diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 03:25:58 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 03:25:58 -0800 |
| commit | a8851dfac395aa26641df3042218d04292c170d1 (patch) | |
| tree | a11c13043bb20822647504ee916cd95235996e63 | |
| parent | 430ac598e05a5fb186aad6482d7670e9d1d24ab1 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52670-h.zip | bin | 133002 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52670-h/52670-h.htm | 6410 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52670-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 27089 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52670.txt | 5772 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52670.zip | bin | 102979 -> 0 bytes |
8 files changed, 17 insertions, 12182 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a70c53e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52670 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52670) diff --git a/old/52670-h.zip b/old/52670-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a47c679..0000000 --- a/old/52670-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/52670-h/52670-h.htm b/old/52670-h/52670-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 17de4bc..0000000 --- a/old/52670-h/52670-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6410 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of You Know Me Al, by Ring W. Lardner. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - - - -.p4 {margin-top: 2em;} -.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} -.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} -hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;} - - - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - - - - - - - -.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} - -.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} - -.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} - -.br {border-right: solid 2px;} - -.bbox {border: solid 2px;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - - - - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote { - background-color: #E6E6FA; - border: #004200 double 4px; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - margin-top: 5em; } - -@media handheld { - .hidehand {display: none; visibility: hidden;} -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of You Know Me Al, by Ring W. Lardner - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: You Know Me Al - A Busher's Letters - -Author: Ring W. Lardner - -Release Date: July 29, 2016 [EBook #52670] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOU KNOW ME AL *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - -<div class="hidehand"> -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" /> -</p></div> - - - -<h1 style="margin-top: 5em;"> -YOU KNOW ME -AL</h1> -<p class="ph3"> -<i>A Busher's Letters</i></p> - -<p class="ph4">BY</p> - -<p class="ph2">RING W. LARDNER</p> - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 10em;"> -NEW YORK<br /> -GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY<br /> -</p> - - - - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 10em;"> -<small>Copyright, 1916,<br /> -<span class="smcap">By George H. Doran Company</span></small></p> -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 10em;"> -<small>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br /> -COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY</small> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - - - - -<table id="toc" summary="contents" width="55%"> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">CHAPTER -</td> -<td> -</td> -<td class="tdr">PAGE -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">I. -</td> -<td class="tdl"> <a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">A Busher's Letters Home</span></a> -</td> -<td class="tdr">9 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">II. -</td> -<td class="tdl"> <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">The Busher Comes Back</span></a> -</td> -<td class="tdr">45 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">III. -</td> -<td class="tdl"> <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">The Busher's Honeymoon</span></a> -</td> -<td class="tdr">83 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">IV. -</td> -<td class="tdl"> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">A New Busher Breaks In</span></a> -</td> -<td class="tdr">122 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">V. -</td> -<td class="tdl"> <a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">The Busher's Kid</span></a> -</td> -<td class="tdr">166 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">VI. -</td> -<td class="tdl"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">The Busher Beats It Hence</span></a> -</td> -<td class="tdr">208 -</td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - - - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2>YOU KNOW ME AL</h2> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></h2> - -<p class="center">A BUSHER'S LETTERS HOME</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Terre Haute, Indiana, September 6.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well, Al old pal I suppose you seen in the paper -where I been sold to the White Sox. Believe me Al it comes as a -surprise to me and I bet it did to all you good old pals down home. You -could of knocked me over with a feather when the old man come up to me -and says Jack I've sold you to the Chicago Americans.</p> - -<p>I didn't have no idea that anything like that was coming off. For five -minutes I was just dum and couldn't say a word.</p> - -<p>He says We aren't getting what you are worth but I want you to go up to -that big league and show those birds that there is a Central League -on the map. He says Go and pitch the ball you been pitching down here -and there won't be nothing to it. He says All you need is the nerve and -Walsh or no one else won't have nothing on you.</p> - -<p>So I says I would do the best I could and I thanked him for the -treatment I got in Terre Haute. They always was good to me here -and though I did more than my share I always felt that my work was -appresiated. We are finishing second and I done most of it. I can't -help but be proud of my first year's record in professional baseball -and you know I am not boasting when I say that Al.</p> - -<p>Well Al it will seem funny to be up there in the big show when I never -was really in a big city before. But I guess I seen enough of life not -to be scared of the high buildings eh Al?</p> - -<p>I will just give them what I got and if they don't like it they can -send me back to the old Central and I will be perfectly satisfied.</p> - -<p>I didn't know anybody was looking me over, but one of the boys told me -that Jack Doyle the White Sox scout was down here looking at me when -Grand Rapids was here. I beat them twice in that serious. You know -Grand Rapids never had a chance with me when I was right. I shut them -out in the first game and they got one run in the second on account of -Flynn misjuging that fly ball. Anyway Doyle liked my work and he wired -Comiskey to buy me. Comiskey come back with an offer and they excepted -it. I don't know how much they got but anyway I am sold to the big -league and believe me Al I will make good.</p> - -<p>Well Al I will be home in a few days and we will have some of the good -old times. Regards to all the boys and tell them I am still their pal -and not all swelled up over this big league business. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack.</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, December 14.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Old Pal: Well Al I have not got much to tell you. As you know Comiskey -wrote me that if I was up in Chi this month to drop in and see him. So -I got here Thursday morning and went to his office in the afternoon. -His office is out to the ball park and believe me its some park and -some office.</p> - -<p>I went in and asked for Comiskey and a young fellow says He is not here -now but can I do anything for you? I told him who I am and says I had -an engagement to see Comiskey. He says The boss is out of town hunting -and did I have to see him personally?</p> - -<p>I says I wanted to see about signing a contract. He told me I could -sign as well with him as Comiskey and he took me into another office. -He says What salary did you think you ought to get? and I says I -wouldn't think of playing ball in the big league for less than three -thousand dollars per annum. He laughed and says You don't want much. -You better stick round town till the boss comes back. So here I am and -it is costing me a dollar a day to stay at the hotel on Cottage Grove -Avenue and that don't include my meals.</p> - -<p>I generally eat at some of the cafes round the hotel but I had supper -downtown last night and it cost me fifty-five cents. If Comiskey don't -come back soon I won't have no more money left.</p> - -<p>Speaking of money I won't sign no contract unless I get the salary you -and I talked of, three thousand dollars. You know what I was getting in -Terre Haute, a hundred and fifty a month, and I know it's going to cost -me a lot more to live here. I made inquiries round here and find I can -get board and room for eight dollars a week but I will be out of town -half the time and will have to pay for my room when I am away or look -up a new one when I come back. Then I will have to buy cloths to wear -on the road in places like New York. When Comiskey comes back I will -name him three thousand dollars as my lowest figure and I guess he -will come through when he sees I am in ernest. I heard that Walsh was -getting twice as much as that.</p> - -<p>The papers says Comiskey will be back here sometime to-morrow. He -has been hunting with the president of the league so he ought to -feel pretty good. But I don't care how he feels. I am going to get a -contract for three thousand and if he don't want to give it to me he -can do the other thing. You know me Al. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, December 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Friend Al</span>: Well I will be home in a couple of days -now but I wanted to write you and let you know how I come out with -Comiskey. I signed my contract yesterday afternoon. He is a great old -fellow Al and no wonder everybody likes him. He says Young man will -you have a drink? But I was to smart and wouldn't take nothing. He -says You was with Terre Haute? I says Yes I was. He says Doyle tells -me you were pretty wild. I says Oh no I got good control. He says Well -do you want to sign? I says Yes if I get my figure. He asks What is my -figure and I says three thousand dollars per annum. He says Don't you -want the office furniture too? Then he says I thought you was a young -ball-player and I didn't know you wanted to buy my park.</p> - -<p>We kidded each other back and forth like that a while and then he says -You better go out and get the air and come back when you feel better. -I says I feel O.K. now and I want to sign a contract because I have -got to get back to Bedford. Then he calls the secretary and tells him -to make out my contract. He give it to me and it calls for two hundred -and fifty a month. He says You know we always have a city serious here -in the fall where a fellow picks up a good bunch of money. I hadn't -thought of that so I signed up. My yearly salary will be fifteen -hundred dollars besides what the city serious brings me. And that is -only for the first year. I will demand three thousand or four thousand -dollars next year.</p> - -<p>I would of started home on the evening train but I ordered a suit of -cloths from a tailor over on Cottage Grove and it won't be done till -to-morrow. It's going to cost me twenty bucks but it ought to last a -long time. Regards to Frank and the bunch.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your Pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Paso Robles, California, March 2.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal Al</span>: Well Al we been in this little berg now a -couple of days and its bright and warm all the time just like June. -Seems funny to have it so warm this early in March but I guess this -California climate is all they said about it and then some.</p> - -<p>It would take me a week to tell you about our trip out here. We came on -a Special Train De Lukes and it was some train. Every place we stopped -there was crowds down to the station to see us go through and all the -people looked me over like I was a actor or something. I guess my hight -and shoulders attracted their attention. Well Al we finally got to -Oakland which is across part of the ocean from Frisco. We will be back -there later on for practice games.</p> - -<p>We stayed in Oakland a few hours and then took a train for here. It -was another night in a sleeper and believe me I was tired of sleepers -before we got here. I have road one night at a time but this was four -straight nights. You know Al I am not built right for a sleeping car -birth.</p> - -<p>The hotel here is a great big place and got good eats. We got in at -breakfast time and I made a B line for the dining room. Kid Gleason -who is a kind of asst. manager to Callahan come in and sat down with -me. He says Leave something for the rest of the boys because they will -be just as hungry as you. He says Ain't you afraid you will cut your -throat with that knife. He says There ain't no extra charge for using -the forks. He says You shouldn't ought to eat so much because you're -overweight now. I says You may think I am fat, but it's all solid bone -and muscle. He says Yes I suppose it's all solid bone from the neck -up. I guess he thought I would get sore but I will let them kid me now -because they will take off their hats to me when they see me work.</p> - -<p>Manager Callahan called us all to his room after breakfast and give us -a lecture. He says there would be no work for us the first day but that -we must all take a long walk over the hills. He also says we must not -take the training trip as a joke. Then the colored trainer give us our -suits and I went to my room and tried mine on. I ain't a bad looking -guy in the White Sox uniform Al. I will have my picture taken and send -you boys some.</p> - -<p>My roommate is Allen a lefthander from the Coast League. He don't -look nothing like a pitcher but you can't never tell about them dam -left handers. Well I didn't go on the long walk because I was tired -out. Walsh stayed at the hotel too and when he seen me he says Why -didn't you go with the bunch? I says I was too tired. He says Well when -Callahan comes back you better keep out of sight or tell him you are -sick. I says I don't care nothing for Callahan. He says No but Callahan -is crazy about you. He says You better obey orders and you will git -along better. I guess Walsh thinks I am some rube.</p> - -<p>When the bunch come back Callahan never said a word to me but Gleason -come up and says Where was you? I told him I was too tired to go -walking. He says Well I will borrow a wheelbarrow some place and push -you round. He says Do you sit down when you pitch? I let him kid me -because he has not saw my stuff yet.</p> - -<p>Next morning half the bunch mostly vetrans went to the ball park which -isn't no better than the one we got at home. Most of them was vetrans -as I say but I was in the bunch. That makes things look pretty good -for me don't it Al? We tossed the ball round and hit fungos and run -round and then Callahan asks Scott and Russell and I to warm up easy -and pitch a few to the batters. It was warm and I felt pretty good so -I warmed up pretty good. Scott pitched to them first and kept laying -them right over with nothing on them. I don't believe a man gets any -batting practice that way. So I went in and after I lobbed a few over -I cut loose my fast one. Lord was to bat and he ducked out of the way -and then throwed his bat to the bench. Callahan says What's the matter -Harry? Lord says I forgot to pay up my life insurance. He says I ain't -ready for Walter Johnson's July stuff.</p> - -<p>Well Al I will make them think I am Walter Johnson before I get through -with them. But Callahan come out to me and says What are you trying to -do kill somebody? He says Save your smoke because you're going to need -it later on. He says Go easy with the boys at first or I won't have -no batters. But he was laughing and I guess he was pleased to see the -stuff I had.</p> - -<p>There is a dance in the hotel to-night and I am up in my room writing -this in my underwear while I get my suit pressed. I got it all mussed -up coming out here. I don't know what shoes to wear. I asked Gleason -and he says Wear your baseball shoes and if any of the girls gets fresh -with you spike them. I guess he was kidding me.</p> - -<p>Write and tell me all the news about home. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Paso Robles, California, March 7.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I showed them something out there to-day Al. We had -a game between two teams. One team was made up of most of the regulars -and the other was made up of recruts. I pitched three innings for the -recruts and shut the old birds out. I held them to one hit and that was -a ground ball that the recrut shortstop Johnson ought to of ate up. -I struck Collins out and he is one of the best batters in the bunch. -I used my fast ball most of the while but showed them a few spitters -and they missed them a foot. I guess I must of got Walsh's goat with -my spitter because him and I walked back to the hotel together and he -talked like he was kind of jealous. He says You will have to learn to -cover up your spitter. He says I could stand a mile away and tell when -you was going to throw it. He says Some of these days I will learn you -how to cover it up. I guess Al I know how to cover it up all right -without Walsh learning me.</p> - -<p>I always sit at the same table in the dining room along with Gleason -and Collins and Bodie and Fournier and Allen the young lefthander I -told you about. I feel sorry for him because he never says a word. -To-night at supper Bodie says How did I look to-day Kid? Gleason -says Just like you always do in the spring. You looked like a cow. -Gleason seems to have the whole bunch scared of him and they let him -say anything he wants to. I let him kid me to but I ain't scared of -him. Collins then says to me You got some fast ball there boy. I says -I was not as fast to-day as I am when I am right. He says Well then I -don't want to hit against you when you are right. Then Gleason says to -Collins Cut that stuff out. Then he says to me Don't believe what he -tells you boy. If the pitchers in this league weren't no faster than -you I would still be playing ball and I would be the best hitter in the -country.</p> - -<p>After supper Gleason went out on the porch with me. He says Boy you -have got a little stuff but you have got a lot to learn. He says You -field your position like a wash woman and you don't hold the runners -up. He says When Chase was on second base to-day he got such a lead -on you that the little catcher couldn't of shot him out at third with -a rifle. I says They all thought I fielded my position all right in -the Central League. He says Well if you think you do it all right you -better go back to the Central League where you are appresiated. I says -You can't send me back there because you could not get waivers. He -says Who would claim you? I says St. Louis and Boston and New York.</p> - -<p>You know Al what Smith told me this winter. Gleason says Well if you're -not willing to learn St. Louis and Boston and New York can have you and -the first time you pitch against us we will steal fifty bases. Then he -quit kidding and asked me to go to the field with him early to-morrow -morning and he would learn me some things. I don't think he can learn -me nothing but I promised I would go with him.</p> - -<p>There is a little blonde kid in the hotel here who took a shine to me -at the dance the other night but I am going to leave the skirts alone. -She is real society and a swell dresser and she wants my picture. -Regards to all the boys.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your friend, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. The boys thought they would be smart to-night and put something -over on me. A boy brought me a telegram and I opened it and it said You -are sold to Jackson in the Cotton States League. For just a minute they -had me going but then I happened to think that Jackson is in Michigan -and there's no Cotton States League round there.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Paso Robles, California, March 9.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Friend Al</span>: You have no doubt read the good news in the -papers before this reaches you. I have been picked to go to Frisco -with the first team. We play practice games up there about two weeks -while the second club plays in Los Angeles. Poor Allen had to go with -the second club. There's two other recrut pitchers with our part of -the team but my name was first on the list so it looks like I had made -good. I knowed they would like my stuff when they seen it. We leave -here to-night. You got the first team's address so you will know where -to send my mail. Callahan goes with us and Gleason goes with the second -club. Him and I have got to be pretty good pals and I wish he was going -with us even if he don't let me eat like I want to. He told me this -morning to remember all he had learned me and to keep working hard. He -didn't learn me nothing I didn't know before but I let him think so.</p> - -<p>The little blonde don't like to see me leave here. She lives in Detroit -and I may see her when I go there. She wants me to write but I guess I -better not give her no encouragement.</p> - -<p>Well Al I will write you a long letter from Frisco. - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Oakland, California, March 19.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Pal</span>: They have gave me plenty of work here all right. -I have pitched four times but have not went over five innings yet. I -worked against Oakland two times and against Frisco two times and only -three runs have been scored off me. They should only ought to of had -one but Bodie misjuged a easy fly ball in Frisco and Weaver made a wild -peg in Oakland that let in a run. I am not using much but my fast ball -but I have got a world of speed and they can't foul me when I am right. -I whiffed eight men in five innings in Frisco yesterday and could of -did better than that if I had of cut loose.</p> - -<p>Manager Callahan is a funny guy and I don't understand him sometimes. -I can't figure out if he is kidding or in ernest. We road back to -Oakland on the ferry together after yesterday's game and he says Don't -you never throw a slow ball? I says I don't need no slow ball with my -spitter and my fast one. He says No of course you don't need it but if -I was you I would get one of the boys to learn it to me. He says And -you better watch the way the boys fields their positions and holds up -the runners. He says To see you work a man might think they had a rule -in the Central League forbidding a pitcher from leaving the box or -looking toward first base.</p> - -<p>I told him the Central didn't have no rule like that. He says And I -noticed you taking your wind up when What's His Name was on second base -there to-day. I says Yes I got more stuff when I wind up. He says Of -course you have but if you wind up like that with Cobb on base he will -steal your watch and chain. I says Maybe Cobb can't get on base when I -work against him. He says That's right and maybe San Francisco Bay is -made of grapejuice. Then he walks away from me.</p> - -<p>He give one of the youngsters a awful bawling out for something he done -in the game at supper last night. If he ever talks to me like he done -to him I will take a punch at him. You know me Al.</p> - -<p>I come over to Frisco last night with some of the boys and we took in -the sights. Frisco is some live town Al. We went all through China -Town and the Barbers' Coast. Seen lots of swell dames but they was all -painted up. They have beer out here that they call steam beer. I had -a few glasses of it and it made me logey. A glass of that Terre Haute -beer would go pretty good right now.</p> - -<p>We leave here for Los Angeles in a few days and I will write you from -there. This is some country Al and I would love to play ball round here. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your Pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S.—I got a letter from the little blonde and I suppose I got to -answer it.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Los Angeles, California, March 26.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Only four more days of sunny California and then we -start back East. We got exhibition games in Yuma and El Paso, Texas, -and Oklahoma City and then we stop over in St. Joe, Missouri, for three -days before we go home. You know Al we open the season in Cleveland and -we won't be in Chi no more than just passing through. We don't play -there till April eighteenth and I guess I will work in that serious all -right against Detroit. Then I will be glad to have you and the boys -come up and watch me as you suggested in your last letter.</p> - -<p>I got another letter from the little blonde. She has went back to -Detroit but she give me her address and telephone number and believe -me Al I am going to look her up when we get there the twenty-ninth of -April.</p> - -<p>She is a stenographer and was out here with her uncle and aunt.</p> - -<p>I had a run in with Kelly last night and it looked like I would have -to take a wallop at him but the other boys seperated us. He is a bush -outfielder from the New England League. We was playing poker. You know -the boys plays poker a good deal but this was the first time I got in. -I was having pretty good luck and was about four bucks to the good and -I was thinking of quitting because I was tired and sleepy. Then Kelly -opened the pot for fifty cents and I stayed. I had three sevens. No one -else stayed. Kelly stood pat and I drawed two cards. And I catched my -fourth seven. He bet fifty cents but I felt pretty safe even if he did -have a pat hand. So I called him. I took the money and told them I was -through.</p> - -<p>Lord and some of the boys laughed but Kelly got nasty and begun to pan -me for quitting and for the way I played. I says Well I won the pot -didn't I? He says Yes and he called me something. I says I got a notion -to take a punch at you.</p> - -<p>He says Oh you have have you? And I come back at him. I says Yes I have -have I? I would of busted his jaw if they hadn't stopped me. You know -me Al.</p> - -<p>I worked here two times once against Los Angeles and once against -Venice. I went the full nine innings both times and Venice beat me four -to two. I could of beat them easy with any kind of support. I walked a -couple of guys in the forth and Chase drops a throw and Collins lets a -fly ball get away from him. At that I would of shut them out if I had -wanted to cut loose. After the game Callahan says You didn't look so -good in there to-day. I says I didn't cut loose. He says Well you been -working pretty near three weeks now and you ought to be in shape to cut -loose. I says Oh I am in shape all right. He says Well don't work no -harder than you have to or you might get hurt and then the league would -blow up. I don't know if he was kidding me or not but I guess he thinks -pretty well of me because he works me lots oftener than Walsh or Scott -or Benz.</p> - -<p>I will try to write you from Yuma, Texas, but we don't stay there only -a day and I may not have time for a long letter.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Yuma, Arizona, April 1.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: Just a line to let you know we are on our -way back East. This place is in Arizona and it sure is sandy. They -haven't got no regular ball club here and we play a pick-up team this -afternoon. Callahan told me I would have to work. He says I am using -you because we want to get through early and I know you can beat them -quick. That is the first time he has said anything like that and I -guess he is wiseing up that I got the goods.</p> - -<p>We was talking about the Athaletics this morning and Callahan says None -of you fellows pitch right to Baker. I was talking to Lord and Scott -afterward and I say to Scott How do you pitch to Baker? He says I use -my fadeaway. I says How do you throw it? He says Just like you throw a -fast ball to anybody else. I says Why do you call it a fadeaway then? -He says Because when I throw it to Baker it fades away over the fence.</p> - -<p>This place is full of Indians and I wish you could see them Al. They -don't look nothing like the Indians we seen in that show last summer. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Oklahoma City, April 4.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Coming out of Amarillo last night I and Lord and -Weaver was sitting at a table in the dining car with a old lady. None -of us were talking to her but she looked me over pretty careful and -seemed to kind of like my looks. Finally she says Are you boys with -some football club? Lord nor Weaver didn't say nothing so I thought it -was up to me and I says No mam this is the Chicago White Sox Ball Club. -She says I knew you were athaletes. I says Yes I guess you could spot -us for athaletes. She says Yes indeed and specially you. You certainly -look healthy. I says You ought to see me stripped. I didn't see nothing -funny about that but I thought Lord and Weaver would die laughing. Lord -had to get up and leave the table and he told everybody what I said.</p> - -<p>All the boys wanted me to play poker on the way here but I told them I -didn't feel good. I know enough to quit when I am ahead Al. Callahan -and I sat down to breakfast all alone this morning. He says Boy why -don't you get to work? I says What do you mean? Ain't I working? He -says You ain't improving none. You have got the stuff to make a good -pitcher but you don't go after bunts and you don't cover first base and -you don't watch the baserunners. He made me kind of sore talking that -way and I says Oh I guess I can get along all right.</p> - -<p>He says Well I am going to put it up to you. I am going to start -you over in St. Joe day after to-morrow and I want you to show me -something. I want you to cut loose with all you've got and I want you -to get round the infield a little and show them you aren't tied in that -box. I says Oh I can field my position if I want to. He says Well you -better want to or I will have to ship you back to the sticks. Then he -got up and left. He didn't scare me none Al. They won't ship me to no -sticks after the way I showed on this trip and even if they did they -couldn't get no waivers on me.</p> - -<p>Some of the boys have begun to call me Four Sevens but it don't bother -me none. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>St. Joe, Missouri, April 7.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: It rained yesterday so I worked to-day instead -and St. Joe done well to get three hits. They couldn't of scored if -we had played all week. I give a couple of passes but I catched a guy -flatfooted off of first base and I come up with a couple of bunts and -throwed guys out. When the game was over Callahan says That's the way I -like to see you work. You looked better to-day than you looked on the -whole trip. Just once you wound up with a man on but otherwise you was -all O.K. So I guess my job is cinched Al and I won't have to go to New -York or St. Louis. I would rather be in Chi anyway because it is near -home. I wouldn't care though if they traded me to Detroit. I hear from -Violet right along and she says she can't hardly wait till I come to -Detroit. She says she is strong for the Tigers but she will pull for me -when I work against them. She is nuts over me and I guess she has saw -lots of guys to.</p> - -<p>I sent her a stickpin from Oklahoma City but I can't spend no more -dough on her till after our first payday the fifteenth of the month. I -had thirty bucks on me when I left home and I only got about ten left -including the five spot I won in the poker game. I have to tip the -waiters about thirty cents a day and I seen about twenty picture shows -on the coast besides getting my cloths pressed a couple of times.</p> - -<p>We leave here to-morrow night and arrive in Chi the next morning. The -second club joins us there and then that night we go to Cleveland to -open up. I asked one of the reporters if he knowed who was going to -pitch the opening game and he says it would be Scott or Walsh but I -guess he don't know much about it.</p> - -<p>These reporters travel all round the country with the team all season -and send in telegrams about the game every night. I ain't seen no Chi -papers so I don't know what they been saying about me. But I should -worry eh Al? Some of them are pretty nice fellows and some of them got -the swell head. They hang round with the old fellows and play poker -most of the time.</p> - -<p>Will write you from Cleveland. You will see in the paper if I pitch the -opening game.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Cleveland, Ohio, April 10.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Friend Al</span>: Well Al we are all set to open the season this -afternoon. I have just ate breakfast and I am sitting in the lobby of -the hotel. I eat at a little lunch counter about a block from here and -I saved seventy cents on breakfast. You see Al they give us a dollar a -meal and if we don't want to spend that much all right. Our rooms at -the hotel are paid for.</p> - -<p>The Cleveland papers says Walsh or Scott will work for us this -afternoon. I asked Callahan if there was any chance of me getting into -the first game and he says I hope not. I don't know what he meant but -he may surprise these reporters and let me pitch. I will beat them Al. -Lajoie and Jackson is supposed to be great batters but the bigger they -are the harder they fall.</p> - -<p>The second team joined us yesterday in Chi and we practiced a little. -Poor Allen was left in Chi last night with four others of the recrut -pitchers. Looks pretty good for me eh Al? I only seen Gleason for a few -minutes on the train last night. He says, Well you ain't took off much -weight. You're hog fat. I says Oh I ain't fat. I didn't need to take -off no weight. He says One good thing about it the club don't have to -engage no birth for you because you spend all your time in the dining -car. We kidded along like that a while and then the trainer rubbed my -arm and I went to bed. Well Al I just got time to have my suit pressed -before noon.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Cleveland, Ohio, April 11.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al I suppose you know by this time that I did -not pitch and that we got licked. Scott was in there and he didn't have -nothing. When they had us beat four to one in the eight inning Callahan -told me to go out and warm up and he put a batter in for Scott in our -ninth. But Cleveland didn't have to play their ninth so I got no chance -to work. But it looks like he means to start me in one of the games -here. We got three more to play. Maybe I will pitch this afternoon. I -got a postcard from Violet. She says Beat them Naps. I will give them a -battle Al if I get a chance.</p> - -<p>Glad to hear you boys have fixed it up to come to Chi during the -Detroit serious. I will ask Callahan when he is going to pitch me and -let you know. Thanks Al for the papers. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your friend, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>St. Louis, Missouri, April 15.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al I guess I showed them. I only worked one -inning but I guess them Browns is glad I wasn't in there no longer than -that. They had us beat seven to one in the sixth and Callahan pulls -Benz out. I honestly felt sorry for him but he didn't have nothing, -not a thing. They was hitting him so hard I thought they would score -a hundred runs. A righthander name Bumgardner was pitching for them -and he didn't look to have nothing either but we ain't got much of a -batting team Al. I could hit better than some of them regulars. Anyway -Callahan called Benz to the bench and sent for me. I was down in the -corner warming up with Kuhn. I wasn't warmed up good but you know I got -the nerve Al and I run right out there like I meant business. There -was a man on second and nobody out when I come in. I didn't know -who was up there but I found out afterward it was Shotten. He's the -center-fielder. I was cold and I walked him. Then I got warmed up good -and I made Johnston look like a boob. I give him three fast balls and -he let two of them go by and missed the other one. I would of handed -him a spitter but Schalk kept signing for fast ones and he knows more -about them batters than me. Anyway I whiffed Johnston. Then up come -Williams and I tried to make him hit at a couple of bad ones. I was in -the hole with two balls and nothing and come right across the heart -with my fast one. I wish you could of saw the hop on it. Williams hit -it right straight up and Lord was camped under it. Then up come Pratt -the best hitter on their club. You know what I done to him don't you -Al? I give him one spitter and another he didn't strike at that was a -ball. Then I come back with two fast ones and Mister Pratt was a dead -baby. And you notice they didn't steal no bases neither.</p> - -<p>In our half of the seventh inning Weaver and Schalk got on and I was -going up there with a stick when Callahan calls me back and sends -Easterly up. I don't know what kind of managing you call that. I hit -good on the training trip and he must of knew they had no chance to -score off me in the innings they had left while they were liable to -murder his other pitchers. I come back to the bench pretty hot and I -says You're making a mistake. He says If Comiskey had wanted you to -manage this team he would of hired you.</p> - -<p>Then Easterly pops out and I says Now I guess you're sorry you didn't -let me hit. That sent him right up in the air and he bawled me awful. -Honest Al I would of cracked him right in the jaw if we hadn't been -right out where everybody could of saw us. Well he sent Cicotte in to -finish and they didn't score no more and we didn't neither.</p> - -<p>I road down in the car with Gleason. He says Boy you shouldn't ought to -talk like that to Cal. Some day he will lose his temper and bust you -one. I says He won't never bust me. I says He didn't have no right to -talk like that to me. Gleason says I suppose you think he's going to -laugh and smile when we lost four out of the first five games. He says -Wait till to-night and then go up to him and let him know you are sorry -you sassed him. I says I didn't sass him and I ain't sorry.</p> - -<p>So after supper I seen Callahan sitting in the lobby and I went over -and sit down by him. I says When are you going to let me work? He -says I wouldn't never let you work only my pitchers are all shot to -pieces. Then I told him about you boys coming up from Bedford to watch -me during the Detroit serious and he says Well I will start you in -the second game against Detroit. He says But I wouldn't if I had any -pitchers. He says A girl could get out there and pitch better than some -of them have been doing.</p> - -<p>So you see Al I am going to pitch on the nineteenth. I hope you guys -can be up there and I will show you something. I know I can beat them -Tigers and I will have to do it even if they are Violet's team.</p> - -<p>I notice that New York and Boston got trimmed to-day so I suppose they -wish Comiskey would ask for waivers on me. No chance Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S.—We play eleven games in Chi and then go to Detroit. So I will see -the little girl on the twenty-ninth.</p> - -<p>Oh you Violet.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, April 19.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Pal</span>: Well Al it's just as well you couldn't come. -They beat me and I am writing you this so as you will know the truth -about the game and not get a bum steer from what you read in the -papers.</p> - -<p>I had a sore arm when I was warming up and Callahan should never ought -to of sent me in there. And Schalk kept signing for my fast ball and -I kept giving it to him because I thought he ought to know something -about the batters. Weaver and Lord and all of them kept kicking them -round the infield and Collins and Bodie couldn't catch nothing.</p> - -<p>Callahan ought never to of left me in there when he seen how sore my -arm was. Why, I couldn't of threw hard enough to break a pain of glass -my arm was so sore.</p> - -<p>They sure did run wild on the bases. Cobb stole four and Bush and -Crawford and Veach about two apiece. Schalk didn't even make a peg half -the time. I guess he was trying to throw me down.</p> - -<p>The score was sixteen to two when Callahan finally took me out in the -eighth and I don't know how many more they got. I kept telling him -to take me out when I seen how bad I was but he wouldn't do it. They -started bunting in the fifth and Lord and Chase just stood there and -didn't give me no help at all.</p> - -<p>I was all O.K. till I had the first two men out in the first inning. -Then Crawford come up. I wanted to give him a spitter but Schalk signs -me for the fast one and I give it to him. The ball didn't hop much and -Crawford happened to catch it just right. At that Collins ought to of -catched the ball. Crawford made three bases and up come Cobb. It was -the first time I ever seen him. He hollered at me right off the reel. -He says You better walk me you busher. I says I will walk you back to -the bench. Schalk signs for a spitter and I gives it to him and Cobb -misses it.</p> - -<p>Then instead of signing for another one Schalk asks for a fast one and -I shook my head no but he signed for it again and yells Put something -on it. So I throwed a fast one and Cobb hits it right over second base. -I don't know what Weaver was doing but he never made a move for the -ball. Crawford scored and Cobb was on first base. First thing I knowed -he had stole second while I held the ball. Callahan yells Wake up out -there and I says Why don't your catcher tell me when they are going to -steal. Schalk says Get in there and pitch and shut your mouth. Then I -got mad and walked Veach and Moriarty but before I walked Moriarty Cobb -and Veach pulled a double steal on Schalk. Gainor lifts a fly and Lord -drops it and two more come in. Then Stanage walks and I whiffs their -pitcher.</p> - -<p>I come in to the bench and Callahan says Are your friends from Bedford -up here? I was pretty sore and I says Why don't you get a catcher? He -says We don't need no catcher when you're pitching because you can't -get nothing past their bats. Then he says You better leave your uniform -in here when you go out next inning or Cobb will steal it off your -back. I says My arm is sore. He says Use your other one and you'll do -just as good.</p> - -<p>Gleason says Who do you want to warm up? Callahan says Nobody. He says -Cobb is going to lead the league in batting and basestealing anyway so -we might as well give him a good start. I was mad enough to punch his -jaw but the boys winked at me not to do nothing.</p> - -<p>Well I got some support in the next inning and nobody got on. Between -innings I says Well I guess I look better now don't I? Callahan says -Yes but you wouldn't look so good if Collins hadn't jumped up on the -fence and catched that one off Crawford. That's all the encouragement I -got Al.</p> - -<p>Cobb come up again to start the third and when Schalk signs me for a -fast one I shakes my head. Then Schalk says All right pitch anything -you want to. I pitched a spitter and Cobb bunts it right at me. I would -of threw him out a block but I stubbed my toe in a rough place and fell -down. This is the roughest ground I ever seen Al. Veach bunts and for a -wonder Lord throws him out. Cobb goes to second and honest Al I forgot -all about him being there and first thing I knowed he had stole third. -Then Moriarty hits a fly ball to Bodie and Cobb scores though Bodie -ought to of threw him out twenty feet.</p> - -<p>They batted all round in the forth inning and scored four or five more. -Crawford got the luckiest three-base hit I ever see. He popped one way -up in the air and the wind blowed it against the fence. The wind is -something fierce here Al. At that Collins ought to of got under it.</p> - -<p>I was looking at the bench all the time expecting Callahan to call me -in but he kept hollering Go on and pitch. Your friends wants to see you -pitch.</p> - -<p>Well Al I don't know how they got the rest of their runs but they had -more luck than any team I ever seen. And all the time Jennings was on -the coaching line yelling like a Indian. Some day Al I'm going to punch -his jaw.</p> - -<p>After Veach had hit one in the eight Callahan calls me to the bench -and says You're through for the day. I says It's about time you found -out my arm was sore. He says I ain't worrying about your arm but I'm -afraid some of our outfielders will run their legs off and some of them -poor infielders will get killed. He says The reporters just sent me a -message saying they had run out of paper. Then he says I wish some of -the other clubs had pitchers like you so we could hit once in a while. -He says Go in the clubhouse and get your arm rubbed off. That's the -only way I can get Jennings sore he says.</p> - -<p>Well Al that's about all there was to it. It will take two or three -stamps to send this but I want you to know the truth about it. The way -my arm was I ought never to of went in there.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, April 25.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Just a line to let you know I am still on earth. My -arm feels pretty good again and I guess maybe I will work at Detroit. -Violet writes that she can't hardly wait to see me. Looks like I got a -regular girl now Al. We go up there the twenty-ninth and maybe I won't -be glad to see her. I hope she will be out to the game the day I pitch. -I will pitch the way I want to next time and them Tigers won't have -such a picnic.</p> - -<p>I suppose you seen what the Chicago reporters said about that game. I -will punch a couple of their jaws when I see them.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, April 29.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: Well Al it's all over. The club went to Detroit -last night and I didn't go along. Callahan told me to report to -Comiskey this morning and I went up to the office at ten o'clock. He -give me my pay to date and broke the news. I am sold to Frisco.</p> - -<p>I asked him how they got waivers on me and he says Oh there was no -trouble about that because they all heard how you tamed the Tigers. -Then he patted me on the back and says Go out there and work hard boy -and maybe you'll get another chance some day. I was kind of choked up -so I walked out of the office.</p> - -<p>I ain't had no fair deal Al and I ain't going to no Frisco. I will quit -the game first and take that job Charley offered me at the billiard -hall.</p> - -<p>I expect to be in Bedford in a couple of days. I have got to pack up -first and settle with my landlady about my room here which I engaged -for all season thinking I would be treated square. I am going to rest -and lay round home a while and try to forget this rotten game. Tell the -boys about it Al and tell them I never would of got let out if I hadn't -worked with a sore arm.</p> - -<p>I feel sorry for that little girl up in Detroit Al. She expected me -there to-day.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. I suppose you seen where that lucky lefthander Allen shut out -Cleveland with two hits yesterday. The lucky stiff.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></h2> - -<p class="center">THE BUSHER COMES BACK.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>San Francisco, California, May 13.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I suppose you and the rest of the boys in Bedford -will be supprised to learn that I am out here, because I remember -telling you when I was sold to San Francisco by the White Sox that -not under no circumstances would I report here. I was pretty mad when -Comiskey give me my release, because I didn't think I had been given -a fair show by Callahan. I don't think so yet Al and I never will but -Bill Sullivan the old White Sox catcher talked to me and told me not -to pull no boner by refuseing to go where they sent me. He says You're -only hurting yourself. He says You must remember that this was your -first time up in the big show and very few men no matter how much stuff -they got can expect to make good right off the reel. He says All you -need is experience and pitching out in the Coast League will be just -the thing for you.</p> - -<p>So I went in and asked Comiskey for my transportation and he says -That's right Boy go out there and work hard and maybe I will want you -back. I told him I hoped so but I don't hope nothing of the kind Al. -I am going to see if I can't get Detroit to buy me, because I would -rather live in Detroit than anywheres else. The little girl who got -stuck on me this spring lives there. I guess I told you about her Al. -Her name is Violet and she is some queen. And then if I got with the -Tigers I wouldn't never have to pitch against Cobb and Crawford, though -I believe I could show both of them up if I was right. They ain't got -much of a ball club here and hardly any good pitchers outside of me. -But I don't care.</p> - -<p>I will win some games if they give me any support and I will get back -in the big league and show them birds something. You know me, Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Los Angeles, California, May 20.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Well old pal I don't suppose you can find much news of -this league in the papers at home so you may not know that I have been -standing this league on their heads. I pitched against Oakland up home -and shut them out with two hits. I made them look like suckers Al. -They hadn't never saw no speed like mine and they was scared to death -the minute I cut loose. I could of pitched the last six innings with my -foot and trimmed them they was so scared.</p> - -<p>Well we come down here for a serious and I worked the second game. They -got four hits and one run, and I just give them the one run. Their -shortstop Johnson was on the training trip with the White Sox and of -course I knowed him pretty well. So I eased up in the last inning and -let him hit one. If I had of wanted to let myself out he couldn't of -hit me with a board. So I am going along good and Howard our manager -says he is going to use me regular. He's a pretty nice manager and -not a bit sarkastic like some of them big leaguers. I am fielding my -position good and watching the baserunners to. Thank goodness Al they -ain't no Cobbs in this league and a man ain't scared of haveing his -uniform stole off his back.</p> - -<p>But listen Al I don't want to be bought by Detroit no more. It is all -off between Violet and I. She wasn't the sort of girl I suspected. She -is just like them all Al. No heart. I wrote her a letter from Chicago -telling her I was sold to San Francisco and she wrote back a postcard -saying something about not haveing no time to waste on bushers. What -do you know about that Al? Calling me a busher. I will show them. She -wasn't no good Al and I figure I am well rid of her. Good riddance is -rubbish as they say.</p> - -<p>I will let you know how I get along and if I hear anything about being -sold or drafted.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>San Francisco, California, July 20.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: You will forgive me for not writeing to you oftener -when you hear the news I got for you. Old pal I am engaged to be -married. Her name is Hazel Carney and she is some queen, Al—a great -big stropping girl that must weigh one hundred and sixty lbs. She is -out to every game and she got stuck on me from watching me work.</p> - -<p>Then she writes a note to me and makes a date and I meet her down on -Market Street one night. We go to a nickel show together and have some -time. Since then we been together pretty near every evening except when -I was away on the road.</p> - -<p>Night before last she asked me if I was married and I tells her No and -she says a big handsome man like I ought not to have no trouble finding -a wife. I tells her I ain't never looked for one and she says Well you -wouldn't have to look very far. I asked her if she was married and she -said No but she wouldn't mind it. She likes her beer pretty well and -her and I had several and I guess I was feeling pretty good. Anyway I -guess I asked her if she wouldn't marry me and she says it was O.K. I -ain't a bit sorry Al because she is some doll and will make them all -sit up back home. She wanted to get married right away but I said No -wait till the season is over and maybe I will have more dough. She -asked me what I was getting and I told her two hundred dollars a month. -She says she didn't think I was getting enough and I don't neither but -I will get the money when I get up in the big show again.</p> - -<p>Anyway we are going to get married this fall and then I will bring her -home and show her to you. She wants to live in Chi or New York but I -guess she will like Bedford O.K. when she gets acquainted.</p> - -<p>I have made good here all right Al. Up to a week ago Sunday I had won -eleven straight. I have lost a couple since then, but one day I wasn't -feeling good and the other time they kicked it away behind me.</p> - -<p>I had a run in with Howard after Portland had beat me. He says Keep on -running round with that skirt and you won't never win another game.</p> - -<p>He says Go to bed nights and keep in shape or I will take your money. -I told him to mind his own business and then he walked away from me. I -guess he was scared I was going to smash him. No manager ain't going to -bluff me Al.</p> - -<p>So I went to bed early last night and didn't keep my date with the kid. -She was pretty sore about it but business before plesure Al. Don't tell -the boys nothing about me being engaged. I want to surprise them.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Sacramento, California, August 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al I got the supprise of my life last night. -Howard called me up after I got to my room and tells me I am going back -to the White Sox. Come to find out, when they sold me out here they -kept a option on me and yesterday they exercised it. He told me I would -have to report at once. So I packed up as quick as I could and then -went down to say good-by to the kid. She was all broke up and wanted -to go along with me but I told her I didn't have enough dough to get -married. She said she would come anyway and we could get married in -Chi but I told her she better wait. She cried all over my sleeve. She -sure is gone on me Al and I couldn't help feeling sorry for her but I -promised to send for her in October and then everything will be all -O.K. She asked me how much I was going to get in the big league and I -told her I would get a lot more money than out here because I wouldn't -play if I didn't. You know me Al.</p> - -<p>I come over here to Sacramento with the club this morning and I am -leaveing to-night for Chi. I will get there next Tuesday and I guess -Callahan will work me right away because he must of seen his mistake in -letting me go by now. I will show them Al.</p> - -<p>I looked up the skedule and I seen where we play in Detroit the fifth -and sixth of September. I hope they will let me pitch there Al. Violet -goes to the games and I will make her sorry she give me that kind -of treatment. And I will make them Tigers sorry they kidded me last -spring. I ain't afraid of Cobb or none of them now, Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago</i>, <i>Illinois, August 27.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Well old pal I guess I busted in right. Did you notice -what I done to them Athaletics, the best ball club in the country? I -bet Violet wishes she hadn't called me no busher.</p> - -<p>I got here last Tuesday and set up in the stand and watched the game -that afternoon. Washington was playing here and Johnson pitched. I was -anxious to watch him because I had heard so much about him. Honest Al -he ain't as fast as me. He shut them out, but they never was much of a -hitting club. I went to the clubhouse after the game and shook hands -with the bunch. Kid Gleason the assistant manager seemed pretty glad to -see me and he says Well have you learned something? I says Yes I guess -I have. He says Did you see the game this afternoon? I says I had and -he asked me what I thought of Johnson. I says I don't think so much of -him. He says Well I guess you ain't learned nothing then. He says What -was the matter with Johnson's work? I says He ain't got nothing but a -fast ball. Then he says Yes and Rockefeller ain't got nothing but a -hundred million bucks.</p> - -<p>Well I asked Callahan if he was going to give me a chance to work -and he says he was. But I sat on the bench a couple of days and he -didn't ask me to do nothing. Finally I asked him why not and he says -I am saving you to work against a good club, the Athaletics. Well the -Athaletics come and I guess you know by this time what I done to them. -And I had to work against Bender at that but I ain't afraid of none of -them now Al.</p> - -<p>Baker didn't hit one hard all afternoon and I didn't have no trouble -with Collins neither. I let them down with five blows all though -the papers give them seven. Them reporters here don't no more about -scoreing than some old woman. They give Barry a hit on a fly ball that -Bodie ought to of eat up, only he stumbled or something and they handed -Oldring a two base hit on a ball that Weaver had to duck to get out of -the way from. But I don't care nothing about reporters. I beat them -Athaletics and beat them good, five to one. Gleason slapped me on the -back after the game and says Well you learned something after all. Rub -some arnicky on your head to keep the swelling down and you may be a -real pitcher yet. I says I ain't got no swell head. He says No. If I -hated myself like you do I would be a moveing picture actor.</p> - -<p>Well I asked Callahan would he let me pitch up to Detroit and he says -Sure. He says Do you want to get revenge on them? I says, Yes I did. -He says Well you have certainly got some comeing. He says I never seen -no man get worse treatment than them Tigers give you last spring. I -says Well they won't do it this time because I will know how to pitch -to them. He says How are you going to pitch to Cobb? I says I am going -to feed him on my slow one. He says Well Cobb had ought to make a good -meal off of that. Then we quit jokeing and he says You have improved -a hole lot and I am going to work you right along regular and if you -can stand the gaff I may be able to use you in the city serious. You -know Al the White Sox plays a city serious every fall with the Cubs and -the players makes quite a lot of money. The winners gets about eight -hundred dollars a peace and the losers about five hundred. We will be -the winners if I have anything to say about it.</p> - -<p>I am tickled to death at the chance of working in Detroit and I can't -hardly wait till we get there. Watch my smoke Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. I am going over to Allen's flat to play cards a while to-night. -Allen is the lefthander that was on the training trip with us. He ain't -got a thing, Al, and I don't see how he gets by. He is married and his -wife's sister is visiting them. She wants to meet me but it won't do -her much good. I seen her out to the game to-day and she ain't much for -looks.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Detroit, Mich., September 6.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I got a hole lot to write but I ain't got much time -because we are going over to Cleveland on the boat at ten <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> -I made them Tigers like it Al just like I said I would. And what do you -think, Al, Violet called me up after the game and wanted to see me but -I will tell you about the game first.</p> - -<p>They got one hit off of me and Cobb made it a scratch single that he -beat out. If he hadn't of been so dam fast I would of had a no hit -game. At that Weaver could of threw him out if he had of started after -the ball in time. Crawford didn't get nothing like a hit and I whiffed -him once. I give two walks both of them to Bush but he is such a little -guy that you can't pitch to him.</p> - -<p>When I was warming up before the game Callahan was standing beside me -and pretty soon Jennings come over. Jennings says You ain't going to -pitch that bird are you? And Callahan said Yes he was. Then Jennings -says I wish you wouldn't because my boys is all tired out and can't -run the bases. Callahan says They won't get no chance to-day. No, says -Jennings I suppose not. I suppose he will walk them all and they won't -have to run. Callahan says He won't give no bases on balls, he says. -But you better tell your gang that he is liable to bean them and they -better stay away from the plate. Jennings says He won't never hurt my -boys by beaning them. Then I cut in. Nor you neither, I says. Callahan -laughs at that so I guess I must of pulled a pretty good one. Jennings -didn't have no comeback so he walks away.</p> - -<p>Then Cobb come over and asked if I was going to work. Callahan told him -Yes. Cobb says How many innings? Callahan says All the way. Then Cobb -says Be a good fellow Cal and take him out early. I am lame and can't -run. I butts in then and said Don't worry, Cobb. You won't have to run -because we have got a catcher who can hold them third strikes. Callahan -laughed again and says to me You sure did learn something out on that -Coast.</p> - -<p>Well I walked Bush right off the real and they all begun to holler on -the Detroit bench There he goes again. Vitt come up and Jennings yells -Leave your bat in the bag Osker. He can't get them over. But I got them -over for that bird all O.K. and he pops out trying to bunt. And then I -whiffed Crawford. He starts off with a foul that had me scared for a -minute because it was pretty close to the foul line and it went clear -out of the park. But he missed a spitter a foot and then I supprised -them Al. I give him a slow ball and I honestly had to laugh to see him -lunge for it. I bet he must of strained himself. He throwed his bat -way like he was mad and I guess he was. Cobb came pranceing up like he -always does and yells Give me that slow one Boy. So I says All right. -But I fooled him. Instead of giveing him a slow one like I said I was -going I handed him a spitter. He hit it all right but it was a line -drive right in Chase's hands. He says Pretty lucky Boy but I will get -you next time. I come right back at him. I says Yes you will.</p> - -<p>Well Al I had them going like that all through. About the sixth inning -Callahan yells from the bench to Jennings What do you think of him now? -And Jennings didn't say nothing. What could he of said?</p> - -<p>Cobb makes their one hit in the eighth. He never would of made it if -Schalk had of let me throw him spitters instead of fast ones. At that -Weaver ought to of threw him out. Anyway they didn't score and we made -a monkey out of Dubuque, or whatever his name is.</p> - -<p>Well Al I got back to the hotel and snuck down the street a ways and -had a couple of beers before supper. So I come to the supper table late -and Walsh tells me they had been several phone calls for me. I go down -to the desk and they tell me to call up a certain number. So I called -up and they charged me a nickel for it. A girl's voice answers the -phone and I says Was they some one there that wanted to talk to Jack -Keefe? She says You bet they is. She says Don't you know me, Jack? This -is Violet. Well, you could of knocked me down with a peace of bread. -I says What do you want? She says Why I want to see you. I says Well -you can't see me. She says Why what's the matter, Jack? What have I -did that you should be sore at me? I says I guess you know all right. -You called me a busher. She says Why I didn't do nothing of the kind. -I says Yes you did on that postcard. She says I didn't write you no -postcard.</p> - -<p>Then we argued along for a while and she swore up and down that she -didn't write me no postcard or call me no busher. I says Well then why -didn't you write me a letter when I was in Frisco? She says she had -lost my address. Well Al I don't know if she was telling me the truth -or not but may be she didn't write that postcard after all. She was -crying over the telephone so I says Well it is too late for I and you -to get together because I am engaged to be married. Then she screamed -and I hang up the receiver. She must of called back two or three times -because they was calling my name round the hotel but I wouldn't go near -the phone. You know me Al.</p> - -<p>Well when I hang up and went back to finish my supper the dining room -was locked. So I had to go out and buy myself a sandwich. They soaked -me fifteen cents for a sandwich and a cup of coffee so with the nickel -for the phone I am out twenty cents altogether for nothing. But then I -would of had to tip the waiter in the hotel a dime.</p> - -<p>Well Al I must close and catch the boat. I expect a letter from Hazel -in Cleveland and maybe Violet will write to me too. She is stuck on me -all right Al. I can see that. And I don't believe she could of wrote -that postcard after all.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Boston, Massachusetts, September 12.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: Well Al I got a letter from Hazel in Cleveland and -she is comeing to Chi in October for the city serious. She asked me to -send her a hundred dollars for her fare and to buy some cloths with. I -sent her thirty dollars for the fare and told her she could wait till -she got to Chi to buy her cloths. She said she would give me the money -back as soon as she seen me but she is a little short now because -one of her girl friends borrowed fifty off of her. I guess she must -be pretty soft-hearted Al. I hope you and Bertha can come up for the -wedding because I would like to have you stand up with me.</p> - -<p>I all so got a letter from Violet and they was blots all over it like -she had been crying. She swore she did not write that postcard and said -she would die if I didn't believe her. She wants to know who the lucky -girl is who I am engaged to be married to. I believe her Al when she -says she did not write that postcard but it is too late now. I will let -you know the date of my wedding as soon as I find out.</p> - -<p>I guess you seen what I done in Cleveland and here. Allen was going -awful bad in Cleveland and I relieved him in the eighth when we had a -lead of two runs. I put them out in one-two-three order in the eighth -but had hard work in the ninth due to rotten support. I walked Johnston -and Chapman and Turner sacrificed them ahead. Jackson come up then -and I had two strikes on him. I could of whiffed him but Schalk makes -me give him a fast one when I wanted to give him a slow one. He hit -it to Berger and Johnston ought to of been threw out at the plate but -Berger fumbles and then has to make the play at first base. He got -Jackson all O.K. but they was only one run behind then and Chapman was -on third base. Lajoie was up next and Callahan sends out word for me -to walk him. I thought that was rotten manageing because Lajoie or no -one else can hit me when I want to cut loose. So after I give him two -bad balls I tried to slip over a strike on him but the lucky stiff hit -it on a line to Weaver. Anyway the game was over and I felt pretty -good. But Callahan don't appresiate good work Al. He give me a call in -the clubhouse and said if I ever disobeyed his orders again he would -suspend me without no pay and lick me too. Honest Al it was all I could -do to keep from wrapping his jaw but Gleason winks at me not to do -nothing.</p> - -<p>I worked the second game here and give them three hits two of which was -bunts that Lord ought to of eat up. I got better support in Frisco than -I been getting here Al. But I don't care. The Boston bunch couldn't of -hit me with a shovvel and we beat them two to nothing. I worked against -Wood at that. They call him Smoky Joe and they say he has got a lot of -speed.</p> - -<p>Boston is some town, Al, and I wish you and Bertha could come here -sometime. I went down to the wharf this morning and seen them unload -the fish. They must of been a million of them but I didn't have time to -count them. Every one of them was five or six times as big as a blue -gill.</p> - -<p>Violet asked me what would be my address in New York City so I am -dropping her a postcard to let her know all though I don't know what -good it will do her. I certainly won't start no correspondents with her -now that I am engaged to be married.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>New York, New York, September 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I opened the serious here and beat them easy but -I know you must of saw about it in the Chi papers. At that they don't -give me no fair show in the Chi papers. One of the boys bought one here -and I seen in it where I was lucky to win that game in Cleveland. If I -knowed which one of them reporters wrote that I would punch his jaw.</p> - -<p>Al I told you Boston was some town but this is the real one. I never -seen nothing like it and I been going some since we got here. I walked -down Broadway the Main Street last night and I run into a couple of -the ball players and they took me to what they call the Garden but it -ain't like the gardens at home because this one is indoors. We sat -down to a table and had several drinks. Pretty soon one of the boys -asked me if I was broke and I says No, why? He says You better get some -lubricateing oil and loosen up. I don't know what he meant but pretty -soon when we had had a lot of drinks the waiter brings a check and -hands it to me. It was for one dollar. I says Oh I ain't paying for all -of them. The waiter says This is just for that last drink.</p> - -<p>I thought the other boys would make a holler but they didn't say -nothing. So I give him a dollar bill and even then he didn't act -satisfied so I asked him what he was waiting for and he said Oh -nothing, kind of sassy. I was going to bust him but the boys give me -the sign to shut up and not to say nothing. I excused myself pretty -soon because I wanted to get some air. I give my check for my hat to a -boy and he brought my hat and I started going and he says Haven't you -forgot something? I guess he must of thought I was wearing a overcoat.</p> - -<p>Then I went down the Main Street again and some man stopped me and -asked me did I want to go to the show. He said he had a ticket. I asked -him what show and he said the Follies. I never heard of it but I told -him I would go if he had a ticket to spare. He says I will spare you -this one for three dollars. I says You must take me for some boob. -He says No I wouldn't insult no boob. So I walks on but if he had of -insulted me I would of busted him.</p> - -<p>I went back to the hotel then and run into Kid Gleason. He asked me -to take a walk with him so out I go again. We went to the corner and -he bought me a beer. He don't drink nothing but pop himself. The two -drinks was only ten cents so I says This is the place for me. He says -Where have you been? and I told him about paying one dollar for three -drinks. He says I see I will have to take charge of you. Don't go round -with them ball players no more. When you want to go out and see the -sights come to me and I will stear you. So to-night he is going to -stear me. I will write to you from Philadelphia.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Philadelphia, Pa., September 19.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: They won't be no game here to-day because it is -raining. We all been loafing round the hotel all day and I am glad -of it because I got all tired out over in New York City. I and Kid -Gleason went round together the last couple of nights over there and -he wouldn't let me spend no money. I seen a lot of girls that I would -of liked to of got acquainted with but he wouldn't even let me answer -them when they spoke to me. We run in to a couple of peaches last night -and they had us spotted too. One of them says I'll bet you're a couple -of ball players. But Kid says You lose your bet. I am a bellhop and the -big rube with me is nothing but a pitcher.</p> - -<p>One of them says What are you trying to do kid somebody? He says Go -home and get some soap and remove your disguise from your face. I -didn't think he ought to talk like that to them and I called him about -it and said maybe they was lonesome and it wouldn't hurt none if we -treated them to a soda or something. But he says Lonesome. If I don't -get you away from here they will steal everything you got. They won't -even leave you your fast ball. So we left them and he took me to a -picture show. It was some California pictures and they made me think of -Hazel so when I got back to the hotel I sent her three postcards.</p> - -<p>Gleason made me go to my room at ten o'clock both nights but I was -pretty tired anyway because he had walked me all over town. I guess we -must of saw twenty shows. He says I would take you to the grand opera -only it would be throwing money away because we can hear Ed Walsh for -nothing. Walsh has got some voice Al a loud high tenor.</p> - -<p>To-morrow is Sunday and we have a double header Monday on account of -the rain to-day. I thought sure I would get another chance to beat the -Athaletics and I asked Callahan if he was going to pitch me here but he -said he thought he would save me to work against Johnson in Washington. -So you see Al he must figure I am about the best he has got. I'll beat -him Al if they get a couple of runs behind me.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. They was a letter here from Violet and it pretty near made me feel -like crying. I wish they was two of me so both them girls could be -happy.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Washington, D.C., September 22.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: Well Al here I am in the capital of the old -United States. We got in last night and I been walking round town all -morning. But I didn't tire myself out because I am going to pitch -against Johnson this afternoon.</p> - -<p>This is the prettiest town I ever seen but I believe they is more -colored people here than they is in Evansville or Chi. I seen the White -House and the Monumunt. They say that Bill Sullivan and Gabby St. once -catched a baseball that was threw off of the top of the Monumunt but I -bet they couldn't catch it if I throwed it.</p> - -<p>I was in to breakfast this morning with Gleason and Bodie and Weaver -and Fournier. Gleason says I'm supprised that you ain't sick in bed -to-day. I says Why?</p> - -<p>He says Most of our pitchers gets sick when Cal tells them they are -going to work against Johnson. He says Here's these other fellows all -feeling pretty sick this morning and they ain't even pitchers. All they -have to do is hit against him but it looks like as if Cal would have to -send substitutes in for them. Bodie is complaining of a sore arm which -he must of strained drawing to two card flushes. Fournier and Weaver -have strained their legs doing the tango dance. Nothing could cure them -except to hear that big Walter had got throwed out of his machine and -wouldn't be able to pitch against us in this serious.</p> - -<p>I says I feel O.K. and I ain't afraid to pitch against Johnson and I -ain't afraid to hit against him neither. Then Weaver says Have you ever -saw him work? Yes, I says, I seen him in Chi. Then Weaver says Well if -you have saw him work and ain't afraid to hit against him I'll bet you -would go down to Wall Street and holler Hurrah for Roosevelt. I says -No I wouldn't do that but I ain't afraid of no pitcher and what is more -if you get me a couple of runs I'll beat him. Then Fournier says Oh we -will get you a couple of runs all right. He says That's just as easy as -catching whales with a angleworm.</p> - -<p>Well Al I must close and go in and get some lunch. My arm feels great -and they will have to go some to beat me Johnson or no Johnson.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Washington, D.C., September 22.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well I guess you know by this time that they didn't -get no two runs for me, only one, but I beat him just the same. I beat -him one to nothing and Callahan was so pleased that he give me a ticket -to the theater. I just got back from there and it is pretty late and I -already have wrote you one letter to-day but I am going to sit up and -tell you about it.</p> - -<p>It was cloudy before the game started and when I was warming up I made -the remark to Callahan that the dark day ought to make my speed good. -He says Yes and of course it will handicap Johnson.</p> - -<p>While Washington was takeing their practice their two coachers Schaefer -and Altrock got out on the infield and cut up and I pretty near busted -laughing at them. They certainly is funny Al. Callahan asked me what -was I laughing at and I told him and he says That's the first time I -ever seen a pitcher laugh when he was going to work against Johnson. He -says Griffith is a pretty good fellow to give us something to laugh at -before he shoots that guy at us.</p> - -<p>I warmed up good and told Schalk not to ask me for my spitter much -because my fast one looked faster than I ever seen it. He says it -won't make much difference what you pitch to-day. I says Oh, yes, it -will because Callahan thinks enough of me to work me against Johnson -and I want to show him he didn't make no mistake. Then Gleason says No -he didn't make no mistake. Wasteing Cicotte or Scotty would of been a -mistake in this game.</p> - -<p>Well, Johnson whiffs Weaver and Chase and makes Lord pop out in the -first inning. I walked their first guy but I didn't give Milan nothing -to bunt and finally he flied out. And then I whiffed the next two. On -the bench Callahan says That's the way, boy. Keep that up and we got a -chance.</p> - -<p>Johnson had fanned four of us when I come up with two out in the third -inning and he whiffed me to. I fouled one though that if I had ever -got a good hold of I would of knocked out of the park. In the first -seven innings we didn't have a hit off of him. They had got five or -six lucky ones off of me and I had walked two or three, but I cut -loose with all I had when they was men on and they couldn't do nothing -with me. The only reason I walked so many was because my fast one was -jumping so. Honest Al it was so fast that Evans the umpire couldn't see -it half the time and he called a lot of balls that was right over the -heart.</p> - -<p>Well I come up in the eighth with two out and the score still nothing -and nothing. I had whiffed the second time as well as the first but it -was account of Evans missing one on me. The eighth started with Shanks -muffing a fly ball off of Bodie. It was way out by the fence so he got -two bases on it and he went to third while they was throwing Berger -out. Then Schalk whiffed.</p> - -<p>Callahan says Go up and try to meet one Jack. It might as well be you -as anybody else. But your old pal didn't whiff this time Al. He gets -two strikes on me with fast ones and then I passed up two bad ones. I -took my healthy at the next one and slapped it over first base. I guess -I could of made two bases on it but I didn't want to tire myself out. -Anyway Bodie scored and I had them beat. And my hit was the only one -we got off of him so I guess he is a pretty good pitcher after all Al.</p> - -<p>They filled up the bases on me with one out in the ninth but it was -pretty dark then and I made McBride and their catcher look like suckers -with my speed.</p> - -<p>I felt so good after the game that I drunk one of them pink cocktails. -I don't know what their name is. And then I sent a postcard to poor -little Violet. I don't care nothing about her but it don't hurt me none -to try and cheer her up once in a while. We leave here Thursday night -for home and they had ought to be two or three letters there for me -from Hazel because I haven't heard from her lately. She must of lost my -road addresses.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. I forgot to tell you what Callahan said after the game. He said I -was a real pitcher now and he is going to use me in the city serious. -If he does Al we will beat them Cubs sure.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, September 27.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: They wasn't no letter here at all from Hazel and I -guess she must of been sick. Or maybe she didn't think it was worth -while writeing as long as she is comeing next week.</p> - -<p>I want to ask you to do me a favor Al and that is to see if you can -find me a house down there. I will want to move in with Mrs. Keefe, -don't that sound funny Al? sometime in the week of October twelfth. Old -man Cutting's house or that yellow house across from you would be O.K. -I would rather have the yellow one so as to be near you. Find out how -much rent they want Al and if it is not no more than twelve dollars a -month get it for me. We will buy our furniture here in Chi when Hazel -comes.</p> - -<p>We have a couple of days off now Al and then we play St. Louis two -games here. Then Detroit comes to finish the season the third and -fourth of October.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 3.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: Thanks Al for getting the house. The one-year -lease is O.K. You and Bertha and me and Hazel can have all sorts of -good times together. I guess the walk needs repairs but I can fix that -up when I come. We can stay at the hotel when we first get there.</p> - -<p>I wish you could of came up for the city serious Al but anyway I want -you and Bertha to be sure and come up for our wedding. I will let you -know the date as soon as Hazel gets here.</p> - -<p>The serious starts Tuesday and this town is wild over it. The Cubs -finished second in their league and we was fifth in ours but that don't -scare me none. We would of finished right on top if I had of been here -all season.</p> - -<p>Callahan pitched one of the bushers against Detroit this afternoon and -they beat him bad. Callahan is saveing up Scott and Allen and Russell -and Cicotte and I for the big show. Walsh isn't in no shape and neither -is Benz. It looks like I would have a good deal to do because most of -them others can't work no more than once in four days and Allen ain't -no good at all.</p> - -<p>We have a day to rest after to-morrow's game with the Tigers and then -we go at them Cubs.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. I have got it figured that Hazel is fixing to surprise me by -dropping in on me because I haven't heard nothing yet.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 7.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al you know by this time that they beat me -to-day and tied up the serious. But I have still got plenty of time Al -and I will get them before it is over. My arm wasn't feeling good Al -and my fast ball didn't hop like it had ought to. But it was the rotten -support I got that beat me. That lucky stiff Zimmerman was the only guy -that got a real hit off of me and he must of shut his eyes and throwed -his bat because the ball he hit was a foot over his head. And if they -hadn't been makeing all them errors behind me they wouldn't of been -nobody on bases when Zimmerman got that lucky scratch. The serious now -stands one and one Al and it is a cinch we will beat them even if they -are a bunch of lucky stiffs. They has been great big crowds at both -games and it looks like as if we should ought to get over eight hundred -dollars a peace if we win and we will win sure because I will beat them -three straight if necessary.</p> - -<p>But Al I have got bigger news than that for you and I am the happyest -man in the world. I told you I had not heard from Hazel for a long -time. To-night when I got back to my room they was a letter waiting for -me from her.</p> - -<p>Al she is married. Maybe you don't know why that makes me happy but I -will tell you. She is married to Kid Levy the middle weight. I guess -my thirty dollars is gone because in her letter she called me a cheap -skate and she inclosed one one-cent stamp and two twos and said she -was paying me for the glass of beer I once bought her. I bought her -more than that Al but I won't make no holler. She all so said not for -me to never come near her or her husband would bust my jaw. I ain't -afraid of him or no one else Al but they ain't no danger of me ever -bothering them. She was no good and I was sorry the minute I agreed to -marry her.</p> - -<p>But I was going to tell you why I am happy or maybe you can guess. Now -I can make Violet my wife and she's got Hazel beat forty ways. She -ain't nowheres near as big as Hazel but she's classier Al and she will -make me a good wife. She ain't never asked me for no money.</p> - -<p>I wrote her a letter the minute I got the good news and told her to -come on over here at once at my expense. We will be married right after -the serious is over and I want you and Bertha to be sure and stand up -with us. I will wire you at my own expence the exact date.</p> - -<p>It all seems like a dream now about Violet and I haveing our -misunderstanding Al and I don't see how I ever could of accused her of -sending me that postcard. You and Bertha will be just as crazy about -her as I am when you see her Al. Just think Al I will be married inside -of a week and to the only girl I ever could of been happy with instead -of the woman I never really cared for except as a passing fancy. My -happyness would be complete Al if I had not of let that woman steal -thirty dollars off of me.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your happy pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. Hazel probibly would of insisted on us takeing a trip to Niagara -falls or somewheres but I know Violet will be perfectly satisfied if I -take her right down to Bedford. Oh you little yellow house.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 9.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al we have got them beat three games to one -now and will wind up the serious to-morrow sure. Callahan sent me in to -save poor Allen yesterday and I stopped them dead. But I don't care now -Al. I have lost all interest in the game and I don't care if Callahan -pitches me to-morrow or not. My heart is just about broke Al and I -wouldn't be able to do myself justice feeling the way I do.</p> - -<p>I have lost Violet Al and just when I was figureing on being the -happyest man in the world. We will get the big money but it won't do me -no good. They can keep my share because I won't have no little girl to -spend it on.</p> - -<p>Her answer to my letter was waiting for me at home to-night. She is -engaged to be married to Joe Hill the big lefthander Jennings got from -Providence. Honest Al I don't see how he gets by. He ain't got no more -curve ball than a rabbit and his fast one floats up there like a big -balloon. He beat us the last game of the regular season here but it was -because Callahan had a lot of bushers in the game.</p> - -<p>I wish I had knew then that he was stealing my girl and I would of made -Callahan pitch me against him. And when he come up to bat I would of -beaned him. But I don't suppose you could hurt him by hitting him in -the head. The big stiff. Their wedding ain't going to come off till -next summer and by that time he will be pitching in the Southwestern -Texas League for about fifty dollars a month.</p> - -<p>Violet wrote that she wished me all the luck and happyness in the world -but it is too late for me to be happy Al and I don't care what kind of -luck I have now.</p> - -<p>Al you will have to get rid of that lease for me. Fix it up the best -way you can. Tell the old man I have changed my plans. I don't know -just yet what I will do but maybe I will go to Australia with Mike -Donlin's team. If I do I won't care if the boat goes down or not. I -don't believe I will even come back to Bedford this winter. It would -drive me wild to go past that little house every day and think how -happy I might of been.</p> - -<p>Maybe I will pitch to-morrow Al and if I do the serious will be over -to-morrow night. I can beat them Cubs if I get any kind of decent -support. But I don't care now Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 12.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Your letter received. If the old man won't call it off -I guess I will have to try and rent the house to some one else. Do -you know of any couple that wants one Al? It looks like I would have -to come down there myself and fix things up someway. He is just mean -enough to stick me with the house on my hands when I won't have no use -for it.</p> - -<p>They beat us the day before yesterday as you probibly know and it -rained yesterday and to-day. The papers says it will be all O.K. -to-morrow and Callahan tells me I am going to work. The Cub pitchers -was all shot to peaces and the bad weather is just nuts for them -because it will give Cheney a good rest. But I will beat him Al if they -don't kick it away behind me.</p> - -<p>I must close because I promised Allen the little lefthander that I -would come over to his flat and play cards a while to-night and I must -wash up and change my collar. Allen's wife's sister is visiting them -again and I would give anything not to have to go over there. I am -through with girls and don't want nothing to do with them.</p> - -<p>I guess it is maybe a good thing it rained to-day because I dreamt -about Violet last night and went out and got a couple of high balls -before breakfast this morning. I hadn't never drank nothing before -breakfast before and it made me kind of sick. But I am all O.K. now.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 13.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: The serious is all over Al. We are the champions -and I done it. I may be home the day after to-morrow or I may not come -for a couple of days. I want to see Comiskey before I leave and fix up -about my contract for next year. I won't sign for no less than five -thousand and if he hands me a contract for less than that I will leave -the White Sox flat on their back. I have got over fourteen hundred -dollars now Al with the city serious money which was $814.30 and I -don't have to worry.</p> - -<p>Them reporters will have to give me a square deal this time Al. I had -everything and the Cubs done well to score a run. I whiffed Zimmerman -three times. Some of the boys say he ain't no hitter but he is a hitter -and a good one Al only he could not touch the stuff I got. The umps -give them their run because in the fourth inning I had Leach flatfooted -off of second base and Weaver tagged him O.K. but the umps wouldn't -call it. Then Schulte the lucky stiff happened to get a hold of one and -pulled it past first base. I guess Chase must of been asleep. Anyway -they scored but I don't care because we piled up six runs on Cheney and -I drove in one of them myself with one of the prettiest singles you -ever see. It was a spitter and I hit it like a shot. If I had hit it -square it would of went out of the park.</p> - -<p>Comiskey ought to feel pretty good about me winning and I guess he will -give me a contract for anything I want. He will have to or I will go to -the Federal League.</p> - -<p>We are all invited to a show to-night and I am going with Allen and his -wife and her sister Florence. She is O.K. Al and I guess she thinks the -same about me. She must because she was out to the game to-day and seen -me hand it to them. She maybe ain't as pretty as Violet and Hazel but -as they say beauty isn't only so deep.</p> - -<p>Well Al tell the boys I will be with them soon. I have gave up the idea -of going to Australia because I would have to buy a evening full-dress -suit and they tell me they cost pretty near fifty dollars.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 14.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Never mind about that lease. I want the house after -all Al and I have got the supprise of your life for you.</p> - -<p>When I come home to Bedford I will bring my wife with me. I and -Florence fixed things all up after the show last night and we are going -to be married to-morrow morning. I am a busy man to-day Al because I -have got to get the license and look round for furniture. And I have -also got to buy some new cloths but they are haveing a sale on Cottage -Grove Avenue at Clark's store and I know one of the clerks there.</p> - -<p>I am the happyest man in the world Al. You and Bertha and I and -Florence will have all kinds of good times together this winter because -I know Bertha and Florence will like each other. Florence looks -something like Bertha at that. I am glad I didn't get tied up with -Violet or Hazel even if they was a little bit prettier than Florence.</p> - -<p>Florence knows a lot about baseball for a girl and you would be -supprised to hear her talk. She says I am the best pitcher in the -league and she has saw them all. She all so says I am the best looking -ball player she ever seen but you know how girls will kid a guy Al. You -will like her O.K. I fell for her the first time I seen her.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. I signed up for next year. Comiskey slapped me on the back when I -went in to see him and told me I would be a star next year if I took -good care of myself. I guess I am a star without waiting for next -year Al. My contract calls for twenty-eight hundred a year which is a -thousand more than I was getting. And it is pretty near a cinch that I -will be in on the World Serious money next season.</p> - -<p>P.S. I certainly am relieved about that lease. It would of been fierce -to of had that place on my hands all winter and not getting any use out -of it. Everything is all O.K. now. Oh you little yellow house.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></h2> - -<p class="center">THE BUSHER'S HONEYMOON</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 17.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al it looks as if I would not be writeing -so much to you now that I am a married man. Yes Al I and Florrie was -married the day before yesterday just like I told you we was going to -be and Al I am the happyest man in the world though I have spent $30 in -the last 3 days incluseive. You was wise Al to get married in Bedford -where not nothing is nearly half so dear. My expenses was as follows:</p> - -<table id="expences" summary="expences" width="60%"> -<tr> -<td>License -</td> -<td class="tdr">$ 2.00 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Preist -</td> -<td class="tdr">3.50 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Haircut and shave -</td> -<td class="tdr">.35 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Shine -</td> -<td class="tdr">.05 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Carfair -</td> -<td class="tdr">.45 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>New suit -</td> -<td class="tdr">14.50 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Show tickets -</td> -<td class="tdr">3.00 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Flowers -</td> -<td class="tdr">.50 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Candy -</td> -<td class="tdr">.30 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Hotel -</td> -<td class="tdr">4.50 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Tobacco both kinds -</td> -<td class="tdr">.25 -</td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<p>You see Al it costs a hole lot of money to get married here. The sum -of what I have wrote down is $29.40 but as I told you I have spent -$30 and I do not know what I have did with that other $0.60. My new -brother-in-law Allen told me I should ought to give the preist $5 and -I thought it should be about $2 the same as the license so I split the -difference and give him $3.50. I never seen him before and probily -won't never see him again so why should I give him anything at all when -it is his business to marry couples? But I like to do the right thing. -You know me Al.</p> - -<p>I thought we would be in Bedford by this time but Florrie wants to say -here a few more days because she says she wants to be with her sister. -Allen and his wife is thinking about takeing a flat for the winter -instead of going down to Waco Texas where they live. I don't see no -sense in that when it costs so much to live here but it is none of my -business if they want to throw their money away. But I am glad I got a -wife with some sense though she kicked because I did not get no room -with a bath which would cost me $2 a day instead of $1.50. I says I -guess the clubhouse is still open yet and if I want a bath I can go -over there and take the shower. She says Yes and I suppose I can go -and jump in the lake. But she would not do that Al because the lake -here is cold at this time of the year.</p> - -<p>When I told you about my expenses I did not include in it the meals -because we would be eating them if I was getting married or not getting -married only I have to pay for six meals a day now instead of three -and I didn't used to eat no lunch in the playing season except once in -a while when I knowed I was not going to work that afternoon. I had a -meal ticket which had not quite ran out over to a resturunt on Indiana -Ave and we eat there for the first day except at night when I took -Allen and his wife to the show with us and then he took us to a chop -suye resturunt. I guess you have not never had no chop suye Al and I am -here to tell you you have not missed nothing but when Allen was going -to buy the supper what could I say? I could not say nothing.</p> - -<p>Well yesterday and to-day we been eating at a resturunt on Cottage -Grove Ave near the hotel and at the resturunt on Indiana that I had the -meal ticket at only I do not like to buy no new meal ticket when I am -not going to be round here no more than a few days. Well Al I guess the -meals has cost me all together about $1.50 and I have eat very little -myself. Florrie always wants desert ice cream or something and that -runs up into money faster than regular stuff like stake and ham and -eggs.</p> - -<p>Well Al Florrie says it is time for me to keep my promise and take her -to the moveing pictures which is $0.20 more because the one she likes -round here costs a dime apeace. So I must close for this time and will -see you soon.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 22</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Just a note Al to tell you why I have not yet came to -Bedford yet where I expected I would be long before this time. Allen -and his wife have took a furnished flat for the winter and Allen's wife -wants Florrie to stay here untill they get settled. Meentime it is -costing me a hole lot of money at the hotel and for meals besides I am -paying $10 a month rent for the house you got for me and what good am -I getting out of it? But Florrie wants to help her sister and what can -I say? Though I did make her promise she would not stay no longer than -next Saturday at least. So I guess Al we will be home on the evening -train Saturday and then may be I can save some money.</p> - -<p>I know Al that you and Bertha will like Florrie when you get acquainted -with her spesially Bertha though Florrie dresses pretty swell and -spends a hole lot of time fusing with her face and her hair.</p> - -<p>She says to me to-night Who are you writeing to and I told her Al -Blanchard who I have told you about a good many times. She says I bet -you are writeing to some girl and acted like as though she was kind of -jealous. So I thought I would tease her a little and I says I don't -know no girls except you and Violet and Hazel. Who is Violet and Hazel? -she says. I kind of laughed and says Oh I guess I better not tell you -and then she says I guess you will tell me. That made me kind of mad -because no girl can't tell me what to do. She says Are you going to -tell me? and I says No.</p> - -<p>Then she says If you don't tell me I will go over to Marie's that is -her sister Allen's wife and stay all night. I says Go on and she went -downstairs but I guess she probily went to get a soda because she has -some money of her own that I give her. This was about two hours ago -and she is probily down in the hotel lobby now trying to scare me by -makeing me believe she has went to her sister's. But she can't fool me -Al and I am now going out to mail this letter and get a beer. I won't -never tell her about Violet and Hazel if she is going to act like that.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 24.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I guess I told you Al that we would be home -Saturday evening. I have changed my mind. Allen and his wife has a -spair bedroom and wants us to come there and stay a week or two. It -won't cost nothing except they will probily want to go out to the -moveing pictures nights and we will probily have to go along with them -and I am a man Al that wants to pay his share and not be cheap.</p> - -<p>I and Florrie had our first quarrle the other night. I guess I told you -the start of it but I don't remember. I made some crack about Violet -and Hazel just to tease Florrie and she wanted to know who they was and -I would not tell her. So she gets sore and goes over to Marie's to stay -all night. I was just kidding Al and was willing to tell her about them -two poor girls whatever she wanted to know except that I don't like to -brag about girls being stuck on me. So I goes over to Marie's after her -and tells her all about them except that I turned them down cold at the -last minute to marry her because I did not want her to get all swelled -up. She made me sware that I did not never care nothing about them and -that was easy because it was the truth. So she come back to the hotel -with me just like I knowed she would when I ordered her to.</p> - -<p>They must not be no mistake about who is the boss in my house. Some men -lets their wife run all over them but I am not that kind. You know me -Al.</p> - -<p>I must get busy and pack my suitcase if I am going to move over to -Allen's. I sent three collars and a shirt to the laundrey this morning -so even if we go over there to-night I will have to take another trip -back this way in a day or two. I won't mind Al because they sell my -kind of beer down to the corner and I never seen it sold nowheres else -in Chi. You know the kind it is, eh Al? I wish I was lifting a few with -you to-night. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 28.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: Florrie and Marie has went downtown shopping -because Florrie thinks she has got to have a new dress though she has -got two changes of cloths now and I don't know what she can do with -another one. I hope she don't find none to suit her though it would not -hurt none if she got something for next spring at a reduckshon. I guess -she must think I am Charles A. Comiskey or somebody. Allen has went -to a colledge football game. One of the reporters give him a pass. I -don't see nothing in football except a lot of scrapping between little -slobs that I could lick the whole bunch of them so I did not care to -go. The reporter is one of the guys that travled round with our club -all summer. He called up and said he hadn't only the one pass but he -was not hurting my feelings none because I would not go to no rotten -football game if they payed me.</p> - -<p>The flat across the hall from this here one is for rent furnished. -They want $40 a month for it and I guess they think they must be lots -of suckers running round loose. Marie was talking about it and says -Why don't you and Florrie take it and then we can be right together -all winter long and have some big times? Florrie says It would be all -right with me. What about it Jack? I says What do you think I am? I -don't have to live in no high price flat when I got a home in Bedford -where they ain't no people trying to hold everybody up all the time. -So they did not say no more about it when they seen I was in ernest. -Nobody cannot tell me where I am going to live sister-in-law or no -sister-in-law. If I was to rent the rotten old flat I would be paying -$50 a month rent includeing the house down in Bedford. Fine chance Al.</p> - -<p>Well Al I am lonesome and thirsty so more later.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, November 2.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al I got some big news for you. I am not -comeing to Bedford this winter after all except to make a visit which -I guess will be round Xmas. I changed my mind about that flat across -the hall from the Allens and decided to take it after all. The people -who was in it and owns the furniture says they would let us have it -till the 1 of May if we would pay $42.50 a month which is only $2.50 a -month more than they would of let us have it for for a short time. So -you see we got a bargain because it is all furnished and everything and -we won't have to blow no money on furniture besides the club goes to -California the middle of Febuery so Florrie would not have no place to -stay while I am away.</p> - -<p>The Allens only subleased their flat from some other people till the 2 -of Febuery and when I and Allen goes West Marie can come over and stay -with Florrie so you see it is best all round. If we should of boughten -furniture it would cost us in the neighborhood of $100 even without no -piano and they is a piano in this here flat which makes it nice because -Florrie plays pretty good with one hand and we can have lots of good -times at home without it costing us nothing except just the bear -liveing expenses. I consider myself lucky to of found out about this -before it was too late and somebody else had of gotten the tip.</p> - -<p>Now Al old pal I want to ask a great favor of you Al. I all ready have -payed one month rent $10 on the house in Bedford and I want you to -see the old man and see if he won't call off that lease. Why should -I be paying $10 a month rent down there and $42.50 up here when the -house down there is not no good to me because I am liveing up here all -winter? See Al? Tell him I will gladly give him another month rent to -call off the lease but don't tell him that if you don't have to. I want -to be fare with him.</p> - -<p>If you will do this favor for me, Al, I won't never forget it. Give my -kindest to Bertha and tell her I am sorry I and Florrie won't see her -right away but you see how it is Al. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, November 30.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I have not wrote for a long time have I Al but I -have been very busy. They was not enough furniture in the flat and we -have been buying some more. They was enough for some people maybe but -I and Florrie is the kind that won't have nothing but the best. The -furniture them people had in the liveing room was oak but they had a -bookcase bilt in in the flat that was mohoggeny and Florrie would not -stand for no joke combination like that so she moved the oak chairs -and table in to the spair bedroom and we went downtown to buy some -mohoggeny. But it costs too much Al and we was feeling pretty bad -about it when we seen some Sir Cashion walnut that was prettier even -than the mohoggeny and not near so expensive. It is not no real Sir -Cashion walnut but it is just as good and we got it reasonable. Then we -got some mission chairs for the dining room because the old ones was -just straw and was no good and we got a big lether couch for $9 that -somebody can sleep on if we get to much company.</p> - -<p>I hope you and Bertha can come up for the holidays and see how -comfertible we are fixed. That is all the new furniture we have -boughten but Florrie set her heart on some old Rose drapes and a red -table lamp that is the biggest you ever seen Al and I did not have the -heart to say no. The hole thing cost me in the neighborhood of $110 -which is very little for what we got and then it will always be ourn -even when we move away from this flat though we will have to leave the -furniture that belongs to the other people but their part of it is not -no good anyway.</p> - -<p>I guess I told you Al how much money I had when the season ended. It -was $1400 all told includeing the city serious money. Well Al I got in -the neighborhood of $800 left because I give $200 to Florrie to send -down to Texas to her other sister who had a bad egg for a husband that -managed a club in the Texas Oklahoma League and this was the money she -had to pay to get the divorce. I am glad Al that I was lucky enough to -marry happy and get a good girl for my wife that has got some sense and -besides if I have got $800 left I should not worry as they say.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, December 7.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: No I was in ernest Al when I says that I wanted -you and Bertha to come up here for the holidays. I know I told you that -I might come to Bedford for the holidays but that is all off. I have -gave up the idea of comeing to Bedford for the holidays and I want you -to be sure and come up here for the holidays and I will show you a good -time. I would love to have Bertha come to and she can come if she wants -to only Florrie don't know if she would have a good time or not and -thinks maybe she would rather stay in Bedford and you come alone. But -be sure and have Bertha come if she wants to come but maybe she would -not injoy it. You know best Al.</p> - -<p>I don't think the old man give me no square deal on that lease but if -he wants to stick me all right. I am grateful to you Al for trying to -fix it up but maybe you could of did better if you had of went at it -in a different way. I am not finding no fault with my old pal though. -Don't think that. When I have a pal I am the man to stick to him threw -thick and thin. If the old man is going to hold me to that lease I -guess I will have to stand it and I guess I won't starv to death for -no $10 a month because I am going to get $2800 next year besides the -city serious money and maybe we will get into the World Serious too. I -know we will if Callahan will pitch me every 3d day like I wanted him -to last season. But if you had of approached the old man in a different -way maybe you could of fixed it up. I wish you would try it again Al if -it is not no trouble.</p> - -<p>We had Allen and his wife here for thanksgiveing dinner and the dinner -cost me better than $5. I thought we had enough to eat to last a week -but about six o'clock at night Florrie and Marie said they was hungry -and we went downtown and had dinner all over again and I payed for it -and it cost me $5 more. Allen was all ready to pay for it when Florrie -said No this day's treat is on us so I had to pay for it but I don't -see why she did not wait and let me do the talking. I was going to pay -for it any way.</p> - -<p>Be sure and come and visit us for the holidays Al and of coarse if -Bertha wants to come bring her along. We will be glad to see you both. -I won't never go back on a friend and pal. You know me Al. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, December 20.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I don't see what can be the matter with Bertha -because you know Al we would not care how she dressed and would not -make no kick if she come up here in a night gown. She did not have no -license to say we was to swell for her because we did not never think -of nothing like that. I wish you would talk to her again Al and tell -her she need not get sore on me and that both her and you is welcome at -my house any time I ask you to come. See if you can't make her change -her mind Al because I feel like as if she must of took offense at -something I may of wrote you. I am sorry you and her are not comeing -but I suppose you know best. Only we was getting all ready for you and -Florrie said only the other day that she wished the holidays was over -but that was before she knowed you was not comeing. I hope you can come -Al.</p> - -<p>Well Al I guess there is not no use talking to the old man no more. You -have did the best you could but I wish I could of came down there and -talked to him. I will pay him his rotten old $10 a month and the next -time I come to Bedford and meet him on the street I will bust his jaw. -I know he is a old man Al but I don't like to see nobody get the best -of me and I am sorry I ever asked him to let me off. Some of them old -skinflints has no heart Al but why should I fight with a old man over -chicken feed like $10? Florrie says a star pitcher like I should not -ought never to scrap about little things and I guess she is right Al so -I will pay the old man his $10 a month if I have to.</p> - -<p>Florrie says she is jealous of me writeing to you so much and she says -she would like to meet this great old pal of mine. I would like to have -her meet you to Al and I would like to have you change your mind and -come and visit us and I am sorry you can't come Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, December 27.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: I guess all these lefthanders is alike though I -thought this Allen had some sense. I thought he was different from the -most and was not no rummy but they are all alike Al and they are all -lucky that somebody don't hit them over the head with a ax and kill -them but I guess at that you could not hurt no lefthanders by hitting -them over the head. We was all down on State St. the day before Xmas -and the girls was all tired out and ready to go home but Allen says -No I guess we better stick down a while because now the crowds is out -and it will be fun to watch them. So we walked up and down State St. -about a hour longer and finally we come in front of a big jewlry store -window and in it was a swell dimond ring that was marked $100. It was a -ladies' ring so Marie says to Allen Why don't you buy that for me? And -Allen says Do you really want it? And she says she did.</p> - -<p>So we tells the girls to wait and we goes over to a salloon where -Allen has got a friend and gets a check cashed and we come back and he -bought the ring. Then Florrie looks like as though she was getting all -ready to cry and I asked her what was the matter and she says I had -not boughten her no ring not even when we was engaged. So I and Allen -goes back to the salloon and I gets a check cashed and we come back and -bought another ring but I did not think the ring Allen had boughten was -worth no $100 so I gets one for $75. Now Al you know I am not makeing -no kick on spending a little money for a present for my own wife but -I had allready boughten her a rist watch for $15 and a rist watch was -just what she had wanted. I was willing to give her the ring if she had -not of wanted the rist watch more than the ring but when I give her the -ring I kept the rist watch and did not tell her nothing about it.</p> - -<p>Well I come downtown alone the day after Xmas and they would not take -the rist watch back in the store where I got it. So I am going to give -it to her for a New Year's present and I guess that will make Allen -feel like a dirty doose. But I guess you cannot hurt no lefthander's -feelings at that. They are all alike. But Allen has not got nothing -but a dinky curve ball and a fast ball that looks like my slow one. If -Comiskey was not good hearted he would of sold him long ago.</p> - -<p>I sent you and Bertha a cut glass dish Al which was the best I could -get for the money and it was pretty high pricet at that. We was glad -to get the pretty pincushions from you and Bertha and Florrie says to -tell you that we are well supplied with pincushions now because the -ones you sent makes a even half dozen. Thanks Al for remembering us and -thank Bertha too though I guess you paid for them. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Januery 3.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: Al I been pretty sick ever since New Year's eve. We -had a table at 1 of the swell resturunts downtown and I never seen so -much wine drank in my life. I would rather of had beer but they would -not sell us none so I found out that they was a certain kind that you -can get for $1 a bottle and it is just as good as the kind that has got -all them fancy names but this lefthander starts ordering some other -kind about 11 oclock and it was $5 a bottle and the girls both says -they liked it better. I could not see a hole lot of difference myself -and I would of gave $0.20 for a big stine of my kind of beer. You know -me Al. Well Al you know they is not nobody that can drink more than -your old pal and I was all O.K. at one oclock but I seen the girls was -getting kind of sleepy so I says we better go home.</p> - -<p>Then Marie says Oh, shut up and don't be no quiter. I says You better -shut up yourself and not be telling me to shut up, and she says What -will you do if I don't shut up? And I says I would bust her in the -jaw. But you know Al I would not think of busting no girl. Then Florrie -says You better not start nothing because you had to much to drink or -you would not be talking about busting girls in the jaw. Then I says -I don't care if it is a girl I bust or a lefthander. I did not mean -nothing at all Al but Marie says I had insulted Allen and he gets up -and slaps my face. Well Al I am not going to stand that from nobody -not even if he is my brother-in-law and a lefthander that has not got -enough speed to brake a pain of glass.</p> - -<p>So I give him a good beating and the waiters butts in and puts us all -out for fighting and I and Florrie comes home in a taxi and Allen and -his wife don't get in till about 5 oclock so I guess she must of had to -of took him to a doctor to get fixed up. I been in bed ever since till -just this morning kind of sick to my stumach. I guess I must of eat -something that did not agree with me. Allen come over after breakfast -this morning and asked me was I all right so I guess he is not sore -over the beating I give him or else he wants to make friends because he -has saw that I am a bad guy to monkey with.</p> - -<p>Florrie tells me a little while ago that she paid the hole bill at the -resturunt with my money because Allen was broke so you see what kind -of a cheap skate he is Al and some day I am going to bust his jaw. She -won't tell me how much the bill was and I won't ask her to no more -because we had a good time outside of the fight and what do I care if -we spent a little money?</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Januery 20.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Allen and his wife have gave up the flat across -the hall from us and come over to live with us because we got a spair -bedroom and why should they not have the bennifit of it? But it is -pretty hard for the girls to have to cook and do the work when they is -four of us so I have a hired girl who does it all for $7 a week. It -is great stuff Al because now we can go round as we please and don't -have to wait for no dishes to be washed or nothing. We generally almost -always has dinner downtown in the evening so it is pretty soft for the -girl too. She don't generally have no more than one meal to get because -we generally run round downtown till late and don't get up till about -noon.</p> - -<p>That sounds funny don't it Al, when I used to get up at 5 every morning -down home. Well Al I can tell you something else that may sound funny -and that is that I lost my taste for beer. I don't seem to care for it -no more and I found I can stand allmost as many drinks of other stuff -as I could of beer. I guess Al they is not nobody ever lived can drink -more and stand up better under it than me. I make the girls and Allen -quit every night.</p> - -<p>I only got just time to write you this short note because Florrie and -Marie is giving a big party to-night and I and Allen have got to beat -it out of the house and stay out of the way till they get things ready. -It is Marie's berthday and she says she is 22 but say Al if she is 22 -Kid Gleason is 30. Well Al the girls says we must blow so I will run -out and mail this letter.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Januery 31.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Allen is going to take Marie with him on the training trip -to California and of course Florrie has been at me to take her along. I -told her postivly that she can't go. I can't afford no stunt like that -but still I am up against it to know what to do with her while we are -on the trip because Marie won't be here to stay with her. I don't like -to leave her here all alone but they is nothing to it Al I can't afford -to take her along. She says I don't see why you can't take me if Allen -takes Marie. And I says That stuff is all O.K. for Allen because him -and Marie has been grafting off of us all winter. And then she gets mad -and tells me I should not ought to say her sister was no grafter. I did -not mean nothing like that Al but you don't never know when a woman is -going to take offense.</p> - -<p>If our furniture was down in Bedford everything would be all O.K. -because I could leave her there and I would feel all O.K. because I -would know that you and Bertha would see that she was getting along -O.K. But they would not be no sense in sending her down to a house that -has not no furniture in it. I wish I knowed somewheres where she could -visit Al. I would be willing to pay her bord even.</p> - -<p>Well Al enough for this time.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><span class="smcap"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 4.</i></span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: You are a real old pal Al and I certainly am -greatful to you for the invatation. I have not told Florrie about it -yet but I am sure she will be tickled to death and it is certainly kind -of you old pal. I did not never dream of nothing like that. I note what -you say Al about not excepting no bord but I think it would be better -and I would feel better if you would take something say about $2 a week.</p> - -<p>I know Bertha will like Florrie and that they will get along O.K. -together because Florrie can learn her how to make her cloths look good -and fix her hair and fix up her face. I feel like as if you had took a -big load off of me Al and I won't never forget it.</p> - -<p>If you don't think I should pay no bord for Florrie all right. Suit -yourself about that old pal.</p> - -<p>We are leaveing here the 20 of Febuery and if you don't mind I will -bring Florrie down to you about the 18. I would like to see the old -bunch again and spesially you and Bertha.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. We will only be away till April 14 and that is just a nice visit. -I wish we did not have no flat on our hands.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 9.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: I want to thank you for asking Florrie to come down -there and visit you Al but I find she can't get away. I did not know -she had no engagements but she says she may go down to her folks in -Texas and she don't want to say that she will come to visit you when -it is so indefanate. So thank you just the same Al and thank Bertha too.</p> - -<p>Florrie is still at me to take her along to California but honest Al -I can't do it. I am right down to my last $50 and I have not payed no -rent for this month. I owe the hired girl 2 weeks' salery and both I -and Florrie needs some new cloths.</p> - -<p>Florrie has just came in since I started writeing this letter and we -have been talking some more about California and she says maybe if I -would ask Comiskey he would take her along as the club's guest. I had -not never thought of that Al and maybe he would because he is a pretty -good scout and I guess I will go and see him about it. The league has -its skedule meeting here to-morrow and may be I can see him down to the -hotel where they meet at. I am so worried Al that I can't write no more -but I will tell you how I come out with Comiskey.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 11.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I am up against it right Al and I don't know where -I am going to head in at. I went down to the hotel where the league -was holding its skedule meeting at and I seen Comiskey and got some -money off of the club but I owe all the money I got off of them and I -am still wondering what to do about Florrie.</p> - -<p>Comiskey was busy in the meeting when I went down there and they was -not no chance to see him for a while so I and Allen and some of the -boys hung round and had a few drinks and fanned. This here Joe Hill the -busher that Detroit has got that Violet is hooked up to was round the -hotel. I don't know what for but I felt like busting his jaw only the -boys told me I had better not do nothing because I might kill him and -any way he probily won't be in the league much longer. Well finally -Comiskey got threw the meeting and I seen him and he says Hello young -man what can I do for you? And I says I would like to get $100 advance -money. He says Have you been takeing care of yourself down in Bedford? -And I told him I had been liveing here all winter and it did not seem -to make no hit with him though I don't see what business it is of hisn -where I live.</p> - -<p>So I says I had been takeing good care of myself. And I have Al. You -know that. So he says I should come to the ball park the next day which -is to-day and he would have the secretary take care of me but I says -I could not wait and so he give me $100 out of his pocket and says he -would have it charged against my salery. I was just going to brace him -about the California trip when he got away and went back to the meeting.</p> - -<p>Well Al I hung round with the bunch waiting for him to get threw again -and we had some more drinks and finally Comiskey was threw again and I -braced him in the lobby and asked him if it was all right to take my -wife along to California. He says Sure they would be glad to have her -along. And then I says Would the club pay her fair? He says I guess -you must of spent that $100 buying some nerve. He says Have you not -got no sisters that would like to go along to? He says Does your wife -insist on the drawing room or will she take a lower birth? He says Is -my special train good enough for her?</p> - -<p>Then he turns away from me and I guess some of the boys must of heard -the stuff he pulled because they was laughing when he went away but I -did not see nothing to laugh at. But I guess he ment that I would have -to pay her fair if she goes along and that is out of the question Al. I -am up against it and I don't know where I am going to head in at.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 12.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al</span>: I guess everything will be all O.K. now at least -I am hopeing it will. When I told Florrie about how I come out with -Comiskey she bawled her head off and I thought for a while I was going -to have to call a doctor or something but pretty soon she cut it out -and we sat there a while without saying nothing. Then she says If you -could get your salery razed a couple of hundred dollars a year would -you borrow the money ahead somewheres and take me along to California? -I says Yes I would if I could get a couple hundred dollars more salery -but how could I do that when I had signed a contract for $2800 last -fall allready? She says Don't you think you are worth more than $2800? -And I says Yes of coarse I was worth more than $2800. She says Well if -you will go and talk the right way to Comiskey I believe he will give -you $3000 but you must be sure you go at it the right way and don't go -and ball it all up.</p> - -<p>Well we argude about it a while because I don't want to hold nobody -up Al but finally I says I would. It would not be holding nobody up -anyway because I am worth $3000 to the club if I am worth a nichol. The -papers is all saying that the club has got a good chance to win the -pennant this year and talking about the pitching staff and I guess they -would not be no pitching staff much if it was not for I and one or two -others—about one other I guess.</p> - -<p>So it looks like as if everything will be all O.K. now Al. I am going -to the office over to the park to see him the first thing in the -morning and I am pretty sure that I will get what I am after because if -I do not he will see that I am going to quit and then he will see what -he is up against and not let me get away.</p> - -<p>I will let you know how I come out.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 14.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Al old pal I have got a big supprise for you. I am -going to the Federal League. I had a run in with Comiskey yesterday and -I guess I told him a thing or 2. I guess he would of been glad to sign -me at my own figure before I got threw but I was so mad I would not -give him no chance to offer me another contract.</p> - -<p>I got out to the park at 9 oclock yesterday morning and it was a hour -before he showed up and then he kept me waiting another hour so I was -pretty sore when I finally went in to see him. He says Well young man -what can I do for you? I says I come to see about my contract. He says -Do you want to sign up for next year all ready? I says No I am talking -about this year. He says I thought I and you talked business last fall. -And I says Yes but now I think I am worth more money and I want to sign -a contract for $3000. He says If you behave yourself and work good this -year I will see that you are took care of. But I says That won't do -because I have got to be sure I am going to get $3000.</p> - -<p>Then he says I am not sure you are going to get anything. I says What -do you mean? And he says I have gave you a very fare contract and if -you don't want to live up to it that is your own business. So I give -him a awful call Al and told him I would jump to the Federal League. -He says Oh, I would not do that if I was you. They are haveing a hard -enough time as it is. So I says something back to him and he did not -say nothing to me and I beat it out of the office.</p> - -<p>I have not told Florrie about the Federal League business yet as I -am going to give her a big supprise. I bet they will take her along -with me on the training trip and pay her fair but even if they don't I -should not worry because I will make them give me a contract for $4000 -a year and then I can afford to take her with me on all the trips.</p> - -<p>I will go down and see Tinker to-morrow morning and I will write you -to-morrow night Al how much salery they are going to give me. But I -won't sign for no less than $4000. You know me Al. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 15.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: It is pretty near midnight Al but I been to bed a -couple of times and I can't get no sleep. I am worried to death Al -and I don't know where I am going to head in at. Maybe I will go out -and buy a gun Al and end it all and I guess it would be better for -everybody. But I cannot do that Al because I have not got the money to -buy a gun with.</p> - -<p>I went down to see Tinker about signing up with the Federal League -and he was busy in the office when I come in. Pretty soon Buck Perry -the pitcher that was with Boston last year come out and seen me and -as Tinker was still busy we went out and had a drink together. Buck -shows me a contract for $5000 a year and Tinker had allso gave him a -$500 bonus. So pretty soon I went up to the office and pretty soon -Tinker seen me and called me into his private office and asked what -did I want. I says I was ready to jump for $4000 and a bonus. He says -I thought you was signed up with the White Sox. I says Yes I was but I -was not satisfied. He says That does not make no difference to me if -you are satisfied or not. You ought to of came to me before you signed -a contract. I says I did not know enough but I know better now. He says -Well it is to late now. We cannot have nothing to do with you because -you have went and signed a contract with the White Sox. I argude with -him a while and asked him to come out and have a drink so we could talk -it over but he said he was busy so they was nothing for me to do but -blow.</p> - -<p>So I am not going to the Federal League Al and I will not go with the -White Sox because I have got a raw deal. Comiskey will be sorry for -what he done when his team starts the season and is up against it for -good pitchers and then he will probily be willing to give me anything -I ask for but that don't do me no good now Al. I am way in debt and no -chance to get no money from nobody. I wish I had of stayed with Terre -Haute Al and never saw this league.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 17.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Al don't never let nobody tell you that these here -lefthanders is right. This Allen my own brother-in-law who married -sisters has been grafting and spongeing on me all winter Al. Look what -he done to me now Al. You know how hard I been up against it for money -and I know he has got plenty of it because I seen it on him. Well Al -I was scared to tell Florrie I was cleaned out and so I went to Allen -yesterday and says I had to have $100 right away because I owed the -rent and owed the hired girl's salery and could not even pay no grocery -bill. And he says No he could not let me have none because he has got -to save all his money to take his wife on the trip to California. And -here he has been liveing on me all winter and maybe I could of took my -wife to California if I had not of spent all my money takeing care of -this no good lefthander and his wife. And Al honest he has not got a -thing and ought not to be in the league. He gets by with a dinky curve -ball and has not got no more smoke than a rabbit or something.</p> - -<p>Well Al I felt like busting him in the jaw but then I thought No I -might kill him and then I would have Marie and Florrie both to take -care of and God knows one of them is enough besides paying his funeral -expenses. So I walked away from him without takeing a crack at him -and went into the other room where Florrie and Marie was at. I says -to Marie I says Marie I wish you would go in the other room a minute -because I want to talk to Florrie. So Marie beats it into the other -room and then I tells Florrie all about what Comiskey and the Federal -League done to me. She bawled something awful and then she says I was -no good and she wished she had not never married me. I says I wisht it -too and then she says Do you mean that and starts to cry.</p> - -<p>I told her I was sorry I says that because they is not no use fusing -with girls Al specially when they is your wife. She says No California -trip for me and then she says What are you going to do? And I says I -did not know. She says Well if I was a man I would do something. So -then I got mad and I says I will do something. So I went down to the -corner salloon and started in to get good and drunk but I could not do -it Al because I did not have the money.</p> - -<p>Well old pal I am going to ask you a big favor and it is this I want -you to send me $100 Al for just a few days till I can get on my feet. I -do not know when I can pay it back Al but I guess you know the money -is good and I know you have got it. Who would not have it when they -live in Bedford? And besides I let you take $20 in June 4 years ago Al -and you give it back but I would not have said nothing to you if you -had of kept it. Let me hear from you right away old pal. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 19.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: I am certainly greatful to you Al for the $100 which come -just a little while ago. I will pay the rent with it and part of the -grocery bill and I guess the hired girl will have to wait a while for -hern but she is sure to get it because I don't never forget my debts. -I have changed my mind about the White Sox and I am going to go on the -trip and take Florrie along because I don't think it would not be right -to leave her here alone in Chi when her sister and all of us is going.</p> - -<p>I am going over to the ball park and up in the office pretty soon to -see about it. I will tell Comiskey I changed my mind and he will be -glad to get me back because the club has not got no chance to finish -nowheres without me. But I won't go on no trip or give the club my -services without them giveing me some more advance money so as I can -take Florrie along with me because Al I would not go without her.</p> - -<p>Maybe Comiskey will make my salery $3000 like I wanted him to when he -sees I am willing to be a good fellow and go along with him and when he -knows that the Federal League would of gladly gave me $4000 if I had -not of signed no contract with the White Sox.</p> - -<p>I think I will ask him for $200 advance money Al and if I get it may be -I can send part of your $100 back to you but I know you cannot be in no -hurry Al though you says you wanted it back as soon as possible. You -could not be very hard up Al because it don't cost near so much to live -in Bedford as it does up here.</p> - -<p>Anyway I will let you know how I come out with Comiskey and I will -write you as soon as I get out to Paso Robles if I don't get no time to -write you before I leave.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. I have took good care of myself all winter Al and I guess I ought -to have a great season.</p> - -<p>P.S. Florrie is tickled to death about going along and her and I will -have some time together out there on the Coast if I can get some money -somewheres.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 21.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I have not got the heart to write this letter to -you Al. I am up here in my $42.50 a month flat and the club has went -to California and Florrie has went too. I am flat broke Al and all I -am asking you is to send me enough money to pay my fair to Bedford and -they and all their leagues can go to hell Al.</p> - -<p>I was out to the ball park early yesterday morning and some of the boys -was there all ready fanning and kidding each other. They tried to kid -me to when I come in but I guess I give them as good as they give me. I -was not in no mind for kidding Al because I was there on business and I -wanted to see Comiskey and get it done with.</p> - -<p>Well the secretary come in finally and I went up to him and says I -wanted to see Comiskey right away. He says The boss was busy and what -did I want to see him about and I says I wanted to get some advance -money because I was going to take my wife on the trip. He says This -would be a fine time to be telling us about it even if you was going on -the trip.</p> - -<p>And I says What do you mean? And he says You are not going on no -trip with us because we have got wavers on you and you are sold to -Milwaukee.</p> - -<p>Honest Al I thought he was kidding at first and I was waiting for him -to laugh but he did not laugh and finally I says What do you mean? And -he says Cannot you understand no English? You are sold to Milwaukee. -Then I says I want to see the boss. He says It won't do you no good to -see the boss and he is to busy to see you. I says I want to get some -money. And he says You cannot get no money from this club and all you -get is your fair to Milwaukee. I says I am not going to no Milwaukee -anyway and he says I should not worry about that. Suit yourself.</p> - -<p>Well Al I told some of the boys about it and they was pretty sore and -says I ought to bust the secretary in the jaw and I was going to do it -when I thought No I better not because he is a little guy and I might -kill him.</p> - -<p>I looked all over for Kid Gleason but he was not nowheres round and -they told me he would not get into town till late in the afternoon. If -I could of saw him Al he would of fixed me all up. I asked 3 or 4 of -the boys for some money but they says they was all broke.</p> - -<p>But I have not told you the worst of it yet Al. When I come back to the -flat Allen and Marie and Florrie was busy packing up and they asked me -how I come out. I told them and Allen just stood there stareing like -a big rummy but Marie and Florrie both begin to cry and I almost felt -like as if I would like to cry to only I am not no baby Al.</p> - -<p>Well Al I told Florrie she might just is well quit packing and make up -her mind that she was not going nowheres till I got money enough to go -to Bedford where I belong. She kept right on crying and it got so I -could not stand it no more so I went out to get a drink because I still -had just about a dollar left yet.</p> - -<p>It was about 2 oclock when I left the flat and pretty near 5 when I -come back because I had ran in to some fans that knowed who I was and -would not let me get away and besides I did not want to see no more of -Allen and Marie till they was out of the house and on their way.</p> - -<p>But when I come in Al they was nobody there. They was not nothing there -except the furniture and a few of my things scattered round. I sit down -for a few minutes because I guess I must of had to much to drink but -finally I seen a note on the table addressed to me and I seen it was -Florrie's writeing.</p> - -<p>I do not remember just what was there in the note Al because I tore it -up the minute I read it but it was something about I could not support -no wife and Allen had gave her enough money to go back to Texas and she -was going on the 6 oclock train and it would not do me no good to try -and stop her.</p> - -<p>Well Al they was not no danger of me trying to stop her. She was not no -good Al and I wisht I had not of never saw either she or her sister or -my brother-in-law.</p> - -<p>For a minute I thought I would follow Allen and his wife down to the -deepo where the special train was to pull out of and wait till I see -him and punch his jaw but I seen that would not get me nothing.</p> - -<p>So here I am all alone Al and I will have to stay here till you send me -the money to come home. You better send me $25 because I have got a few -little debts I should ought to pay before I leave town. I am not going -to Milwaukee Al because I did not get no decent deal and nobody cannot -make no sucker out of me.</p> - -<p>Please hurry up with the $25 Al old friend because I am sick and tired -of Chi and want to get back there with my old pal.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. Al I wish I had of took poor little Violet when she was so stuck -on me.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></h2> - -<p class="center">A NEW BUSHER BREAKS IN</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, March 2.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Al that peace in the paper was all O.K. and the -right dope just like you said. I seen president Johnson the president -of the league to-day and he told me the peace in the papers was the -right dope and Comiskey did not have no right to sell me to Milwaukee -because the Detroit Club had never gave no wavers on me. He says the -Detroit Club was late in fileing their claim and Comiskey must of -tooken it for granted that they was going to wave but president Johnson -was pretty sore about it at that and says Comiskey did not have no -right to sell me till he was positive that they was not no team that -wanted me.</p> - -<p>It will probily cost Comiskey some money for acting like he done and -not paying no attention to the rules and I would not be supprised if -president Johnson had him throwed out of the league.</p> - -<p>Well I asked president Johnson should I report at once to the Detroit -Club down south and he says No you better wait till you hear from -Comiskey and I says What has Comiskey got to do with it now? And he -says Comiskey will own you till he sells you to Detroit or somewheres -else. So I will have to go out to the ball park to-morrow and see is -they any mail for me there because I probily will get a letter from -Comiskey telling me I am sold to Detroit.</p> - -<p>If I had of thought at the time I would of knew that Detroit never -would give no wavers on me after the way I showed Cobb and Crawford up -last fall and I might of knew too that Detroit is in the market for -good pitchers because they got a rotten pitching staff but they won't -have no rotten staff when I get with them.</p> - -<p>If necessary I will pitch every other day for Jennings and if I do we -will win the pennant sure because Detroit has got a club that can get -2 or 3 runs every day and all as I need to win most of my games is 1 -run. I can't hardly wait till Jennings works me against the White Sox -and what I will do to them will be a plenty. It don't take no pitching -to beat them anyway and when they get up against a pitcher like I they -might as well leave their bats in the bag for all the good their bats -will do them.</p> - -<p>I guess Cobb and Crawford will be glad to have me on the Detroit Club -because then they won't never have to hit against me except in practice -and I won't pitch my best in practice because they will be teammates -of mine and I don't never like to show none of my teammates up. At -that though I don't suppose Jennings will let me do much pitching in -practice because when he gets a hold of a good pitcher he won't want me -to take no chances of throwing my arm away in practice.</p> - -<p>Al just think how funny it will be to have me pitching for the Tigers -in the same town where Violet lives and pitching on the same club with -her husband. It will not be so funny for Violet and her husband though -because when she has a chance to see me work regular she will find out -what a mistake she made takeing that lefthander instead of a man that -has got some future and soon will be makeing 5 or $6000 a year because -I won't sign with Detroit for no less than $5000 at most. Of coarse -I could of had her if I had of wanted to but still and all it will -make her feel pretty sick to see me winning games for Detroit while -her husband is batting fungos and getting splinters in his unie from -slideing up and down the bench.</p> - -<p>As for her husband the first time he opens his clam to me I will haul -off and bust him one in the jaw but I guess he will know more than to -start trouble with a man of my size and who is going to be one of their -stars while he is just holding down a job because they feel sorry for -him. I wish he could of got the girl I married instead of the one he -got and I bet she would of drove him crazy. But I guess you can't drive -a lefthander crazyer than he is to begin with.</p> - -<p>I have not heard nothing from Florrie Al and I don't want to hear -nothing. I and her is better apart and I wish she would sew me for -a bill of divorce so she could not go round claiming she is my wife -and disgraceing my name. If she would consent to sew me for a bill of -divorce I would gladly pay all the expenses and settle with her for -any sum of money she wants say about $75.00 or $100.00 and they is no -reason I should give her a nichol after the way her and her sister -Marie and her brother-in-law Allen grafted off of me. Probily I could -sew her for a bill of divorce but they tell me it costs money to sew -and if you just lay low and let the other side do the sewing it don't -cost you a nichol.</p> - -<p>It is pretty late Al and I have got to get up early to-morrow and go -to the ball park and see is they any mail for me. I will let you know -what I hear old pal.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, March 4.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: I am up against it again. I went out to the ball park -office yesterday and they was nobody there except John somebody who -is asst secretary and all the rest of them is out on the Coast with -the team. Maybe this here John was trying to kid me but this is what -he told me. First I says Is they a letter here for me? And he says -No. And I says I was expecting word from Comiskey that I should join -the Detroit Club and he says What makes you think you are going to -Detroit? I says Comiskey asked wavers on me and Detroit did not give no -wavers. He says Well that is not no sign that you are going to Detroit. -If Comiskey can't get you out of the league he will probily keep you -himself and it is a cinch he is not going to give no pitcher to Detroit -no matter how rotten he is.</p> - -<p>I says What do you mean? And he says You just stick round town till -you hear from Comiskey and I guess you will hear pretty soon because -he is comeing back from the Coast next Saturday. I says Well the only -thing he can tell me is to report to Detroit because I won't never -pitch again for the White Sox. Then John gets fresh and says I suppose -you will quit the game and live on your saveings and then I blowed out -of the office because I was scared I would loose my temper and break -something.</p> - -<p>So you see Al what I am up against. I won't never pitch for the -White Sox again and I want to get with the Detroit Club but how can -I if Comiskey won't let me go? All I can do is stick round till next -Saturday and then I will see Comiskey and I guess when I tell him what -I think of him he will be glad to let me go to Detroit or anywheres -else. I will have something on him this time because I know that he -did not pay no attention to the rules when he told me I was sold to -Milwaukee and if he tries to slip something over on me I will tell -president Johnson of the league all about it and then you will see -where Comiskey heads in at.</p> - -<p>Al old pal that $25.00 you give me at the station the other day is all -shot to peaces and I must ask you to let me have $25.00 more which will -make $75.00 all together includeing the $25.00 you sent me before I -come home. I hate to ask you this favor old pal but I know you have got -the money. If I am sold to Detroit I will get some advance money and -pay up all my dedts incluseive.</p> - -<p>If he don't let me go to Detroit I will make him come across with part -of my salery for this year even if I don't pitch for him because I -signed a contract and was ready to do my end of it and would of if he -had not of been nasty and tried to slip something over on me. If he -refuses to come across I will hire a attorney at law and he will get it -all. So Al you see you have got a cinch on getting back what you lone -me but I guess you know that Al without all this talk because you have -been my old pal for a good many years and I have allways treated you -square and tried to make you feel that I and you was equals and that my -success was not going to make me forget my old friends.</p> - -<p>Wherever I pitch this year I will insist on a salery of 5 or $6000 a -year. So you see on my first pay day I will have enough to pay you up -and settle the rest of my dedts but I am not going to pay no more rent -for this rotten flat because they tell me if a man don't pay no rent -for a while they will put him out. Let them put me out. I should not -worry but will go and rent my old room that I had before I met Florrie -and got into all this trouble.</p> - -<p>The sooner you can send me that $35.00 the better and then I will owe -you $85.00 incluseive and I will write and let you know how I come out -with Comiskey.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, March 12.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: I got another big supprise for you and this is it -I am going to pitch for the White Sox after all. If Comiskey was not a -old man I guess I would of lost my temper and beat him up but I am glad -now that I kept my temper and did not loose it because I forced him to -make a lot of consessions and now it looks like as though I would have -a big year both pitching and money.</p> - -<p>He got back to town yesterday morning and showed up to his office in -the afternoon and I was there waiting for him. He would not see me -for a while but finally I acted like as though I was getting tired of -waiting and I guess the secretary got scared that I would beat it out -of the office and leave them all in the lerch. Anyway he went in and -spoke to Comiskey and then come out and says the boss was ready to see -me. When I went into the office where he was at he says Well young man -what can I do for you? And I says I want you to give me my release -so as I can join the Detroit Club down South and get in shape. Then -he says What makes you think you are going to join the Detroit Club? -Because we need you here. I says Then why did you try to sell me to -Milwaukee? But you could not because you could not get no wavers.</p> - -<p>Then he says I thought I was doing you a favor by sending you to -Milwaukee because they make a lot of beer up there. I says What do you -mean? He says You been keeping in shape all this winter by trying to -drink this town dry and besides that you tried to hold me up for more -money when you allready had signed a contract allready and so I was -going to send you to Milwaukee and learn you something and besides you -tried to go with the Federal League but they would not take you because -they was scared to.</p> - -<p>I don't know where he found out all that stuff at Al and besides he was -wrong when he says I was drinking to much because they is not nobody -that can drink more than me and not be effected. But I did not say -nothing because I was scared I would forget myself and call him some -name and he is a old man. Yes I did say something. I says Well I guess -you found out that you could not get me out of the league and then he -says Don't never think I could not get you out of the league. If you -think I can't send you to Milwaukee I will prove it to you that I can. -I says You can't because Detroit won't give no wavers on me. He says -Detroit will give wavers on you quick enough if I ask them.</p> - -<p>Then he says Now you can take your choice you can stay here and pitch -for me at the salery you signed up for and you can cut out the monkey -business and drink water when you are thirsty or else you can go up to -Milwaukee and drownd yourself in one of them brewrys. Which shall it -be? I says How can you keep me or send me to Milwaukee when Detroit -has allready claimed my services? He says Detroit has claimed a lot -of things and they have even claimed the pennant but that is not no -sign they will win it. He says And besides you would not want to pitch -for Detroit because then you would not never have no chance to pitch -against Cobb and show him up.</p> - -<p>Well Al when he says that I knowed he appresiated what a pitcher I am -even if he did try to sell me to Milwaukee or he would not of made that -remark about the way I can show Cobb and Crawford up. So I says Well -if you need me that bad I will pitch for you but I must have a new -contract. He says Oh I guess we can fix that up O.K. and he steps out -in the next room a while and then he comes back with a new contract. -And what do you think it was Al? It was a contract for 3 years so you -see I am sure of my job here for 3 years and everything is all O.K.</p> - -<p>The contract calls for the same salery a year for 3 years that I was -going to get before for only 1 year which is $2800.00 a year and then -I will get in on the city serious money too and the Detroit Club don't -have no city serious and have no chance to get into the World's Serious -with the rotten pitching staff they got. So you see Al he fixed me up -good and that shows that he must think a hole lot of me or he would of -sent me to Detroit or maybe to Milwaukee but I don't see how he could -of did that without no wavers.</p> - -<p>Well Al I allmost forgot to tell you that he has gave me a ticket to -Los Angeles where the 2d team are practicing at now but where the 1st -team will be at in about a week. I am leaveing to-night and I guess -before I go I will go down to president Johnson and tell him that I am -fixed up all O.K. and have not got no kick comeing so that president -Johnson will not fine Comiskey for not paying no attention to the rules -or get him fired out of the league because I guess Comiskey must be -all O.K. and good hearted after all.</p> - -<p>I won't pay no attention to what he says about me drinking this town -dry because he is all wrong in regards to that. He must of been jokeing -I guess because nobody but some boob would think he could drink this -town dry but at that I guess I can hold more than anybody and not be -effected. But I guess I will cut it out for a while at that because I -don't want to get them sore at me after the contract they give me.</p> - -<p>I will write to you from Los Angeles Al and let you know what the boys -says when they see me and I will bet that they will be tickled to -death. The rent man was round to-day but I seen him comeing and he did -not find me. I am going to leave the furniture that belongs in the flat -in the flat and allso the furniture I bought which don't amount to much -because it was not no real Sir Cashion walnut and besides I don't want -nothing round me to remind me of Florrie because the sooner her and I -forget each other the better.</p> - -<p>Tell the boys about my good luck Al but it is not no luck neither -because it was comeing to me.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Los Angeles, California, March 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Here I am back with the White Sox again and it seems to -good to be true because just like I told you they are all tickled to -death to see me. Kid Gleason is here in charge of the 2d team and when -he seen me come into the hotel he jumped up and hit me in the stumach -but he acts like that whenever he feels good so I could not get sore at -him though he had no right to hit me in the stumach. If he had of did -it in ernest I would of walloped him in the jaw.</p> - -<p>He says Well if here ain't the old lady killer. He ment Al that I am -strong with the girls but I am all threw with them now but he don't -know nothing about the troubles I had. He says Are you in shape? And I -told him Yes I am. He says Yes you look in shape like a barrel. I says -They is not no fat on me and if I am a little bit bigger than last year -it is because my mussels is bigger. He says Yes your stumach mussels is -emense and you must of gave them plenty of exercise. Wait till Bodie -sees you and he will want to stick round you all the time because you -make him look like a broom straw or something. I let him kid me along -because what is the use of getting mad at him? And besides he is all -O.K. even if he is a little rough.</p> - -<p>I says to him A little work will fix me up all O.K. and he says You bet -you are going to get some work because I am going to see to it myself. -I says You will have to hurry because you will be going up to Frisco in -a few days and I am going to stay here and join the 1st club. Then he -says You are not going to do no such a thing. You are going right along -with me. I knowed he was kidding me then because Callahan would not -never leave me with the 2d team no more after what I done for him last -year and besides most of the stars generally allways goes with the 1st -team on the training trip.</p> - -<p>Well I seen all the rest of the boys that is here with the 2d team and -they all acted like as if they was glad to see me and why should not -they be when they know that me being here with the White Sox and not -with Detroit means that Callahan won't have to do no worrying about his -pitching staff? But they is four or 5 young recrut pitchers with the -team here and I bet they is not so glad to see me because what chance -have they got?</p> - -<p>If I was Comiskey and Callahan I would not spend no money on new -pitchers because with me and 1 or 2 of the other boys we got the best -pitching staff in the league. And instead of spending the money for -new pitching recruts I would put it all in a lump and buy Ty Cobb or -Sam Crawford off of Detroit or somebody else who can hit and Cobb and -Crawford is both real hitters Al even if I did make them look like -suckers. Who wouldn't?</p> - -<p>Well Al to-morrow <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> I am going out and work a little and -in the <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> I will watch the game between we and the Venice -Club but I won't pitch none because Gleason would not dare take no -chances of me hurting my arm. I will write to you in a few days from -here because no matter what Gleason says I am going to stick here with -the 1st team because I know Callahan will want me along with him for a -attraction.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>San Francisco, California, March 20.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al here I am back in old Frisco with the 2d -team but I will tell you how it happened Al. Yesterday Gleason told me -to pack up and get ready to leave Los Angeles with him and I says No -I am going to stick here and wait for the 1st team and then he says I -guess I must of overlooked something in the papers because I did not -see nothing about you being appointed manager of the club. I says No -I am not manager but Callahan is manager and he will want to keep me -with him. He says I got a wire from Callahan telling me to keep you -with my club but of coarse if you know what Callahan wants better than -he knows it himself why then go ahead and stay here or go jump in the -Pacific Ocean.</p> - -<p>Then he says I know why you don't want to go with me and I says Why? -And he says Because you know I will make you work and won't let you -eat everything on the bill of fair includeing the name of the hotel -at which we are stopping at. That made me sore and I was just going -to call him when he says Did not you marry Mrs. Allen's sister? And I -says Yes but that is not none of your business. Then he says Well I -don't want to butt into your business but I heard you and your wife -had some kind of a argument and she beat it. I says Yes she give me a -rotten deal. He says Well then I don't see where it is going to be very -pleasant for you traveling round with the 1st club because Allen and -his wife is both with that club and what do you want to be mixed up -with them for? I says I am not scared of Allen or his wife or no other -old hen.</p> - -<p>So here I am Al with the 2d team but it is only for a while till -Callahan gets sick of some of them pitchers he has got and sends for -me so as he can see some real pitching. And besides I am glad to be -here in Frisco where I made so many friends when I was pitching here -for a short time till Callahan heard about my work and called me back -to the big show where I belong at and nowheres else.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>San Francisco, California, March 25.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: Al I got a supprise for you. Who do you think I -seen last night? Nobody but Hazel. Her name now is Hazel Levy because -you know Al she married Kid Levy the middle-weight and I wish he was -champion of the world Al because then it would not take me more than -about a minute to be champion of the world myself. I have not got -nothing against him though because he married her and if he had not -of I probily would of married her myself but at that she could not of -treated me no worse than Florrie. Well they was setting at a table in -the cafe where her and I use to go pretty near every night. She spotted -me when I first come in and sends a waiter over to ask me to come and -have a drink with them. I went over because they was no use being nasty -and let bygones be bygones.</p> - -<p>She interduced me to her husband and he asked me what was I drinking. -Then she butts in and says Oh you must let Mr. Keefe buy the drinks -because it hurts his feelings to have somebody else buy the drinks. -Then Levy says Oh he is one of these here spendrifts is he? and she -says Yes he don't care no more about a nichol than his right eye does. -I says I guess you have got no holler comeing on the way I spend my -money. I don't steal no money anyway. She says What do you mean? and -I says I guess you know what I mean. How about that $30.00 that you -borrowed off of me and never give it back? Then her husband cuts in and -says You cut that line of talk out or I will bust you. I says Yes you -will. And he says Yes I will.</p> - -<p>Well Al what was the use of me starting trouble with him when he has -got enough trouble right to home and besides as I say I have not got -nothing against him. So I got up and blowed away from the table and -I bet he was relieved when he seen I was not going to start nothing. -I beat it out of there a while afterward because I was not drinking -nothing and I don't have no fun setting round a place and lapping up -ginger ail or something. And besides the music was rotten.</p> - -<p>Al I am certainly glad I throwed Hazel over because she has grew to -be as big as a horse and is all painted up. I don't care nothing about -them big dolls no more or about no other kind neither. I am off of them -all. They can all of them die and I should not worry.</p> - -<p>Well Al I done my first pitching of the year this <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> and I -guess I showed them that I was in just as good a shape as some of them -birds that has been working a month. I worked 4 innings against my old -team the San Francisco Club and I give them nothing but fast ones but -they sure was fast ones and you could hear them zip. Charlie O'Leary -was trying to get out of the way of one of them and it hit his bat and -went over first base for a base hit but at that Fournier would of eat -it up if it had of been Chase playing first base instead of Fournier.</p> - -<p>That was the only hit they got off of me and they ought to of been -ashamed to of tooken that one. But Gleason don't appresiate my work -and him and I allmost come to blows at supper. I was pretty hungry and -I ordered some stake and some eggs and some pie and some ice cream -and some coffee and a glass of milk but Gleason would not let me have -the pie or the milk and would not let me eat more than ½ the stake. -And it is a wonder I did not bust him and tell him to mind his own -business. I says What right have you got to tell me what to eat? And he -says You don't need nobody to tell you what to eat you need somebody to -keep you from floundering yourself. I says Why can't I eat what I want -to when I have worked good?</p> - -<p>He says Who told you you worked good and I says I did not need nobody -to tell me. I know I worked good because they could not do nothing with -me. He says Well it is a good thing for you that they did not start -bunting because if you had of went to stoop over and pick up the ball -you would of busted wide open. I says Why? and he says because you are -hog fat and if you don't let up on the stable and fancy groceries we -will have to pay 2 fairs to get you back to Chi. I don't remember now -what I says to him but I says something you can bet on that. You know -me Al.</p> - -<p>I wish Al that Callahan would hurry up and order me to join the 1st -team. If he don't Al I believe Gleason will starve me to death. A -little slob like him don't realize that a big man like I needs good -food and plenty of it.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Salt Lake City, Utah, April 1.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: Well Al we are on our way East and I am still with the 2d -team and I don't understand why Callahan don't order me to join the 1st -team but maybe it is because he knows that I am all right and have got -the stuff and he wants to keep them other guys round where he can see -if they have got anything.</p> - -<p>The recrut pitchers that is along with our club have not got nothing -and the scout that reckommended them must of been full of hops or -something. It is not no common thing for a club to pick up a man that -has got the stuff to make him a star up here and the White Sox was -pretty lucky to land me but I don't understand why they throw their -money away on new pitchers when none of them is no good and besides who -would want a better pitching staff than we got right now without no raw -recruts and bushers.</p> - -<p>I worked in Oakland the day before yesterday but he only let me go the -1st 4 innings. I bet them Oakland birds was glad when he took me out. -When I was in that league I use to just throw my glove in the box and -them Oakland birds was licked and honest Al some of them turned white -when they seen I was going to pitch the other day.</p> - -<p>I felt kind of sorry for them and I did not give them all I had so they -got 5 or 6 hits and scored a couple of runs. I was not feeling very -good at that and besides we got some awful excuses for a ball player on -this club and the support they give me was the rottenest I ever seen -gave anybody. But some of them won't be in this league more than about -10 minutes more so I should not fret as they say.</p> - -<p>We play here this afternoon and I don't believe I will work because the -team they got here is not worth wasteing nobody on. They must be a lot -of boobs in this town Al because they tell me that some of them has got -½ a dozen wives or so. And what a man wants with 1 wife is a misery -to me let alone a ½ dozen.</p> - -<p>I will probily work against Denver because they got a good club and was -champions of the Western League last year. I will make them think they -are champions of the Epworth League or something. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Des Moines, Iowa, April 10.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: We got here this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> and this is our last -stop and we will be in old Chi to-morrow to open the season. The 1st -team gets home to-day and I would be there with them if Callahan was a -real manager who knowed something about manageing because if I am going -to open the season I should ought to have 1 day of rest at home so I -would have all my strenth to open the season. The Cleveland Club will -be there to open against us and Callahan must know that I have got them -licked any time I start against them.</p> - -<p>As soon as my name is announced to pitch the Cleveland Club is licked -or any other club when I am right and they don't kick the game away -behind me.</p> - -<p>Gleason told me on the train last night that I was going to pitch here -to-day but I bet by this time he has got orders from Callahan to let me -rest and to not give me no more work because suppose even if I did not -start the game to-morrow I probily will have to finish it.</p> - -<p>Gleason has been sticking round me like as if I had a million bucks or -something. I can't even sit down and smoke a cigar but what he is there -to knock the ashes off of it. He is O.K. and good-hearted if he is a -little rough and keeps hitting me in the stumach but I wish he would -leave me alone sometimes espesially at meals. He was in to breakfast -with me this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> and after I got threw I snuck off down the -street and got something to eat. That is not right because it costs me -money when I have to go away from the hotel and eat and what right has -he got to try and help me order my meals? Because he don't know what I -want and what my stumach wants.</p> - -<p>My stumach don't want to have him punching it all the time but he keeps -on doing it. So that shows he don't know what is good for me. But is a -old man Al otherwise I would not stand for the stuff he pulls. The 1st -thing I am going to do when we get to Chi is I am going to a resturunt -somewheres and get a good meal where Gleason or no one else can't get -at me. I know allready what I am going to eat and that is a big stake -and a apple pie and that is not all.</p> - -<p>Well Al watch the papers and you will see what I done to that Cleveland -Club and I hope Lajoie and Jackson is both in good shape because I -don't want to pick on no cripples.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, April 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: Yesterday was the 1st pay day old pal and I know I -promised to pay you what I owe you and it is $75.00 because when I -asked you for $35.00 before I went West you only sent me $25.00 which -makes the hole sum $75.00. Well Al I can't pay you now because the pay -we drawed was only for 4 days and did not amount to nothing and I had -to buy a meal ticket and fix up about my room rent.</p> - -<p>And then they is another thing Al which I will tell you about. I come -into the clubhouse the day the season opened and the 1st guy I seen was -Allen. I was going up to bust him but he come up and held his hand out -and what was they for me to do but shake hands with him if he is going -to be yellow like that? He says Well Jack I am glad they did not send -you to Milwaukee and I bet you will have a big year. I says Yes I will -have a big year O.K. if you don't sick another 1 of your sister-in-laws -on to me. He says Oh don't let they be no hard feelings about that. -You know it was not no fault of mine and I bet if you was to write to -Florrie everything could be fixed up O.K.</p> - -<p>I says I don't want to write to no Florrie but I will get a attorney at -law to write to her. He says You don't even know where she is at and I -says I don't care where she is at. Where is she? He says She is down to -her home in Waco, Texas, and if I was you I would write to her myself -and not let no attorney at law write to her because that would get her -mad and besides what do you want a attorney at law to write to her -about? I says I am going to sew her for a bill of divorce.</p> - -<p>Then he says On what grounds? and I says Dessertion. He says You better -not do no such thing or she will sew you for a bill of divorce for none -support and then you will look like a cheap guy. I says I don't care -what I look like. So you see Al I had to send Florrie $10.00 or maybe -she would be mean enough to sew me for a bill of divorce on the ground -of none support and that would make me look bad.</p> - -<p>Well Al, Allen told me his wife wanted to talk to me and try and fix -things up between I and Florrie but I give him to understand that I -would not stand for no meeting with his wife and he says Well suit -yourself about that but they is no reason you and I should quarrel.</p> - -<p>You see Al he don't want no mix-up with me because he knows he could -not get nothing but the worst of it. I will be friends with him but I -won't have nothing to do with Marie because if it had not of been for -she and Florrie I would have money in the bank besides not being in no -danger of getting sewed for none support.</p> - -<p>I guess you must of read about Joe Benz getting married and I guess -he must of got a good wife and 1 that don't bother him all the time -because he pitched the opening game and shut Cleveland out with 2 -hits. He was pretty good Al, better than I ever seen him and they was a -couple of times when his fast ball was pretty near as fast as mine.</p> - -<p>I have not worked yet Al and I asked Callahan to-day what was the -matter and he says I was waiting for you to get in shape. I says I am -in shape now and I notice that when I was pitching in practice this -<span class="smcap">A.M.</span> they did not hit nothing out of the infield. He says That -was because you are so spread out that they could not get nothing past -you. He says The way you are now you cover more ground than the grand -stand. I says Is that so? And he walked away.</p> - -<p>We go out on a trip to Cleveland and Detroit and St. Louis in a few -days and maybe I will take my regular turn then because the other -pitchers has been getting away lucky because most of the hitters has -not got their batting eye as yet but wait till they begin hitting and -then it will take a man like I to stop them.</p> - -<p>The 1st of May is our next pay day Al and then I will have enough money -so as I can send you the $75.00. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Detroit, Michigan, April 28.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: What do you think of a rotten manager that bawls me -out and fines me $50.00 for loosing a 1 to 0 game in 10 innings when it -was my 1st start this season? And no wonder I was a little wild in the -10th when I had not had no chance to work and get control. I got a good -notion to quit this rotten club and jump to the Federals where a man -gets some kind of treatment. Callahan says I throwed the game away on -purpose but I did not do no such a thing Al because when I throwed that -ball at Joe Hill's head I forgot that the bases was full and besides -if Gleason had not of starved me to death the ball that hit him in the -head would of killed him.</p> - -<p>And how could a man go to 1st base and the winning run be forced in -if he was dead which he should ought to of been the lucky left handed -stiff if I had of had my full strenth to put on my fast one instead -of being ½ starved to death and weak. But I guess I better tell you -how it come off. The papers will get it all wrong like they generally -allways does.</p> - -<p>Callahan asked me this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> if I thought I was hard enough to -work and I was tickled to death, because I seen he was going to give -me a chance. I told him Sure I was in good shape and if them Tigers -scored a run off me he could keep me setting on the bench the rest of -the summer. So he says All right I am going to start you and if you go -good maybe Gleason will let you eat some supper.</p> - -<p>Well Al when I begin warming up I happened to look up in the grand -stand and who do you think I seen? Nobody but Violet. She smiled when -she seen me but I bet she felt more like crying. Well I smiled back -at her because she probily would of broke down and made a seen or -something if I had not of. They was not nobody warming up for Detroit -when I begin warming up but pretty soon I looked over to their bench -and Joe Hill Violet's husband was warming up. I says to myself Well -here is where I show that bird up if they got nerve enough to start him -against me but probily Jennings don't want to waste no real pitcher on -this game which he knows we got cinched and we would of had it cinched -Al if they had of got a couple of runs or even 1 run for me.</p> - -<p>Well, Jennings come passed our bench just like he allways does and -tried to pull some of his funny stuff. He says Hello are you still -in the league? I says Yes but I come pretty near not being. I came -pretty near being with Detroit. I wish you could of heard Gleason and -Callahan laugh when I pulled that one on him. He says something back -but it was not no hot comeback like mine.</p> - -<p>Well Al if I had of had any work and my regular control I guess I would -of pitched a 0 hit game because the only time they could touch me was -when I had to ease up to get them over. Cobb was out of the game and -they told me he was sick but I guess the truth is that he knowed I was -going to pitch. Crawford got a couple of lucky scratch hits off of me -because I got in the hole to him and had to let up. But the way that -lucky left handed Hill got by was something awful and if I was as lucky -as him I would quit pitching and shoot craps or something.</p> - -<p>Our club can't hit nothing anyway. But batting against this bird was -just like hitting fungos. His curve ball broke about ½ a inch and -you could of wrote your name and address on his fast one while it was -comeing up there. He had good control but who would not when they put -nothing on the ball?</p> - -<p>Well Al we could not get started against the lucky stiff and they -could not do nothing with me even if my suport was rotten and I give a -couple or 3 or 4 bases on balls but when they was men waiting to score -I zipped them threw there so as they could not see them let alone hit -them. Every time I come to the bench between innings I looked up to -where Violet was setting and give her a smile and she smiled back and -once I seen her clapping her hands at me after I had made Moriarty pop -up in the pinch.</p> - -<p>Well we come along to the 10th inning, 0 and 0, and all of a sudden we -got after him. Bodie hits one and Schalk gets 2 strikes and 2 balls and -then singles. Callahan tells Alcock to bunt and he does it but Hill -sprawls all over himself like the big boob he is and the bases is full -with nobody down. Well Gleason and Callahan argude about should they -send somebody up for me or let me go up there and I says Let me go up -there because I can murder this bird and Callahan says Well they is -nobody out so go up and take a wallop.</p> - -<p>Honest Al if this guy had of had anything at all I would of hit 1 out -of the park, but he did not have even a glove. And how can a man hit -pitching which is not no pitching at all but just slopping them up? -When I went up there I hollered to him and says Stick 1 over here now -you yellow stiff. And he says Yes I can stick them over allright and -that is where I got something on you.</p> - -<p>Well Al I hit a foul off of him that would of been a fare ball and -broke up the game if the wind had not of been against it. Then I swung -and missed a curve that I don't see how I missed it. The next 1 was a -yard outside and this Evans calls it a strike. He has had it in for -me ever since last year when he tried to get funny with me and I says -something back to him that stung him. So he calls this 3d strike on me -and I felt like murdering him. But what is the use?</p> - -<p>I throwed down my bat and come back to the bench and I was glad -Callahan and Gleason was out on the coaching line or they probily would -of said something to me and I would of cut loose and beat them up. Well -Al Weaver and Blackburne looked like a couple of rums up there and -we don't score where we ought to of had 3 or 4 runs with any kind of -hitting.</p> - -<p>I would of been all O.K. in spite of that peace of rotten luck if this -big Hill had of walked to the bench and not said nothing like a real -pitcher. But what does he do but wait out there till I start for the -box and I says Get on to the bench you lucky stiff or do you want me -to hand you something? He says I don't want nothing more of yourn. I -allready got your girl and your goat.</p> - -<p>Well Al what do you think of a man that would say a thing like that? -And nobody but a left hander could of. If I had of had a gun I would -of killed him deader than a doornail or something. He starts for the -bench and I hollered at him Wait till you get up to that plate and then -I am going to bean you.</p> - -<p>Honest Al I was so mad I could not see the plate or nothing. I don't -even know who it was come up to bat 1st but whoever it was I hit him -in the arm and he walks to first base. The next guy bunts and Chase -tries to pull off 1 of them plays of hisn instead of playing safe and -he don't get nobody. Well I kept getting madder and madder and I walks -Stanage who if I had of been myself would not foul me.</p> - -<p>Callahan has Scotty warming up and Gleason runs out from the bench and -tells me I am threw but Callahan says Wait a minute he is going to let -Hill hit and this big stiff ought to be able to get him out of the way -and that will give Scotty a chance to get warm. Gleason says You better -not take a chance because the big busher is hogwild, and they kept -argueing till I got sick of listening to them and I went back to the -box and got ready to pitch. But when I seen this Hill up there I forgot -all about the ball game and I cut loose at his bean.</p> - -<p>Well Al my control was all O.K. this time and I catched him square on -the fourhead and he dropped like as if he had been shot. But pretty -soon he gets up and gives me the laugh and runs to first base. I did -not know the game was over till Weaver come up and pulled me off the -field. But if I had not of been ½ starved to death and weak so as -I could not put all my stuff on the ball you can bet that Hill never -would of ran to first base and Violet would of been a widow and probily -a lot better off than she is now. At that I never should ought to of -tried to kill a lefthander by hitting him in the head.</p> - -<p>Well Al they jumped all over me in the clubhouse and I had to hold -myself back or I would of gave somebody the beating of their life. -Callahan tells me I am fined $50.00 and suspended without no pay. I -asked him What for and he says They would not be no use in telling -you because you have not got no brains. I says Yes I have to got some -brains and he says Yes but they is in your stumach. And then he says I -wish we had of sent you to Milwaukee and I come back at him. I says I -wish you had of.</p> - -<p>Well Al I guess they is no chance of getting square treatment on this -club and you won't be supprised if you hear of me jumping to the -Federals where a man is treated like a man and not like no white slave.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, May 2.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al</span>: I have got to disappoint you again Al. When I got up to -get my pay yesterday they held out $150.00 on me. $50.00 of it is what -I was fined for loosing a 1 to 0 10-inning game in Detroit when I was -so weak that I should ought never to of been sent in there and the -$100.00 is the advance money that I drawed last winter and which I had -forgot all about and the club would of forgot about it to if they was -not so tight fisted.</p> - -<p>So you see all I get for 2 weeks' pay is about $80.00 and I sent $25.00 -to Florrie so she can't come no none support business on me.</p> - -<p>I am still suspended Al and not drawing no pay now and I got a notion -to hire a attorney at law and force them to pay my salery or else jump -to the Federals where a man gets good treatment.</p> - -<p>Allen is still after me to come over to his flat some night and see his -wife and let her talk to me about Florrie but what do I want to talk -about Florrie for or talk about nothing to a nut left hander's wife?</p> - -<p>The Detroit Club is here and Cobb is playing because he knows I am -suspended but I wish Callahan would call it off and let me work against -them and I would certainly love to work against this Joe Hill again and -I bet they would be a different story this time because I been getting -something to eat since we been home and I got back most of my strenth.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, May 5.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al if you been reading the papers you will -know before this letter is received what I done. Before the Detroit -Club come here Joe Hill had win 4 strate but he has not win no 5 strate -or won't neither Al because I put a crimp in his winning streek just -like I knowed I would do if I got a chance when I was feeling good -and had all my strenth. Callahan asked me yesterday <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> if -I thought I had enough rest and I says Sure because I did not need no -rest in the 1st place. Well, he says, I thought maybe if I layed you -off a few days you would do some thinking and if you done some thinking -once in a while you would be a better pitcher.</p> - -<p>Well anyway I worked and I wish you could of saw them Tigers trying to -hit me Cobb and Crawford incluseive. The 1st time Cobb come up Weaver -catched a lucky line drive off of him and the next time I eased up a -little and Collins run back and took a fly ball off of the fence. But -the other times he come up he looked like a sucker except when he come -up in the 8th and then he beat out a bunt but allmost anybody is liable -to do that once in a while.</p> - -<p>Crawford got a scratch hit between Chase and Blackburne in the 2d -inning and in the 4th he was gave a three-base hit by this Evans who -should ought to be writeing for the papers instead of trying to umpire. -The ball was 2 feet foul and I bet Crawford will tell you the same -thing if you ask him. But what I done to this Hill was awful. I give -him my curve twice when he was up there in the 3d and he missed it a -foot. Then I come with my fast ball right past his nose and I bet if he -had not of ducked it would of drove that big horn of hisn clear up in -the press box where them rotten reporters sits and smokes their hops. -Then when he was looking for another fast one I slopped up my slow one -and he is still swinging at it yet.</p> - -<p>But the best of it was that I practally won my own game. Bodie and -Schalk was on when I come up in the 5th and Hill hollers to me and -says I guess this is where I shoot one of them bean balls. I says Go -ahead and shoot and if you hit me in the head and I ever find it out I -will write and tell your wife what happened to you. You see what I was -getting at Al. I was insinuateing that if he beaned me with his fast -one I would not never know nothing about it if somebody did not tell -me because his fast one is not fast enough to hurt nobody even if it -should hit them in the head. So I says to him Go ahead and shoot and -if you hit me in the head and I ever find it out I will write and tell -your wife what happened to you. See, Al?</p> - -<p>Of coarse you could not hire me to write to Violet but I did not mean -that part of it in ernest. Well sure enough he shot at my bean and I -ducked out of the way though if it had of hit me it could not of did -no more than tickle. He takes 2 more shots and misses me and then -Jennings hollers from the bench What are you doing pitching or trying -to win a cigar? So then Hill sees what a monkey he is makeing out of -himself and tries to get one over, but I have him 3 balls and nothing -and what I done to that groover was a plenty. She went over Bush's head -like a bullet and got between Cobb and Veach and goes clear to the -fence. Bodie and Schalk scores and I would of scored to if anybody else -besides Cobb had of been chaseing the ball. I got 2 bases and Weaver -scores me with another wallop.</p> - -<p>Say, I wish I could of heard what they said to that baby on the bench. -Callahan was tickled to death and he says Maybe I will give you back -that $50.00 if you keep that stuff up. I guess I will get that $50.00 -back next pay day and if I do Al I will pay you the hole $75.00.</p> - -<p>Well Al I beat them 5 to 4 and with good support I would of held them -to 1 run but what do I care as long as I beat them? I wish though that -Violet could of been there and saw it.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, May 29.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: Well Al I have not wrote to you for a long while but -it is not because I have forgot you and to show I have not forgot you -I am incloseing the $75.00 which I owe you. It is a money order Al and -you can get it cashed by takeing it to Joe Higgins at the P.O.</p> - -<p>Since I wrote to you Al I been East with the club and I guess you know -what I done in the East. The Athaletics did not have no right to win -that 1 game off of me and I will get them when they come here the week -after next. I beat Boston and just as good as beat New York twice -because I beat them 1 game all alone and then saved the other for Eddie -Cicotte in the 9th inning and shut out the Washington Club and would of -did the same thing if Johnson had of been working against me instead of -this left handed stiff Boehling.</p> - -<p>Speaking of left handers Allen has been going rotten and I would not be -supprised if they sent him to Milwaukee or Frisco or somewheres.</p> - -<p>But I got bigger news than that for you Al. Florrie is back and we are -liveing together in the spair room at Allen's flat so I hope they don't -send him to Milwaukee or nowheres else because it is not costing us -nothing for room rent and this is no more than right after the way the -Allens grafted off of us all last winter.</p> - -<p>I bet you will be supprised to know that I and Florrie has made it up -and they is a secret about it Al which I can't tell you now but maybe -next month I will tell you and then you will be more supprised than -ever. It is about I and Florrie and somebody else. But that is all I -can tell you now.</p> - -<p>We got in this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> Al and when I got to my room they was a -slip of paper there telling me to call up a phone number so I called -it up and it was Allen's flat and Marie answered the phone. And when I -reckonized her voice I was going to hang up the phone but she says Wait -a minute somebody wants to talk with you. And then Florrie come to the -phone and I was going to hang up the phone again when she pulled this -secret on me that I was telling you about.</p> - -<p>So it is all fixed up between us Al and I wish I could tell you the -secret but that will come later. I have tooken my baggage over to -Allen's and I am there now writeing to you while Florrie is asleep. -And after a while I am going out and mail this letter and get a glass -of beer because I think I have got 1 comeing now on account of this -secret. Florrie says she is sorry for the way she treated me and she -cried when she seen me. So what is the use of me being nasty Al? And -let bygones be bygones.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, June 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Al I beat the Athaletics 2 to 1 to-day but I am -writeing to you to give you the supprise of your life. Old pal I got a -baby and he is a boy and we are going to name him Allen which Florrie -thinks is after his uncle and aunt Allen but which is after you old -pal. And she can call him Allen but I will call him Al because I don't -never go back on my old pals. The baby was born over to the hospital -and it is going to cost me a bunch of money but I should not worry. -This is the secret I was going to tell you Al and I am the happyest man -in the world and I bet you are most as tickled to death to hear about -it as I am.</p> - -<p>The baby was born just about the time I was makeing McInnis look like -a sucker in the pinch but they did not tell me nothing about it till -after the game and then they give me a phone messige in the clubhouse. -I went right over there and everything was all O.K. Little Al is a -homely little skate but I guess all babys is homely and don't have no -looks till they get older and maybe he will look like Florrie or I then -I won't have no kick comeing.</p> - -<p>Be sure and tell Bertha the good news and tell her everything has came -out all right except that the rent man is still after me about that -flat I had last winter. And I am still paying the old man $10.00 a -month for that house you got for me and which has not never done me no -good. But I should not worry about money when I got a real family. Do -you get that Al, a real family?</p> - -<p>Well Al I am to happy to do no more writeing to-night but I wanted you -to be the 1st to get the news and I would of sent you a telegram only I -did not want to scare you.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, July 2.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal</span>: Well old pal I just come back from St. Louis this -<span class="smcap">A.M.</span> and found things in pretty fare shape. Florrie and the -baby is out to Allen's and we will stay there till I can find another -place. The Dr. was out to look at the baby this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> and the -baby was waveing his arm round in the air. And Florrie asked was they -something the matter with him that he kept waveing his arm. And the Dr. -says No he was just getting his exercise.</p> - -<p>Well Al I noticed that he never waved his right arm but kept waveing -his left arm and I asked the Dr. why was that. Then the Dr. says I -guess he must be left handed. That made me sore and I says I guess you -doctors don't know it all. And then I turned round and beat it out of -the room.</p> - -<p>Well Al it would be just my luck to have him left handed and Florrie -should ought to of knew better than to name him after Allen. I am -going to hire another Dr. and see what he has to say because they must -be some way of fixing babys so as they won't be left handed. And if -nessary I will cut his left arm off of him. Of coarse I would not do -that Al. But how would I feel if a boy of mine turned out like Allen -and Joe Hill and some of them other nuts?</p> - -<p>We have a game with St. Louis to-morrow and a double header on the 4th -of July. I guess probily Callahan will work me in one of the 4th of -July games on account of the holiday crowd.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. Maybe I should ought to leave the kid left handed so as he can -have some of their luck. The lucky stiffs.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></h2> - -<p class="center">THE BUSHER'S KID</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, July 31.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al</span>: Well Al what do you think of little Al now? But I -guess I better tell you first what he done. Maybe you won't believe -what I am telling you but did you ever catch me telling you a lie? I -guess you know you did not Al. Well we got back from the East this -<span class="smcap">A.M.</span> and I don't have to tell you we had a rotten trip and if -it had not of been for me beating Boston once and the Athaletics two -times we would of been ashamed to come home.</p> - -<p>I guess these here other pitchers thought we was haveing a vacation and -when they go up in the office to-morrow to get there checks they should -ought to be arrested if they take them. I would not go nowheres near -Comiskey if I had not of did better than them others but I can go and -get my pay and feel all O.K. about it because I done something to ern -it.</p> - -<p>Me loseing that game in Washington was a crime and Callahan says so -himself. This here Weaver throwed it away for me and I would not be -surprised if he done it from spitework because him and Scott is pals -and probily he did not want to see me winning all them games when Scott -was getting knocked out of the box. And no wonder when he has not got -no stuff. I wish I knowed for sure that Weaver was throwing me down and -if I knowed for sure I would put him in a hospital or somewheres.</p> - -<p>But I was going to tell you what the kid done Al. So here goes. We are -still liveing at Allen's and his wife. So I and him come home together -from the train. Well Florrie and Marie was both up and the baby was up -too—that is he was not up but he was woke up. I beat it right into the -room where he was at and Florrie come in with me. I says Hello Al and -what do you suppose he done. Well Al he did not say Hello pa or nothing -like that because he is not only one month old. But he smiled at me -just like as if he was glad to see me and I guess maybe he was at that.</p> - -<p>I was tickled to death and I says to Florrie Did you see that. And she -says See what. I says The baby smiled at me. Then she says They is -something the matter with his stumach. I says I suppose because a baby -smiles that is a sign they is something the matter with his stumach -and if he had the toothacke he would laugh. She says You think your -smart but I am telling you that he was not smileing at all but he was -makeing a face because they is something the matter with his stumach. I -says I guess I know the difference if somebody is smileing or makeing a -face. And she says I guess you don't know nothing about babys because -you never had none before. I says How many have you had. And then she -got sore and beat it out of the room.</p> - -<p>I did not care because I wanted to be in there alone with him and see -would he smile at me again. And sure enough Al he did. Then I called -Allen in and when the baby seen him he begin to cry. So you see I was -right and Florrie was wrong. It don't take a man no time at all to get -wise to these babys and it don't take them long to know if a man is -there father or there uncle.</p> - -<p>When he begin to cry I chased Allen out of the room and called Florrie -because she should ought to know by this time how to make him stop -crying. But she was still sore and she says Let him cry or if you know -so much about babys make him stop yourself. I says Maybe he is sick. -And she says I was just telling you that he had a pane in his stumach -or he would not of made that face that you said was smileing at you.</p> - -<p>I says Do you think we should ought to call the doctor but she says No -if you call the doctor every time he has the stumach acke you might -just as well tell him he should bring his trunk along and stay here. -She says All babys have collect and they is not no use fusing about it -but come and get your breakfast.</p> - -<p>Well Al I did not injoy my breakfast because the baby was crying all -the time and I knowed he probily wanted I should come in and visit with -him. So I just eat the prunes and drunk a little coffee and did not -wait for the rest of it and sure enough when I went back in our room -and started talking to him he started smileing again and pretty soon he -went to sleep so you see Al he was smileing and not makeing no face and -that was a hole lot of bunk about him haveing the collect. But I don't -suppose I should ought to find fault with Florrie for not knowing no -better because she has not never had no babys before but still and all -I should think she should ought to of learned something about them by -this time or ask somebody.</p> - -<p>Well Al little Al is woke up again and is crying and I just about got -time to fix him up and get him asleep again and then I will have to go -to the ball park because we got a poseponed game to play with Detroit -and Callahan will probily want me to work though I pitched the next -to the last game in New York and would of gave them a good beating -except for Schalk dropping that ball at the plate but I got it on these -Detroit babys and when my name is announced to pitch they feel like -forfiting the game. I won't try for no strike out record because I want -them to hit the first ball and get the game over with quick so as I can -get back here and take care of little Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. Babys is great stuff Al and if I was you I would not wait no -longer but would hurry up and adopt 1 somewheres.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, August 15.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal:</span> What do you think Al. Kid Gleason is comeing over to -the flat and look at the baby the day after to-morrow when we don't -have no game skeduled but we have to practice in the <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> -because we been going so rotten. I had a hard time makeing him promise -to come but he is comeing and I bet he will be glad he come when he has -came. I says to him in the clubhouse Do you want to see a real baby? -And he says You're real enough for me Boy.</p> - -<p>I says No I am talking about babys. He says Oh I thought you was -talking about ice cream soda or something. I says No I want you to come -over to the flat to-morrow and take a look at my kid and tell me what -you think of him. He says I can tell you what I think of him without -takeing no look at him. I think he is out of luck. I says What do you -mean out of luck. But he just laughed and would not say no more.</p> - -<p>I asked him again would he come over to the flat and look at the baby -and he says he had troubles enough without that and kidded along for -a while but finally he seen I was in ernest and then he says he would -come if I would keep the missus out of the room while he was there -because he says if she seen him she would probily be sorry she married -me.</p> - -<p>He was just jokeing and I did not take no excepshun to his remarks -because Florrie could not never fall for him after seeing me because he -is not no big stropping man like I am but a little runt and look at how -old he is. But I am glad he is comeing because he will think more of me -when he sees what a fine baby I got though he thinks a hole lot of me -now because look what I done for the club and where would they be at -if I had jumped to the Federal like I once thought I would. I will tell -you what he says about little Al and I bet he will say he never seen no -prettyer baby but even if he don't say nothing at all I will know he is -kidding.</p> - -<p>The Boston Club comes here to-morrow and plays 4 days includeing the -day after to-morrow when they is not no game. So on account of the off -day maybe I will work twice against them and if I do they will wish the -grounds had of burned down.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, August 17.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al:</span> Well old pal what did I tell you about what I would do to -that Boston Club? And now Al I have beat every club in the league this -year because yesterday was the first time I beat the Boston Club this -year but now I have beat all of them and most of them severel times.</p> - -<p>This should ought to of gave me a record of 16 wins and 0 defeats -because the only games I lost was throwed away behind me but instead of -that my record is 10 games win and 6 defeats and that don't include the -games I finished up and helped the other boys win which is about 6 more -alltogether but what do I care about my record Al? because I am not -the kind of man that is allways thinking about there record and playing -for there record while I am satisfied if I give the club the best I got -and if I win all O.K. And if I lose who's fault is it. Not mine Al.</p> - -<p>I asked Callahan would he let me work against the Boston Club again -before they go away and he says I guess I will have to because you -are going better than anybody else on the club. So you see Al he is -beginning to appresiate my work and from now on I will pitch in my -regular turn and a hole lot offtener then that and probily Comiskey -will see the stuff I am made from and will raise my salery next year -even if he has got me signed for 3 years and for the same salery I am -getting now.</p> - -<p>But all that is not what I was going to tell you Al and what I was -going to tell you was about Gleason comeing to see the baby and what he -thought about him. I sent Florrie and Marie downtown and says I would -take care of little Al and they was glad to go because Florrie says she -should ought to buy some new shoes though I don't see what she wants -of no new shoes when she is going to be tied up in the flat for a long -time yet on account of the baby and nobody cares if she wears shoes in -the flat or goes round in her bear feet. But I was glad to get rid of -the both of them for a while because little Al acts better when they is -not no women round and you can't blame him.</p> - -<p>The baby was woke up when Gleason come in and I and him went right in -the room where he was laying. Gleason takes a look at him and says Well -that is a mighty fine baby and you must of boughten him. I says What do -you mean? And he says I don't believe he is your own baby because he -looks humaner than most babys. And I says Why should not he look human. -And he says Why should he.</p> - -<p>Then he goes to work and picks the baby right up and I was a-scared he -would drop him because even I have not never picked him up though I am -his father and would be a-scared of hurting him. I says Here, don't -pick him up and he says Why not? He says Are you going to leave him on -that there bed the rest of his life? I says No but you don't know how -to handle him. He says I have handled a hole lot bigger babys than him -or else Callahan would not keep me.</p> - -<p>Then he starts patting the baby's head and I says Here, don't do that -because he has got a soft spot in his head and you might hit it. He -says I thought he was your baby and I says Well he is my baby and he -says Well then they can't be no soft spot in his head. Then he lays -little Al down because he seen I was in ernest and as soon as he lays -him down the baby begins to cry. Then Gleason says See he don't want me -to lay him down and I says Maybe he has got a pane in his stumach and -he says I would not be supprised because he just took a good look at -his father.</p> - -<p>But little Al did not act like as if he had a pane in his stumach and -he kept sticking his finger in his mouth and crying. And Gleason says -He acts like as if he had a toothacke. I says How could he have a -toothacke when he has not got no teeth? He says That is easy. I have -saw a lot of pitchers complane that there arm was sore when they did -not have no arm.</p> - -<p>Then he asked me what was the baby's name and I told him Allen but that -he was not named after my brother-in-law Allen. And Gleason says I -should hope not. I should hope you would have better sense then to name -him after a left hander. So you see Al he don't like them no better -then I do even if he does jolly Allen and Russell along and make them -think they can pitch.</p> - -<p>Pretty soon he says What are you going to make out of him, a ball -player? I says Yes I am going to make a hitter out of him so as he can -join the White Sox and then maybe they will get a couple of runs once -in a while. He says If I was you I would let him pitch and then you -won't have to give him no educasion. Besides, he says, he looks now -like he would divellop into a grate spitter.</p> - -<p>Well I happened to look out of the window and seen Florrie and Marie -comeing acrost Indiana Avenue and I told Gleason about it. And you -ought to of seen him run. I asked him what was his hurry and he says it -was in his contract that he was not to talk to no women but I knowed -he was kidding because I allready seen him talking to severel of the -players' wifes when they was on trips with us and they acted like as -if they thought he was a regular comeedion though they really is not -nothing funny about what he says only it is easy to make women laugh -when they have not got no grouch on about something.</p> - -<p>Well Al I am glad Gleason has saw the baby and maybe he will fix it -with Callahan so as I won't have to go to morning practice every -<span class="smcap">A.M.</span> because I should ought to be home takeing care of little -Al when Florrie is washing the dishs or helping Marie round the house. -And besides why should I wear myself all out in practice because I -don't need to practice pitching and I could hit as well as the rest of -the men on our club if I never seen no practice.</p> - -<p>After we get threw with Boston, Washington comes here and then we go to -St. Louis and Cleveland and then come home and then go East again. And -after that we are pretty near threw except the city serious. Callahan -is not going to work me no more after I beat Boston again till it is -this here Johnson's turn to pitch for Washington. And I hope it is not -his turn to work the 1st game of the serious because then I would not -have no rest between the last game against Boston and the 1st game -against Washington.</p> - -<p>But rest or no rest I will work against this here Johnson and show him -up for giveing me that trimming in Washington, the lucky stiff. I wish -I had a team like the Athaletics behind me and I would loose about 1 -game every 6 years and then they would have to get all the best of it -from these rotten umpires. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>New York, New York, September 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Al it is not no fun running round the country no -more and I wish this dam trip was over so as I could go home and see -how little Al is getting along because Florrie has not wrote since we -was in Philly which was the first stop on this trip. I am a-scared they -is something the matter with the little fellow or else she would of -wrote but then if they was something the matter with him she would of -sent me a telegram or something and let me know.</p> - -<p>So I guess they can't be nothing the matter with him. Still and all -I don't see why she has not wrote when she knows or should ought to -know that I would be worrying about the baby. If I don't get no letter -to-morrow I am going to send her a telegram and ask her what is the -matter with him because I am positive she would of wrote if they was -not something the matter with him.</p> - -<p>The boys has been trying to get me to go out nights and see a show -or something but I have not got no heart to go to shows. And besides -Callahan has not gave us no pass to no show on this trip. I guess -probily he is sore on account of the rotten way the club has been going -but still he should ought not to be sore on me because I have win 3 out -of my last 4 games and would of win the other if he had not of started -me against them with only 1 day's rest and the Athaletics at that, who -a man should ought not to pitch against if he don't feel good.</p> - -<p>I asked Allen if he had heard from Marie and he says Yes he did but -she did not say nothing about little Al except that he was keeping -her awake nights balling. So maybe Al if little Al is balling they -is something wrong with him. I am going to send Florrie a telegram -to-morrow—that is if I don't get no letter.</p> - -<p>If they is something the matter with him I will ask Callahan to send -me home and he won't want to do it neither because who else has he got -that is a regular winner. But if little Al is sick and Callahan won't -let me go home I will go home anyway. You know me Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Boston, Massachusetts, September 24.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al:</span> I bet if Florrie was a man she would be a left hander. -What do you think she done now Al? I sent her a telegram from New York -when I did not get no letter from her and she did not pay no atension -to the telegram. Then when we got up here I sent her another telegram -and it was not more then five minutes after I sent the 2d telegram till -I got a letter from her. And it said the baby was all O.K. but she had -been so busy takeing care of him that she had not had no time to write.</p> - -<p>Well when I got the letter I chased out to see if I could catch the boy -who had took my telegram but he had went allready so I was spending -$.60 for nothing. Then what does Florrie do but send me a telegram -after she got my second telegram and tell me that little Al is all -O.K., which I knowed all about then because I had just got her letter. -And she sent her telegram c. o. d. and I had to pay for it at this end -because she had not paid for it and that was $.60 more but I bet if I -had of knew what was in the telegram before I read it I would of told -the boy to keep it and would not of gave him no $.60 but how did I -know if little Al might not of tooken sick after Florrie had wrote the -letter?</p> - -<p>I am going to write and ask her if she is trying to send us both to -the Poor House or somewheres with her telegrams. I don't care nothing -about the $.60 but I like to see a woman use a little judgement though -I guess that is impossable.</p> - -<p>It is my turn to work to-day and to-night we start West but we have -got to stop off at Cleveland on the way. I have got a nosion to ask -Callahan to let me go right on threw to Chi if I win to-day and not -stop off at no Cleveland but I guess they would not be no use because -I have got that Cleveland Club licked the minute I put on my glove. -So probily Callahan will want me with him though it don't make no -difference if we win or lose now because we have not got no chance for -the pennant. One man can't win no pennant Al I don't care who he is.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 2.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Well old pal I am all threw till the city serious -and it is all fixed up that I am going to open the serious and pitch -3 of the games if nessary. The club has went to Detroit to wind up -the season and Callahan did not take me along but left me here with a -couple other pitchers and Billy Sullivan and told me all as I would -have to do was go over to the park the next 3 days and warm up a little -so as to keep in shape. But I don't need to be in no shape to beat them -Cubs Al. But it is a good thing Al that Allen was tooken on the trip to -Detroit or I guess I would of killed him. He has not been going good -and he has been acting and talking nasty to everybody because he can't -win no games.</p> - -<p>Well the 1st night we was home after the trip little Al was haveing -a bad night and was balling pretty hard and they could not nobody in -the flat get no sleep. Florrie says he was haveing the collect and -I says Why should he have the collect all the time when he did not -drink nothing but milk? She says she guessed the milk did not agree -with him and upsetted his stumach. I says Well he must take after his -mother if his stumach gets upsetted every time he takes a drink because -if he took after his father he could drink a hole lot and not never -be effected. She says You should ought to remember he has only got a -little stumach and not a great big resservoire. I says Well if the milk -don't agree with him why don't you give him something else? She says -Yes I suppose I should ought to give him weeny worst or something.</p> - -<p>Allen must of heard us talking because he hollered something and I did -not hear what it was so I told him to say it over and he says Give the -little X-eyed brat poison and we would all be better off. I says You -better take poison yourself because maybe a rotten pitcher like you -could get by in the league where you're going when you die. Then I says -Besides I would rather my baby was X-eyed then to have him left handed. -He says It is better for him that he is X-eyed or else he might get a -good look at you and then he would shoot himself. I says Is that so? -and he shut up. Little Al is not no more X-eyed than you or I are Al -and that was what made me sore because what right did Allen have to -talk like that when he knowed he was lying?</p> - -<p>Well the next morning Allen nor I did not speak to each other and I -seen he was sorry for the way he had talked and I was willing to fix -things up because what is the use of staying sore at a man that don't -know no better.</p> - -<p>But all of a sudden he says When are you going to pay me what you owe -me? I says What do you mean? And he says You been liveing here all -summer and I been paying all the bills. I says Did not you and Marie -ask us to come here and stay with you and it would not cost us nothing. -He says Yes but we did not mean it was a life sentence. You are getting -more money than me and you don't never spend a nichol. All I have to -do is pay the rent and buy your food and it would take a millionare or -something to feed you.</p> - -<p>Then he says I would not make no holler about you grafting off of me -if that brat would shut up nights and give somebody a chance to sleep. -I says You should ought to get all the sleep you need on the bench. -Besides, I says, who done the grafting all last winter and without no -invatation? If he had of said another word I was going to bust him but -just then Marie come in and he shut up.</p> - -<p>The more I thought about what he said and him a rotten left hander that -should ought to be hussling freiht the more madder I got and if he had -of opened his head to me the last day or 2 before he went to Detroit I -guess I would of finished him. But Marie stuck pretty close to the both -of us when we was together and I guess she knowed they was something in -the air and did not want to see her husband get the worst of it though -if he was my husband and I was a woman I would push him under a st. car.</p> - -<p>But Al I won't even stand for him saying that I am grafting off of him -and I and Florrie will get away from here and get a flat of our own as -soon as the city serious is over. I would like to bring her and the kid -down to Bedford for the winter but she wont listen to that.</p> - -<p>I allmost forgot Al to tell you to be sure and thank Bertha for the -little dress she made for little Al. I don't know if it will fit him or -not because Florrie has not yet tried it on him yet and she says she is -going to use it for a dishrag but I guess she is just kidding.</p> - -<p>I suppose you seen where Callahan took me out of that game down to -Cleveland but it was not because I was not going good Al but it was -because Callahan seen he was makeing a mistake wasteing me on that -bunch who allmost any pitcher could beat. They beat us that game at -that but only by one run and it was not no fault of mine because I was -tooken out before they got the run that give them the game.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 4.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Well Al the club winds up the season at Detroit -to-morrow and the serious starts the day after to-morrow and I will be -in there giveing them a battle. I wish I did not have nobody but the -Cubs to pitch against all season and you bet I would have a record that -would make Johnson and Mathewson and some of them other swell heads -look like a dirty doose.</p> - -<p>I and Florrie and Marie has been haveing a argument about how could -Florrie go and see the city serious games when they is not nobody here -that can take care of the baby because Marie wants to go and see the -games to even though they is not no more chance of Callahan starting -Allen than a rabbit or something.</p> - -<p>Florrie and Marie says I should ought to hire a nurse to take care of -little Al and Florrie got pretty sore when I told her nothing doing -because in the first place I can't afford to pay no nurse a salery and -in the second place I would not trust no nurse to take care of the baby -because how do I know the nurse is not nothing but a grafter or a dope -fiend maybe and should ought not to be left with the baby?</p> - -<p>Of coarse Florrie wants to see me pitch and a man can't blame her for -that but I won't leave my baby with no nurse Al and Florrie will have -to stay home and I will tell her what I done when I get there. I might -of gave my consent to haveing a nurse at that if it had not of been -for the baby getting so sick last night when I was takeing care of him -while Florrie and Marie and Allen was out to a show and if I had not of -been home they is no telling what would of happened. It is a cinch that -none of them bonehead nurses would of knew what to do.</p> - -<p>Allen must of been out of his head because right after supper he says -he would take the 2 girls to a show. I says All right go on and I will -take care of the baby. Then Florrie says Do you think you can take -care of him all O.K.? And I says Have not I tooken care of him before -allready? Well, she says, I will leave him with you only don't run in -to him every time he cries. I says Why not? And she says Because it is -good for him to cry. I says You have not got no heart or you would not -talk that way.</p> - -<p>They all give me the laugh but I let them get away with it because I -am not picking no fights with girls and why should I bust this Allen -when he don't know no better and has not got no baby himself. And I did -not want to do nothing that would stop him takeing the girls to a show -because it is time he spent a peace of money on somebody.</p> - -<p>Well they all went out and I went in on the bed and played with the -baby. I wish you could of saw him Al because he is old enough now to -do stunts and he smiled up at me and waved his arms and legs round -and made a noise like as if he was trying to say Pa. I did not think -Florrie had gave him enough covers so I rapped him up in some more and -took a blanket off of the big bed and stuck it round him so as he could -not kick his feet out and catch cold.</p> - -<p>I thought once or twice he was going off to sleep but all of a sudden -he begin to cry and I seen they was something wrong with him. I gave -him some hot water but that made him cry again and I thought maybe -he was to cold yet so I took another blanket off of Allen's bed and -wrapped that round him but he kept on crying and trying to kick inside -the blankets. And I seen then that he must have collect or something.</p> - -<p>So pretty soon I went to the phone and called up our regular Dr. and -it took him pretty near a hour to get there and the baby balling all -the time. And when he come he says they was nothing the matter except -that the baby was to hot and told me to take all them blankets off of -him and then soaked me 2 dollars. I had a nosion to bust his jaw. Well -pretty soon he beat it and then little Al begin crying again and kept -getting worse and worse so finally I got a-scared and run down to the -corner where another Dr. is at and I brung him up to see what was the -matter but he said he could not see nothing the matter but he did not -charge me a cent so I thought he was not no robber like our regular -doctor even if he was just as much of a boob.</p> - -<p>The baby did not cry none while he was there but the minute he had went -he started crying and balling again and I seen they was not no use of -fooling no longer so I looked around the house and found the medicine -the doctor left for Allen when he had a stumach acke once and I give -the baby a little of it in a spoon but I guess he did not like the -taste because he hollered like a Indian and finally I could not stand -it no longer so I called that second Dr. back again and this time he -seen that the baby was sick and asked me what I had gave it and I told -him some stumach medicine and he says I was a fool and should ought not -to of gave the baby nothing. But while he was talking the baby stopped -crying and went off to sleep so you see what I done for him was the -right thing to do and them doctors was both off of there nut.</p> - -<p>This second Dr. soaked me 2 dollars the 2d time though he had not did -no more than when he was there the 1st time and charged me nothing but -they is all a bunch of robbers Al and I would just as leave trust a -policeman.</p> - -<p>Right after the baby went to sleep Florrie and Marie and Allen come -home and I told Florrie what had came off but instead of giveing me -credit she says If you want to kill him why don't you take a ax? Then -Allen butts in and says Why don't you take a ball and throw it at him? -Then I got sore and I says Well if I did hit him with a ball I would -kill him while if you was to throw that fast ball of yours at him and -hit him in the head he would think the musketoes was biteing him and -brush them off. But at that, I says, you could not hit him with a ball -except you was aiming at something else.</p> - -<p>I guess they was no comeback to that so him and Marie went to there -room. Allen should ought to know better than to try and get the best of -me by this time and I would shut up anyway if I was him after getting -sent home from Detroit with some of the rest of them when he only -worked 3 innings up there and they had to take him out or play the rest -of the game by electrick lights.</p> - -<p>I wish you could be here for the serious Al but you would have to stay -at a hotel because we have not got no spair room and it would cost you -a hole lot of money. But you can watch the papers and you will see what -I done.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 6.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Pal:</span> Probily before you get this letter you will of -saw by the paper that we was licked in the first game and that I was -tooken out but the papers don't know what really come off so I am going -to tell you and you can see for yourself if it was my fault.</p> - -<p>I did not never have no more stuff in my life then when I was warming -up and I seen the Cubs looking over to our bench and shakeing there -heads like they knowed they did not have no chance. O'Day was going to -start Cheney who is there best bet and had him warming up but when he -seen the smoke I had when I and Schalk was warming up he changed his -mind because what was the use of useing his best pitcher when I had all -that stuff and it was a cinch that no club in the world could score a -run off of me when I had all that stuff?</p> - -<p>So he told a couple others to warm up to and when my name was announced -to pitch Cheney went and set on the bench and this here lefthander -Pierce was announced for them.</p> - -<p>Well Al you will see by the paper where I sent there 1st 3 batters back -to the bench to get a drink of water and all 3 of them good hitters -Leach and Good and this here Saier that hits a hole lot of home runs -but would not never hit one off of me if I was O.K. Well we scored -a couple in our half and the boys on the bench all says Now you got -enough to win easy because they won't never score none off of you.</p> - -<p>And they was right to because what chance did they have if this thing -that I am going to tell you about had not of happened? We goes along -seven innings and only 2 of there men had got to 1st base one of them -on a bad peg of Weaver's and the other one I walked because this blind -Evans don't know a ball from a strike. We had not did no more scoreing -off of Pierce not because he had no stuff but because our club could -not take a ball in there hands and hit it out of the infield.</p> - -<p>Well Al I did not tell you that before I come out to the park I kissed -little Al and Florrie good by and Marie says she was going to stay home -to and keep Florrie Co. and they was not no reason for Marie to come to -the game anyway because they was not a chance in the world for Allen to -do nothing but hit fungos. Well while I was doing all this here swell -pitching and makeing them Cubs look like a lot of rummys I was thinking -about little Al and Florrie and how glad they would be when I come -home and told them what I done though of coarse little Al is not only -a little over 3 months of age and how could he appresiate what I done? -But Florrie would.</p> - -<p>Well Al when I come in to the bench after there ½ of the 7th I -happened to look up to the press box to see if the reporters had gave -Schulte a hit on that one Weaver throwed away and who do you think I -seen in a box right alongside of the press box? It was Florrie and -Marie and both of them claping there hands and hollering with the rest -of the bugs.</p> - -<p>Well old pal I was never so supprised in my life and it just took all -the heart out of me. What was they doing there and what had they did -with the baby? How did I know that little Al was not sick or maybe dead -and balling his head off and nobody round to hear him?</p> - -<p>I tried to catch Florrie's eyes but she would not look at me. I -hollered her name and the bugs looked at me like as if I was crazy and -I was to Al. Well I seen they was not no use of standing out there -in front of the stand so I come into the bench and Allen was setting -there and I says Did you know your wife and Florrie was up there in the -stand? He says No and I says What are they doing here? And he says What -would they be doing here—mending there stockings? I felt like busting -him and I guess he seen I was mad because he got up off of the bench -and beat it down to the corner of the field where some of the others -was getting warmed up though why should they have anybody warming up -when I was going so good?</p> - -<p>Well Al I made up my mind that ball game or no ball game I was not -going to have little Al left alone no longer and I seen they was not -no use of sending word to Florrie to go home because they was a big -crowd and it would take maybe 15 or 20 minutes for somebody to get up -to where she was at. So I says to Callahan You have got to take me -out. He says What is the matter? Is your arm gone? I says No my arm is -not gone but my baby is sick and home all alone. He says Where is your -wife? And I says She is setting up there in the stand.</p> - -<p>Then he says How do you know your baby is sick? And I says I don't -know if he is sick or not but he is left home all alone. He says Why -don't you send your wife home? And I says I could not get word to her -in time. He says Well you have only got two innings to go and the way -your going the game will be over in 10 minutes. I says Yes and before -10 minutes is up my baby might die and are you going to take me out or -not? He says Get in there and pitch you yellow dog and if you don't I -will take your share of the serious money away from you.</p> - -<p>By this time our part of the inning was over and I had to go out there -and pitch some more because he would not take me out and he has not got -no heart Al. Well Al how could I pitch when I kept thinking maybe the -baby was dying right now and maybe if I was home I could do something? -And instead of paying attension to what I was doing I was thinking -about little Al and looking up there to where Florrie and Marie was -setting and before I knowed what come off they had the bases full and -Callahan took me out.</p> - -<p>Well Al I run to the clubhouse and changed my cloths and beat it for -home and I did not even hear what Callahan and Gleason says to me when -I went by them but I found out after the game that Scott went in and -finished up and they batted him pretty hard and we was licked 3 and 2.</p> - -<p>When I got home the baby was crying but he was not all alone after all -Al because they was a little girl about 14 years of age there watching -him and Florrie had hired her to take care of him so as her and Marie -could go and see the game. But just think Al of leaveing little Al with -a girl 14 years of age that did not never have no babys of her own! And -what did she know about takeing care of him? Nothing Al.</p> - -<p>You should ought to of heard me ball Florrie out when she got home and -I bet she cried pretty near enough to flood the basemunt. We had it hot -and heavy and the Allens butted in but I soon showed them where they -was at and made them shut there mouth.</p> - -<p>I had a good nosion to go out and get a hole lot of drinks and was -just going to put on my hat when the doorbell rung and there was Kid -Gleason. I thought he would be sore and probily try to ball me out and -I was not going to stand for nothing but instead of balling me out he -come and shook hands with me and interduced himself to Florrie and -asked how was little Al.</p> - -<p>Well we all set down and Gleason says the club was depending on me to -win the serious because I was in the best shape of all the pitchers. -And besides the Cubs could not never hit me when I was right and he was -telling the truth to.</p> - -<p>So he asked me if I would stand for the club hireing a train nurse to -stay with the baby the rest of the serious so as Florrie could go and -see her husband win the serious but I says No I would not stand for -that and Florrie's place was with the baby.</p> - -<p>So Gleason and Florrie goes out in the other room and talks a while and -I guess he was persuadeing her to stay home because pretty soon they -come back in the room and says it was all fixed up and I would not have -to worry about little Al the rest of the serious but could give the -club the best I got. Gleason just left here a little while ago and I -won't work to-morrow Al but I will work the day after and you will see -what I can do when I don't have nothing to worry me.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 8.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal:</span> Well old pal we got them 2 games to one now and the -serious is sure to be over in three more days because I can pitch 2 -games in that time if nessary. I shut them out to-day and they should -ought not to of had four hits but should ought to of had only 2 but -Bodie don't cover no ground and 2 fly balls that he should ought to of -eat up fell safe.</p> - -<p>But I beat them anyway and Benz beat them yesterday but why should he -not beat them when the club made 6 runs for him? All they made for me -was three but all I needed was one because they could not hit me with a -shuvvel. When I come to the bench after the 5th inning they was a note -there for me from the boy that answers the phone at the ball park and -it says that somebody just called up from the flat and says the baby -was asleep and getting along fine. So I felt good Al and I was better -then ever in the 6th.</p> - -<p>When I got home Florrie and Marie was both there and asked me how did -the game come out because I beat Allen home and I told them all about -what I done and I bet Florrie was proud of me but I supose Marie is a -little jellus because how could she help it when Callahan is depending -on me to win the serious and her husband is wearing out the wood on the -bench? But why should she be sore when it is me that is winning the -serious for them? And if it was not for me Allen and all the rest of -them would get about $500.00 apeace instead of the winners' share which -is about $750.00 apeace.</p> - -<p>Cicotte is going to work to-morrow and if he is lucky maybe he can get -away with the game and that will leave me to finish up the day after -to-morrow but if nessary I can go in to-morrow when they get to hitting -Cicotte and stop them and then come back the following day and beat -them again. Where would this club be at Al if I had of jumped to the -Federal?</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 11.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> We done it again Al and I guess the Cubs won't -never want to play us again not so long as I am with the club. Before -you get this letter you will know what we done and who done it but -probily you could of guessed that Al without seeing no paper.</p> - -<p>I got 2 more of them phone messiges about the baby dureing the game -and I guess that was what made me so good because I knowed then that -Florrie was takeing care of him but I could not help feeling sorry -for Florrie because she is a bug herself and it must of been pretty -hard for her to stay away from the game espesially when she knowed I -was going to pitch and she has been pretty good to sacrifice her own -plesure for little Al.</p> - -<p>Cicotte was knocked out of the box the day before yesterday and then -they give this here Faber a good beating but I wish you could of saw -what they done to Allen when Callahan sent him in after the game was -gone allready. Honest Al if he had not of been my brother in law I -would of felt like laughing at him because it looked like as if they -would have to call the fire department to put the side out. They had -Bodie and Collins hollering for help and with there tongue hanging out -from running back to the fence.</p> - -<p>Anyway the serious is all over and I won't have nothing to do but stay -home and play with little Al but I don't know yet where my home is -going to be at because it is a cinch I won't stay with Allen no longer. -He has not came home since the game and I suppose he is out somewheres -lapping up some beer and spending some of the winner's share of the -money which he would not of had no chance to get in on if it had not of -been for me.</p> - -<p>I will write and let you know my plans for the winter and I wish -Florrie would agree to come to Bedford but nothing doing Al and after -her staying home and takeing care of the baby instead of watching me -pitch I can't be too hard on her but must leave her have her own way -about something. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 13.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al:</span> I am all threw with Florrie Al and I bet when you hear -about it you won't say it was not no fault of mine but no man liveing -who is any kind of a man would act different from how I am acting if he -had of been decieved like I been.</p> - -<p>Al Florrie and Marie was out to all them games and was not home takeing -care of the baby at all and it is not her fault that little Al is not -dead and that he was not killed by the nurse they hired to take care of -him while they went to the games when I thought they was home takeing -care of the baby. And all them phone messiges was just fakes and maybe -the baby was sick all the time I was winning them games and balling his -head off instead of being asleep like they said he was.</p> - -<p>Allen did not never come home at all the night before last and when -he come in yesterday he was a sight and I says to him Where have you -been? And he says I have been down to the Y.M.C.A. but that is not none -of your business. I says Yes you look like as if you had been to the -Y.M.C.A. and I know where you have been and you have been out lushing -beer. And he says Suppose I have and what are you going to do about it? -And I says Nothing but you should ought to be ashamed of yourself and -leaveing Marie here while you was out lapping up beer.</p> - -<p>Then he says Did you not leave Florrie home while you was getting away -with them games, you lucky stiff? And I says Yes but Florrie had to -stay home and take care of the baby but Marie don't never have to stay -home because where is your baby? You have not got no baby. He says I -would not want no X-eyed baby like yourn. Then he says So you think -Florrie stayed to home and took care of the baby do you? And I says -What do you mean? And he says You better ask her.</p> - -<p>So when Florrie come in and heard us talking she busted out crying and -then I found out what they put over on me. It is a wonder Al that I -did not take some of that cheap furniture them Allens got and bust it -over there heads, Allen and Florrie. This is what they done Al. The -club give Florrie $50.00 to stay home and take care of the baby and she -said she would and she was to call up every so often and tell me the -baby was all O.K. But this here Marie told her she was a sucker so she -hired a nurse for part of the $50.00 and then her and Marie went to the -games and beat it out quick after the games was over and come home in a -taxicab and chased the nurse out before I got home.</p> - -<p>Well Al when I found out what they done I grabbed my hat and goes out -and got some drinks and I was so mad I did not know where I was at or -what come off and I did not get home till this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> And they -was all asleep and I been asleep all day and when I woke up Marie and -Allen was out but Florrie and I have not spoke to each other and I -won't never speak to her again.</p> - -<p>But I know now what I am going to do Al and I am going to take little -Al and beat it out of here and she can sew me for a bill of divorce and -I should not worry because I will have little Al and I will see that he -is tooken care of because I guess I can hire a nurse as well as they -can and I will pick out a train nurse that knows something. Maybe I -and him and the nurse will come to Bedford Al but I don't know yet and -I will write and tell you as soon as I make up my mind. Did you ever -hear of a man getting a rottener deal Al? And after what I done in the -serious too.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 17.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal:</span> I and Florrie has made it up Al but we are threw -with Marie and Allen and I and Florrie and the baby is staying at a -hotel here on Cottage Grove Avenue the same hotel we was at when we got -married only of coarse they was only the 2 of us then.</p> - -<p>And now Al I want to ask you a favor and that is for you to go and see -old man Cutting and tell him I want to ree-new the lease on that house -for another year because I and Florrie has decided to spend the winter -in Bedford and she will want to stay there and take care of little Al -while I am away on trips next summer and not stay in no high-price flat -up here. And may be you and Bertha can help her round the house when I -am not there.</p> - -<p>I will tell you how we come to fix things up Al and you will see that I -made her apollojize to me and after this she will do what I tell her -to and won't never try to put nothing over. We was eating breakfast—I -and Florrie and Marie. Allen was still asleep yet because I guess he -must of had a bad night and he was snoreing so as you could hear him -in the next st. I was not saying nothing to nobody but pretty soon -Florrie says to Marie I don't think you and Allen should ought to kick -on the baby crying when Allen's snoreing makes more noise than a hole -wagonlode of babys. And Marie got sore and says I guess a man has got a -right to snore in his own house and you and Jack has been grafting off -of us long enough.</p> - -<p>Then Florrie says What did Allen do to help win the serious and get -that $750.00? Nothing but set on the bench except when they was makeing -him look like a sucker the 1 inning he pitched. The trouble with you -and Allen is you are jellous of what Jack has did and you know he will -be a star up here in the big league when Allen is tending bar which is -what he should ought to be doing because then he could get stewed for -nothing.</p> - -<p>Marie says Take your brat and get out of the house. And Florrie says -Don't you worry because we would not stay here no longer if you hired -us. So Florrie went in her room and I followed her in and she says -Let's pack up and get out.</p> - -<p>Then I says Yes but we won't go nowheres together after what you done -to me but you can go where you dam please and I and little Al will go -to Bedford. Then she says You can't take the baby because he is mine -and if you was to take him I would have you arrested for kidnaping. -Besides, she says, what would you feed him and who would take care of -him?</p> - -<p>I says I would find somebody to take care of him and I would get him -food from a resturunt. She says He can't eat nothing but milk and I -says Well he has the collect all the time when he is eating milk and he -would not be no worse off if he was eating watermelon. Well, she says, -if you take him I will have you arrested and sew you for a bill of -divorce for dessertion.</p> - -<p>Then she says Jack you should not ought to find no fault with me for -going to them games because when a woman has a husband that can pitch -like you can do you think she wants to stay home and not see her -husband pitch when a lot of other women is cheering him and makeing her -feel proud because she is his wife?</p> - -<p>Well Al as I said right along it was pretty hard on Florrie to have to -stay home and I could not hardly blame her for wanting to be out there -where she could see what I done so what was the use of argueing?</p> - -<p>So I told her I would think it over and then I went out and I went and -seen a attorney at law and asked him could I take little Al away and he -says No I did not have no right to take him away from his mother and -besides it would probily kill him to be tooken away from her and then -he soaked me $10.00 the robber.</p> - -<p>Then I went back and told Florrie I would give her another chance and -then her and I packed up and took little Al in a taxicab over to this -hotel. We are threw with the Allens Al and let me know right away if -I can get that lease for another year because Florrie has gave up and -will go to Bedford or anywheres else with me now.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Illinois, October 20.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Old pal I won't never forget your kindnus and this -is to tell you that I and Florrie except your kind invatation to come -and stay with you till we can find a house and I guess you won't regret -it none because Florrie will livun things up for Bertha and Bertha will -be crazy about the baby because you should ought to see how cute he is -now Al and not yet four months old. But I bet he will be talking before -we know it.</p> - -<p>We are comeing on the train that leaves here at noon Saturday Al and -the train leaves here about 12 o'clock and I don't know what time it -gets to Bedford but it leaves here at noon so we shall be there probily -in time for supper.</p> - -<p>I wish you would ask Ben Smith will he have a hack down to the deepo to -meet us but I won't pay no more than $.25 and I should think he should -ought to be glad to take us from the deepo to your house for nothing.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. The train we are comeing on leaves here at noon Al and will -probily get us there in time for a late supper and I wonder if Bertha -would have spair ribs and crout for supper. You know me Al.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></h2> - -<p class="center">THE BUSHER BEATS IT HENCE</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Ill., Oct. 18.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> I guess may be you will begin to think I dont never -do what I am going to do and that I change my mind a hole lot because I -wrote and told you that I and Florrie and little Al would be in Bedford -to-day and here we are in Chi yet on the day when I told you we would -get to Bedford and I bet Bertha and you and the rest of the boys will -be dissapointed but Al I dont feel like as if I should ought to leave -the White Sox in a hole and that is why I am here yet and I will tell -you how it come off but in the 1st place I want to tell you that it -wont make a diffrence of more then 5 or 6 or may be 7 days at least -and we will be down there and see you and Bertha and the rest of the -boys just as soon as the N.Y. giants and the White Sox leaves here and -starts a round the world. All so I remember I told you to fix it up so -as a hack would be down to the deepo to meet us to-night and you wont -get this letter in time to tell them not to send no hack so I supose -the hack will be there but may be they will be some body else that gets -off of the train that will want the hack and then every thing will be -all O.K. but if they is not nobody else that wants the hack I will pay -them ½ of what they was going to charge me if I had of came and road -in the hack though I dont have to pay them nothing because I am not -going to ride in the hack but I want to do the right thing and besides -I will want a hack at the deepo when I do come so they will get a peace -of money out of me any way so I dont see where they got no kick comeing -even if I dont give them a nichol now.</p> - -<p>I will tell you why I am still here and you will see where I am trying -to do the right thing. You knowed of coarse that the White Sox and -the N. Y. giants was going to make a trip a round the world and they -been after me for a long time to go a long with them but I says No I -would not leave Florrie and the kid because that would not be fare and -besides I would be paying rent and grocerys for them some wheres and me -not getting nothing out of it and besides I would probily be spending -a hole lot of money on the trip because though the clubs pays all of -our regular expences they would be a hole lot of times when I felt -like blowing my self and buying some thing to send home to the Mrs and -to good old friends of mine like you and Bertha so I turned them down -and Callahan acted like he was sore at me but I dont care nothing for -that because I got other people to think a bout and not Callahan and -besides if I was to go a long the fans in the towns where we play at -would want to see me work and I would have to do a hole lot of pitching -which I would not be getting nothing for it and it would not count in -no standing because the games is to be just for fun and what good would -it do me and besides Florrie says I was not under no circumstance to -go and of coarse I would go if I wanted to go no matter what ever she -says but all and all I turned them down and says I would stay here all -winter or rather I would not stay here but in Bedford. Then Callahan -says All right but you know before we start on the trip the giants and -us is going to play a game right here in Chi next Sunday and after what -you done in the city serious the fans would be sore if they did not -get no more chance to look at you so will you stay and pitch part of -the game here and I says I would think it over and I come home to the -hotel where we are staying at and asked Florrie did she care if we did -not go to Bedford for an other week and she says No she did not care -if we dont go for 6 years so I called Callahan up and says I would stay -and he says Thats the boy and now the fans will have an other treat so -you see Al he appresiates what I done and wants to give the fans fare -treatment because this town is nuts over me after what I done to them -Cubs but I could do it just the same to the Athaletics or any body else -if it would of been them in stead of the Cubs. May be we will leave -here the <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> after the game that is Monday and I will let -you know so as you can order an other hack and tell Bertha I hope she -did not go to no extra trouble a bout getting ready for us and did not -order no spair ribs and crout but you can eat them up if she all ready -got them and may be she can order some more for us when we come but -tell her it dont make no diffrence and not to go to no trouble because -most anything she has is O.K. for I and Florrie accept of coarse we -would not want to make no meal off of sardeens or something.</p> - -<p>Well Al I bet them N.Y. giants will wish I would of went home before -they come for this here exibishun game because my arm feels grate and -I will show them where they would be at if they had to play ball in -our league all the time though I supose they is some pitchers in our -league that they would hit good against them if they can hit at all -but not me. You will see in the papers how I come out and I will write -and tell you a bout it. - - -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Chicago, Ill., Oct. 25.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal:</span> I have not only got a little time but I have got -some news for you and I knowed you would want to hear all a bout it so -I am writeing this letter and then I am going to catch the train. I -would be saying good by to little Al instead of writeing this letter -only Florrie wont let me wake him up and he is a sleep but may be by -the time I get this letter wrote he will be a wake again and I can say -good by to him. I am going with the White Sox and giants as far as San -Francisco or may be Van Coover where they take the boat at but I am not -going a round the world with them but only just out to the coast to -help them out because they is a couple of men going to join them out -there and untill them men join them they will be short of men and they -got a hole lot of exibishun games to play before they get out there so -I am going to help them out. It all come off in the club house after -the game to-day and I will tell you how it come off but 1st I want to -tell you a bout the game and honest Al them giants is the luckyest -team in the world and it is not no wonder they keep wining the penant -in that league because a club that has got there luck could win ball -games with out sending no team on the field at all but staying down to -the hotel.</p> - -<p>They was a big crowd out to the park so Callahan says to me I did not -know if I was going to pitch you or not but the crowd is out here to -see you so I will have to let you work so I warmed up but I knowed -the minute I throwed the 1st ball warming up that I was not right and -I says to Callahan I did not feel good but he says You wont need to -feel good to beat this bunch because they heard a hole lot a bout you -and you would have them beat if you just throwed your glove out there -in the box. So I went in and tried to pitch but my arm was so lame it -pretty near killed me every ball I throwed and I bet if I was some -other pitchers they would not never of tried to work with my arm so -sore but I am not like some of them yellow dogs and quit because I -would not dissapoint the crowd or throw Callahan down when he wanted me -to pitch and was depending on me. You know me Al. So I went in there -but I did not have nothing and if them giants could of hit at all -in stead of like a lot of girls they would of knock down the fence -because I was not my self. At that they should not ought to of had -only the 1 run off of me if Weaver and them had not of begin kicking -the ball a round like it was a foot ball or something. Well Al what -with dropping fly balls and booting them a round and this in that the -giants was gave 5 runs in the 1st 3 innings and they should ought to -of had just the 1 run or may be not that and that ball Merkle hit in -to the seats I was trying to waist it and a man that is a good hitter -would not never of hit at it and if I was right this here Merkle could -not foul me in 9 years. When I was comeing into the bench after the -3th inning this here smart alex Mcgraw come passed me from the 3 base -coaching line and he says Are you going on the trip and I says No I -am not going on no trip and he says That is to bad because if you was -going we would win a hole lot of games and I give him a hot come back -and he did not say nothing so I went in to the bench and Callahan says -Them giants is not such rotten hitters is they and I says No they hit -pretty good when a man has got a sore arm against them and he says -Why did not you tell me your arm was sore and I says I did not want -to dissapoint no crowd that come out here to see me and he says Well -I guess you need not pitch no more because if I left you in there -the crowd might begin to get tired of watching you a bout 10 oclock -to-night and I says What do you mean and he did not say nothing more -so I set there a while and then went to the club house. Well Al after -the game Callahan come in to the club house and I was still in there -yet talking to the trainer and getting my arm rubbed and Callahan says -Are you getting your arm in shape for next year and I says No but it -give me so much pane I could not stand it and he says I bet if you was -feeling good you could make them giants look like a sucker and I says -You know I could make them look like a sucker and he says Well why dont -you come a long with us and you will get an other chance at them when -you feel good and I says I would like to get an other crack at them but -I could not go a way on no trip and leave the Mrs and the baby and then -he says he would not ask me to make the hole trip a round the world but -he wisht I would go out to the coast with them because they was hard -up for pitchers and he says Mathewson of the giants was not only going -as far as the coast so if the giants had there star pitcher that far -the White Sox should ought to have theren and then some of the other -boys coaxed me would I go so finely I says I would think it over and I -went home and seen Florrie and she says How long would it be for and -I says a bout 3 or 4 weeks and she says If you dont go will we start -for Bedford right a way and I says Yes and then she says All right go a -head and go but if they was any thing should happen to the baby while I -was gone what would they do if I was not a round to tell them what to -do and I says Call a Dr. in but dont call no Dr. if you dont have to -and besides you should ought to know by this time what to do for the -baby when he got sick and she says Of coarse I know a little but not -as much as you do because you know it all. Then I says No I dont know -it all but I will tell you some things before I go and you should not -ought to have no trouble so we fixed it up and her and little Al is -to stay here in the hotel untill I come back which will be a bout the -20 of Nov. and then we will come down home and tell Bertha not to get -to in patient and we will get there some time. It is going to cost me -$6.00 a week at the hotel for a room for she and the baby besides there -meals but the babys meals dont cost nothing yet and Florrie should not -ought to be very hungry because we been liveing good and besides she -will get all she can eat when we come to Bedford and it wont cost me -nothing for meals on the trip out to the coast because Comiskey and -Mcgraw pays for that.</p> - -<p>I have not even had no time to look up where we play at but we stop -off at a hole lot of places on the way and I will get a chance to make -them giants look like a sucker before I get threw and Mcgraw wont be so -sorry I am not going to make the hole trip. You will see by the papers -what I done to them before we get threw and I will write as soon as we -stop some wheres long enough so as I can write and now I am going to -say good by to little Al if he is a wake or not a wake and wake him up -and say good by to him because even if he is not only 5 months old he -is old enough to think a hole lot of me and why not. I all so got to -say good by to Florrie and fix it up with the hotel clerk a bout she -and the baby staying here a while and catch the train. You will hear -from me soon old pal.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>St. Joe, Miss., Oct. 29.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Well Al we are on our way to the coast and they is -quite a party of us though it is not no real White Sox and giants at -all but some players from off of both clubs and then some others that -is from other clubs a round the 2 leagues to fill up. We got Speaker -from the Boston club and Crawford from the Detroit club and if we had -them with us all the time Al I would not never loose a game because one -or the other of them 2 is good for a couple of runs every game and that -is all I need to win my games is a couple of runs or only 1 run and I -would win all my games and would not never loose a game.</p> - -<p>I did not pitch to-day and I guess the giants was glad of it because -no matter what Mcgraw says he must of saw from watching me Sunday that -I was a real pitcher though my arm was so sore I could not hardly raze -it over my sholder so no wonder I did not have no stuff but at that I -could of beat his gang with out no stuff if I had of had some kind of -decent suport. I will pitch against them may be to-morrow or may be -some day soon and my arm is all O.K. again now so I will show them up -and make them wish Callahan had of left me to home. Some of the men has -brung there wife a long and besides that there is some other men and -there wife that is not no ball players but are going a long for the -trip and some more will join the party out the coast before they get a -bord the boat but of coarse I and Mathewson will drop out of the party -then because why should I or him go a round the world and throw our -arms out pitching games that dont count in no standing and that we dont -get no money for pitching them out side of just our bare expences. The -people in the towns we played at so far has all wanted to shake hands -with Mathewson and I so I guess they know who is the real pitchers on -these here 2 clubs no matter what them reporters says and the stars -is all ways the men that the people wants to shake there hands with -and make friends with them but Al this here Mathewson pitched to-day -and honest Al I dont see how he gets by and either the batters in the -National league dont know nothing a bout hitting or else he is such -a old man that they feel sorry for him and may be when he was a bout -10 years younger then he is may be then he had some thing and was a -pretty fare pitcher but all as he does now is stick the 1st ball right -over with 0 on it and pray that they dont hit it out of the park. If a -pitcher like he can get by in the National league and fool them batters -they is not nothing I would like better then to pitch in the National -league and I bet I would not get scored on in 2 to 3 years. I heard a -hole lot a bout this here fade a way that he is suposed to pitch and it -is a ball that is throwed out between 2 fingers and falls in at a right -hand batter and they is not no body cant hit it but if he throwed 1 -of them things to-day he done it while I was a sleep and they was not -no time when I was not wide a wake and looking right at him and after -the game was over I says to him Where is that there fade a way I heard -so much a bout and he says O I did not have to use none of my regular -stuff against your club and I says Well you would have to use all you -got if I was working against you and he says Yes if you worked like you -done Sunday I would have to do some pitching or they would not never -finish the game. Then I says a bout me haveing a sore arm Sunday and -he says I wisht I had a sore arm like yourn and a little sence with it -and was your age and I would not never loose a game so you see Al he -has heard a bout me and is jellus because he has not got my stuff but -they cant every body expect to have the stuff that I got or ½ as much -stuff. This smart alex Mcgraw was trying to kid me to-day and says Why -did not I make friends with Mathewson and let him learn me some thing -a bout pitching and I says Mathewson could not learn me nothing and he -says I guess thats right and I guess they is not nobody could learn you -nothing a bout nothing and if you was to stay in the league 20 years -probily you would not be no better then you are now so you see he had -to add mit that I am good Al even if he has not saw me work when my arm -was O.K.</p> - -<p>Mcgraw says to me to-night he says I wisht you was going all the way -and I says Yes you do. I says Your club would look like a sucker after -I had worked against them a few times and he says May be thats right to -because they would not know how to hit against a regular pitcher after -that. Then he says But I dont care nothing a bout that but I wisht you -was going to make the hole trip so as we could have a good time. He -says We got Steve Evans and Dutch Schaefer going a long and they is -both of them funny but I like to be a round with boys that is funny and -dont know nothing a bout it. I says Well I would go a long only for my -wife and baby and he says Yes it would be pretty tough on your wife to -have you a way that long but still and all think how glad she would be -to see you when you come back again and besides them dolls acrost the -ocean will be pretty sore at I and Callahan if we tell them we left you -to home. I says Do you supose the people over there has heard a bout -me and he says Sure because they have wrote a lot of letters asking me -to be sure and bring you and Mathewson a long. Then he says I guess -Mathewson is not going so if you was to go and him left here to home -they would not be nothing to it. You could have things all your own way -and probily could marry the Queen of europe if you was not all ready -married. He was giveing me the strate dope this time Al because he did -not crack a smile and I wisht I could go a long but it would not be -fare to Florrie but still and all did not she leave me and beat it for -Texas last winter and why should not I do the same thing to her only I -am not that kind of a man. You know me Al.</p> - -<p>We play in Kansas city to-morrow and may be I will work there because -it is a big town and I have got to close now and write to Florrie.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Abilene, Texas, Nov. 4.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al:</span> Well Al I guess you know by this time that I have worked -against them 2 times since I wrote to you last time and I beat them -both times and Mcgraw knows now what kind of a pitcher I am and I -will tell you how I know because after the game yesterday he road -down to the place we dressed at a long with me and all the way in the -automobile he was after me to say I would go all the way a round the -world and finely it come out that he wants I should go a long and pitch -for his club and not pitch for the White Sox. He says his club is up -against it for pitchers because Mathewson is not going and all they got -left is a man named Hern that is a young man and not got no experiense -and Wiltse that is a left hander. So he says I have talked it over with -Callahan and he says if I could get you to go a long it was all O.K. -with him and you could pitch for us only I must not work you to hard -because he is depending on you to win the penant for him next year. I -says Did not none of the other White Sox make no holler because may be -they might have to bat against me and he says Yes Crawford and Speaker -says they would not make the trip if you was a long and pitching -against them but Callahan showed them where it would be good for them -next year because if they hit against you all winter the pitchers they -hit against next year will look easy to them. He was crazy to have me -go a long on the hole trip but of coarse Al they is not no chance of me -going on acct. of Florrie and little Al but you see Mcgraw has cut out -his trying to kid me and is treating me now like a man should ought to -be treated that has did what I done.</p> - -<p>They was not no game here to-day on acct. of it raining and the people -here was sore because they did not see no game but they all come a -round to look at us and says they must have some speechs from the most -prommerent men in the party so I and Comiskey and Mcgraw and Callahan -and Mathewson and Ted Sullivan that I guess is putting up the money -for the trip made speechs and they clapped there hands harder when I -was makeing my speech then when any 1 of the others was makeing there -speech. You did not know I was a speech maker did you Al and I did not -know it neither untill to-day but I guess they is not nothing I can do -if I make up my mind and 1 of the boys says that I done just as well as -Dummy Taylor could of.</p> - -<p>I have not heard nothing from Florrie but I guess may be she is to busy -takeing care of little Al to write no letters and I am not worring none -because she give me her word she would let me know was they some thing -the matter.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>San Dago, Cal., Nov. 9.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Al some times I wisht I was not married at all and -if it was not for Florrie and little Al I would go a round the world -on this here trip and I guess the boys in Bedford would not be jellus -if I was to go a round the world and see every thing they is to be saw -and some of the boys down home has not never been no futher a way then -Terre Haute and I dont mean you Al but some of the other boys. But of -coarse Al when a man has got a wife and a baby they is not no chance -for him to go a way on 1 of these here trips and leave them a lone -so they is not no use I should even think a bout it but I cant help -thinking a bout it because the boys keeps after me all the time to go. -Callahan was talking a bout it to me to-day and he says he knowed that -if I was to pitch for the giants on the trip his club would not have no -chance of wining the most of the games on the trip but still and all he -wisht I would go a long because he was a scared the people over in Rome -and Paris and Africa and them other countrys would be awful sore if the -2 clubs come over there with out bringing none of there star pitchers -along. He says We got Speaker and Crawford and Doyle and Thorp and some -of them other real stars in all the positions accept pitcher and it -will make us look bad if you and Mathewson dont neither 1 of you come a -long. I says What is the matter with Scott and Benz and this here left -hander Wiltse and he says They is not nothing the matter with none of -them accept they is not no real stars like you and Mathewson and if we -cant show them forreners 1 of you 2 we will feel like as if we was -cheating them. I says You would not want me to pitch my best against -your club would you and he says O no I would not want you to pitch -your best or get your self all wore out for next year but I would want -you to let up enough so as we could make a run oncet in a while so the -games would not be to 1 sided. I says Well they is not no use talking -a bout it because I could not leave my wife and baby and he says Why -dont you write and ask your wife and tell her how it is and can you go. -I says No because she would make a big holler and besides of coarse I -would go any way if I wanted to go with out no I yes or no from her -only I am not the kind of a man that runs off and leaves his family and -besides they is not nobody to leave her with because her and her sister -Allens wife has had a quarrle. Then Callahan says Where is Allen at now -is he still in Chi. I says I dont know where is he at and I dont care -where he is at because I am threw with him. Then Callahan says I asked -him would he go on the trip before the season was over but he says he -could not and if I knowed where was he I would wire a telegram to him -and ask him again. I says What would you want him a long for and he -says Because Mcgraw is shy of pitchers and I says I would try and help -him find 1. I says Well you should ought not to have no trouble finding -a man like Allen to go along because his wife probily would be glad to -get rid of him. Then Callahan says Well I wisht you would get a hold -of where Allen is at and let me know so as I can wire him a telegram. -Well Al I know where Allen is at all O.K. but I am not going to give -his adress to Callahan because Mcgraw has treated me all O.K. and why -should I wish a man like Allen on to him and besides I am not going to -give Allen no chance to go a round the world or no wheres else after -the way he acted a bout I and Florrie haveing a room in his flat and -asking me to pay for it when he give me a invatation to come there and -stay. Well Al it is to late now to cry in the sour milk but I wisht I -had not never saw Florrie untill next year and then I and her could -get married just like we done last year only I dont know would I do it -again or not but I guess I would on acct. of little Al.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 14.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Old Pal:</span> Well old pal what do you know a bout me being back -here in San Francisco where I give the fans such a treat 2 years ago -and then I was not nothing but a busher and now I am with a team that -is going a round the world and are crazy to have me go a long only I -cant because of my wife and baby. Callahan wired a telegram to the -reporters here from Los Angeles telling them I would pitch here and I -guess they is going to be 20 or 25000 out to the park and I will give -them the best I got.</p> - -<p>But what do you think Florrie has did Al. Her and the Allens has made -it up there quarrle and is friends again and Marie told Florrie to -write and tell me she was sorry we had that there argument and let -by gones be by gones. Well Al it is all O.K. with me because I cant -help not feeling sorry for Allen because I dont beleive he will be in -the league next year and I feel sorry for Marie to because it must be -pretty tough on her to see how well her sister done and what a misstake -she made when she went and fell for a left hander that could not fool -a blind man with his curve ball and if he was to hit a man in the head -with his fast ball they would think there nose iched. In Florries -letter she says she thinks us and the Allens could find an other flat -like the 1 we had last winter and all live in it to gether in stead -of going to Bedford but I have wrote to her before I started writeing -this letter all ready and told her that her and I is going to Bedford -and the Allens can go where they feel like and they can go and stay on -a boat on Michigan lake all winter if they want to but I and Florrie -is comeing to Bedford. Down to the bottom of her letter she says Allen -wants to know if Callahan or Mcgraw is shy of pitchers and may be he -would change his mind and go a long on the trip. Well Al I did not ask -either Callahan nor Mcgraw nothing a bout it because I knowed they was -looking for a star and not for no left hander that could not brake a -pane of glass with his fast 1 so I wrote and told Florrie to tell Allen -they was all filled up and would not have no room for no more men.</p> - -<p>It is pretty near time to go out to the ball park and I wisht you could -be here Al and hear them San Francisco fans go crazy when they hear my -name anounced to pitch. I bet they wish they had of had me here this -last year.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Yours truly, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Medford, Organ, Nov. 16.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> Well Al you know by this time that I did not pitch -the hole game in San Francisco but I was not tooken out because they -was hitting me Al but because my arm went back on me all of a sudden -and it was the change in the clime it that done it to me and they could -not hire me to try and pitch another game in San Francisco. They was -the biggest crowd there that I ever seen in San Francisco and I guess -they must of been 40000 people there and I wisht you could of heard -them yell when my name was anounced to pitch. But Al I would not never -of went in there but for the crowd. My arm felt like a wet rag or some -thing and I knowed I would not have nothing and besides the people was -packed in a round the field and they had to have ground rules so when -a man hit a pop fly it went in to the crowd some wheres and was a 2 -bagger and all them giants could do against me was pop my fast ball up -in the air and then the wind took a hold of it and dropped it in to the -crowd the lucky stiffs. Doyle hit 3 of them pop ups in to the crowd -so when you see them 3 2 base hits oposit his name in the score you -will know they was not no real 2 base hits and the infielders would of -catched them had it not of been for the wind. This here Doyle takes a -awful wallop at a ball but if I was right and he swang at a ball the -way he done in San Francisco the catcher would all ready be throwing -me back the ball a bout the time this here Doyle was swinging at it. I -can make him look like a sucker and I done it both in Kansas city and -Bonham and if he will get up there and bat against me when I feel good -and when they is not no wind blowing I will bet him a $25.00 suit of -cloths that he cant foul 1 off of me. Well when Callahan seen how bad -my arm was he says I guess I should ought to take you out and not run -no chance of you getting killed in there and so I quit and Faber went -in to finnish it up because it dont make no diffrence if he hurts his -arm or dont. But I guess Mcgraw knowed my arm was sore to because he -did not try and kid me like he done that day in Chi because he has saw -enough of me since then to know I can make his club look rotten when -I am O.K. and my arm is good. On the train that night he come up and -says to me Well Jack we catched you off your strid to-day or you would -of gave us a beating and then he says What your arm needs is more work -and you should ought to make the hole trip with us and then you would -be in fine shape for next year but I says You cant get me to make no -trip so you might is well not do no more talking a bout it and then he -says Well I am sorry and the girls over to Paris will be sorry to but I -guess he was just jokeing a bout the last part of it.</p> - -<p>Well Al we go to 1 more town in Organ and then to Washington but of -coarse it is not the same Washington we play at in the summer but this -is the state Washington and have not got no big league club and the -boys gets there boat in 4 more days and I will quit them and then I -will come strate back to Chi and from there to Bedford.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Portland, Organ, Nov. 17.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Friend Al:</span> I have just wrote a long letter to Florrie but I -feel like as if I should ought to write to you because I wont have no -more chance for a long while that is I wont have no more chance to male -a letter because I will be on the pacific Ocean and un less we should -run passed a boat that was comeing the other way they would not be no -chance of getting no letter maled. Old pal I am going to make the hole -trip clear a round the world and back and so I wont see you this winter -after all but when I do see you Al I will have a lot to tell you a bout -my trip and besides I will write you a letter a bout it from every -place we head in at.</p> - -<p>I guess you will be surprised a bout me changeing my mind and makeing -the hole trip but they was not no way for me to get out of it and I -will tell you how it all come off. While we was still in that there -Medford yesterday Mcgraw and Callahan come up to me and says was they -not no chance of me changeing my mind a bout makeing the hole trip. -I says No they was not. Then Callahan says Well I dont know what we -are going to do then and I says Why and he says Comiskey just got a -letter from president Wilson the President of the united states and in -the letter president Wilson says he had got an other letter from the -king of Japan who says that they would not stand for the White Sox and -giants comeing to Japan un less they brought all there stars a long -and president Wilson says they would have to take there stars a long -because he was a scared if they did not take there stars a long Japan -would get mad at the united states and start a war and then where -would we be at. So Comiskey wired a telegram to president Wilson and -says Mathewson could not make the trip because he was so old but would -everything be all O.K. if I was to go a long and president Wilson wired -a telegram back and says Yes he had been talking to the priest from -Japan and he says Yes it would be all O.K. I asked them would they show -me the letter from president Wilson because I thought may be they might -be kiding me and they says they could not show me no letter because -when Comiskey got the letter he got so mad that he tore it up. Well -Al I finely says I did not want to brake up there trip but I knowed -Florrie would not stand for letting me go so Callahan says All right I -will wire a telegram to a friend of mine in Chi and have him get a hold -of Allen and send him out here and we will take him a long and I says -It is to late for Allen to get here in time and Mcgraw says No they was -a train that only took 2 days from Chi to where ever it was the boat is -going to sale from because the train come a round threw canada and it -was down hill all the way. Then I says Well if you will wire a telegram -to my wife and fix things up with her I will go a long with you but if -she is going to make a holler it is all off. So we all 3 went to the -telegram office to gether and we wired Florrie a telegram that must of -cost $2.00 but Callahan and Mcgraw payed for it out of there own pocket -and then we waited a round a long time and the anser come back and the -anser was longer than the telegram we wired and it says it would not -make no diffrence to her but she did not know if the baby would make a -holler but he was hollering most of the time any way so that would not -make no diffrence but if she let me go it was on condishon that her -and the Allens could get a flat to gether and stay in Chi all winter -and not go to no Bedford and hire a nurse to take care of the baby and -if I would send her a check for the money I had in the bank so as she -could put it in her name and draw it out when she need it. Well I says -at 1st I would not stand for nothing like that but Callahan and Mcgraw -showed me where I was makeing a mistake not going when I could see all -them diffrent countrys and tell Florrie all a bout the trip when I come -back and then in a year or 2 when the baby was a little older I could -make an other trip and take little Al and Florrie a long so I finely -says O.K. I would go and we wires still an other telegram to Florrie -and told her O.K. and then I set down and wrote her a check for ½ the -money I got in the bank and I got $500.00 all together there so I wrote -the check for ½ of that or $250.00 and maled it to her and if she -cant get a long on that she would be a awfull spendrift because I am -not only going to be a way untill March. You should ought to of heard -the boys cheer when Callahan tells them I am going to make the hole -trip but when he tells them I am going to pitch for the giants and not -for the White Sox I bet Crawford and Speaker and them wisht I was going -to stay to home but it is just like Callahan says if they bat against -me all winter the pitchers they bat against next season will look easy -to them and you wont be supprised Al if Crawford and Speaker hits a -bout 500 next year and if they hit good you will know why it is. Steve -Evans asked me was I all fixed up with cloths and I says No but I was -going out and buy some cloths includeing a full dress suit of evening -cloths and he says You dont need no full dress suit of evening cloths -because you look funny enough with out them. This Evans is a great -kidder Al and no body never gets sore at the stuff he pulls some thing -like Kid Gleason. I wisht Kid Gleason was going on the trip Al but I -will tell him all a bout it when I come back.</p> - -<p>Well Al old pal I wisht you was going a long to and I bet we could have -the time of our life but I will write to you right a long Al and I will -send Bertha some post cards from the diffrent places we head in at. -I will try and write you a letter on the boat and male it as soon as -we get to the 1st station which is either Japan or Yokohama I forgot -which. Good by Al and say good by to Bertha for me and tell her how -sorry I and Florrie is that we cant come to Bedford this winter but we -will spend all the rest of the winters there and her and Florrie will -have a plenty of time to get acquainted. Good by old pal.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Seattle, Wash., Nov. 18.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Al:</span> Well Al it is all off and I am not going on no trip a -round the world and back and I been looking for Callahan or Mcgraw for -the last ½ hour to tell them I have changed my mind and am not going -to make no trip because it would not be fare to Florrie and besides -that I think I should ought to stay home and take care of little Al -and not leave him to be tooken care of by no train nurse because how -do I know what would she do to him and I am not going to tell Florrie -nothing a bout it but I am going to take the train to-morrow night -right back to Chi and supprise her when I get there and I bet both her -and little Al will be tickled to death to see me. I supose Mcgraw and -Callahan will be sore at me for a while but when I tell them I want to -do the right thing and not give my famly no raw deal I guess they will -see where I am right.</p> - -<p>We was to play 2 games here and was to play 1 of them in Tacoma and -the other here but it rained and so we did not play neither 1 and the -people was pretty mad a bout it because I was announced to pitch and -they figured probily this would be there only chance to see me in axion -and they made a awful holler but Comiskey says No they would not be -no game because the field neither here or in Tacoma was in no shape -for a game and he would not take no chance of me pitching and may be -slipping in the mud and straneing myself and then where would the White -Sox be at next season. So we been laying a round all the P.M. and I and -Dutch Schaefer had a long talk to gether while some of the rest of the -boys was out buying some cloths to take on the trip and Al I bought a -full dress suit of evening cloths at Portland yesterday and now I owe -Callahan the money for them and am not going on no trip so probily I -wont never get to ware them and it is just $45.00 throwed a way but I -would rather throw $45.00 a way then go on a trip a round the world and -leave my famly all winter.</p> - -<p>Well Al I and Schaefer was talking to gether and he says Well may be -this is the last time we will ever see the good old US and I says What -do you mean and he says People that gos acrost the pacific Ocean most -generally all ways has there ship recked and then they is not no more -never heard from them. Then he asked me was I a good swimmer and I -says Yes I had swam a good deal in the river and he says Yes you have -swam in the river but that is not nothing like swimming in the pacific -Ocean because when you swim in the pacific Ocean you cant move your -feet because if you move your feet the sharks comes up to the top of -the water and bites at them and even if they did not bite your feet -clean off there bite is poison and gives you the hiderofobeya and when -you get that you start barking like a dog and the water runs in to your -mouth and chokes you to death. Then he says Of coarse if you can swim -with out useing your feet you are all O.K. but they is very few can -do that and especially in the pacific Ocean because they got to keep -useing there hands all the time to scare the sord fish a way so when -you dont dare use your feet and your hands is busy you got nothing left -to swim with but your stumach mussles. Then he says You should ought -to get a long all O.K. because your stumach mussles should ought to -be strong from the exercise they get so I guess they is not no danger -from a man like you but men like Wiltse and Mike Donlin that is not hog -fat like you has not got no chance. Then he says Of coarse they have -been times when the boats got acrost all O.K. and only a few lives lost -but it dont offten happen and the time the old Minneapolis club made -the trip the boat went down and the only thing that was saved was the -catchers protector that was full of air and could not do nothing else -but flote. Then he says May be you would flote to if you did not say -nothing for a few days.</p> - -<p>I asked him how far would a man got to swim if some thing went wrong -with the boat and he says O not far because they is a hole lot of -ilands a long the way that a man could swim to but it would not do a -man no good to swim to these here ilands because they dont have nothing -to eat on them and a man would probily starve to death un less he -happened to swim to the sandwich ilands. Then he says But by the time -you been out on the pacific Ocean a few months you wont care if you get -any thing to eat or not. I says Why not and he says the pacific Ocean -is so ruff that not nothing can set still not even the stuff you eat. -I asked him how long did it take to make the trip acrost if they was -not no ship reck and he says they should ought to get acrost a long in -febuery if the weather was good. I says Well if we dont get there until -febuery we wont have no time to train for next season and he says You -wont need to do no training because this trip will take all the weight -off of you and every thing else you got. Then he says But you should -not ought to be scared of getting sea sick because they is 1 way you -can get a way from it and that is to not eat nothing at all while you -are on the boat and they tell me you dont eat hardly nothing any way so -you wont miss it. Then he says Of coarse if we should have good luck -and not get in to no ship reck and not get shot by 1 of them war ships -we will have a grate time when we get acrost because all the girls -in europe and them places is nuts over ball players and especially -stars. I asked what did he mean saying we might get shot by 1 of them -war ships and he says we would have to pass by Swittserland and the -Swittserland war ships was all the time shooting all over the ocean and -of coarse they was not trying to hit no body but they was as wild as -most of them left handers and how could you tell what was they going to -do next.</p> - -<p>Well Al after I got threw talking to Schaefer I run in to Jack Sheridan -the umpire and I says I did not think I would go on no trip and I -told him some of the things Schaefer was telling me and Sheridan says -Schaefer was kidding me and they was not no danger at all and of coarse -Al I did not believe ½ of what Schaefer was telling me and that has -not got nothing to do with me changeing my mind but I don't think it -is not hardly fare for me to go a way on a trip like that and leave -Florrie and the baby and suppose some of them things really did happen -like Schaefer said though of coarse he was kidding me but if 1 of them -was to happen they would not be no body left to take care of Florrie -and little Al and I got a $1000.00 insurence policy but how do I know -after I am dead if the insurence co. comes acrost and gives my famly -the money.</p> - -<p>Well Al I will male this letter and then try again and find Mcgraw and -Callahan and then I will look up a time table and see what train can -I get to Chi. I dont know yet when I will be in Bedford and may be -Florrie has hired a flat all ready but the Allens can live in it by -them self and if Allen says any thing a bout I paying for ½ of the -rent I will bust his jaw.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 60%;"><i>Victoria, Can., Nov. 19.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dear Old Al:</span> Well old pal the boat gos to-night I am going a -long and I would not be takeing no time to write this letter only I -wrote to you yesterday and says I was not going and you probily would -be expecting to see me blow in to Bedford in a few days and besides -Al I got a hole lot of things to ask you to do for me if any thing -happens and I want to tell you how it come a bout that I changed my -mind and am going on the trip. I am glad now that I did not write -Florrie no letter yesterday and tell her I was not going because now I -would have to write her an other letter and tell her I was going and -she would be expecting to see me the day after she got the 1st letter -and in stead of seeing me she would get this 2nd. letter and not me -at all. I have all ready wrote her a good by letter to-day though -and while I was writeing it Al I all most broke down and cried and -espesially when I thought a bout leaveing little Al so long and may be -when I see him again he wont be no baby no more or may be some thing -will of happened to him or that train nurse did some thing to him or -may be I wont never see him again no more because it is pretty near a -cinch that some thing will either happen to I or him. I would give all -most any thing I got Al to be back in Chi with little Al and Florrie -and I wisht she had not of never wired that telegram telling me I could -make the trip and if some thing happens to me think how she will feel -when ever she thinks a bout wireing me that telegram and she will feel -all most like as if she was a murder.</p> - -<p>Well Al after I had wrote you that letter yesterday I found Callahan -and Mcgraw and I tell them I have changed my mind and am not going on -no trip. Callahan says Whats the matter and I says I dont think it -would be fare to my wife and baby and Callahan says Your wife says it -would be all O.K. because I seen the telegram my self. I says Yes but -she dont know how dangerus the trip is and he says Whos been kiding you -and I says They has not no body been kiding me. I says Dutch Schaefer -told me a hole lot of stuff but I did not believe none of it and that -has not got nothing to do with it. I says I am not a scared of nothing -but supose some thing should happen and then where would my wife and -my baby be at. Then Callahan says Schaefer has been giveing you a lot -of hot air and they is not no more danger on this trip then they is in -bed. You been in a hole lot more danger when you was pitching some of -them days when you had a sore arm and you would be takeing more chances -of getting killed in Chi by 1 of them taxi cabs or the dog catcher -then on the Ocean. This here boat we are going on is the Umpires of -Japan and it has went acrost the Ocean a million times with out nothing -happening and they could not nothing happen to a boat that the N.Y. -giants was rideing on because they is to lucky. Then I says Well I -have made up my mind to not go on no trip and he says All right then -I guess we might is well call the trip off and I says Why and he says -You know what president Wilson says a bout Japan and they wont stand -for us comeing over there with out you a long and then Mcgraw says Yes -it looks like as if the trip was off because we dont want to take no -chance of starting no war between Japan and the united states. Then -Callahan says You will be in fine with Comiskey if he has to call the -trip off because you are a scared of getting hit by a fish. Well Al we -talked and argude for a hour or a hour and ½ and some of the rest -of the boys come a round and took Callahan and Mcgraw side and finely -Callahan says it looked like as if they would have to posepone the trip -a few days un till he could get a hold of Allen or some body and get -them to take my place so finely I says I would go because I would not -want to brake up no trip after they had made all there plans and some -of the players wifes was all ready to go and would be dissapointed if -they was not no trip. So Mcgraw and Callahan says Thats the way to talk -and so I am going Al and we are leaveing to-night and may be this is -the last letter you will ever get from me but if they does not nothing -happen Al I will write to you a lot of letters and tell you all a bout -the trip but you must not be looking for no more letters for a while -untill we get to Japan where I can male a letter and may be its likely -as not we wont never get to Japan.</p> - -<p>Here is the things I want to ask you to try and do Al and I am not -asking you to do nothing if we get threw the trip all right but if some -thing happens and I should be drowned here is what I am asking you to -do for me and that is to see that the insurence co. dont skin Florrie -out of that $1000.00 policy and see that she all so gets that other -$250.00 out of the bank and find her some place down in Bedford to -live if she is willing to live down there because she can live there -a hole lot cheaper then she can live in Chi and besides I know Bertha -would treat her right and help her out all she could. All so Al I want -you and Bertha to help take care of little Al untill he grows up big -enough to take care of him self and if he looks like as if he was going -to be left handed dont let him Al but make him use his right hand for -every thing. Well Al they is 1 good thing and that is if I get drowned -Florrie wont have to buy no lot in no cemetary and hire no herse.</p> - -<p>Well Al old pal you all ways been a good friend of mine and I all ways -tried to be a good friend of yourn and if they was ever any thing I -done to you that was not O.K. remember by gones is by gones. I want you -to all ways think of me as your best old pal. Good by old pal.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Your old pal, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>P.S. Al if they should not nothing happen and if we was to get acrost -the Ocean all O.K. I am going to ask Mcgraw to let me work the 1st game -against the White Sox in Japan because I should certainly ought to be -right after giveing my arm a rest and not doing nothing at all on the -trip acrost and I bet if Mcgraw lets me work Crawford and Speaker will -wisht the boat had of sank. You know me Al.</p> - -<div class="transnote"> -<h4>Transcribers Note:</h4> -<p class="center"> -Original spelling and grammar has been retained.<br /> - -<small>G.M.</small></p> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of You Know Me Al, by Ring W. Lardner - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOU KNOW ME AL *** - -***** This file should be named 52670-h.htm or 52670-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/6/7/52670/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/52670-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/52670-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9d86fa0..0000000 --- a/old/52670-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/52670.txt b/old/52670.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4cfa5d6..0000000 --- a/old/52670.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5772 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of You Know Me Al, by Ring W. Lardner - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: You Know Me Al - A Busher's Letters - -Author: Ring W. Lardner - -Release Date: July 29, 2016 [EBook #52670] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOU KNOW ME AL *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - YOU KNOW ME AL - - RING W. LARDNER - - - - - YOU KNOW ME - AL - - _A Busher's Letters_ - - BY - - RING W. LARDNER - - [Illustration] - - NEW YORK - GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - - - - Copyright, 1916, - BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY - - - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I A BUSHER'S LETTERS HOME 9 - - II THE BUSHER COMES BACK 45 - - III THE BUSHER'S HONEYMOON 83 - - IV A NEW BUSHER BREAKS IN 122 - - V THE BUSHER'S KID 166 - - VI THE BUSHER BEATS IT HENCE 208 - - - - -YOU KNOW ME AL - - - - -YOU KNOW ME AL - - - - -CHAPTER I - -A BUSHER'S LETTERS HOME - - - _Terre Haute, Indiana, September 6._ - -FRIEND AL: Well, Al old pal I suppose you seen in the paper where I -been sold to the White Sox. Believe me Al it comes as a surprise to -me and I bet it did to all you good old pals down home. You could of -knocked me over with a feather when the old man come up to me and says -Jack I've sold you to the Chicago Americans. - -I didn't have no idea that anything like that was coming off. For five -minutes I was just dum and couldn't say a word. - -He says We aren't getting what you are worth but I want you to go up to -that big league and show those birds that there is a Central League -on the map. He says Go and pitch the ball you been pitching down here -and there won't be nothing to it. He says All you need is the nerve and -Walsh or no one else won't have nothing on you. - -So I says I would do the best I could and I thanked him for the -treatment I got in Terre Haute. They always was good to me here -and though I did more than my share I always felt that my work was -appresiated. We are finishing second and I done most of it. I can't -help but be proud of my first year's record in professional baseball -and you know I am not boasting when I say that Al. - -Well Al it will seem funny to be up there in the big show when I never -was really in a big city before. But I guess I seen enough of life not -to be scared of the high buildings eh Al? - -I will just give them what I got and if they don't like it they can -send me back to the old Central and I will be perfectly satisfied. - -I didn't know anybody was looking me over, but one of the boys told me -that Jack Doyle the White Sox scout was down here looking at me when -Grand Rapids was here. I beat them twice in that serious. You know -Grand Rapids never had a chance with me when I was right. I shut them -out in the first game and they got one run in the second on account of -Flynn misjuging that fly ball. Anyway Doyle liked my work and he wired -Comiskey to buy me. Comiskey come back with an offer and they excepted -it. I don't know how much they got but anyway I am sold to the big -league and believe me Al I will make good. - -Well Al I will be home in a few days and we will have some of the good -old times. Regards to all the boys and tell them I am still their pal -and not all swelled up over this big league business. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, December 14._ - -Old Pal: Well Al I have not got much to tell you. As you know Comiskey -wrote me that if I was up in Chi this month to drop in and see him. So -I got here Thursday morning and went to his office in the afternoon. -His office is out to the ball park and believe me its some park and -some office. - -I went in and asked for Comiskey and a young fellow says He is not here -now but can I do anything for you? I told him who I am and says I had -an engagement to see Comiskey. He says The boss is out of town hunting -and did I have to see him personally? - -I says I wanted to see about signing a contract. He told me I could -sign as well with him as Comiskey and he took me into another office. -He says What salary did you think you ought to get? and I says I -wouldn't think of playing ball in the big league for less than three -thousand dollars per annum. He laughed and says You don't want much. -You better stick round town till the boss comes back. So here I am and -it is costing me a dollar a day to stay at the hotel on Cottage Grove -Avenue and that don't include my meals. - -I generally eat at some of the cafes round the hotel but I had supper -downtown last night and it cost me fifty-five cents. If Comiskey don't -come back soon I won't have no more money left. - -Speaking of money I won't sign no contract unless I get the salary you -and I talked of, three thousand dollars. You know what I was getting in -Terre Haute, a hundred and fifty a month, and I know it's going to cost -me a lot more to live here. I made inquiries round here and find I can -get board and room for eight dollars a week but I will be out of town -half the time and will have to pay for my room when I am away or look -up a new one when I come back. Then I will have to buy cloths to wear -on the road in places like New York. When Comiskey comes back I will -name him three thousand dollars as my lowest figure and I guess he -will come through when he sees I am in ernest. I heard that Walsh was -getting twice as much as that. - -The papers says Comiskey will be back here sometime to-morrow. He -has been hunting with the president of the league so he ought to -feel pretty good. But I don't care how he feels. I am going to get a -contract for three thousand and if he don't want to give it to me he -can do the other thing. You know me Al. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, December 16._ - -DEAR FRIEND AL: Well I will be home in a couple of days now but I -wanted to write you and let you know how I come out with Comiskey. I -signed my contract yesterday afternoon. He is a great old fellow Al -and no wonder everybody likes him. He says Young man will you have -a drink? But I was to smart and wouldn't take nothing. He says You -was with Terre Haute? I says Yes I was. He says Doyle tells me you -were pretty wild. I says Oh no I got good control. He says Well do -you want to sign? I says Yes if I get my figure. He asks What is my -figure and I says three thousand dollars per annum. He says Don't you -want the office furniture too? Then he says I thought you was a young -ball-player and I didn't know you wanted to buy my park. - -We kidded each other back and forth like that a while and then he says -You better go out and get the air and come back when you feel better. -I says I feel O.K. now and I want to sign a contract because I have -got to get back to Bedford. Then he calls the secretary and tells him -to make out my contract. He give it to me and it calls for two hundred -and fifty a month. He says You know we always have a city serious here -in the fall where a fellow picks up a good bunch of money. I hadn't -thought of that so I signed up. My yearly salary will be fifteen -hundred dollars besides what the city serious brings me. And that is -only for the first year. I will demand three thousand or four thousand -dollars next year. - -I would of started home on the evening train but I ordered a suit of -cloths from a tailor over on Cottage Grove and it won't be done till -to-morrow. It's going to cost me twenty bucks but it ought to last a -long time. Regards to Frank and the bunch. - - Your Pal, JACK. - - - _Paso Robles, California, March 2._ - -OLD PAL AL: Well Al we been in this little berg now a couple of days -and its bright and warm all the time just like June. Seems funny to -have it so warm this early in March but I guess this California climate -is all they said about it and then some. - -It would take me a week to tell you about our trip out here. We came on -a Special Train De Lukes and it was some train. Every place we stopped -there was crowds down to the station to see us go through and all the -people looked me over like I was a actor or something. I guess my hight -and shoulders attracted their attention. Well Al we finally got to -Oakland which is across part of the ocean from Frisco. We will be back -there later on for practice games. - -We stayed in Oakland a few hours and then took a train for here. It -was another night in a sleeper and believe me I was tired of sleepers -before we got here. I have road one night at a time but this was four -straight nights. You know Al I am not built right for a sleeping car -birth. - -The hotel here is a great big place and got good eats. We got in at -breakfast time and I made a B line for the dining room. Kid Gleason -who is a kind of asst. manager to Callahan come in and sat down with -me. He says Leave something for the rest of the boys because they will -be just as hungry as you. He says Ain't you afraid you will cut your -throat with that knife. He says There ain't no extra charge for using -the forks. He says You shouldn't ought to eat so much because you're -overweight now. I says You may think I am fat, but it's all solid bone -and muscle. He says Yes I suppose it's all solid bone from the neck -up. I guess he thought I would get sore but I will let them kid me now -because they will take off their hats to me when they see me work. - -Manager Callahan called us all to his room after breakfast and give us -a lecture. He says there would be no work for us the first day but that -we must all take a long walk over the hills. He also says we must not -take the training trip as a joke. Then the colored trainer give us our -suits and I went to my room and tried mine on. I ain't a bad looking -guy in the White Sox uniform Al. I will have my picture taken and send -you boys some. - -My roommate is Allen a lefthander from the Coast League. He don't -look nothing like a pitcher but you can't never tell about them dam -left handers. Well I didn't go on the long walk because I was tired -out. Walsh stayed at the hotel too and when he seen me he says Why -didn't you go with the bunch? I says I was too tired. He says Well when -Callahan comes back you better keep out of sight or tell him you are -sick. I says I don't care nothing for Callahan. He says No but Callahan -is crazy about you. He says You better obey orders and you will git -along better. I guess Walsh thinks I am some rube. - -When the bunch come back Callahan never said a word to me but Gleason -come up and says Where was you? I told him I was too tired to go -walking. He says Well I will borrow a wheelbarrow some place and push -you round. He says Do you sit down when you pitch? I let him kid me -because he has not saw my stuff yet. - -Next morning half the bunch mostly vetrans went to the ball park which -isn't no better than the one we got at home. Most of them was vetrans -as I say but I was in the bunch. That makes things look pretty good -for me don't it Al? We tossed the ball round and hit fungos and run -round and then Callahan asks Scott and Russell and I to warm up easy -and pitch a few to the batters. It was warm and I felt pretty good so -I warmed up pretty good. Scott pitched to them first and kept laying -them right over with nothing on them. I don't believe a man gets any -batting practice that way. So I went in and after I lobbed a few over -I cut loose my fast one. Lord was to bat and he ducked out of the way -and then throwed his bat to the bench. Callahan says What's the matter -Harry? Lord says I forgot to pay up my life insurance. He says I ain't -ready for Walter Johnson's July stuff. - -Well Al I will make them think I am Walter Johnson before I get through -with them. But Callahan come out to me and says What are you trying to -do kill somebody? He says Save your smoke because you're going to need -it later on. He says Go easy with the boys at first or I won't have -no batters. But he was laughing and I guess he was pleased to see the -stuff I had. - -There is a dance in the hotel to-night and I am up in my room writing -this in my underwear while I get my suit pressed. I got it all mussed -up coming out here. I don't know what shoes to wear. I asked Gleason -and he says Wear your baseball shoes and if any of the girls gets fresh -with you spike them. I guess he was kidding me. - -Write and tell me all the news about home. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Paso Robles, California, March 7._ - -FRIEND AL: I showed them something out there to-day Al. We had a game -between two teams. One team was made up of most of the regulars and -the other was made up of recruts. I pitched three innings for the -recruts and shut the old birds out. I held them to one hit and that was -a ground ball that the recrut shortstop Johnson ought to of ate up. -I struck Collins out and he is one of the best batters in the bunch. -I used my fast ball most of the while but showed them a few spitters -and they missed them a foot. I guess I must of got Walsh's goat with -my spitter because him and I walked back to the hotel together and he -talked like he was kind of jealous. He says You will have to learn to -cover up your spitter. He says I could stand a mile away and tell when -you was going to throw it. He says Some of these days I will learn you -how to cover it up. I guess Al I know how to cover it up all right -without Walsh learning me. - -I always sit at the same table in the dining room along with Gleason -and Collins and Bodie and Fournier and Allen the young lefthander I -told you about. I feel sorry for him because he never says a word. -To-night at supper Bodie says How did I look to-day Kid? Gleason -says Just like you always do in the spring. You looked like a cow. -Gleason seems to have the whole bunch scared of him and they let him -say anything he wants to. I let him kid me to but I ain't scared of -him. Collins then says to me You got some fast ball there boy. I says -I was not as fast to-day as I am when I am right. He says Well then I -don't want to hit against you when you are right. Then Gleason says to -Collins Cut that stuff out. Then he says to me Don't believe what he -tells you boy. If the pitchers in this league weren't no faster than -you I would still be playing ball and I would be the best hitter in the -country. - -After supper Gleason went out on the porch with me. He says Boy you -have got a little stuff but you have got a lot to learn. He says You -field your position like a wash woman and you don't hold the runners -up. He says When Chase was on second base to-day he got such a lead -on you that the little catcher couldn't of shot him out at third with -a rifle. I says They all thought I fielded my position all right in -the Central League. He says Well if you think you do it all right you -better go back to the Central League where you are appresiated. I says -You can't send me back there because you could not get waivers. He -says Who would claim you? I says St. Louis and Boston and New York. - -You know Al what Smith told me this winter. Gleason says Well if you're -not willing to learn St. Louis and Boston and New York can have you and -the first time you pitch against us we will steal fifty bases. Then he -quit kidding and asked me to go to the field with him early to-morrow -morning and he would learn me some things. I don't think he can learn -me nothing but I promised I would go with him. - -There is a little blonde kid in the hotel here who took a shine to me -at the dance the other night but I am going to leave the skirts alone. -She is real society and a swell dresser and she wants my picture. -Regards to all the boys. - - Your friend, JACK. - -P.S. The boys thought they would be smart to-night and put something -over on me. A boy brought me a telegram and I opened it and it said You -are sold to Jackson in the Cotton States League. For just a minute they -had me going but then I happened to think that Jackson is in Michigan -and there's no Cotton States League round there. - - - _Paso Robles, California, March 9._ - -DEAR FRIEND AL: You have no doubt read the good news in the papers -before this reaches you. I have been picked to go to Frisco with the -first team. We play practice games up there about two weeks while the -second club plays in Los Angeles. Poor Allen had to go with the second -club. There's two other recrut pitchers with our part of the team -but my name was first on the list so it looks like I had made good. -I knowed they would like my stuff when they seen it. We leave here -to-night. You got the first team's address so you will know where to -send my mail. Callahan goes with us and Gleason goes with the second -club. Him and I have got to be pretty good pals and I wish he was going -with us even if he don't let me eat like I want to. He told me this -morning to remember all he had learned me and to keep working hard. He -didn't learn me nothing I didn't know before but I let him think so. - -The little blonde don't like to see me leave here. She lives in Detroit -and I may see her when I go there. She wants me to write but I guess I -better not give her no encouragement. - -Well Al I will write you a long letter from Frisco. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Oakland, California, March 19._ - -DEAR OLD PAL: They have gave me plenty of work here all right. I have -pitched four times but have not went over five innings yet. I worked -against Oakland two times and against Frisco two times and only three -runs have been scored off me. They should only ought to of had one but -Bodie misjuged a easy fly ball in Frisco and Weaver made a wild peg in -Oakland that let in a run. I am not using much but my fast ball but I -have got a world of speed and they can't foul me when I am right. I -whiffed eight men in five innings in Frisco yesterday and could of did -better than that if I had of cut loose. - -Manager Callahan is a funny guy and I don't understand him sometimes. -I can't figure out if he is kidding or in ernest. We road back to -Oakland on the ferry together after yesterday's game and he says Don't -you never throw a slow ball? I says I don't need no slow ball with my -spitter and my fast one. He says No of course you don't need it but if -I was you I would get one of the boys to learn it to me. He says And -you better watch the way the boys fields their positions and holds up -the runners. He says To see you work a man might think they had a rule -in the Central League forbidding a pitcher from leaving the box or -looking toward first base. - -I told him the Central didn't have no rule like that. He says And I -noticed you taking your wind up when What's His Name was on second base -there to-day. I says Yes I got more stuff when I wind up. He says Of -course you have but if you wind up like that with Cobb on base he will -steal your watch and chain. I says Maybe Cobb can't get on base when I -work against him. He says That's right and maybe San Francisco Bay is -made of grapejuice. Then he walks away from me. - -He give one of the youngsters a awful bawling out for something he done -in the game at supper last night. If he ever talks to me like he done -to him I will take a punch at him. You know me Al. - -I come over to Frisco last night with some of the boys and we took in -the sights. Frisco is some live town Al. We went all through China -Town and the Barbers' Coast. Seen lots of swell dames but they was all -painted up. They have beer out here that they call steam beer. I had -a few glasses of it and it made me logey. A glass of that Terre Haute -beer would go pretty good right now. - -We leave here for Los Angeles in a few days and I will write you from -there. This is some country Al and I would love to play ball round here. - - Your Pal, JACK. - -P.S.--I got a letter from the little blonde and I suppose I got to -answer it. - - - _Los Angeles, California, March 26._ - -FRIEND AL: Only four more days of sunny California and then we start -back East. We got exhibition games in Yuma and El Paso, Texas, and -Oklahoma City and then we stop over in St. Joe, Missouri, for three -days before we go home. You know Al we open the season in Cleveland and -we won't be in Chi no more than just passing through. We don't play -there till April eighteenth and I guess I will work in that serious all -right against Detroit. Then I will be glad to have you and the boys -come up and watch me as you suggested in your last letter. - -I got another letter from the little blonde. She has went back to -Detroit but she give me her address and telephone number and believe -me Al I am going to look her up when we get there the twenty-ninth of -April. - -She is a stenographer and was out here with her uncle and aunt. - -I had a run in with Kelly last night and it looked like I would have -to take a wallop at him but the other boys seperated us. He is a bush -outfielder from the New England League. We was playing poker. You know -the boys plays poker a good deal but this was the first time I got in. -I was having pretty good luck and was about four bucks to the good and -I was thinking of quitting because I was tired and sleepy. Then Kelly -opened the pot for fifty cents and I stayed. I had three sevens. No one -else stayed. Kelly stood pat and I drawed two cards. And I catched my -fourth seven. He bet fifty cents but I felt pretty safe even if he did -have a pat hand. So I called him. I took the money and told them I was -through. - -Lord and some of the boys laughed but Kelly got nasty and begun to pan -me for quitting and for the way I played. I says Well I won the pot -didn't I? He says Yes and he called me something. I says I got a notion -to take a punch at you. - -He says Oh you have have you? And I come back at him. I says Yes I have -have I? I would of busted his jaw if they hadn't stopped me. You know -me Al. - -I worked here two times once against Los Angeles and once against -Venice. I went the full nine innings both times and Venice beat me four -to two. I could of beat them easy with any kind of support. I walked a -couple of guys in the forth and Chase drops a throw and Collins lets a -fly ball get away from him. At that I would of shut them out if I had -wanted to cut loose. After the game Callahan says You didn't look so -good in there to-day. I says I didn't cut loose. He says Well you been -working pretty near three weeks now and you ought to be in shape to cut -loose. I says Oh I am in shape all right. He says Well don't work no -harder than you have to or you might get hurt and then the league would -blow up. I don't know if he was kidding me or not but I guess he thinks -pretty well of me because he works me lots oftener than Walsh or Scott -or Benz. - -I will try to write you from Yuma, Texas, but we don't stay there only -a day and I may not have time for a long letter. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Yuma, Arizona, April 1._ - -DEAR OLD AL: Just a line to let you know we are on our way back East. -This place is in Arizona and it sure is sandy. They haven't got no -regular ball club here and we play a pick-up team this afternoon. -Callahan told me I would have to work. He says I am using you because -we want to get through early and I know you can beat them quick. That -is the first time he has said anything like that and I guess he is -wiseing up that I got the goods. - -We was talking about the Athaletics this morning and Callahan says None -of you fellows pitch right to Baker. I was talking to Lord and Scott -afterward and I say to Scott How do you pitch to Baker? He says I use -my fadeaway. I says How do you throw it? He says Just like you throw a -fast ball to anybody else. I says Why do you call it a fadeaway then? -He says Because when I throw it to Baker it fades away over the fence. - -This place is full of Indians and I wish you could see them Al. They -don't look nothing like the Indians we seen in that show last summer. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Oklahoma City, April 4._ - -FRIEND AL: Coming out of Amarillo last night I and Lord and Weaver was -sitting at a table in the dining car with a old lady. None of us were -talking to her but she looked me over pretty careful and seemed to -kind of like my looks. Finally she says Are you boys with some football -club? Lord nor Weaver didn't say nothing so I thought it was up to me -and I says No mam this is the Chicago White Sox Ball Club. She says -I knew you were athaletes. I says Yes I guess you could spot us for -athaletes. She says Yes indeed and specially you. You certainly look -healthy. I says You ought to see me stripped. I didn't see nothing -funny about that but I thought Lord and Weaver would die laughing. Lord -had to get up and leave the table and he told everybody what I said. - -All the boys wanted me to play poker on the way here but I told them I -didn't feel good. I know enough to quit when I am ahead Al. Callahan -and I sat down to breakfast all alone this morning. He says Boy why -don't you get to work? I says What do you mean? Ain't I working? He -says You ain't improving none. You have got the stuff to make a good -pitcher but you don't go after bunts and you don't cover first base and -you don't watch the baserunners. He made me kind of sore talking that -way and I says Oh I guess I can get along all right. - -He says Well I am going to put it up to you. I am going to start -you over in St. Joe day after to-morrow and I want you to show me -something. I want you to cut loose with all you've got and I want you -to get round the infield a little and show them you aren't tied in that -box. I says Oh I can field my position if I want to. He says Well you -better want to or I will have to ship you back to the sticks. Then he -got up and left. He didn't scare me none Al. They won't ship me to no -sticks after the way I showed on this trip and even if they did they -couldn't get no waivers on me. - -Some of the boys have begun to call me Four Sevens but it don't bother -me none. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _St. Joe, Missouri, April 7._ - -FRIEND AL: It rained yesterday so I worked to-day instead and St. Joe -done well to get three hits. They couldn't of scored if we had played -all week. I give a couple of passes but I catched a guy flatfooted off -of first base and I come up with a couple of bunts and throwed guys -out. When the game was over Callahan says That's the way I like to see -you work. You looked better to-day than you looked on the whole trip. -Just once you wound up with a man on but otherwise you was all O.K. So -I guess my job is cinched Al and I won't have to go to New York or -St. Louis. I would rather be in Chi anyway because it is near home. I -wouldn't care though if they traded me to Detroit. I hear from Violet -right along and she says she can't hardly wait till I come to Detroit. -She says she is strong for the Tigers but she will pull for me when I -work against them. She is nuts over me and I guess she has saw lots of -guys to. - -I sent her a stickpin from Oklahoma City but I can't spend no more -dough on her till after our first payday the fifteenth of the month. I -had thirty bucks on me when I left home and I only got about ten left -including the five spot I won in the poker game. I have to tip the -waiters about thirty cents a day and I seen about twenty picture shows -on the coast besides getting my cloths pressed a couple of times. - -We leave here to-morrow night and arrive in Chi the next morning. The -second club joins us there and then that night we go to Cleveland to -open up. I asked one of the reporters if he knowed who was going to -pitch the opening game and he says it would be Scott or Walsh but I -guess he don't know much about it. - -These reporters travel all round the country with the team all season -and send in telegrams about the game every night. I ain't seen no Chi -papers so I don't know what they been saying about me. But I should -worry eh Al? Some of them are pretty nice fellows and some of them got -the swell head. They hang round with the old fellows and play poker -most of the time. - -Will write you from Cleveland. You will see in the paper if I pitch the -opening game. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Cleveland, Ohio, April 10._ - -OLD FRIEND AL: Well Al we are all set to open the season this -afternoon. I have just ate breakfast and I am sitting in the lobby of -the hotel. I eat at a little lunch counter about a block from here and -I saved seventy cents on breakfast. You see Al they give us a dollar a -meal and if we don't want to spend that much all right. Our rooms at -the hotel are paid for. - -The Cleveland papers says Walsh or Scott will work for us this -afternoon. I asked Callahan if there was any chance of me getting into -the first game and he says I hope not. I don't know what he meant but -he may surprise these reporters and let me pitch. I will beat them Al. -Lajoie and Jackson is supposed to be great batters but the bigger they -are the harder they fall. - -The second team joined us yesterday in Chi and we practiced a little. -Poor Allen was left in Chi last night with four others of the recrut -pitchers. Looks pretty good for me eh Al? I only seen Gleason for a few -minutes on the train last night. He says, Well you ain't took off much -weight. You're hog fat. I says Oh I ain't fat. I didn't need to take -off no weight. He says One good thing about it the club don't have to -engage no birth for you because you spend all your time in the dining -car. We kidded along like that a while and then the trainer rubbed my -arm and I went to bed. Well Al I just got time to have my suit pressed -before noon. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Cleveland, Ohio, April 11._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al I suppose you know by this time that I did not pitch -and that we got licked. Scott was in there and he didn't have nothing. -When they had us beat four to one in the eight inning Callahan told me -to go out and warm up and he put a batter in for Scott in our ninth. -But Cleveland didn't have to play their ninth so I got no chance to -work. But it looks like he means to start me in one of the games here. -We got three more to play. Maybe I will pitch this afternoon. I got -a postcard from Violet. She says Beat them Naps. I will give them a -battle Al if I get a chance. - -Glad to hear you boys have fixed it up to come to Chi during the -Detroit serious. I will ask Callahan when he is going to pitch me and -let you know. Thanks Al for the papers. - - Your friend, JACK. - - - _St. Louis, Missouri, April 15._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al I guess I showed them. I only worked one inning but -I guess them Browns is glad I wasn't in there no longer than that. They -had us beat seven to one in the sixth and Callahan pulls Benz out. I -honestly felt sorry for him but he didn't have nothing, not a thing. -They was hitting him so hard I thought they would score a hundred runs. -A righthander name Bumgardner was pitching for them and he didn't look -to have nothing either but we ain't got much of a batting team Al. I -could hit better than some of them regulars. Anyway Callahan called -Benz to the bench and sent for me. I was down in the corner warming up -with Kuhn. I wasn't warmed up good but you know I got the nerve Al and -I run right out there like I meant business. There was a man on second -and nobody out when I come in. I didn't know who was up there but I -found out afterward it was Shotten. He's the center-fielder. I was cold -and I walked him. Then I got warmed up good and I made Johnston look -like a boob. I give him three fast balls and he let two of them go by -and missed the other one. I would of handed him a spitter but Schalk -kept signing for fast ones and he knows more about them batters than -me. Anyway I whiffed Johnston. Then up come Williams and I tried to -make him hit at a couple of bad ones. I was in the hole with two balls -and nothing and come right across the heart with my fast one. I wish -you could of saw the hop on it. Williams hit it right straight up and -Lord was camped under it. Then up come Pratt the best hitter on their -club. You know what I done to him don't you Al? I give him one spitter -and another he didn't strike at that was a ball. Then I come back with -two fast ones and Mister Pratt was a dead baby. And you notice they -didn't steal no bases neither. - -In our half of the seventh inning Weaver and Schalk got on and I was -going up there with a stick when Callahan calls me back and sends -Easterly up. I don't know what kind of managing you call that. I hit -good on the training trip and he must of knew they had no chance to -score off me in the innings they had left while they were liable to -murder his other pitchers. I come back to the bench pretty hot and I -says You're making a mistake. He says If Comiskey had wanted you to -manage this team he would of hired you. - -Then Easterly pops out and I says Now I guess you're sorry you didn't -let me hit. That sent him right up in the air and he bawled me awful. -Honest Al I would of cracked him right in the jaw if we hadn't been -right out where everybody could of saw us. Well he sent Cicotte in to -finish and they didn't score no more and we didn't neither. - -I road down in the car with Gleason. He says Boy you shouldn't ought to -talk like that to Cal. Some day he will lose his temper and bust you -one. I says He won't never bust me. I says He didn't have no right to -talk like that to me. Gleason says I suppose you think he's going to -laugh and smile when we lost four out of the first five games. He says -Wait till to-night and then go up to him and let him know you are sorry -you sassed him. I says I didn't sass him and I ain't sorry. - -So after supper I seen Callahan sitting in the lobby and I went over -and sit down by him. I says When are you going to let me work? He -says I wouldn't never let you work only my pitchers are all shot to -pieces. Then I told him about you boys coming up from Bedford to watch -me during the Detroit serious and he says Well I will start you in -the second game against Detroit. He says But I wouldn't if I had any -pitchers. He says A girl could get out there and pitch better than some -of them have been doing. - -So you see Al I am going to pitch on the nineteenth. I hope you guys -can be up there and I will show you something. I know I can beat them -Tigers and I will have to do it even if they are Violet's team. - -I notice that New York and Boston got trimmed to-day so I suppose they -wish Comiskey would ask for waivers on me. No chance Al. - - Your old pal, JACK. - -P.S.--We play eleven games in Chi and then go to Detroit. So I will see -the little girl on the twenty-ninth. - -Oh you Violet. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, April 19._ - -DEAR OLD PAL: Well Al it's just as well you couldn't come. They beat me -and I am writing you this so as you will know the truth about the game -and not get a bum steer from what you read in the papers. - -I had a sore arm when I was warming up and Callahan should never ought -to of sent me in there. And Schalk kept signing for my fast ball and -I kept giving it to him because I thought he ought to know something -about the batters. Weaver and Lord and all of them kept kicking them -round the infield and Collins and Bodie couldn't catch nothing. - -Callahan ought never to of left me in there when he seen how sore my -arm was. Why, I couldn't of threw hard enough to break a pain of glass -my arm was so sore. - -They sure did run wild on the bases. Cobb stole four and Bush and -Crawford and Veach about two apiece. Schalk didn't even make a peg half -the time. I guess he was trying to throw me down. - -The score was sixteen to two when Callahan finally took me out in the -eighth and I don't know how many more they got. I kept telling him -to take me out when I seen how bad I was but he wouldn't do it. They -started bunting in the fifth and Lord and Chase just stood there and -didn't give me no help at all. - -I was all O.K. till I had the first two men out in the first inning. -Then Crawford come up. I wanted to give him a spitter but Schalk signs -me for the fast one and I give it to him. The ball didn't hop much and -Crawford happened to catch it just right. At that Collins ought to of -catched the ball. Crawford made three bases and up come Cobb. It was -the first time I ever seen him. He hollered at me right off the reel. -He says You better walk me you busher. I says I will walk you back to -the bench. Schalk signs for a spitter and I gives it to him and Cobb -misses it. - -Then instead of signing for another one Schalk asks for a fast one and -I shook my head no but he signed for it again and yells Put something -on it. So I throwed a fast one and Cobb hits it right over second base. -I don't know what Weaver was doing but he never made a move for the -ball. Crawford scored and Cobb was on first base. First thing I knowed -he had stole second while I held the ball. Callahan yells Wake up out -there and I says Why don't your catcher tell me when they are going to -steal. Schalk says Get in there and pitch and shut your mouth. Then I -got mad and walked Veach and Moriarty but before I walked Moriarty Cobb -and Veach pulled a double steal on Schalk. Gainor lifts a fly and Lord -drops it and two more come in. Then Stanage walks and I whiffs their -pitcher. - -I come in to the bench and Callahan says Are your friends from Bedford -up here? I was pretty sore and I says Why don't you get a catcher? He -says We don't need no catcher when you're pitching because you can't -get nothing past their bats. Then he says You better leave your uniform -in here when you go out next inning or Cobb will steal it off your -back. I says My arm is sore. He says Use your other one and you'll do -just as good. - -Gleason says Who do you want to warm up? Callahan says Nobody. He says -Cobb is going to lead the league in batting and basestealing anyway so -we might as well give him a good start. I was mad enough to punch his -jaw but the boys winked at me not to do nothing. - -Well I got some support in the next inning and nobody got on. Between -innings I says Well I guess I look better now don't I? Callahan says -Yes but you wouldn't look so good if Collins hadn't jumped up on the -fence and catched that one off Crawford. That's all the encouragement I -got Al. - -Cobb come up again to start the third and when Schalk signs me for a -fast one I shakes my head. Then Schalk says All right pitch anything -you want to. I pitched a spitter and Cobb bunts it right at me. I would -of threw him out a block but I stubbed my toe in a rough place and fell -down. This is the roughest ground I ever seen Al. Veach bunts and for a -wonder Lord throws him out. Cobb goes to second and honest Al I forgot -all about him being there and first thing I knowed he had stole third. -Then Moriarty hits a fly ball to Bodie and Cobb scores though Bodie -ought to of threw him out twenty feet. - -They batted all round in the forth inning and scored four or five more. -Crawford got the luckiest three-base hit I ever see. He popped one way -up in the air and the wind blowed it against the fence. The wind is -something fierce here Al. At that Collins ought to of got under it. - -I was looking at the bench all the time expecting Callahan to call me -in but he kept hollering Go on and pitch. Your friends wants to see you -pitch. - -Well Al I don't know how they got the rest of their runs but they had -more luck than any team I ever seen. And all the time Jennings was on -the coaching line yelling like a Indian. Some day Al I'm going to punch -his jaw. - -After Veach had hit one in the eight Callahan calls me to the bench -and says You're through for the day. I says It's about time you found -out my arm was sore. He says I ain't worrying about your arm but I'm -afraid some of our outfielders will run their legs off and some of them -poor infielders will get killed. He says The reporters just sent me a -message saying they had run out of paper. Then he says I wish some of -the other clubs had pitchers like you so we could hit once in a while. -He says Go in the clubhouse and get your arm rubbed off. That's the -only way I can get Jennings sore he says. - -Well Al that's about all there was to it. It will take two or three -stamps to send this but I want you to know the truth about it. The way -my arm was I ought never to of went in there. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, April 25._ - -FRIEND AL: Just a line to let you know I am still on earth. My arm -feels pretty good again and I guess maybe I will work at Detroit. -Violet writes that she can't hardly wait to see me. Looks like I got a -regular girl now Al. We go up there the twenty-ninth and maybe I won't -be glad to see her. I hope she will be out to the game the day I pitch. -I will pitch the way I want to next time and them Tigers won't have -such a picnic. - -I suppose you seen what the Chicago reporters said about that game. I -will punch a couple of their jaws when I see them. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, April 29._ - -DEAR OLD AL: Well Al it's all over. The club went to Detroit last night -and I didn't go along. Callahan told me to report to Comiskey this -morning and I went up to the office at ten o'clock. He give me my pay -to date and broke the news. I am sold to Frisco. - -I asked him how they got waivers on me and he says Oh there was no -trouble about that because they all heard how you tamed the Tigers. -Then he patted me on the back and says Go out there and work hard boy -and maybe you'll get another chance some day. I was kind of choked up -so I walked out of the office. - -I ain't had no fair deal Al and I ain't going to no Frisco. I will quit -the game first and take that job Charley offered me at the billiard -hall. - -I expect to be in Bedford in a couple of days. I have got to pack up -first and settle with my landlady about my room here which I engaged -for all season thinking I would be treated square. I am going to rest -and lay round home a while and try to forget this rotten game. Tell the -boys about it Al and tell them I never would of got let out if I hadn't -worked with a sore arm. - -I feel sorry for that little girl up in Detroit Al. She expected me -there to-day. - - Your old pal, JACK. - -P.S. I suppose you seen where that lucky lefthander Allen shut out -Cleveland with two hits yesterday. The lucky stiff. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE BUSHER COMES BACK. - - - _San Francisco, California, May 13._ - -FRIEND AL: I suppose you and the rest of the boys in Bedford will be -supprised to learn that I am out here, because I remember telling you -when I was sold to San Francisco by the White Sox that not under no -circumstances would I report here. I was pretty mad when Comiskey give -me my release, because I didn't think I had been given a fair show by -Callahan. I don't think so yet Al and I never will but Bill Sullivan -the old White Sox catcher talked to me and told me not to pull no boner -by refuseing to go where they sent me. He says You're only hurting -yourself. He says You must remember that this was your first time up -in the big show and very few men no matter how much stuff they got -can expect to make good right off the reel. He says All you need is -experience and pitching out in the Coast League will be just the thing -for you. - -So I went in and asked Comiskey for my transportation and he says -That's right Boy go out there and work hard and maybe I will want you -back. I told him I hoped so but I don't hope nothing of the kind Al. -I am going to see if I can't get Detroit to buy me, because I would -rather live in Detroit than anywheres else. The little girl who got -stuck on me this spring lives there. I guess I told you about her Al. -Her name is Violet and she is some queen. And then if I got with the -Tigers I wouldn't never have to pitch against Cobb and Crawford, though -I believe I could show both of them up if I was right. They ain't got -much of a ball club here and hardly any good pitchers outside of me. -But I don't care. - -I will win some games if they give me any support and I will get back -in the big league and show them birds something. You know me, Al. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Los Angeles, California, May 20._ - -AL: Well old pal I don't suppose you can find much news of this league -in the papers at home so you may not know that I have been standing -this league on their heads. I pitched against Oakland up home and shut -them out with two hits. I made them look like suckers Al. They hadn't -never saw no speed like mine and they was scared to death the minute -I cut loose. I could of pitched the last six innings with my foot and -trimmed them they was so scared. - -Well we come down here for a serious and I worked the second game. They -got four hits and one run, and I just give them the one run. Their -shortstop Johnson was on the training trip with the White Sox and of -course I knowed him pretty well. So I eased up in the last inning and -let him hit one. If I had of wanted to let myself out he couldn't of -hit me with a board. So I am going along good and Howard our manager -says he is going to use me regular. He's a pretty nice manager and -not a bit sarkastic like some of them big leaguers. I am fielding my -position good and watching the baserunners to. Thank goodness Al they -ain't no Cobbs in this league and a man ain't scared of haveing his -uniform stole off his back. - -But listen Al I don't want to be bought by Detroit no more. It is all -off between Violet and I. She wasn't the sort of girl I suspected. She -is just like them all Al. No heart. I wrote her a letter from Chicago -telling her I was sold to San Francisco and she wrote back a postcard -saying something about not haveing no time to waste on bushers. What -do you know about that Al? Calling me a busher. I will show them. She -wasn't no good Al and I figure I am well rid of her. Good riddance is -rubbish as they say. - -I will let you know how I get along and if I hear anything about being -sold or drafted. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _San Francisco, California, July 20._ - -FRIEND AL: You will forgive me for not writeing to you oftener when you -hear the news I got for you. Old pal I am engaged to be married. Her -name is Hazel Carney and she is some queen, Al--a great big stropping -girl that must weigh one hundred and sixty lbs. She is out to every -game and she got stuck on me from watching me work. - -Then she writes a note to me and makes a date and I meet her down on -Market Street one night. We go to a nickel show together and have some -time. Since then we been together pretty near every evening except when -I was away on the road. - -Night before last she asked me if I was married and I tells her No and -she says a big handsome man like I ought not to have no trouble finding -a wife. I tells her I ain't never looked for one and she says Well you -wouldn't have to look very far. I asked her if she was married and she -said No but she wouldn't mind it. She likes her beer pretty well and -her and I had several and I guess I was feeling pretty good. Anyway I -guess I asked her if she wouldn't marry me and she says it was O.K. I -ain't a bit sorry Al because she is some doll and will make them all -sit up back home. She wanted to get married right away but I said No -wait till the season is over and maybe I will have more dough. She -asked me what I was getting and I told her two hundred dollars a month. -She says she didn't think I was getting enough and I don't neither but -I will get the money when I get up in the big show again. - -Anyway we are going to get married this fall and then I will bring her -home and show her to you. She wants to live in Chi or New York but I -guess she will like Bedford O.K. when she gets acquainted. - -I have made good here all right Al. Up to a week ago Sunday I had won -eleven straight. I have lost a couple since then, but one day I wasn't -feeling good and the other time they kicked it away behind me. - -I had a run in with Howard after Portland had beat me. He says Keep on -running round with that skirt and you won't never win another game. - -He says Go to bed nights and keep in shape or I will take your money. -I told him to mind his own business and then he walked away from me. I -guess he was scared I was going to smash him. No manager ain't going to -bluff me Al. - -So I went to bed early last night and didn't keep my date with the kid. -She was pretty sore about it but business before plesure Al. Don't tell -the boys nothing about me being engaged. I want to surprise them. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Sacramento, California, August 16._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al I got the supprise of my life last night. Howard -called me up after I got to my room and tells me I am going back to the -White Sox. Come to find out, when they sold me out here they kept a -option on me and yesterday they exercised it. He told me I would have -to report at once. So I packed up as quick as I could and then went -down to say good-by to the kid. She was all broke up and wanted to go -along with me but I told her I didn't have enough dough to get married. -She said she would come anyway and we could get married in Chi but I -told her she better wait. She cried all over my sleeve. She sure is -gone on me Al and I couldn't help feeling sorry for her but I promised -to send for her in October and then everything will be all O.K. She -asked me how much I was going to get in the big league and I told her I -would get a lot more money than out here because I wouldn't play if I -didn't. You know me Al. - -I come over here to Sacramento with the club this morning and I am -leaveing to-night for Chi. I will get there next Tuesday and I guess -Callahan will work me right away because he must of seen his mistake in -letting me go by now. I will show them Al. - -I looked up the skedule and I seen where we play in Detroit the fifth -and sixth of September. I hope they will let me pitch there Al. Violet -goes to the games and I will make her sorry she give me that kind -of treatment. And I will make them Tigers sorry they kidded me last -spring. I ain't afraid of Cobb or none of them now, Al. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago_, _Illinois, August 27._ - -AL: Well old pal I guess I busted in right. Did you notice what I done -to them Athaletics, the best ball club in the country? I bet Violet -wishes she hadn't called me no busher. - -I got here last Tuesday and set up in the stand and watched the game -that afternoon. Washington was playing here and Johnson pitched. I was -anxious to watch him because I had heard so much about him. Honest Al -he ain't as fast as me. He shut them out, but they never was much of a -hitting club. I went to the clubhouse after the game and shook hands -with the bunch. Kid Gleason the assistant manager seemed pretty glad to -see me and he says Well have you learned something? I says Yes I guess -I have. He says Did you see the game this afternoon? I says I had and -he asked me what I thought of Johnson. I says I don't think so much of -him. He says Well I guess you ain't learned nothing then. He says What -was the matter with Johnson's work? I says He ain't got nothing but a -fast ball. Then he says Yes and Rockefeller ain't got nothing but a -hundred million bucks. - -Well I asked Callahan if he was going to give me a chance to work -and he says he was. But I sat on the bench a couple of days and he -didn't ask me to do nothing. Finally I asked him why not and he says -I am saving you to work against a good club, the Athaletics. Well the -Athaletics come and I guess you know by this time what I done to them. -And I had to work against Bender at that but I ain't afraid of none of -them now Al. - -Baker didn't hit one hard all afternoon and I didn't have no trouble -with Collins neither. I let them down with five blows all though -the papers give them seven. Them reporters here don't no more about -scoreing than some old woman. They give Barry a hit on a fly ball that -Bodie ought to of eat up, only he stumbled or something and they handed -Oldring a two base hit on a ball that Weaver had to duck to get out of -the way from. But I don't care nothing about reporters. I beat them -Athaletics and beat them good, five to one. Gleason slapped me on the -back after the game and says Well you learned something after all. Rub -some arnicky on your head to keep the swelling down and you may be a -real pitcher yet. I says I ain't got no swell head. He says No. If I -hated myself like you do I would be a moveing picture actor. - -Well I asked Callahan would he let me pitch up to Detroit and he says -Sure. He says Do you want to get revenge on them? I says, Yes I did. -He says Well you have certainly got some comeing. He says I never seen -no man get worse treatment than them Tigers give you last spring. I -says Well they won't do it this time because I will know how to pitch -to them. He says How are you going to pitch to Cobb? I says I am going -to feed him on my slow one. He says Well Cobb had ought to make a good -meal off of that. Then we quit jokeing and he says You have improved -a hole lot and I am going to work you right along regular and if you -can stand the gaff I may be able to use you in the city serious. You -know Al the White Sox plays a city serious every fall with the Cubs and -the players makes quite a lot of money. The winners gets about eight -hundred dollars a peace and the losers about five hundred. We will be -the winners if I have anything to say about it. - -I am tickled to death at the chance of working in Detroit and I can't -hardly wait till we get there. Watch my smoke Al. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. I am going over to Allen's flat to play cards a while to-night. -Allen is the lefthander that was on the training trip with us. He ain't -got a thing, Al, and I don't see how he gets by. He is married and his -wife's sister is visiting them. She wants to meet me but it won't do -her much good. I seen her out to the game to-day and she ain't much for -looks. - - - _Detroit, Mich., September 6._ - -FRIEND AL: I got a hole lot to write but I ain't got much time because -we are going over to Cleveland on the boat at ten P.M. I made them -Tigers like it Al just like I said I would. And what do you think, Al, -Violet called me up after the game and wanted to see me but I will tell -you about the game first. - -They got one hit off of me and Cobb made it a scratch single that he -beat out. If he hadn't of been so dam fast I would of had a no hit -game. At that Weaver could of threw him out if he had of started after -the ball in time. Crawford didn't get nothing like a hit and I whiffed -him once. I give two walks both of them to Bush but he is such a little -guy that you can't pitch to him. - -When I was warming up before the game Callahan was standing beside me -and pretty soon Jennings come over. Jennings says You ain't going to -pitch that bird are you? And Callahan said Yes he was. Then Jennings -says I wish you wouldn't because my boys is all tired out and can't -run the bases. Callahan says They won't get no chance to-day. No, says -Jennings I suppose not. I suppose he will walk them all and they won't -have to run. Callahan says He won't give no bases on balls, he says. -But you better tell your gang that he is liable to bean them and they -better stay away from the plate. Jennings says He won't never hurt my -boys by beaning them. Then I cut in. Nor you neither, I says. Callahan -laughs at that so I guess I must of pulled a pretty good one. Jennings -didn't have no comeback so he walks away. - -Then Cobb come over and asked if I was going to work. Callahan told him -Yes. Cobb says How many innings? Callahan says All the way. Then Cobb -says Be a good fellow Cal and take him out early. I am lame and can't -run. I butts in then and said Don't worry, Cobb. You won't have to run -because we have got a catcher who can hold them third strikes. Callahan -laughed again and says to me You sure did learn something out on that -Coast. - -Well I walked Bush right off the real and they all begun to holler on -the Detroit bench There he goes again. Vitt come up and Jennings yells -Leave your bat in the bag Osker. He can't get them over. But I got them -over for that bird all O.K. and he pops out trying to bunt. And then I -whiffed Crawford. He starts off with a foul that had me scared for a -minute because it was pretty close to the foul line and it went clear -out of the park. But he missed a spitter a foot and then I supprised -them Al. I give him a slow ball and I honestly had to laugh to see him -lunge for it. I bet he must of strained himself. He throwed his bat -way like he was mad and I guess he was. Cobb came pranceing up like he -always does and yells Give me that slow one Boy. So I says All right. -But I fooled him. Instead of giveing him a slow one like I said I was -going I handed him a spitter. He hit it all right but it was a line -drive right in Chase's hands. He says Pretty lucky Boy but I will get -you next time. I come right back at him. I says Yes you will. - -Well Al I had them going like that all through. About the sixth inning -Callahan yells from the bench to Jennings What do you think of him now? -And Jennings didn't say nothing. What could he of said? - -Cobb makes their one hit in the eighth. He never would of made it if -Schalk had of let me throw him spitters instead of fast ones. At that -Weaver ought to of threw him out. Anyway they didn't score and we made -a monkey out of Dubuque, or whatever his name is. - -Well Al I got back to the hotel and snuck down the street a ways and -had a couple of beers before supper. So I come to the supper table late -and Walsh tells me they had been several phone calls for me. I go down -to the desk and they tell me to call up a certain number. So I called -up and they charged me a nickel for it. A girl's voice answers the -phone and I says Was they some one there that wanted to talk to Jack -Keefe? She says You bet they is. She says Don't you know me, Jack? This -is Violet. Well, you could of knocked me down with a peace of bread. -I says What do you want? She says Why I want to see you. I says Well -you can't see me. She says Why what's the matter, Jack? What have I -did that you should be sore at me? I says I guess you know all right. -You called me a busher. She says Why I didn't do nothing of the kind. -I says Yes you did on that postcard. She says I didn't write you no -postcard. - -Then we argued along for a while and she swore up and down that she -didn't write me no postcard or call me no busher. I says Well then why -didn't you write me a letter when I was in Frisco? She says she had -lost my address. Well Al I don't know if she was telling me the truth -or not but may be she didn't write that postcard after all. She was -crying over the telephone so I says Well it is too late for I and you -to get together because I am engaged to be married. Then she screamed -and I hang up the receiver. She must of called back two or three times -because they was calling my name round the hotel but I wouldn't go near -the phone. You know me Al. - -Well when I hang up and went back to finish my supper the dining room -was locked. So I had to go out and buy myself a sandwich. They soaked -me fifteen cents for a sandwich and a cup of coffee so with the nickel -for the phone I am out twenty cents altogether for nothing. But then I -would of had to tip the waiter in the hotel a dime. - -Well Al I must close and catch the boat. I expect a letter from Hazel -in Cleveland and maybe Violet will write to me too. She is stuck on me -all right Al. I can see that. And I don't believe she could of wrote -that postcard after all. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Boston, Massachusetts, September 12._ - -OLD PAL: Well Al I got a letter from Hazel in Cleveland and she is -comeing to Chi in October for the city serious. She asked me to send -her a hundred dollars for her fare and to buy some cloths with. I sent -her thirty dollars for the fare and told her she could wait till she -got to Chi to buy her cloths. She said she would give me the money back -as soon as she seen me but she is a little short now because one of -her girl friends borrowed fifty off of her. I guess she must be pretty -soft-hearted Al. I hope you and Bertha can come up for the wedding -because I would like to have you stand up with me. - -I all so got a letter from Violet and they was blots all over it like -she had been crying. She swore she did not write that postcard and said -she would die if I didn't believe her. She wants to know who the lucky -girl is who I am engaged to be married to. I believe her Al when she -says she did not write that postcard but it is too late now. I will let -you know the date of my wedding as soon as I find out. - -I guess you seen what I done in Cleveland and here. Allen was going -awful bad in Cleveland and I relieved him in the eighth when we had a -lead of two runs. I put them out in one-two-three order in the eighth -but had hard work in the ninth due to rotten support. I walked Johnston -and Chapman and Turner sacrificed them ahead. Jackson come up then -and I had two strikes on him. I could of whiffed him but Schalk makes -me give him a fast one when I wanted to give him a slow one. He hit -it to Berger and Johnston ought to of been threw out at the plate but -Berger fumbles and then has to make the play at first base. He got -Jackson all O.K. but they was only one run behind then and Chapman was -on third base. Lajoie was up next and Callahan sends out word for me -to walk him. I thought that was rotten manageing because Lajoie or no -one else can hit me when I want to cut loose. So after I give him two -bad balls I tried to slip over a strike on him but the lucky stiff hit -it on a line to Weaver. Anyway the game was over and I felt pretty -good. But Callahan don't appresiate good work Al. He give me a call in -the clubhouse and said if I ever disobeyed his orders again he would -suspend me without no pay and lick me too. Honest Al it was all I could -do to keep from wrapping his jaw but Gleason winks at me not to do -nothing. - -I worked the second game here and give them three hits two of which was -bunts that Lord ought to of eat up. I got better support in Frisco than -I been getting here Al. But I don't care. The Boston bunch couldn't of -hit me with a shovvel and we beat them two to nothing. I worked against -Wood at that. They call him Smoky Joe and they say he has got a lot of -speed. - -Boston is some town, Al, and I wish you and Bertha could come here -sometime. I went down to the wharf this morning and seen them unload -the fish. They must of been a million of them but I didn't have time to -count them. Every one of them was five or six times as big as a blue -gill. - -Violet asked me what would be my address in New York City so I am -dropping her a postcard to let her know all though I don't know what -good it will do her. I certainly won't start no correspondents with her -now that I am engaged to be married. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _New York, New York, September 16._ - -FRIEND AL: I opened the serious here and beat them easy but I know you -must of saw about it in the Chi papers. At that they don't give me no -fair show in the Chi papers. One of the boys bought one here and I seen -in it where I was lucky to win that game in Cleveland. If I knowed -which one of them reporters wrote that I would punch his jaw. - -Al I told you Boston was some town but this is the real one. I never -seen nothing like it and I been going some since we got here. I walked -down Broadway the Main Street last night and I run into a couple of -the ball players and they took me to what they call the Garden but it -ain't like the gardens at home because this one is indoors. We sat -down to a table and had several drinks. Pretty soon one of the boys -asked me if I was broke and I says No, why? He says You better get some -lubricateing oil and loosen up. I don't know what he meant but pretty -soon when we had had a lot of drinks the waiter brings a check and -hands it to me. It was for one dollar. I says Oh I ain't paying for all -of them. The waiter says This is just for that last drink. - -I thought the other boys would make a holler but they didn't say -nothing. So I give him a dollar bill and even then he didn't act -satisfied so I asked him what he was waiting for and he said Oh -nothing, kind of sassy. I was going to bust him but the boys give me -the sign to shut up and not to say nothing. I excused myself pretty -soon because I wanted to get some air. I give my check for my hat to a -boy and he brought my hat and I started going and he says Haven't you -forgot something? I guess he must of thought I was wearing a overcoat. - -Then I went down the Main Street again and some man stopped me and -asked me did I want to go to the show. He said he had a ticket. I asked -him what show and he said the Follies. I never heard of it but I told -him I would go if he had a ticket to spare. He says I will spare you -this one for three dollars. I says You must take me for some boob. -He says No I wouldn't insult no boob. So I walks on but if he had of -insulted me I would of busted him. - -I went back to the hotel then and run into Kid Gleason. He asked me -to take a walk with him so out I go again. We went to the corner and -he bought me a beer. He don't drink nothing but pop himself. The two -drinks was only ten cents so I says This is the place for me. He says -Where have you been? and I told him about paying one dollar for three -drinks. He says I see I will have to take charge of you. Don't go round -with them ball players no more. When you want to go out and see the -sights come to me and I will stear you. So to-night he is going to -stear me. I will write to you from Philadelphia. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Philadelphia, Pa., September 19._ - -FRIEND AL: They won't be no game here to-day because it is raining. We -all been loafing round the hotel all day and I am glad of it because -I got all tired out over in New York City. I and Kid Gleason went -round together the last couple of nights over there and he wouldn't -let me spend no money. I seen a lot of girls that I would of liked to -of got acquainted with but he wouldn't even let me answer them when -they spoke to me. We run in to a couple of peaches last night and they -had us spotted too. One of them says I'll bet you're a couple of ball -players. But Kid says You lose your bet. I am a bellhop and the big -rube with me is nothing but a pitcher. - -One of them says What are you trying to do kid somebody? He says Go -home and get some soap and remove your disguise from your face. I -didn't think he ought to talk like that to them and I called him about -it and said maybe they was lonesome and it wouldn't hurt none if we -treated them to a soda or something. But he says Lonesome. If I don't -get you away from here they will steal everything you got. They won't -even leave you your fast ball. So we left them and he took me to a -picture show. It was some California pictures and they made me think of -Hazel so when I got back to the hotel I sent her three postcards. - -Gleason made me go to my room at ten o'clock both nights but I was -pretty tired anyway because he had walked me all over town. I guess we -must of saw twenty shows. He says I would take you to the grand opera -only it would be throwing money away because we can hear Ed Walsh for -nothing. Walsh has got some voice Al a loud high tenor. - -To-morrow is Sunday and we have a double header Monday on account of -the rain to-day. I thought sure I would get another chance to beat the -Athaletics and I asked Callahan if he was going to pitch me here but he -said he thought he would save me to work against Johnson in Washington. -So you see Al he must figure I am about the best he has got. I'll beat -him Al if they get a couple of runs behind me. - - Yours truly, JACK. - -P.S. They was a letter here from Violet and it pretty near made me feel -like crying. I wish they was two of me so both them girls could be -happy. - - - _Washington, D.C., September 22._ - -DEAR OLD AL: Well Al here I am in the capital of the old United States. -We got in last night and I been walking round town all morning. But I -didn't tire myself out because I am going to pitch against Johnson this -afternoon. - -This is the prettiest town I ever seen but I believe they is more -colored people here than they is in Evansville or Chi. I seen the White -House and the Monumunt. They say that Bill Sullivan and Gabby St. once -catched a baseball that was threw off of the top of the Monumunt but I -bet they couldn't catch it if I throwed it. - -I was in to breakfast this morning with Gleason and Bodie and Weaver -and Fournier. Gleason says I'm supprised that you ain't sick in bed -to-day. I says Why? - -He says Most of our pitchers gets sick when Cal tells them they are -going to work against Johnson. He says Here's these other fellows all -feeling pretty sick this morning and they ain't even pitchers. All they -have to do is hit against him but it looks like as if Cal would have to -send substitutes in for them. Bodie is complaining of a sore arm which -he must of strained drawing to two card flushes. Fournier and Weaver -have strained their legs doing the tango dance. Nothing could cure them -except to hear that big Walter had got throwed out of his machine and -wouldn't be able to pitch against us in this serious. - -I says I feel O.K. and I ain't afraid to pitch against Johnson and I -ain't afraid to hit against him neither. Then Weaver says Have you ever -saw him work? Yes, I says, I seen him in Chi. Then Weaver says Well if -you have saw him work and ain't afraid to hit against him I'll bet you -would go down to Wall Street and holler Hurrah for Roosevelt. I says -No I wouldn't do that but I ain't afraid of no pitcher and what is more -if you get me a couple of runs I'll beat him. Then Fournier says Oh we -will get you a couple of runs all right. He says That's just as easy as -catching whales with a angleworm. - -Well Al I must close and go in and get some lunch. My arm feels great -and they will have to go some to beat me Johnson or no Johnson. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Washington, D.C., September 22._ - -FRIEND AL: Well I guess you know by this time that they didn't get no -two runs for me, only one, but I beat him just the same. I beat him one -to nothing and Callahan was so pleased that he give me a ticket to the -theater. I just got back from there and it is pretty late and I already -have wrote you one letter to-day but I am going to sit up and tell you -about it. - -It was cloudy before the game started and when I was warming up I made -the remark to Callahan that the dark day ought to make my speed good. -He says Yes and of course it will handicap Johnson. - -While Washington was takeing their practice their two coachers Schaefer -and Altrock got out on the infield and cut up and I pretty near busted -laughing at them. They certainly is funny Al. Callahan asked me what -was I laughing at and I told him and he says That's the first time I -ever seen a pitcher laugh when he was going to work against Johnson. He -says Griffith is a pretty good fellow to give us something to laugh at -before he shoots that guy at us. - -I warmed up good and told Schalk not to ask me for my spitter much -because my fast one looked faster than I ever seen it. He says it -won't make much difference what you pitch to-day. I says Oh, yes, it -will because Callahan thinks enough of me to work me against Johnson -and I want to show him he didn't make no mistake. Then Gleason says No -he didn't make no mistake. Wasteing Cicotte or Scotty would of been a -mistake in this game. - -Well, Johnson whiffs Weaver and Chase and makes Lord pop out in the -first inning. I walked their first guy but I didn't give Milan nothing -to bunt and finally he flied out. And then I whiffed the next two. On -the bench Callahan says That's the way, boy. Keep that up and we got a -chance. - -Johnson had fanned four of us when I come up with two out in the third -inning and he whiffed me to. I fouled one though that if I had ever -got a good hold of I would of knocked out of the park. In the first -seven innings we didn't have a hit off of him. They had got five or -six lucky ones off of me and I had walked two or three, but I cut -loose with all I had when they was men on and they couldn't do nothing -with me. The only reason I walked so many was because my fast one was -jumping so. Honest Al it was so fast that Evans the umpire couldn't see -it half the time and he called a lot of balls that was right over the -heart. - -Well I come up in the eighth with two out and the score still nothing -and nothing. I had whiffed the second time as well as the first but it -was account of Evans missing one on me. The eighth started with Shanks -muffing a fly ball off of Bodie. It was way out by the fence so he got -two bases on it and he went to third while they was throwing Berger -out. Then Schalk whiffed. - -Callahan says Go up and try to meet one Jack. It might as well be you -as anybody else. But your old pal didn't whiff this time Al. He gets -two strikes on me with fast ones and then I passed up two bad ones. I -took my healthy at the next one and slapped it over first base. I guess -I could of made two bases on it but I didn't want to tire myself out. -Anyway Bodie scored and I had them beat. And my hit was the only one -we got off of him so I guess he is a pretty good pitcher after all Al. - -They filled up the bases on me with one out in the ninth but it was -pretty dark then and I made McBride and their catcher look like suckers -with my speed. - -I felt so good after the game that I drunk one of them pink cocktails. -I don't know what their name is. And then I sent a postcard to poor -little Violet. I don't care nothing about her but it don't hurt me none -to try and cheer her up once in a while. We leave here Thursday night -for home and they had ought to be two or three letters there for me -from Hazel because I haven't heard from her lately. She must of lost my -road addresses. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. I forgot to tell you what Callahan said after the game. He said I -was a real pitcher now and he is going to use me in the city serious. -If he does Al we will beat them Cubs sure. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, September 27._ - -FRIEND AL: They wasn't no letter here at all from Hazel and I guess -she must of been sick. Or maybe she didn't think it was worth while -writeing as long as she is comeing next week. - -I want to ask you to do me a favor Al and that is to see if you can -find me a house down there. I will want to move in with Mrs. Keefe, -don't that sound funny Al? sometime in the week of October twelfth. Old -man Cutting's house or that yellow house across from you would be O.K. -I would rather have the yellow one so as to be near you. Find out how -much rent they want Al and if it is not no more than twelve dollars a -month get it for me. We will buy our furniture here in Chi when Hazel -comes. - -We have a couple of days off now Al and then we play St. Louis two -games here. Then Detroit comes to finish the season the third and -fourth of October. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 3._ - -DEAR OLD AL: Thanks Al for getting the house. The one-year lease is -O.K. You and Bertha and me and Hazel can have all sorts of good times -together. I guess the walk needs repairs but I can fix that up when I -come. We can stay at the hotel when we first get there. - -I wish you could of came up for the city serious Al but anyway I want -you and Bertha to be sure and come up for our wedding. I will let you -know the date as soon as Hazel gets here. - -The serious starts Tuesday and this town is wild over it. The Cubs -finished second in their league and we was fifth in ours but that don't -scare me none. We would of finished right on top if I had of been here -all season. - -Callahan pitched one of the bushers against Detroit this afternoon and -they beat him bad. Callahan is saveing up Scott and Allen and Russell -and Cicotte and I for the big show. Walsh isn't in no shape and neither -is Benz. It looks like I would have a good deal to do because most of -them others can't work no more than once in four days and Allen ain't -no good at all. - -We have a day to rest after to-morrow's game with the Tigers and then -we go at them Cubs. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. I have got it figured that Hazel is fixing to surprise me by -dropping in on me because I haven't heard nothing yet. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 7._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al you know by this time that they beat me to-day and -tied up the serious. But I have still got plenty of time Al and I will -get them before it is over. My arm wasn't feeling good Al and my fast -ball didn't hop like it had ought to. But it was the rotten support I -got that beat me. That lucky stiff Zimmerman was the only guy that got -a real hit off of me and he must of shut his eyes and throwed his bat -because the ball he hit was a foot over his head. And if they hadn't -been makeing all them errors behind me they wouldn't of been nobody on -bases when Zimmerman got that lucky scratch. The serious now stands -one and one Al and it is a cinch we will beat them even if they are a -bunch of lucky stiffs. They has been great big crowds at both games and -it looks like as if we should ought to get over eight hundred dollars -a peace if we win and we will win sure because I will beat them three -straight if necessary. - -But Al I have got bigger news than that for you and I am the happyest -man in the world. I told you I had not heard from Hazel for a long -time. To-night when I got back to my room they was a letter waiting for -me from her. - -Al she is married. Maybe you don't know why that makes me happy but I -will tell you. She is married to Kid Levy the middle weight. I guess -my thirty dollars is gone because in her letter she called me a cheap -skate and she inclosed one one-cent stamp and two twos and said she -was paying me for the glass of beer I once bought her. I bought her -more than that Al but I won't make no holler. She all so said not for -me to never come near her or her husband would bust my jaw. I ain't -afraid of him or no one else Al but they ain't no danger of me ever -bothering them. She was no good and I was sorry the minute I agreed to -marry her. - -But I was going to tell you why I am happy or maybe you can guess. Now -I can make Violet my wife and she's got Hazel beat forty ways. She -ain't nowheres near as big as Hazel but she's classier Al and she will -make me a good wife. She ain't never asked me for no money. - -I wrote her a letter the minute I got the good news and told her to -come on over here at once at my expense. We will be married right after -the serious is over and I want you and Bertha to be sure and stand up -with us. I will wire you at my own expence the exact date. - -It all seems like a dream now about Violet and I haveing our -misunderstanding Al and I don't see how I ever could of accused her of -sending me that postcard. You and Bertha will be just as crazy about -her as I am when you see her Al. Just think Al I will be married inside -of a week and to the only girl I ever could of been happy with instead -of the woman I never really cared for except as a passing fancy. My -happyness would be complete Al if I had not of let that woman steal -thirty dollars off of me. - - Your happy pal, JACK. - -P.S. Hazel probibly would of insisted on us takeing a trip to Niagara -falls or somewheres but I know Violet will be perfectly satisfied if I -take her right down to Bedford. Oh you little yellow house. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 9._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al we have got them beat three games to one now and -will wind up the serious to-morrow sure. Callahan sent me in to save -poor Allen yesterday and I stopped them dead. But I don't care now -Al. I have lost all interest in the game and I don't care if Callahan -pitches me to-morrow or not. My heart is just about broke Al and I -wouldn't be able to do myself justice feeling the way I do. - -I have lost Violet Al and just when I was figureing on being the -happyest man in the world. We will get the big money but it won't do me -no good. They can keep my share because I won't have no little girl to -spend it on. - -Her answer to my letter was waiting for me at home to-night. She is -engaged to be married to Joe Hill the big lefthander Jennings got from -Providence. Honest Al I don't see how he gets by. He ain't got no more -curve ball than a rabbit and his fast one floats up there like a big -balloon. He beat us the last game of the regular season here but it was -because Callahan had a lot of bushers in the game. - -I wish I had knew then that he was stealing my girl and I would of made -Callahan pitch me against him. And when he come up to bat I would of -beaned him. But I don't suppose you could hurt him by hitting him in -the head. The big stiff. Their wedding ain't going to come off till -next summer and by that time he will be pitching in the Southwestern -Texas League for about fifty dollars a month. - -Violet wrote that she wished me all the luck and happyness in the world -but it is too late for me to be happy Al and I don't care what kind of -luck I have now. - -Al you will have to get rid of that lease for me. Fix it up the best -way you can. Tell the old man I have changed my plans. I don't know -just yet what I will do but maybe I will go to Australia with Mike -Donlin's team. If I do I won't care if the boat goes down or not. I -don't believe I will even come back to Bedford this winter. It would -drive me wild to go past that little house every day and think how -happy I might of been. - -Maybe I will pitch to-morrow Al and if I do the serious will be over -to-morrow night. I can beat them Cubs if I get any kind of decent -support. But I don't care now Al. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 12._ - -AL: Your letter received. If the old man won't call it off I guess I -will have to try and rent the house to some one else. Do you know of -any couple that wants one Al? It looks like I would have to come down -there myself and fix things up someway. He is just mean enough to stick -me with the house on my hands when I won't have no use for it. - -They beat us the day before yesterday as you probibly know and it -rained yesterday and to-day. The papers says it will be all O.K. -to-morrow and Callahan tells me I am going to work. The Cub pitchers -was all shot to peaces and the bad weather is just nuts for them -because it will give Cheney a good rest. But I will beat him Al if they -don't kick it away behind me. - -I must close because I promised Allen the little lefthander that I -would come over to his flat and play cards a while to-night and I must -wash up and change my collar. Allen's wife's sister is visiting them -again and I would give anything not to have to go over there. I am -through with girls and don't want nothing to do with them. - -I guess it is maybe a good thing it rained to-day because I dreamt -about Violet last night and went out and got a couple of high balls -before breakfast this morning. I hadn't never drank nothing before -breakfast before and it made me kind of sick. But I am all O.K. now. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 13._ - -DEAR OLD AL: The serious is all over Al. We are the champions and I -done it. I may be home the day after to-morrow or I may not come for a -couple of days. I want to see Comiskey before I leave and fix up about -my contract for next year. I won't sign for no less than five thousand -and if he hands me a contract for less than that I will leave the White -Sox flat on their back. I have got over fourteen hundred dollars now -Al with the city serious money which was $814.30 and I don't have to -worry. - -Them reporters will have to give me a square deal this time Al. I had -everything and the Cubs done well to score a run. I whiffed Zimmerman -three times. Some of the boys say he ain't no hitter but he is a hitter -and a good one Al only he could not touch the stuff I got. The umps -give them their run because in the fourth inning I had Leach flatfooted -off of second base and Weaver tagged him O.K. but the umps wouldn't -call it. Then Schulte the lucky stiff happened to get a hold of one and -pulled it past first base. I guess Chase must of been asleep. Anyway -they scored but I don't care because we piled up six runs on Cheney and -I drove in one of them myself with one of the prettiest singles you -ever see. It was a spitter and I hit it like a shot. If I had hit it -square it would of went out of the park. - -Comiskey ought to feel pretty good about me winning and I guess he will -give me a contract for anything I want. He will have to or I will go to -the Federal League. - -We are all invited to a show to-night and I am going with Allen and his -wife and her sister Florence. She is O.K. Al and I guess she thinks the -same about me. She must because she was out to the game to-day and seen -me hand it to them. She maybe ain't as pretty as Violet and Hazel but -as they say beauty isn't only so deep. - -Well Al tell the boys I will be with them soon. I have gave up the idea -of going to Australia because I would have to buy a evening full-dress -suit and they tell me they cost pretty near fifty dollars. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 14._ - -FRIEND AL: Never mind about that lease. I want the house after all Al -and I have got the supprise of your life for you. - -When I come home to Bedford I will bring my wife with me. I and -Florence fixed things all up after the show last night and we are going -to be married to-morrow morning. I am a busy man to-day Al because I -have got to get the license and look round for furniture. And I have -also got to buy some new cloths but they are haveing a sale on Cottage -Grove Avenue at Clark's store and I know one of the clerks there. - -I am the happyest man in the world Al. You and Bertha and I and -Florence will have all kinds of good times together this winter because -I know Bertha and Florence will like each other. Florence looks -something like Bertha at that. I am glad I didn't get tied up with -Violet or Hazel even if they was a little bit prettier than Florence. - -Florence knows a lot about baseball for a girl and you would be -supprised to hear her talk. She says I am the best pitcher in the -league and she has saw them all. She all so says I am the best looking -ball player she ever seen but you know how girls will kid a guy Al. You -will like her O.K. I fell for her the first time I seen her. - - Your old pal, JACK. - -P.S. I signed up for next year. Comiskey slapped me on the back when I -went in to see him and told me I would be a star next year if I took -good care of myself. I guess I am a star without waiting for next -year Al. My contract calls for twenty-eight hundred a year which is a -thousand more than I was getting. And it is pretty near a cinch that I -will be in on the World Serious money next season. - -P.S. I certainly am relieved about that lease. It would of been fierce -to of had that place on my hands all winter and not getting any use out -of it. Everything is all O.K. now. Oh you little yellow house. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE BUSHER'S HONEYMOON - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 17._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al it looks as if I would not be writeing so much to -you now that I am a married man. Yes Al I and Florrie was married the -day before yesterday just like I told you we was going to be and Al I -am the happyest man in the world though I have spent $30 in the last 3 -days incluseive. You was wise Al to get married in Bedford where not -nothing is nearly half so dear. My expenses was as follows: - - License $ 2.00 - Preist 3.50 - Haircut and shave .35 - Shine .05 - Carfair .45 - New suit 14.50 - Show tickets 3.00 - Flowers .50 - Candy .30 - Hotel 4.50 - Tobacco both kinds .25 - -You see Al it costs a hole lot of money to get married here. The sum -of what I have wrote down is $29.40 but as I told you I have spent -$30 and I do not know what I have did with that other $0.60. My new -brother-in-law Allen told me I should ought to give the preist $5 and -I thought it should be about $2 the same as the license so I split the -difference and give him $3.50. I never seen him before and probily -won't never see him again so why should I give him anything at all when -it is his business to marry couples? But I like to do the right thing. -You know me Al. - -I thought we would be in Bedford by this time but Florrie wants to say -here a few more days because she says she wants to be with her sister. -Allen and his wife is thinking about takeing a flat for the winter -instead of going down to Waco Texas where they live. I don't see no -sense in that when it costs so much to live here but it is none of my -business if they want to throw their money away. But I am glad I got a -wife with some sense though she kicked because I did not get no room -with a bath which would cost me $2 a day instead of $1.50. I says I -guess the clubhouse is still open yet and if I want a bath I can go -over there and take the shower. She says Yes and I suppose I can go -and jump in the lake. But she would not do that Al because the lake -here is cold at this time of the year. - -When I told you about my expenses I did not include in it the meals -because we would be eating them if I was getting married or not getting -married only I have to pay for six meals a day now instead of three -and I didn't used to eat no lunch in the playing season except once in -a while when I knowed I was not going to work that afternoon. I had a -meal ticket which had not quite ran out over to a resturunt on Indiana -Ave and we eat there for the first day except at night when I took -Allen and his wife to the show with us and then he took us to a chop -suye resturunt. I guess you have not never had no chop suye Al and I am -here to tell you you have not missed nothing but when Allen was going -to buy the supper what could I say? I could not say nothing. - -Well yesterday and to-day we been eating at a resturunt on Cottage -Grove Ave near the hotel and at the resturunt on Indiana that I had the -meal ticket at only I do not like to buy no new meal ticket when I am -not going to be round here no more than a few days. Well Al I guess the -meals has cost me all together about $1.50 and I have eat very little -myself. Florrie always wants desert ice cream or something and that -runs up into money faster than regular stuff like stake and ham and -eggs. - -Well Al Florrie says it is time for me to keep my promise and take her -to the moveing pictures which is $0.20 more because the one she likes -round here costs a dime apeace. So I must close for this time and will -see you soon. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 22_. - -AL: Just a note Al to tell you why I have not yet came to Bedford -yet where I expected I would be long before this time. Allen and his -wife have took a furnished flat for the winter and Allen's wife wants -Florrie to stay here untill they get settled. Meentime it is costing me -a hole lot of money at the hotel and for meals besides I am paying $10 -a month rent for the house you got for me and what good am I getting -out of it? But Florrie wants to help her sister and what can I say? -Though I did make her promise she would not stay no longer than next -Saturday at least. So I guess Al we will be home on the evening train -Saturday and then may be I can save some money. - -I know Al that you and Bertha will like Florrie when you get acquainted -with her spesially Bertha though Florrie dresses pretty swell and -spends a hole lot of time fusing with her face and her hair. - -She says to me to-night Who are you writeing to and I told her Al -Blanchard who I have told you about a good many times. She says I bet -you are writeing to some girl and acted like as though she was kind of -jealous. So I thought I would tease her a little and I says I don't -know no girls except you and Violet and Hazel. Who is Violet and Hazel? -she says. I kind of laughed and says Oh I guess I better not tell you -and then she says I guess you will tell me. That made me kind of mad -because no girl can't tell me what to do. She says Are you going to -tell me? and I says No. - -Then she says If you don't tell me I will go over to Marie's that is -her sister Allen's wife and stay all night. I says Go on and she went -downstairs but I guess she probily went to get a soda because she has -some money of her own that I give her. This was about two hours ago -and she is probily down in the hotel lobby now trying to scare me by -makeing me believe she has went to her sister's. But she can't fool me -Al and I am now going out to mail this letter and get a beer. I won't -never tell her about Violet and Hazel if she is going to act like that. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 24._ - -FRIEND AL: I guess I told you Al that we would be home Saturday -evening. I have changed my mind. Allen and his wife has a spair bedroom -and wants us to come there and stay a week or two. It won't cost -nothing except they will probily want to go out to the moveing pictures -nights and we will probily have to go along with them and I am a man Al -that wants to pay his share and not be cheap. - -I and Florrie had our first quarrle the other night. I guess I told you -the start of it but I don't remember. I made some crack about Violet -and Hazel just to tease Florrie and she wanted to know who they was and -I would not tell her. So she gets sore and goes over to Marie's to stay -all night. I was just kidding Al and was willing to tell her about them -two poor girls whatever she wanted to know except that I don't like to -brag about girls being stuck on me. So I goes over to Marie's after her -and tells her all about them except that I turned them down cold at the -last minute to marry her because I did not want her to get all swelled -up. She made me sware that I did not never care nothing about them and -that was easy because it was the truth. So she come back to the hotel -with me just like I knowed she would when I ordered her to. - -They must not be no mistake about who is the boss in my house. Some men -lets their wife run all over them but I am not that kind. You know me -Al. - -I must get busy and pack my suitcase if I am going to move over to -Allen's. I sent three collars and a shirt to the laundrey this morning -so even if we go over there to-night I will have to take another trip -back this way in a day or two. I won't mind Al because they sell my -kind of beer down to the corner and I never seen it sold nowheres else -in Chi. You know the kind it is, eh Al? I wish I was lifting a few with -you to-night. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 28._ - -DEAR OLD AL: Florrie and Marie has went downtown shopping because -Florrie thinks she has got to have a new dress though she has got two -changes of cloths now and I don't know what she can do with another -one. I hope she don't find none to suit her though it would not hurt -none if she got something for next spring at a reduckshon. I guess -she must think I am Charles A. Comiskey or somebody. Allen has went -to a colledge football game. One of the reporters give him a pass. I -don't see nothing in football except a lot of scrapping between little -slobs that I could lick the whole bunch of them so I did not care to -go. The reporter is one of the guys that travled round with our club -all summer. He called up and said he hadn't only the one pass but he -was not hurting my feelings none because I would not go to no rotten -football game if they payed me. - -The flat across the hall from this here one is for rent furnished. -They want $40 a month for it and I guess they think they must be lots -of suckers running round loose. Marie was talking about it and says -Why don't you and Florrie take it and then we can be right together -all winter long and have some big times? Florrie says It would be all -right with me. What about it Jack? I says What do you think I am? I -don't have to live in no high price flat when I got a home in Bedford -where they ain't no people trying to hold everybody up all the time. -So they did not say no more about it when they seen I was in ernest. -Nobody cannot tell me where I am going to live sister-in-law or no -sister-in-law. If I was to rent the rotten old flat I would be paying -$50 a month rent includeing the house down in Bedford. Fine chance Al. - -Well Al I am lonesome and thirsty so more later. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, November 2._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al I got some big news for you. I am not comeing to -Bedford this winter after all except to make a visit which I guess will -be round Xmas. I changed my mind about that flat across the hall from -the Allens and decided to take it after all. The people who was in it -and owns the furniture says they would let us have it till the 1 of May -if we would pay $42.50 a month which is only $2.50 a month more than -they would of let us have it for for a short time. So you see we got a -bargain because it is all furnished and everything and we won't have -to blow no money on furniture besides the club goes to California the -middle of Febuery so Florrie would not have no place to stay while I am -away. - -The Allens only subleased their flat from some other people till the 2 -of Febuery and when I and Allen goes West Marie can come over and stay -with Florrie so you see it is best all round. If we should of boughten -furniture it would cost us in the neighborhood of $100 even without no -piano and they is a piano in this here flat which makes it nice because -Florrie plays pretty good with one hand and we can have lots of good -times at home without it costing us nothing except just the bear -liveing expenses. I consider myself lucky to of found out about this -before it was too late and somebody else had of gotten the tip. - -Now Al old pal I want to ask a great favor of you Al. I all ready have -payed one month rent $10 on the house in Bedford and I want you to -see the old man and see if he won't call off that lease. Why should -I be paying $10 a month rent down there and $42.50 up here when the -house down there is not no good to me because I am liveing up here all -winter? See Al? Tell him I will gladly give him another month rent to -call off the lease but don't tell him that if you don't have to. I want -to be fare with him. - -If you will do this favor for me, Al, I won't never forget it. Give my -kindest to Bertha and tell her I am sorry I and Florrie won't see her -right away but you see how it is Al. - - Yours, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, November 30._ - -FRIEND AL: I have not wrote for a long time have I Al but I have been -very busy. They was not enough furniture in the flat and we have been -buying some more. They was enough for some people maybe but I and -Florrie is the kind that won't have nothing but the best. The furniture -them people had in the liveing room was oak but they had a bookcase -bilt in in the flat that was mohoggeny and Florrie would not stand for -no joke combination like that so she moved the oak chairs and table in -to the spair bedroom and we went downtown to buy some mohoggeny. But it -costs too much Al and we was feeling pretty bad about it when we seen -some Sir Cashion walnut that was prettier even than the mohoggeny and -not near so expensive. It is not no real Sir Cashion walnut but it is -just as good and we got it reasonable. Then we got some mission chairs -for the dining room because the old ones was just straw and was no good -and we got a big lether couch for $9 that somebody can sleep on if we -get to much company. - -I hope you and Bertha can come up for the holidays and see how -comfertible we are fixed. That is all the new furniture we have -boughten but Florrie set her heart on some old Rose drapes and a red -table lamp that is the biggest you ever seen Al and I did not have the -heart to say no. The hole thing cost me in the neighborhood of $110 -which is very little for what we got and then it will always be ourn -even when we move away from this flat though we will have to leave the -furniture that belongs to the other people but their part of it is not -no good anyway. - -I guess I told you Al how much money I had when the season ended. It -was $1400 all told includeing the city serious money. Well Al I got in -the neighborhood of $800 left because I give $200 to Florrie to send -down to Texas to her other sister who had a bad egg for a husband that -managed a club in the Texas Oklahoma League and this was the money she -had to pay to get the divorce. I am glad Al that I was lucky enough to -marry happy and get a good girl for my wife that has got some sense and -besides if I have got $800 left I should not worry as they say. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, December 7._ - -DEAR OLD AL: No I was in ernest Al when I says that I wanted you and -Bertha to come up here for the holidays. I know I told you that I might -come to Bedford for the holidays but that is all off. I have gave up -the idea of comeing to Bedford for the holidays and I want you to be -sure and come up here for the holidays and I will show you a good time. -I would love to have Bertha come to and she can come if she wants to -only Florrie don't know if she would have a good time or not and thinks -maybe she would rather stay in Bedford and you come alone. But be sure -and have Bertha come if she wants to come but maybe she would not injoy -it. You know best Al. - -I don't think the old man give me no square deal on that lease but if -he wants to stick me all right. I am grateful to you Al for trying to -fix it up but maybe you could of did better if you had of went at it -in a different way. I am not finding no fault with my old pal though. -Don't think that. When I have a pal I am the man to stick to him threw -thick and thin. If the old man is going to hold me to that lease I -guess I will have to stand it and I guess I won't starv to death for -no $10 a month because I am going to get $2800 next year besides the -city serious money and maybe we will get into the World Serious too. I -know we will if Callahan will pitch me every 3d day like I wanted him -to last season. But if you had of approached the old man in a different -way maybe you could of fixed it up. I wish you would try it again Al if -it is not no trouble. - -We had Allen and his wife here for thanksgiveing dinner and the dinner -cost me better than $5. I thought we had enough to eat to last a week -but about six o'clock at night Florrie and Marie said they was hungry -and we went downtown and had dinner all over again and I payed for it -and it cost me $5 more. Allen was all ready to pay for it when Florrie -said No this day's treat is on us so I had to pay for it but I don't -see why she did not wait and let me do the talking. I was going to pay -for it any way. - -Be sure and come and visit us for the holidays Al and of coarse if -Bertha wants to come bring her along. We will be glad to see you both. -I won't never go back on a friend and pal. You know me Al. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, December 20._ - -FRIEND AL: I don't see what can be the matter with Bertha because you -know Al we would not care how she dressed and would not make no kick if -she come up here in a night gown. She did not have no license to say -we was to swell for her because we did not never think of nothing like -that. I wish you would talk to her again Al and tell her she need not -get sore on me and that both her and you is welcome at my house any -time I ask you to come. See if you can't make her change her mind Al -because I feel like as if she must of took offense at something I may -of wrote you. I am sorry you and her are not comeing but I suppose you -know best. Only we was getting all ready for you and Florrie said only -the other day that she wished the holidays was over but that was before -she knowed you was not comeing. I hope you can come Al. - -Well Al I guess there is not no use talking to the old man no more. You -have did the best you could but I wish I could of came down there and -talked to him. I will pay him his rotten old $10 a month and the next -time I come to Bedford and meet him on the street I will bust his jaw. -I know he is a old man Al but I don't like to see nobody get the best -of me and I am sorry I ever asked him to let me off. Some of them old -skinflints has no heart Al but why should I fight with a old man over -chicken feed like $10? Florrie says a star pitcher like I should not -ought never to scrap about little things and I guess she is right Al so -I will pay the old man his $10 a month if I have to. - -Florrie says she is jealous of me writeing to you so much and she says -she would like to meet this great old pal of mine. I would like to have -her meet you to Al and I would like to have you change your mind and -come and visit us and I am sorry you can't come Al. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, December 27._ - -OLD PAL: I guess all these lefthanders is alike though I thought this -Allen had some sense. I thought he was different from the most and was -not no rummy but they are all alike Al and they are all lucky that -somebody don't hit them over the head with a ax and kill them but I -guess at that you could not hurt no lefthanders by hitting them over -the head. We was all down on State St. the day before Xmas and the -girls was all tired out and ready to go home but Allen says No I guess -we better stick down a while because now the crowds is out and it will -be fun to watch them. So we walked up and down State St. about a hour -longer and finally we come in front of a big jewlry store window and in -it was a swell dimond ring that was marked $100. It was a ladies' ring -so Marie says to Allen Why don't you buy that for me? And Allen says Do -you really want it? And she says she did. - -So we tells the girls to wait and we goes over to a salloon where -Allen has got a friend and gets a check cashed and we come back and he -bought the ring. Then Florrie looks like as though she was getting all -ready to cry and I asked her what was the matter and she says I had -not boughten her no ring not even when we was engaged. So I and Allen -goes back to the salloon and I gets a check cashed and we come back and -bought another ring but I did not think the ring Allen had boughten was -worth no $100 so I gets one for $75. Now Al you know I am not makeing -no kick on spending a little money for a present for my own wife but -I had allready boughten her a rist watch for $15 and a rist watch was -just what she had wanted. I was willing to give her the ring if she had -not of wanted the rist watch more than the ring but when I give her the -ring I kept the rist watch and did not tell her nothing about it. - -Well I come downtown alone the day after Xmas and they would not take -the rist watch back in the store where I got it. So I am going to give -it to her for a New Year's present and I guess that will make Allen -feel like a dirty doose. But I guess you cannot hurt no lefthander's -feelings at that. They are all alike. But Allen has not got nothing -but a dinky curve ball and a fast ball that looks like my slow one. If -Comiskey was not good hearted he would of sold him long ago. - -I sent you and Bertha a cut glass dish Al which was the best I could -get for the money and it was pretty high pricet at that. We was glad -to get the pretty pincushions from you and Bertha and Florrie says to -tell you that we are well supplied with pincushions now because the -ones you sent makes a even half dozen. Thanks Al for remembering us and -thank Bertha too though I guess you paid for them. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Januery 3._ - -OLD PAL: Al I been pretty sick ever since New Year's eve. We had a -table at 1 of the swell resturunts downtown and I never seen so much -wine drank in my life. I would rather of had beer but they would not -sell us none so I found out that they was a certain kind that you can -get for $1 a bottle and it is just as good as the kind that has got all -them fancy names but this lefthander starts ordering some other kind -about 11 oclock and it was $5 a bottle and the girls both says they -liked it better. I could not see a hole lot of difference myself and I -would of gave $0.20 for a big stine of my kind of beer. You know me Al. -Well Al you know they is not nobody that can drink more than your old -pal and I was all O.K. at one oclock but I seen the girls was getting -kind of sleepy so I says we better go home. - -Then Marie says Oh, shut up and don't be no quiter. I says You better -shut up yourself and not be telling me to shut up, and she says What -will you do if I don't shut up? And I says I would bust her in the -jaw. But you know Al I would not think of busting no girl. Then Florrie -says You better not start nothing because you had to much to drink or -you would not be talking about busting girls in the jaw. Then I says -I don't care if it is a girl I bust or a lefthander. I did not mean -nothing at all Al but Marie says I had insulted Allen and he gets up -and slaps my face. Well Al I am not going to stand that from nobody -not even if he is my brother-in-law and a lefthander that has not got -enough speed to brake a pain of glass. - -So I give him a good beating and the waiters butts in and puts us all -out for fighting and I and Florrie comes home in a taxi and Allen and -his wife don't get in till about 5 oclock so I guess she must of had to -of took him to a doctor to get fixed up. I been in bed ever since till -just this morning kind of sick to my stumach. I guess I must of eat -something that did not agree with me. Allen come over after breakfast -this morning and asked me was I all right so I guess he is not sore -over the beating I give him or else he wants to make friends because he -has saw that I am a bad guy to monkey with. - -Florrie tells me a little while ago that she paid the hole bill at the -resturunt with my money because Allen was broke so you see what kind -of a cheap skate he is Al and some day I am going to bust his jaw. She -won't tell me how much the bill was and I won't ask her to no more -because we had a good time outside of the fight and what do I care if -we spent a little money? - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Januery 20._ - -FRIEND AL: Allen and his wife have gave up the flat across the hall -from us and come over to live with us because we got a spair bedroom -and why should they not have the bennifit of it? But it is pretty hard -for the girls to have to cook and do the work when they is four of -us so I have a hired girl who does it all for $7 a week. It is great -stuff Al because now we can go round as we please and don't have to -wait for no dishes to be washed or nothing. We generally almost always -has dinner downtown in the evening so it is pretty soft for the girl -too. She don't generally have no more than one meal to get because we -generally run round downtown till late and don't get up till about noon. - -That sounds funny don't it Al, when I used to get up at 5 every morning -down home. Well Al I can tell you something else that may sound funny -and that is that I lost my taste for beer. I don't seem to care for it -no more and I found I can stand allmost as many drinks of other stuff -as I could of beer. I guess Al they is not nobody ever lived can drink -more and stand up better under it than me. I make the girls and Allen -quit every night. - -I only got just time to write you this short note because Florrie and -Marie is giving a big party to-night and I and Allen have got to beat -it out of the house and stay out of the way till they get things ready. -It is Marie's berthday and she says she is 22 but say Al if she is 22 -Kid Gleason is 30. Well Al the girls says we must blow so I will run -out and mail this letter. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Januery 31._ - -AL: Allen is going to take Marie with him on the training trip to -California and of course Florrie has been at me to take her along. I -told her postivly that she can't go. I can't afford no stunt like that -but still I am up against it to know what to do with her while we are -on the trip because Marie won't be here to stay with her. I don't like -to leave her here all alone but they is nothing to it Al I can't afford -to take her along. She says I don't see why you can't take me if Allen -takes Marie. And I says That stuff is all O.K. for Allen because him -and Marie has been grafting off of us all winter. And then she gets mad -and tells me I should not ought to say her sister was no grafter. I did -not mean nothing like that Al but you don't never know when a woman is -going to take offense. - -If our furniture was down in Bedford everything would be all O.K. -because I could leave her there and I would feel all O.K. because I -would know that you and Bertha would see that she was getting along -O.K. But they would not be no sense in sending her down to a house that -has not no furniture in it. I wish I knowed somewheres where she could -visit Al. I would be willing to pay her bord even. - -Well Al enough for this time. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, FEBUERY 4. - -FRIEND AL: You are a real old pal Al and I certainly am greatful to you -for the invatation. I have not told Florrie about it yet but I am sure -she will be tickled to death and it is certainly kind of you old pal. I -did not never dream of nothing like that. I note what you say Al about -not excepting no bord but I think it would be better and I would feel -better if you would take something say about $2 a week. - -I know Bertha will like Florrie and that they will get along O.K. -together because Florrie can learn her how to make her cloths look good -and fix her hair and fix up her face. I feel like as if you had took a -big load off of me Al and I won't never forget it. - -If you don't think I should pay no bord for Florrie all right. Suit -yourself about that old pal. - -We are leaveing here the 20 of Febuery and if you don't mind I will -bring Florrie down to you about the 18. I would like to see the old -bunch again and spesially you and Bertha. - - Yours, JACK. - -P.S. We will only be away till April 14 and that is just a nice visit. -I wish we did not have no flat on our hands. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 9._ - -OLD PAL: I want to thank you for asking Florrie to come down there and -visit you Al but I find she can't get away. I did not know she had no -engagements but she says she may go down to her folks in Texas and -she don't want to say that she will come to visit you when it is so -indefanate. So thank you just the same Al and thank Bertha too. - -Florrie is still at me to take her along to California but honest Al -I can't do it. I am right down to my last $50 and I have not payed no -rent for this month. I owe the hired girl 2 weeks' salery and both I -and Florrie needs some new cloths. - -Florrie has just came in since I started writeing this letter and we -have been talking some more about California and she says maybe if I -would ask Comiskey he would take her along as the club's guest. I had -not never thought of that Al and maybe he would because he is a pretty -good scout and I guess I will go and see him about it. The league has -its skedule meeting here to-morrow and may be I can see him down to the -hotel where they meet at. I am so worried Al that I can't write no more -but I will tell you how I come out with Comiskey. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 11._ - -FRIEND AL: I am up against it right Al and I don't know where I am -going to head in at. I went down to the hotel where the league was -holding its skedule meeting at and I seen Comiskey and got some money -off of the club but I owe all the money I got off of them and I am -still wondering what to do about Florrie. - -Comiskey was busy in the meeting when I went down there and they was -not no chance to see him for a while so I and Allen and some of the -boys hung round and had a few drinks and fanned. This here Joe Hill the -busher that Detroit has got that Violet is hooked up to was round the -hotel. I don't know what for but I felt like busting his jaw only the -boys told me I had better not do nothing because I might kill him and -any way he probily won't be in the league much longer. Well finally -Comiskey got threw the meeting and I seen him and he says Hello young -man what can I do for you? And I says I would like to get $100 advance -money. He says Have you been takeing care of yourself down in Bedford? -And I told him I had been liveing here all winter and it did not seem -to make no hit with him though I don't see what business it is of hisn -where I live. - -So I says I had been takeing good care of myself. And I have Al. You -know that. So he says I should come to the ball park the next day which -is to-day and he would have the secretary take care of me but I says -I could not wait and so he give me $100 out of his pocket and says he -would have it charged against my salery. I was just going to brace him -about the California trip when he got away and went back to the meeting. - -Well Al I hung round with the bunch waiting for him to get threw again -and we had some more drinks and finally Comiskey was threw again and I -braced him in the lobby and asked him if it was all right to take my -wife along to California. He says Sure they would be glad to have her -along. And then I says Would the club pay her fair? He says I guess -you must of spent that $100 buying some nerve. He says Have you not -got no sisters that would like to go along to? He says Does your wife -insist on the drawing room or will she take a lower birth? He says Is -my special train good enough for her? - -Then he turns away from me and I guess some of the boys must of heard -the stuff he pulled because they was laughing when he went away but I -did not see nothing to laugh at. But I guess he ment that I would have -to pay her fair if she goes along and that is out of the question Al. I -am up against it and I don't know where I am going to head in at. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 12._ - -DEAR OLD AL: I guess everything will be all O.K. now at least I am -hopeing it will. When I told Florrie about how I come out with Comiskey -she bawled her head off and I thought for a while I was going to have -to call a doctor or something but pretty soon she cut it out and we sat -there a while without saying nothing. Then she says If you could get -your salery razed a couple of hundred dollars a year would you borrow -the money ahead somewheres and take me along to California? I says -Yes I would if I could get a couple hundred dollars more salery but -how could I do that when I had signed a contract for $2800 last fall -allready? She says Don't you think you are worth more than $2800? And -I says Yes of coarse I was worth more than $2800. She says Well if you -will go and talk the right way to Comiskey I believe he will give you -$3000 but you must be sure you go at it the right way and don't go and -ball it all up. - -Well we argude about it a while because I don't want to hold nobody -up Al but finally I says I would. It would not be holding nobody up -anyway because I am worth $3000 to the club if I am worth a nichol. The -papers is all saying that the club has got a good chance to win the -pennant this year and talking about the pitching staff and I guess they -would not be no pitching staff much if it was not for I and one or two -others--about one other I guess. - -So it looks like as if everything will be all O.K. now Al. I am going -to the office over to the park to see him the first thing in the -morning and I am pretty sure that I will get what I am after because if -I do not he will see that I am going to quit and then he will see what -he is up against and not let me get away. - -I will let you know how I come out. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 14._ - -FRIEND AL: Al old pal I have got a big supprise for you. I am going to -the Federal League. I had a run in with Comiskey yesterday and I guess -I told him a thing or 2. I guess he would of been glad to sign me at my -own figure before I got threw but I was so mad I would not give him no -chance to offer me another contract. - -I got out to the park at 9 oclock yesterday morning and it was a hour -before he showed up and then he kept me waiting another hour so I was -pretty sore when I finally went in to see him. He says Well young man -what can I do for you? I says I come to see about my contract. He says -Do you want to sign up for next year all ready? I says No I am talking -about this year. He says I thought I and you talked business last fall. -And I says Yes but now I think I am worth more money and I want to sign -a contract for $3000. He says If you behave yourself and work good this -year I will see that you are took care of. But I says That won't do -because I have got to be sure I am going to get $3000. - -Then he says I am not sure you are going to get anything. I says What -do you mean? And he says I have gave you a very fare contract and if -you don't want to live up to it that is your own business. So I give -him a awful call Al and told him I would jump to the Federal League. -He says Oh, I would not do that if I was you. They are haveing a hard -enough time as it is. So I says something back to him and he did not -say nothing to me and I beat it out of the office. - -I have not told Florrie about the Federal League business yet as I -am going to give her a big supprise. I bet they will take her along -with me on the training trip and pay her fair but even if they don't I -should not worry because I will make them give me a contract for $4000 -a year and then I can afford to take her with me on all the trips. - -I will go down and see Tinker to-morrow morning and I will write you -to-morrow night Al how much salery they are going to give me. But I -won't sign for no less than $4000. You know me Al. - - Yours, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 15._ - -OLD PAL: It is pretty near midnight Al but I been to bed a couple of -times and I can't get no sleep. I am worried to death Al and I don't -know where I am going to head in at. Maybe I will go out and buy a gun -Al and end it all and I guess it would be better for everybody. But I -cannot do that Al because I have not got the money to buy a gun with. - -I went down to see Tinker about signing up with the Federal League -and he was busy in the office when I come in. Pretty soon Buck Perry -the pitcher that was with Boston last year come out and seen me and -as Tinker was still busy we went out and had a drink together. Buck -shows me a contract for $5000 a year and Tinker had allso gave him a -$500 bonus. So pretty soon I went up to the office and pretty soon -Tinker seen me and called me into his private office and asked what -did I want. I says I was ready to jump for $4000 and a bonus. He says -I thought you was signed up with the White Sox. I says Yes I was but I -was not satisfied. He says That does not make no difference to me if -you are satisfied or not. You ought to of came to me before you signed -a contract. I says I did not know enough but I know better now. He says -Well it is to late now. We cannot have nothing to do with you because -you have went and signed a contract with the White Sox. I argude with -him a while and asked him to come out and have a drink so we could talk -it over but he said he was busy so they was nothing for me to do but -blow. - -So I am not going to the Federal League Al and I will not go with the -White Sox because I have got a raw deal. Comiskey will be sorry for -what he done when his team starts the season and is up against it for -good pitchers and then he will probily be willing to give me anything -I ask for but that don't do me no good now Al. I am way in debt and no -chance to get no money from nobody. I wish I had of stayed with Terre -Haute Al and never saw this league. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 17._ - -FRIEND AL: Al don't never let nobody tell you that these here -lefthanders is right. This Allen my own brother-in-law who married -sisters has been grafting and spongeing on me all winter Al. Look what -he done to me now Al. You know how hard I been up against it for money -and I know he has got plenty of it because I seen it on him. Well Al -I was scared to tell Florrie I was cleaned out and so I went to Allen -yesterday and says I had to have $100 right away because I owed the -rent and owed the hired girl's salery and could not even pay no grocery -bill. And he says No he could not let me have none because he has got -to save all his money to take his wife on the trip to California. And -here he has been liveing on me all winter and maybe I could of took my -wife to California if I had not of spent all my money takeing care of -this no good lefthander and his wife. And Al honest he has not got a -thing and ought not to be in the league. He gets by with a dinky curve -ball and has not got no more smoke than a rabbit or something. - -Well Al I felt like busting him in the jaw but then I thought No I -might kill him and then I would have Marie and Florrie both to take -care of and God knows one of them is enough besides paying his funeral -expenses. So I walked away from him without takeing a crack at him -and went into the other room where Florrie and Marie was at. I says -to Marie I says Marie I wish you would go in the other room a minute -because I want to talk to Florrie. So Marie beats it into the other -room and then I tells Florrie all about what Comiskey and the Federal -League done to me. She bawled something awful and then she says I was -no good and she wished she had not never married me. I says I wisht it -too and then she says Do you mean that and starts to cry. - -I told her I was sorry I says that because they is not no use fusing -with girls Al specially when they is your wife. She says No California -trip for me and then she says What are you going to do? And I says I -did not know. She says Well if I was a man I would do something. So -then I got mad and I says I will do something. So I went down to the -corner salloon and started in to get good and drunk but I could not do -it Al because I did not have the money. - -Well old pal I am going to ask you a big favor and it is this I want -you to send me $100 Al for just a few days till I can get on my feet. I -do not know when I can pay it back Al but I guess you know the money -is good and I know you have got it. Who would not have it when they -live in Bedford? And besides I let you take $20 in June 4 years ago Al -and you give it back but I would not have said nothing to you if you -had of kept it. Let me hear from you right away old pal. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 19._ - -AL: I am certainly greatful to you Al for the $100 which come just a -little while ago. I will pay the rent with it and part of the grocery -bill and I guess the hired girl will have to wait a while for hern but -she is sure to get it because I don't never forget my debts. I have -changed my mind about the White Sox and I am going to go on the trip -and take Florrie along because I don't think it would not be right to -leave her here alone in Chi when her sister and all of us is going. - -I am going over to the ball park and up in the office pretty soon to -see about it. I will tell Comiskey I changed my mind and he will be -glad to get me back because the club has not got no chance to finish -nowheres without me. But I won't go on no trip or give the club my -services without them giveing me some more advance money so as I can -take Florrie along with me because Al I would not go without her. - -Maybe Comiskey will make my salery $3000 like I wanted him to when he -sees I am willing to be a good fellow and go along with him and when he -knows that the Federal League would of gladly gave me $4000 if I had -not of signed no contract with the White Sox. - -I think I will ask him for $200 advance money Al and if I get it may be -I can send part of your $100 back to you but I know you cannot be in no -hurry Al though you says you wanted it back as soon as possible. You -could not be very hard up Al because it don't cost near so much to live -in Bedford as it does up here. - -Anyway I will let you know how I come out with Comiskey and I will -write you as soon as I get out to Paso Robles if I don't get no time to -write you before I leave. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. I have took good care of myself all winter Al and I guess I ought -to have a great season. - -P.S. Florrie is tickled to death about going along and her and I will -have some time together out there on the Coast if I can get some money -somewheres. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, Febuery 21._ - -FRIEND AL: I have not got the heart to write this letter to you Al. -I am up here in my $42.50 a month flat and the club has went to -California and Florrie has went too. I am flat broke Al and all I am -asking you is to send me enough money to pay my fair to Bedford and -they and all their leagues can go to hell Al. - -I was out to the ball park early yesterday morning and some of the boys -was there all ready fanning and kidding each other. They tried to kid -me to when I come in but I guess I give them as good as they give me. I -was not in no mind for kidding Al because I was there on business and I -wanted to see Comiskey and get it done with. - -Well the secretary come in finally and I went up to him and says I -wanted to see Comiskey right away. He says The boss was busy and what -did I want to see him about and I says I wanted to get some advance -money because I was going to take my wife on the trip. He says This -would be a fine time to be telling us about it even if you was going on -the trip. - -And I says What do you mean? And he says You are not going on no -trip with us because we have got wavers on you and you are sold to -Milwaukee. - -Honest Al I thought he was kidding at first and I was waiting for him -to laugh but he did not laugh and finally I says What do you mean? And -he says Cannot you understand no English? You are sold to Milwaukee. -Then I says I want to see the boss. He says It won't do you no good to -see the boss and he is to busy to see you. I says I want to get some -money. And he says You cannot get no money from this club and all you -get is your fair to Milwaukee. I says I am not going to no Milwaukee -anyway and he says I should not worry about that. Suit yourself. - -Well Al I told some of the boys about it and they was pretty sore and -says I ought to bust the secretary in the jaw and I was going to do it -when I thought No I better not because he is a little guy and I might -kill him. - -I looked all over for Kid Gleason but he was not nowheres round and -they told me he would not get into town till late in the afternoon. If -I could of saw him Al he would of fixed me all up. I asked 3 or 4 of -the boys for some money but they says they was all broke. - -But I have not told you the worst of it yet Al. When I come back to the -flat Allen and Marie and Florrie was busy packing up and they asked me -how I come out. I told them and Allen just stood there stareing like -a big rummy but Marie and Florrie both begin to cry and I almost felt -like as if I would like to cry to only I am not no baby Al. - -Well Al I told Florrie she might just is well quit packing and make up -her mind that she was not going nowheres till I got money enough to go -to Bedford where I belong. She kept right on crying and it got so I -could not stand it no more so I went out to get a drink because I still -had just about a dollar left yet. - -It was about 2 oclock when I left the flat and pretty near 5 when I -come back because I had ran in to some fans that knowed who I was and -would not let me get away and besides I did not want to see no more of -Allen and Marie till they was out of the house and on their way. - -But when I come in Al they was nobody there. They was not nothing there -except the furniture and a few of my things scattered round. I sit down -for a few minutes because I guess I must of had to much to drink but -finally I seen a note on the table addressed to me and I seen it was -Florrie's writeing. - -I do not remember just what was there in the note Al because I tore it -up the minute I read it but it was something about I could not support -no wife and Allen had gave her enough money to go back to Texas and she -was going on the 6 oclock train and it would not do me no good to try -and stop her. - -Well Al they was not no danger of me trying to stop her. She was not no -good Al and I wisht I had not of never saw either she or her sister or -my brother-in-law. - -For a minute I thought I would follow Allen and his wife down to the -deepo where the special train was to pull out of and wait till I see -him and punch his jaw but I seen that would not get me nothing. - -So here I am all alone Al and I will have to stay here till you send me -the money to come home. You better send me $25 because I have got a few -little debts I should ought to pay before I leave town. I am not going -to Milwaukee Al because I did not get no decent deal and nobody cannot -make no sucker out of me. - -Please hurry up with the $25 Al old friend because I am sick and tired -of Chi and want to get back there with my old pal. - - Yours, JACK. - -P.S. Al I wish I had of took poor little Violet when she was so stuck -on me. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -A NEW BUSHER BREAKS IN - - - _Chicago, Illinois, March 2._ - -FRIEND AL: Al that peace in the paper was all O.K. and the right dope -just like you said. I seen president Johnson the president of the -league to-day and he told me the peace in the papers was the right dope -and Comiskey did not have no right to sell me to Milwaukee because the -Detroit Club had never gave no wavers on me. He says the Detroit Club -was late in fileing their claim and Comiskey must of tooken it for -granted that they was going to wave but president Johnson was pretty -sore about it at that and says Comiskey did not have no right to sell -me till he was positive that they was not no team that wanted me. - -It will probily cost Comiskey some money for acting like he done and -not paying no attention to the rules and I would not be supprised if -president Johnson had him throwed out of the league. - -Well I asked president Johnson should I report at once to the Detroit -Club down south and he says No you better wait till you hear from -Comiskey and I says What has Comiskey got to do with it now? And he -says Comiskey will own you till he sells you to Detroit or somewheres -else. So I will have to go out to the ball park to-morrow and see is -they any mail for me there because I probily will get a letter from -Comiskey telling me I am sold to Detroit. - -If I had of thought at the time I would of knew that Detroit never -would give no wavers on me after the way I showed Cobb and Crawford up -last fall and I might of knew too that Detroit is in the market for -good pitchers because they got a rotten pitching staff but they won't -have no rotten staff when I get with them. - -If necessary I will pitch every other day for Jennings and if I do we -will win the pennant sure because Detroit has got a club that can get -2 or 3 runs every day and all as I need to win most of my games is 1 -run. I can't hardly wait till Jennings works me against the White Sox -and what I will do to them will be a plenty. It don't take no pitching -to beat them anyway and when they get up against a pitcher like I they -might as well leave their bats in the bag for all the good their bats -will do them. - -I guess Cobb and Crawford will be glad to have me on the Detroit Club -because then they won't never have to hit against me except in practice -and I won't pitch my best in practice because they will be teammates -of mine and I don't never like to show none of my teammates up. At -that though I don't suppose Jennings will let me do much pitching in -practice because when he gets a hold of a good pitcher he won't want me -to take no chances of throwing my arm away in practice. - -Al just think how funny it will be to have me pitching for the Tigers -in the same town where Violet lives and pitching on the same club with -her husband. It will not be so funny for Violet and her husband though -because when she has a chance to see me work regular she will find out -what a mistake she made takeing that lefthander instead of a man that -has got some future and soon will be makeing 5 or $6000 a year because -I won't sign with Detroit for no less than $5000 at most. Of coarse -I could of had her if I had of wanted to but still and all it will -make her feel pretty sick to see me winning games for Detroit while -her husband is batting fungos and getting splinters in his unie from -slideing up and down the bench. - -As for her husband the first time he opens his clam to me I will haul -off and bust him one in the jaw but I guess he will know more than to -start trouble with a man of my size and who is going to be one of their -stars while he is just holding down a job because they feel sorry for -him. I wish he could of got the girl I married instead of the one he -got and I bet she would of drove him crazy. But I guess you can't drive -a lefthander crazyer than he is to begin with. - -I have not heard nothing from Florrie Al and I don't want to hear -nothing. I and her is better apart and I wish she would sew me for -a bill of divorce so she could not go round claiming she is my wife -and disgraceing my name. If she would consent to sew me for a bill of -divorce I would gladly pay all the expenses and settle with her for -any sum of money she wants say about $75.00 or $100.00 and they is no -reason I should give her a nichol after the way her and her sister -Marie and her brother-in-law Allen grafted off of me. Probily I could -sew her for a bill of divorce but they tell me it costs money to sew -and if you just lay low and let the other side do the sewing it don't -cost you a nichol. - -It is pretty late Al and I have got to get up early to-morrow and go -to the ball park and see is they any mail for me. I will let you know -what I hear old pal. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, March 4._ - -AL: I am up against it again. I went out to the ball park office -yesterday and they was nobody there except John somebody who is asst -secretary and all the rest of them is out on the Coast with the team. -Maybe this here John was trying to kid me but this is what he told -me. First I says Is they a letter here for me? And he says No. And I -says I was expecting word from Comiskey that I should join the Detroit -Club and he says What makes you think you are going to Detroit? I says -Comiskey asked wavers on me and Detroit did not give no wavers. He says -Well that is not no sign that you are going to Detroit. If Comiskey -can't get you out of the league he will probily keep you himself and it -is a cinch he is not going to give no pitcher to Detroit no matter how -rotten he is. - -I says What do you mean? And he says You just stick round town till -you hear from Comiskey and I guess you will hear pretty soon because -he is comeing back from the Coast next Saturday. I says Well the only -thing he can tell me is to report to Detroit because I won't never -pitch again for the White Sox. Then John gets fresh and says I suppose -you will quit the game and live on your saveings and then I blowed out -of the office because I was scared I would loose my temper and break -something. - -So you see Al what I am up against. I won't never pitch for the -White Sox again and I want to get with the Detroit Club but how can -I if Comiskey won't let me go? All I can do is stick round till next -Saturday and then I will see Comiskey and I guess when I tell him what -I think of him he will be glad to let me go to Detroit or anywheres -else. I will have something on him this time because I know that he -did not pay no attention to the rules when he told me I was sold to -Milwaukee and if he tries to slip something over on me I will tell -president Johnson of the league all about it and then you will see -where Comiskey heads in at. - -Al old pal that $25.00 you give me at the station the other day is all -shot to peaces and I must ask you to let me have $25.00 more which will -make $75.00 all together includeing the $25.00 you sent me before I -come home. I hate to ask you this favor old pal but I know you have got -the money. If I am sold to Detroit I will get some advance money and -pay up all my dedts incluseive. - -If he don't let me go to Detroit I will make him come across with part -of my salery for this year even if I don't pitch for him because I -signed a contract and was ready to do my end of it and would of if he -had not of been nasty and tried to slip something over on me. If he -refuses to come across I will hire a attorney at law and he will get it -all. So Al you see you have got a cinch on getting back what you lone -me but I guess you know that Al without all this talk because you have -been my old pal for a good many years and I have allways treated you -square and tried to make you feel that I and you was equals and that my -success was not going to make me forget my old friends. - -Wherever I pitch this year I will insist on a salery of 5 or $6000 a -year. So you see on my first pay day I will have enough to pay you up -and settle the rest of my dedts but I am not going to pay no more rent -for this rotten flat because they tell me if a man don't pay no rent -for a while they will put him out. Let them put me out. I should not -worry but will go and rent my old room that I had before I met Florrie -and got into all this trouble. - -The sooner you can send me that $35.00 the better and then I will owe -you $85.00 incluseive and I will write and let you know how I come out -with Comiskey. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, March 12._ - -FRIEND AL: I got another big supprise for you and this is it I am going -to pitch for the White Sox after all. If Comiskey was not a old man I -guess I would of lost my temper and beat him up but I am glad now that -I kept my temper and did not loose it because I forced him to make a -lot of consessions and now it looks like as though I would have a big -year both pitching and money. - -He got back to town yesterday morning and showed up to his office in -the afternoon and I was there waiting for him. He would not see me -for a while but finally I acted like as though I was getting tired of -waiting and I guess the secretary got scared that I would beat it out -of the office and leave them all in the lerch. Anyway he went in and -spoke to Comiskey and then come out and says the boss was ready to see -me. When I went into the office where he was at he says Well young man -what can I do for you? And I says I want you to give me my release -so as I can join the Detroit Club down South and get in shape. Then -he says What makes you think you are going to join the Detroit Club? -Because we need you here. I says Then why did you try to sell me to -Milwaukee? But you could not because you could not get no wavers. - -Then he says I thought I was doing you a favor by sending you to -Milwaukee because they make a lot of beer up there. I says What do you -mean? He says You been keeping in shape all this winter by trying to -drink this town dry and besides that you tried to hold me up for more -money when you allready had signed a contract allready and so I was -going to send you to Milwaukee and learn you something and besides you -tried to go with the Federal League but they would not take you because -they was scared to. - -I don't know where he found out all that stuff at Al and besides he was -wrong when he says I was drinking to much because they is not nobody -that can drink more than me and not be effected. But I did not say -nothing because I was scared I would forget myself and call him some -name and he is a old man. Yes I did say something. I says Well I guess -you found out that you could not get me out of the league and then he -says Don't never think I could not get you out of the league. If you -think I can't send you to Milwaukee I will prove it to you that I can. -I says You can't because Detroit won't give no wavers on me. He says -Detroit will give wavers on you quick enough if I ask them. - -Then he says Now you can take your choice you can stay here and pitch -for me at the salery you signed up for and you can cut out the monkey -business and drink water when you are thirsty or else you can go up to -Milwaukee and drownd yourself in one of them brewrys. Which shall it -be? I says How can you keep me or send me to Milwaukee when Detroit -has allready claimed my services? He says Detroit has claimed a lot -of things and they have even claimed the pennant but that is not no -sign they will win it. He says And besides you would not want to pitch -for Detroit because then you would not never have no chance to pitch -against Cobb and show him up. - -Well Al when he says that I knowed he appresiated what a pitcher I am -even if he did try to sell me to Milwaukee or he would not of made that -remark about the way I can show Cobb and Crawford up. So I says Well -if you need me that bad I will pitch for you but I must have a new -contract. He says Oh I guess we can fix that up O.K. and he steps out -in the next room a while and then he comes back with a new contract. -And what do you think it was Al? It was a contract for 3 years so you -see I am sure of my job here for 3 years and everything is all O.K. - -The contract calls for the same salery a year for 3 years that I was -going to get before for only 1 year which is $2800.00 a year and then -I will get in on the city serious money too and the Detroit Club don't -have no city serious and have no chance to get into the World's Serious -with the rotten pitching staff they got. So you see Al he fixed me up -good and that shows that he must think a hole lot of me or he would of -sent me to Detroit or maybe to Milwaukee but I don't see how he could -of did that without no wavers. - -Well Al I allmost forgot to tell you that he has gave me a ticket to -Los Angeles where the 2d team are practicing at now but where the 1st -team will be at in about a week. I am leaveing to-night and I guess -before I go I will go down to president Johnson and tell him that I am -fixed up all O.K. and have not got no kick comeing so that president -Johnson will not fine Comiskey for not paying no attention to the rules -or get him fired out of the league because I guess Comiskey must be -all O.K. and good hearted after all. - -I won't pay no attention to what he says about me drinking this town -dry because he is all wrong in regards to that. He must of been jokeing -I guess because nobody but some boob would think he could drink this -town dry but at that I guess I can hold more than anybody and not be -effected. But I guess I will cut it out for a while at that because I -don't want to get them sore at me after the contract they give me. - -I will write to you from Los Angeles Al and let you know what the boys -says when they see me and I will bet that they will be tickled to -death. The rent man was round to-day but I seen him comeing and he did -not find me. I am going to leave the furniture that belongs in the flat -in the flat and allso the furniture I bought which don't amount to much -because it was not no real Sir Cashion walnut and besides I don't want -nothing round me to remind me of Florrie because the sooner her and I -forget each other the better. - -Tell the boys about my good luck Al but it is not no luck neither -because it was comeing to me. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Los Angeles, California, March 16._ - -AL: Here I am back with the White Sox again and it seems to good to be -true because just like I told you they are all tickled to death to see -me. Kid Gleason is here in charge of the 2d team and when he seen me -come into the hotel he jumped up and hit me in the stumach but he acts -like that whenever he feels good so I could not get sore at him though -he had no right to hit me in the stumach. If he had of did it in ernest -I would of walloped him in the jaw. - -He says Well if here ain't the old lady killer. He ment Al that I am -strong with the girls but I am all threw with them now but he don't -know nothing about the troubles I had. He says Are you in shape? And I -told him Yes I am. He says Yes you look in shape like a barrel. I says -They is not no fat on me and if I am a little bit bigger than last year -it is because my mussels is bigger. He says Yes your stumach mussels is -emense and you must of gave them plenty of exercise. Wait till Bodie -sees you and he will want to stick round you all the time because you -make him look like a broom straw or something. I let him kid me along -because what is the use of getting mad at him? And besides he is all -O.K. even if he is a little rough. - -I says to him A little work will fix me up all O.K. and he says You bet -you are going to get some work because I am going to see to it myself. -I says You will have to hurry because you will be going up to Frisco in -a few days and I am going to stay here and join the 1st club. Then he -says You are not going to do no such a thing. You are going right along -with me. I knowed he was kidding me then because Callahan would not -never leave me with the 2d team no more after what I done for him last -year and besides most of the stars generally allways goes with the 1st -team on the training trip. - -Well I seen all the rest of the boys that is here with the 2d team and -they all acted like as if they was glad to see me and why should not -they be when they know that me being here with the White Sox and not -with Detroit means that Callahan won't have to do no worrying about his -pitching staff? But they is four or 5 young recrut pitchers with the -team here and I bet they is not so glad to see me because what chance -have they got? - -If I was Comiskey and Callahan I would not spend no money on new -pitchers because with me and 1 or 2 of the other boys we got the best -pitching staff in the league. And instead of spending the money for -new pitching recruts I would put it all in a lump and buy Ty Cobb or -Sam Crawford off of Detroit or somebody else who can hit and Cobb and -Crawford is both real hitters Al even if I did make them look like -suckers. Who wouldn't? - -Well Al to-morrow A.M. I am going out and work a little and in the P.M. -I will watch the game between we and the Venice Club but I won't pitch -none because Gleason would not dare take no chances of me hurting my -arm. I will write to you in a few days from here because no matter what -Gleason says I am going to stick here with the 1st team because I know -Callahan will want me along with him for a attraction. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _San Francisco, California, March 20._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al here I am back in old Frisco with the 2d team but I -will tell you how it happened Al. Yesterday Gleason told me to pack up -and get ready to leave Los Angeles with him and I says No I am going to -stick here and wait for the 1st team and then he says I guess I must of -overlooked something in the papers because I did not see nothing about -you being appointed manager of the club. I says No I am not manager -but Callahan is manager and he will want to keep me with him. He says -I got a wire from Callahan telling me to keep you with my club but of -coarse if you know what Callahan wants better than he knows it himself -why then go ahead and stay here or go jump in the Pacific Ocean. - -Then he says I know why you don't want to go with me and I says Why? -And he says Because you know I will make you work and won't let you -eat everything on the bill of fair includeing the name of the hotel -at which we are stopping at. That made me sore and I was just going -to call him when he says Did not you marry Mrs. Allen's sister? And I -says Yes but that is not none of your business. Then he says Well I -don't want to butt into your business but I heard you and your wife -had some kind of a argument and she beat it. I says Yes she give me a -rotten deal. He says Well then I don't see where it is going to be very -pleasant for you traveling round with the 1st club because Allen and -his wife is both with that club and what do you want to be mixed up -with them for? I says I am not scared of Allen or his wife or no other -old hen. - -So here I am Al with the 2d team but it is only for a while till -Callahan gets sick of some of them pitchers he has got and sends for -me so as he can see some real pitching. And besides I am glad to be -here in Frisco where I made so many friends when I was pitching here -for a short time till Callahan heard about my work and called me back -to the big show where I belong at and nowheres else. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _San Francisco, California, March 25._ - -OLD PAL: Al I got a supprise for you. Who do you think I seen last -night? Nobody but Hazel. Her name now is Hazel Levy because you know Al -she married Kid Levy the middle-weight and I wish he was champion of -the world Al because then it would not take me more than about a minute -to be champion of the world myself. I have not got nothing against him -though because he married her and if he had not of I probily would of -married her myself but at that she could not of treated me no worse -than Florrie. Well they was setting at a table in the cafe where her -and I use to go pretty near every night. She spotted me when I first -come in and sends a waiter over to ask me to come and have a drink with -them. I went over because they was no use being nasty and let bygones -be bygones. - -She interduced me to her husband and he asked me what was I drinking. -Then she butts in and says Oh you must let Mr. Keefe buy the drinks -because it hurts his feelings to have somebody else buy the drinks. -Then Levy says Oh he is one of these here spendrifts is he? and she -says Yes he don't care no more about a nichol than his right eye does. -I says I guess you have got no holler comeing on the way I spend my -money. I don't steal no money anyway. She says What do you mean? and -I says I guess you know what I mean. How about that $30.00 that you -borrowed off of me and never give it back? Then her husband cuts in and -says You cut that line of talk out or I will bust you. I says Yes you -will. And he says Yes I will. - -Well Al what was the use of me starting trouble with him when he has -got enough trouble right to home and besides as I say I have not got -nothing against him. So I got up and blowed away from the table and -I bet he was relieved when he seen I was not going to start nothing. -I beat it out of there a while afterward because I was not drinking -nothing and I don't have no fun setting round a place and lapping up -ginger ail or something. And besides the music was rotten. - -Al I am certainly glad I throwed Hazel over because she has grew to -be as big as a horse and is all painted up. I don't care nothing about -them big dolls no more or about no other kind neither. I am off of them -all. They can all of them die and I should not worry. - -Well Al I done my first pitching of the year this P.M. and I guess I -showed them that I was in just as good a shape as some of them birds -that has been working a month. I worked 4 innings against my old team -the San Francisco Club and I give them nothing but fast ones but they -sure was fast ones and you could hear them zip. Charlie O'Leary was -trying to get out of the way of one of them and it hit his bat and went -over first base for a base hit but at that Fournier would of eat it up -if it had of been Chase playing first base instead of Fournier. - -That was the only hit they got off of me and they ought to of been -ashamed to of tooken that one. But Gleason don't appresiate my work -and him and I allmost come to blows at supper. I was pretty hungry and -I ordered some stake and some eggs and some pie and some ice cream -and some coffee and a glass of milk but Gleason would not let me have -the pie or the milk and would not let me eat more than 1/2 the stake. -And it is a wonder I did not bust him and tell him to mind his own -business. I says What right have you got to tell me what to eat? And he -says You don't need nobody to tell you what to eat you need somebody to -keep you from floundering yourself. I says Why can't I eat what I want -to when I have worked good? - -He says Who told you you worked good and I says I did not need nobody -to tell me. I know I worked good because they could not do nothing with -me. He says Well it is a good thing for you that they did not start -bunting because if you had of went to stoop over and pick up the ball -you would of busted wide open. I says Why? and he says because you are -hog fat and if you don't let up on the stable and fancy groceries we -will have to pay 2 fairs to get you back to Chi. I don't remember now -what I says to him but I says something you can bet on that. You know -me Al. - -I wish Al that Callahan would hurry up and order me to join the 1st -team. If he don't Al I believe Gleason will starve me to death. A -little slob like him don't realize that a big man like I needs good -food and plenty of it. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Salt Lake City, Utah, April 1._ - -AL: Well Al we are on our way East and I am still with the 2d team and -I don't understand why Callahan don't order me to join the 1st team but -maybe it is because he knows that I am all right and have got the stuff -and he wants to keep them other guys round where he can see if they -have got anything. - -The recrut pitchers that is along with our club have not got nothing -and the scout that reckommended them must of been full of hops or -something. It is not no common thing for a club to pick up a man that -has got the stuff to make him a star up here and the White Sox was -pretty lucky to land me but I don't understand why they throw their -money away on new pitchers when none of them is no good and besides who -would want a better pitching staff than we got right now without no raw -recruts and bushers. - -I worked in Oakland the day before yesterday but he only let me go the -1st 4 innings. I bet them Oakland birds was glad when he took me out. -When I was in that league I use to just throw my glove in the box and -them Oakland birds was licked and honest Al some of them turned white -when they seen I was going to pitch the other day. - -I felt kind of sorry for them and I did not give them all I had so they -got 5 or 6 hits and scored a couple of runs. I was not feeling very -good at that and besides we got some awful excuses for a ball player on -this club and the support they give me was the rottenest I ever seen -gave anybody. But some of them won't be in this league more than about -10 minutes more so I should not fret as they say. - -We play here this afternoon and I don't believe I will work because the -team they got here is not worth wasteing nobody on. They must be a lot -of boobs in this town Al because they tell me that some of them has got -1/2 a dozen wives or so. And what a man wants with 1 wife is a misery -to me let alone a 1/2 dozen. - -I will probily work against Denver because they got a good club and was -champions of the Western League last year. I will make them think they -are champions of the Epworth League or something. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Des Moines, Iowa, April 10._ - -FRIEND AL: We got here this A.M. and this is our last stop and we will -be in old Chi to-morrow to open the season. The 1st team gets home -to-day and I would be there with them if Callahan was a real manager -who knowed something about manageing because if I am going to open the -season I should ought to have 1 day of rest at home so I would have all -my strenth to open the season. The Cleveland Club will be there to open -against us and Callahan must know that I have got them licked any time -I start against them. - -As soon as my name is announced to pitch the Cleveland Club is licked -or any other club when I am right and they don't kick the game away -behind me. - -Gleason told me on the train last night that I was going to pitch here -to-day but I bet by this time he has got orders from Callahan to let me -rest and to not give me no more work because suppose even if I did not -start the game to-morrow I probily will have to finish it. - -Gleason has been sticking round me like as if I had a million bucks or -something. I can't even sit down and smoke a cigar but what he is there -to knock the ashes off of it. He is O.K. and good-hearted if he is a -little rough and keeps hitting me in the stumach but I wish he would -leave me alone sometimes espesially at meals. He was in to breakfast -with me this A.M. and after I got threw I snuck off down the street and -got something to eat. That is not right because it costs me money when -I have to go away from the hotel and eat and what right has he got to -try and help me order my meals? Because he don't know what I want and -what my stumach wants. - -My stumach don't want to have him punching it all the time but he keeps -on doing it. So that shows he don't know what is good for me. But is a -old man Al otherwise I would not stand for the stuff he pulls. The 1st -thing I am going to do when we get to Chi is I am going to a resturunt -somewheres and get a good meal where Gleason or no one else can't get -at me. I know allready what I am going to eat and that is a big stake -and a apple pie and that is not all. - -Well Al watch the papers and you will see what I done to that Cleveland -Club and I hope Lajoie and Jackson is both in good shape because I -don't want to pick on no cripples. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, April 16._ - -OLD PAL: Yesterday was the 1st pay day old pal and I know I promised to -pay you what I owe you and it is $75.00 because when I asked you for -$35.00 before I went West you only sent me $25.00 which makes the hole -sum $75.00. Well Al I can't pay you now because the pay we drawed was -only for 4 days and did not amount to nothing and I had to buy a meal -ticket and fix up about my room rent. - -And then they is another thing Al which I will tell you about. I come -into the clubhouse the day the season opened and the 1st guy I seen was -Allen. I was going up to bust him but he come up and held his hand out -and what was they for me to do but shake hands with him if he is going -to be yellow like that? He says Well Jack I am glad they did not send -you to Milwaukee and I bet you will have a big year. I says Yes I will -have a big year O.K. if you don't sick another 1 of your sister-in-laws -on to me. He says Oh don't let they be no hard feelings about that. -You know it was not no fault of mine and I bet if you was to write to -Florrie everything could be fixed up O.K. - -I says I don't want to write to no Florrie but I will get a attorney at -law to write to her. He says You don't even know where she is at and I -says I don't care where she is at. Where is she? He says She is down to -her home in Waco, Texas, and if I was you I would write to her myself -and not let no attorney at law write to her because that would get her -mad and besides what do you want a attorney at law to write to her -about? I says I am going to sew her for a bill of divorce. - -Then he says On what grounds? and I says Dessertion. He says You better -not do no such thing or she will sew you for a bill of divorce for none -support and then you will look like a cheap guy. I says I don't care -what I look like. So you see Al I had to send Florrie $10.00 or maybe -she would be mean enough to sew me for a bill of divorce on the ground -of none support and that would make me look bad. - -Well Al, Allen told me his wife wanted to talk to me and try and fix -things up between I and Florrie but I give him to understand that I -would not stand for no meeting with his wife and he says Well suit -yourself about that but they is no reason you and I should quarrel. - -You see Al he don't want no mix-up with me because he knows he could -not get nothing but the worst of it. I will be friends with him but I -won't have nothing to do with Marie because if it had not of been for -she and Florrie I would have money in the bank besides not being in no -danger of getting sewed for none support. - -I guess you must of read about Joe Benz getting married and I guess -he must of got a good wife and 1 that don't bother him all the time -because he pitched the opening game and shut Cleveland out with 2 -hits. He was pretty good Al, better than I ever seen him and they was a -couple of times when his fast ball was pretty near as fast as mine. - -I have not worked yet Al and I asked Callahan to-day what was the -matter and he says I was waiting for you to get in shape. I says I am -in shape now and I notice that when I was pitching in practice this -A.M. they did not hit nothing out of the infield. He says That was -because you are so spread out that they could not get nothing past you. -He says The way you are now you cover more ground than the grand stand. -I says Is that so? And he walked away. - -We go out on a trip to Cleveland and Detroit and St. Louis in a few -days and maybe I will take my regular turn then because the other -pitchers has been getting away lucky because most of the hitters has -not got their batting eye as yet but wait till they begin hitting and -then it will take a man like I to stop them. - -The 1st of May is our next pay day Al and then I will have enough money -so as I can send you the $75.00. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Detroit, Michigan, April 28._ - -FRIEND AL: What do you think of a rotten manager that bawls me out and -fines me $50.00 for loosing a 1 to 0 game in 10 innings when it was my -1st start this season? And no wonder I was a little wild in the 10th -when I had not had no chance to work and get control. I got a good -notion to quit this rotten club and jump to the Federals where a man -gets some kind of treatment. Callahan says I throwed the game away on -purpose but I did not do no such a thing Al because when I throwed that -ball at Joe Hill's head I forgot that the bases was full and besides -if Gleason had not of starved me to death the ball that hit him in the -head would of killed him. - -And how could a man go to 1st base and the winning run be forced in -if he was dead which he should ought to of been the lucky left handed -stiff if I had of had my full strenth to put on my fast one instead -of being 1/2 starved to death and weak. But I guess I better tell you -how it come off. The papers will get it all wrong like they generally -allways does. - -Callahan asked me this A.M. if I thought I was hard enough to work -and I was tickled to death, because I seen he was going to give me a -chance. I told him Sure I was in good shape and if them Tigers scored -a run off me he could keep me setting on the bench the rest of the -summer. So he says All right I am going to start you and if you go good -maybe Gleason will let you eat some supper. - -Well Al when I begin warming up I happened to look up in the grand -stand and who do you think I seen? Nobody but Violet. She smiled when -she seen me but I bet she felt more like crying. Well I smiled back -at her because she probily would of broke down and made a seen or -something if I had not of. They was not nobody warming up for Detroit -when I begin warming up but pretty soon I looked over to their bench -and Joe Hill Violet's husband was warming up. I says to myself Well -here is where I show that bird up if they got nerve enough to start him -against me but probily Jennings don't want to waste no real pitcher on -this game which he knows we got cinched and we would of had it cinched -Al if they had of got a couple of runs or even 1 run for me. - -Well, Jennings come passed our bench just like he allways does and -tried to pull some of his funny stuff. He says Hello are you still -in the league? I says Yes but I come pretty near not being. I came -pretty near being with Detroit. I wish you could of heard Gleason and -Callahan laugh when I pulled that one on him. He says something back -but it was not no hot comeback like mine. - -Well Al if I had of had any work and my regular control I guess I would -of pitched a 0 hit game because the only time they could touch me was -when I had to ease up to get them over. Cobb was out of the game and -they told me he was sick but I guess the truth is that he knowed I was -going to pitch. Crawford got a couple of lucky scratch hits off of me -because I got in the hole to him and had to let up. But the way that -lucky left handed Hill got by was something awful and if I was as lucky -as him I would quit pitching and shoot craps or something. - -Our club can't hit nothing anyway. But batting against this bird was -just like hitting fungos. His curve ball broke about 1/2 a inch and -you could of wrote your name and address on his fast one while it was -comeing up there. He had good control but who would not when they put -nothing on the ball? - -Well Al we could not get started against the lucky stiff and they -could not do nothing with me even if my suport was rotten and I give a -couple or 3 or 4 bases on balls but when they was men waiting to score -I zipped them threw there so as they could not see them let alone hit -them. Every time I come to the bench between innings I looked up to -where Violet was setting and give her a smile and she smiled back and -once I seen her clapping her hands at me after I had made Moriarty pop -up in the pinch. - -Well we come along to the 10th inning, 0 and 0, and all of a sudden we -got after him. Bodie hits one and Schalk gets 2 strikes and 2 balls and -then singles. Callahan tells Alcock to bunt and he does it but Hill -sprawls all over himself like the big boob he is and the bases is full -with nobody down. Well Gleason and Callahan argude about should they -send somebody up for me or let me go up there and I says Let me go up -there because I can murder this bird and Callahan says Well they is -nobody out so go up and take a wallop. - -Honest Al if this guy had of had anything at all I would of hit 1 out -of the park, but he did not have even a glove. And how can a man hit -pitching which is not no pitching at all but just slopping them up? -When I went up there I hollered to him and says Stick 1 over here now -you yellow stiff. And he says Yes I can stick them over allright and -that is where I got something on you. - -Well Al I hit a foul off of him that would of been a fare ball and -broke up the game if the wind had not of been against it. Then I swung -and missed a curve that I don't see how I missed it. The next 1 was a -yard outside and this Evans calls it a strike. He has had it in for -me ever since last year when he tried to get funny with me and I says -something back to him that stung him. So he calls this 3d strike on me -and I felt like murdering him. But what is the use? - -I throwed down my bat and come back to the bench and I was glad -Callahan and Gleason was out on the coaching line or they probily would -of said something to me and I would of cut loose and beat them up. Well -Al Weaver and Blackburne looked like a couple of rums up there and -we don't score where we ought to of had 3 or 4 runs with any kind of -hitting. - -I would of been all O.K. in spite of that peace of rotten luck if this -big Hill had of walked to the bench and not said nothing like a real -pitcher. But what does he do but wait out there till I start for the -box and I says Get on to the bench you lucky stiff or do you want me -to hand you something? He says I don't want nothing more of yourn. I -allready got your girl and your goat. - -Well Al what do you think of a man that would say a thing like that? -And nobody but a left hander could of. If I had of had a gun I would -of killed him deader than a doornail or something. He starts for the -bench and I hollered at him Wait till you get up to that plate and then -I am going to bean you. - -Honest Al I was so mad I could not see the plate or nothing. I don't -even know who it was come up to bat 1st but whoever it was I hit him -in the arm and he walks to first base. The next guy bunts and Chase -tries to pull off 1 of them plays of hisn instead of playing safe and -he don't get nobody. Well I kept getting madder and madder and I walks -Stanage who if I had of been myself would not foul me. - -Callahan has Scotty warming up and Gleason runs out from the bench and -tells me I am threw but Callahan says Wait a minute he is going to let -Hill hit and this big stiff ought to be able to get him out of the way -and that will give Scotty a chance to get warm. Gleason says You better -not take a chance because the big busher is hogwild, and they kept -argueing till I got sick of listening to them and I went back to the -box and got ready to pitch. But when I seen this Hill up there I forgot -all about the ball game and I cut loose at his bean. - -Well Al my control was all O.K. this time and I catched him square on -the fourhead and he dropped like as if he had been shot. But pretty -soon he gets up and gives me the laugh and runs to first base. I did -not know the game was over till Weaver come up and pulled me off the -field. But if I had not of been 1/2 starved to death and weak so as -I could not put all my stuff on the ball you can bet that Hill never -would of ran to first base and Violet would of been a widow and probily -a lot better off than she is now. At that I never should ought to of -tried to kill a lefthander by hitting him in the head. - -Well Al they jumped all over me in the clubhouse and I had to hold -myself back or I would of gave somebody the beating of their life. -Callahan tells me I am fined $50.00 and suspended without no pay. I -asked him What for and he says They would not be no use in telling -you because you have not got no brains. I says Yes I have to got some -brains and he says Yes but they is in your stumach. And then he says I -wish we had of sent you to Milwaukee and I come back at him. I says I -wish you had of. - -Well Al I guess they is no chance of getting square treatment on this -club and you won't be supprised if you hear of me jumping to the -Federals where a man is treated like a man and not like no white slave. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, May 2._ - -AL: I have got to disappoint you again Al. When I got up to get my -pay yesterday they held out $150.00 on me. $50.00 of it is what I was -fined for loosing a 1 to 0 10-inning game in Detroit when I was so weak -that I should ought never to of been sent in there and the $100.00 is -the advance money that I drawed last winter and which I had forgot all -about and the club would of forgot about it to if they was not so tight -fisted. - -So you see all I get for 2 weeks' pay is about $80.00 and I sent $25.00 -to Florrie so she can't come no none support business on me. - -I am still suspended Al and not drawing no pay now and I got a notion -to hire a attorney at law and force them to pay my salery or else jump -to the Federals where a man gets good treatment. - -Allen is still after me to come over to his flat some night and see his -wife and let her talk to me about Florrie but what do I want to talk -about Florrie for or talk about nothing to a nut left hander's wife? - -The Detroit Club is here and Cobb is playing because he knows I am -suspended but I wish Callahan would call it off and let me work against -them and I would certainly love to work against this Joe Hill again and -I bet they would be a different story this time because I been getting -something to eat since we been home and I got back most of my strenth. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, May 5._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al if you been reading the papers you will know before -this letter is received what I done. Before the Detroit Club come here -Joe Hill had win 4 strate but he has not win no 5 strate or won't -neither Al because I put a crimp in his winning streek just like I -knowed I would do if I got a chance when I was feeling good and had all -my strenth. Callahan asked me yesterday A.M. if I thought I had enough -rest and I says Sure because I did not need no rest in the 1st place. -Well, he says, I thought maybe if I layed you off a few days you would -do some thinking and if you done some thinking once in a while you -would be a better pitcher. - -Well anyway I worked and I wish you could of saw them Tigers trying to -hit me Cobb and Crawford incluseive. The 1st time Cobb come up Weaver -catched a lucky line drive off of him and the next time I eased up a -little and Collins run back and took a fly ball off of the fence. But -the other times he come up he looked like a sucker except when he come -up in the 8th and then he beat out a bunt but allmost anybody is liable -to do that once in a while. - -Crawford got a scratch hit between Chase and Blackburne in the 2d -inning and in the 4th he was gave a three-base hit by this Evans who -should ought to be writeing for the papers instead of trying to umpire. -The ball was 2 feet foul and I bet Crawford will tell you the same -thing if you ask him. But what I done to this Hill was awful. I give -him my curve twice when he was up there in the 3d and he missed it a -foot. Then I come with my fast ball right past his nose and I bet if he -had not of ducked it would of drove that big horn of hisn clear up in -the press box where them rotten reporters sits and smokes their hops. -Then when he was looking for another fast one I slopped up my slow one -and he is still swinging at it yet. - -But the best of it was that I practally won my own game. Bodie and -Schalk was on when I come up in the 5th and Hill hollers to me and -says I guess this is where I shoot one of them bean balls. I says Go -ahead and shoot and if you hit me in the head and I ever find it out I -will write and tell your wife what happened to you. You see what I was -getting at Al. I was insinuateing that if he beaned me with his fast -one I would not never know nothing about it if somebody did not tell -me because his fast one is not fast enough to hurt nobody even if it -should hit them in the head. So I says to him Go ahead and shoot and -if you hit me in the head and I ever find it out I will write and tell -your wife what happened to you. See, Al? - -Of coarse you could not hire me to write to Violet but I did not mean -that part of it in ernest. Well sure enough he shot at my bean and I -ducked out of the way though if it had of hit me it could not of did -no more than tickle. He takes 2 more shots and misses me and then -Jennings hollers from the bench What are you doing pitching or trying -to win a cigar? So then Hill sees what a monkey he is makeing out of -himself and tries to get one over, but I have him 3 balls and nothing -and what I done to that groover was a plenty. She went over Bush's head -like a bullet and got between Cobb and Veach and goes clear to the -fence. Bodie and Schalk scores and I would of scored to if anybody else -besides Cobb had of been chaseing the ball. I got 2 bases and Weaver -scores me with another wallop. - -Say, I wish I could of heard what they said to that baby on the bench. -Callahan was tickled to death and he says Maybe I will give you back -that $50.00 if you keep that stuff up. I guess I will get that $50.00 -back next pay day and if I do Al I will pay you the hole $75.00. - -Well Al I beat them 5 to 4 and with good support I would of held them -to 1 run but what do I care as long as I beat them? I wish though that -Violet could of been there and saw it. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, May 29._ - -OLD PAL: Well Al I have not wrote to you for a long while but it is -not because I have forgot you and to show I have not forgot you I am -incloseing the $75.00 which I owe you. It is a money order Al and you -can get it cashed by takeing it to Joe Higgins at the P.O. - -Since I wrote to you Al I been East with the club and I guess you know -what I done in the East. The Athaletics did not have no right to win -that 1 game off of me and I will get them when they come here the week -after next. I beat Boston and just as good as beat New York twice -because I beat them 1 game all alone and then saved the other for Eddie -Cicotte in the 9th inning and shut out the Washington Club and would of -did the same thing if Johnson had of been working against me instead of -this left handed stiff Boehling. - -Speaking of left handers Allen has been going rotten and I would not be -supprised if they sent him to Milwaukee or Frisco or somewheres. - -But I got bigger news than that for you Al. Florrie is back and we are -liveing together in the spair room at Allen's flat so I hope they don't -send him to Milwaukee or nowheres else because it is not costing us -nothing for room rent and this is no more than right after the way the -Allens grafted off of us all last winter. - -I bet you will be supprised to know that I and Florrie has made it up -and they is a secret about it Al which I can't tell you now but maybe -next month I will tell you and then you will be more supprised than -ever. It is about I and Florrie and somebody else. But that is all I -can tell you now. - -We got in this A.M. Al and when I got to my room they was a slip of -paper there telling me to call up a phone number so I called it up and -it was Allen's flat and Marie answered the phone. And when I reckonized -her voice I was going to hang up the phone but she says Wait a minute -somebody wants to talk with you. And then Florrie come to the phone and -I was going to hang up the phone again when she pulled this secret on -me that I was telling you about. - -So it is all fixed up between us Al and I wish I could tell you the -secret but that will come later. I have tooken my baggage over to -Allen's and I am there now writeing to you while Florrie is asleep. -And after a while I am going out and mail this letter and get a glass -of beer because I think I have got 1 comeing now on account of this -secret. Florrie says she is sorry for the way she treated me and she -cried when she seen me. So what is the use of me being nasty Al? And -let bygones be bygones. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, June 16._ - -FRIEND AL: Al I beat the Athaletics 2 to 1 to-day but I am writeing to -you to give you the supprise of your life. Old pal I got a baby and he -is a boy and we are going to name him Allen which Florrie thinks is -after his uncle and aunt Allen but which is after you old pal. And she -can call him Allen but I will call him Al because I don't never go back -on my old pals. The baby was born over to the hospital and it is going -to cost me a bunch of money but I should not worry. This is the secret -I was going to tell you Al and I am the happyest man in the world and I -bet you are most as tickled to death to hear about it as I am. - -The baby was born just about the time I was makeing McInnis look like -a sucker in the pinch but they did not tell me nothing about it till -after the game and then they give me a phone messige in the clubhouse. -I went right over there and everything was all O.K. Little Al is a -homely little skate but I guess all babys is homely and don't have no -looks till they get older and maybe he will look like Florrie or I then -I won't have no kick comeing. - -Be sure and tell Bertha the good news and tell her everything has came -out all right except that the rent man is still after me about that -flat I had last winter. And I am still paying the old man $10.00 a -month for that house you got for me and which has not never done me no -good. But I should not worry about money when I got a real family. Do -you get that Al, a real family? - -Well Al I am to happy to do no more writeing to-night but I wanted you -to be the 1st to get the news and I would of sent you a telegram only I -did not want to scare you. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, July 2._ - -OLD PAL: Well old pal I just come back from St. Louis this A.M. and -found things in pretty fare shape. Florrie and the baby is out to -Allen's and we will stay there till I can find another place. The Dr. -was out to look at the baby this A.M. and the baby was waveing his -arm round in the air. And Florrie asked was they something the matter -with him that he kept waveing his arm. And the Dr. says No he was just -getting his exercise. - -Well Al I noticed that he never waved his right arm but kept waveing -his left arm and I asked the Dr. why was that. Then the Dr. says I -guess he must be left handed. That made me sore and I says I guess you -doctors don't know it all. And then I turned round and beat it out of -the room. - -Well Al it would be just my luck to have him left handed and Florrie -should ought to of knew better than to name him after Allen. I am -going to hire another Dr. and see what he has to say because they must -be some way of fixing babys so as they won't be left handed. And if -nessary I will cut his left arm off of him. Of coarse I would not do -that Al. But how would I feel if a boy of mine turned out like Allen -and Joe Hill and some of them other nuts? - -We have a game with St. Louis to-morrow and a double header on the 4th -of July. I guess probily Callahan will work me in one of the 4th of -July games on account of the holiday crowd. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. Maybe I should ought to leave the kid left handed so as he can -have some of their luck. The lucky stiffs. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE BUSHER'S KID - - - _Chicago, Illinois, July 31._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al what do you think of little Al now? But I guess I -better tell you first what he done. Maybe you won't believe what I am -telling you but did you ever catch me telling you a lie? I guess you -know you did not Al. Well we got back from the East this A.M. and I -don't have to tell you we had a rotten trip and if it had not of been -for me beating Boston once and the Athaletics two times we would of -been ashamed to come home. - -I guess these here other pitchers thought we was haveing a vacation and -when they go up in the office to-morrow to get there checks they should -ought to be arrested if they take them. I would not go nowheres near -Comiskey if I had not of did better than them others but I can go and -get my pay and feel all O.K. about it because I done something to ern -it. - -Me loseing that game in Washington was a crime and Callahan says so -himself. This here Weaver throwed it away for me and I would not be -surprised if he done it from spitework because him and Scott is pals -and probily he did not want to see me winning all them games when Scott -was getting knocked out of the box. And no wonder when he has not got -no stuff. I wish I knowed for sure that Weaver was throwing me down and -if I knowed for sure I would put him in a hospital or somewheres. - -But I was going to tell you what the kid done Al. So here goes. We are -still liveing at Allen's and his wife. So I and him come home together -from the train. Well Florrie and Marie was both up and the baby was up -too--that is he was not up but he was woke up. I beat it right into the -room where he was at and Florrie come in with me. I says Hello Al and -what do you suppose he done. Well Al he did not say Hello pa or nothing -like that because he is not only one month old. But he smiled at me -just like as if he was glad to see me and I guess maybe he was at that. - -I was tickled to death and I says to Florrie Did you see that. And she -says See what. I says The baby smiled at me. Then she says They is -something the matter with his stumach. I says I suppose because a baby -smiles that is a sign they is something the matter with his stumach -and if he had the toothacke he would laugh. She says You think your -smart but I am telling you that he was not smileing at all but he was -makeing a face because they is something the matter with his stumach. I -says I guess I know the difference if somebody is smileing or makeing a -face. And she says I guess you don't know nothing about babys because -you never had none before. I says How many have you had. And then she -got sore and beat it out of the room. - -I did not care because I wanted to be in there alone with him and see -would he smile at me again. And sure enough Al he did. Then I called -Allen in and when the baby seen him he begin to cry. So you see I was -right and Florrie was wrong. It don't take a man no time at all to get -wise to these babys and it don't take them long to know if a man is -there father or there uncle. - -When he begin to cry I chased Allen out of the room and called Florrie -because she should ought to know by this time how to make him stop -crying. But she was still sore and she says Let him cry or if you know -so much about babys make him stop yourself. I says Maybe he is sick. -And she says I was just telling you that he had a pane in his stumach -or he would not of made that face that you said was smileing at you. - -I says Do you think we should ought to call the doctor but she says No -if you call the doctor every time he has the stumach acke you might -just as well tell him he should bring his trunk along and stay here. -She says All babys have collect and they is not no use fusing about it -but come and get your breakfast. - -Well Al I did not injoy my breakfast because the baby was crying all -the time and I knowed he probily wanted I should come in and visit with -him. So I just eat the prunes and drunk a little coffee and did not -wait for the rest of it and sure enough when I went back in our room -and started talking to him he started smileing again and pretty soon he -went to sleep so you see Al he was smileing and not makeing no face and -that was a hole lot of bunk about him haveing the collect. But I don't -suppose I should ought to find fault with Florrie for not knowing no -better because she has not never had no babys before but still and all -I should think she should ought to of learned something about them by -this time or ask somebody. - -Well Al little Al is woke up again and is crying and I just about got -time to fix him up and get him asleep again and then I will have to go -to the ball park because we got a poseponed game to play with Detroit -and Callahan will probily want me to work though I pitched the next -to the last game in New York and would of gave them a good beating -except for Schalk dropping that ball at the plate but I got it on these -Detroit babys and when my name is announced to pitch they feel like -forfiting the game. I won't try for no strike out record because I want -them to hit the first ball and get the game over with quick so as I can -get back here and take care of little Al. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. Babys is great stuff Al and if I was you I would not wait no -longer but would hurry up and adopt 1 somewheres. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, August 15._ - -OLD PAL: What do you think Al. Kid Gleason is comeing over to the flat -and look at the baby the day after to-morrow when we don't have no game -skeduled but we have to practice in the A.M. because we been going so -rotten. I had a hard time makeing him promise to come but he is comeing -and I bet he will be glad he come when he has came. I says to him in -the clubhouse Do you want to see a real baby? And he says You're real -enough for me Boy. - -I says No I am talking about babys. He says Oh I thought you was -talking about ice cream soda or something. I says No I want you to come -over to the flat to-morrow and take a look at my kid and tell me what -you think of him. He says I can tell you what I think of him without -takeing no look at him. I think he is out of luck. I says What do you -mean out of luck. But he just laughed and would not say no more. - -I asked him again would he come over to the flat and look at the baby -and he says he had troubles enough without that and kidded along for -a while but finally he seen I was in ernest and then he says he would -come if I would keep the missus out of the room while he was there -because he says if she seen him she would probily be sorry she married -me. - -He was just jokeing and I did not take no excepshun to his remarks -because Florrie could not never fall for him after seeing me because he -is not no big stropping man like I am but a little runt and look at how -old he is. But I am glad he is comeing because he will think more of me -when he sees what a fine baby I got though he thinks a hole lot of me -now because look what I done for the club and where would they be at -if I had jumped to the Federal like I once thought I would. I will tell -you what he says about little Al and I bet he will say he never seen no -prettyer baby but even if he don't say nothing at all I will know he is -kidding. - -The Boston Club comes here to-morrow and plays 4 days includeing the -day after to-morrow when they is not no game. So on account of the off -day maybe I will work twice against them and if I do they will wish the -grounds had of burned down. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, August 17._ - -AL: Well old pal what did I tell you about what I would do to that -Boston Club? And now Al I have beat every club in the league this year -because yesterday was the first time I beat the Boston Club this year -but now I have beat all of them and most of them severel times. - -This should ought to of gave me a record of 16 wins and 0 defeats -because the only games I lost was throwed away behind me but instead of -that my record is 10 games win and 6 defeats and that don't include the -games I finished up and helped the other boys win which is about 6 more -alltogether but what do I care about my record Al? because I am not -the kind of man that is allways thinking about there record and playing -for there record while I am satisfied if I give the club the best I got -and if I win all O.K. And if I lose who's fault is it. Not mine Al. - -I asked Callahan would he let me work against the Boston Club again -before they go away and he says I guess I will have to because you -are going better than anybody else on the club. So you see Al he is -beginning to appresiate my work and from now on I will pitch in my -regular turn and a hole lot offtener then that and probily Comiskey -will see the stuff I am made from and will raise my salery next year -even if he has got me signed for 3 years and for the same salery I am -getting now. - -But all that is not what I was going to tell you Al and what I was -going to tell you was about Gleason comeing to see the baby and what he -thought about him. I sent Florrie and Marie downtown and says I would -take care of little Al and they was glad to go because Florrie says she -should ought to buy some new shoes though I don't see what she wants -of no new shoes when she is going to be tied up in the flat for a long -time yet on account of the baby and nobody cares if she wears shoes in -the flat or goes round in her bear feet. But I was glad to get rid of -the both of them for a while because little Al acts better when they is -not no women round and you can't blame him. - -The baby was woke up when Gleason come in and I and him went right in -the room where he was laying. Gleason takes a look at him and says Well -that is a mighty fine baby and you must of boughten him. I says What do -you mean? And he says I don't believe he is your own baby because he -looks humaner than most babys. And I says Why should not he look human. -And he says Why should he. - -Then he goes to work and picks the baby right up and I was a-scared he -would drop him because even I have not never picked him up though I am -his father and would be a-scared of hurting him. I says Here, don't -pick him up and he says Why not? He says Are you going to leave him on -that there bed the rest of his life? I says No but you don't know how -to handle him. He says I have handled a hole lot bigger babys than him -or else Callahan would not keep me. - -Then he starts patting the baby's head and I says Here, don't do that -because he has got a soft spot in his head and you might hit it. He -says I thought he was your baby and I says Well he is my baby and he -says Well then they can't be no soft spot in his head. Then he lays -little Al down because he seen I was in ernest and as soon as he lays -him down the baby begins to cry. Then Gleason says See he don't want me -to lay him down and I says Maybe he has got a pane in his stumach and -he says I would not be supprised because he just took a good look at -his father. - -But little Al did not act like as if he had a pane in his stumach and -he kept sticking his finger in his mouth and crying. And Gleason says -He acts like as if he had a toothacke. I says How could he have a -toothacke when he has not got no teeth? He says That is easy. I have -saw a lot of pitchers complane that there arm was sore when they did -not have no arm. - -Then he asked me what was the baby's name and I told him Allen but that -he was not named after my brother-in-law Allen. And Gleason says I -should hope not. I should hope you would have better sense then to name -him after a left hander. So you see Al he don't like them no better -then I do even if he does jolly Allen and Russell along and make them -think they can pitch. - -Pretty soon he says What are you going to make out of him, a ball -player? I says Yes I am going to make a hitter out of him so as he can -join the White Sox and then maybe they will get a couple of runs once -in a while. He says If I was you I would let him pitch and then you -won't have to give him no educasion. Besides, he says, he looks now -like he would divellop into a grate spitter. - -Well I happened to look out of the window and seen Florrie and Marie -comeing acrost Indiana Avenue and I told Gleason about it. And you -ought to of seen him run. I asked him what was his hurry and he says it -was in his contract that he was not to talk to no women but I knowed -he was kidding because I allready seen him talking to severel of the -players' wifes when they was on trips with us and they acted like as -if they thought he was a regular comeedion though they really is not -nothing funny about what he says only it is easy to make women laugh -when they have not got no grouch on about something. - -Well Al I am glad Gleason has saw the baby and maybe he will fix it -with Callahan so as I won't have to go to morning practice every A.M. -because I should ought to be home takeing care of little Al when -Florrie is washing the dishs or helping Marie round the house. And -besides why should I wear myself all out in practice because I don't -need to practice pitching and I could hit as well as the rest of the -men on our club if I never seen no practice. - -After we get threw with Boston, Washington comes here and then we go to -St. Louis and Cleveland and then come home and then go East again. And -after that we are pretty near threw except the city serious. Callahan -is not going to work me no more after I beat Boston again till it is -this here Johnson's turn to pitch for Washington. And I hope it is not -his turn to work the 1st game of the serious because then I would not -have no rest between the last game against Boston and the 1st game -against Washington. - -But rest or no rest I will work against this here Johnson and show him -up for giveing me that trimming in Washington, the lucky stiff. I wish -I had a team like the Athaletics behind me and I would loose about 1 -game every 6 years and then they would have to get all the best of it -from these rotten umpires. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _New York, New York, September 16._ - -FRIEND AL: Al it is not no fun running round the country no more and I -wish this dam trip was over so as I could go home and see how little -Al is getting along because Florrie has not wrote since we was in -Philly which was the first stop on this trip. I am a-scared they is -something the matter with the little fellow or else she would of wrote -but then if they was something the matter with him she would of sent me -a telegram or something and let me know. - -So I guess they can't be nothing the matter with him. Still and all -I don't see why she has not wrote when she knows or should ought to -know that I would be worrying about the baby. If I don't get no letter -to-morrow I am going to send her a telegram and ask her what is the -matter with him because I am positive she would of wrote if they was -not something the matter with him. - -The boys has been trying to get me to go out nights and see a show -or something but I have not got no heart to go to shows. And besides -Callahan has not gave us no pass to no show on this trip. I guess -probily he is sore on account of the rotten way the club has been going -but still he should ought not to be sore on me because I have win 3 out -of my last 4 games and would of win the other if he had not of started -me against them with only 1 day's rest and the Athaletics at that, who -a man should ought not to pitch against if he don't feel good. - -I asked Allen if he had heard from Marie and he says Yes he did but -she did not say nothing about little Al except that he was keeping -her awake nights balling. So maybe Al if little Al is balling they -is something wrong with him. I am going to send Florrie a telegram -to-morrow--that is if I don't get no letter. - -If they is something the matter with him I will ask Callahan to send -me home and he won't want to do it neither because who else has he got -that is a regular winner. But if little Al is sick and Callahan won't -let me go home I will go home anyway. You know me Al. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Boston, Massachusetts, September 24._ - -AL: I bet if Florrie was a man she would be a left hander. What do -you think she done now Al? I sent her a telegram from New York when I -did not get no letter from her and she did not pay no atension to the -telegram. Then when we got up here I sent her another telegram and it -was not more then five minutes after I sent the 2d telegram till I got -a letter from her. And it said the baby was all O.K. but she had been -so busy takeing care of him that she had not had no time to write. - -Well when I got the letter I chased out to see if I could catch the boy -who had took my telegram but he had went allready so I was spending -$.60 for nothing. Then what does Florrie do but send me a telegram -after she got my second telegram and tell me that little Al is all -O.K., which I knowed all about then because I had just got her letter. -And she sent her telegram c. o. d. and I had to pay for it at this end -because she had not paid for it and that was $.60 more but I bet if I -had of knew what was in the telegram before I read it I would of told -the boy to keep it and would not of gave him no $.60 but how did I -know if little Al might not of tooken sick after Florrie had wrote the -letter? - -I am going to write and ask her if she is trying to send us both to -the Poor House or somewheres with her telegrams. I don't care nothing -about the $.60 but I like to see a woman use a little judgement though -I guess that is impossable. - -It is my turn to work to-day and to-night we start West but we have -got to stop off at Cleveland on the way. I have got a nosion to ask -Callahan to let me go right on threw to Chi if I win to-day and not -stop off at no Cleveland but I guess they would not be no use because -I have got that Cleveland Club licked the minute I put on my glove. -So probily Callahan will want me with him though it don't make no -difference if we win or lose now because we have not got no chance for -the pennant. One man can't win no pennant Al I don't care who he is. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 2._ - -FRIEND AL: Well old pal I am all threw till the city serious and it is -all fixed up that I am going to open the serious and pitch 3 of the -games if nessary. The club has went to Detroit to wind up the season -and Callahan did not take me along but left me here with a couple other -pitchers and Billy Sullivan and told me all as I would have to do was -go over to the park the next 3 days and warm up a little so as to keep -in shape. But I don't need to be in no shape to beat them Cubs Al. But -it is a good thing Al that Allen was tooken on the trip to Detroit or I -guess I would of killed him. He has not been going good and he has been -acting and talking nasty to everybody because he can't win no games. - -Well the 1st night we was home after the trip little Al was haveing -a bad night and was balling pretty hard and they could not nobody in -the flat get no sleep. Florrie says he was haveing the collect and -I says Why should he have the collect all the time when he did not -drink nothing but milk? She says she guessed the milk did not agree -with him and upsetted his stumach. I says Well he must take after his -mother if his stumach gets upsetted every time he takes a drink because -if he took after his father he could drink a hole lot and not never -be effected. She says You should ought to remember he has only got a -little stumach and not a great big resservoire. I says Well if the milk -don't agree with him why don't you give him something else? She says -Yes I suppose I should ought to give him weeny worst or something. - -Allen must of heard us talking because he hollered something and I did -not hear what it was so I told him to say it over and he says Give the -little X-eyed brat poison and we would all be better off. I says You -better take poison yourself because maybe a rotten pitcher like you -could get by in the league where you're going when you die. Then I says -Besides I would rather my baby was X-eyed then to have him left handed. -He says It is better for him that he is X-eyed or else he might get a -good look at you and then he would shoot himself. I says Is that so? -and he shut up. Little Al is not no more X-eyed than you or I are Al -and that was what made me sore because what right did Allen have to -talk like that when he knowed he was lying? - -Well the next morning Allen nor I did not speak to each other and I -seen he was sorry for the way he had talked and I was willing to fix -things up because what is the use of staying sore at a man that don't -know no better. - -But all of a sudden he says When are you going to pay me what you owe -me? I says What do you mean? And he says You been liveing here all -summer and I been paying all the bills. I says Did not you and Marie -ask us to come here and stay with you and it would not cost us nothing. -He says Yes but we did not mean it was a life sentence. You are getting -more money than me and you don't never spend a nichol. All I have to -do is pay the rent and buy your food and it would take a millionare or -something to feed you. - -Then he says I would not make no holler about you grafting off of me -if that brat would shut up nights and give somebody a chance to sleep. -I says You should ought to get all the sleep you need on the bench. -Besides, I says, who done the grafting all last winter and without no -invatation? If he had of said another word I was going to bust him but -just then Marie come in and he shut up. - -The more I thought about what he said and him a rotten left hander that -should ought to be hussling freiht the more madder I got and if he had -of opened his head to me the last day or 2 before he went to Detroit I -guess I would of finished him. But Marie stuck pretty close to the both -of us when we was together and I guess she knowed they was something in -the air and did not want to see her husband get the worst of it though -if he was my husband and I was a woman I would push him under a st. car. - -But Al I won't even stand for him saying that I am grafting off of him -and I and Florrie will get away from here and get a flat of our own as -soon as the city serious is over. I would like to bring her and the kid -down to Bedford for the winter but she wont listen to that. - -I allmost forgot Al to tell you to be sure and thank Bertha for the -little dress she made for little Al. I don't know if it will fit him or -not because Florrie has not yet tried it on him yet and she says she is -going to use it for a dishrag but I guess she is just kidding. - -I suppose you seen where Callahan took me out of that game down to -Cleveland but it was not because I was not going good Al but it was -because Callahan seen he was makeing a mistake wasteing me on that -bunch who allmost any pitcher could beat. They beat us that game at -that but only by one run and it was not no fault of mine because I was -tooken out before they got the run that give them the game. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 4._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al the club winds up the season at Detroit to-morrow -and the serious starts the day after to-morrow and I will be in there -giveing them a battle. I wish I did not have nobody but the Cubs to -pitch against all season and you bet I would have a record that would -make Johnson and Mathewson and some of them other swell heads look like -a dirty doose. - -I and Florrie and Marie has been haveing a argument about how could -Florrie go and see the city serious games when they is not nobody here -that can take care of the baby because Marie wants to go and see the -games to even though they is not no more chance of Callahan starting -Allen than a rabbit or something. - -Florrie and Marie says I should ought to hire a nurse to take care of -little Al and Florrie got pretty sore when I told her nothing doing -because in the first place I can't afford to pay no nurse a salery and -in the second place I would not trust no nurse to take care of the baby -because how do I know the nurse is not nothing but a grafter or a dope -fiend maybe and should ought not to be left with the baby? - -Of coarse Florrie wants to see me pitch and a man can't blame her for -that but I won't leave my baby with no nurse Al and Florrie will have -to stay home and I will tell her what I done when I get there. I might -of gave my consent to haveing a nurse at that if it had not of been -for the baby getting so sick last night when I was takeing care of him -while Florrie and Marie and Allen was out to a show and if I had not of -been home they is no telling what would of happened. It is a cinch that -none of them bonehead nurses would of knew what to do. - -Allen must of been out of his head because right after supper he says -he would take the 2 girls to a show. I says All right go on and I will -take care of the baby. Then Florrie says Do you think you can take -care of him all O.K.? And I says Have not I tooken care of him before -allready? Well, she says, I will leave him with you only don't run in -to him every time he cries. I says Why not? And she says Because it is -good for him to cry. I says You have not got no heart or you would not -talk that way. - -They all give me the laugh but I let them get away with it because I -am not picking no fights with girls and why should I bust this Allen -when he don't know no better and has not got no baby himself. And I did -not want to do nothing that would stop him takeing the girls to a show -because it is time he spent a peace of money on somebody. - -Well they all went out and I went in on the bed and played with the -baby. I wish you could of saw him Al because he is old enough now to -do stunts and he smiled up at me and waved his arms and legs round -and made a noise like as if he was trying to say Pa. I did not think -Florrie had gave him enough covers so I rapped him up in some more and -took a blanket off of the big bed and stuck it round him so as he could -not kick his feet out and catch cold. - -I thought once or twice he was going off to sleep but all of a sudden -he begin to cry and I seen they was something wrong with him. I gave -him some hot water but that made him cry again and I thought maybe -he was to cold yet so I took another blanket off of Allen's bed and -wrapped that round him but he kept on crying and trying to kick inside -the blankets. And I seen then that he must have collect or something. - -So pretty soon I went to the phone and called up our regular Dr. and -it took him pretty near a hour to get there and the baby balling all -the time. And when he come he says they was nothing the matter except -that the baby was to hot and told me to take all them blankets off of -him and then soaked me 2 dollars. I had a nosion to bust his jaw. Well -pretty soon he beat it and then little Al begin crying again and kept -getting worse and worse so finally I got a-scared and run down to the -corner where another Dr. is at and I brung him up to see what was the -matter but he said he could not see nothing the matter but he did not -charge me a cent so I thought he was not no robber like our regular -doctor even if he was just as much of a boob. - -The baby did not cry none while he was there but the minute he had went -he started crying and balling again and I seen they was not no use of -fooling no longer so I looked around the house and found the medicine -the doctor left for Allen when he had a stumach acke once and I give -the baby a little of it in a spoon but I guess he did not like the -taste because he hollered like a Indian and finally I could not stand -it no longer so I called that second Dr. back again and this time he -seen that the baby was sick and asked me what I had gave it and I told -him some stumach medicine and he says I was a fool and should ought not -to of gave the baby nothing. But while he was talking the baby stopped -crying and went off to sleep so you see what I done for him was the -right thing to do and them doctors was both off of there nut. - -This second Dr. soaked me 2 dollars the 2d time though he had not did -no more than when he was there the 1st time and charged me nothing but -they is all a bunch of robbers Al and I would just as leave trust a -policeman. - -Right after the baby went to sleep Florrie and Marie and Allen come -home and I told Florrie what had came off but instead of giveing me -credit she says If you want to kill him why don't you take a ax? Then -Allen butts in and says Why don't you take a ball and throw it at him? -Then I got sore and I says Well if I did hit him with a ball I would -kill him while if you was to throw that fast ball of yours at him and -hit him in the head he would think the musketoes was biteing him and -brush them off. But at that, I says, you could not hit him with a ball -except you was aiming at something else. - -I guess they was no comeback to that so him and Marie went to there -room. Allen should ought to know better than to try and get the best of -me by this time and I would shut up anyway if I was him after getting -sent home from Detroit with some of the rest of them when he only -worked 3 innings up there and they had to take him out or play the rest -of the game by electrick lights. - -I wish you could be here for the serious Al but you would have to stay -at a hotel because we have not got no spair room and it would cost you -a hole lot of money. But you can watch the papers and you will see what -I done. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 6._ - -DEAR OLD PAL: Probily before you get this letter you will of saw by the -paper that we was licked in the first game and that I was tooken out -but the papers don't know what really come off so I am going to tell -you and you can see for yourself if it was my fault. - -I did not never have no more stuff in my life then when I was warming -up and I seen the Cubs looking over to our bench and shakeing there -heads like they knowed they did not have no chance. O'Day was going to -start Cheney who is there best bet and had him warming up but when he -seen the smoke I had when I and Schalk was warming up he changed his -mind because what was the use of useing his best pitcher when I had all -that stuff and it was a cinch that no club in the world could score a -run off of me when I had all that stuff? - -So he told a couple others to warm up to and when my name was announced -to pitch Cheney went and set on the bench and this here lefthander -Pierce was announced for them. - -Well Al you will see by the paper where I sent there 1st 3 batters back -to the bench to get a drink of water and all 3 of them good hitters -Leach and Good and this here Saier that hits a hole lot of home runs -but would not never hit one off of me if I was O.K. Well we scored -a couple in our half and the boys on the bench all says Now you got -enough to win easy because they won't never score none off of you. - -And they was right to because what chance did they have if this thing -that I am going to tell you about had not of happened? We goes along -seven innings and only 2 of there men had got to 1st base one of them -on a bad peg of Weaver's and the other one I walked because this blind -Evans don't know a ball from a strike. We had not did no more scoreing -off of Pierce not because he had no stuff but because our club could -not take a ball in there hands and hit it out of the infield. - -Well Al I did not tell you that before I come out to the park I kissed -little Al and Florrie good by and Marie says she was going to stay home -to and keep Florrie Co. and they was not no reason for Marie to come to -the game anyway because they was not a chance in the world for Allen to -do nothing but hit fungos. Well while I was doing all this here swell -pitching and makeing them Cubs look like a lot of rummys I was thinking -about little Al and Florrie and how glad they would be when I come -home and told them what I done though of coarse little Al is not only -a little over 3 months of age and how could he appresiate what I done? -But Florrie would. - -Well Al when I come in to the bench after there 1/2 of the 7th I -happened to look up to the press box to see if the reporters had gave -Schulte a hit on that one Weaver throwed away and who do you think I -seen in a box right alongside of the press box? It was Florrie and -Marie and both of them claping there hands and hollering with the rest -of the bugs. - -Well old pal I was never so supprised in my life and it just took all -the heart out of me. What was they doing there and what had they did -with the baby? How did I know that little Al was not sick or maybe dead -and balling his head off and nobody round to hear him? - -I tried to catch Florrie's eyes but she would not look at me. I -hollered her name and the bugs looked at me like as if I was crazy and -I was to Al. Well I seen they was not no use of standing out there -in front of the stand so I come into the bench and Allen was setting -there and I says Did you know your wife and Florrie was up there in the -stand? He says No and I says What are they doing here? And he says What -would they be doing here--mending there stockings? I felt like busting -him and I guess he seen I was mad because he got up off of the bench -and beat it down to the corner of the field where some of the others -was getting warmed up though why should they have anybody warming up -when I was going so good? - -Well Al I made up my mind that ball game or no ball game I was not -going to have little Al left alone no longer and I seen they was not -no use of sending word to Florrie to go home because they was a big -crowd and it would take maybe 15 or 20 minutes for somebody to get up -to where she was at. So I says to Callahan You have got to take me -out. He says What is the matter? Is your arm gone? I says No my arm is -not gone but my baby is sick and home all alone. He says Where is your -wife? And I says She is setting up there in the stand. - -Then he says How do you know your baby is sick? And I says I don't -know if he is sick or not but he is left home all alone. He says Why -don't you send your wife home? And I says I could not get word to her -in time. He says Well you have only got two innings to go and the way -your going the game will be over in 10 minutes. I says Yes and before -10 minutes is up my baby might die and are you going to take me out or -not? He says Get in there and pitch you yellow dog and if you don't I -will take your share of the serious money away from you. - -By this time our part of the inning was over and I had to go out there -and pitch some more because he would not take me out and he has not got -no heart Al. Well Al how could I pitch when I kept thinking maybe the -baby was dying right now and maybe if I was home I could do something? -And instead of paying attension to what I was doing I was thinking -about little Al and looking up there to where Florrie and Marie was -setting and before I knowed what come off they had the bases full and -Callahan took me out. - -Well Al I run to the clubhouse and changed my cloths and beat it for -home and I did not even hear what Callahan and Gleason says to me when -I went by them but I found out after the game that Scott went in and -finished up and they batted him pretty hard and we was licked 3 and 2. - -When I got home the baby was crying but he was not all alone after all -Al because they was a little girl about 14 years of age there watching -him and Florrie had hired her to take care of him so as her and Marie -could go and see the game. But just think Al of leaveing little Al with -a girl 14 years of age that did not never have no babys of her own! And -what did she know about takeing care of him? Nothing Al. - -You should ought to of heard me ball Florrie out when she got home and -I bet she cried pretty near enough to flood the basemunt. We had it hot -and heavy and the Allens butted in but I soon showed them where they -was at and made them shut there mouth. - -I had a good nosion to go out and get a hole lot of drinks and was -just going to put on my hat when the doorbell rung and there was Kid -Gleason. I thought he would be sore and probily try to ball me out and -I was not going to stand for nothing but instead of balling me out he -come and shook hands with me and interduced himself to Florrie and -asked how was little Al. - -Well we all set down and Gleason says the club was depending on me to -win the serious because I was in the best shape of all the pitchers. -And besides the Cubs could not never hit me when I was right and he was -telling the truth to. - -So he asked me if I would stand for the club hireing a train nurse to -stay with the baby the rest of the serious so as Florrie could go and -see her husband win the serious but I says No I would not stand for -that and Florrie's place was with the baby. - -So Gleason and Florrie goes out in the other room and talks a while and -I guess he was persuadeing her to stay home because pretty soon they -come back in the room and says it was all fixed up and I would not have -to worry about little Al the rest of the serious but could give the -club the best I got. Gleason just left here a little while ago and I -won't work to-morrow Al but I will work the day after and you will see -what I can do when I don't have nothing to worry me. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 8._ - -OLD PAL: Well old pal we got them 2 games to one now and the serious is -sure to be over in three more days because I can pitch 2 games in that -time if nessary. I shut them out to-day and they should ought not to of -had four hits but should ought to of had only 2 but Bodie don't cover -no ground and 2 fly balls that he should ought to of eat up fell safe. - -But I beat them anyway and Benz beat them yesterday but why should he -not beat them when the club made 6 runs for him? All they made for me -was three but all I needed was one because they could not hit me with a -shuvvel. When I come to the bench after the 5th inning they was a note -there for me from the boy that answers the phone at the ball park and -it says that somebody just called up from the flat and says the baby -was asleep and getting along fine. So I felt good Al and I was better -then ever in the 6th. - -When I got home Florrie and Marie was both there and asked me how did -the game come out because I beat Allen home and I told them all about -what I done and I bet Florrie was proud of me but I supose Marie is a -little jellus because how could she help it when Callahan is depending -on me to win the serious and her husband is wearing out the wood on the -bench? But why should she be sore when it is me that is winning the -serious for them? And if it was not for me Allen and all the rest of -them would get about $500.00 apeace instead of the winners' share which -is about $750.00 apeace. - -Cicotte is going to work to-morrow and if he is lucky maybe he can get -away with the game and that will leave me to finish up the day after -to-morrow but if nessary I can go in to-morrow when they get to hitting -Cicotte and stop them and then come back the following day and beat -them again. Where would this club be at Al if I had of jumped to the -Federal? - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 11._ - -FRIEND AL: We done it again Al and I guess the Cubs won't never want to -play us again not so long as I am with the club. Before you get this -letter you will know what we done and who done it but probily you could -of guessed that Al without seeing no paper. - -I got 2 more of them phone messiges about the baby dureing the game -and I guess that was what made me so good because I knowed then that -Florrie was takeing care of him but I could not help feeling sorry -for Florrie because she is a bug herself and it must of been pretty -hard for her to stay away from the game espesially when she knowed I -was going to pitch and she has been pretty good to sacrifice her own -plesure for little Al. - -Cicotte was knocked out of the box the day before yesterday and then -they give this here Faber a good beating but I wish you could of saw -what they done to Allen when Callahan sent him in after the game was -gone allready. Honest Al if he had not of been my brother in law I -would of felt like laughing at him because it looked like as if they -would have to call the fire department to put the side out. They had -Bodie and Collins hollering for help and with there tongue hanging out -from running back to the fence. - -Anyway the serious is all over and I won't have nothing to do but stay -home and play with little Al but I don't know yet where my home is -going to be at because it is a cinch I won't stay with Allen no longer. -He has not came home since the game and I suppose he is out somewheres -lapping up some beer and spending some of the winner's share of the -money which he would not of had no chance to get in on if it had not of -been for me. - -I will write and let you know my plans for the winter and I wish -Florrie would agree to come to Bedford but nothing doing Al and after -her staying home and takeing care of the baby instead of watching me -pitch I can't be too hard on her but must leave her have her own way -about something. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 13._ - -AL: I am all threw with Florrie Al and I bet when you hear about it you -won't say it was not no fault of mine but no man liveing who is any -kind of a man would act different from how I am acting if he had of -been decieved like I been. - -Al Florrie and Marie was out to all them games and was not home takeing -care of the baby at all and it is not her fault that little Al is not -dead and that he was not killed by the nurse they hired to take care of -him while they went to the games when I thought they was home takeing -care of the baby. And all them phone messiges was just fakes and maybe -the baby was sick all the time I was winning them games and balling his -head off instead of being asleep like they said he was. - -Allen did not never come home at all the night before last and when -he come in yesterday he was a sight and I says to him Where have you -been? And he says I have been down to the Y.M.C.A. but that is not none -of your business. I says Yes you look like as if you had been to the -Y.M.C.A. and I know where you have been and you have been out lushing -beer. And he says Suppose I have and what are you going to do about it? -And I says Nothing but you should ought to be ashamed of yourself and -leaveing Marie here while you was out lapping up beer. - -Then he says Did you not leave Florrie home while you was getting away -with them games, you lucky stiff? And I says Yes but Florrie had to -stay home and take care of the baby but Marie don't never have to stay -home because where is your baby? You have not got no baby. He says I -would not want no X-eyed baby like yourn. Then he says So you think -Florrie stayed to home and took care of the baby do you? And I says -What do you mean? And he says You better ask her. - -So when Florrie come in and heard us talking she busted out crying and -then I found out what they put over on me. It is a wonder Al that I -did not take some of that cheap furniture them Allens got and bust it -over there heads, Allen and Florrie. This is what they done Al. The -club give Florrie $50.00 to stay home and take care of the baby and she -said she would and she was to call up every so often and tell me the -baby was all O.K. But this here Marie told her she was a sucker so she -hired a nurse for part of the $50.00 and then her and Marie went to the -games and beat it out quick after the games was over and come home in a -taxicab and chased the nurse out before I got home. - -Well Al when I found out what they done I grabbed my hat and goes out -and got some drinks and I was so mad I did not know where I was at or -what come off and I did not get home till this A.M. And they was all -asleep and I been asleep all day and when I woke up Marie and Allen was -out but Florrie and I have not spoke to each other and I won't never -speak to her again. - -But I know now what I am going to do Al and I am going to take little -Al and beat it out of here and she can sew me for a bill of divorce and -I should not worry because I will have little Al and I will see that he -is tooken care of because I guess I can hire a nurse as well as they -can and I will pick out a train nurse that knows something. Maybe I -and him and the nurse will come to Bedford Al but I don't know yet and -I will write and tell you as soon as I make up my mind. Did you ever -hear of a man getting a rottener deal Al? And after what I done in the -serious too. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 17._ - -OLD PAL: I and Florrie has made it up Al but we are threw with Marie -and Allen and I and Florrie and the baby is staying at a hotel here on -Cottage Grove Avenue the same hotel we was at when we got married only -of coarse they was only the 2 of us then. - -And now Al I want to ask you a favor and that is for you to go and see -old man Cutting and tell him I want to ree-new the lease on that house -for another year because I and Florrie has decided to spend the winter -in Bedford and she will want to stay there and take care of little Al -while I am away on trips next summer and not stay in no high-price flat -up here. And may be you and Bertha can help her round the house when I -am not there. - -I will tell you how we come to fix things up Al and you will see that I -made her apollojize to me and after this she will do what I tell her -to and won't never try to put nothing over. We was eating breakfast--I -and Florrie and Marie. Allen was still asleep yet because I guess he -must of had a bad night and he was snoreing so as you could hear him -in the next st. I was not saying nothing to nobody but pretty soon -Florrie says to Marie I don't think you and Allen should ought to kick -on the baby crying when Allen's snoreing makes more noise than a hole -wagonlode of babys. And Marie got sore and says I guess a man has got a -right to snore in his own house and you and Jack has been grafting off -of us long enough. - -Then Florrie says What did Allen do to help win the serious and get -that $750.00? Nothing but set on the bench except when they was makeing -him look like a sucker the 1 inning he pitched. The trouble with you -and Allen is you are jellous of what Jack has did and you know he will -be a star up here in the big league when Allen is tending bar which is -what he should ought to be doing because then he could get stewed for -nothing. - -Marie says Take your brat and get out of the house. And Florrie says -Don't you worry because we would not stay here no longer if you hired -us. So Florrie went in her room and I followed her in and she says -Let's pack up and get out. - -Then I says Yes but we won't go nowheres together after what you done -to me but you can go where you dam please and I and little Al will go -to Bedford. Then she says You can't take the baby because he is mine -and if you was to take him I would have you arrested for kidnaping. -Besides, she says, what would you feed him and who would take care of -him? - -I says I would find somebody to take care of him and I would get him -food from a resturunt. She says He can't eat nothing but milk and I -says Well he has the collect all the time when he is eating milk and he -would not be no worse off if he was eating watermelon. Well, she says, -if you take him I will have you arrested and sew you for a bill of -divorce for dessertion. - -Then she says Jack you should not ought to find no fault with me for -going to them games because when a woman has a husband that can pitch -like you can do you think she wants to stay home and not see her -husband pitch when a lot of other women is cheering him and makeing her -feel proud because she is his wife? - -Well Al as I said right along it was pretty hard on Florrie to have to -stay home and I could not hardly blame her for wanting to be out there -where she could see what I done so what was the use of argueing? - -So I told her I would think it over and then I went out and I went and -seen a attorney at law and asked him could I take little Al away and he -says No I did not have no right to take him away from his mother and -besides it would probily kill him to be tooken away from her and then -he soaked me $10.00 the robber. - -Then I went back and told Florrie I would give her another chance and -then her and I packed up and took little Al in a taxicab over to this -hotel. We are threw with the Allens Al and let me know right away if -I can get that lease for another year because Florrie has gave up and -will go to Bedford or anywheres else with me now. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Illinois, October 20._ - -FRIEND AL: Old pal I won't never forget your kindnus and this is to -tell you that I and Florrie except your kind invatation to come and -stay with you till we can find a house and I guess you won't regret it -none because Florrie will livun things up for Bertha and Bertha will be -crazy about the baby because you should ought to see how cute he is now -Al and not yet four months old. But I bet he will be talking before we -know it. - -We are comeing on the train that leaves here at noon Saturday Al and -the train leaves here about 12 o'clock and I don't know what time it -gets to Bedford but it leaves here at noon so we shall be there probily -in time for supper. - -I wish you would ask Ben Smith will he have a hack down to the deepo to -meet us but I won't pay no more than $.25 and I should think he should -ought to be glad to take us from the deepo to your house for nothing. - - Your pal, JACK. - -P.S. The train we are comeing on leaves here at noon Al and will -probily get us there in time for a late supper and I wonder if Bertha -would have spair ribs and crout for supper. You know me Al. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE BUSHER BEATS IT HENCE - - - _Chicago, Ill., Oct. 18._ - -FRIEND AL: I guess may be you will begin to think I dont never do what -I am going to do and that I change my mind a hole lot because I wrote -and told you that I and Florrie and little Al would be in Bedford -to-day and here we are in Chi yet on the day when I told you we would -get to Bedford and I bet Bertha and you and the rest of the boys will -be dissapointed but Al I dont feel like as if I should ought to leave -the White Sox in a hole and that is why I am here yet and I will tell -you how it come off but in the 1st place I want to tell you that it -wont make a diffrence of more then 5 or 6 or may be 7 days at least -and we will be down there and see you and Bertha and the rest of the -boys just as soon as the N.Y. giants and the White Sox leaves here and -starts a round the world. All so I remember I told you to fix it up so -as a hack would be down to the deepo to meet us to-night and you wont -get this letter in time to tell them not to send no hack so I supose -the hack will be there but may be they will be some body else that gets -off of the train that will want the hack and then every thing will be -all O.K. but if they is not nobody else that wants the hack I will pay -them 1/2 of what they was going to charge me if I had of came and road -in the hack though I dont have to pay them nothing because I am not -going to ride in the hack but I want to do the right thing and besides -I will want a hack at the deepo when I do come so they will get a peace -of money out of me any way so I dont see where they got no kick comeing -even if I dont give them a nichol now. - -I will tell you why I am still here and you will see where I am trying -to do the right thing. You knowed of coarse that the White Sox and -the N. Y. giants was going to make a trip a round the world and they -been after me for a long time to go a long with them but I says No I -would not leave Florrie and the kid because that would not be fare and -besides I would be paying rent and grocerys for them some wheres and me -not getting nothing out of it and besides I would probily be spending -a hole lot of money on the trip because though the clubs pays all of -our regular expences they would be a hole lot of times when I felt -like blowing my self and buying some thing to send home to the Mrs and -to good old friends of mine like you and Bertha so I turned them down -and Callahan acted like he was sore at me but I dont care nothing for -that because I got other people to think a bout and not Callahan and -besides if I was to go a long the fans in the towns where we play at -would want to see me work and I would have to do a hole lot of pitching -which I would not be getting nothing for it and it would not count in -no standing because the games is to be just for fun and what good would -it do me and besides Florrie says I was not under no circumstance to -go and of coarse I would go if I wanted to go no matter what ever she -says but all and all I turned them down and says I would stay here all -winter or rather I would not stay here but in Bedford. Then Callahan -says All right but you know before we start on the trip the giants and -us is going to play a game right here in Chi next Sunday and after what -you done in the city serious the fans would be sore if they did not -get no more chance to look at you so will you stay and pitch part of -the game here and I says I would think it over and I come home to the -hotel where we are staying at and asked Florrie did she care if we did -not go to Bedford for an other week and she says No she did not care -if we dont go for 6 years so I called Callahan up and says I would stay -and he says Thats the boy and now the fans will have an other treat so -you see Al he appresiates what I done and wants to give the fans fare -treatment because this town is nuts over me after what I done to them -Cubs but I could do it just the same to the Athaletics or any body else -if it would of been them in stead of the Cubs. May be we will leave -here the A.M. after the game that is Monday and I will let you know so -as you can order an other hack and tell Bertha I hope she did not go to -no extra trouble a bout getting ready for us and did not order no spair -ribs and crout but you can eat them up if she all ready got them and -may be she can order some more for us when we come but tell her it dont -make no diffrence and not to go to no trouble because most anything she -has is O.K. for I and Florrie accept of coarse we would not want to -make no meal off of sardeens or something. - -Well Al I bet them N.Y. giants will wish I would of went home before -they come for this here exibishun game because my arm feels grate and -I will show them where they would be at if they had to play ball in -our league all the time though I supose they is some pitchers in our -league that they would hit good against them if they can hit at all -but not me. You will see in the papers how I come out and I will write -and tell you a bout it. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Chicago, Ill., Oct. 25._ - -OLD PAL: I have not only got a little time but I have got some news for -you and I knowed you would want to hear all a bout it so I am writeing -this letter and then I am going to catch the train. I would be saying -good by to little Al instead of writeing this letter only Florrie wont -let me wake him up and he is a sleep but may be by the time I get this -letter wrote he will be a wake again and I can say good by to him. I -am going with the White Sox and giants as far as San Francisco or may -be Van Coover where they take the boat at but I am not going a round -the world with them but only just out to the coast to help them out -because they is a couple of men going to join them out there and untill -them men join them they will be short of men and they got a hole lot of -exibishun games to play before they get out there so I am going to help -them out. It all come off in the club house after the game to-day and -I will tell you how it come off but 1st I want to tell you a bout the -game and honest Al them giants is the luckyest team in the world and -it is not no wonder they keep wining the penant in that league because -a club that has got there luck could win ball games with out sending no -team on the field at all but staying down to the hotel. - -They was a big crowd out to the park so Callahan says to me I did not -know if I was going to pitch you or not but the crowd is out here to -see you so I will have to let you work so I warmed up but I knowed -the minute I throwed the 1st ball warming up that I was not right and -I says to Callahan I did not feel good but he says You wont need to -feel good to beat this bunch because they heard a hole lot a bout you -and you would have them beat if you just throwed your glove out there -in the box. So I went in and tried to pitch but my arm was so lame it -pretty near killed me every ball I throwed and I bet if I was some -other pitchers they would not never of tried to work with my arm so -sore but I am not like some of them yellow dogs and quit because I -would not dissapoint the crowd or throw Callahan down when he wanted me -to pitch and was depending on me. You know me Al. So I went in there -but I did not have nothing and if them giants could of hit at all -in stead of like a lot of girls they would of knock down the fence -because I was not my self. At that they should not ought to of had -only the 1 run off of me if Weaver and them had not of begin kicking -the ball a round like it was a foot ball or something. Well Al what -with dropping fly balls and booting them a round and this in that the -giants was gave 5 runs in the 1st 3 innings and they should ought to -of had just the 1 run or may be not that and that ball Merkle hit in -to the seats I was trying to waist it and a man that is a good hitter -would not never of hit at it and if I was right this here Merkle could -not foul me in 9 years. When I was comeing into the bench after the -3th inning this here smart alex Mcgraw come passed me from the 3 base -coaching line and he says Are you going on the trip and I says No I -am not going on no trip and he says That is to bad because if you was -going we would win a hole lot of games and I give him a hot come back -and he did not say nothing so I went in to the bench and Callahan says -Them giants is not such rotten hitters is they and I says No they hit -pretty good when a man has got a sore arm against them and he says -Why did not you tell me your arm was sore and I says I did not want -to dissapoint no crowd that come out here to see me and he says Well -I guess you need not pitch no more because if I left you in there -the crowd might begin to get tired of watching you a bout 10 oclock -to-night and I says What do you mean and he did not say nothing more -so I set there a while and then went to the club house. Well Al after -the game Callahan come in to the club house and I was still in there -yet talking to the trainer and getting my arm rubbed and Callahan says -Are you getting your arm in shape for next year and I says No but it -give me so much pane I could not stand it and he says I bet if you was -feeling good you could make them giants look like a sucker and I says -You know I could make them look like a sucker and he says Well why dont -you come a long with us and you will get an other chance at them when -you feel good and I says I would like to get an other crack at them but -I could not go a way on no trip and leave the Mrs and the baby and then -he says he would not ask me to make the hole trip a round the world but -he wisht I would go out to the coast with them because they was hard -up for pitchers and he says Mathewson of the giants was not only going -as far as the coast so if the giants had there star pitcher that far -the White Sox should ought to have theren and then some of the other -boys coaxed me would I go so finely I says I would think it over and I -went home and seen Florrie and she says How long would it be for and -I says a bout 3 or 4 weeks and she says If you dont go will we start -for Bedford right a way and I says Yes and then she says All right go a -head and go but if they was any thing should happen to the baby while I -was gone what would they do if I was not a round to tell them what to -do and I says Call a Dr. in but dont call no Dr. if you dont have to -and besides you should ought to know by this time what to do for the -baby when he got sick and she says Of coarse I know a little but not -as much as you do because you know it all. Then I says No I dont know -it all but I will tell you some things before I go and you should not -ought to have no trouble so we fixed it up and her and little Al is -to stay here in the hotel untill I come back which will be a bout the -20 of Nov. and then we will come down home and tell Bertha not to get -to in patient and we will get there some time. It is going to cost me -$6.00 a week at the hotel for a room for she and the baby besides there -meals but the babys meals dont cost nothing yet and Florrie should not -ought to be very hungry because we been liveing good and besides she -will get all she can eat when we come to Bedford and it wont cost me -nothing for meals on the trip out to the coast because Comiskey and -Mcgraw pays for that. - -I have not even had no time to look up where we play at but we stop -off at a hole lot of places on the way and I will get a chance to make -them giants look like a sucker before I get threw and Mcgraw wont be so -sorry I am not going to make the hole trip. You will see by the papers -what I done to them before we get threw and I will write as soon as we -stop some wheres long enough so as I can write and now I am going to -say good by to little Al if he is a wake or not a wake and wake him up -and say good by to him because even if he is not only 5 months old he -is old enough to think a hole lot of me and why not. I all so got to -say good by to Florrie and fix it up with the hotel clerk a bout she -and the baby staying here a while and catch the train. You will hear -from me soon old pal. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _St. Joe, Miss., Oct. 29._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al we are on our way to the coast and they is quite a -party of us though it is not no real White Sox and giants at all but -some players from off of both clubs and then some others that is from -other clubs a round the 2 leagues to fill up. We got Speaker from the -Boston club and Crawford from the Detroit club and if we had them with -us all the time Al I would not never loose a game because one or the -other of them 2 is good for a couple of runs every game and that is all -I need to win my games is a couple of runs or only 1 run and I would -win all my games and would not never loose a game. - -I did not pitch to-day and I guess the giants was glad of it because -no matter what Mcgraw says he must of saw from watching me Sunday that -I was a real pitcher though my arm was so sore I could not hardly raze -it over my sholder so no wonder I did not have no stuff but at that I -could of beat his gang with out no stuff if I had of had some kind of -decent suport. I will pitch against them may be to-morrow or may be -some day soon and my arm is all O.K. again now so I will show them up -and make them wish Callahan had of left me to home. Some of the men has -brung there wife a long and besides that there is some other men and -there wife that is not no ball players but are going a long for the -trip and some more will join the party out the coast before they get a -bord the boat but of coarse I and Mathewson will drop out of the party -then because why should I or him go a round the world and throw our -arms out pitching games that dont count in no standing and that we dont -get no money for pitching them out side of just our bare expences. The -people in the towns we played at so far has all wanted to shake hands -with Mathewson and I so I guess they know who is the real pitchers on -these here 2 clubs no matter what them reporters says and the stars -is all ways the men that the people wants to shake there hands with -and make friends with them but Al this here Mathewson pitched to-day -and honest Al I dont see how he gets by and either the batters in the -National league dont know nothing a bout hitting or else he is such -a old man that they feel sorry for him and may be when he was a bout -10 years younger then he is may be then he had some thing and was a -pretty fare pitcher but all as he does now is stick the 1st ball right -over with 0 on it and pray that they dont hit it out of the park. If a -pitcher like he can get by in the National league and fool them batters -they is not nothing I would like better then to pitch in the National -league and I bet I would not get scored on in 2 to 3 years. I heard a -hole lot a bout this here fade a way that he is suposed to pitch and it -is a ball that is throwed out between 2 fingers and falls in at a right -hand batter and they is not no body cant hit it but if he throwed 1 -of them things to-day he done it while I was a sleep and they was not -no time when I was not wide a wake and looking right at him and after -the game was over I says to him Where is that there fade a way I heard -so much a bout and he says O I did not have to use none of my regular -stuff against your club and I says Well you would have to use all you -got if I was working against you and he says Yes if you worked like you -done Sunday I would have to do some pitching or they would not never -finish the game. Then I says a bout me haveing a sore arm Sunday and -he says I wisht I had a sore arm like yourn and a little sence with it -and was your age and I would not never loose a game so you see Al he -has heard a bout me and is jellus because he has not got my stuff but -they cant every body expect to have the stuff that I got or 1/2 as much -stuff. This smart alex Mcgraw was trying to kid me to-day and says Why -did not I make friends with Mathewson and let him learn me some thing -a bout pitching and I says Mathewson could not learn me nothing and he -says I guess thats right and I guess they is not nobody could learn you -nothing a bout nothing and if you was to stay in the league 20 years -probily you would not be no better then you are now so you see he had -to add mit that I am good Al even if he has not saw me work when my arm -was O.K. - -Mcgraw says to me to-night he says I wisht you was going all the way -and I says Yes you do. I says Your club would look like a sucker after -I had worked against them a few times and he says May be thats right to -because they would not know how to hit against a regular pitcher after -that. Then he says But I dont care nothing a bout that but I wisht you -was going to make the hole trip so as we could have a good time. He -says We got Steve Evans and Dutch Schaefer going a long and they is -both of them funny but I like to be a round with boys that is funny and -dont know nothing a bout it. I says Well I would go a long only for my -wife and baby and he says Yes it would be pretty tough on your wife to -have you a way that long but still and all think how glad she would be -to see you when you come back again and besides them dolls acrost the -ocean will be pretty sore at I and Callahan if we tell them we left you -to home. I says Do you supose the people over there has heard a bout -me and he says Sure because they have wrote a lot of letters asking me -to be sure and bring you and Mathewson a long. Then he says I guess -Mathewson is not going so if you was to go and him left here to home -they would not be nothing to it. You could have things all your own way -and probily could marry the Queen of europe if you was not all ready -married. He was giveing me the strate dope this time Al because he did -not crack a smile and I wisht I could go a long but it would not be -fare to Florrie but still and all did not she leave me and beat it for -Texas last winter and why should not I do the same thing to her only I -am not that kind of a man. You know me Al. - -We play in Kansas city to-morrow and may be I will work there because -it is a big town and I have got to close now and write to Florrie. - - Your old pal, JACK. - - - _Abilene, Texas, Nov. 4._ - -AL: Well Al I guess you know by this time that I have worked against -them 2 times since I wrote to you last time and I beat them both times -and Mcgraw knows now what kind of a pitcher I am and I will tell you -how I know because after the game yesterday he road down to the place -we dressed at a long with me and all the way in the automobile he was -after me to say I would go all the way a round the world and finely it -come out that he wants I should go a long and pitch for his club and -not pitch for the White Sox. He says his club is up against it for -pitchers because Mathewson is not going and all they got left is a man -named Hern that is a young man and not got no experiense and Wiltse -that is a left hander. So he says I have talked it over with Callahan -and he says if I could get you to go a long it was all O.K. with him -and you could pitch for us only I must not work you to hard because he -is depending on you to win the penant for him next year. I says Did not -none of the other White Sox make no holler because may be they might -have to bat against me and he says Yes Crawford and Speaker says they -would not make the trip if you was a long and pitching against them but -Callahan showed them where it would be good for them next year because -if they hit against you all winter the pitchers they hit against next -year will look easy to them. He was crazy to have me go a long on the -hole trip but of coarse Al they is not no chance of me going on acct. -of Florrie and little Al but you see Mcgraw has cut out his trying to -kid me and is treating me now like a man should ought to be treated -that has did what I done. - -They was not no game here to-day on acct. of it raining and the people -here was sore because they did not see no game but they all come a -round to look at us and says they must have some speechs from the most -prommerent men in the party so I and Comiskey and Mcgraw and Callahan -and Mathewson and Ted Sullivan that I guess is putting up the money -for the trip made speechs and they clapped there hands harder when I -was makeing my speech then when any 1 of the others was makeing there -speech. You did not know I was a speech maker did you Al and I did not -know it neither untill to-day but I guess they is not nothing I can do -if I make up my mind and 1 of the boys says that I done just as well as -Dummy Taylor could of. - -I have not heard nothing from Florrie but I guess may be she is to busy -takeing care of little Al to write no letters and I am not worring none -because she give me her word she would let me know was they some thing -the matter. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _San Dago, Cal., Nov. 9._ - -FRIEND AL: Al some times I wisht I was not married at all and if it -was not for Florrie and little Al I would go a round the world on this -here trip and I guess the boys in Bedford would not be jellus if I was -to go a round the world and see every thing they is to be saw and some -of the boys down home has not never been no futher a way then Terre -Haute and I dont mean you Al but some of the other boys. But of coarse -Al when a man has got a wife and a baby they is not no chance for him -to go a way on 1 of these here trips and leave them a lone so they is -not no use I should even think a bout it but I cant help thinking a -bout it because the boys keeps after me all the time to go. Callahan -was talking a bout it to me to-day and he says he knowed that if I was -to pitch for the giants on the trip his club would not have no chance -of wining the most of the games on the trip but still and all he wisht -I would go a long because he was a scared the people over in Rome and -Paris and Africa and them other countrys would be awful sore if the 2 -clubs come over there with out bringing none of there star pitchers -along. He says We got Speaker and Crawford and Doyle and Thorp and some -of them other real stars in all the positions accept pitcher and it -will make us look bad if you and Mathewson dont neither 1 of you come a -long. I says What is the matter with Scott and Benz and this here left -hander Wiltse and he says They is not nothing the matter with none of -them accept they is not no real stars like you and Mathewson and if we -cant show them forreners 1 of you 2 we will feel like as if we was -cheating them. I says You would not want me to pitch my best against -your club would you and he says O no I would not want you to pitch -your best or get your self all wore out for next year but I would want -you to let up enough so as we could make a run oncet in a while so the -games would not be to 1 sided. I says Well they is not no use talking -a bout it because I could not leave my wife and baby and he says Why -dont you write and ask your wife and tell her how it is and can you go. -I says No because she would make a big holler and besides of coarse I -would go any way if I wanted to go with out no I yes or no from her -only I am not the kind of a man that runs off and leaves his family and -besides they is not nobody to leave her with because her and her sister -Allens wife has had a quarrle. Then Callahan says Where is Allen at now -is he still in Chi. I says I dont know where is he at and I dont care -where he is at because I am threw with him. Then Callahan says I asked -him would he go on the trip before the season was over but he says he -could not and if I knowed where was he I would wire a telegram to him -and ask him again. I says What would you want him a long for and he -says Because Mcgraw is shy of pitchers and I says I would try and help -him find 1. I says Well you should ought not to have no trouble finding -a man like Allen to go along because his wife probily would be glad to -get rid of him. Then Callahan says Well I wisht you would get a hold -of where Allen is at and let me know so as I can wire him a telegram. -Well Al I know where Allen is at all O.K. but I am not going to give -his adress to Callahan because Mcgraw has treated me all O.K. and why -should I wish a man like Allen on to him and besides I am not going to -give Allen no chance to go a round the world or no wheres else after -the way he acted a bout I and Florrie haveing a room in his flat and -asking me to pay for it when he give me a invatation to come there and -stay. Well Al it is to late now to cry in the sour milk but I wisht I -had not never saw Florrie untill next year and then I and her could -get married just like we done last year only I dont know would I do it -again or not but I guess I would on acct. of little Al. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 14._ - -OLD PAL: Well old pal what do you know a bout me being back here in San -Francisco where I give the fans such a treat 2 years ago and then I -was not nothing but a busher and now I am with a team that is going a -round the world and are crazy to have me go a long only I cant because -of my wife and baby. Callahan wired a telegram to the reporters here -from Los Angeles telling them I would pitch here and I guess they is -going to be 20 or 25000 out to the park and I will give them the best I -got. - -But what do you think Florrie has did Al. Her and the Allens has made -it up there quarrle and is friends again and Marie told Florrie to -write and tell me she was sorry we had that there argument and let -by gones be by gones. Well Al it is all O.K. with me because I cant -help not feeling sorry for Allen because I dont beleive he will be in -the league next year and I feel sorry for Marie to because it must be -pretty tough on her to see how well her sister done and what a misstake -she made when she went and fell for a left hander that could not fool -a blind man with his curve ball and if he was to hit a man in the head -with his fast ball they would think there nose iched. In Florries -letter she says she thinks us and the Allens could find an other flat -like the 1 we had last winter and all live in it to gether in stead -of going to Bedford but I have wrote to her before I started writeing -this letter all ready and told her that her and I is going to Bedford -and the Allens can go where they feel like and they can go and stay on -a boat on Michigan lake all winter if they want to but I and Florrie -is comeing to Bedford. Down to the bottom of her letter she says Allen -wants to know if Callahan or Mcgraw is shy of pitchers and may be he -would change his mind and go a long on the trip. Well Al I did not ask -either Callahan nor Mcgraw nothing a bout it because I knowed they was -looking for a star and not for no left hander that could not brake a -pane of glass with his fast 1 so I wrote and told Florrie to tell Allen -they was all filled up and would not have no room for no more men. - -It is pretty near time to go out to the ball park and I wisht you could -be here Al and hear them San Francisco fans go crazy when they hear my -name anounced to pitch. I bet they wish they had of had me here this -last year. - - Yours truly, JACK. - - - _Medford, Organ, Nov. 16._ - -FRIEND AL: Well Al you know by this time that I did not pitch the hole -game in San Francisco but I was not tooken out because they was hitting -me Al but because my arm went back on me all of a sudden and it was -the change in the clime it that done it to me and they could not hire -me to try and pitch another game in San Francisco. They was the biggest -crowd there that I ever seen in San Francisco and I guess they must of -been 40000 people there and I wisht you could of heard them yell when -my name was anounced to pitch. But Al I would not never of went in -there but for the crowd. My arm felt like a wet rag or some thing and -I knowed I would not have nothing and besides the people was packed -in a round the field and they had to have ground rules so when a man -hit a pop fly it went in to the crowd some wheres and was a 2 bagger -and all them giants could do against me was pop my fast ball up in -the air and then the wind took a hold of it and dropped it in to the -crowd the lucky stiffs. Doyle hit 3 of them pop ups in to the crowd -so when you see them 3 2 base hits oposit his name in the score you -will know they was not no real 2 base hits and the infielders would of -catched them had it not of been for the wind. This here Doyle takes a -awful wallop at a ball but if I was right and he swang at a ball the -way he done in San Francisco the catcher would all ready be throwing -me back the ball a bout the time this here Doyle was swinging at it. I -can make him look like a sucker and I done it both in Kansas city and -Bonham and if he will get up there and bat against me when I feel good -and when they is not no wind blowing I will bet him a $25.00 suit of -cloths that he cant foul 1 off of me. Well when Callahan seen how bad -my arm was he says I guess I should ought to take you out and not run -no chance of you getting killed in there and so I quit and Faber went -in to finnish it up because it dont make no diffrence if he hurts his -arm or dont. But I guess Mcgraw knowed my arm was sore to because he -did not try and kid me like he done that day in Chi because he has saw -enough of me since then to know I can make his club look rotten when -I am O.K. and my arm is good. On the train that night he come up and -says to me Well Jack we catched you off your strid to-day or you would -of gave us a beating and then he says What your arm needs is more work -and you should ought to make the hole trip with us and then you would -be in fine shape for next year but I says You cant get me to make no -trip so you might is well not do no more talking a bout it and then he -says Well I am sorry and the girls over to Paris will be sorry to but I -guess he was just jokeing a bout the last part of it. - -Well Al we go to 1 more town in Organ and then to Washington but of -coarse it is not the same Washington we play at in the summer but this -is the state Washington and have not got no big league club and the -boys gets there boat in 4 more days and I will quit them and then I -will come strate back to Chi and from there to Bedford. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Portland, Organ, Nov. 17._ - -FRIEND AL: I have just wrote a long letter to Florrie but I feel like -as if I should ought to write to you because I wont have no more chance -for a long while that is I wont have no more chance to male a letter -because I will be on the pacific Ocean and un less we should run passed -a boat that was comeing the other way they would not be no chance of -getting no letter maled. Old pal I am going to make the hole trip clear -a round the world and back and so I wont see you this winter after all -but when I do see you Al I will have a lot to tell you a bout my trip -and besides I will write you a letter a bout it from every place we -head in at. - -I guess you will be surprised a bout me changeing my mind and makeing -the hole trip but they was not no way for me to get out of it and I -will tell you how it all come off. While we was still in that there -Medford yesterday Mcgraw and Callahan come up to me and says was they -not no chance of me changeing my mind a bout makeing the hole trip. -I says No they was not. Then Callahan says Well I dont know what we -are going to do then and I says Why and he says Comiskey just got a -letter from president Wilson the President of the united states and in -the letter president Wilson says he had got an other letter from the -king of Japan who says that they would not stand for the White Sox and -giants comeing to Japan un less they brought all there stars a long -and president Wilson says they would have to take there stars a long -because he was a scared if they did not take there stars a long Japan -would get mad at the united states and start a war and then where -would we be at. So Comiskey wired a telegram to president Wilson and -says Mathewson could not make the trip because he was so old but would -everything be all O.K. if I was to go a long and president Wilson wired -a telegram back and says Yes he had been talking to the priest from -Japan and he says Yes it would be all O.K. I asked them would they show -me the letter from president Wilson because I thought may be they might -be kiding me and they says they could not show me no letter because -when Comiskey got the letter he got so mad that he tore it up. Well -Al I finely says I did not want to brake up there trip but I knowed -Florrie would not stand for letting me go so Callahan says All right I -will wire a telegram to a friend of mine in Chi and have him get a hold -of Allen and send him out here and we will take him a long and I says -It is to late for Allen to get here in time and Mcgraw says No they was -a train that only took 2 days from Chi to where ever it was the boat is -going to sale from because the train come a round threw canada and it -was down hill all the way. Then I says Well if you will wire a telegram -to my wife and fix things up with her I will go a long with you but if -she is going to make a holler it is all off. So we all 3 went to the -telegram office to gether and we wired Florrie a telegram that must of -cost $2.00 but Callahan and Mcgraw payed for it out of there own pocket -and then we waited a round a long time and the anser come back and the -anser was longer than the telegram we wired and it says it would not -make no diffrence to her but she did not know if the baby would make a -holler but he was hollering most of the time any way so that would not -make no diffrence but if she let me go it was on condishon that her -and the Allens could get a flat to gether and stay in Chi all winter -and not go to no Bedford and hire a nurse to take care of the baby and -if I would send her a check for the money I had in the bank so as she -could put it in her name and draw it out when she need it. Well I says -at 1st I would not stand for nothing like that but Callahan and Mcgraw -showed me where I was makeing a mistake not going when I could see all -them diffrent countrys and tell Florrie all a bout the trip when I come -back and then in a year or 2 when the baby was a little older I could -make an other trip and take little Al and Florrie a long so I finely -says O.K. I would go and we wires still an other telegram to Florrie -and told her O.K. and then I set down and wrote her a check for 1/2 the -money I got in the bank and I got $500.00 all together there so I wrote -the check for 1/2 of that or $250.00 and maled it to her and if she -cant get a long on that she would be a awfull spendrift because I am -not only going to be a way untill March. You should ought to of heard -the boys cheer when Callahan tells them I am going to make the hole -trip but when he tells them I am going to pitch for the giants and not -for the White Sox I bet Crawford and Speaker and them wisht I was going -to stay to home but it is just like Callahan says if they bat against -me all winter the pitchers they bat against next season will look easy -to them and you wont be supprised Al if Crawford and Speaker hits a -bout 500 next year and if they hit good you will know why it is. Steve -Evans asked me was I all fixed up with cloths and I says No but I was -going out and buy some cloths includeing a full dress suit of evening -cloths and he says You dont need no full dress suit of evening cloths -because you look funny enough with out them. This Evans is a great -kidder Al and no body never gets sore at the stuff he pulls some thing -like Kid Gleason. I wisht Kid Gleason was going on the trip Al but I -will tell him all a bout it when I come back. - -Well Al old pal I wisht you was going a long to and I bet we could have -the time of our life but I will write to you right a long Al and I will -send Bertha some post cards from the diffrent places we head in at. -I will try and write you a letter on the boat and male it as soon as -we get to the 1st station which is either Japan or Yokohama I forgot -which. Good by Al and say good by to Bertha for me and tell her how -sorry I and Florrie is that we cant come to Bedford this winter but we -will spend all the rest of the winters there and her and Florrie will -have a plenty of time to get acquainted. Good by old pal. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Seattle, Wash., Nov. 18._ - -AL: Well Al it is all off and I am not going on no trip a round the -world and back and I been looking for Callahan or Mcgraw for the last -1/2 hour to tell them I have changed my mind and am not going to make -no trip because it would not be fare to Florrie and besides that I -think I should ought to stay home and take care of little Al and not -leave him to be tooken care of by no train nurse because how do I know -what would she do to him and I am not going to tell Florrie nothing a -bout it but I am going to take the train to-morrow night right back to -Chi and supprise her when I get there and I bet both her and little Al -will be tickled to death to see me. I supose Mcgraw and Callahan will -be sore at me for a while but when I tell them I want to do the right -thing and not give my famly no raw deal I guess they will see where I -am right. - -We was to play 2 games here and was to play 1 of them in Tacoma and -the other here but it rained and so we did not play neither 1 and the -people was pretty mad a bout it because I was announced to pitch and -they figured probily this would be there only chance to see me in axion -and they made a awful holler but Comiskey says No they would not be -no game because the field neither here or in Tacoma was in no shape -for a game and he would not take no chance of me pitching and may be -slipping in the mud and straneing myself and then where would the White -Sox be at next season. So we been laying a round all the P.M. and I and -Dutch Schaefer had a long talk to gether while some of the rest of the -boys was out buying some cloths to take on the trip and Al I bought a -full dress suit of evening cloths at Portland yesterday and now I owe -Callahan the money for them and am not going on no trip so probily I -wont never get to ware them and it is just $45.00 throwed a way but I -would rather throw $45.00 a way then go on a trip a round the world and -leave my famly all winter. - -Well Al I and Schaefer was talking to gether and he says Well may be -this is the last time we will ever see the good old US and I says What -do you mean and he says People that gos acrost the pacific Ocean most -generally all ways has there ship recked and then they is not no more -never heard from them. Then he asked me was I a good swimmer and I -says Yes I had swam a good deal in the river and he says Yes you have -swam in the river but that is not nothing like swimming in the pacific -Ocean because when you swim in the pacific Ocean you cant move your -feet because if you move your feet the sharks comes up to the top of -the water and bites at them and even if they did not bite your feet -clean off there bite is poison and gives you the hiderofobeya and when -you get that you start barking like a dog and the water runs in to your -mouth and chokes you to death. Then he says Of coarse if you can swim -with out useing your feet you are all O.K. but they is very few can -do that and especially in the pacific Ocean because they got to keep -useing there hands all the time to scare the sord fish a way so when -you dont dare use your feet and your hands is busy you got nothing left -to swim with but your stumach mussles. Then he says You should ought -to get a long all O.K. because your stumach mussles should ought to -be strong from the exercise they get so I guess they is not no danger -from a man like you but men like Wiltse and Mike Donlin that is not hog -fat like you has not got no chance. Then he says Of coarse they have -been times when the boats got acrost all O.K. and only a few lives lost -but it dont offten happen and the time the old Minneapolis club made -the trip the boat went down and the only thing that was saved was the -catchers protector that was full of air and could not do nothing else -but flote. Then he says May be you would flote to if you did not say -nothing for a few days. - -I asked him how far would a man got to swim if some thing went wrong -with the boat and he says O not far because they is a hole lot of -ilands a long the way that a man could swim to but it would not do a -man no good to swim to these here ilands because they dont have nothing -to eat on them and a man would probily starve to death un less he -happened to swim to the sandwich ilands. Then he says But by the time -you been out on the pacific Ocean a few months you wont care if you get -any thing to eat or not. I says Why not and he says the pacific Ocean -is so ruff that not nothing can set still not even the stuff you eat. -I asked him how long did it take to make the trip acrost if they was -not no ship reck and he says they should ought to get acrost a long in -febuery if the weather was good. I says Well if we dont get there until -febuery we wont have no time to train for next season and he says You -wont need to do no training because this trip will take all the weight -off of you and every thing else you got. Then he says But you should -not ought to be scared of getting sea sick because they is 1 way you -can get a way from it and that is to not eat nothing at all while you -are on the boat and they tell me you dont eat hardly nothing any way so -you wont miss it. Then he says Of coarse if we should have good luck -and not get in to no ship reck and not get shot by 1 of them war ships -we will have a grate time when we get acrost because all the girls -in europe and them places is nuts over ball players and especially -stars. I asked what did he mean saying we might get shot by 1 of them -war ships and he says we would have to pass by Swittserland and the -Swittserland war ships was all the time shooting all over the ocean and -of coarse they was not trying to hit no body but they was as wild as -most of them left handers and how could you tell what was they going to -do next. - -Well Al after I got threw talking to Schaefer I run in to Jack Sheridan -the umpire and I says I did not think I would go on no trip and I -told him some of the things Schaefer was telling me and Sheridan says -Schaefer was kidding me and they was not no danger at all and of coarse -Al I did not believe 1/2 of what Schaefer was telling me and that has -not got nothing to do with me changeing my mind but I don't think it -is not hardly fare for me to go a way on a trip like that and leave -Florrie and the baby and suppose some of them things really did happen -like Schaefer said though of coarse he was kidding me but if 1 of them -was to happen they would not be no body left to take care of Florrie -and little Al and I got a $1000.00 insurence policy but how do I know -after I am dead if the insurence co. comes acrost and gives my famly -the money. - -Well Al I will male this letter and then try again and find Mcgraw and -Callahan and then I will look up a time table and see what train can -I get to Chi. I dont know yet when I will be in Bedford and may be -Florrie has hired a flat all ready but the Allens can live in it by -them self and if Allen says any thing a bout I paying for 1/2 of the -rent I will bust his jaw. - - Your pal, JACK. - - - _Victoria, Can., Nov. 19._ - -DEAR OLD AL: Well old pal the boat gos to-night I am going a long -and I would not be takeing no time to write this letter only I wrote -to you yesterday and says I was not going and you probily would be -expecting to see me blow in to Bedford in a few days and besides Al I -got a hole lot of things to ask you to do for me if any thing happens -and I want to tell you how it come a bout that I changed my mind and -am going on the trip. I am glad now that I did not write Florrie no -letter yesterday and tell her I was not going because now I would have -to write her an other letter and tell her I was going and she would be -expecting to see me the day after she got the 1st letter and in stead -of seeing me she would get this 2nd. letter and not me at all. I have -all ready wrote her a good by letter to-day though and while I was -writeing it Al I all most broke down and cried and espesially when I -thought a bout leaveing little Al so long and may be when I see him -again he wont be no baby no more or may be some thing will of happened -to him or that train nurse did some thing to him or may be I wont never -see him again no more because it is pretty near a cinch that some thing -will either happen to I or him. I would give all most any thing I got -Al to be back in Chi with little Al and Florrie and I wisht she had not -of never wired that telegram telling me I could make the trip and if -some thing happens to me think how she will feel when ever she thinks a -bout wireing me that telegram and she will feel all most like as if she -was a murder. - -Well Al after I had wrote you that letter yesterday I found Callahan -and Mcgraw and I tell them I have changed my mind and am not going on -no trip. Callahan says Whats the matter and I says I dont think it -would be fare to my wife and baby and Callahan says Your wife says it -would be all O.K. because I seen the telegram my self. I says Yes but -she dont know how dangerus the trip is and he says Whos been kiding you -and I says They has not no body been kiding me. I says Dutch Schaefer -told me a hole lot of stuff but I did not believe none of it and that -has not got nothing to do with it. I says I am not a scared of nothing -but supose some thing should happen and then where would my wife and -my baby be at. Then Callahan says Schaefer has been giveing you a lot -of hot air and they is not no more danger on this trip then they is in -bed. You been in a hole lot more danger when you was pitching some of -them days when you had a sore arm and you would be takeing more chances -of getting killed in Chi by 1 of them taxi cabs or the dog catcher -then on the Ocean. This here boat we are going on is the Umpires of -Japan and it has went acrost the Ocean a million times with out nothing -happening and they could not nothing happen to a boat that the N.Y. -giants was rideing on because they is to lucky. Then I says Well I -have made up my mind to not go on no trip and he says All right then -I guess we might is well call the trip off and I says Why and he says -You know what president Wilson says a bout Japan and they wont stand -for us comeing over there with out you a long and then Mcgraw says Yes -it looks like as if the trip was off because we dont want to take no -chance of starting no war between Japan and the united states. Then -Callahan says You will be in fine with Comiskey if he has to call the -trip off because you are a scared of getting hit by a fish. Well Al we -talked and argude for a hour or a hour and 1/2 and some of the rest -of the boys come a round and took Callahan and Mcgraw side and finely -Callahan says it looked like as if they would have to posepone the trip -a few days un till he could get a hold of Allen or some body and get -them to take my place so finely I says I would go because I would not -want to brake up no trip after they had made all there plans and some -of the players wifes was all ready to go and would be dissapointed if -they was not no trip. So Mcgraw and Callahan says Thats the way to talk -and so I am going Al and we are leaveing to-night and may be this is -the last letter you will ever get from me but if they does not nothing -happen Al I will write to you a lot of letters and tell you all a bout -the trip but you must not be looking for no more letters for a while -untill we get to Japan where I can male a letter and may be its likely -as not we wont never get to Japan. - -Here is the things I want to ask you to try and do Al and I am not -asking you to do nothing if we get threw the trip all right but if some -thing happens and I should be drowned here is what I am asking you to -do for me and that is to see that the insurence co. dont skin Florrie -out of that $1000.00 policy and see that she all so gets that other -$250.00 out of the bank and find her some place down in Bedford to -live if she is willing to live down there because she can live there -a hole lot cheaper then she can live in Chi and besides I know Bertha -would treat her right and help her out all she could. All so Al I want -you and Bertha to help take care of little Al untill he grows up big -enough to take care of him self and if he looks like as if he was going -to be left handed dont let him Al but make him use his right hand for -every thing. Well Al they is 1 good thing and that is if I get drowned -Florrie wont have to buy no lot in no cemetary and hire no herse. - -Well Al old pal you all ways been a good friend of mine and I all ways -tried to be a good friend of yourn and if they was ever any thing I -done to you that was not O.K. remember by gones is by gones. I want you -to all ways think of me as your best old pal. Good by old pal. - - Your old pal, JACK. - -P.S. Al if they should not nothing happen and if we was to get acrost -the Ocean all O.K. I am going to ask Mcgraw to let me work the 1st game -against the White Sox in Japan because I should certainly ought to be -right after giveing my arm a rest and not doing nothing at all on the -trip acrost and I bet if Mcgraw lets me work Crawford and Speaker will -wisht the boat had of sank. You know me Al. - - -Transcribers Note: - -Original spelling and grammar has been retained. - -G.M. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of You Know Me Al, by Ring W. Lardner - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOU KNOW ME AL *** - -***** This file should be named 52670.txt or 52670.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/6/7/52670/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/52670.zip b/old/52670.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b52fad0..0000000 --- a/old/52670.zip +++ /dev/null |
