Chapter I: Front Matter

The Rambler Club's
Ball Nine

BY W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD

AUTHOR OF

"THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB'S WINTER CAMP"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB'S GOLD MINE"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB'S AEROPLANE"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB'S HOUSE-BOAT"
"THE RAMBLER CLUB'S MOTOR CAR"

Illustrated by the Author

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
MCMXIII

COPYRIGHT
1913 BY
THE PENN
PUBLISHING
COMPANY

Introduction

The Rambler Club of Kingswood, Wisconsin, formed by Bob Somers and his friends, Dave Brandon, Tom Clifton, Dick Travers and Sam Randall, after having numerous adventures in their own state, visit Oregon, Wyoming, Washington and New York. In the mountains, on the plains, or deep amidst the forest the five lads taste the joys, and also the trials, of outdoor life, and in most unexpected or thrilling situations manage to acquit themselves with credit. In the East, a house-boat trip up the Hudson furnishes the club an eventful journey, while on a motoring trip from Chicago to Kingswood another series of surprising and unusual events befall them.

The adventures of the Rambler Club are told in the following books: "The Rambler Club Afloat," "The Rambler Club's Winter Camp," "The Rambler Club in the Mountains," "The Rambler Club on Circle T Ranch," "The Rambler Club Among the Lumberjacks," "The Rambler Club's Gold Mine," "The Rambler Club's Aeroplane," "The Rambler Club's House-Boat" and "The Rambler Club's Motor Car."

Now the lads are back at the Kingswood High School, from which they will graduate at the end of the term. Fired with an ambition to put new life into the athletic affairs of the school, Bob Somers and his friends take a hand and work some surprising changes. Their zeal and enthusiasm are further aroused by a certain offer made to the school by the town's most wealthy citizen, Mr. Rupert Barry.

"The Rambler Club's Ball Nine," however, greatly to the boys' astonishment, becomes the means of plunging the entire school into the most turbulent period of its existence. No one can foresee the outcome of the factional struggle until it is ended in a manner quite as surprising as the disturbance itself.

When the atmosphere finally clears observing students of the "High" feel that they have learned many valuable lessons.

W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD.

Contents

I. THE NEW BALL FIELD

II. MR. BARRY

III. THE "RETREAT"

IV. THE LIST OF PLAYERS

V. THE GRUMBLERS

VI. THE FIRST GAME

VII. FOUR TO NOTHING

VIII. DISCOURAGEMENT

IX. MR. BARRY ASKS QUESTIONS

X. THE "FEARLESS" ARRIVES

XI. GOOD BASEBALL WEATHER

XII. "FOR THE GOOD OF THE SCHOOL"

XIII. THE CHALLENGE

XIV. REBELLION

XV. A DECISION

XVI. TOM IS "RATTLED"

XVII. BENNY WINS A NOTE-BOOK

XVIII. THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS

XIX. THE VERDICT OF THE SCHOOL

XX. THE WISH OF THE MAJORITY

XXI. ROCKVILLE IS PUZZLED

XXII. PLAIN TALK

XXIII. BOB SCORES AT LAST

XXIV. THE "HOPES" ARE BLASTED

Illustrations

"GET RIGHT BACK TO YOUR PLACE"

"IT'S FOR THE GOOD OF THE SCHOOL"

"WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE BALL NINE?"

"I KNOW YOUR GAME"

THE SOAP BOX WAS SHOVED VIOLENTLY

The Rambler Club's Ball Nine