“When we did go in, there stood as spruce a young gent of a hundred or so as ever you see. That Injun had on a cheap but decent light hand-me-down suit, b’iled shirt and paper collar, red necktie, canvas shoes--mighty small they were; he had feet like a lady--pocket-handkercher with red border sticking out of his pocket, cane in his hand, a white plug hat on his head and a pair of specs on his nose. We were simply dumfounded; that’s the only word for it. The old cuss carried himself pretty well. Darned if you’d find a white man of his years that had as much style to him. And proud! Well, that don’t give you any idea of it. He strutted around like a squint-eyed girl that’s just hooked a feller. “When he started off down the street to give the folks a benefit, we had our laugh out. “Into every store of the place goes Mr. Rip. Walks up and down and says ‘Huh!’ After he thinks the folks have had a fair show to take in his glory, ‘Huh!’ says he again, and tries next door. The whole town was worked up over it. The fellers would shake him by the hand, bowing and scraping and giving him all sorts of steers. “Well, we had our mascot now, so there was no particular reason why we shouldn’t try to get somebody’s scalp. “We sent a challenge to the Maroons, which they accepted, too quick. The game was to be played on our grounds, and with the eyes of our friends on us, you bet we meant to do our little best; but luck was against us. Our second base, the Hoodoo, had got snake bit. Rattler struck him in the right hand. He had a mighty close squeak for his life. The right field, Doctor Andis, the nicest gentleman that ever wore shoes, was coming down with the fever that carried him off. “To crown all, just when I should have been rustling around the liveliest, I had one of my headaches--the worst I ever had. Lord! For three days I couldn’t see, and then a fool of a man told me whisky was good for it, and I took his advice. When the drink started my heart up, darned if I didn’t think the top of my head was coming off. I ought to have been in bed the day of the game, but of course that wasn’t to be thought of. “Well, the boys were nervous, and I was sick, and though I tried my best to put a good foot forward, I’m afraid I didn’t help matters any.