Free the Shortstop (1992) by Zane Grey Page A

first ball delivered hit Benny on the foot, and roaring, he thre w down his bat. " You Rube ! You wild Indian ! I 'll git you fer thet !'
    Enoch Winters was the next batter. " Say, you lean, hungry-lookin' r ubberneck, if you hit me ! " warned Enoch, in his soft voice.
    Poke struck Enoch out and retired Chase on a little pop-up fly. Then Ca s sauntered up with his wagon-tongue bat and a black scowl on his face.
    "Steady up, steady up," said he. " Put 'em over. Don't use all you r steam."
    " Mister, I ain't commenced yit to throw hard," replied Poke.
    " Wha-at ? " Yelled Cas. " Are you kidding me? Slam the ball! Break you r arm, then!"
    The rustic whirled a little farther round, unwound himself a littl e quicker, and swung his arm. Cas made an ineffectual attempt to hit wha t looked like a white cord stretched between him and the pitcher. Th e next ball started the same way, but took an upward jump and sho t under Cas's chin.
    Cas, who had a mortal dread of being hit, fell back from the plate an d glared at Poke.
    "You've got his alley, Poke!" Cried the amiable players. " Keep 'em under his chin!" Cas retired in disgust as Mac came trotting up from the field, where he had been coaching the high-school player.
    "What's he got?" asked Mac, eagerly. "What 's he got!" yelled nine voices in unison. " Oh! nothing! "
    " Step up an' take a turn," said Mac to his new player. " No, don't stand so far back. Here, let me show you. Gimme the bat."
    Mac took a position well up to the plate. and began illustrating his idea of the act of hitting.
    " You see, I get well back on my right foot, ready to step forward with my left. I'll step just before he delivers the ball. I 'll keep my bat over my shoulder an' hit a little late, so as to hit to right field. Thet 's best for the hit-an'-run gam. Now, watch. See. Step an' set; step an' set. The advantage of gettin' set this way is the pitcher can't fool you, can't hit you. You needn't never be afraid of bein' hit after you lear n how to get set. No pitcher could hit me. Then raising his voice, Mac shouted to Poke, "Hey, poke up a couple. Speed em over, now!"
    Poke evidently recognized the cardinal necessity of making an impression, for he went through more wonderful gyrations than ever. Then he lunged forward with the swing he used in getting the ball away. Nobody saw the ball.
    BUMB! A sound not unlike a suddenly struck base-drum electrified the watching players. Then the ball appeared rolling down from Mac's shrinking person. The little manager seemed to be slowly settling to the ground. He turned an agonized face and uttered a long moan.
    " My ribs I my ribs ! - he hit me," gasped Mac.
    Chase, Poke, and the new man were the only persons who did not roll over and over on the ground. That incident put an end to the morning "drill." After dressing, Chase decided to tr y to find Mittie-Maru. The mascot had not been at the last two games, and this fact determined him to seek the lad. So he passed down the street where he had often left Mittie, and asked questions on the way. Everybody knew the hunchback, but nobody knew where he lived.
    Chase went on until he passed the line of houses and got into the outskirts of the town, where carpenter-shops, oil refineries, and brick-yards abounded. Several workmen he questioned said they saw the boy almost every day, and that he kept on down the street toward the open country. Chase had about decided to give up his quest, when he came to the meadows and saw across them the green of a line of willows. This he knew marked a brook or river, along which a stroll would be pleasant.
    When he reached the river he saw Mittie-maru sitting on a log patiently holding a long crooked fish-pole. "Any luck?" he shouted.
    Mittie-maru turned with a start, and seeing Chase cried out, " You ole son-of-a-gun ! Trailed me , didn't you? What yer doin' out here? "
    " I'm looking for you, Mittie."
    " What fer ? "
    Chase leaped down the bank and seated himself on the log beside th e