Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-19

Mr.. Reed. I'll try to put them over the
plate about right"
Bill squatted back of the plate, spat
tobacco juice on his hands and said,
"Give us low ball."
HARDWOOD gripped the leathern sphere,
leaped the length of the box, gave
twist of the wrist and let drive a
straight drop over the middle of the
plate. Reed put up his hands; but, to
his amazement, the thing ducked I'M
der his fingers and went skipping down
the alley. He was chagrlned, of course,
but when HARDWOOD again named gloves
he said almost roughly: Don't you lay
awake nights thinkin' O. Bill Reed. He
don't need no gloves to catch no preach
er's pitchin'."
HARDWOOD nodded and pitched the
same inshoot he had sent to Colonel.
Bill leaped to this side and that in
vain attempt to get behind the ball.
AS 1t passed him and went hustling
through the dust he cried:
Fellows, did you see that thing? If
hadn't quit drinkin, I'd swear had
'em again.
Potter lined up his forces behind the
Parson. Harwood winked at Potter;
then, with motion like the uncoiling
Of steel spring, he sent another in
shoot to Reed SO swift that Reed had
no time to dodge 1t. Bill managed to
get his hands up in the instructive
movement of self defense. He caught
and hung to the pigskin cannon ball,
though his fingers did not feel 1t, they
were SO Jared and numb.
"Whoop" roared BILL sitting down
suddenly and staring wild eyed at the
parson. "Boys," he went on solemnly,
that wuz close shave. If hadn't
caught the burned thing 'twould a-gone
plumb through my innards. Say" look
ing ruefully at his hands, mo more
ball today, thank you! I've got to see
Doc Johnson about them things"
"I'm very sorry" HARDWOOD said de-
murely, "but you wouldn't put on
gloves for a parsons pitching, you
know. Soak your hands in very hot
water; It will set them all right. Now,
is there any other gentleman who cares
to play ball?"
| In the soft, warm twilight of that
eventful day HARDWOOD sat coatless and
comfortable in the parsonage study.
He was smoking and trying hard to
keep cool He was also very lonely
and, 1t must be confessed, blue from
staying alone in the deserted house.
So he was genuinely glad to hear heavy
steps upon the gravel and a little later
to welcome Potter, Colonel, Reed and
some more men he did not know.
"This isn't exactly social call,' Pot
ter began, "yet we can't exactly call it
business, and she fact is we're all afraid
to begin"
"Oh, no! Somebody going to commit
matrimony? Who is it-Colonel or my
friend Reed?' HARDWOOD asked, his eyes
twinkling. Reed grinned broadly. The
day before he would have thrashed the
man who had named him friend to a
parson. But man who could play such
ball-that was another matter altogeth-
| err.
you're dead wrong, parson. That
sort of thing comes right in your line,
and ours is way off It," Potter said
4 eve are in hole. We want your help,
but we don't know how you'll take our
proposition"
"But you do know-at least you ought
to-that IL l can legitmately help you
or any one In this town shall be both
proud and happy to do it," said Har-
wood.
"But this is clean outside ministerial
duty" Potter began. HARDWOOD smiled.
II am a man as well as minister"
he said.
Bill Reed broke in: Now, looky
here. 'Aint no use chawin' longer on
that rag. Parson has give oft fair an
square lie wants to be took Oh the dead
level-a man same as we are. only Il
dashed sight-excuse my French. par
son-it gifts the best O. my United
States before know it. The case is
this-we want you to help us lick them
dn-er, them measiy Centerport chaps.
We can do it II you pitch fer us.
Nothin in this county 'alnt in the
game with you. If you'll do It, every
man Jack O. us III stick to you like a
lean tick to a hog. That's whut's the
matter with us, and there ye be-"
Harwoods face was study. He
was amused, pleased, beyond every
thing touched, by this recognition of
common manhood. 1t was the passion
of his life to help men realize their
own possibilities. He yearned to
preach manhood rather than dogmas.
His heart was warm, and he smiled
rs he said:
Il thought you had come for that,
and am glad you came. If you had
not, should have volunteered-that is,
If you had agreed to my conditions
well fix all that, parson," two or
three began eagerly.
HARDWOOD held up his hands. "You
don't understand. ! don't want
money" he said. 81 do want-your-
selves. If do something for YOU
something on which your hearts are
set, you ought to do something for me-
That is to say, If play ball you come
to church. Is 1t n bargainY"
"You help us everlastingly lick them
Centerports," Bill burst out, "and YOU
can say, Boys, come roost on the
church steps from sunup TO shutdown
every Sunday, and gamble on our
dom it-every dashed one of us. Hey,
boys? Oh. do excuse me, parson. I've
been tough sort all me life, but I'll
be hanged If don't quit swearn'
right now"
"Ah" said HARDWOOD Gentlemen,
this brings up something else You
know, and ] know. how Ill / can ar
ford to have it said belong to an
organization of tougls want to be-
long to-an organization of gentlemen
In the best sense of the word. If am
to be club member. you must give
me your word that drunkenness and
swearing shall stop. Now we under
stand each other There's nv hand.