The Lamar register., 1920-07-21

obvious reason that he infused life and
20 into the club He was In the game
every minute, playing always for the
team. never for himself
And-hls lips had never known the
taste OF liquor. as Ira Lands orator.
cally said one time at public ban.
quet; neither did the great second
sacker smoke No wonder iris Ford
looked upon him as a model ball play
er and sought his counsel james
Winton Shute sat at the managers
right at the meetings OF the strategy
BOARD.
Events hastened iris FOrd's consul
tation with Win Shute about Barney.
First of ali. Shute was suffering the
tortures of Job with nasty boil on
Ills groin-the one spot where such an
sffiiction can most harass an active
ball player. Iris Ford. sympathetic
to q fault, had told Win to stay out of
the game.
with the team in a batting slump.
the pitching stan wsbbly. aud lead
Of less than two gamesf Not on your
life, iris You may get the umpire to
order me OF the field, but III not quit
for anybody else-get thatf
This gingery dialogue took place In
Chicago. Three days later Barney
Larkin failed 10 show up the after
uoon he was down to pitch. Hawk,
who didn't have the stun, tried to MI
the southpaw's shoes, and the Giant
killers we're beaten-trounced three
games ont of four In the series.
Getting back from the grounds, the
team found Barney in the hotel lobby,
mixing Il up with the hotel porter,
friendly soul who had tried to lure
the full" pitcher into the privacy of
his bedroom. Al sight of iris Ford,
Barney sobered up temporarily and
Iurched into the elevator-and heavily
against Win Shute.
II was the much h-advertised last bale
of straw. Barney's kicking over the
traces and upsetting the chariot OF
victory In such crisis was too much
for James Winton Shute. He spoke
his mind:
IF Ford doesn't tie a can to you to-
morrow the so-called hundredthou.
sand-doiIar infeld will look like a
worth q d-p TO anybody but the un-
dertaker-snd he'd be taking a long
chance, for I don't know who'd give up
a dollar to bury you. You're nothing
but an ordinary bum"
There was split second when II ap-
peared likely Barney would strike
Shute. iris Ford. who had crowded
Into the elevator unseen at the last
moment, seeming trouble. contrived to
worm his way in front Of Barney. lie
gripped the pitchers wrists and held
them like q wise The danger was
averted. But that evening after din.
per. when Shute was sitting In his
room reading. the manager come TO
him and unbosomed himself. To
Esther they discussed Barney's pecu.
liar case from every possible view
point.
you put him In bis right class
bum" began iris.
But I oughtn't to have said IT," ad-
mitted Win.
"Never mind about that-you were
justified In saying most anything
you playing for the club when you
should be In bed"
"Cut that out. Trisl I want the
pennant-wsnt to get into the world
series money again-you know IT,"
$50 do We all OF u.s." agreed Ford.
"And therell be no pennant this
season II we can Barney Larkin-
that's q cinch." Iris Ford suppressed
a sigh OF pure relief He now ven
tured to remark:
"If you boys want me TO let Barney
20, why-he goes You won't have to
say the word twice. It's up to you"
I'VE can't win without him-you
appreciate that iris. He's weak
ling. and we've got to get along with
him somehow or other"
James winton Shute exercised his
gray matter or brief space OF time;
then his face frightened and he pro
posed:
Have q scheme-why not appoint .
keeper for BarneyT'
"a keeperi" iris smiled. but
shook his head.
some one to look after hlm-nev-
er leave him a minute. 'cept when
he's snoring" elaborated Shute.
"'Fraid he wouldn't stand for IT,"
argued Iris: "and IL he did, In a
week he'd lead his keeper astray."