The Washington herald., 1915-04-11
By ZANE GREY
Author Of ''The Lone star Raaser,~
the Light Of wester, Star.., Etc.

ITS leisurely action and began to have
CELEBRITY. When it reached Dundon II
had the strange, jerky speed so char
acterIstIc of the grounders that had
confused the Madden's Hill team
Dundon got his hands on the bali and
IT would not stay in them. When
finally he trapped it Tom had crossed
frst base and another runner had
scored. Eddie Curtis cracked another
at Bo. The Natchez captain drov.
for it. made good stop. bounced
after the rolling ball, and then threw
to Kelly. at first. The ball knocked
kelly's hands apart as if they had
been paper. Jake Thomas batted left
handed and he swung hard on a slow
pitch and sent the ball far into right
field. Runners scored. Jakc's hit was
three-bagger. Then Frank Price hit
up an inheld fly. Bo yelled for Dun
don to take it and Dundon YELLED
| for Harris. They were all afraid to
try for it. 1t dropped safely while
Jake ran home.
With the heavy battcrs up the cx-
citcment increased. A continuous
scream and inccssant rattle of tin
cans made it impossible to hear what
the umpire called out. But that was
not important. for he seldom had a
chance to call either ball or strike.
Harris had lost his speed and nearly
every ball he pitched was hit by the
Madden's Hill boys. Irwin cracked
one down between short and third.
30 and PIckcns ran for it and collid-
cd while the ball jauntily skipped out
TO lett held and, deity evading Bell,
went on and on. Bob reached third.
Grace hit another at Dundon, who
appeared actually to stop it four times
before he could pick it up, and then
he was too late. The doughty bow
legged Sam, with his huge black eve.
hung over the plate and howled at
Mucklc. In the din no one heard what
he said. but evidently Muck OWNED
1t: For he reused to the spirit of
pitcher who would die of shame If he
could not fool a onc-eycd batter. But
Sam swooped down upon the first ball
and drove IT back toward the pitcher.
Muck could not get out of the wav
and the ball made his leg buckle un-
der him. Then that hit glanced off
to begin marvellous exhibition Of
high and cratic bounding about the
inheld
Daddy hunched over his soap-box
bench and Rugged himself He wa.
iarsighted and he saw victory. Again
he watched the queer antics of that
little yarn ball, but now with different
feelings. Every hit seemed to lift him
to the skies. He kept silent, though
every time the ball fooled Natchez
player Daddy wanted to yell. And
when 1t started for Bo and, as if in
revenge. bounded wickcder at every
bounce to skip off the grass and make
Bo look ridiculous, then Daddy cx-
Perienced the happiest moments OF
his baseball career. Every time .
tally crossed the plate he would chalk
it down on his soap box.
But when Madden's Hill scored the
nineteenth run without PLAYER being
put out. then Daddy lost count. He
gave himself up to revel. He sat
motionless and silent; nevertheless
his whole internal being was in a
state of wild tumult. 1t was as IL he
was being rewarded in joy for all the
misery he had suffered because he
was cripple. He could never play
baseball, but he had baseball brains.
He had been too wise for the tricky
Stranathan. He was the coach and
manager and general OF the great
Madden's Hill nine If ever he had
to lie awake at night again he would
not mourn over his lameness: he
would have something to think about.
To him would be given the glory of
beating the invincible Natchez team.
So Daddy felt the last bitterness leave
him. And he watched that strange
little yarn ball, with its wonderful
Skips and darts and curves. The
longer the game progressed and the
wearier Harris grew, the harder the
Madden's Hill boys battcd the ball
and the crazier it bounced at Bo and
his sick players. Finally, Tay Tay
Mohlcr hit teasing grounder down
to Bo.
Then it was as if the ball. realizing
climax, made ready for final squirt.
When Bo reached for the ball it was
somewhere else Dundon could not
locate it. And Kelly, rushing down
to the chase. fell all over himself and
his teammates trying to grasp the
Elusive ball. and all the time Tay Tav
was running. He never stopped But
as he was heavy and fat he did not
make fast time on the bases Franti-
cally the outfieldcrs ran in to head off
the bouncing ball, and when they had
succeeded Tay Tay had performed the
remarkable feat OF making home
run on ball batted into tho inhcId
That broke Natchcz's spirit They
quit. They hurried for their bats.
Only Bo remained behind a moment
to try to get his yarn ball. But Sam
had bounced upon it and given it
safely to Daddy. Bo made ono sullen
demand for it.
Funny about them fast finishes OF
yours" said Daddy scornfully. Say!
the balls our'n. The winnin' team
gifts the ball Go home an look up
the rules OF the game"
Bo slouched off the field to a shrill
hooting and tin canning.
"Fellers. what was the scorc?"
asked Daddy.
Nobody knew the exact number OF
runs made by Madden's Hill. :
Gimme knife, somebody" said
the manager.
When it had been produced Daddy
laid down the yarn ball and cut into
it. The blade entered readily for an
inch and then stopped. Daddy cut
all round the ball, and removed the
cover of tightly wrapped yarn. Inside
was solid ball of India rubber
Say! it amt so funny now-how
that ball bounced" remarked Daddy.
"Wot you think of that" exclaimed
To-, f,ot,o~ a.. l,,,,,,, ~, b,c had