The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-11-15
A HOME RUN
EVENING STORY FOR THE FAMILY CIRCLE

Inasmuch as the Mudville Mas
cots claimed the championship of
Simpson county, while the ScIab-
| bletown Stars set up the same gilt
tering claim, it was bound to re-
suit in something. Thus it was
that after weeks of challenge the
| Scrabbletown Stars, accompanied
by half their town, appeared in
Mudville to wage war on the green
diamond. Uncle Hank Downs of
Midwife said he had never seen
the like in all his born days.
Young Theophilus Turner, editor
of the Mudville. Mercury, pitched
for his town; Daniel Hardy. cash
| Ter Of the Scrabbletown deposit
bank, twirled for Scrabbletown.
They were deadly rivals, for in the
grand stand sat Bessie Wilson,
belle of Mudxille. who favored Edi-
tor Turner of all men, while on the
base lines, enthusiastic but per-
, picked, paced Colonel Wilson, her
father, who favored Banker Hardy,
but who desired that Midwife
should win. Meanwhile the Mas
cots and the Stars strobe deter
minedly to the plate and smote the
ball. BY the third inning the score
was a large. beautiful tie-17 to H.
On the side lines Mudville bran
dished her fist in the face of Scrab-
bletown and Scrabbletown bran
dished back. Here and there fights
broke out, and the umpires had
Constables Zeb Green and Zeke
Easley detailed to protect them.
From the grand stand Bessie VIII
son came and stood upon the lines.
When Editor Turner caused base
Scrabbletownite to swipe vainly at
the ether, she exclaimed, "Ah. how
fine!" If Banker Hardy struck out
a Mascot, she cried, Take him
out!" The colonel had lost all re-
serve and was tearing madly up
and down the lines, red-faced, hat
off. yelling.
At last, in the sixth inning, with
the score AZ to AZ in favor of Mud
vile, Scrabbletown sent Banker
Hardy to the outfield and substi-
tuted new pitcher. The new pitch
er was cool as cucumbers and
steady as a Swiss clock He now
ed the Mudvillians down one-two-
three fashion, while Scrabbletown
continued to hit. In the ninth Mud
vile rallied. and with the score
AZ to Al against her, succeeded in
getting three men on bases with
two out. 1t was Pitcher Turner's
4! 81 not hn n ClnO-
ger. Mudville groaned. Doddville
frightened up. In the outfield
Banker Hardy grinned. Miss Will
son muttered little prayer. The
colonel hesitated. then stepped up
to Turner.
make a home run and | with
draw my opposition. Bessie Is yours.
Turner spat upon his hands
and bumped the plate with the bat.
Tho pitcher unwound himself ana
Turner swung like piledriver,
The bat just scraped the ball and
the sphere dropped bare foot in
front of the plate. All Midwife
groaned again. 1t was necessary
only for the Scrabbletown catcher
to secure the ball, touch the home
plate and all would be over. But
Young Turner bounded like a deer
for first base. The Scrabbletown
catcher, In his excitement, fell all
over the ball and Mascot rushed
In. safe over his PROSTATE body
The catcher finally secured the
hall and threw wildly TO second.
whore the speedy Turner was now
bounding. He threw fast and low,
and the ball went on to center
field. Another Mudvilllan rushed
In and Turner came on. Banker
Hardy in confer field recovered the
ball and threw hoine--high, into