The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-06

S~N Aoep vi SOoA 81 shS
finesse of the play, but Berne had
struck out-that was enough for
them.
Callopy, the famous spiker, who had
put many player out of the game
for weeks at time, strobe into the
batter's place, and he, too, was not
at the moment making any funny re-
marks. The RUDE delivered ball that
all but hit Callopy fair on the head. 1t
was the second narrow escape for
him, and the roar he let out showed
how he resented being threatened
with little of his own medicine. As
light have been expected, and very
likely as the RUDE intended, Callopy
hit the next ball, sweeping curve,
up over the inheld.
| was trying to see all the intricate
details of the motive and action on
the field. and it was not easy to watch
several players at once. But while
Berne and Callopy were having their
troubles with the RUDE, I kept the tail
of my eye on Cogswell. He was
providing UP and down the thirdbase
line
He was missing no signs, no indi-
Cations. TO probabilities, no POSSIBLE
tiles. But he was in doubt Like a
hawk he was watching the RUDE, and.
as we'll, the crafty batters. The inning
might not tell the truth as to the
Rubc's luck, though it would test his
control. The Rube's speed and curves.
without any head work, would have
made him a pitcher of no mean abil
ity, but was this remarkable placing
of balls just accident? That was the
question.
When Berne walked in to the bench
/ distinctly heard him say: Come out
of it, you dubs. say you can't work
him or wait him. He's peggin' EN-
out of gun!
Several of the Quakers were stand
ing out from the bench, all intent on
the RUDE. He had stirred them up.
First it was humor; then ridicule,
curiosity, suspicion, doubt. And l
knew it would grow to wonder and
certainty. then fierce attack from both
tongues and bats, and lastly-for ball
players are generous-unstintcd ad-
Somehow, not only the first eli
of a game but the decisions,
the convictions, the regulations of
pitchers and fielders evolve around
the great hitter. Plain it was that the
vast throng Of spectators, eager to be-
Iieve in a new find, wild to welcome |,
a new star, yet loath to trust to their
own impulsive judgments. held them
selves in check until once more the
great Lane had faced the RUDE.
The field grew tolerably quiet just
then. The RUDE did not exert himself.
The critical stage had no concern for
him. He pitched Lane high curve.
over the plate, but in close, ball
meant to be hit and ball hard to hit |
safely. Lane knew that as well as
any hitter in the world, so he let two
Of the curves go by-two strikes.
Again the RUDE relentlesly gave him
the same ball; and Lane, hitting vic
ously, spitefully, because he did not
want to hit that kind of ball. sent
up a fly that Rand easily captured.
ooh. l don't know! Pretty fair, l
yuess!" yelled tenor-voiced fan; and
he struck the keynote. And the bleach
ers rose to their feet and gave the
Rube the rousing cheer of the broth
erhood of fans.
Hoffer walked to first on a base
On balls. Sweeney advanced him. The
Rube sent up giant fly to Callopy.
Then Stats hit safely. scoring the
first run of the game Hoffer crossed
the plate amid vociferous applause.
Mitchell ended the inning with fly
10 Blandy.
What a change had come over the
spirit of that Quaker aggregation! 1t
was something to make a man thrill
With admiration and, if he happened
20 favor Chicago, to fire all his fight
ng blood. The players poured upon
he Rube a continuous stream of
;cathing abuse. They would have
made a raging devil of mild-man-
,ered clergyman. Some OF them were
skilled in caustic wit, most OF them
we're possessed of forked tongues; and
-ogswell, he of thousand baseball
battles, had a genius for infaming
inv one he tormcnted. This was most
v beyond the ken of the audience, and
,ehind the back of the umpire, but
t was perfectly plain to me. The
luakers were trying to rattle the
2ube. trick of the game as fair for
me side as for the other. l sat there
light in my seat, grimly glorying in
he way the Rube refused to be dis
urbcd But the lion in him was ram
,ant. Fortunately, it was his strange
lift to pitch better the angrier he got;
nd the more the Quakers hayed him,
Al IL