Strong High School - Mussul Unsquit Yearbook (Strong, ME)

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22 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT up his studies the team was all chosen and they had played one game. Some boys would have gone to the coach and told what wonders they had done on the dia- mond, but not so with Bob. He was no bragger and was a little backward. After he had made up his studies and was out in the schoolyard one afternoon passing ball with another fellow, the captain of the ball team, who was also the catcher, named Dick Gibson, and their star first baseman, jake Merkle, were walking by discussing their outlook for the cup. They stopped close by where Bob was pass- ing. VVell, said Dick, unless we have more pitching than Brick, who is pitching his head off, can do, the cup will go to Dover. VVho is that chap there, passing with Holbrook? He seems to be a likely look- ing fellow and he throws as natural as a big leaguer, said Jake. I guess he must be a freshmang I never happened to notice him around much. I wonder, said Jake, if he can pitch. Let's ask him, said Dick, he must be as good as McDonald. Did you ever play ball any. asked Dick, addressing Bob. Bob turned and was surprised to see the captain of the ball team addressing him. I have played some, said Bob. What position do you play? I used to pitch for the grammar school at home, he said, but we didn't have much of a team. Can you throw any curves? A fewg my uncle used to pitch for Harvard and he comes down home every summer. He showed me how, and he said that he expected to time in that line. 'fWell, said Dick, why don't you re- port for practice this afternoon? that Bob got his pu hear from me some So it came about chance. Dick tried him out, himself, and he seemed to be better than Dick had dared to hope. And Bob was no slouch of a hit- ter either. They tried him under fire that Saturday and he proved to be as cool headed as Brick. Time and again with a man on second base and the head of the batting order up, he turned them back. The season was drawing to a close and Milton Academy was but a half game be- hind Dover. This was due mostly to the superb pitching and batting of Bob, al- though Brick had done his share. Bob was played in every game on account of his hitting power. When he was not pitching, they played him in the field. At last the day of the big game arrived with Dover. If Milton Academy won they would be the champions and get the cup. Dick and the coach were undecided whom to use in the box. Dick thought that Bob was the better. The coach thought that Brick ought to pitch as he was a senior and this would be the last time that he could wear the blue and gray for Milton. The game proved to be a pitchers' battle, between Brick and the Dover pitcher. In the eighth inning Dover got a cheap run. The first man up got a free pass, the first man that Brick had passed during the whole game. He stole second and went to third on the overthrow by Dick. The next man up drove the ball like a bullet and hit Brick on the arm. Merkle picked it up, threw it home, but too late. The Dover fans were overjoyed. They had great con- fidence in their pitcher. Brick was unable to continue. Bob was taken out of right field, and after throwing the five balls that he was allowed, he took up the burden. Bob put all the stuff that he had on the ball, and turned back the Dover sluggers, one, two, three. Milton Academy couldn't seem to score in their half of the eighth and Dover was unable to solve tl1e delivery of Bob. In the Hrst half of the ninth jake Merkle and Joe Graney could not do anything with the Dover pitcher's slants. Dick got a scratch nit through short, and then Bob

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THE MUSS truding eyes, there in the inky blackness. VVe could distinctly hear the rapidly ap- proaching footsteps. A shriek, a rumble, and the sounds would die away. This was repeated several times, adding more and more to our terror. The last time the steps came much nearer. The terrorizing shriek sounded at the mouth of the passage and the old luna- tic was in the room with us. I heard a chuckling and rubbing of hands close to my ear, and a cold, bony hand upon my arm, this completely crazed meg I jumped clear of the earth, uttered a terrified yell, and made off down the dark passage with john following at my heels. The old lunatic brought up not far in the rear. I ran on and on till I came abruptly upon a roaring, tumbling, subterranean river. I hesitated, John ran into me alld we both fell headlong in the plung- ing foam. I landed easily, but a pro- truding and jagged rock hit johnys head, rendering him unconscious. I pulled him onto my back and began to swim. The terrific current soon carried us far away from the lunatic. In some places through which we passed, I was obliged to swim under water with my burden, so low was the roof of the cave above the raging river. I continued in this way for a seemingly endless time. Suddenly I perceived a small patch of light far in the distance. I redoubled my efforts. Would I ever reach it? I thought not. A roaring above the river filled my ears, I fought for life as I had never fought before. Then- darkness closed around me. . . On awakening I found myself and my burden calmly floating around in a placid pool, while the river rushed on as before. Birds were singing, and bright sunlight Hooded the earth. I dragged myself from the river, still carrying my burden. The fresh air soon revived John and he became himself again. The subterranean river, while it had nearly drowned us, had yet saved our lives. A. R. M., '23. UL UNSQUIT 21 THE NEW FIND fEnglish IIJ HE little village of Milton was very proud of its academy, and well might it be. It was not very large but accom- modated nearly two hundred students. Some of the students belonged there in Milton, others came from 'neighboring towns. There were several towns not far from Milton and together they formed a league. Baseball being the national sport, there was much rivalry and they all liked to win the cup. Whichever team won it twice had it to keep. The Milton Academy boys had won the cup last year, and Dover had won it the year before that. Both schools had a fine team and both were anxious to win the championship this season. Milton Acad- emy got a bad start early in the spring. Their easiest games were at the beginning of the season, too. But their best pitcher, Lefty XValton, had broken his arm in the first game. So all they had now was Brick Mullen, a tall, red-headed fellow, and a second string pitcher named McDonald. Brick won most of l1is games but they had to use McDonald part of the time, and be- ing a rather nervous chap, he would pitch part of a game in top notch style and then go all to pieces. The season was getting pretty well ad- vanced and Milton Academy was in third place. They were in despair. VValton's arm was not well enough so that he could use it much and he was afraid to use it too soon, as the doctor had advised against it. Nobody seemed to notice or pay much attention to Robert Matthews, a rather good looking fellow from a neighboring town. It had been the custom of the Acad- emy coach to take most of the boys that be- longed in Milton to play on the teams. Once in awhile if a fellow showed up ex- ceptionally well he could get on the team. Bob, as he was called, had been sick when the team was called out for practice in the spring and by the time he had made

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we are giving a party for her to-morrow THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 23 came up. The second ball pitched to him he hit, with all the force he could muster. The crowd in tl1e grandstand rose as one. The ball sailed over the left Held fence, and Bob romped around the bases with Dick ahead of him, and the game and the cham- pionship were won. G. E. F., 124. TEX CALDER OF THE STARKEN- CALDER COMPANY fEnglish IVJ HERE was a great cloud of dust and the horse that Tex Calder was riding was brought suddenly upon its haunches, as suddenly Tex was on the ground, had hitched his beloved horse, Star, and ran swiftly into the house, where his father and mother were waiting. It 's all right, Dad, he cried, we have the cattle all rounded up today and not one missing, but there are six belonging to the General. That's too bad, Tex, said his father, but you pick 'em out, son, and return 'e1n. The General would be mighty mad if he knowed there wuz Clly of his cattle in with ourn. Bc careful and don't git into eny trouble with him because you know he ain't so awfully friendly with us since you 've been shying up ter his gal, Betty. Don't worry, Dad, I'll be all right, said Tex, and with these words he ran out, ordered Hank and Bill to bring the steers along, and mounting Star, rode away to the Starken ranch. Mrs. Calder turned to her husband, and said, John, I am afraid Tex will meet with -lose Gardeau and then some one will get hurt for Tex is a bad man with a gun. Don't worry, dear, said John, but in his heart he was worrying. not because he feared for his son but he did not want Tex to kill lose. Wlhen John Calder was younger he owned the ranch he was now living on and the General owned tl1e one he was now occupying. They were neighbors and were friendly, but in later years a feeling had grown up between the two families, espe- cially on tl1e General's side. I-Ie thought his child was better than Johns and Tex was never received very well in the Starken home, except by Betty. Betty and Tex loved each other but on account of the General, they had not much opportunity to associate together. The General had planned for her marriage with Jose Gar- deau, a young Spaniard of wealth. Betty hated Jose, and, of course, he and Tex were deadly enemies. Jose had made the brag that he would kill Tex. Tex was already at the General's ranch. He rapped and Betty met llllfl at the door. Oh! Tex, come in, I have good news for you, cried Betty. My cousin, Helen Vlfright, is coming on the night stage, and night. Vlfill to meet her I reckon away, Betty, and I don't especially at come, he father? he you come, Tex? I am going to-night. it might be well for me to stay on account of your father, want any trouble with jose, this time, so I guess I won't replied. 'WVhere is your added. Papa has gone to town but he ought to be here any minute now, won't you wait? Betty said. I guess you can tell him as well as I, said Tex, but seeing the disappointment in Betty's eyes, he added, I guess I 'll wait, Betty. K' There, that Is nice, said Betty, now won't you please come to our little party to-morrow night? I want you so much and Tex, I know Father won't care. VVith these words she threw herself into his arms and started to cry. Then suddenly she wiped away the tears and said, WI won't marry Jose Gardeau, never, and you 're coming to my little party, so there, aren't you?'I and Tex nodded. They were interrupted by the arrival of the General. Hello, Tex,', said heg A' what 's the newsim Nothing much, except I came over to