Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-02-14
~ HOWERD FIELDING.
onAPTER II
NE NAME AND FAME or BAxos.
CofyIlght. e

THE NAME Nd FAME OF BANGS.
A little round stone lay in the grass
in that portion Of the Yale baseball
ground which is technically known as
left field. The color of the stone was
blue. Its position was exactly right
and the grass was just long enough
to conceal it, These details had been
arranged by fate with her usual care
and foresight If the stone had not
been round it would have been use
less; and if the grass had not been
c1refully nourished by rain and sun it
would not have concealed the stone,
and somebody would have thrown il
away.
The decisive game between Harvard
and Yale had progressed as FAR as the
last half of the ninth inning. Yale
needed two runs to win. Two Of her
men We're out, and two were on the
bases. Jack Bangs was ut the bat and
responsibility larger than two full
moons rested upon his shoulders. No
body who has not been i'm similar
situation can know how he felt
II on jndiviaupl seith horns and
tail. and carrying blue flag as an evil
dencc of good faith, had risen beside
Jack Bangs with the presidency of the
United States in one hand and "A base
Int in the other, Bangs would have
struck him over the head with his bat
for insulting him with the suggestion
of choice. But that individual did
not rise beside Bangs. Perhaps he was
out in left field watching the little
blue stone.
he
member short Latin prayer which
had once struck him as good thing to
use in desperate emergencies. Fail
ing in this he made several good reso-
buttons. Then he launched the ball.
lie impaired to it peculiar rotary mo-
ton which caused il 10 leap up about
foot just before il got to the batter
This was done for the purpose of de-
Ceiying Bangs So that he would either
strike under the ball or send 1t up into
the air. Bangs bat encountered tho
ball with sound like the crack Of 4
rifle. The sphere scared aloft. A
dreadful dsn of voices rising after it
seemed to buoy ii up All the pretty
girls in blue cried Yale, Yaler But
as many of their brothers as knew the
game We're silent and their hearts were
like lead
The Harvard pitcher felt strong
spasm Of relief. Ills rise" had done f.,
the work. Bangs had hatted Il high
fly. The odds oil that moment were a
Thousand collars To cent against
Yale, for that flT wopld drop into left
field where '.lnfalible" Lee kept
guard for Harvard. The pitcher was
is suse hat Lee would catch the bali
rs ha v;., chat it would not stay up ii
The sky.
Lace had to RIA III d lttle way IL gct
aaaer Tire descending bau III, was
perfectly sure IF it The game was MS
good won. Already the cry at
fiar r seemed is he drowning tie
cry 81 'Yale7 la She tempest of
shouting E distinguished his own
namc wfth remarkable clearncsS. 1t
had rang ont like tlttt before ia many
similar emergencies and "a great cheer
had ALWAYS followed IL lie remem-
eerea saHdcniv that be would never
hear Thar thrilling call again This
waa his fast effort Ia ANY college com
test re had horne tie red u on his
breast Tor four glorious Years, aud this
@as the end Welt though Ii lnsist
como, e eou'd NOT COME better He
0as~cuH IF the aaal opportunity
lie cQaid think Of all THESE things as