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S THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING, MAKUH y, 1U13. IfltLEI OF TOE MB LEE , If C. L Ml Lil II imcu have many friends and some have few? 3 are baseball umpires." (Kind regards to ud.) )ire is, as a general tiling, a human being, the same leanings toward friendly intcr h his fellows, tho same universal desire lor i, tho same hopes, tho same ambitions, tho ws which stir his moru Xoriunato brethren; is a good umpire, ho will button all those cfullv underneath his blue serge jacket be ilks out on the field, liggiue was an umpire of the old school there arc still a few of them left, even howl because their eyesight is not what it edged his way into an umpire's mask ing a ciiTcful study of tho national pastime I years. Like all great men, he began on its, climbed into a minor league, and thence ig show." There is no royal road to tho icnce occupied by a big-lcaguo umpire, the must first make good, and then, keep ou VHiggins became an umpire he -was some- never mind what; it -was enough for you lat Con O'Higgins' waB always respectable, utter what his business, you may rest as he attended strictly to' it during business ring other umpires very closely, Cornelius b to avoid when he began his long climb and lot upward toward tho limelight of tho is observod that the umpire who traveled e car with tho ball players, stopped at the , joined in the same nightly fanning bees, tho same bar rail, made the great mis itablishing confidential relations with the play ho wan paid to judget and conscquent 3 difficulty in separating himself from them icld. m't be .one of the boys and an umpire le time," remarked. Mr. Cornelius O'Hig right, for if a ball player, in the sudden ssion, inclines to wnllop an umpire on the ; more than likely to wallop the nose of i whom ho regards as his close personal race this impulse to its source, and you t lies in tho same kink of human nature :os some married mon uglier to their they would daro to bo to any other living iggins decided that ho would nevBr make of becoming too friendly with tho boys; y he did not seem to know tho first name in an' league. It was "Mistor This" and hat" with Con at all times, and a ball pt to hesitate before walloping an umpire s address him as "Mister." The sort of nsanity is likely to come quite high, and i?s idea to make familiarity so expensive ould afford to indulge in it. ck in the old days, when O'Higgins made jw to a big-leaguo grandstand, there was y ball than thcro is at tho present day. res bore reputations as fighters, and do n. Con camo in from the bushes with the if a very fine reputation, of his own, with fists had nothing whatever to do. 8 owed his big-league appointment to one aptain and manager of the toughest figbt i the league. This man knew Con, had work on several occasions, and believed d the makings of a great umpire, so he tho fact in the proper quarters, and Cor ggins camo on to tho big town for his trjr tiot know it, but the league- president had in. tho grandstand on the day of his initial They were on hand to note tho attitude ;tmg captain-manager, whom we will dis II Shertliff, toward the bush umpire whom mmended. a reputation himself, mostly bad, when it :aliugs with umpires. Bill was a fright me to handling the poor, miserable judge bulldozor, a bluffer, a loud talker, a but r, and a nose puller. And the boss of the quite naturally interested in getting a attitude of Bill Shertliff toward tho tim ho had made, and vice versa. It would bo Sill to "try to own O'Higgins from the it big-league game took placo on Bill Short, grounds; Now, in those davs there was forbidding the pitcher to "warm up," or ball about in practice, while in the box. fi was forced to jump a cold pitcher into and tho. manager instructed this pitcher up" bctorc delivering a ball to the bat !!eiiiiff!Saia Gn WarnJn' now ai manager cursed tho rules, and yelled: and throw that ball!" il" said O'Higgins. "If ho throws that cost him ten, and it will cost you twonty atteiition to this new umpire," said Qhert ISfnffi'"0? thQ "' and U s "tamed, pialcd him to continue, said O'Higgins. "Every ball ho throws st him twenty-five, and you one hundred, may as you like, because this fine is g0?ng a long story short, 0'HigginB's only friend league paid into the trSLiry th" 8u f ed and twenty five dollars for warming liars to be warmed, which, it is presumed iid. Shortliir was too stubborn Wilt but a balls was about all he was willing to game, he crossed over behind O'JIiWinK reel something in his oar JilSf?in all right, feller," said Bill Shertliff. "But mGAmGHER 1 iKr Jgontlnned From Preceding Page.) CdoH? li'tUh?Rnait3 th0,r men fii i nt nls shoulders. sovL-rrn ofa,td sta,Pe that lo- Wly-IniinoMhPJ tI,:1nie" stood as help- fiBost?oti,prc,f !U5 tll0UK" they liad scon "JK Of tl,J SXn a rU8h ,Ilt0 Ule- ir aL'nioleifflcers and were beaten M?".,f?.Va"'ong Into tho Hta Is, among Mvia thl S attl0' and 3tl other fflBaren to if,. n 170 'iCe a"d begged like h Inu,, , ,"llovvefl to eacapo. C or 'ell and tho mid !3Mk tnl ,vhl.c" hc liad been lying. Wtina ant ?.?oor- He was out ot It In la?lf iir88 the room and at rtStha mnmL, lte a Tho murderer, 3Kwo. ' waa th0 calmer man or iSo' L1'0 VKjxtrt, "hands o(T, now, Smt'l nn0 ,for a "ilH violence iJ la thn,7Ca2iai"v1 ln lokinK at a wJaVrirt. ? a hundred-dollar 'Kut nfBfit.i-and-i5Ttak0 lt and lot me flRp- ono ,0llrir. th detftctlvc only held him th "Ly r burglary," ho whls JK witfcLhl3 br"th. "You've Kot to TOU dmnCi th et,ter f0r b0th Of S- 9WnWftaUthori.ti'- . U 6 a11 regular, and !4lBPniiiii ,no )Jand from Hado'o throat SJKt P of hondcu"3' from his ' jJKfl a41,mlBtake. This Ib an outrage," ZMFrl1 murderer, white and trcm 'SKic in dfully allvo and desperato lS vil lorily- , Let mb BO. I teli you! 'JK yffJlanila off of mo! Do I look S-yiM. you fool?- tSUSSStha ??,u .ok ,lko'" whlBperod H f,lv' with his face clono to the l1.K.t ujB Prisoner. "Now, will you go 1WJ.whnaH.rglar' or H,lall 1 tell these Awno you- are and what I do want Behind the Mask I had to get that pitcher warm, aud I'm willing to pay for it. You'ro some umpire." And that was exactly what the scouts reported to the head of the league." That great man roared with delight when lie learned that Shertliff 's own umpire liad fined him four hundred and twenty-five dollars in his very first game, and the president wisely decided that he need havu no fear that tho new man would allow his judgment to be shaded by the fact that Shertliff had got him the .job. Later, Con O'Higgins decided that fining ball play ers was a poor way to enforce discipline. He began sending men to the clubhouse, and putting scrappy players out of games. The3 preferred the fines, put Con had it figured out in his own mind that punish ing a ball plnycr's wife by taking her husband's money away was not exactly fair to the wife. They were not long in finding out that O'Higgins could jerk his thumb toward tho clubhouse in nine different languages. You may fine a ball player fifty dollars, and he will forgive you; but if you put him out of a close game he will remember it from onj end of the season to the other. Before the new man had officiated in a dozen games, ho had established himself as an umpire of big-league timber. The players knew him for a mon who would stand no foolishness, a man who said a thing as if he meant it, said it once, and after that pointed toward tho clubhouse. The 'league "lawyers" found it was no use to try and bluff him about rules. Con know tho rule book from cover to cover, upside down, backward both ways from tho middle. When ho rolled out an extract from the ball players' law, ho delivered it as if tho weight of tho entire league stood at his back liko a stone wall. It was no uso trying to scare him. The old Game cocks tried it once put on their famous mob scene, with the full strength of tho company. O'Higgins pointed toward tho clubhouse until their infield was riddled like a sieve, and the Gamecocks finished that game with five pitchers in tho line-up, and were beau tifullv walloped in consequence. "jtfever again!" said tho captain of the Game cocks. "This guy throw so many men out of tho game that we camo near having to put a uniform on the bat boy! He ain't got no heart, at all, this um pire; but he has got cast-iron bowels!" The players got on well enough with O'Higgins after they' found that they could neither fight him nor make friends with him. So far as a ball plaj'er could see, Con had no more human emotion than the steel mask which ho wore. Ho attended strictly to his business while on the field, that business being to see that the ball players attended to their.?, and beforo ho had Ijeon in the league six weoks he broke tho hearts of tho rowdies by making them wear a path toward the clubhouse. Tho managers screamed, some of the partisan fans roared for 0JHiggins.'s blood; but the great public at large which is generally fair, no matter what any one may say respected the new umpire, while appre ciating tho fact that he gave them fast, clean games, free from wrangling and riots. Tho league Taised his salary, and offered him a long term contract, which he accepted, after cautiously stipulating for a sliding scale of remuneration. In words of fow syllables, and for a summing up of tho whole mntter, one might say that Cornelius O'Higgins, big-leaguo umpire, said good-bye to friend ship, and chose respect rather than fellowship as the hard, cold foundation upon which to build his career. From the first week, O'Higgins was a mystery. The ball players never know which train he took, never know which hotels he favored with his modest presence. All they knew of him was that he would, be on hand in time for the opening of tho game, stiff and severe in his Dlain blue serge uniform. When the last man went out, O'Higgins would disappear into tho grandstand on his wav "to the little room whero he changed his clothes. All his conver sation while on the field was about business; ho never wasted a word, never commenting upon a play, never allowed anj'thing rcmotcl' rosembling familiarity. All the little duties which went with the job were scrupu lously performed; O'Higgins nover slighted anything, and in time tho reporters came to call him "Reliabil ity." It was only natural that the shell which O'Hig gins built for himself should hardon and thicken with the passage of years. The man began by denying himself friendship with any ono inside the organiza tion which paid him a salary; this self-denial grow into tho fixed habit of his life. His taciturn demeanor became a sort of a tradition of the league. Had Con O'Higgins smiled upon tho hall field, the players would have spread the news from one end of the Incr circuit to the other. Time made of him a gruff, surly machine, tabulating balls and strikes with a keen eye, and Tendering his docisions with automaton-like motions of his hands. During the months of play, O'Higgins was perhaps the most lonely man who witnessed tho games; but if lie felt his isolation he never gave any sign. The president of the league had about two or three talks a year with his star umpire usually about new -rules. Rarely O'Higgins offered a suggestion, and it was always a good one. Tho league president depended upon his judgment, stood behind him in his dealings with managers and players. The president gained tho idea ho nover said how that O'Higgins was a married man. Ho was cer tain that mail would roaoh him during the winter months if addressed to a small Michigan town. The wholo Icacuo chanced during O'Higgins 's te nure of office. The ball players who wero the bright stars of tho zenith declined, and faded away into the minor leagues. Tho veteran umpires of his early days dropped out and invested their savings in small business coucerns; evon the managers changed, and the franchises shifted about; but old Con O'Higgius always reportod for duty in the springtime, as reg ular as the month of April. you for? Shall I call out your real name or not? Shall I tell them? Quick, speak up; shall I?" There was something- so exultant something bo unnecessarily Havago In tho officer's face that tho man bo held saw that the detective knew him for what he really was, and tho hands that had hold his throat slipped down around his Khoulders, or ho would havo fallen. The man's eyes opened and closed again, and he swayed woakly backward and forward, and choked as Jf Ills throat wero dry and burning. Even to uuch a hardened connoisseur in crlmo as Gal letjhor, who stood closely by. drlnklm? lt ln, there was eomothinfr so abject in the man's terror that he regarded him with ( what was almost a touch of pity. "For God's sake," Hado begged, "let me so. Come with me to my room and I'll slve you half the money. I'll divide with you fairly. We can both got away. There's a fortune for both of us there. "We 'both can got away. You'll be rich for llfo. Do you understand for life!" But tho detective, to hin credit, only shut hia Hps the tighter. "That's enough," he wlspered, in re turn. "That'o moro than I expected. You've sentenced yourself already. Come!" Two officers in uniform barred their exit at tho door, but Hertleflnger smiled easily and howed his badge. "Ono of Byrncs's men," ho said, in ex planation; "came over expressly to take this ohap. He's a burprlar, 'Arlle Lano, alias Carleton. I've shown the papers to tho" captain. It's all regular. I'm just goinjr to get hlu traps at the hotel and walk Wm over to tho station. I guess we'll push right on to New York tonight." Tho officers nodded and smiled tholr admiration for the representative of what is, perhaps, the best detective force In the world, and let him pass. Then Hefflonnger turned and apoko to Gallagher, who njIU stood nt watchful as a dog at his aldo, "I goln't go to his room to got the bonds and ntuff," he avhtspercd; "then I'll march him to the station and take that train. I've done my share: don't forget yours." "Oh. you'll get your monoy right enough," sold Gallcgher. "And, sa-ay," ho added, with the appreciative nod of an expert, "do you know, you did It rather well." Mr. Dwyer had boon writing while the raid was settling down, as ho liad been writing whllo waiting for the light to begin. Now ho walked over to whef"e the other corresiondonls stood in angry conclave. "Don't bo an ass, Scott," said Mr. Dwyer, who was too excited to be pollto or -politic. "You know our being hero iBn't a matter of choice. We camo hero on business, as you did, and you've no right to hold us." "If wo don't get our atutf on tho wlro at once." protested a Now York man. "we'll be too lato' for tomorrow's papor, and " Captain Scott said he did not caro a profanely small amount for tomor row's paper, and tliat all ho knew was that to the statlonliouse the newspaper men would go. There they would have a hearing, and If the mnglsLrate choso to let them off, that was the magis trate's business, but that his duty was to take them into custody. "But then it will bo too lato. don't you understand?" shouted Mr. Dwyer. "I can't do It. Mr. Dwyer," said tho captain, "and that's all Jhere 1h to lt. Why, haven't 1 just sent the president of tho Junior Republican club to the patrol wagon, tho man that put this coat on me, aiul do you think I can let you fellows go after that? You wore all put under bonds to keep tho peaco not throe days ago. and hero you're at it righting like badgers. It's worth my place to let ono of you off." What Mr. Dwyer eaid next was so un complimentary to the gallant Captain Scott that that overwrought individual seized tho sporting editor by thu shoul der, and shoved him Into the hands of two of his men. This was more than tho distinguished Mr. Dwyer could hrook, and lie excited ly raised his hand In resistance. But beforo ho had time to do anything fool ish his wiiot was gripped by one strong, little hand, and he was conscious that another was picking the pocket of his great-coat. Hu slapped his hand-'i to his sldGS. and looking down, saw Galleghor stand ing close behind him and holding him by tho wrist, Mr. Dwyer had forgot ten tho boy's existence, and would have spoken sharply if something in. Galla gher's Innocent ayes' had not stopped him. Callegher's liand was still in that pocket, in which Mr. Dwyer had shoved his notebook tilled with what ho had written of Gallagher's work and Hade's final capture, and with a ruiuilng de scrlptlvo account of tho tight. With his uy?H flxod on Mr. Dwyer, Galleghor I drew 1L out. and with a quick move- They called him "old" Con, but he was not old, as years go somewhere between fort' and fifty; but he seemed older and on his weather-beaten coun tenance there appeared the hard lines we sometimes sec upon the faces of our judges tho stern carvings of conscious authority. After Con's tenth year in the big league, the wise young .managers 3nd the players began to look for sign of a let-down. Each spring they expected to sec "the old man" go to smash on balls and strikes, the crucial test for aged eyes. They expected to sec th old hardshell begin to '''guess," as tho others had done beforo enforced retirement. They were disap pointed. O'Higgins remained tho best umpire in the league on balls and strikes, and when it came to "getting on top of a play" on tho bases, none of the youngstors could outfoot him. This was a disappointment, for O'Higgins did not soften with the years. He grew harder. As one of the crack pitchers expressed it: "You don't dare look cross-eyed at the old galoot these days or he'll throw you out of tho game. Who does he think he is? Tho owner of the league, or the fellow who invented baseball?" O'Higgins was not. popular. The ball players thought lie was too stern, aud too fond of showing his author ity. They would have been glad to see him give way to a younger man. who 'might, on occasions, listen to roason, or "stand for" an argument on the field. Tho crowds hud never really loved O'Higgins. be cause there was nothing about the public side of his charactor which attracted anything like affection or noisy cnthusiasm A cigar store Indian is a good sign, and faithful to duty in all sorts of weather; but nobodv over gave three cheers for one. Look up the public idol? of tho day you will find them very human, and full of faults, which may be the very reasons that make idols of them. They are so much like' tho rest of us. Poor old O'Higgins chose respect and confidence a cold, but solid, backing and vounger umpires el bowed him aside in the face for public favor. But the league president the third one since O'Higgins's arrival in fast companj' advised the younger men to ropy O'Higgins 's stylo as much as possible. None of them ever succeeded. Tho thirteenth year brought trouble with the um piring staff. There were throe new men to bo tried out, aud it is a great deal harder to find a good um pire than it is -to discover a new left-handed pitcher. If you do not believe that, ask the next baseball mag nate who happens to run across you in his Prcnch tour, nig car. One of tho new men was incompotent, and tried to blufl his way through. Ho failed. Another had not the requisite amount of firmness necessary to handle oighteen high-strune athletes. Ball plaver's are like colts; they know by instinct whether the driver knows his business or not. The third man was only passable, and six towns were howling about incompe tent umpiring. Along in Juno, when the race was stiffening, Joe Kerrigan, a veteran of long service, went all to smash, and interested parties had no trouble in proving that Joo s 'eyesight was ver-, very bad. Joe took his broken heart into tho saloon business, and it seemed as if the very devil himself was after the bic-leairue umpiring staff. b It was at this time that Cornelius O'Higgins in his old derby hat and double-breasted gray traveling suit, put in an appearance at tho office of tho pres ident of the league. "Mr. Daly," said O'Higgins, "I've never asked any favors of you" "Go to it!'' said the young president. "What's on your mind?" f 'I want to ask you if you can let mo take ten days off." J Tho president leaned back in his swivel chair, aud roared until ho was red in tho faco. Boiled down to a thick froth, the extract of his wail was to tho effect that the league was in the worst shape it had ever boon from tho standpoint of competent umpiring and that duty d-u-t-y demanded that Mr. CHicrmns should stay at his post. '"I k.now that," said O'Higgins earnestly. "But this is important." "Maybe this league isn't important!" interjected the president. Then he talked facts, and backed them up with tigurns. The race was close; O'Higgins, as the best umpire m the business tho salvo was passed without a nod was scheduled to care for tho impor tnn,tam.08' Tt was impossible to spare him "But if -ou knew" "I know that Kerrigan is out," said the president. I know that Harding am t worth his salt; I know that Panning hasn't mado good! I know that all the towns in the league are howling: 'Umpire! Umpire!' st icfo 'an' we caQ,t sparo youl You'VG eot 10 O'Higgins did not press the point. He accepted tho situation, made no explanation, and went away at last, lookincr gray and old. As President Daly watched his veteran umpire slip through the door, it struck him that O'Higgins had aged since the beginning of the season. O'niggins had come to Now York to officiate in the series between the New York club and the Red' both fighting for first place. His assistant would bo young Harding, a youngster from a western leaguo good on balls and strikes, but lacking tho firm hand in a pinch. A great deal deponded upon tho series between the two clubs, and Daly hoped that Hardin" would bo benefited by his association with so steady an umpiro as O'Higgins. The day after the opening series, evorv morning paper in New York called attention to the fact that the homo club might: have won tho game but for some very rotten decisions by the veteran, O'Higgins. Ho had allowed three of the Reds to walk when it seemed that the New York pitcher had fanned them with balls across the corners of the plate. nient shoved it Inside hs waistcoat. Mr. Dwyer gave a nod of comprehension, alien, glancing at his two guardsmen, and tlnding that they were still inter ested ln the wordy battle of the corre spondents with their chief, and had seen nothing, he stooped and whispered to Galleghor: "The forms are locked at twenty minutes to three. If vou don't get there by that time It win'he of no use, but If you're on time you'll beat th ft town and tho country, too," .Galleghcr's eyes Hashed significantly, and nodding his head to show he un derstood, started boldly on a run toward the door. But the ofllcura who guarded It brought him (q tin abrupt halt, and, much to Mr. Dwyor's astonishment, drew from him what was apparently u torrent of tmrs. "Let mo ko to mo father. I want mo father." the boy shrieked, hyslorlcallv, "They've 'rested father. Oh, daddy, daddy They're a-goin to take you to prison." "Who is your father, sonny?" asked one of tho guardians of the gate. "Keppler's me father," sobbed Galle ghor. "They're a-goln' to lock him up, and I'll never see him no more. ' "Oh. y;s, you will." said the ofllcer, good-naturedly; "he's there in that first patrol wagon. You can run over and say good night to hlin, and then you'd better got to bed. This ain't no place for kids of your ago." "Thank you, sir," sniffed Galleghor. tearfully, as tho two ofllcers raised their clubs, and let him pass out into the darkneas. The yard outside was In a tumult, horses wore stamping, and plunging, and backing tho carriages into ono an other; lights wero Mashing from every window of what had boon apparently an uninhabited house: and tho voices of the prisoners wero still raised in angry expostulation. Three police patrol wagons wnro mov ing about the yard, filled with unwill ing passengers, who sat or stood, packed together like Hhoep, and with no pro tection, from the elect and rain. Gallegher stole off into a dark corner and watchod the scono until his eye sight became familiar with the position of the land. Then, with his cyoa fixed fearfully on tho swinging ight of a lantern with which an officer was searching among the carriages, ho groped his way be tween horses' hoofs and behind the wheels of carriages to the cab which lie had himself placed at the furthermost One writer contributed a long article, pointing out that .roe Kerrigan had just been dropped because of tho infirmities of age. and Joe. so the writer stated, was n babe in arms comparod with O'Higgins, the Me (husclah of the staff Others were inclined to believe that the old man had had an off da-, but none attempted to disguise the fact that his umpiring had been very, very bad. Business took Daly out of town the next day, but lie read the accounts of the game in the New" York papers. O'Higgins. workinc on the bases, had made three decisions which the critics agreed wero the worst ever seen on tho grounds, and the last, one had led to a riot. All tho papers commented on tho fact that though surrounded by angry ball players, some of whom had laid hands upon him, O'Higgins liad ordered nobody from the field. It was opcnlv charged that O'Higgins was going to pieces ou a critical se ries. "O'Higgins Loses His Nerve!" said the head lines. Daly fired a lone telegram at his secretary, and finished his business as soon as possible, returning to New York in time for the fourth stjuic, The base ball population of Now York was in an uproar. O'Higeins, the reliable, had marred three games by execrable decisions and the New Yorker? felt that but for his decisions they might have won a 1 1 three games, instead of dropping two to their rivals. "Well," said Daly to his secretary, "how was it? As bad as they say?" "Worse," was the answer. "Tf T didn't know 0 'Higgins. for a sober man, I'd say he'd been drunk on tho field. You never saw such ball and strike decisions in your life; tho teams arc all up in the air, and he doesn't use any authority whatever, .fust lets 'ein rave. I think the old man's head is going,. Pete." " b "I've been at his hotel every day at loast twice," said the secretary, "but I haven't" caught him, and when I saw him after tho game last night lie wouldn't talk to mo at all. Just climbed on a car and went down town. They tell me at the hotel that he has been getting two and three telegrams a day. He's iu trouble of some sort." '1 wonder if that old rascal has been speculating?" said the president. "I'm going out to the game this afternoon." The president was not iu his box when time was called. He had no wish to answer the thousund and one questions of the reporters, some of whom wore firing them at him in the columns of the papers. Was it true that ho intended to take action on O'Higgms's evident collapse? Had he been fully informed of his work in the past throe days? Did he not know that it was worse than Kerrigan's? The president would see for himself before he made up his mind. The game began with Harding behind the bat, and O'Higgins on the base lines. The bleacherites hooted and yelled ns the old fellow walked to his placo. They advised him to see an oculist; they offered to buy him a yellow dog to lead him back and forth from the ball park, and they laid at his feet the loss of the two games, and asked him what he was going to do about it. . Por three innings, a child might have umpired the bases; the decisions mado themselves, wide open as a barn door. Then, in the fourth, camo tho trouble. Now York put two men on the bases, with two down, and McCuc, the shortstop, rolled a slow, twisting grounder between first and secoud The runner on third dashed for the plate, the runner on second flashed toward third. It was up to McCue to boat the throw to first, and New York could not have had a speedier man on the path. It was plain that tho decision would be a close one, for tho second baseman had to travel some dis tance to reach the ball, and nothing but a perfect throw would beat ATcCue. Tho infieldcr scooped tho ball, juggled it from his glove to his bare liand, and then whipped it, to first. It seemed to every New Yorker in the stand thnt McCuc's spikes patted tho bag before the ball thudded into the first baseman's hands it seemed to tho Reds, fighting desperately on the defensive, that the ball and foot arrived at the same time, in which case it is safe enough for us to assume that Medio should havo had the decisionf . O'Higgins, racing with the play, spread both hands downward as he ran, seemed to hesitate for an in stant, and then jerkod his riedit. hand high into tho air. He had done tho worst thing an umpiro can do reversed a close decision, and callod McCue out after making the "safe" sign. The roar of joy which greeted tho first motion of O'Higgins's hands changed to a howd of rage. "Robber! ttobher!" "Oh, you'ro rotten! Rotten!" "Back to the Old Men's home for yours!" "Hey, you called him safe at first! Think again! " The infuriated spectators were rocking the grand stand with their hoots and catcalls, and tho Now York pla3-ers swarmed into the diamond, yelling thuir protest against the changing of the decision. Thore are times when an umpire changes a base decision, usually when tho basomau drops the ball, after making a catch. In this case the catch had been clean and it was plain to every fan inside the fence that O'Higcrins's judgment liad wavered he had taken a second thought, and that second thought had cost tho New York club n run. Hewitt, who had been coaching off first base, seized O'Higgins by the arm and shook him. The other players jammed about him on all sides, pluck ing at his clothes and veiling into his cars. If he had been the old O'Higgins he would' have sent three or four men off the field, and backed up his deci sion with penalties. Tic did nothintr of the kind, but remained in the storm center, shaking his head. "Lost his nerve;" thoucht the president bitterly. "And that was a rotten decision!" The Reds, saved by a miracle, trooped to the visi tors' bonch, sneering over thoir shoulders. No decision is a bad decision to the team which it favors. At last the game wont on again, but O'Higgins seemed miles at sea. He floundered hopelcssh'. made gate. It was still there, and the horse, as he had left It, with Its hend turned toward the city, Galleghor opened the big gate noiselessly, and worked nerv ously at the hitching strap. Tho knot was covered with a thin coating of Ice, arul lt was several minutes before .he could loosen lt. But his teeth tlnally pulled It apart, and with the reins in his hands ho sprang upon tho wheel. And as he stood so, a shock of fear ran down his back like an electric current, his breath loft him, and ho stood Im movable, gazln.g with wide eyes into tho darkness. The ofllcer with tho lantern had sud denly loomed tip from behind a carriage not fifty feet distant, and was standing perfectly still, with his lantern held over his head, peering so directly toward Galleghor that the boy felt that he must see him. Galleghor stood with one foot on the hub of the wheel and with tho other on the box waiting to spring. It seemed a minute beforo either of them moved, and then tho officer took a stop forward and demanded sternly, "Who Is that? What are you doing there?" There was no time for parley then. Gallegher felt that he had been taken In the art, and that his only chance lay ln open flight. Ho leaped up on the box. pulling out the whip as he did so, and with a quick sweep lashed tho horse across thu head and back- The animal sprang forward with a snort, narrowly clearing the gale post, and plunged off Into the darkness. "StopI" cried the officer. So many of Callegher's acquaintances among the 'longshoremen and mill hands had been challenged in so much the same manner that Galleghor know what would probably follow lr the chal lenge was disregarded. So he slipped from his seat to the footboard below, and ducked his head. Tho three reports of a pistol, which rang out briskly from behind him. proved that Ids early training had given him a valuable fund of usuiul miscel laneous knowledge. "Don't you be scared," ho said, re assuringly, to the horse; "he's firing lit tho air." Tho pistol Hhots were answered by the Impatient clangor of a patrol wagon's gong, nnd glancing over hJs shoulder Gallegher saxv Its red and green lan terns tossing from sldo to side and looking In tho darkness like the side lights of a yacht Plunging forward in a storm. "I hadn't bargained to race you two frightful guesses on simple decisions at second fH base, kept the crowd in an uproar; aud at the bitter jH end was escorted to his dressing room by tho po- iH lice, for the home team liad lost the game by one run the run which O'Higgins took away from the Daly dodged the reporters, escaped the commotion at the end of tho game, and decided to wait until the umpire appeared, Young Harding was out in ten minutes, neat and jH natty in n new summer suit. He nodded at the pros- JM ident. pH "Awful, wasn't it?" he asked cheerfully, jjH Dalv refused to commit himself. jjH "What's the matter with the old man?" ho nsked. ujM "Don't know," said Harding, taking out a cigarette jlH case. "He won't talk to me. He's in there with his fH clothes half on, sitting on the bunch." Ll Daly refused a cigarette and Harding strolled away, hH twirling his cane. Daly looked after him sourly. Ten minutes passed and thim the president of the league tapped on the door of the dressing room. Hl O'Higgins was sitting on the bench in his under- clothes, lie did not scc:n surprised to see Daly. He LH had tho air of a man who would not have been sur- rH prised at anything. He looked up, roe to his feet PH and readied for his trousers. After-a time ho spoke. fH "Well?" said he. It was a question, asked with- tH out hone of n favorable answer. Hl "What's the matter, Con?" nsked the president IH of the league. "What's the trouble?" lM O'Higgins shuffled into his trousers without answer- BH "I told you r wanted to get away." he- mumbled yM at length. "You wouldn't lt me. "You understand, I ain't blaming you at all. I I just went to pieces, jjH that's all. I haven't had any sleep since I saw you JH The. man was not seeking to excuse himpolf, neither was ho asking for pity. The dull hopelessnoss of hia tone proved that he appreciated the situation, and 16 I expected nothing of sympathy. Ho was simply stnv g J Daly sat down on the bench. M "Come on. and tell mo about it." ho said. "If fM there's anything I can do money, or" 11 "Money!" The umpire laughed, a hard, fierce rM note, that was more like a cr "Money! I wish it Lfl wns!" tjH There was a silence, an uncomfortable one for both men. Daly tried to postpone an unpleasant duty. "You'd better come down to the office in the jH morning,-' said he. "We'll talk it over then." IH O'Higgins paused, with his collar in his hand. "No," he said. "No. You can tell mo here. I'm H all through is that it?" ; H As he waited for the verdict of the league, there H came a sharp rap at the door. Daly opened it. tHH "Telegram for you, Con," he said. "I'll sign for i'H it." jj m O'Higgins leaned forward, snatched tho envelope, T H and began fumbling it in his fingers. Daly signed the boy s slip, gave him a quarter, and turned to see pfl O'Higgins's expression na ho opened the message. I JH The umpire's bands did not Bhakc, but his face H went white ns he unfolded the yellow sheet dead fflfl white, and hard as marble, every stern line accentuated IIH by the twilight in tho room. Daly felt, rather than IflfB understood, that here was the answer to the whole P1H mystery; he read it in the white face, sot to receive a blow. As O'Higgins peered at the paper, Dalv saw H the hard lines waver and melt and the next "thing (H he knew O'Higgins was shaking him by the shoulder iJH and thrusting the telegram into his hands. ffl "Look at that!" the umpire cried. "What do I ' H care for the job? Read that!" f This is what Daly read: "Cornelius O'Higeins, "Umpire. Polo Grouuds, New York. H "Operation wonderful success Chicago specialist ,fl says no danger and Connie will be walking by the 'jM end of the year. Thank God! "MARY," JM Daly looked from the paper to O'Higgins's face. jH "Connie?" said the president curiouslv. "Why H who's Connie?" 'M "Mv little girl.'; said the umpire. "Twelve vears IH old. Lame. She's been sick a long time. I didn't expect to raise her. There was just the one chance. This operation. That was why I asked for tho timo off. She might not have come out all right and I thought I ought to bo there." "But you didn't tell me!" said Daly. "I tried to," said tho umpiro stiffly. "You didn't j let me." Then he went on buttoning his collar. ' "But I'm going home now," he said. .H Tho president of the lengue carc'fully folded the telegram, stood for a few seconds wondering what fH he should say. took out his watch, then ripped out a !H sudd on order:: H rSurc you're going home. You've just got time to H get that fast night train on the Pennsylvania. You JH stay until vou know that everything is all right. then report by wire and I'll nssigii .you to dutv." . O'Higgins dropped his made-up necktie "to the jH floor. jH "Then it isn't all off?" he said. "I stnv?" "You bet your life!" said tho president of the league. The. story never got info the papers, though a num- bor of good reporters tried to sweat it out of the pros- lH ident. Thcro were many wild surmises about the lH O'Higgins case, and some of the voting umpires fH preened themselves for Con's job. They wero very fH much discouraged when the old man camo back at tH the end of two weeks, as fresh as green paint, nnd fH apparently ns good as ever, and the first ball plarer to I presume upon the late leniency of Umpiro O'Higgins AH took three days' suspension and howJod for three jH months. Yes, he was the old O'Higgins, all right, and remained so as long ns he stayed in the game. O'Higgins never explained matters which was like jH him and neither did tho president, though he realized that he was wasting a very fine newspaper story, and told the secretary so. Mrs. O'Higgins was a woman, so she understood why the president of the league sent her an elnb- fH orate silver tea set at Christmas timo O'Higgins did not understand it. Ho was not a sentimental ifH man. ftl against no patrol wagons," said Gal legher to his animal; "but If they want a race we'll give them a tough tussle for It. won't we?" Philadelphia, lying four miles to the south, sent up a faint yellow glow to the sky. It seemed very fat away, and Gallegher's braggadocio grew cold with in him at the loneliness of his adventure nnd tho thought of the long ride before him. Jt was bitterly cold. Tho rain and sleet beat through his clothes, nnd struck his skin with a sharp chilling touch thai set him trem bling Even tho thought of the overweighted patrol wagon probably sticking In the mud some safe distance in the rear failed to cheer him, nnd tho excitement th;il had so far made htm callous to tho cold died out and left him weaker and nervous. Hut his horse was chilled with the long standing, nnd now leaped eagerly forward, only too oager to warm tho half-frozen hood In. Its veins. "You'ro a cood beast," said Gallegher, plnlntlvcly. "You've got more norvo than me. Don't you go back on me now. Mr. Dwyer snys we've got o beat the town." Gallegher had no Idoa what timo lt wns as he rode through tho night, but he knew he would be able to find out from a hlg clock over a ntnnuf.ictory at a. point nearly three quarters of the distance from Kcpplors to the gonl. Ho was still In the opon country and driving recklessly, for he knew the best part of his tide must be mado outsldo tho city limits. Ho raced between desolate-looking cornfields with bare Htalks nnd patches of muddy earth rising above the thin covering of snow, truck farms and brick vards fell behind him on cither side. It was very lonely work, and once or twice the dogs nin yelping to the gates and barked after him, Part of his way lav parallel with the railroad tracks, and ho drove for some time be'do Jong lines of freight and coal cars ns they stood resting for tho night. The funtnstlc Quuon Anno suburban stations were dark and desert ed, but In one or two of the block-towers he could see the operators writing at. their desks, and the sight in some way comforted him Ontfe he thought of stopping to iret out tho blanket in which ho had wrapped himself on tho first trip, but he feared to sparo tho time, and drove on with his teeth chattering and his shoulders shak- Ing with tho cold. 'jl He welcomed the first solitary row of darkened houses with a faint cheer of ffH recognition. The scattered lamp-po8t3 lightened his spirits, and even the badly MjM paved streets rang under the beats of HH his horse's foot like music. Great mills IjH and manufactories, with only a night- MM watchman's light In the lowest of their many stories, began to take the place of IH thu gloomy farmhouses nnd gaunt trees JH that had startled him with their gro- tesquo shapes. He had been driving near- iH ly an hour, he calculated, and in that time the rain hud changed to a wet snow. EoH that fell heavllj' and clung to whatever It touched. He passed block after block of P'H trim workmen's honsos, ns still and silent IH as the sleepers within them, and at lost KH he turned the horse's head into Broad f street, tho city's great thoroughfare, that fH stretches from Its one end to the other fH and cuts lt evenly in two. IH He was driving noiselessly over the snow nnd slush in the street, with his thoughts bent only on the clock-face he jH wished so much to sec, when a hoarse voice challenged, him from the sidewalk. "Hey, you, stop there, hold up!" said 1 the voice- M Gallegher turned his head, and though he saw that tho voice came from under 1 a policeman's helmet, his only answer H was to hit his horso sharply ovar the 1 head with his whip and to urge it into a gallop. , This, on his part, was followed by a sharp, shrill whistle from the policeman. 'H Another whlstlo answered it from a street JH corner ono block ahead of him- "Whoa," rH j snld Gallegher, pulling on tho reins. IH "There's one too many of thorn," he add- iH ed. in upologetio explanation. Tho horse H stopped, aud stood, breathing heavily, IH with great clouds of steam rising from Its IH "Why in hell didn't you stop when I IH told you to?" demanded the voice, now fM (.rM4 )t the erVs side, H "I didn't hear you," returned Galle- jB ghcr, sweetly. "But I heard you whls- H tlo. nnd 1 heard your partner whistle. H and I thought maybe it was me you wanted to speak to, so I just stopped. m "You heard mo well enough. Why jH aren't your lights lit?" demanded the H "Should I have 'om lit?" asked Gallo- H (Continued ou Last Page.)