Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-03

not to go with the procession, but to
meet the team at the grounds.
1t was a great procession, the band
at the head putting doggedly through u
Sousa march; next the bus bearing Cen
terporters in white, with blue caps and
hose; after them another busful Of Gal
las, also in white, but red on heads
and feet; then swarms of buggies.
hacks and farm wagons, packed with
| friends of both mines; last of all q fray
ed out drizzle of small Toys intent up
on finding cracks or knotholes in the
fence through which they might at
least view the promised land.
1t would be hard to say whether
there was more curiosity or anxiety in
the glances which Gallia City folk bent
upon their champions. Interest, OF
course, centered on the tphenom.' The
strain was not relieved when careful
counting showed in the Gallia bus only
eight regular players and two substi-
tutes. Gloom %deepened perceptibly.
Those who had given odds on Gallia
felt their coin already as good as lost.
They began to feel also that they had
been badly sold. and by their own.
! Without new blood in the home team
the game was a gift to Centerport, and
so far there vas no sign OF new blood.
About q minute after the appointed
hour the umpire sent the Gallias to the
| field and the Centerports to the bench.
Their short stop spat Loyalty upon the
cleaning new ball and rolled 1t in the
dirt, so the pitcher might easily grip
1t. There had been preliminary prac-
tice by both teams. Gallia partisans
were amazed and somewhat cheered to
see the substitute pitcher go to the
bench, not the box. The points were
empty. Almost before anybody could
remark It, out from the dressing room
beneath the grand stand shot a slight,
wiry figure in white, with red stock
ings and red cap. When the figure
walked briskly into the pitchers place.
q buzz rippled clean around the ground.
Centerport's captain seemed to kick,
but at q low word from the umpire
dropped back, saying to himself:
Fer Gawd's sake"
Batter up!' called the umpire. A
modern Goliath, big Jim Bunker, stalk.
ed up to the plate.
"Play ballv' cried the umpire. The
ball was passed. Brent faced the
mighty slugger with a little irritating
smile.
"say, JIM" bawled the captain. "ei-
ther this here .phenom' is young, or II
was picked mighty green. Anyway II
amt big enough to send a ball across
the rubber. 1t oughter be set plnyin'
marbles. This amt no place for chill
dren. Now, then, Jim, swat 'er over
the fence and break the .phenom's'
heart"
"You just watch my smoke" Jim
said. when I hit FER q lick, she'll look
like a saucer. Pm going to knock the
dashed thing nat"
Excuse me, but thar amt to be nc
swearin' this game" a deputy marshal
said. touching the big batsman's elbow.
All IlkuI UObSs ! ulOn AAVW eAAe
was q prayer meetin'," Jim said, amaze
ment IN every line of his face.
All eyes were fast on the pitcher, the
"phenom." He certainly looked too
slight for the game he "a mp against.
Would he fail? Harwood screwed the
ball into the palm OF his right hand,
sprang forward. then lightly. swiftly.
as an archer might loose a tense bow
string, loosed his arm and sent the ball
kissing ACROSS the plate to raise q pun
of sand between the plate and Reed.
zone strikew cried the umpire.
"Thunder!" shouted Jim. II didn't
see I'll"
HARDWOOD silently pitched q writing
rise that wound over the plate to the
utter confounding Of the batter.
1.-TWO strikes" said the umpire.
Thought 1t was goin' to be a low
ball." Jim said a~pologetically to his
captain. The captain glowered. Bill
Reed put on the mask and squatted
close up behind the bat. Harwood
gripped the ball peculiarly. a sign to
Bill that the pitch would be a wide out
curve. The ball started apparently for
| Jim's stomach. Jim doubted 1t would