty round of

t. Joe looked him over and then sent the ball over for a perfect

e!" called

hop on it, and Burton sw

ike

on the bound. The latter caught it carelessly and then, without his usual wind-up, sent it whistling across the plate.

the discomfited Burton reti

p, Joe," called up Lar

demanded Evans, the Chicago manager.

all that I can't see? That came like a s

ter luck. One strike was called on

ng. "He's got them fellows buffaloed right from the jump. He

"'Twas the best day's work I ever did when I got him on the team. H

had leaped into the air and speared it with his gloved hand. The force of the hit was

rocked with applause, contributed by the Cub as well as the G

rom the box, while the Chicagos ran

ng whack on the shoulder. "They didn't have a chance. Keep it up and yo

inning out of nine, and those fellows may break loose any time. But if

high line between right and center, but the Chicago rightfielder was off at the crack of the bat and just managed to get his hands on the ball

Axander had no trouble in getting to first o

oe," grumbled McRae. "These boobs have more hol

ried his fast and slow ones with such cunning that he had his opponents up in the air. It was just a procession of bewildered b

ird base line that the Cub third baseman got all mixed up on in his efforts to field. When at last he

Giants' bench. McRae himself ran out to the coaching line near first, while he sent Jim o

an to let his opponents get him fussed. But his smile, though it did not entirely disappe

from Joe's mates and from th

home-run

he ball

m where

to king

his position at the plate. His brai

" said Axander, with a grin. "All Giants look al

oe. "You can send flowers to my funeral late

Joe caught it near the end of his bat and sent it soaring out toward rightfield. It was a migh

o second, came back and again

thought. The next ball that came over was so wide

the same place, and the

id to let

ing to w

s got hi

the next ball was so wide that it was pla

ered Joe. "Have you lost your nerve?

all the stuff he had on the ba

s the bat met the ball, and the next instant Joe had