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