The Starkville news., 1920-06-04

bulldog The one thing that saved
the enterprise from complete nsol-
vency was the departure of the daily
train for Pittsburgh at one O'Clock in
the afternoon.
iris Ford did not leave PunxSutaw-
ney altogether in cheerful attitude
of mind, Notwithstanding he had cap
tured his quarry, for the directors of
the outlaw club came TO the train In
body and thanked the big-teague man.
ager because he was taking Barney
out of town. Even to the man of iron
nerve this was disquieting.
In the manner told was Barney Lar
kin brought to the Giant-killers' ball
yard, His first appearance, notably
unlike most pitching inaugurals, was
All unalloyed triumph.
Facing Detroit, which club was then
going strong. he let the Tigers down
without a hit. But twenty-seven men
went to bat. and of these Barney
struck out tifteen--a record connneni-
ed upon to this day. In the last inning,
Will l"O Out anu lllt htlllOI1 UdlSl1luIl,
"the Georgia persimmon," at bat, Bar
ney walker toward the grand stand,
stopped, and then motioned the crowd
to go home. "All overl" lie insisted.
The fans roared in delght-and
roared louder still when he struck the
champion batter out. From that mo-
ment Barney Larkin was the idol of
the fans. There were times, many
times, when he caused Bill Dart, who
was fighting disease and death in the
hospital, to be forgotten by the heart
less rooter. The eccentric left-hander
was keeping the Giant-kilers in the
hunt for the pennant.
Also, he was keeping iris Ford
awake nights. No such prize problem
In manhandling had been put up to
Ford in the twenty years of his man
agement. Unerringly iris had sized
up Barney Larkin. The manager knew
that whenever Barney was pitching
alright ball-mowing 'em down--it
was necessary to keep an eye on him
about eighteen hours out of the TWEEN.
ty-four going good" he was most in
clined to give rein to his bad habits.
But when he was in slump he was
not difficult to handle. This was infre,
quent. for he was continually leading
the other pitchers in the number of
games pitched and in games won.
Early in his association with Bar
| nrGin tho - la In mi
killers decided. frs. of ALL that he
must let the unruly pitcher believe he
was fooling his boss. Every excuse
ruSt be accepted as the ungilhed
truth; otherwise Barney would have
to be disciplined and that would mean
in short time his release. Usually
iris Ford was wise" But there was
that episode In st. Louis which ilIu-
inmates Barney's character, wherein
iris was fooled completely.
IT was on the Giant-killers' second
trip West Barney was given an aft
ernoon off. He went at once to sa-
loon near the ball park and started in
by negotiating loan of five dollars
from the proprietor. After the money
had gone into drink for himself and
his hobo admirers, he struck the pro.
prietor for five dollars more.
The saloonkeeper hesitated. AS Sc
curlty for the loan Barney offered 70
hang up" the gold watch fob whicA
adlniring fans had presented to him
In appreciation of his mighty pitch.
Ing. Giving it to the proprietor Bar
ney made this proposition:
You let me have the five, whlch
will make ten owe you, snd ri make
Iris believe I've lost my feb. Then
he'll advertise for 1t and ot'e Il re-
ward of ten dollars"
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