Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-02-18
THE GAME WAS LOST.
AND 4,2 POUNDS OF BASEBALL IDOL
WAS SHATTERED.


,,rhtsoot Lilies Club Ms"c"'
when la an Ill Advised Mo"e"'
They Told. Him to slide.
"v.u why is 1t you never played
baseball YOURSELF" asked q latter uay
finn of the very stout man sitting 10
tho corner. "You say you were Tue
mascot for the famous Lightfoot Lilies
Of Jones county. and yet. with TIE eA-
cepton of the time that they put you
IN TO force the winning run III the 'h'r'
tn.ntl, nv being hit in the stomach
van never seem to have PLACED your
s.lf After such successful daring were
YOU never asked to play again! doh
quite understand
The stout man gaZed at the speaker
searchingly for a few minutes anu
then. apparently satisfied that the ques-
tons were asked in good faith' proceed
cd to unfold the one dark shadow 10
his otherwise sunny life.
"Iaye YOU never heard?" he began.
"Then now you shall hear, ana, though
I think no blame should rest with me,
you yourself shall Judge OF that. Lis-
teu. You have already referred to the
contest in which l forced the winning
run owing to the pitchers inability to
nut the ball over the plate without
striking my corporation. This, l DE-
licvc. was due to a law OF physics
which states that but one body can &C.
cupy the same space ut the same time
or words to that effect. But, whatever
the cause. | acquired reputation for
high class baseball second to zone In
Jones county and at once got regular
position on the team. My figure being
my stock In trade, Captain Slugger
Burrows of the Lightfoots spared no
pains in bringing me to physical per-
lection before the next game with the
Koarers. Under carefully selected
diet of beer, butter. lard, potatoes and
cod liver oil rapidly rose from mea-
ger 800 pounds to the magnificent fg'
IRE of Alp.
For the first eight innings of the
great contest, which ultimately proved
my downfall, fully sustained my en-
vialle reputation for artistic ball play.
ing. Three times the bases were full,
with the Roarers one run In the van.
Three times l proved the Lightfoots'
sal, alton by forcing the tieing run by
means of my superior figure. Three
times the home rooters Wed with one
another in futile attempts to pay me
suitable homage. l was truly more
than queen. And then that fatal ninth,
with its brimful cup of gumless bitters!
Four hundred and twelve pounds of
shattered idol!
"In the last half of the ninth l reach.
cd first through my customary strategy.
Later |. succeeded in gaining third by
a daring bit of base running while the
Roarers' fielders were searching for
bull Thompson's liner on. the other
side Of the center field fence. Sammie
Salmon and one Of the Foote twins
There we were: Ringtail Roarers, II;
Eghtfoot Lilies, 1G; two out. Thomp
son and yours truly on second and
third bases respectively and the in.
vincible Home Run Hankins at the
hat. All were breathless with sus-
rense. The pitcher swung his arm
back slowly, and then, swish, bang!
Home Run Hankins never missed his
aim. struggled bravely toward the
plate, and in less time than it takes to
tell it Thompson was at my back push.
ing violently. doubled my efforts. A
moment later Hankins himself caught
up and Joined in the single file 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 fiveI
feet from the plate. with Thompson
and Hankins still dancing at my heels.
Then suddenly voice rose clearly
above the others. SLID, Willie. slide! |
1t rang out. Oh. fatal words!"
At this point the fat ex-mascot was
overcome by emotion and stopped
short. 1t was some minutes before he |
could pull himself together sufficiently |
~ So VII WIFI Ills SUI StOCN.
We'll" he said at last, 81 slid Div.
ng gracefully forward. | slid nicely
calculated slide that brought my chest
directly above the rubber. But the en-
lluslasm this occasioned among the
lilies was short lived.
"'Touch the plate, you fool; touch the
'lateH Bull Thompson and Hankins
'elled together.
Nov. would you believe 1t. sir, try
IS | would couldn't. My corporation
'ad been entertained. Lying face down.
was so high from the ground that my
rms would not reach the plate.
Rock me' | cried. Rock mer
Rock youy' Bull Thompson roared.
Rock you? Wen rock you. stone you.
gg you. and-touch that plate, dye
learT
Rock me- pleaded, with tears
n my eyes You don't understand.
toek me like you would a rocking
orse. Tilt me. can't touch bottom
" Twas too late. While had been
xplaining my predicament to those
lockheads. the Roarers' fielders found
ne ball. and-er-well. we lost. After.
'ard told Captain Slugger Burrows
ow IT happened and begged for lust
ne more chance. No use. He said
nat any fool with my shape ought tot
ave sense enough to slide on bis back
nd tllat-but say, honest lntun. now.
o you think I was In any wav tn
lampW-NnVu VorL S,,,, ,