The Washington times., 1904-09-25

marked that the adventures we had on
the trip rather laid over anything that
even the famous AlfaIfas had ever done
before, ard the bunch all agreed with
him.
Yes said Josh Hapgood. reachin'
his hand in my pocket an talkin' half o.
my last chaw O. tobacker without even
winkin'. Yes. this trip has made his
try, or, ruther. we've made hist'ry on
the trip. Who'd a thunk. before that
train run away with us, that we'd play
z game backwards with them Delvin
Desert o. Doubledee Chinks an win it,
says he. Who'd a guessed that? An
then that game agin them people with
the steel bats in Crucible-that was
somethin' long to be remembered. When
Hag swatted that poor defenseless ball
with that steel bat an burnt il up you
could fairly hear the sands O. time
singin'. An then when we got to Silver
sand an 1 fingered il out for him how he
was goin' TO make that homer-drive il
down through the dirt cause we
couldn't make it go through the air
why. when we did that / says to myself
that il only needed one more game. an
have Hag knock the ball up to Mars an
hit a guy on the roof. to have it the
greatest trip that ever happened
I Went in a Hurry.
I'VE hit the pike away from Silver
sand in some of a hurry. We had their
money. you know. an they had the pleas
ant memories Of our visit, and there
wasn't any tellin' at what minute the
enraged populace might come after us
with a long rope. So. as I said we Hoped
along. Long about . I'm the afternoon
we came to an old Teller with long wills
kers at the side o the road and he
hailed u.s.
Ball players. eh?' says ne, takin'
his pipe out Of his mouth. Fine lookin'
lot o. bali players YOU are
Welt says Josh. takin a careful
look at the bunch. L don't see no signs
on us announcin' that we are grass eat
ers. How'd you know?
The guys from up SiIversand way
passed the word along. says the Old
man. They don't want you TO git out O.
the country without bein' trimmed.
That's why I'm here. The Gold Canyon
boys sent me down 10 invite you TO come
up an play game.
Just then Pinch Hobbs began to
laugh. He laughed till 1 thought he'd
choke. an then he lay down on the grass
at the roadside and laughed some more
Josh came an bent over the greatest
shOrtstOP that ever lived 70 find out
what was I'D.
Pinch Had His Laugh.
" lie. ha. ha- went Pinch. holdin' his
sides an shalsin' his red head. 'Didn Z
you never hear Of it, This reminds me
-ha Ia. ha.-of the story Of the Little
Gingerbread Boy.
The crowd OF us stood lool1in' sorrow
FUZZY on. Had the greatest shortstop
that ever lived gone bughouse2
% Fer the love o gosh an two cops,
says Josh. disgustedly. viii you sheJ up,
WiIyum Heunery Harrison Hobbs. an
tell us this here thing thai botherin
you? Where does II hurt most?'
Why. don't you remember the Lit
- Gingerbread Boy?' says Pinch. We'll
do I recoTect my Granther. Nathaniel
Green Hobbs. settin' with me on his
lap telIin' that pathetic tale. I've run
away I'm barn fun o thrashers,' he'd
say-an' here Pinch took another connip-
tion an laughed. an laughed an
laughed.
"'Oh. come on. says the little old
man I'm Gold Canyon. Leave him
there an let's be gettin' 20 the bah
game.
Couldn't Leave Pinch.
eve looked at him. Leave Pinch
Hobbs. the greatest shortstop that ever
lived. wrigglin with laughter at the
roadside and go 20 a ball game, The
old feller wilted and we all sat down
10 wait till the great man recovered
which he presently did. and sat up.
Then he looked at Josh an says:
Dent go. Josh says ne. ON my
bendcc knees I implore you. don't GO
d" For why not?' says Josh.
d" Didn't you never hear o. the Little
Gingerbread BOy2' says Pinch.
% y Is, but what I'm thunder has that
got &c do with us pIayin ball in Gold
Canyon sings out Josh, spitefuL
"A hull lot says Pinch. Don't you
remember where he comes up with the
fox and he says. I've run away I'm a
barn full o thrashers. n a field fun o.
mowers. n a COW. an pig, an a little
old woman. an a little old man. an
en- run away from you. can Dom
YOU remember that2
Thought Him Crazy.
eve all nodded. an 7 felt more mys
tilted than ever. What was Pinch comm
to? Had his great brain give way un
der the weight Of his schemes?
Well then. I tell you, says he
that you had better beware. We've go
away with a mine full O. yeller Chinks
an a town full o onmerciful swatter
IN Crucible. an the crowd in SHversan,
an vicinity says he. But this Col
Canyon bunch-look out! Look out o
you'll be sayin', like the Little Ginger
bread Boy did, I'm quarter gone, II
half gone. I'm three-quarters gone. In
ali gone" when the fox swallered him
Look out for the Gold Canyonites o
they'll get you
AT that the little old man I'm u
Gold Canyon way strid over an shoo
Pinch warmly by the hand
q" Young Teller says ne. 4 admir-
you. says he. An still. at the sam
time. I don't want your compliments
the Gold Canyon nine, which Is IN
strongest IN four States and forty
'ieven counties, TO scare your nine ou
o. playin' US.
Couldn't Keep Away.
"Well after that wild horses wouldn'
s-kept US away I'm Gold Canyon 'Yo,