The Dolores star., 1909-10-01


ity, she tiptoed cautiously up behind
the cars. and. mindful OF tar and
grease. slipped gingeriy into the mar
row space between. Leaning over the
coupling bar. she peered out upon the
lot. There In the middle of rather
grassy diamond she saw a certain nn-
mistakable red head. and by that fiam.
ing token Miss Lucy knew that chance
had brought her to witness the last
great game OF the series between the
Oriole Amerchers and the Southport
Stars.
From her position beside the coup
ling bar she could look out over the
lot. and she soon saw that II was evil
dently another case Of bribery In high
judicial circles. for the umpire. whom
she recognized as Sleepy McGinniss.
for three years the scourge and de-
spair Of the principals life. had un.
doubtedly sold his soul and was Civ,
ing shamelessly wrong decisions.
Miss Lucy had come upon the scene
Just In time to see one OF Buns nm.
est curves. and, her heart warming
with pride in her condemned truant.
she cautiously Joined in the applause
from the top Of the car.
Hes all right" she exclaimed
proudly.
You bet he is." answered voice
at hand. Jest git next to his speed"
and Miss Lucy. looking up. found her
self about foot away from face
sticking detachedly over the side of
the car. II was Aloyslus OReilly,
second younger brother OF Bum. and
he was evidently lying stretched ont
upon the top Of the car. from which
position he was viewing Miss Lucy
with q great deal OF interest.
Come on up" he continued. with a
hospitable grin. "I'll git one of the
fellers. and he'll put We up"
"Oh. no. thank you;" cried Miss
Lucy hastily. Il like 1t better down
here. Just tell me what the score is."
ITS six to eight for the other fel-
lers." Aloysius said savagely. land
we're goln' to hit his face In when It
gifts through. All our gangs got
stones" Then he Strengthened up
esd disappeared for minute. only to
send down against friendly warning;
YEN git mixed up In the fight down
there. Ye better come up"
Refusing this advice. Miss Lucy
turned her attention to the field.
Caught in the intricacies Of the ORR
ole Amerchers' star twirler, she saw
two Of the Southport batters fan
outg and the next pan going out At
Arst quickly EOnctuded the irst half
Of the eighth inning
Then the last half begun. A grudg.
ingly given base on balls, stoen base,
clever bunt, and the short-stop's er.
ror. gave one run to the Oriole Amer
cheers. BY unfair umpiring three men
were then put out. and. amid wild
bursts of excited profanity from the
top Of the freight. the eighth inning
ended with the score raised seven to
eight
Miss Lucy. her new spring dress
forgotten, had squeezed herself ns far
sible. From this perch she saw the
three batters OF the Southport Stars
put out on three clean caught and In.
contestable flies. and waving her really
literary copy-book in the air. she
| Joined her cheers to those from the
top Of the car.
Il can never keep him in again." she
chuckled shamelessly; "and III give
] him the first seat tomorrow. I'd like
| to put him up in the second grade at
once, even II he can't read. He knows
how to play ball. all right"
Rejoicing in this adoption Of BUNS
slang, she steadied herself upon the
| bar and waited In strained suspense
for the outcome OF the deciding half.
| inning. With despair she saw the
| first boy OF the Orioie Amerchers ig.
nominiously fan OUT" the second. an
| ex.member OF class A, hit out a two
humbiy apologized for the sundry
keep ms and stand in the corners"
| OF his primer days. The third batter
| advanced him one more base. and
then, with sinking OF heart worse
| than that ever caused by the Critic
teachers most censorious disapproval,
Miss Lucy say Bum OReilly take hts
| place at the bat. She realized that
on him hung all the hope Of the 0riole
Amerchars. "And he can't bat wuth
pothin'.". she quoted dejectedly. Hell
20 right out"
It was evident, however, that the
Celtic blood Of the O'Reillys hal re-
sponded to the cry of the for!orn hope,
and that Bum was going to make a
brave try at the curves Of the pug
nacious Soapy. late Of the House of
| Refuge. The boy on third. with one
toe on the bag. was leaning eagerly
toward home. With a preliminary
twirl the ball came. and Bum, thrust
ing forward his bat. hunted skillfully
| toward second. The bah passed the
| pitcher. but was fielded by the short
stop. In the meantime Bum had been
| dashing madly toward first. As the
ball neared the outstretched hands Of