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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1917)
THE SUNDAY FICTION MAGAZINE, JANUARY 21, 1917 PEKING BALI y HuglvS. Fallerora R. Tandler r i AULIX, refusing to abandon the final hope that Gordon would reappear, re mained downtown until close to 1 o'clock. It was near ly 2 wfaedhe reached the park. The cat had been closed for half an hour. Al ready nearly 60,000 person were inside the inclosure, and outside a mob of even larger proportions struggled to get close to the entrances. Paulin, small and wiry, fought his way toward the entrance reserved for the players, and with clothing torn and hat and glasses lost, he finally succeeded in securing admission. lie crossed the playing field rapidly and reached the bench where the Greens were emerging from their subterranean recesses in preparation for the combat. He whis pered to McColIis and Haley, the acting captain, the news that no trace of Gor don had been found, then walked quick ly across to the runway under the stands in which Professor Terpening was busy setting up his instruments. "I have brought a new detector." caid the professor smilingly. "I hope to as certain through it the exact spot from which these disturbances come should they materialize today. T have an idea you won't be dis turbed today, professor, said Paulin gloomily. "Gordon has disappeared, and I think he is so hot on the trail that whoever it is will not be likely to attend tle game. "Disappeared? There was no dotibt of the anxiety in Professor Terpening voice. "I hope nothing- untoward has happened to- our young friend. Whn did this happen? During the night,' said Paulin. "He received a summons.' "Summons, from whom? How?" Pro fessor Terpening was visibly agitated. "i don't know," said Paulin, surprised at the unexpected show of emotion. Telephone message, I imagine. He .said it was a lifs and death matter. "Ah, said Terpening. visibly relieved, 'I hope he has not encountered any dan gers or has been injured. This man Ken JaM perhaps had a hand in it." "Nothing doing;" said Paulin, turn ing away. "lve been with Kendal! half the night and most of the morning. He's over there In a box now." As he turned he saw Professor Ttr pening's face change. The expression startled him and be turned again quick ly. The professor was bending over one of his instruments and the expression had disappeared. T. IK Greens were engaged in their pre liminary practise as Paulin made his way under the stands and reached the press box. The pulsing roar of the rreat crowd, swelling and breaking, v.j echoed by the sullen roar of the massed thousands outside. Mounted police dashed around the edges of the tie id, while outside squads of perspiring guar dians of the peace held back the. swarms that threatened to smash down the barred gates to secure entrance. Never fcefore had such a situation existed in basctoall. , On the field the teams were practic ing: "with the cold, deadly precision and iuiet that marks the work of great teams when under high nervous strain. "They are starting ten minute early, announced Witchell, the veteran Bos ton reporter, i "No chance for Gordon now, said Paulin desperately, as he glanced at his watch. . The game started with a furious as sault upon "Slats' Sattery, the Htues attempting to pound out a victory be- -jtff) :: . 5S Illustrated by '"" ' fore the past master of the pitchers could steady to ,ia taok. He was driven to resort to his famous dropping fader to stop the attack, and the inning ended with Blues on second and third. That danger escaped, the Greens made a coun ter attack, slashing away viciously r.t the first good ball pitched by Krnt. man, hoping to find that great curve pitcher for long- hits before he warmed .up to his work. Two of the Greens reached the bases, bnt Krentzm.-m stopped the attack and after that tfret inning the teams settled to the tarr. the two great pitchers working like ma chines, studying each ball and pitch ing with crafty coolness that- balked the efforts of the best batters. The second and third' innings reeled away with neither team being able to force a run ner to first base. The great crowd, spurred by the spectacle of two master pitchers pitting their brains aad cun ning against the resourceful attacks of the two greatest generals 4n the game, volleyedfapplause after each out. The fourth inning brough t,he first oppor tunity to the Greens. Catching the XBues nappfng for an instant, the Greens opened a sudden bunting attack and by outwitting Ortsefsen. the Bine third basemen, twice, they managed to get runners on the bases, but again, when they seemed to be en the verge ef count ing, Krentxraei. stopped them. The filth inning started with the More Wank, and with three hits for the Greens against one for the Blues. Then came one of those sud den upsets of form that go to make base bail the greatest of all games. Lordney, mst to bet. outguesred, struck late at a ball and roiled an easy bounder down toward second base. Msttison. the substitute infielder, set himself to make the stop and throw, but the ball bounded crooked, struck him on the wrist and before he could recover It Lordney had raced across first base. On the next pitched ball Pent man. crowding the plate, strove to dodge, but the ball struck his shoulder and two runners were cn the paths. Haynes sacrificed, and for the second time Slattery was thrown back upon the defensive. The infield was drawn close to cut ofT the runner at the plate and Slattery. pitch ing as coolly as if In practice, com menced his desperate task of retiring Haynes and holding the other runners on the bases. A scream-of relief from the anxious- crowd' haC.l"the air as Haynes hit a low, weak Use fly straight at Mattison. A WILD yell of warning followed the cream as the watchers saw Pentosan, forgetting all the plate. raciBg toward third base at top speed, his bead down,' bis feet flying, his ears deaf to the warning shouts of Lordney, who was holding third, and of the coach er. In the climax of the game Pentmaa had made the worst blunder of the year. AU that Has necessary to end the inning was for Mattison to catch the easy fly, walk to Hoccnd and complete the double play. Over the screama and hysterical laughter of the overwrought crowd there suddenly arose a shriek of surprise, turn ing to anger. With the baa almost upon. him Mattison suddenly reefed, threw one arm before his face, groped wildly at the air. The bail struck him on the shoulder, rolled on to right field and I-ordncy. sprinting on ahead of the blundering Pentman. crossed the plate Just a step before his erring teammate. The blunder had been turned into an additional score. The dullest in the vast crowd knew that XfatUson bad bees blinded Just as he was about to make the catch. A . sullen, angry roar swept the rapt as aemblage. The pent-vp anger of weeks broke. The crowd stormed and raged, crying for vengeance and net knowing whither to turn to exact it er upon w bom to wreak their fury. With those two runs across the plate Slattery. pitching as if nothing had happened, retired the side. The Blues, fortified with a lead of two runs, scenting victory, played deeper ateiy. The Greens, ralrrmg,. strove to break down the defense, but m vain, and the fifth Inning was dosing when,' of a sudden, a fresh disturbance started at the bach ef the crowded stands, A com motion, commencing at the head of one aisle, spread rapidly as waves spread m
