Evening star., 1924-07-03

per the next question. Can more
than three men face pitcher during
one inning?" He was told that when
no more than three Washington play
ers were allowed to face the pitcher
during one inning there was deep
sobbing and other sounds of great
mourning on the part Of Washington
fans. The more men allowed to face
the pitcher. the merrier, he was told.
Intrigued BY Scoreboard.
About this time John Bull noticed
the electric score board. He evinced
deep and intelligent interest in the
mechanism during the next three in
nings, forgetting the game altogether
He came to life with the question Of
now one can tell what inning is be-
ing played. His attention was di-
rected to the other score board, which
shows the play by innings, not only
OF Washin gton, but Of other teams
His admiration for American ingenu-
lty became unbounded. He asked
where the reporters sat and where
the telegraph instruments were. Then
ne asked who worked the telegraph
instruments, and he seemed satisfied
at thet explanation that the telegraph
operators worked the telegraph in
struments.
Returning to the game, three men
were on base and there were three
pals on the man at bat. The intrica-
cles or the walk" and the way a man
was forced home under certain cir
cumstances were explained So, an
inning later, Johns excitement be-
came intense. There was a man on
nrst and another on third, with three
pals registered on the electric score
board. John was asked to explain his
excitement
Why" he shouted. "one more bally
ball and We get run"
Gag Is Replaced.
This time nearby fans turned
around. and 1T was decided to re-
place the gag and move to a distant
| part OF the grandstand. Meanwhile, it
was explained that there must be
De forced in by "walk-up," as John
neatly put it,
John found out how and why a man
reaches first base, but why he won't
run on foul ball fouled Johns rea-
soning powers, SO to speak. His ey-
| citement became audible everv time a
1oul ball was hit. But he was cast
| INTO the depths of despair when he
| remembered the foolish rules which
forbid a mans taking a base on such
a oeautlful bit of cricket. AS for such
| Ioollshness as men on base not run
nlng on flies into the outfield and
other details such as sacrif1ce hits
punts, double plays-the gag had to
20 resoIted 10 frequently as a pure
precaution.
Blackjack Used.
once a blackjack was used with
teiiinG effect on John when the oppo-
sitlon pitcher, rubbing his hands in
the art, put his glove under an arm
| PIT, temporarily obscuring it from
| the eagle eye of John
| Ah:' exclaimed John with sa it's
faction, he has discarded his mitt. -
What significance John attached
| TO this action could not be learned
| until John completely recovered con-
| sciousness, which was about the
seventh inning, when fans rose and
stretched, as is the custom A quaint
Trick, John ventured, and a very in
terestlng one, but one which he was
| unable to fathom.
After the game. in the middle of
the crowd surging down the run
| ways, Johns guardians relaxed a
moment and John, in a loud voice
| plainly audible on all sides, re-
marked: We'll. SO you think the
| Washingtons will get to the top of
| the race, eh?"
| He was seized by his friends and
| borne to waiting automobile which
dashed through the streets into a
| quiet section of town, where John
| was thrown into narrow alley
barely escaping worse violence at the
| hands of an angry mob, the dull roar
| of which could be heard in the dis
| tance.