The Washington herald., 1912-01-09
CHAPTER II.

Brockett. eager to conclude his errand
and Join his companions, lost no time on
the road. BY O'Clock the tall youngster
was busily engaged In an argument, ac-
companied by practical demonstrations
pro and con, as to the utility OF the Lange
steal. Some twenty OF Brockett's friends
clerks like himself, colleigians home on
vacation, and even the two sons OF a
Slamese legation oficial-debated the
practIcabilIty OF the trick by which Big
Bill Lange, the great star Of the long ago,
was wont TO annex the middle station.
Brockett and half the crowd maintained
that the steal was not only possible but
almost unstoppable; the Siamese young
sters and the rest Of the little gathering
declared that an alert battery. backed
by quick-thinking infeders, would make
the play a certain loser.
You have q catcher with any head
and any arm at ALL declaimed Chula
Ian KoR, of Siam and Princeton. "and
a second baseman who can come up fast
TO the bag. and you can't pull It over.
No chance excepting on a mum or a wild
throw"
You don't grasp the point" Brockett
IE1P0AuEas nc NeN1h heNA
in this steal as all. He is a dead one.
He is exactly as II he had never existed.
The trick in the LAnge steal is to stop
on first till the pitch Is over, and then.
when the catcher begins to return the
ball to the pitcher, you 80 down. It's
three to one, easy, that the pitcher will
get ratified and throw wide, or that the
seco1l basemAn, not figuring on a steal,
has moved away to play for the bats
man"
"a pitcher who keeps his wits about
him" negatived Ramon Solano, the junior
cashier Of the Cuban tobacco house,
wouldn't fall for that play at all. Try
Il. with me on the slab, and see how It
goes through"
The experiment was Immediately made
Chula Ian Kon. donning the mask. went
behind the plate; Solano took a pitch
ing attitude on the slab, and Brockett i'm
peTsonated the daring base-runner. Sec
ond WAS covered by a fast little in
fielder from Annapolis, and a Dartmouth
shortstop prepared to take alternate
throws. II took fifteen minutes TO fully
work out the theories of the Lange steal.
and the sentiments Of the whole throng
were voiced when Shula Ian Kon re-
marked dIdactIcauy. IF you make It.
you are a hero, and II you don't make
II. you are a bOnehead."
Darkness dispersed the crowd. and
BrOckett. dead tired but full OF the
sheer Joy Of living. strolled away with
Ramon Solano-his chosen friend and
confidant. and linked in comradeship
by that strongest of youthful ties-the
brotherhood OF the ball field. Brochett
was an underpaid clerk, doing his best
to care for a widowed mother and
younger sister. Solano's father was tho
lord Of broad acres in Matanzas and Ha-
vana, and the junior SOlanU had an inde-
pendent income. aside from his liberal
salary. that would have turned the brain
Of the average American boy. As far
as the friendship went between Cuban
and American. however Solanos wealth
counted exactly as much in the scale as
Brockett's poverty: nothing whatever.
The alliance cemented when both played
on a team OF ten-year-olds had only
grown firmer with the lapse OF time. until
Ramon Solano. pitcher, considered Harry
Crockett. center fielder. the finest fell
low of his numerous acquaintance. while
BrOckett classed the Cuban as his most
loyal friend.
We go for a vacation to the Yellow
stone" said SOlano. as the boys neared
Brockett's home. My father. brother
and two or three friends will come over
to get met will be a jolly crowd. II
could persuade you!"
Brockett laughed Eayly. Some day,
Ramon, but hardly this year. II l stick
to my desk, I'll climb up in the office.
Probably, In thirty-six or forty-three