The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-29


rative. 1 wake up at 4:30 the next morn
ing with the sunlight just struggling
in the window. and somebody creepin'
| on his hands and knees in the door. 1t
was Pinch Hobbs.
Where in 1 broke out. but he
stopped me-
Called to Account.
Water! Quick" he said. in a voice
that sounded just like Pete Browns does
when ne comes in from a ten-day toot
and feels sorry.
II got the water. gave him drink,
got some ice on his head Crust me for
KNOWN my little book, and then
started in:
a. Pinch Hobbs, says 1, You don't
mean to tell me that the lifelong teach
ing Of a devoted mother and grand
mother and four aunts has gone to
smash just through a sweet-scented
note? Fell me. now. where have you
been?'
"Pincn sat up He looked better.
though his tongue was thick yet.
'Hag,' said he, 's'help me- only took
one drink. and she said it was cordial
water. but L went off my head and acted
looney. and all that 1 remember is that
/ signed a subscription to some church
fair or something; and the girl is a
dream. and she was ashamed at my get
ting affected so by the stuff and had to
serd me home. Do you 'spose she'll hold
It against me?
Il laughed at him. told him he was a
soft guy. and put him to bed. 1 told the
fellows CT the good joke on Pinch. and
they. laughed, and we went out TO morn
ing practice and left him snoring. But
a sad awakening awaited us.
Pulled the Agreement.
when we came out on the diamond
to practice that afternoon before the
game there was the president OF the
Cloverdale5 and all his cohorts waiting
for us. Josh Hapgocd was Immediately
shown paper which said that Pinch
Hobbs thereby agreed to play ball for
the Cloverdale club for the considera-
ton. and so forth. and Josh was fab
bergaste1. lie asked Pinch how about It.
&c I don't know said Pinch. scratch
ing his head. That's my signature. all
right. but how they could a got it 1
can't tell-unless-' and he stood there
stammering.
." You pink-headed fool! 1 hollered.
Don't you see what you've done? This
here Gladys you chased after last night
/
business. Oh. you prize easy mark. You
ought to 20 back couplin' freight cars.
You are a Rube. Here you've signed
away your chance Of winning this year
for a woman's smile
Your birthright for a mess O. pot
tage, says Josh. very solemnly. Josh
was always right there with the book
words when they were needed.
e What can / do? says Pinch, trou-
bled and sick lookin' 4 don't want to
, play with that gang Of Knockers
Hapgood to Rescue
Josh Hapgood walked up to the
Cloverdale manager.
I" I amt sayin' nothin as to the
snealnn' way you get my men wIJ never
tasted drop of liGuor in their lives to
sign your papers, Kissed he, dramatic
as all-hredness. 'NOthin' about the be-
dizened JeZebel which lured this young
man. who knows nothin' OF the danger
Of the light that lies In woman's eyes,
from the path Of his duty. But / do
say, and here he pulled a paper from
his pocket. that / have a prior contract
with William Henry Harrison Hobbs,
agreeing to play shortstop for my team
tins year. and it can't be broken unless
he asks for his release. Do you want
your release. Pinch?
No. says Pinch. quick, with a nudge
from me TO help IT along. / didn't know
but that the bedizened JezebeIs cordial
might still be jumbling his wits.
But the Cloverdales had a lawyer
present and he got at the TWO contracts.
and he said after a long powwow that
the business OF Pinch's consent didn't
go al all; that the prior Alfalfa contract
was good SO far as II made Pinch play
shOrtstOp for US, but he'd have to bat,
coach. and run bases for the Clover
dales. Nobody but a fool lawyer could
have made any decision like that What
lawyers don't know about basebalFd iii
the biggest library you ever saw.
A Valuable Man.
But Pinch was such valuable man
that the managers consented. Josh was
afraid he might lose all o. Pinch in
stead O half Of him. and the Clover
dales were glad to get what they did
and hoped to get Judge the next day
to hold that their contract was good
all the way through.
$50 the game was started and Pinch
batted first for Cloverdale He knocked
out lightning grounder and beat 1t 10
first He stole second. sliding under
Johnny Harrison's legs like a streak,
though. OF course. I got the throw down
In time. lie got third on a steal too.
and came home on a wild pitch. That
was great ball playing. and the crowd
yelled over him. They didn't yen the
next minute. though, when he ran out
to finish up the inning at short for us |
He pulled off a double-play on the first
ball Knocked TO him. and then made
high-twisting jump for a liner to make !
the third out
and so II went for the entire game |
Pinch batted for them, making a nit |
every time he got up, and for as he was
all over the held-knocking down ground !
ers grabbing liners out OF the air, and !
gObblng up flies. When the ninth In
ming came we were one run ahead |
thanks 10 his effective fielding and de- |
spite his exertiOns with the bat
A Brilliant Play.
And then came the play that eclipsed |
everything and that makes Hobbs an !
execrated name I'm Cloverdale
The man ahead o Pinch, after two |
were out. made a scratch two-bagger, !
and the crowd began to holler. for they |
knew who was up next.
Pinch dropped his glove at short, |
trotted in. picked up his bat and stood |