THE CRICKET IN DYKE HOLE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1634, 28 December 1912, Page 12

THE CRICKET IN DYKE HOLE.

How thoy play ordoket "ea«t ol tie Kookica" is told in a masterful tkotcn by Mr. Eiduwcl] Cullum in the "Odd Volume." A young English 'Varsity cricketer is bailed up by the plainsmen and, at the point of tho revolver, is forced to play for Dyko Hole in tho annual match acaJnst Spawn City. Tho Sheriff, with a belt Ml of pistols, umpires art. one end, and Joe Ifakaw— "tho deaxlest son of a thief who over drawed a bead"—officiates at the other. The Englishman, who had been made captsunr-aJso at the point of tho pistol —tells the story.

We took the field. It was a motley craw I lad to the wicket. I looked for signs of tho sjiort whioh the Sheriff bad boasted to be in the "boys." But thero was no sign of it in their 'liang-dog faces. I playfully threw a catch to Bob Gauvin as wo went. But the effort was wasted. He lot tlio ball pass him without removing his hands from his pockets, and angrily asserted that I was "kind o' gettin' gay." I candidly confess these boys wore an offencs to any true cricketer. They moved as though they'hated themselves only ono degree less than they hated each other, and begrudged the necessary ' energy to do so. . There was no "gate" to speak of. The Spawn City mon stood about on the outskirts of the ground, and seemed to be occupied in an endeavour to conceal the fact that they wore looking on. Tho task of disposing my field was one that involved much pationce. No matter whoro I placed the mon they promptly gathered in twos and threes and glared hungarily at the littlo crowd at the saloon, whore the weird Spawn City eleven were congregated. After a while I gave it up and went over to Sladio Joyce, the wicketkeeper. I was not keen to talk, but my own thoughts were not comforting. He waa examining his guns with the care of an export. "You'll stand back to my bowling," I suggested' amiably. He didn't troublo to look up. . "How's that?" "Well, you won't be able to stop thom without gloves," I 6aid, "Pshaw! That don't cut no figger. Tho Sheriff don't count no runs 'less the feller hits the ball."

"Yes, but— —" I began. But he out me short contemptuously. "Say. tho Sherjff knows the rules. Ho fixed tnem. lie's Sheriff." Turning away a little hopelessly, I encountered Gauvin, my fellow, bowler. "I 'lows you're bpwlin' fast?" ho began insinuatingly. 1 . . - I nodded.

"Guess I'll send 'em down gentle, then. Sort o.' per-suade 'em wi' teasers." I smiled, and ho responded with a seat grin of cunning, "ilebbe they'll hit at 'em," he went on, "then the Sheriff '11 fix 'em. Y' see he's Sheriff." . • 1

I began to realise that the Sheriff was more than Sheriff ; lio was the wholo game. At that moment the Sheriff himself came upon the Bcene, And I narrowly escaped the danger of laughing outright. Ho was encased in. a strange, white, homo-made coat with the long skirts tucked up to avoid impeding his movements. Bound his waist was a belt weighted, down with a whole arsenal of weapons and ammunition. He was accompanied by another man similarly clod, whom I didn't recognise. And I turned to Sladie for enlightenment. "That's 360 Makaw, the dep'ty Sheriff, he replied simply. "Ho's tho deadest shot in tho county. Nor could I help smiling at the manner of the description. And now the game began. I had no enthusiasm.. A "gun-park" wasnt in it with that field. It bristled with instruments, of death and destruction. Tho batsmen surprised me. Their eyes were true,' due, no doubt, to their baseball training. They smote, and emote hard, cross-bat' always. We had bowled several overs, and the runs came fast off Gauvin's "teasers." ,But no wickets fell until my third over. I was just beginning it when the Sheriff, who had been steadily getting restive, whispered to me in a stage aside. "Hit him a boost on his leathers, he said impatiently. • I had already found it wisest to obey, when .the Sheriff commanded, so I sent a fast ono down outside the leg. stump. It hit tlio batsman's top-boot a resounding whack. ■ Sladie Joyce stopped the ball and the Sheriff's voice iang out:"Out!" , ; , "But *' I exclaimid. "Ther' ain't no argyment, said the Sheriff.. "Out!" ' , ■ The batsman made no move to go._ cut the Sheriff was equal, to tho occasion. "Hout!" he roared, so fiercely that the man slunk off muttering. But the Sheriff heard him, and,:in.a moment, he crossed over and thrust his lean face into his. "Guess I sed you was 'out,' he purred. And the muttering ceased, and the man hurried on to join his friends at the saloon, where a murmur of disapproval at once arose. ■ The Sheriff came back to me. _ "Say," he remarked, while hiß wild eyes wandered pensively in the direction of ths saloon, "aii; you playin fer Spawn "Of oourse not,". I returned hotly, ''"Wal, you jest git Tight on hnmpin' (hat ball. I'm runnin' this lay-out The next batsman got the benefit of my temper. I pasted a not one at him. He made a wild slash at it fully a second after his wickets had been strewn around Sladie Joyce. As he Tehred the Sheritt s face lit with a smug look-of satisfaction. "Kep right on, boy, things 11 git busy aftcrawhiles," he said, with a withering glance in the direction of the saloon. But the next over a fresh factor be o an to work. Gauvin, whose bowling liad been knocked abjut a great deal, was furious at his ill-succeES. Now he started to throw. The ball cauie whizzing dangerously down the wicket. In an excess of zeal the Dejjuty Sheriff the other end "no-ballod nim. io my astonishment the Sheriff displayed no resentment. The next was "no-ball," but, unluckily, the batsman dodged out of its way and it scattered roared th® Sheriff promptly. The batsman turned. "Say, it wus a gorl durned no-ball ! he cried fiercely. ; The/ Sheriff went up to the wicket. "I'll ast you a reasnble question, said ho, looking squarely into the fellow s face. "Is them sticks up, or is, tliey "Down, o' course, but that "Wal, said the Sheriff, m his suavest tones, "that bein' so I 'lows you re out. Mebbe you'll va-cate. There was a moment of suspense. Ihe man looked at the Sheriff, 'lhen he looked at the stumps and finally at the Sheriff's face again. And lie seemed to see something there wluch helped him to a decision. He quietly shouldered his bat and moved off. I couldn't keep silent any longer. Sheriff or no sheriff that umpires bare-faced swindling was disgraceful. I stepped up t0 "Look here," I said porsuasively, "we can beat them without resorting to extreme measures. Give them a t chance. "Chanco? Say, you re talton foolish. There ain't no 'chance' when a feller'? °"When he's 'out,'" I said meaningly. enough to let him see my temper. , . .. ''Well, if jou don t play fair I shall clear out," I blurted at him. I cannot describe the look he favoured me "with. , .. .„ ' "Say, you're here to lick them critturs an' mind your bizuess, which I'm here to mind mine." , But mv anger outran my judgment. "It seems to. mo you can get on just as well without me," I remarked bittho Sheriff, would not ruffle. "Wal, that's as mebbe,'* he said with-' out the least'resentment, "I 'lows we've learnt the same some. Howsum, you're goin' to kep right on playin'." His eyes wero fixed on tho saloon, where Spawn ' City were congregated. Tlwro was a curious light in them; half savage, half speculative. But he went on talking. "Y'seo that feller's 'wanted' fer liossstealin', way back in Wyomin', an' ther ain't no use to encour'ge his like." Then suddenly the man's whole manlier changed. His face lit up and his terrible eves sparkled, and I looked over at tho saloon to ascertain the cause. A man was walking towards.us. I noticed ho hod no bat. Bob Gauvin, standing next to. me, said something under his breath. Not catching it I questioned him. "What did you say?" T , , "Gee! Ef it nin t mm. It s Tricksy. 'Tricksy' James," lie murmured in awed tones. "I ain't see him but meet, but I'd know him sure. It's him," £'.Who la bar-

"Say, he'o the worsest 'tough' this eido o' the Rockies. Tho Sheriff's bin layin fer him; an' ther's throe thousand reward on him alive. Guess this is tho Sherift s 'bluff.' Arizona's up agin a tidy proposition." Tho fellow throw a doubtful glanoe in tho Sheriff's direction. I. too, glanced at him. Andi what I beheld set my pulses beating fevorishly. Tho Sheriff knorr the man, I felt sure, and, if my judgment were sound, had been waiting for this moment all along. But I had no time for further speculation, for, at' that instant, tho Sheriff a voice muttered in my ear. j "Pick 'em up easy. Do it casual. Ail — use 'em when I say." While he was speaking something fell dully on the ground at his feet. I promptly sat down as though to rest invseli. And when tho desperado came up with his insolent swagger I scrambled to my foot, having picked up a pair of light, leathercovered shackles. I freely confess that as I gazed on the squinting driver of the mule team, for that was the man who stood before us, my heart was thumping with apprehension. It was a terrible moment of suspense. For relief I glanced round tho field. The boys were standing around unoonoernedly, and even that dead shot Joe Makftw was lying prone upon his back at the other wicket. I felt that I wanted to shout and warn everybody. Then tho Sheriff's voice brought me to myself. . , Sa7> mister, ain't you forgot your batf he criedi oheerily. His unconcern sent a chill down my baok. ~ , , "Tricksy" Jamea had halted about ten paces from us. Hie boyish face was hard and eat. His squinting eye glittered as it quivered in its socket. "Guess not," he replied coldly. 'I ain't takin' on no fool game like erioket. i'vs jest como right along wi' a word from the boys. They're feelin' ter'ble sick that Dyke Hole ain't got no more manners than to set a hog of a Sheriff to do their dirty work, They ain't bavin' no more o' his bluff. Ther's be a decent citizen, ef . ther' is one in Dyke Hole, to umpire, or we quit."^ ■ I had never seen the Sheriff to betteT advantage than at that moment. jHe waa 60 ,quiet, eo c-asv; but lie oould not hide the tigerish smile that played, about his mouth. "Say," ho replied, ''that's real fancy talk. But I'd jest like to ray ther' ain't none o' Dyke Hole up agin the law —jest now. An' so we ain't no use fer orgyfyin' the rights o' cricket'wi' no pirates. Ef we want to talk to sech ecum as 'Tricksy James, we talk sudden an' sharp." And ns ha finished he slapped his hanc) on the butt of one of' his several guns. Then happened tho quickest thing I've over seen in my life. Even now I cannot disentangle the happenings of that moment. All I know is, two shots rang but, and I saw 'TricksyV revolver drop from his hand, and I heard the Sheriffs raucous voico shouting to me, "on hp, boy!" And I found myself again implioitly obeying. <1 fairly hurled myself at the task, nor did I pause to think of any possibilities. My struggle with "Tricksy" James, big and strong as he was, waa childi's play. Besides he was wounded. He was down, and, after a few vain struggles on hi 9 part, I snapped tho shackles on his wrists. Then, for no reason of which I was conscious, everything became a blank to me. - I was severely wounded in the head by a glancing bullet. And a month elapsed before I heard from the Sheriff's lips tho details of what followed my unconsciousness. ' It was a fight to the death. But the men of Dyke Hole won. And the finish was a sort of rearguard action all the way to Spawn City, whither the remnants of the visiting team fled. The Sheriff, tho object and centre of the whole attack, seems to have borne a charmed, life. He led the victors all through and escaped scathless. After many ineffectual attempts on tho Sheriff's life this, was Spawn City's culminating plot, the details of which, in some mysterious way, tlie Sheriff had possessed himself of. Ho had made himself the terror of the evil-doorS of Spawn City, and, in desperation, they, bribed the ono man whom they believed, capable of the task to come over find murder himBut with his foreknowledge the Sheriff had forced their hands. Working in concert with. Joe Malcaw, the deadliest shot in the country, he, aggravated them, and drew their champion out into the open, where, by pre-concerted arrangement, .lie had him at his mercy. It was Joe's shot .that wounded and disarmed the man, fired on a signal from his chief, and,_ requisitioning me for the task of securing him, the Sheriff left himself free to conduct the battle which he knew would, follow. The Sheriff had arranged an ingenious trap into which the plotters f$ headlong, but, oven 60, it was only a man of the Sheriff's invincible courage that could have carried it out. . I also incidentally heard the truth ot the original "commandeering" of myself. And it revealed to me an unexpected side to the Sheriff's character. What he did was ramplv for the purpose of saving a "green" youngster from the demons of Spawn City. He heard my story, and saw at once my danger. My cricketing would have brought me to Dyke Hole. I should have been on the side of murder, with no telling what after-oonsemiences. Thus, because he had a kindly spot somewhere deep down in his fierce heart, he forcibly Bought to help me. That was why they made me play at the revolver s point. Ii conclusion let me say I shared in the reward for the man-killing "Tricksy, ■who was hanged in due course. And thus ends the storv of the memorable cricket match which brought about with the notorious Sheriff of ®yke Hole County. •