The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-08-04
BY Stuar Ii. Stone

BY Stuar Ii. Stone
Robley was the most ardent,
uproarious fan in town. Mrs. Rob
ley cared more for violet teas and
blank verse of Mr.. Browning. Rob-
ley desired in his heart to occupy
the front row in the grand stand
at every contest on the home
grounds. Mrs. Robley objected to
remaining at home by herself.
There was but one course open.
Mrs. Robley must be initiated into
the Ancient and Clamorous Order
of Rooters, or her husband would
have to take his baseball through
the pink sporting sheets.
ITS positively Olympian,"
urged Robley. "The Juggling,
straining, uniformed demi-gods--
the tense moments of crisis-the
plaudits of the multitude - oh,
Icome, come.
His Socratesian attitudes and
Ieloquence finally prevailed, and
Mrs. Robley surrendered.
The grand stand was unusually
full that afternoon. The days
contest was a momentous one
from the fact that the Leopards
and the visiting Colts were tied
for first place.
In the first inning Ducky Thorn
as of the Colts, dashed from first
base to second, while the Loop
ards twirler was winding up like
a Swiss clock. H
Stole second-stole a basel"
yelled the crowd.
Mrs. Robley put her hand upon
her pocketbook, but the excite
ment suddenly easing, she became
treasured.
In the second inning a speeding
Leopard tore madly through a
cloud of dust and slid into the
home plate. E&
"Out!" cried the masked UNI
pire.
"Out derided the multitude.
"Out!" cried Roblsy, jumping
upon the top of his seat. "Out-
you mutt - you robber? Out
you waxe-eyed, seventeenth son of
a blind off-ox? Out-why don't
you apply for entrance to the
Home for the Incurable and Ash
nine, Prejudiced Blind Men,"
Horace, Horace!" cried Mrs.
Robley, much alarmed. ''Is it
really necessary talk like that?
Do sit down."
Robley, grumbling and mutter-
ing, sat down. But. in another
minute Socks Mulligan, catcher
for the Leopards, had slammed
the ball over the Mangled Oats
sign on the left field fence, and
Robley was upon top of his seat
again, springing three feet into
the air and halooing like a mad
dened Seminole. Before Mrs.
Robley could bring him down, he.
had thrown his new twelve-dol-
lar Panama into the crowd.
eff 1 had known you were 60
ing to act this way" began
Mrs. Robley, to stop shore at a
terrific thump on her back,
which bereft her of speech and
breath. She turned just in time
to avoid a second whac6 from an
umbrella in the hands of a man
frenzied at the enactment of a
triple play.
From that time until the end of
the game, Mrs. Robley sat still
and feared the worst. In the
ninth inning the umpire excelled
himself in a close decision at tho
place. Mr.. Robley bounded upl
for an oratorical protest. An ex-
cited Colt supporter behind him
began a counter demonstration.
The result was a clinch and a sep
aration by the police. One of Mr..
eyes was closed. His
shirt was in ribbons.
Come with mel" ragged Mrs.
Were going to leave
this awful exhibition. And oncel
l get you home"
Robley followed meekly. At
the entrance he met the van of
the emptying bleachers. who
won?" he asked anxiously.
"Leopards. Z to g." came the
response.
GLORY be-we wont" shouted
NOW I don't care what
you sayi"
But Mrs. Robley said: Gust
walt"