the Shortstop (1992) Read online

  The Shortstop

  ZANE GREY

  *

  CONTENTS

  Chapter.

  I PERSUADING MOTHER.

  II RIDING AWAY.

  III FAME.

  IV VICISSITUDE.

  V THE CRACK TEAM OF OHIO.

  VI FIRST INNINGS.

  VII MITTIE-MARU.

  VIII ALONG THE RIVER.

  IX ON THE ROAD.

  X MARJORY AND POND-LILIES.

  XI INSIDE BALL.

  XII POPULARITY .

  XIII SUNDAY BALL .

  XIV WAITING IT OUT.

  XV THE GREAT GAME.

  XVI LAST INNINGS.

  Chapter I.

  PERSUADING MOTHER.

  CHASE CALLOWAY hurried out of the factory door and bent his steps homeward. He wore a thoughtful, anxious look, as of one who expected trouble. Yet there was a briskness in his stride that showed the excitement under which he labored was not altogether unpleasant.

  In truth, he had done a strange and momentous thing; he had asked the foreman for higher wages, and being peremptorily refused, had thrown up his place and was now on his way home to tell his mother.

  He crossed the railroad tracks to make a short cut, and threaded his way through a maze of smoke-blackened buildings, to come into narrow street lined with frame houses. He entered a yard that could not boast of a fence, and approached a house as unprepossessing as its neighbors.

  Chase hesitated on the steps, then opened the door. There was no one in the small, bare, clean kitchen. With a swing which had something of an air of finality about it, he threw his dinner-pail into a corner. "There ! " He said grimly, as if he had done with it. "Mother, where are you ?

  Mrs. Alloway came in, a slight little woman, pale, with marks of care on her patient face. She greeted him with a smile, which faded quickly in surprise and dismay.

  "You're home early, Chase," she said anxiously.

  "Mother, I told you I was going to ask for more money. Well, I did. The foreman laughed at me and refused. So I threw up my job."

  "My boy! My boy!" faltered Mrs. Alloway Chase was the only bread-winner in their household of three. His brother, a bright, studious boy of fifteen, was a cripple. Mrs. Alloway helped all she could with her needle, but earned little enough. The winter had been a hard one, and had left them with debts that must be paid. It was no wonder she gazed up at him in distressed silence.

  " I've been sick of this job for a long time," went on Chase. " I've been doing a lot of thinking. There 's no chance for me in the factory. I'm not quick enough to catch the hang of mechanics. Here I am over seventeen and big and strong, and I'm making six dollars a week.

  Think of it ! Why, if I had a chance - See here, mother, haven't I studied nights ever since I left school to go to work? IAEm no dummy. I can make something of myself. I want to get into business -business for myself, where I can buy and sell."

  "My son, it takes money to go into business. Where on earth can you get any? " I'll make it," replied Chase, eagerly. A flush reddened his cheek. He would have been handsome then, but for his one defect, a crooked eye. "I'll make It. I need money quick -and I've hit on the way to make it. I -" "How?"

  The short query drew him up sharply, chilling his enthusiasm. He paced the kitchen, and then, with a visible effort, turned to his mother.

  " I am going to be a baseball player." The murder was out now and he felt relief. His mother sat down with a little gasp. He waited quietly for her refusal, her reproach, her arguments, ready to answer them one by one.

  " I won't let you be a ball player."

  "Mother, since father left us to shift for ourselves I've been the head of the house. I never disobeyed you before, but now -I've thought it out. I've made my plan."

  " Bah. Players are good-for-nothing loafers, rowdies. I won't have my son associate with them."

  " They've a bad name, I 'll admit; but, mother, I don't think it's deserved. I 'm not sure, but I believe they're not so black as they are painted. Anyway, even if they are, it won't hurt me. I've an idea that a young man can be square and successful in baseball as in anything else. I 'd rather take any other chance, but there isn't any."

  " Oh! the disgrace of it ! Your father would - "

  " Now, see here, mother, you're wrong. It's no disgrace. Why, it's a thousand times better than being a bartender, and I'd be that to help along. As for father," his voice grew bitter, "if he'd been the right sort we wouldn't be here in this hovel. You'd have what you were once used to, and I'd be in school."

  "You're not strong enough; you would get hurt," protested the mother.

  "Why, I'm as strong as a horse. I'm not afraid of being hurt. Ever since last summer when I made such a good record with the factory nine this idea has been growing. They say I'm one of the fastest boys in Akron, and this summer the big nine at the round-house wants me. It's opened my eyes. With a little more experience I could get on a salaried team some where."

  " You wouldn't go away? " I'll have to. And, another, I want to go at once."

  Mrs. Alloway felt the ground slipping from under her. She opened her lips to make further remonstrance, but Chase kissed them shut, and keeping his arm around her, led her into the sitting-room. A pale youth, slight, like his mother, sat reading by a window.

  "Will," said Chase, "I've some news for you. Can you get through school, say in a year or less, and prepare for college? "

  The younger boy looked up with a slight smile, such as he was wont to use in warding off Chase's persistent optimism. The smile said sadly that he knew he would never go to college. But something in Chase's straight eye startled him, then his mother's white, agitated face told him this was different. He rose and limped a couple of steps toward them, a warm color suddenly tingeing his cheeks.

  "What do you mean?" he questioned.

  Then Chase told him. In conclusion he said: " Will, there's big money in it.

  Three thousand a season is common, five for a great player. Who knows? Any way, there's from fifty to a hundred a month even in these Ohio and Michigan teams, and that'll do to start with. You just take this from me: there'll be a comfortable home for mother, you'll go to college, and later I'll get into business. It's all settled. What do you think of it?"

  "It's great!" exclaimed Will, slamming down his book. There was a flame in his eyes.

  Mrs. Alloway dropped her hands. She was persuaded. That from Will was the last straw. Tears began to fall.

  Mother, don't be unhappy," said Chase. " I am suited for something bet!ter than factory work. There's a big chance for me here. Mind you, I'm only seventeen. Suppose I play ball for a few years: I'll save my money, and when I'm twenty-two or twenty-five I can start a business of my own. It looks good to me!"

  " But, my boy - if it - ruins you!" " I don't like to see Chase leave us," said Will, "but I'm not afraid of that."

  Mrs. Alloway dried her eyes, called up her smile, and told them she was not afraid of it either. Thereafter her composure did not leave her, though her sensitive lips quivered when she saw Chase packing a small grip.

  " I don't want to take much," he mused, "and most of all I'll want my glove and ball-shoes. Will, isn't it lucky about the shoes that college man gave me? They're full of spikes. I've never played in them, but I tried them on, and I 'll bet I can run like a streak in them."

  It was not long after that when he kissed his mother as she followed him to the doorway. Will limped after him a little way down the path and shook hands for the tenth time. His eyes were wet as his mother's, but Chase's were bright and had a bold look.

  " Chase, I never saw any one who could run and throw like you, and I believe you'll make the greatest player in the whole country. Don't forget.

  It'll
be hard at first. But you hang on! Hang on ! There! Good luck ! Good-bye! "

  Chase turned at the corner of the street and waved to them. There was a lump in his throat which was difficult to swallow. But it was too late to go back, so he struck out bravely.

  Chapter II.

  RIDING AWAY.

  THE fact that Chase had no objective point in mind did not detract from the new and absorbing charm of his situation. No more would he breathe the dust-laden air nor hear the din of the factory. He was free; free to go where he listed, to see new people and places, to find his fortune. He crushed back the pain in his throat; he reconciled himself to the parting from his mother and brother by the assurance that so he could serve them best.

  It was twilight when he reached the railroad tracks, where he stopped momentarily. Would he go to the left or to the right? A moment only did he tarry undecided; after all, there was only one course for him to start on and keep to, whether of direction or purpose, and that was to the right.

  Darkness had settled down by the time he came to the outskirts of the town, and now secure in the belief that he would not be seen, he stopped to wait for a train. It was out of the question for him to think of riding in a passenger train. That cost money; and he must save what little he had. On Saturdays, before he left school, he had ridden on freight trains; and what he had done for fun he would now do in earnest. Some of the railroads running into town forbade riding, others did not care; and Chase took his stand by the track of one of the generous roads.

  The electric lights shot up brightly, like popping stars out of the darkness, and white glow arched itself over the town. Soon the shrill screech of a locomotive split the silence, then a rumbling and puffing told of an outward bound freight. The gleam of a headlight streaked along the rails. Chase saw with satisfaction that the train was on his track, but he had an uneasy feeling that it was running too fast to be boarded. The huge black engine, like a one-eyed demon, roared by, shaking the earth. Chase watched the cars rattle by and tried to gauge their speed. It was so dark he could scarcely see, but he knew the train was running too fast to catch with safety. Still he did not hesitate. He waited a moment for an oil-car, and as one came abreast he dashed with it down the track. Reaching up with his left hand, he grasped a handle-bar. Instantly he was swung upward and slapped against the car. But Chase knew that swing, and it did not break his hold. As he dropped back to an upright position he felt for the foot-step, found it, and was safe.

  He climbed aboard and sat against the oil-tank, placing his grip beside him. He laughed as he wiped the sweat from his brow. That was a time when the fun of boarding a freight did not appear. The blackness was all about him now; fields and woods and hills blurring by. The wind sang in his ears and cooled his face. The stars blinked above. The rasp and creak of the cars, the rhythmic click of the rails, the roar and rumble, were music to him, for they sang of the passing miles between him and wherever he was going.

  Lights of villages twinkled by like Jack-o'-lanterns. These were succeeded after a while by the blank dim level of open country, that to Chase swept by monotonously for hours. Then a whistle enlivened him. He felt the engineer put on the air-brake, then the bumping and jarring of cars, and the grinding of wheels.

  As the train slowed up Chase made ready to jump off. He did so presently, expecting to see the lights of a town, but there were none. He saw the shadow of a block-signal house against the dark sky, and concluded the engineer had stopped for orders at a junction-crossing. Chase hurried along the tracks, found an open box-car, and climbed in.

  It was an empty car with a layer of hay on the floor. He groped his way in the gloom, found a corner, and lay down with his head on his grip. It was warm and comfortable there; he felt tired, a drowsiness overcame the novelty of his situation, and he was falling asleep when he heard voices. Then followed the shuffling and scrambling noise made by several men climbing into the car. They went into another corner.

  For a while he could not make out the meaning of their low, hoarse whispering; but as it grew louder he caught the drift. The men were thieves; they had robbed someone and were quarrelling over the spoils. One was a negro, judging by his sullen, thick voice, and it was evident the other two were leagued against him.

  The train started up with a rattle and clatter, gathered headway, and rolled on with steady roar. From time to time Chase heard angry voices even above the din of the wheels. He was thankful for the dark and the noise. What they might do if they discovered him, caused him to grow cold with fear. He shrank into the corner and listened.

  Whether it was after a few minutes or a long hour he had no idea, but when the whistle shrieked out again and the train slackened for another stop, he realized the thieves were fighting. Hoarse cries and sodden blows, curses, and a deep groan told of a deed of violence.

  " Let's beat it," whispered one, in the sudden silence. "Here comes a brake."

  The train had stopped. Footsteps grated outside, and streaks of light flickered into the car. Chase saw two men jump from the door and heard a brake man accost them. He lay there trembling. What if the brakeman flashed his light into the car? What would be seen in the other corner? But the footsteps died away. Before he noticed it the train got in motion again; and he lay there wavering till the speed became so great that he dared not jump off.

  To ride with a dead thief was not so frightful as to ride with a live one, thought Chase, but it was bad enough. His mind began to focus on one point, that he must get out of the car, and the more he thought the more fearful grew his state. While he lay there the train rolled on and the time flew by. All at once it appeared the blackness had given way to gray shadow. It grew lighter and lighter. He rose and went to the door. Day was dawning.

  The train was approaching a hamlet, and ran parallel with a dusty road. Without a second's hesitation Chase leaped from the car. Through a rush of wind he alighted on his feet, bounced high, to fall heavily and roll over and over in the dust.

  Chapter III.

  FAME.

  CHASE would have sustained worse bruises than he got to rid himself of the atmosphere of that car. When he was once free of it, however, he fell to wondering if the negro were really killed. Perhaps he had only been wounded and was in need of assistance that Chase could have rendered. This thought cut him, but he dismissed it from mind, and addressed himself once more to his problem.

  The village consisted of a few cottages; there was no railroad station, and on a siding stood a car marked T. & O. C. Chase sat in the grass beside the track, and did not know whether to walk on or wait for another train. Meanwhile the sun rose warm and bright, shining on the bursting green leaves; meadowlarks sang in a field near by, and flocks of blackbirds winged irregular flight overhead.

  That May morning was full of life and hope for Chase, but even so, when two hours passed by with no train or even person putting in appearance, he began to grow restless and presently made a remarkable discovery. He was hungry. He had not given a thought to such a thing as eating. It was rather discomfiting to awaken to the fact that even in quest of fortune meals were necessary.

  A column of blue smoke was curling lazily from one of the cottages, and thither Chase made his way. He knocked on the kitchen door, which was opened by a woman.

  " Good-morning," said Chase. " May I have a bite to eat?" "You ain't a tramp?" queried she, eying him shrewdly. "No, indeed. I can pay."

  " I thought not. Tramps don't say Good-mornin. I reckon you kin hev somethin'. Sit on the bench there." She brought him milk, and bread and butter, and a generous slice of ham. While he was eating, a boy came out to gaze at him with round eyes, and later a lanky man with pointed beard walked up the path, his boots wet with dew.

  " Mornin'," he said cheerily, " be yew travellin' fur? "

  " Quite far, I guess," replied Chase. "How far is Columbus, or the first big place? "

  " Wal, now, Columbus is a mighty long way, much as fifty miles, I calkilate. An' the nearest town to hum here is Jac
ktown, cross fields some five miles. It's a right pert place. It'll be lively today, by gum! "

  "Why?" said Chase, with his mouth full of ham.

  " Wal, Jacktown an' Brownsville hev it out today, an' I'll bet it'll be the dog-gondest ball game as ever was."

  "Ball game!"

  " You bet. Jacktown ain't ever been beat, an' nuther has Brownsville.

  They've been some time gittin' together, but today's the day. An' I'll be there."

  "I'm going, too," said Chase, quietly. "I'm a ball player." After Chase had crossed this Rubicon he felt more confident. He knew he would have to say it often, and he wanted practice. And the importance of his declaration was at once manifest in the demeanor of the man and the boy.

  " Wal, I swan! You be, be you? I might hev knowed it, a strappin' young feller like you."

  The boy's round eyes grew rounder and took on the solemn rapture of hero worship.

  "How might I find my way to Jacktown?" inquired Chase.

  "You might wait an' ride with me. Thet road leads over, round about. You can't miss it."

  "Thank you, I shan't wait. I'll walk over. Good-day." Chase headed into the grassy lane without knowing exactly why. The word " game " had attracted him, as well as the respective merits of the two teams; but it was mostly that he wanted to play. After consideration, it struck him that he would do well to get into a few games before he made application to a salaried team.

  He spent the morning lounging along, the green lane, sitting under a tree, and on a mossy bank of a brook, and killing time in pretty places, so that when he reached Jacktown it was noon.

  At the little tavern where he had lunch the air was charged with the electricity of a coming storm. The place was crowded with youths and men of homely aspect; all were wildly excited over the baseball game. He was regarded with an extraordinary amount of interest; and finally, when a tall individual asked him if he were a ball player, to be answered affirmatively, there was a general outburst.

  " He's a ringer! Brownsville knowed they 'd git beat with their home team, so they've loaded up ! "