The Washington herald., 1915-05-09
By ZANE GREY

an angry RUDE. the Worcester team
came INTO ITS own again. | sa,
through IT all without another word:
without giving a signal. In wav
realized the awakening of the bleach
erS, and heard the pound of feet and
the crash, but 1t was the spirit OF NV
team that thrilled me. Next to that
the work of my new find absorbed
me. | gloated over his easy, dcceiv-
ing swing. | rose out OF INV seat
when he threw that straight fast ball.
swift as bullet. true As plumb line
And when those hard-hittinc. sure
bunting Bisons chopped in vain at
the wonderful drop, ! chokcd back a
wild yell For RUDE meant the world
TO me that day
In the eighth the score was 8 to &
The BiSons had ono scratch hit to
their credit. but not runner had
got beyond first base. Again Ruhc
hcid them safely. ono man striking
out, another iouling out, and the third
gong out on little fly.
Crash Crash, Crash, Crash, The
hIeaohcrS were making up for MANY
games in which they could not cx-
press their riotous feelings.
Its cInch we'll win" yelled
tan with voice. Rubc was the first
man up in our half of the ninth and
his big bat damned the first ball safe
over second base. The crowd. hun
CRY tor victory. got to their feet and
stayed upon their feet. calling. cheer
ing for runs. 1t was the moment for
ME to get in the game, and ! leaned
up, strung like wire, and white hot
with inspiration. | sent Spears to
the coaching box with orders TO
make Rubc run on the first ball.
gripped Mccall with hands that made.
him vince.
Then ! dropped back on the bench
spent and painting. 1t was only
game, yet it meant so much Little
Mccall was dark as a thunder cloud,
and his tlery eyes snapped He was
the fastest man in the league. and
could have hunted an arrow from a
bow. The foxy Bison third baseman
edged in. Mac tented to bunt to-
ward him then turned his bat inward
and dumped teasing curving ball
down the first base line. Rube ran as
il in seven-league boots. Macs short
legs twinklcd; he went like the wind;
he leaped into first base with his long
slide, and beat the throw
The stands and blcachers seemed
ment the air was full of deafening
sound. Then came the pause. the dy-
ing away of clatter and roar. the close
suspended quiet Spears
clear voice, as he coached Rube, in
its keen note seemed inevitable of an
other run.
Ashwcll took his stand. He was
another left-hand hitter, and against
A right-hand pitcher, in such circum-
stances as these, the most dangerous
Of men. Nane knew it. Ellis, the
Bison captain knew it, as showed
plainly in his signal to catch Rube
It second. But Spears warning held
or frightened RUDE on the bag.
Vane wasted a ball, then another.
Ashwell could not be coaxed. Wear
ly Nane swung; the shortstop raced
out to get in line for a possible hit
through the wide space to his right.
and the second baseman got on his
oes as both base runners started.
Crack! The old story of the hit
hhN NSI"Cll I'LL SIoSSCu
sharply where moment before the
shortstop had been standing. With
gigantic strides RUDE rounded the
corner and scored. Mccall fitted
through second, and diving into third
with cloud of dust, got the UNI
oire's decision. When Stringer hur-
lied up with Mac on third and Ash
IN first the whole field seemed racked
n a deafening storm. Again it sub
sided quickly. The hopes of the
Worcester fans had been crushed too
often of late for them to be fearless.
But | had no fear. ] only wanted
he SUI pense ended. | was like a
nan clamped in wise. Stringer stood
Mac bent low with the
'printers' stoop: Ash watched the
pitchers arm and slowly edged off
irst. Stringcr waited for one strike
md two balls. then he hit the next
t Rugged the first base line, bounced
iercely past the bag and skipped over
he grass to bump hard into the
ence. Mccall romped home, and
anne Ashwell beat any run he ever
made to the plate. Rolling. swelling.
rashing roar of frenzied feet could
lot down the high piercing sustained
'ell of the fans. 1t was great. Three
weeks OF submerged bottled baseball
oy exploded in one mad outburst!
The fans, too, had come into their
'wn again.
We scored no more. But the BIZ
ons were beaten. Their spirit was
'roken. This did not make RUDE let
Up in their last half inning. Grim
nd pale he faced them. At every
ong step and swing he tossed his
hook of light hair At the end he
vas even stronger than at the begin
ling. He still had the glancing.
Dating airy quality that baseball
layers call speed. And he struck out
he last three batters.
In the tumult that burst over my
ars | sat staring at the dots on my
core card. Fourteen strike outs! one
cratch hit! No base on balls since
he first inning! That told the story
which deadened senses doubted.
here was a roar in my ears. Some
me was pounding me. As | strug-
led to get into the dressing room
he crowd mobbed me. But / did not
ear what they yelled. | had kind
f misty veil before my eyes, IN
which | saw that lanky RUDE mag
flied into a glorious figure. l saw
he pennant waving, and the CLEAN of
white cottage through the trees, and
trim figure waiting at the gate.
hen | rolled into the dressing room.
Czr,,houy ~ scrued STRANGE ia me-