The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-22
GEORGE WILLIAM DALEY.

GEORGE WILLIAM DALEY.
Copyright, 1904, by George William Da-
ley).
sam Merritt. the AIfalfa's big center
fielder who formerly played first base
for the Russetvilles, used to de
light in telling of the adventures him
and Tim McGinnis had the night they
freed a catamOunt up in the mountains
and carried it home In a leather mail
sack. and how Tim taught the cata-
mount to coach, and how it'd get
off first base and rattle all the
Corndroppers' League pitchers with
its unearthly screams and wailings. and
how Russetville won every game.
And then We all knew the rest Of the
story; how one day Pete Brown. in
chasin' a high foul near the right field
bleachers. got mixed up with the bob
cat and planted his No. los on the ami
mails neck. The catamount took to the
woods and never come back. The spikes
on Pete's shoes We're principally 20
blame for that
McGinnis Crafty.
Tim McGinnis we knew as the craft
lest manager in the Corndropper cir
cult, but we used to say he was gettin'
down pretty close to the ground when
he yanked d wild cat in to win his
games. But we didn't know him. AS
Reggie said. there was depths yet low
er which he VOTED not Of: or some col
lege words TO that effect. And so 1t got
nolsed around early one season that Tim
McGinnis had framed Up scheme
whereby the terrific home-run hitting OF
one Haggerty. the star ketcher Of the
league and captain of the Alfalfas
(Which is mel. was to be made null and
void and no use. and the games in Jne
circuit now would be fought out on their
merits without me an the mighty lead
ended bat cuttin' any figger any more.
"Of course. we We're crazy curious to
know how it was TO be done.
1t amt his pitchers. says Merritt
Hes got the same four dead ones he
had last year. n all hands can bat them
bIindfolded'
Strong at the Bat.
He's putin four foot more O.
boards on his center field fence says
Tar Paper Hennessy, our left fielder.
Mebbe that's tt
- Nav, says Lamp Hymes, "taint
that. That's to keep the kids out It's
suthin' bran new. All l know Is that
Tim dcGinnis goes round RussetviIle
all day shakin his head an laughin'
and sayin' It's a bird Of an idea A
bird!"
With all that guessin' you can i'm
agtne how on pins and needles we were
when we struck Russetville on our first
trip just after the season opened that
spring
Il was soalzin' them harder than ever
just then. losin two or three balls every
game and tearin' the hide off'n the
others ! hit. In fact. X come to such a
pass that Josh Hapgood wrote to them
people In New York that make the
league ball and told EN- to quit printin'
Warranted TO Last Nine Full Innings
on EN-. and to change II to 'Guaran-
teed Not to Bust When Haggerty Hits
It.
Tim McGinnis met US at the station
at Russetville when we got In the night
before the first game, and the openin'
saloot he gave to me was: Sorry, nag.
old boy, but we got you down an out
this heat. Them fearful long drives O.
yourn won't do no damage in Russell
Vile no more. It's a bird OF an idea
an with that he doubled up an laugh
ed like he'd crack his throat.
Times Timely Warning.
'Wot you been dom row. Tim? SAYS
Josh. Get a bear coacher TO scare my
pitchers. or another catamount? None
O your delvin' into the depths o. nat
ural history wen you're up agin the Al
falfas'
AT the mention o the bear coacher
and the catamount McGinnis opened his
face and yawped with merriment again
TIL felt like passing him & jolt
e No. no, no.! says he, when h,
come 70. Another think for yourn Nc
bears. no catamOunts How cd them
keep Hays homers from goin' over
into the next township an KILN cows
No. you're wrong. But it's a bird OF ar
idea. A regular birdT
There wasn't anything unusual about
the grounds when we went out the mex
day. and no new Russetville players
Merritt was right about their pitchers
bein' the same easy marks, and we
craned our necks TO see what tie new
idea could be.
The game began with us at bat first
Pinch Hobbs walked out an worried
the pitcher into giyin' him a base. jim
Harrison beat out a bunt, and Pete
Brown drove a liner TO the first base.
man. which he dropped and then didn't
cover first quick enough, and there wer,
three on the bags and me up. AS
picked up my club an walked 70 the
plate a shrill whistle from the Russet
Vile bench, where McGinnis was
startled me.
McGinnis' Tin Whistle.
HE was sittin there with a tir
whistle between his lips an a smile o.
beauty an innocence on his face.
Il couldn't fgger how any sawed
of runt Of a gimpy-legged manager was
a-goin' 20 keep me out O. maxim homers
by sittin on a bench with a. whistle
stuck in his face an toodn' #; and SC
! turned sharp around and picked out
the PLACE where the left field fence was
farthest away and just murdered the
first bali the pitcher put over.
LAS l swung the whistle give two
toots, but ] paid no attention. / just
added a little do-good push to the old
bat for luck. dropped her, and legged IL
20 first. An an l rounded that corner /