New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-04
Rv HAYWOOD BROUN.

"Gwan." said Grogan. .
Della Carroll had asked How much
do YOU love me. Dan ?" and though the
great right fielder OF the Giants loved
much his best in a verbal pinch was
a strike-out. That was not in charac-
ter. not the strike-out, for IN seven
years Of service with the National
League Grogan had always been among
the ten leading hittcrs. And, better
vet. IL was conceded by every one that
in the ranks Of organized basebalI
there was no man so diihcult TO IAN
a. Daniel Grogan.
through the entire campaign and
struck out only twelve times. and, as
Grogan said in explaining that round
dozen failures, the umprIng was afro
cious.
How much Dam" insisted Della,
and this time Grogan came through
with crashing hit. AS much as my
batting average" he said. And there
with the eyes Of Della beamed, for she
knew that such a passion was Deep
abiding and extensive.
But Della was minded TO try her
mower still further. And she did.
Dan" she said, will you promise
to do something I'm going to ask YOU
Grogan once signed blank contract
with a baseball magnate, and IN all
things save only the diagnosing of a
pitchers delivery he was man i'll
equipped with proper suspicion.
81 will" was his answer.
"You know Dick has been signed by
the Cubs" said Della. GrOgan nodded
without evincing any particular inter
est. He remembered her brother as a
slight and sandy southpaw possessed
Of amazing impudence in spite Of half
a year of service with the Jersey City
team
"Dick says" continued Della, that
he's going to get chance to work
against the Giants tomorrow"
"We'll eat him up said Grogan.
That's why I'm talking TO YOU" said
Della. 81 want 70 see him get by. |
want you to help him
well" answered Grogan, looking
fcarfully over his shoulder and then
dropping his voice to a whisper, "you
tell your brother not TO give me a
fast. low ball on the outside. It's those
| put over the rightfeld fence"
"Ill tell him that" said the girl, but
what | really want is your promise that
when Dick pitches you'll strike out
every time you 90 to bat. That would
help lot
As they say in crticising the lead
ing lady in the punch scene of a play,
Grogan ran the gamut Of emotions.
But each mood, incredulous, angry or
sorry, was punctured by Della with the
same remark: you promised"
A promise was 70 Grogan promise,
and a promise to Della was more than
that, and so he went away from her
house that night a doomed man. He
could feel in lis knees that same trem-
bling which came over Samson when
his hair was shorn. This Della had
done more than that TO the mighty man
Of the Giants. She had clipped his bat
ting average
The hope that Carroll would not get
his chance after all was in vain. Just
before the game the young man from
the Jersey City team walked over to
the bench Of the Giants.
Say, Grogan," he shouted, "this fut-
ure brother-in-law business don't go
to-day. I'm going to get you"
Dan had TO take great care in execut-
ing his strike-out in the first inning,
+, Carroll shot three balls right over
that edge of the plate which Grogan
had always known for his very own.
The fans only laughed, and applauded
the kid pitcher, as Dan took his final
swing in vain.
~ wonder if she put him wise"
thought Grogan, as he walked, back 10
the bench, but though he scanned Car
rolls face intently he could not see