Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09

Notwiti standing, there was one local IN
siitution about which there was only one
mind. The Gallia City Base Ball club, the
apple Of the municipal eye. was felt to he
set for the city's defense against the world
in general and the nine from Centerport IN
particular
Centerport a few miles down the river,
was a hgh-head little town. giving TO
Wanting itself unseemly. and challenging
other towns to come out and meet their
doom. Worse than that. Centerport had in
hand a large stock of doom, and was lio-
eral In applying it-over the diamond. The
mutual scorn of Centerport and Gallia City
bad something tragic in its intensity. TO
beat Centerport was the summit of Gallian
achievement: Ccnterport lived only to re-
peat its victories over the hated foe. In
both business of all sorts was transacted,
as a sort of adjunct to the larger mission
IN life.
Brent Harwood came to Gallia City to
supply Dicksons pulpit. while Dickson,
poor man. away in hospital. Dickson
was the Presbyterian minister. HARDWOOD
was TO live in the vacant parsonage. and
take his meals over with the Potters. Dick
son had arranged all that. HARDWOOD noped
he had arranged also for some one to meet
him. But when he stepped off the boat
from Cincinnati early one Saturday morn
ing and looked about he found none tC
welcome him.
When the dock had been deserted by all
but roustab1uts and chronic loungers. Har-
wood made up his mind that there was
some hitch; his letter of announcement had
possibly rniscarried. So he walked up to
old riverman in the freight house and
said:
II believe I am to board with a family
here named Potter Do you know of any
such people?
Know EN-, Why. sonny. they amt man,
woman. ner child-dog gone 1t, even er
ornerey yaller purp. ner scasely er flea on
that purp-lvin' in these here parts that
i don't know. You bet ! know 'em-hull
family. includin' the cat-ole chap, with
biles on his nose-nice ole gal fer his m!ssus
son. the golalfernalest cuss in seventeen
states. ter sell planners an orgins-an' the
sons wife, Annie, who is jest er great big
hunk of the salt o the earth. Say. what
dye want with EN-. Be ye O. them
drummer chaps tryin' ter sell Pot some
more goods?"
Harwood shock his head. I've come to
spend the summer here he said. Il shall
take my meals with the Potters and live
at the parsonage.
Why. it's shet up Dickson's gone ter
New York ter have some big doctor cut
him open an right him up inside" the
river said
Il did hear thar was a-say. young fell
low, you amt the new preacher that's
comin'?''
Il am going 20 try and preach" Har
wood said. modestly. My name is Har-
wood"
Brother Harwood"' faltered the river
man. femme beg Yer pardon the durndest
worst way, | had no idee-you don't look
Ike uarSon, you don't dress Ike par
son, You didn't let on We wus a parson-
how in tunkit a fellow to know? /
hope veil fergit l called ye sonny-if ye
will by grab, We can lick me et l don't
come To chUrch-not next Sunday-but some
tim before We go"
That's a bargain" Harwood said. shak-
ing hands before he made his way TO
breakfast at the hotel.
Ucou his second Monday morning in
Gallia City Harwocd str0lled Gown TO
Stevenson Potter's music store. Stevenson
H. had fo,nd fine fellow, although every
body but his own family did call him Pot.
Pot, his part, had at first been doubtful
of the young preacher just out Of semi
nary, but after little had said of him to
a friend
"Our parson is all right-from the ground
up. not one Of those white-chokered fell
lows. who go around with faces long
as a snail-track-as If they had given up
the world the flesh and the devil. and were
almighty sorrow they had to. Harwood IS
none of that sort. He's first and
minister afterward
As HARDWOOD stepped inside The music
store strong voice called across the
street:
Hey there. Potr'
Coming Colonel" Potter answered, pick
ing his way across the newly sprinklej
a
muscular young fellow leaned against The
door lamb:
Here's the devil to pay and no pitcn
holland mighty far to water he said.
"Centerport has challenged US to play EN-
Sa,urday-and Tom Jordan is off a bis,
bis bat. You know, there amt another
man In the whole town that can pitch
a ball within four feet of the plate. Cen
te.port knows II, too-thats just why
they've run this challenge on us"
Round up Tom He can get in shape.
Potter said. confidently. Colonel snorted:
hound nothin', Toms a holy terror when
h., an a spree-besides he's gone. It's the
very cus~edest luck-I'd rather lose a hun
dred dollars than have them fellows come
aud Wallop us-and we've got 10 play en-
If refuse they'll crow over it forever
snd the day after
Great mud" said Potter-he never said
anything strunefr-'that mustn't happen
Can't we import a pitcher? What's the
matter with Stevens of the Riversides"
H. a bird-uo mistake
Colonel shook his head. Never do In
the world he said ''Twoulda't be
square deal for thing; for another
they'd be TO get on to it-and then
Wei. We've got to accept the challenge"
Potter said. do il right away-and throw
r. big bluff Tell EN- we've got a rev
pitcher that will take all the kinks out Of
'en Then must rustic for a pitcher
we've got to-that's all"
Lord. Pot it makes me sick atea
ttirkin' Of the luck Of those Centerport
scrubs" Colonel said. They've beat us
and beat us on fukes this way-we've not
had fair show in the longest time. And
now lust as Tom Jordan was pitching
in such great shape. off he goes and gets
fun again. Wish the old man Jordan
would pitch him in the river. neck ana
srnr-it's less than he deserves"
We'll whining nor cussing don't helm u.s.
rs see I'm going back 10 talk with the
preacher" Potter said.
Potter walked across ths street. Who Is
your military friend?" HARDWOOD asked
Smiling.
Potter explained briefly that Colonel was
not "A military mamie had been baptized
that way, and was the son Of Roodsel
& Son. Moved by impulse he did not
understand ne told also Of the challenge,
and of Gallia City's predicament. HARDWOOD
listened. drumming softly on the strings
Of a fine guitar. Al the end he said:
I'm feeling pretty dull and blue this
morning. Do you think your friend Colonel
would let me toss ball to him long enough
10 SET my blood circulating?'
Great mud. parson, do You play ball?'
Potter asked.
Il did-at college. also at the seminary
whenever had the chance" Harwood an
swered Potter whistled. Dickson almost
had fits if you named base ball TO him. he
said Why. he preached against it-and
came near losing his job. He did lose half
the congregation. But come on. l want
Colonel TO see you