The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-01

Pinch Hobbs and 1 had made up our
minds to steal the rubber-armed short
stop and the leather-handed catcher
known in the All-Star league as Grabber
Cachook an Turf Finn an in the bosom
of their own Stretchit league as Reacher
Rufe an Hickory Hank; but how we were
to go about it we didn't know. We also
knew they wanted us to stay in Stretchit,
an would keep US there by force if they
could They didn't know we knew, so
that gave us little on EN-. They didn't
suspect YOU see.
SO Pinch DISCUSSES his handwritin' like
a girls an writes this note:
ITO Hickory Hank--by this name alone
| know you, mightiest of men-my star,
my beloved. l have become enamored of
your majestic appearance on the ball
ground, and beg an interview that | may
tell of the great admiration L feel for
one so strong, so handsome.
will you meet me at S this evening
beneath The weeping willow tree by bah
bling Sausage creek? My heart cries for
three. Adieu till then. GLADYS G."
Huh" SAYS /. you threw it in a little,
Pinch. Wots this guy Hank known o
language ike that-enamored an such?
Cross that out an make ii stuck on.
He'll know what that is
So we did. an sent the note by a kid.
Now that's strategy" says Pinch,
making the enemy divide his forces"
Hickory Hank gets the note an near
wrecked the place gettin' shaved an his
best clothes on an a shine en- Decent
butt in his face, and then strolls up to
the weepin willer ABOUT an hour ahead
So We go out, hire a wagon, and Pinch
buys a picture hat an a veil an skirt
woods near the creek. Pinch goes out in
the road an walks down to the meetin'
place an | sneak through the bushes an
Law low behind the tree.
1t was romantic vile it lasted. Gladys
sees her majestic idol waitin an with
a glad cry beats up to him; an he takes
her in his arms an she ketches as fancy
a half-neson on him as any one could do
with skirts on. l jump in with the rope,
an we got him before he can heller. Then
he has my bandanner stuffed in his
mouth an is laid safe in the wagon. while
we go back to the uose to get the other
marveEhim with the rubber arms.
He bein only Pinchs size, We ain I
afraid; so we go right in to where he's
feedin an Pinch says:
Sorry, Reacher. old sport. but we must
be goin We're due in Alfalfa. The ia
nous teams eOin to the bad without U.S.
an we must leave this here vale o. pleas
ure in the Stretchit league an CO.
He said somethin about waitin' TIL
Hank come. "Oh. that's all right" saws
Pinch. just as cold as, thodgn he asked
him to have a drink. Hanks comm
with us Sore you"
So I grabbed him by ;he wrist. Poor
judgment. I should a-took his neck. For
he Just stretched that arm, an the harder
| pulled the further away he got An
then he lust lifted his feet from the floor
an snapped back at me- and very solid
number shoe planted me an | went
down an out.
walked me. The table an chairs an every
thing was a wreck, but the undetermined
marvel was tied fast an breathfn' very
hard Under the table, an Pinch was
smilin as well as a black eye would let
him.
We got the wagon. hiked for the rail-
road got our prisoners into box car
in the dark, started the horse baek nome;
an give a glad sigh as the train. pulled
ont and started for good old Alfalfa and
the Corndroppers' league.
When we got so far we knew our mar
wells wouldn't try to get back, we let EN-
loose and they took it easier than we
thought they would.
had a nice play framed up TO keep YOU
two in the Stretchit league, but now YOU re
goin' to make Us play in the Corndrop-
pers'. I'll tell you what Wen do. we y
PLAY with you there this season, and az
the end we'll take the average of each
play-Stretchit an Aaifalfa-ard if we
beat you, you come back and play sea-
son with us: If you beat us we'll stay
there till we do beat you. is that
"sure" says Pinch and in a breath.
Hold on" says Reacher-or. rather.
| Cachook as we come to know him bet
ter. "Only fielding averages to count,
Battin is barred. We can't beat Home
Run Haggerty at his own game.
| kicked Pinch was half willing TO
give in. but finally we settled it by play
ing a game of pnochle. and they won.
So batting was barred and only fielding
averages counted. And saw Pinch grit
his teeth as though preparing for hard
struggle.
Then everything seemed happy and they
were winning our money. for that lastic-
armed man was wonderful card dealer.
Suddenly our train came TO a stop an