The Connecticut labor news., 1921-04-29
A Ball of Yarn It's UnwindinB
THE FLEET-FOOTED FIELDER
By ROBERT RUDD WHITING
THE SkEIN UNRAVELING.


 was something 1 wanted to ask you and Mir. Sinclair before you left said Land lord Little, as soon as Mir. Leary had comfortably arranged his feet on the stove again. When l played baseball on the famous LightfOot Lilies, our nearest rivals for the championship of Jones county. the rcdoubtable Ringtale Roarers, either had didn't have, a man who undoubtedly Was-if there ever was such a nan-the fastest runner that ever ran, or didn't run, as the case may have been. 1 was wondering whether either you or MT. Sinclair, in the course of your extensive travels, had ever run across him? Wyndham Hare, his name was"
 Each shook his head in ncgation.
 At that 1 don't recall the name" said the circus man. Tell us about him, as 1 may have met him at that-if there ever was such man, of course.
 Its a very remarkable story" said the landlord, and he unWOund 'Ihe Yarn of the Fleet-FoOted Fielder:
 "The Lightfoot Lilies first heard of Wyndham Hare in this way: Captain Slugger Burrows and the rest of us were sitting round the pOStOftlce stove one early spring evening when Bull Thomp- son suddenly let out a whistle that would have stopped work in a stamp mill.
 "'Listen to this,' he said, pointing to an article in the baseball column of The Jones County Courier, l have the article here.
 "'The Lightfoot Lilies.' read the Bull, will have their hands full defending the county championship this spring. Their ancient rivals, the Ringtail Roarers, have materially strengthened their already formidable aggregation of ball-tossers by the acquisition of new Outfielder, MT. Wyndham Hare, whom Captain Priest tells us is without doubt the fastest base runner that ever donned a uniform.
 "'Captain Priests attention was first drawn to Mr. Hare under rather re- markable circumstances. While visiting Bloody Gulch, Kansas, he was witness to a street altercation. One of the dis putants suddenly pulled a gun and fired. At the same instant the other man turn ed and fled.
 "'He was as fleet as the bullet. For five blocks he maintained a slight lead. Then he seemed to weaken a little, and for the next few yards the bullet almost touched his coat.
 "'Just as he was nearing the end of the sixth block, however, mighty shout went up from the spectators who had been attracted by the report of the gun, and they crowded around him to extend their congratulations. The bullet had spent its force and lay harmless on the sidewalk, five yards back of the runner. "'Among the first to grasp the hero's hand was Captain Priest Learning that in addition to his wonderful running MT. Hare (fOr Hare 1t was) was something of a ball-player, the shrewd Roarer cap tain signed him on the spot We expect great things of you, Wyndham Hare
 "'Well, now, what do you think of thatr piped up Sammie Salmon when the Bull had finished reading.
 "'Huh!' sneered Slugger Burrows. If you believe everything you hear, you'll get a bee in your ear some of these days and think you're the Franco PrusSian war
 But in spite of this, we knew by the tangled thought ditches on his brow that Slugger was sort of worried himself.
 We could hardly wait for the frost to get out of the ground before we started practice.
 For the next five weeks we scanned The Courier regularly. There was no further mention of the wonderful Hare, and we began to have hopes that there might be nothing Ill the report after all. But on Friday evening of the sixth week, Sam1nie Salmon burst into the postoffice with the latest edition of The Courier, and began to read excitedly. have it here:
 "'The Ringtail Roarers,' read Sam mic, are being greatly hampered in their daily practice for the big match with the Lightfoot Lilies by the heetness of foot of their lately acquired phenomenon Wyndham Hare. We. have 1t from no less authority than Captain Cy Priest himself, that Hare raises so much dust when he skirts the bases that 1t IS fully fifteen minutes before the diamond settles sufficiently for play to proceed. In spite of the loss of practice thus OCCaslOned however, the Roarers are confident oi pulling up the Lilies by their roots wher the proper time comes.'
 Well, sir, as you can imagine, that little item sort of put a damper or things, and set each man to thinking pretty hard on his way home that night.
 "The thing that capped the climax though, was a letter that Slugger go from Cy Priest the week before tht game.
 My dear Burrows,' Priest wrote you have undoubtedly seen mention II the public prints of the incredible speed of our new outhelder, Wyndham Hare The reports of his raising so much dus that we have to wait fifteen minutes fol the diamond to settle before reSumIn& play err only on the side of conservatism Therefore, knowing that you are the las man to wish our contest next Saturda, to terminate prematurely on account O darkness, 1 appeal to you to have thu baSe-line macadamized and to make ar engagements with the town watering-c car to sprinkle the grounds between innings Should this plan meet with your ap proval, as 1 feel sure it will the Ring tail Roarers will gladly bear half tn expense thus incurred
 "'YourS for the welfare of the ma tional game-Cyrus Priest
 "'Of course you'll do it, venturec Samme Salmon.
 "'Of course I Won't,' said Slugger If this Windy Hare guy raises suCl dust-clouds that the base-line gets up il the air, why, let him go ahead and do 1t Unless the next man up can fly, I'll hav him declared out for running out o base-Ine Do you think I'm going t have Lily Park all torn u0 and lose tn last week of practice just to please C. Priest?
 Ut was with anything but conhdenc that we trotted on the field the day o the big contest.
 Say Cap whispered Salmon, If h hits the ball at all. I suppose we'd bes field right to the plate. There Wouldn' be any hope of getting it to third ahea of him, would there?
 Play the game as you always pHa