Finally it had become Spring and that had effect on every Cartwright. But especially on Hoss and his nephew Mitch. Hoss was always in the mood for a game with his nephew. Even though the eldest lost nine out of ten times from the youngest.
Because Mitch would get a baseball for his last birthday but it wasn’t on time the boy was allowed to buy the ball later of his father Adam Cartwright. That happened that certain afternoon in Virginia City. Hoss was so well to accompany the boy.
The whole ride to town Mitch was silent which made his uncle worried.
“Mitchy, is there something? You are so quiet. I am not used to that of you”, Hoss said at a certain moment.
“There is nothing. I just don’t feel like talking”, replied Mitch.
Though he had laughing eyes which caused more worries for Hoss. Finally they rode into town. They stopped at the General Store and dismounted. The horses got hitched where after the gentlemen went inside. The shopkeeper, Dan Miller, saw them coming.
“What can I do for you?”, he asked.
“My father had ordered a baseball for me last year. We had heard that it had finally arrived. So I come to pick it up now”, said Mitch.
Dan went to look for the shopping and came back a moment later with a small box.
“Mitch Cartwright?”, he asked he.
Mitch nodded.
“This is for you. Your father had already paid for it”, said Dan.
“Thanks”, said the youngest Cartwright.
He opened the box and found 4 baseballs in. There came a smile on his face. Hoss knew that look far too well.
“Are you coming home?”, asked Hoss.
Mitch closed the box and walked along with his uncle.
Outside Mitch asked, “Uncle Hoss, are we going home so we can play baseball there with Cody?”
“After I have shown you how excellent I can hit. You ain’t the only one in the family with baseball talent”, replied Hoss.
Worried Mitch got a ball and gave it with reluctance to his uncle.
“I do get it back, don’t I?”, Mitch asked for the security.
“Of course you get it back”, said Hoss.
He got his rifle and held it with the barrel. Here after the ball got thrown and with his rifle Hoss hit the ball away. The round object flew through the empty streets and came through a window inside. Hoss and Mitch were very amazed when they saw where the ball had flown into.
The building where the baseball had flown into was the office of sheriff Roy Coffee. He was at work when the ball came flying in. Deputy Clem Foster heard the smashing of the glass and came to the office.
“What was that?”, he asked amazed.
He and Roy looked around and saw the ball lying.
“A baseball. That must be of Mitch Cartwright for sure. Well, his father shall recieve a big fat bill because his dearest son went to play baseball in town”, said Roy.
“I shall arrest the boy”, said Clem.
He went outside and saw the Cartwrights coming towards him.
“Mitch, did you hit that ball inside?”, asked the deputy.
Hoss and Mitch looked at each other and the eldest said, “Well Clem, do you know who has done it? The butler.”
“The butler has done it? Since when is there a butler here in Virginia City?”, Clem asked unbelieveable.
“Since uncle Hoss hit that ball inside. He wanted to show that he can hit a ball inside só well”, Mitch told.
“You get the lovely thanks for this announcement!”, Hoss said indignant to his nephew.
“So your uncle has done it instead of the butler? Well Hoss, I have plenty of room for you to think about the good example you have just given to your nephew”, said the deputy.
Hoss got the handcuffs on and taken away to the cells. Mitch thought it was very amusing but did walk along. Even if it was to get his ball back. Roy too didn’t believe the excuse of the butler and locked Hoss up in the cell.
“What do we do with you?”, Clem asked Mitch.
“Uncle Hoss is responsible for me”, replied the young Cartwright.
“I am going to get your grandpa and then he can solve it. You stay here”, said Clem.
So said, so done.
Ben Cartwright sat outside on the porch reading the newspaper when the deputy arrived.
“Clem, what are you doing here?”, the rancher asked amazed and worried at the same time.
“Your son Hoss has put us up with your grandson. Hoss probably tried to an impression on the boy because he hit a ball through the window of the office of Roy”, replied Clem.
“Mitch knows that he may not play baseball to near a house or a building. Joseph gave him that bad example and now does Hoss it. I go along to help Hoss out of trouble”, said Ben.
He got up and got his horse.
Meanwhile Mitch kept Roy unmeaningly from his work.
“Sheriff, do you know what the advantage is of a new window?”, Mitch asked suddenly.
“Tell me that for once”, said Roy.
“Then it is clean again and you can look through it better”, replied the young Cartwright.
“I guess your father is away for business that your uncle Hoss had come along with you?”, asked Roy.
Mitch nodded.
“I already had that idea. Why don’t you go and look if your uncle is still there?”, the sheriff asked sighing.
Mitch went cheerful to the cells where Hoss still was.
“Uncle Hoss, are you going play along baseball?”, asked the boy.
“No!”, was the answer.
“Why not? It is lovely weather”, said Mitch.
“Thanks to you I am here now”, replied Hoss.
“Then you shouldn’t hit into that window”, Mitch said where after he left.
Ben and Clem arrived in hurry-scurry in Virginia City. In the office Ben heard exactly what had happened. Of course the rancher wasn’t pleased with it.
“Just let him free. I think that Hoss has been punished enough and my beloved grandson shall remind him of his arrest for a long time”, said Ben.
“Knowing Mitch he shall do that much and often too”, said Roy.
Clem went to the cells and said, “Hoss, thanks to your father you are free now. So you may go.”
Hoss went away as a spear and avoided his nephew as much as possible that day. Mitch though got his ball back.
Ben took Mitch home while the boy told everything in detail. The rancher knew that Hoss had learned his lesson anyway.