Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-10-01
PART lll.-Continued.


Rome remembers to this day what
ensued. The alcoholic eruption ended
shortly after midnight Barney Lar
kin, dirty sweater draped togawise
about his powerful shoulders his head
bare save for wreath filched from
the tomb Of Raphael, paraded up and
down the middle Of the Piazzl dl Spag-
ma, pausing only to cool his brow In
Bernlni's nautical fountain, and pro-
claimed himself Caesar! At his heels
shufled the riffraff, tagrag, and bob
tail Of modern Rome shouting: "Eviv-
va rAmer.lca-now 1t required six
Roman policemen, REINFORCED by a
pair Of Carablneri. to complete his
arrest. The next day he pitched one
of the most effective games of his
careless career
This game was staged in the villa
Borghese, where Rome annually en-
cages in the battle of flowers. 1t
was a rare occasion, honored by the
king Of Italy and his suite, all In brill
liant uniform-especially the repre-
sentative Of the cavalry arm who wore
a long cape of Alice blue. The dlplo-
matte corps contributed quantities of
gold lace to render the spectacle even
more splendid. 1t really transcribed
the posters with which the late
Phineas Barnum was wont to COM
memorate the performances Of his cir
Gus before "the crowned heads Of Eu-
rope" Barney Larkin said 1t beat
pitching on ladies' day with the presi-
dent of the United States looking on
--"beat It all hollow"
Iris Ford was in the kings lOge,
seated next to Victor Emanuel Ill, to
explain the game to his majesty. In
the adjoining box was the American
ambassador. His excellency John Bis
mer had with him Mrs. Leonard and
her daughter, Imogen Leonard. He
had insisted that they be his guests,
and as James Winton Shute offered
no bjectioE-indeed, offered no con-
flicting invtation-the ladies had ac-
cepted.
Baseball history repeats itself. The
Giant-killers went to bat in the last
half of the ninth inning with the score
2 to against them. On the first ball
pitched. Ryan singled-and the king
nodded approvingIy at iris Ford, who
was trying to sit unmoved in his chair.
The Chandeliers then fooled their Op-
ponents-rated as the worlds cham
pions-who figured that Odds, the next
man up, would bunt. Instead of that,
the signal was given for the hit and
run. and Ryan sprinted for second
base at the same time Odds was
swinging at a fast ball. Expecting a
bunt, the first baseman was almost
topped over by the "grass cutter" and
juggled 1t long enough to let the bat
ter get to first and Ryan to second.
A moment later the pair pulled off
the double steal. There was a man on
third, a man on second, and nobody
outl
John Blsmer leaned into the adjoin-
ing box and whispered to Iris Ford :
Exactly the situation in the last game
of the world series y
"One big difference" corrected the
manager of the Giant-killers, there
amt the same lad at bat Watch"
The man who came to bat in the
crisis had familiar bearing. He car
ried himself like a figure known to
this recital. But his face was either
unknown or strangely transformed.
The sporting writer's at home could
have explained this: Those prehistoric
caps worn by the Giant-killers Long
had the homely headgear been con-
demned as something which dated
known as FOUNDERS" but Iris Ford
back to the time when baseball was
wouldn't change. To alter the design
might bring bad luck! Now the man
at bat was glad that there had been no
change. Not a soul-not even hers
would recognize him!
lie shifted around restlessly at the
plate. Hardest man to pitch to in
the league" he was called.
zone ball."
zone strike! I" he had let 1t go by.
He moved about, swung his bat,
raised his shoulders to let out kink
in his muscles, and. quickly but unos-
tentatiously, 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 gasp, for 1t
seemed that the man was rushing In
TO certain destruction. But the agile
youth at bat reached out and deity
tapped the ball 1t rolled with exas-
perating slowness toward the pitcher,
who was hurrying to field 1t.
Up went shout. The tying run
was scored for the Giant-killers And
like uneashed lightning the batsman
was making tracks for first base.
At the same time. rounding third
and never pausing for an instant, the
base runner who had been on second
was coming home. OF course he was
crazy! The pitcher would look up.
see him halfway to the plate, toss the
ball to the catcher, and the foolish
base runner would he an easy out