The Washington herald., 1915-05-02
Bv ZANE GREY
Author OF sThe Lone Star Ranger
The Light Of Western Stars." Etc.

shot. Putting my hand on Old Well
Wells shoulder whispered: "Burt's
at bat! He'll break up this game!
l know he's going to lose onel"
The old fellow did not feel my
touch; he did not hear my voice; he
was gazing toward the field with an
expression on his face to which no
human speech could render justice.
He knew what was coming. 1t could
not be denied him in that moment.
How confidently young Burt stood
uprt the plate! None except a nat
ural hitter could have had his posi-
ton. He might have been Wagner
for all he showed OF the tight sus-
pense OF that crisis. Yet there was
tense alert poise to his head and
shoulders which proved he was alive
to his opportunity.
Duveen plainly showed he was
tired. Twice he shook his head to
his catcher, as if he did not want to
pitch certain kind OF ball. He had
10 use extra motion to get his old
speed, and he delivered a high
straight ball that Burt fouled over
the grandstand. The second ball met
a similar fate. All the time the
crowd maintained that strange wait
ing silence. The umpire threw out
glistening white ball, which Duveen
rubbed in the dust and Spat upon.
Then he wound himself up into a
knot, slowly unwound. and swinging
with effort, threw for the plate.
Burt's 1.-THE shoulders swung pow
erfully. The meeting OF ball and
bat fairly cracked. The low driving
hit lined over second a rising gilt
tcring streak, and went far beyond
the center fielder.
Bleachers and stands uttered ono
short cry, almost a groan, and then
stared at the speeding runners. For
an instant, approaching doom could
not have been more dreaded. Ma
COON scored. ClesS was rounding
second when the ball lit If Burt
was running swiftly when he turned
first he had only got started, for then
his long sprintcr's stride heightened
and quickened. At second he was
flying; beyond second he seemed to
merge into a gray fitting shadow.
| gripped my scat strangling the
uproar within me. Where was the
applause2 The fans were silent.
choked as l was, but from differ
ent cause. Cless crossed the plate
with a score that defeated New
York; still the tension never Taxed
until Burt beat the ball home in as
beautiful run as ever thrilled an
audience.
In the bleak dead pause of amazed
disappointment Old Well-Well lifted
his hulking figure and doomed. tow
cred over the bleachers. His wide
shoulders spread, his broad chest ex-
banded. his breath whistled as he
drew it in. One fleeting instant his
transfigurcd face shone with a
glorious light. Then, as he threw
back his head and opened his lips.
his face turned purple, the muscles
of his checks and jaw rippled and
strung, the veins on his forehead
swelled into bullying ridges. Even
the back of his neck grew red.
Observation-Disclosures
Ear-splitting stentorian blast, For
moment was deafcned. But |
heard the echo ringing from the cliff.
a pealing clarion call, beautiful and
wonderful, winding away in hollow
reverberation. then breaking out
anew from building to building in
clear confederation.
4 sea of faces whirled in the di-
rection OF that long unheard yell.
Burt had stopped statue-like as if
stricken in his tracks; then he came
running, darling among the specta-
tors who had leaped the fence.
Old Well-Well stood a moment
with slow glance lingering on the
tumult OF emptyinG bleachers. on the
moving mingling colors in the grand
stand, across the green field to the
gray clad players He staggered
forward and fell
Before | could move, noisy
crowd swarmed about him. some So
licitous. many facctious. Young Burt
leaped the fence and forced his way
into the circle. Then they were
carrying the old man down to the
field and toward the clubhouse.
! waited until the bleachers and
field were empty. When l finally
went out there was crowd at the
gate surrounding an ambulance. l
caught glimpse OF Old Well-Well.
He lay white and still, but his eyes
were open, smiling intcntly. Young
Burt hung over him with a pale and
agitated face. Then bell Changed
and the ambulance clattered away.
The Rube- Is the title of the Live