登陆注册
37365600000035

第35章 THE KNOCKER(4)

get 'em!'' Indeed the big catcher was the main-stay of the home team.The bulk of the work fell upon his shoulders.Dalgren was wild and kept his catcher continually blocking low pitches and wide curves and poorly controlled high fast balls.

But they were all alike to Carroll.Despite his weight, he was as nimble on his feet as a goat, and if he once got his hands on the ball he never missed it.It was his encouragement that steadied Dalgren; his judgment of hitters that carried the young pitcher through dangerous places; his lightning swift grasp of points that directed the machine-like work of his team.

In this inning Carroll exhibited another of his demon chases after a foul fly; he threw the base-stealing Crane out at second, and by a remarkable leap and stop of McReady's throw, he blocked a runner who would have tied the score.

The Cowboys blanked their opponents in the first half of the ninth, and trotted in for their turn needing one run to tie, two runs to win.

There had scarcely been a breathing spell for the onlookers in this rapid-fire game.Every inning had held them, one moment breathless, the next wildly clamorous, and another waiting in numb fear.What did these last few moments hold in store? The only answer to that was the dogged plugging optimism of the Denver players.

To listen to them, to watch them, was to gather the impression that baseball fortune always favored them in the end.

``Only three more, Dal.Steady boys, it's our game,'' rolled out Carroll's deep bass.How virile he was! What a tower of strength to the weakening pitcher!

But valiantly as Dalgren tried to respond, he failed.The grind--the strain had been too severe.

When he finally did locate the plate Bluett hit safely.Langley bunted along the base line and beat the ball.

A blank, dead quiet settled down over the bleachers and stands.Something fearful threatened.

What might not come to pass, even at the last moment of this nerve-racking game? There was a runner on first and a runner on second.

That was bad.Exceedingly bad was it that these runners were on base with nobody out.Worst of all was the fact that Kane was up.Kane, the best bunter, the fastest man to first, the hardest hitter in the league! That he would fail to advance those two runners was scarcely worth consideration.Once advanced, a fly to the outfield, a scratch, anything almost, would tie the score.

So this was the climax presaged so many times earlier in the game.Dalgren seemed to wilt under it.

Kane swung his ash viciously and called on Dalgren to put one over.Dalgren looked in toward the bench as if he wanted and expected to be taken out.But Pat Donahue made no sign.

Pat had trained many a pitcher by forcing him to take his medicine.Then Carroll, mask under his arm, rolling his big hand in his mitt, sauntered down to the pitcher's box.The sharp order of the umpire in no wise disconcerted him.He said something to Dalgren, vehemently nodding his head the while.Players and audience alike supposed he was trying to put a little heart into Dalgren, and liked him the better, notwithstanding the opposition to the umpire.

Carroll sauntered back to his position.He adjusted his breast protector, and put on his mask, deliberately taking his time.Then he stepped behind the plate, and after signing for the pitch, he slowly moved his right hand up to his mask.

Dalgren wound up, took his swing, and let drive.

Even as he delivered the ball Carroll bounded away from his position, flinging off the mask as he jumped.For a single fleeting instant, the catcher's position was vacated.But that instant was long enough to make the audience gasp.Kane bunted beautifully down the third base line, and there Carroll stood, fifteen feet from the plate, agile as a huge monkey.He whipped the ball to Mahew at third.Mahew wheeled quick as thought and lined the ball to second.Sheldon came tearing for the bag, caught the ball on the run, and with a violent stop and wrench threw it like a bullet to first base.Fast as Kane was, the ball beat him ten feet.A triple play!

The players of both teams cheered, but the audience, slower to grasp the complex and intricate points, needed a long moment to realize what had happened.They needed another to divine that Carroll had anticipated Kane's intention to bunt, had left his position as the ball was pitched, had planned all, risked all, played all on Kane's sure eye; and so he had retired the side and won the game by creating and executing the rarest play in baseball.

Then the audience rose in a body to greet the great catcher.What a hoarse thundering roar shook the stands and waved in a blast over the field! Carroll stood bowing his acknowledgment, and then swaggered a little with the sun shining on his handsome heated face.Like a conqueror conscious of full blown power he stalked away to the clubhouse.

Madge Ellston came out of her trance and viewed the ragged score-card, her torn parasol, her battered gloves and flying hair, her generally disheveled state with a little start of dismay, but when she got into the thick and press of the moving crowd she found all the women more or less disheveled.And they seemed all the prettier and friendlier for that.It was a happy crowd and voices were conspicuously hoarse.

When Madge entered the hotel parlor that evening she found her uncle with guests and among them was Burns Carroll.The presence of the handsome giant affected Madge more impellingly than ever before, yet in some inexplicably different way.She found herself trembling; she sensed a crisis in her feelings for this man and it frightened her.She became conscious suddenly that she had always been afraid of him.

同类推荐
  • 晋阳秋

    晋阳秋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 阵图

    阵图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 遵闻录

    遵闻录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说阿弥陀经义疏

    佛说阿弥陀经义疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 潜夫论

    潜夫论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 这个世界我们都来过

    这个世界我们都来过

    假设人生还有最后七天,你会何去何从?七天,168个小时,10080分钟,就像莎士比亚曾经说过“生存还是死亡,这是个问题!”当我在键盘上敲下这两行文字,我仿佛听到时钟“滴答,滴答”作响,你越是想要挽留时间,它却悄无声息悄悄从你身边滑过,时间对于生命而言,无比珍贵,我多么希望每一秒钟都过得慢一点儿。当生命进入倒计时,你才知道生命的珍贵,我们为什么活着?生命的意义又是什么?每一个人都有不同的答案......
  • 胭脂泪:青青子衿

    胭脂泪:青青子衿

    纳兰容若被赐死了,明珠也被皇上厌弃,整个家族如摧枯拉朽般顿时倾颓,她是名门之后,她是罪臣之女,她从来不想谋得那个男人的万千宠爱,家族已经不能给她庇佑,反倒是连累···不!她一定要活下去!她一定要在这四阖宫墙之下,谋得一处安身之所!
  • 都市见闻传

    都市见闻传

    在如今的繁华都市中,已经很少能再听闻到一些未知或诡异的事件了。今天在这里我就把亲身的一些经历和听闻一一的叙述给各位。
  • 邪王挚爱:狐妖小姐惹不得

    邪王挚爱:狐妖小姐惹不得

    她,冷血“影罗刹”,在一次任务里因背叛而死,穿越到一个刚出生的狐妖公主上。他:乃帝王家的战神王爷,从不近女色。在变强的旅途中,一人一见钟情,一人从不领情。且看他们变强旅途中演出的一场追与被追的好戏...
  • 莫雨风声白月光

    莫雨风声白月光

    狐族公主白月、天族太子风华、魔族太子莫雨三人之间的相爱相杀,闺蜜的背叛,朋友爱着别人的未婚夫,想得到想不到的剧情,尽在莫雨风声白月光。
  • 神探凰妃

    神探凰妃

    堂堂国际刑警女组长竟然穿越回古代,一睁眼竟然发现自己身陷死牢!开什么玩笑,洗冤脱罪顺手收拾所有不待见自己这个庶女的无良亲人,逍遥人间才是正道。可是!死赖自己不放的王爷是怎么回事?想娶自己,别开玩笑了!请拿万里江山来换本妃一纸婚书!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 1988风云再起

    1988风云再起

    这是一个关于80年代末香港热血的故事,有江湖风雨,有社会波澜,有创业艰辛,有收获的喜悦。陆航风起于微末,立足于港岛将商业版图辐射全世界,一步步发展成为世界顶级财阀家族。
  • 残缺的借寿人

    残缺的借寿人

    不是每一个穿越的人都有一具朝气蓬勃的身躯他是21世纪的就要上岗的会计员,本应满怀憧憬地汇入房奴车奴的队列中。可...魂穿之时,正是被人推进龙献崖,当时,他想的是,这梦真短...
  • 肖战你是人间理想

    肖战你是人间理想

    【拒绝任何形式的转载/抄袭/改编】什么是爱情?大概是陪着她一路走来,不计结果,不计成败,哪怕磕磕碰碰,你依然在我身边。“肖战,星河滚烫,你是人间理想.”
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!