Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-02-20
THE GAME WASLOST.
AND az POUNDS or BASEBALL IDOL
WAS SHATTERED.

fan Of the very stout man sitting In
the corner. "You say you we're the
mascot for the famous Lightfoot Lilies
OF Jones county. and yet. with the ex.
ception Of the time that they put you
In 10 force the winning run In the thlr.
tenth by being hlt In the stomach.
you never seem 10 have played your.
self. After such successful daring were
you r Iiasked 10 play again. don't
quite 'rstand"
IT. PIT man gazed at the speaker
seaJN rs Tor a few minutes and
the 7 ,Arently satisfied that the ques.
tionst re asked In good faith. proceed
ed 10 unfold the one dark shadow in
his otherwise sunny life.
Have you never heardT' he began.
Then now you shall hear. and. though
think no blame should rest with me.
you yourself shall Judge Of that Lis
ten. You have already referred to the
contest In which forced the Winning
run owing 10 the pitchers inability to
put the hail over the plate without
striking my corporation. This, I be-
lieve. was due 10 a law Of physics
which states that but one body can oc-
cupy the same space NJ the same time
or words 10 that effect But. whatever
the cause ! acquired "A reputation for
high class baseball second 10 none In
Jones county and az once got n regular
position on the team. My figure being
my stock IN trade. Captain Slugger
Burrows Of the LightfOots spared no
pains In bringing me 10 physical per-
fection before the next game with the
Roarers. Under a carefully selected
diet Of beer. butter. lard. potatoes and
cod liver oil rapidly rose from a mea-
ger 800 pounds to the magnificent hg.
ure Of Az.
For the first eight innings Of the
great contest. which ultimately proved
my downfall. fully sustained my en-
viable reputation for artistic ball play
ing Three times the bases were full.
with the Roarers one run In the van.
Three times proved the Lightfoots'
salvation by forcing the tieing run by
means Of my superior figure. Three
times the home rooters We'd with one
another 10 futile attempts 10 pay me
suitable homage I was truly more
than queen. And then that fatal ninth.
with It's hrimful cup OF gumless bltters!
-Four hundred and twelve pounds OF
shattered idol!
"In the last half OF the ninth I reach.
ed FIRST through my customary strategy.
Later succeeded In gaining third by
a daring BIT Of base running while the
Roarers felders were searching for
Bull Thompson's liner on the other
side Of the center field fence. Sammlc
Salmon and one Of the Foote twins
died easy deaths on inheld pop dies.
There we were: Ringtail Roarers. II;
Lightfoot Lilies. 10; two out. Thomp.
son and yours truly on second and
third bases respectively and the In
yinclble Home Run Hankins at the
bat All were breathless with sus-
pense. The pitcher swung his arm
back slowly. and then. swish, bang.
Home Run Hankins never missed his
aim. struggled brayely toward the
plate and In less time than Il takes 20
tell Il Thompson was At my back push.
Ing violently. doubled my efforts. A
moment later Hankins himself caught
up and Joined In the single Ole struggle
for home and victory. Twas do or
die. and the people were like lunatics
In their Wild excitement. Spurred on
by their cheers. | was soon but i've
feet from the plate. with Thompson
and Hankins sin dancing az my heels.
Then suddenly a voice rose clearly
above the others. slide. Willie. slide!
II rang out Oh. fatal wordsr
AZ this point the Fat ex-mascot was
overcome by emotion and stopped
short Il was some minutes before he
could pull himself together sufficiently
TO go on with his sad story.
Wen" be said at last. u slid. Div.
Ing gracefully forward. I slid a nicely
calculated slide that brought my chest
directly above the rubber. But the en-.
thuslasm this occasioned among the
Lilies was short lived.
Touch the plate, you fool: touch the
plate" Bull Thompson and Hanklns
yelled together.
Now. would you believe Il. sir. try
A. ! would ! couldn't. My corporation
had been overtrained. Lying face down.
was 80 high from the ground that my
arms would not reach the plate.
"'Rock meF cried. Rock meF
Rock your Bull Thompson roared.
Rock your Wen rock you. stone you.
ngg you, and-touch that plate, dye
hearY
Rock me- pleaded. with tears
In my eyes. You don't understand.
Rock me like you would a rocking
horse. Tilt me. can't touch bottom
Twas too late. While had been
explaining my predIcament TO those
'lockheads. the Roarers' fielders found
he ball. and-er-well. we lost. After.
ward told Captain Sluggcr Burrows
low Il happened and begged for just
ne more chance. No use. lie said
hat any fool with my shape ought to
ave sense enough 10 slide on his back
md that-but say, honest lnJun. now.
10 you think was In any way to
.lamer-New York sun.
No Interference.
Burglar Suddenly confronted by