Baseball Joe, Home Run King; or, The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record

e force with which the luckless occupants of the car had been propelled

ng swimmers, and in a few strokes they reached the bank. Fortunately they had escaped striking any par

er. The shock and suddenness of it all still affected them, but as they continued to look at the comical figure that each presented, with hair p

ragged a wet handkerchief from his pocket and

ed Joe, as he threw off his coat and wrung

t of us now, they'd kid us for the re

e soberly, "just let's take a look at what it was

this was an error. The timbers were piled in a way that could have been done only by human hands, and what made this certain was the fact that rocks had been placed on either sid

ant harm," said Joe solemnly, when

m. "Whoever did it was a scoun

the work of a crazy

oined Jim, looking squar

n?" asked Joe, i

re was just as sane as you or I. I mean that he intended that some one should be seriously hurt.

Braxton did i

xton did it," re

re, as if turned to stone, it may be well, for the benefit of those who have not read the earlier

he was destined to become famous as the greatest pitcher of his time, was gained on the simple diamond of his home town, and his natural aptitude was such that he soon became known

at Joe Matson was not easily downed. He put into his playing all that experience, combined with his native ability, could teach him, and he served an apprenticeship that stood him

s, however, for the honor, including those who had already won their spurs in actual contests. But Joe's light was not made to shine under a bushel, and one day when the cohorts of Princeton came down in their orange and black pr

oped that he would be a clergyman and had been urgent in having him adopt that profession. But Joe, though he respected the noble aims of that calling, was not drawn to it. It was the ope

s contrary to his special gifts. She knew very little about baseball, but she had the impression that it was no place for an educated man. The fact,

ton team of the Central League. The League was a minor one, but Joe had already learned that a man who proved that he had the makings of a star in him would soon have an oppor

her out of the running for the championship. But Joe's twirling was just what it needed to put new heart and life into it, and before the season ended it had climbed into the first division and if the race had be

uld not refuse. Now, indeed, Joe felt that the ambition of his life was in a fair way to be realized. McRae had intended to bring him along slowly, so that he could be thoroughly seasoned, b

addition to the strain of the games in which he was slated to pitch, Joe had to contend with the foul tactics of a gang of gamblers who had wagered heavily on the Sox and did all they could to put Joe out of action. But his indomitable will and quick wit

a cliff. The romantic acquaintanceship thus begun soon grew into a deep affection, and Joe knew that Mabel held the happiness of his life in her hands. Jim Barclay, also, a promising young P

h the Giant and All-American teams. They were eager for the chance, and their delight was increased when it deve

of men who were trying to form a rival league and had by the meanest trickery secured Joe's signature to what afterward turned out to be a contract. How Joe finally unmasked th

od in their dripping clothes on the country r

tatement, Joe stood as though rooted to

ith a forced laugh, in which, however, there was little mi

go far in a court of law. But just put two and two together. Yesterday afternoon we were talking about this tri

u saw," cor

man on earth-the man to whom you gave a terrible thrashing-knew that you would be driving a car just before daylight-knew that you would have to climb a hill-knew that as you got near it you'd probably put on speed to c

lence for a

said thoughtfully. "But how on earth could Braxton ge

ed long to us because of the roundabout way we had to go by train. Then too that was early in the afternoon, and Braxton could have

have done it all alone. It's as much as you a

you know can do almost anything. I shouldn't wonder if that fellow Fleming helped him. He o

way as that. At any rate, it won't do any harm for us to keep our eyes open in the future. But we've got plenty of time to think of that. Now

and in a few minutes had remov

ay to the river bank. "I've got an idea that wha

ttered and the mud guards were badly bent. But the axles seemed to be sound, the wheels were in place, and as far as they could judge

they could not budge the car. They strained and pushed and lifted, but to no avail. Joe climbe

n time for breakfast," grumbled Joe

ed Jim. "We'll have to go somewhere and borrow a s

running to the road they saw it coming, drawn by two stout hors

en who had appeared so unexpectedly from the side of the road. He was a bluff, jovial person, and

your clothes on?" he asked,

came as a sort of surprise party. The road was blocked, and it w

oking about with a puzzled expression. "I

and then, as the man listened with interest that soon changed

r story. "And he can't be very far away, either. This road was clear when I passed ov

may be fifty miles away by this time. But if you'll give us a

"I've got a spade right here in the cart. We'll dig around the wheels a little. The

ards were placed behind them, the chain was attached to the

oys cared little for that. What they were far more

Jim disgustedly, as he looked at his

l and Clara see us like this,

wn and stop at Eph Allen's tailor shop. It's pretty early, but Eph sleeps

anks to their newly made friend and with fullest directions as to how to find the

," commented Joe, as the car moved on

ed Jim. "And it's certainly coming t

retty sound sleeper, for it took a good deal of knocking to wake him up, and when at last he thrust his tousled head through the door to ask what was wanted, he was not in the best of temp

roned and pressed their suits, though they had by no means the Beau

had fully risen and J

y about twenty miles from here to Riverside. Maybe they won't be surprised when w

ve telegraphed that we

ed Joe. "But that would have taken away the fun of t

morning," suggested Jim, as the machine bowled along over a ro

d be seeing our mangled remains every night in their dreams. All we'll tell them is that we had a l

yes so that he would not be recognized and stopped by any of the people of the town, where he was regarded as something of an

on from the few he passed on the streets, and in a few minu

ied the front door and found that it yielded to his touch. With his finger on his lips

of plates and cups, as well as the murmur of several voices

onger but threw

folks!"