The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-04-14
THE DOUBLE SQUEEZE
BY Henry Beach Needham
Copyright 1915, Doubleday, Page q Co.

II required six Roman policemen
10 complete his arrest. The next
day he pitched one of the most Of.
footlyo games OF his careless career.
This game was staged IN the
villa BorgheHe, where Rome an.
nually engages IN the Battle OF
Flowers. II was rare occasion.
honorod by the King OF Italy and
his suite.
iris Ford was in the Kings loge,
seated next 10 Victor Emanuel III.
10 explain the game 10 his Majesty.
In the adjoining box was the Amer
lean Ambassador. His Exccllency
John Bismer had with him Mrs.
Leonard and her daughter. Imogen
Leonard. lie had insisted that they
be his guests. and as James Winton
Shutc offered no oblection--ln indeed,
offered no conflicting invitation
the ladies had accepted.
Baseball history repeats itself.
Tho GiantkillerB went to bat in
the last half OF the Nkpth inning
with the score to l against them.
On tho first ball pitched. Ryan
slngled-and the King nodded APP
proyinsly at Iris Ford. who was try
ing 10 sit unmoyed In HIS chair.
The Giantkillers then fooled
their opponents--rated as the
WORLDS championship figured
that Odds, the next man up, would
bunt. Instead of that. the signal
Was given for the lift and run. and
Ryan sprinted for second base a,
the same time Odds was swinging
at a fast ball.
Expecting a bun'. the first base.
man was almost toppied over by
the grass cutter" and juggled II
long enough 10 let the batter get
10 frat and Ryan 10 second. A mo.
ment later the pair pulled off the
double steal. There was a man on
third. a man on second, and nobody
out.
John Blsmer leaned into the sd-
Joining box and whispered 10 iris
Ford Exactly the situation In the
last game OF the World Series"
One big difference" corrected
the manager. there amt the same
lad at bat Watch"
The man who came 20 bat In the
crisis had a familiar bearing. But
his face was either unknown or
strangely transformed. The sport.
ing writers at home could have ex.
planned this:
Those prehistoric caps worn by
the Giantkillers, Long had the
homsly headgear been condemned
ss something which dated back 10
the time when baseball was known
an FOUNDERS" but Iris Ford
wouldn't change. To alter the de-
sign might bring bad luck, Now
the man at bat was glad that there
had been no change Not a soul
not the soul--wonid recognize him,
He shifted around restlessiy AZ
the plate. Hardest man TO pitch
10 In the league he was called.
One ball"
One strike'" he had let Il 20 BY.
lie moved about. swung his bat.
raised his shoulders 10 let out a
kink In HIS muscles, and. quickly
bu, unostentatiously. pulled down
the visor OF his cap.
Instantly the runner on third
edged off the bag. more and more.
and the moment the pitcher lifted
his arms and began TO wind UP he
dashed for the plate. There was a
gasp. for II seemed that the man
was rushing in TO certain destruc-
ton. But the agile youth ut bat
reached out and deftiy tapped the
BALI II rolled with exasperating
slowness toward tho pitcher, who
was hurrying to field IL.
Up went a shout The tying run
was scored for the Ciant.killers,
And like unleashed lightning the
batsman was making tracks for
first base.
AZ the same time. rounding
third and never pausing for an In
slant. the base runner who had
been on second vas coming home.
OF course he was crazy. The
pitcher would look up. see him half
way TO the plate. toss the ball to
the catcher. and the foolish base
runner would be an easy out.
But the pitcher was ratified. Al
ready the score had been tied. He
must make sure OF one putoat So.
blindly. he wheeled and threw the
ball 10 first base. The man who
hunted was out by inches. But
runner had flashed over
the plate'
The Giant.killers had won,
when Il was explained TO him, the
King congratulated Iris Ford. The
next thing John Bismer got the
ear:
THAT proves it--proves you
have the best team. With the king
OF second basemen in the game
you would have won the worlds
championship-sure''
In grotto OF the Borehese
Gardens they met right after the !
game. With his uniform there was
no mistsking his profession. |
Courageously. but not with much |
he had submitted to
the test. n he was TO lose out In |
the Important Game. as he had |
come TO think OF mating. he would |
be seen playing for all he was
worth. And he had so played-had
never played better in his brilliant I
service on the diamond
You know now-l'm a ball play. !
err" he said.
And Won kpou--I'u n sstapnr' f" :