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.)