Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-10
"A RAIN CHECK"
Hit Means Ran and HappenS-Strange Conduct of Win
ming Pitcher and HIS Battery Mate-Endng with Retirement
of MeSSrS. Lynch and HdrVeU From Viciny of TuCson
By CHARLES E. VAN LOAN
Tho Worlds Most Famous Writer Of Baseball Fiction

ting under way, just as four thousand
cheering men and women came up in a
cheering wave, Just as Tom Blakes new
cigar slipped down inside his speckled
waistcoat the first great drops of rain
began to whisper to the shlngled roof.
There were three very sick men in that
ball park, and two of them sat on the
bench with the victorious Eagles.
"Thatll be about ALL! yelled Delaney,
as he hugged Bodie In front of the bench.
Look at that rain comng"
One Of the sick men on the bench lifted
up his voice querulously.
You amt afraid of a little rain ars
you?' demanded Eli Bates. I'VE amt
sugar or salt, and we can go another
inning before 1t gets too wet"
The manager looked at his star pitcher
curiously.
Whats the matter with you?" he
asked, "Aint you satlsehd to win this
game? Look at that lightning! In three
minutes this place will be ahoat, and ac-
cording TO the rules"
Forget the rulesr' snarled Eli, and
paused as Whites spikes bit through his
shoe leather
Shut up" Kissed the catcher Want
| to start something?"
The bleacherites scrambled TO cover.
cheering as they ram and in a heav,,
downpour the third man struck out ami
lsANNu lOA ill0 DtlNI 4AB ne ran, a 1aEReQ,
binding flash ripped across the blackness
which hung over the field and the bottom
fell out of the clouds
Silver Bill Barrett was the last man 10
leave the diamond. Pausing an instant
at the plate, he looked at his watch and
In a stentorian voice which sounded
above the bowling wind and the peItinR
rain. Silver Bill called time
Oily Tom Blake seized the dripping UNI
pire as he hoisted himself into the stand.
IT'S called off, amt it?" demanded
the gambler anxiously. 1T oughtn't 10
go unless they play the full nine innlngsw
Silver Bill reached into his hip pocket
and brought out a well-thumbed volume.
Rule seventy-four, section one," he
beloved IF IL rains for half an hour.
l have the power to terminate the game.
Want to see the book?"
oily Tom did not wish to see the hook
But the bets?" he asked.
They stand, of course!"
Gould they go on and finish the game
In half an hour?" Tom was begging
now.
SAY" demanded the umpire suddenly,
which club have you been betting on?
Finish the game! Man, this amt no rain!
This is a fiood!"
Blake sat down. looked at his watch,
examined the sombre sky, but found no |
comfort there, looked at his watch again,
and then settled down, chin on his chest,
10 the melancholy contemplation OF the |
diamond. fast being turned into a lake |
He was working out a sum in mental |
arithmetic. and the result caused him to |
Vince as IL in pain.
Silver Bill watched the gambler out OF |
the corner of his eye. He also was work.
ing out little problem of his own. over
in one corner of the stand the victorious
Eagles were holding an informal recep.
tion' and Silver Bill Barrett noticed the
tact mat Ell Bates the Incompatible one,
was not celebrating with his fellows. He
sat apart staring out on the field
Silver BIZ was no Sherlock Holmes, but
ne could put two and two together as
well as the next man.
Darkness was settling down over the
city. The storm had spent itself, though
In the distance the lightning winlyed and |
the thunder muttered Two men wers
picking their way down a side street
which led TO the railroad yards.
Wen, Jake" said the red-h headed one |
you've got great business head. i've
got 70 hand It to you!"
That's right" snaFled the man ad-
dressed as Jake. Blame me for III
made It rain, / supposed"
A man came running after them. snIasb-
Ing through the puddles
An hel's loose!" he painted ''Hyer,,
oody In town Is onto US! They got Nav
new soused and he gave up! THEY'LL tar
and feather you bothr'
Jake and the red-headed one looked at
each other with bulging eyes.
Tar and feathera" said Ell Bates
This Is no place for a minister's SOM"
That's what / get." painted Blake. for
listening 70 a pair Of cheap crooks like
youl I've got to jump town. and loss
six thousand bucksP'
over in the railroad yard a heavy
'relght engine began to cough hOarselv
and long string OF empty cars clankedt