The Washington herald., 1915-04-18
LIVE TALES OF THE DIAMOND b. M e*zz

oouhuer glanced OFT the grass and
manifested an affinity for his leg.
We all knew from the crack and
the way the pitcher went down that
the rabbit" had put him out OF the
game. The umpire called time. and
Merritt came running on the dia-
mond.
Hard luck. old man." said the
manager. "That'll make green an
yellow spot all right. Boys. we're
still two runs to the good. There's
one out, an we can win vet. Deer
foot. you're as badly crippled as
Hathaway. The bench Tor yours.
Hooker will go to center. an I'll
pitch the rest OF this game"
Merritt's idea did not strike us as
a bad one. He could pitch. and he
always kept his arm in prime coudi-
ton: We welcomed him into the
tray for two reasons-bccausc he
might win the game. and because he
might be ovcrtakcn by the baseball
Nemesis.
While Merritt was putting on
Hathaway's baseball shoes, some OF
us cndcavorcd to get the rabbit
away from the umpire, but he was
too wise
Merritt received the innoccnt-look-
ing ball with a look OF mingled dis
nd h. IL,
dcred US to our positions.
Not far had VIC gone, however.
when we were electrified by the UNI
pire'S sharp words:
NAV, Nav, YOU DON'T saw
you change the ball gave YOU fer
ono in Your pocket Nawl You don't
come emmy OF your American lodges
on us, Gimme tibet ball. an You use
the other. or III stop tho game"
Whcrcwith the Shrcwd umpire took
the ball from Mcrritt's hand and
hshcd the rabbit" from his pocket.
Our tllwarted manager suffered his
wrath. "Y-you bc-be-wh-whiskcrcd
y-yap! I'll g-g-give-"
What dire threat he had in mind
never materialized. for he became
spccchlcss. xHc glowcrcd upon the
cool little umpire, and then turned
grandly toward the plate.
1t may have been imagination. yet
made sure Merritt seemed to shrink
and grow smaller before he pitched
a ball. For one thing the plate was
uphill from the pitchers box, and
then the fellow standing there loom
ed up like hill and swung bat that
would have served as wagon
tongue. No wonder Merritt evinced
nervousness. Presently he whirlcd
and delivered the ball.
Bling!
A dark streak and white puff of
dust over second base showed how
safe that hit was. BY dint OF man
full body work. Hooker contrived to
stop the rabbit" in mid-centcr. An
other run scored. Human nature was
proof against this temptation, and
Merritt's players rendered him mani
fold congratulations and sundry dis
sertations.
Grand, you old skinflint, grand"
There was two-dolar bill
stickin' on tibet hit Why didn't you
stop it,
Say. Merritt. what little brains
you've got will presently be ridin' on
the rabbit"
You will chase up these exhibition
games
Take your medicine now. Ha. Ha.
Ha!"
After these mercilcsS taunts. and
particularly after the next slashing
hit that tied the score. Merritt looked
smaller and humber.
He threw up another ball, and &C
tually SHE'D as it ncared the plate.
The giant who was waiting to slug
it evidently thought better OF his
eagerncss as far as that pitch was
for he let it go by.
Merritt got the next ball higher.
With mighty swing. the batSman hit
a terrific liner right at the pitcher.
Quick a. lightning. Merritt wheel
ed. and the ball struck him with tho
sound OF two boards brought heavily
togc;ncr with a smack.
Merritt did not fall: he melted to
the ground and writhed while the
runners scored with more ITALICS
than they needed to win.
What did VIC care? Justice had
been done us. and we were unuttcr-
ably happy. Crab Bane stood on his
head; Gillinger began war dance:
old man Hathaway hobblcd out to
the side lines and whoopcd like an
Indian; Snead rolled over and over
n the grass Ali OF us broke out into
typical expressions of baseball frcn-
~, and individual ones illustrating
our particular moods.
Merritt got up and made a dive for
he ball With face positively fam
ng he flung it far eyond the merry
crowd. over into swamp. Then he
Il 4 L Il al