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

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 229 Even Mason, the man who held Bud's position at short-stop, came and argued with him but to no avail. Bud said, I will not go in unless in case of an acci- dent. So they left him alone. As the first man faced Shorteu, the Hill- crest pitcher, the catcher signalled and across came the ball, sailing slowly but elusively, as the batter found out. The second man was up to bat. He beat out a bunt and arrived safely at first. The next man made a good sacrifice. Two men were out and the third knocked a long fly to center fielder. As the game pro- gressed, Hillcrest could not make a hit. Andover had made one run. The ninth inning came at last with Andover at the bat. Jennings, the first man up for Andover, knocked the ball clear to the fence. How the crowd cheered! But the fielder had the ball and Jennings was almost to second. The fielder threw, Mason covered the base, the ball landed fairly in Masons hand. When he turned to put the ball on the runner, there was a collision. The runner was out but Mason limped slightly to his position. The other men were retired in order. Hillcrest came to bat. They must have a run to tie the score at least. But what was the trouble? The attention was not 011 the man at bat, it was on the player on the bench. Mason had been found to have a bad spike cut in his leg. Bud would have to bat for him. VVatson, the first man up, hit the ball: he made Hrst base with ease. Bud was the next man up. A cry ran through the crowd, it wasn't a cheer, either. He was called everything. But as he gripped the bat he made up his mind that he would show the crowd what he was made of. Even his team mates ex- pected some foolish play. As the first ball came across, Bud swung, he missed the ball on account of nervousness, which he slowly overcame. The next ball was straight, he stepped forward and swung. Away the ball went for an easy two bagger. Watson rested on third and Wayne on second. Nelson, the weakest hitter on the team, was at the bat. Andover's pitcher knew it and was sure of fooling him. As the pitcher started his motion, Bud let out a yell and started for third. The coach shouted and tried to turn him back, but it was too late. Bud had touched third and XVatson stood two feet down the base line aghast. But as the ball slowly left the pitcher's hands to make the force-out at the plate, Bud shouted, Hit l Nelson, hit! Nelson, too amazed to do otherwise, hit a slow grounder. Watson was already almost to the plate. Andover's short-stop rushed in to make the force-out but fum- bled the ball in his excitement and Bud and Watsoii crossed the plate nearly to- gether. F. E. B., '22, HAPPY EVER AFTERWARD fEnglish IVJ EARL HARDY walked slowly and meditatively along the brick pave- ment. To-morrow was Christmas, but the day meant nothing to her. Shop girls who had no home must not think of Christmas, besides, to-morrow was a day of work for these poor and tired-looking individuals. That would be the most tiresome day of all the year, for belated purchasers, people who like themselves had to work and could have only the day itself, would try to crowd all their purchasing into that day, in order to make the little hearts at home glad. Pearl was heartsick and discouraged. For five weary years she had worked in the same store, from time to time receiving a small raise in her salary, but still it was almost impossible to buy the few clothes that she must have and pay for the little attic room, to say nothing of her food. To-night she was so tired that it seemed as if she would never climb to the top of those rickety stairs. At last she reached her room and with a deep sigh sank into an

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28 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT jim looked lirst at her and then at the bundle in her arms. Well, Marge, I guess Iive made my last trip into the Northland. VVe have him to work for and it will take the both of us. J. P. S., '23, THE UNEXPECTED UD VVAYNE, short-stop of Hillcrest team, took up his favorite bat and stepped up to the plate. This was the last of the ninth and the score was six to six, a tie between Hillcrest and Andover High. Bud waited the first ball out. Strike one, cried the umpire. Bud signalled the man on third that he would bunt the next one. He missed and the man on third was caught half way be- tween third and home. That was the third out. Andover came to the bat with an ex- pectant look of victory in their eyes. Hig- gins, the tirst man up for Andover, was lucky when he connected with a low ball and beat the iielder's throw to third. Spaulding hit an easy grounder to short- stop. Wayne made an easy pickup but held the ball, afraid the man at third would go home. There were two men on and none out. The batter hit an easy grounder to short-stop, also, instead of throwing to home, he tossed to second, an easy force- out, and the second baseman saw it was use- less to catch the runner at the plate, so threw to first. The next batter struck out and the game was won for Andover. Bud Wayne was captain of the team, a position gained through popularity, but the trouble was he didn't care, it was no re- sponsibility to him, he said. Many times in the last baseball season he had achieved the almost impossible, and then of a sudden in the midst of his spectacular playing he began to do the unexpected, forced a man off from a base, or something like that, but by some mysterious power he held his posi- tion at short-stop. But in this last game the team had lost their patience with this happy-go-lucky fel- low and so had the coach. It had been the first game of the season, and besides, Andover was Hillcrest's worst opponent. At practice a new man came out and the coach put him at short-stop. Bud batted grounders out to the in-fielders. The new man was simply a flash. He scooped the grounders and held the ball to first with the speed and accuracy that was a marvel to the team. Day after day this same thing happened. One day the coach said to Wayne, Don't you want to play on the team? No,', replied Bud. I want to see someone there who won't be forever mak- ing errors. But, said the coach, who ever heard of a Captain on the bench watching an- other man in his position? 'I Well, if Mason can play better than I let him have the position. I 'll stay on the bench as an example for others, was the quick answer. As games went by, Mason shone in his school work as well as his work on the diamond. Before, he had been a no account scholar. He was rather a marvel at the bat as well as in the field in the games. No errors had been chalked against him so far. Hillcrest was winning most of her games. Bud had not played a game except the first one, and since then he had been a bench Warmer. When the last game with Andover ar- rived every man was in trim 3 the day dawned clear and bright. Hillcrest needed this game to gain the championship and so did Andover. As Hillcrest team trotted out on the diamond it was greeted with cheers, one after another. After a short practice, Andover took the field. Their cheers were louder, as the practice went on. The men were cheered and this seemed to be Andover's day with the crowd. The coach had tried to coax Bud to play part of this game, The last game of the year, he said, and you are Captain.

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30 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT old rocker. Oh, to be back in her home- town to-night, to feel tl1e cheery warmth of the fireplace, and hear the merry voices singing Christmas carols, but, why dream, mother and father were gone and the brothers and sisters were scattered, one sister being in India, the wife of a mis- sionary. Oh, why had she left home and gone to the city? Mother had pleaded with her to stay and continue her work as a private secretary in the little firm of Brown 8z Jones, but no, the city had called her, and believing a position as secretary would be easy to find, she had answered the call. At home she had been considered a very efficient business-woman, although she was but nineteen, but here it was different, and after using up all her little savings in seek- ing a position, she at last became a mere shop girl, too proud to go home to the mother who had waited in vain. With an effort Pearl lighted the little oil stove and prepared her meager lunch. Hardly had she finished this when she heard footsteps on the stairs. This was rather an unheard of occurrence, but she did not pay much attention until a knock sounded on her door. With an astonished face, she went to the door and confronted a small boy. Are you Miss Pearl Hardy? a little voice asked. I am, replied Pearl. Is there any- thing I can do for you, my little man? No, Miss. I only brought you a letter, Miss. But, my dear boy, you must have made a. mistake. It surely can not be for me. It is addressed very plainly, Miss, to Miss Pearl Hardy. Being thus convinced, Pearl took the letter and after closing the door, broke the seal with trembling fingers. She scanned it through hastily and then re-read it more slowly. Can it be possible? Why, it is almost like a fairy storyg Mother's brother, whom We believed killed in the Klondike Region, alive and rich, rich! Surely it was a dream, but no, there was the letter inviting her to spend Christmas with him. It was almost too good to be true, but alas! tomorrow she must work and how was she to inform her uncle? A sudden thought entered Pearl's head, and seizing her coat and hat, she ran from the room. In a few minutes she was in a drug store and asking breathlessly for the directory. Quickly she ran her finger down the Q's, Quimby-Stephen Quimby, there it was. In a moment she was in a tele- phone booth, calling her unele's home. The butler answered the phone, but it was but a moment before she heard her unc1e's voice. Can't come? But, my dear, you must. It is very important that you should. Did- n't know that any of I-Ielen's children were here in the city until to-day. Will send car very early in the morning. Don't dis- appoint your old uncle. Will make every- thing all right with your employer, and with a click he hung up the receiver. For a moment Pearl was too dazed to comprehend and then a sudden misgiving seized her. How could she go, for she had nothing really suitable to wear? But Oh! she must go, she just couldn't miss such a delightful chance. This time Pearl fairly flew up the stairs to her room. With nervous hands she rummaged through her few belongings and found an old suit that had belonged to her sister. It was just the thing. With a little altering and by using a white collar and cuff set on the coat, she found that she could make a very smart little suit, but what should she wear for a hat? Oh, if she had a frame, she could use that pretty piece of velvet that she had found. Why not use her old summer one? In a moment she had ripped up the old hat and was skillfully draping the velvet about it. Very tastily she trimmed the hat with some pretty plumes that she had never had occa- sion to wear. Far into the night she worked on this and then, wonders!--she had as neat and trim a little hat and suit as she needed. With a smile of gladness she went to bed and to sleep.