Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-03
pARSON
HARWOOD'S
CURVES
So BY Bert Estes
Copyright, 1901, by Bert Estes.

ST. BY Bert Estes /
Copyright, 1901, by Bert Estes. /
In the soft, warm twilight of that
eventful day HARDWOOD sat coatless and
comfortable III the parsonage study.
He was smoking and trying hard to
keep cocL 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 a social CALL" Pot
ter began, yet we can't exactly call it
business, and the fact is we're all afraid
to begin"
"Oh, no! Somebody going to commit
matrimony? Who is it-Colonel or my
friend Reed?" Harwood 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 a man who could play such
ball-that was another matter altogeth-
er.
you're dead wrong, parson. That
sort Of thing right in your line,
and ours is way of it." Potter said.
1--WE are In a 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 II l can legitimately help you
or any one in this town I shall be both
proud and happy to do It," said Har-
wood.
"But this is clean outside ministerial
duty Potter began. Harwood smiled.
II am a man as well as a minister"
he said.
Bill Reed broke in: Nov, looky
here. 'Aint no use chawin' longer on
that rag. Parson has give out fair an
square he wants to be took on the dead
level-a man same as we are, only q
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 measly Centerport chaps.
We can do It IL you pitch fer US.
Nothin' In this county 'aint In the
game with you. II you'll do 1t, every
man Jack o. US IL stick to you like q
lean tick to q hog. That's whut's the
matter with US, and there ye be-"
Harwood's face was q 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. BE yearned to
preach manhood rather than dogmas.
His heart was warm, and he smiled
as be said:
~ thought you had come for that,
and am glad you came. II you had
not, I should have volunteered-that is,
IL you had agreed to my conditions
wei nx all that, parson," two or
three began eagerly.
Harwood held up his hands. "You
don't understand. I on't want
money" he said. II do want-your-
selves. II I do something for you
something on which your hearts are
set, you ought to do something for me.
That is to say, II I play ball you come
to church. Is It q bargainT"
You help us everlastingly lick them
Centerports," Bill burst out, land you
can say, Boys, come roost OF the
church steps from sunup to shutdown
every Sunday and gamble on our
dom it-every dashed n Of us. Hey.
boys? Oh, do excuse me, parson. I've
been a tough sort all me life, but I'll
be hanged II I don't quit swearin'
right now"
"Ahl" said HARDWOOD. Gentlemen,
this brings up something else. You
know, and I know, how Ill I can af-
ford to have 1t said I belong to an
organization OF toughs. ! want to be-
long to-an organization Of gentlemen
in the best sense Of the word. II l am
to be a club member, you must give
me your word that drunkenness and
swearing shall stop. Now we under
stand each other. There's my hand.
II you shake It, l shall know you take
me-conditions and all"
Every man in the room gave him a
hearty grip; then talk began to buzz
about Saturdays game. All agreed the
new pitcher had best be kept dark; also
that Harwood should year a baseball
suit. ~ have my own with me. A'G'
on the shirt will make 1t all right"
Harwood said. And so the little COM
pany went away, exultant beyond
words.
Saturday was fair and hottie very
weather for great ball. But, hot as the
sun shone, 1t was mild compared to the
baseball enthusiasm OF Gallia City.
Posters all about announced the COM
ing contest. The local press under the
biggest. blacklist headlines possible to
its fonts limited darkly at q "phenome-
non" In the pitchers box for the home
team. Placards also warned citizens to
do their Saturday buying betimes, as
every shop would be shut during the
hours Of the game. The little city bub-
bled and seethed. Local patriotism had
risen to a passion and swept through
It in q tidal wave
Still mystery lay thick and murk over
the pitcher and some other things. One
Of them was why not n of the nine
had showed his face at Mike Grogan's