Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-06

element that made men SILVER. though
the sun was shining hot from the ',lcar
SKY OF June Overhead at least Yalr's
color was dominant. for the sky was a
deep blue from horizon 10 horizon
from glances at the soiled lighters OF Tho
diamond and rom Jerome's enl!ghtcninr
comments and soft-voiced anathemas 1
gathered that matters were going hard
with Harvard. The eighth Inning had
ended amid prodigious excitement with
Harvard last at the bat
Ihat was steal" Jerome was whs-
pering softly. He rubbed his palms to-
gether and swung forward in his scat, his
shoulders hunched and his head out
thrust. "Oh. that was a steal!'
He touched my arm.
Did you see that-that slide of Bens0n's
in the sixth? He brought a runner in with
a homer: ball In deep center-fielder had 10
fish for IT In the grass like boy hunting
FOR lost marble, and all the time R,nson
was flying. He made great sldt--a great
side; and III swear that he put his fingers
on the plate before the ball touched him.
But the umpire declared him out"
He clicked his heels together and rocked
to and fro in his agony The flush ON his
face had deepened from rosy pink almost
to Harvard crimson.
How is the score?' l asked.
Not that l cared; l was thinking Of Mrs.
Randolph. Of the sadness of her face, OF
It's beauty, too. in spite OF its sadness. and
l was resolving that l would de.eat Court
ney Lane. and would yet win. first her
confidence and then her love. What was
it to me If Yale or Harvard led? But T
asked the question.
Seven to five in favor of Yale" said
Jerome.
He almost groaned.
"Ah. they're making kick about that.
Wen, they ought to. sir; they ought to
throw that umpire off the grounds. III like
to go down and punch him. Too bad hs
added. with sigh. He has ruled against
them"
He turned to me-
Did you see that catch Benson made at
short in the SEVENTH"
NO l said, Il wasn't looking
A shade of reproach passed quickly over
his face.
1T was great SRA bsolutely the finest
thing l ever saw He struck his hands
went hot off the bat, like a bullet
the head of the pitcher. Benson jumped
into the air and nailed it. and shot II to
first like lightning soon as his feet
touched the ground And he caught the
runner before he could get back to the
bag. 1t put two men out"
He rubbed his palms together and
rocked his body.
Benson has been covering himself with
glory today" he added. 1t makes mo
proud of him. sir"
In the ninth Yale failed to put single
man on first the only one who came near
reaching 1t Benson put out with a short
arm throw. The feverishness of the ex-
element that followed made its effects felt
even on me, unlntereSted as l mad been.
And then, when a run was made, and with
two men out and a runner on first Ben
son came to the bat, felt my pulses jump
ing for the first time.
Jerome's face had gone white again.
glanced at Mrs Randolph, who was as i'm
passive as ever, and at Miss marlborough.
The eagerness of the nut-brown maid was
palpable. She sat leaning forward. red
lips apart, eyes shining. and with cheeks
as crimson the flag she bore or the
crimson roses that adorned her hat.
Jerome began again to swear softly as
strikes We're called. Then to my ears. in
the strange hush that fell over all those
thousands of eager spectators, came the
words of the umpire, his voice trembling:
Two strikes-three balls"
A. culver ran through the Harvard
benches like wind rustlng through dry
tree branches. Some electric thrill OF SYM
pathy made my tense nerves culver. The
next ball that came whirlng in from the
hand Of the pitcher might settle it. If it
was a fair ball and Benson did not get it
Yale would be a victor.
l the ball come in and 1 heard Benz
sons bat collide with it. 1t was a sharp,
clear crack.
AS he thus drove the ball and jumped to-
ward first. while the runner from first ran
toward second, all those seated Harvard
thousands sprang up in a screaming, Yell
ing mass, with flags, hats, handkerchiefs.
umbrellas, futterng and waving. laaped
to my feet, waving my hat and yelling with
the others. The nut-brown maid was flut-
at my side was shouting like a madman. A
wild rolled over the field. Fielders
were scampering, coachers screeching; and
Benson. chasing the runner before him.
was going round the diamond as if he wore
the winged slippers of Mercury. l had
not dreamed the fellow could run so. The
man ahead of him came in. tying the score.
Go home!" Jerome screamed, waving his
hat, as Benson passed third and turned for
the plate. "They can't get you-go home!
Good boy! Oh, you Lulu! Go h-o-m-e!'
He stamped on the seat and then jumped
up and down In his frenzy. In the midst
of that bedlam Benson crossed the home
plate. with the ball following him closely,
and then
The benches cracked under jerome and
me, and | slipped and pitched downward.
Jerome caught at me, but missed, and
landed my head and shoulders. The
game had ended VIGOROUSLY for Harvard.
For me had come the blackness and blanks
ness of sudden unconsc iousness.
Go be Continued Tomorrow