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The Laughing Man
Itossedmyfirst-baseman’smittupintheairandtriedtohaveitlandonmyhead,butitfellinamudpuddle.IwipeditoffonmytrousersandaskedMaryHudsonifshewantedtocomeuptomyhousefordinnersometime.ItoldhertheChiefcameupalot."Leavemealone,"shesaid."Justpleaseleavemealone."Istaredather,thenwalkedoffinthedirectionoftheWarriors’bench,takingatangerineoutofmypocketandtossingitupintheair.Aboutmidwayalongthethird-basefoulline,Iturnedaroundandstartedtowalkbackwards,lookingatMaryHudsonandholdingontomytangerine.IhadnoideawhatwasgoingonbetweentheChiefandMaryHudson(andstillhaven’t,inanybutafairlylow,intuitivesense),butnonetheless,Icouldn’thavebeenmorecertainthatMaryHudsonhadpermanentlydroppedoutoftheComanchelineup.Itwasthekindofwholecertainty,howeverindependentofthesumofitsfacts,thatcanmakewalkingbackwardsmorethannormallyhazardous,andIbumpedsmackintoababycarriage.
Afteranotherinning,thelightgotbadforfielding.Thegamewascalled,andwestartedpickingupalltheequipment.ThelastgoodlookIhadatMaryHudson,shewasovernearthirdbasecrying.TheChiefhadholdofthesleeveofherbeavercoat,butshegotawayfromhim.SheranoffthefieldontothecementpathandkeptrunningtillIcouldn’tseeheranymore.
TheChiefdidn’tgoafterher.Hejuststoodwatchingherdisappear.
