The Washington herald., 1912-01-27
CHAPTER XIV.

Ihere iSn I much tnat can De Sdlu hoout
certain stretches along the Rio Grande
except that they are undoubtedly those
portions OF Texas which made a great
general declare that IL he had that State
and the Internal regions at his disposal
he'd live IN hell and rent out Texas Mes
quite and prickly brush: jungles bisected
here and there with trails; habitations al
most as scattered and as seldom visible
as in the days when the COmanche and
the Lipan rode abroad in the land-that
is the Rio Grande border. II Is an ideal
country for smuEglers, cattle thieves. and
revolutionists. Just as II was once the
happy hunting ground OF the most per-
nicious red men.
StiII, Il doesn't much matter what the
section OF the land may be or what the
scenery may amount TO. II II Is in these
United States-and there is a patch OF
fairly level ground diseernibie-there will
be a ball game in progress any pleasant
afternoon. and the crack Of the bat will
rouse the echoes where once the Indian
war whoop scared the birds. Hence 1t
can hardly be considered startling or
even remarkable to find good games in
full blast upon the Rio Grande-games
which may not be played with big league
skill but which are filled with liVeliness
and pepper, loud outcries and troubles for
the umpire
The second game of the great series be-
tween the Fourth Cavalry and the COM
mon citizens promised to be the warmest
battle seen on the banks OF the big river
in several moons. While the cavalry had
won the first contest II to on heavier
hitting, the common citizens-war corre-
spondents and camera artists in the main
had been REINFORCED the night before the
second tussIe. Two 1.-THE, sinewy young
sters had blown into camp. asserting that
they had some small. unimportant busi-
ness with the commander. AS that off,
cial had temporary business at San An
tonic, the boys had been made welcome
and given quarters while awaiting his re-
turn Baseball OF course, had been one
Of the earliest topics of conversation, and
the newcomers showed intense eagerness
to break into the game. As any one out
side of army circles was eligible and the
common citizens were short-handed. the
new arrivals were promptly drafted into
service. Brockett was detailed to guard
center field, while Ramon Solano was
listed for third base. Both youngsters,
while wild 10 have at least one day of
diversion, were modest and difident when
asked to play, and declared. that they
didn't want to crowd any other fellows
that Sanborn, the estimable war corre-
spondent Of the New York Whirl, had
counted himself out with a charley horse
while Summers. kodak man Of the Chi
cago Blizzard, had been stung by a scor-
pion-not seriously. but squarely on the
right wrist. disabling him from further
baseball doings. That left two vacancies
and the appearance OF the boys was a
blessing to the common citizens array.
Brockett and Solano warmed up with
real delight when the teams were sum-
moned 10 the field. They had foInd
friends-a joyial crowd Of newspaper men
and Photographic experts-and the minor
officers Of the regiment had likewise ex-
tended them a warm welcome. The Polo
Grounds, as the troopers proudly styled
the ball yard was somewhat humpy In
places, and rather diversified with cac-
tus in others, but everybody concerned
had seen far worse arenas for the game.
lGrandstand there was none, but long lines
Of cracker-boNes, beer cases, and brush
heaps afforded sitting room, while hum
dreds of the enthusiastic bugs stood as
close TO the base lines as they dared.
Mexican ranchers, Mexican peons' rurales
on short furloughs, lungers VINO mao
sought that region for their health, and
soldiers by the hundred-suoh was the
assembly, and II Is doubtful II any ball
game ever was played before a more up
roarious crowd.
A college man who was directing things
for a moving-picture concern went In as
pitcher for the common citizens. and
seemed fairly capable He stopped the
cavalry hitless for two innings, pop flies
and strikeouts quickly disposing OF the
warriors The common citizens were
equally helpless with the stick. Brockett
and Solano, the newcomers, on whom the
common citizens were counting for ma
terial batting help, failed in the pinch on
their first times up. Brockett raised a
foul fly to the fat sergeant. who was
catching, and Solano grounded 10 far-
rier who was playing short
In the third inning the troopers be-
gan to land on the moving picture
man, and two hits were fonowed by a
| tumble on the part OF a contractors
agent, who was covering second. win
the bases full, the moving picture man
put on the steam, struck OUT the enap-
lain OF the regiment-usually a cork
! ing eood batter-and made the bugler
pop 10 the arst baseman. The next
man up was the captain Of Company
| c, a portly gentleman, who had struck
out on his last previous appearance
He barely arazed the ball and raised
tiny fly that hovered over third.
Solano settled with eager hands for
the catch lust as the ball landed in
his glove. the trooper who was coach
ing at third beloved. ike foghorn:
i The splderi Look out for the tarantula,
boy: look out for the spider
with startled vel Solano sprang
nimbly hac,ward. The ball fell with
| clrierinv thud and rolled away. Two
runs crossed the platter, and the whole