Down the stretch they went, less than three feet separating them. Joe knew that he was the faster man, but he deliberately let Henderson keep close to him, so close that at every moment the latter thought he was going to touch him. He was already wrought up by Joe’s gibes at his slowness and he wanted the satisfaction of putting him out himself.
The field stands were a pandemonium. The Giants were shouting and jumping up and down like mad. The whole Chicago infield were rushing toward the plate, while Axander and Lange were frantically shouting to Henderson to throw the ball.
But the latter, in frenzied pursuit of that flying figure that he seemed at every instant just about to touch, kept on. Then, when near the plate, Joe let out a burst of speed that showed Henderson his chase was fruitless. He threw then, but the ball was too late.
It went high to Lange, who grabbed it and fairly threw himself down on Joe, who in one tremendous fling had launched himself toward the plate.
There was a cloud of dust, a medley of flying arms and legs, a wild chorus of yells.
“Safe!” cried the umpire.
And then twenty thousand people promptly went mad.
CHAPTER XV
A SINGULAR OCCURRENCE
The most brilliant game of the season that far was over and the Giants had won by a score of 1 to 0.