The Washington herald., 1912-01-29

waiting for the practice to begin, and
the rest OF the operatic-looking brigands
with their leader lounged around the
catcher's position.
Juan Torrejon greeted his prisoners
with great courtesy, and asked II they
had slept and breakfasted we'll An
\ swered in the affirmative as TO both
queries, a look Of genuine pleasure SEEM
ed to cross his swarthy countensnce, and
he expressed his satisfaction at their
words.
'If it pleases you. caballeros," he went
on. twill you inspect the bats and balls?
Our equipment Is doubtless crude and
poor, but in these troublous times It Is
not easy to obtain hrst-class material
What branch OF the profession viii you
deign TO instruct US in as a beginningY'
IF agreeable to you, Capt. TorreJon,' %
said Solano. my friend will bat up some
i flies, to see how your fielders handle
them"
'Bueno. muy bueno." Torrejon ap-
proved. Il fear you viii find them but
feeble in pursuit of the ball!''
Feeble they were. They tried hard,
these bandit Mexicans, but only the
easiest kind of fly balls rested securely
In their grip. After about a dozen balls
had been dropped, Solano, with a gesture
Of impatience, set on at a jog-trot, cross
ed the field and took up position among
the farthest Mexicans, not far from the
edge OF the clearing.
''Bueno, bueno!" laughed Capt. Tore
jon. Your friend VIII show how the
fly ball should be caught, 81? Let US
watch him."
Solano took two fly balls, each fairly
well out, and backing beyond the ring Of
Mexicans TO get them. Loud applause
greeted his graceful handling of the
chances Then BrOckett laid the wood
The startled sphere SCARED high, and So
lano, starting at the crack Of the bat,
raced under the ball far down to the
bushes edge. Amid a volley OF cheers,
he leaped high, pulled down the ball
and then kept right on running. Before
the astounded Mexicans could realize the
trick, he vanished into the chaparral,
sprintIng like madman, and with him
went the ball that contained the mes
sages to Gomez Esteral!
Juan Torrejon was a man TO act with
promptitude. no matter what the exi-
gency. Horsemen could not ride through
the dense underground into which So
lano had Vanished, but twenty bandits
were on his track a moment later. The
chief himself sprsng at Brockett with a
| search OF the prisoner. The search
brought forth the envelopes in which the
original missiyes had reposed and Torre-
jon. his fierce face lighting up a trifle,
carefully slowed them in his own sp-
parel.
He called young Mexican to his side
and ordered him TO act as his inter-
prefer.
Tell the young man." said the chief.
slowly and with an apparent return Of
good humor, that was quite sure his
friend had not carried of the papers,
but that I wanted to make sure-he will
therefore pardon the roughness of the
| searching process. Five minutes before
the other young man went out to catch
| fly balls, deft hands had been over his
| clothing and found nothing. He, there
fore. simply ran sway. and left his COM
panion TO face the music So be it If
he can be caught, all right, all well and
good. II not, let him go his way-I give
him credit for a clever escape. You and
L Senior Brockett, will meet the gentle
men with the unpronounceable names in
| a few hours-and We will bargain with
them. VIII it please you to go on with
the baseball teachings?''-
Noon came. and the bandits who had
pursued Solano began TO straggle in.
They brought no prisoner. and declared
that the young Gringo must have been
carried out and befriended by the devil.
TorreJon, courteous as ever, made Brock
questions concerning the great game of
the Amaricans, its rules. its famous play
ers- Toward l o'clock a sentry at the
Western edge OF the clearing challenged
loudly, and a moment later two bandits
escorted a huge German gentlemen to
the presence of their commander. Baron
Zollern bowed pompously to Torrejon,
and then smiled mockingly at Brockett
Il see, mine frient," quoth the baron,
dot you vos, ad lasd, in safe hands.
We're is your bartner?'
The baron was much worried at the
news that Solano had escaped, but ex-
pressed marked relief at the information
that the Cuban had not succeeded In get
ting away with the letters addressed TO
Gomez Esteral.
Dot iss vell,'' he sighed, happily. TT
iss, perhaps, better YET dot he haf gone
he can haf nodings to say, und dere iss
but de Won left to disbose OF. Shall We
get down to bitzness? We're iss de lIddle
ledders, gaptain?''
A sentinel at the northern edge OF the