The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-15
I Colonel rrom nDger tips to shoulder

Colonel from finger tips to shoulder
blades.
"If you'd only put on the mitts,"
HARDWOOD said, with n tantalizing grin,
I'D like to throw you n few speedy
ones. otherwise I'm really afraid l
might hurt you"
"Hurt mel" Colonel's tone was alb
ject. "And them paws feeling like n
full crockery crate had smashed 'em.
I'm no glutton, parson. 1 know when
I've had enough. But, say, you're the
deceiyingest package ever L struck"
MI HARDWOOD" said Potter, "1f you
don't mind I'll go get Bill Reed to come
and catch for you"
81 should like 1t of all things" said
HARDWOOD. 1.-The little I have done
makes me feel a new man."
"Me, too, II n derned poor one"
Colonel added, but he plucked up spirit
to grin heartily when Potter came back
with Bill Reed, catcher to the Gallias,
two or three other members and sew
eral fans" besides.
When HARDWOOD suggested gloves,
Bill shifted even more disdainfully han
Colonel had done. Harwood smiled as
he took position in the box and said
softly: "Say where you want the balls,
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 Ills n low ball"
HARDWOOD gripped the leathern sphere,
leaped the length of h box, gave a
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 tucked UNI
der his fingers n 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 n
vain attempt to get behind the ball.
AS 1t passed him and went hustling
through the dust he cried:
"Fellows, did you see hat thing? Is
l hadn't quit drinkin', I'd swear 1 had
'cm AGAIN.
Potter lined up his forces behind the
Parson. HARDWOOD winkcd at Potter:
then, with n motion like the uncoiling
OF n steel spring. he sent another in
shoot to Reed so swift that Reed had
noetime to dodge it,. Bill managed to
get his hands up in the instructive
movement OF self defense. He caught
and hung to the pigskin n ball,
though his fingers did not feel 1t, they
were so Jared and numb.
"WhooD!" roared Bill, sitting down
suddenly and staring wild eyed at the
parson. Boys" he went on solemnly,
"that wuz n close shave. If 1 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 n parsons pitching, you
know. Soak your hands In very hot
water; 1t will set them all right. Now,
Is there an. other gentleman who cares
to play ball?"
In the soft, warm twilight of that
eventful day HARDWOOD sat c~oatless and
comfortable In the parsonage study,
He was smoking ard trying hard to
keep coCI He was also very lonely
and, 1t mnst be confessed, blue frsT
staying alone In the deserted house.
So he was genuinely glad to hear heavy
steps upon the gravel and Il little later
to welcome Potter, Colonel. Reed and
some more men he did not l.Aow.
'"This isn't exactly IL social call" Pot
ter began, yet we can't exactly call it
ht,cipocc o,I fl,n fnnt ;, ,,.,,r, Ill ,, -, III
to begin"
ooh, he! Somebody going to commit
matrimony? Who is it-Coloncl or my
friend Recd?" HARDWOOD asked. his eyes
twinkling. Reed grinncd broadly. Tie
day before he would have thrashed the
man who had named him friend to a
parson. But n man who could play such
ball-that was another matter altogeth-
er.
you're dead wrong, pnrson. That
sort of thing comes right in your line,
and ours is way off it," Potter said.
1--WE are in a hole. We want your help.
but we don't know how you'll take our
proposition"
Gut you do know-,at least you ought
to-that If l car lcgitimately 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 hogan. HARDWOOD smiled.
81 am n man rs well as n Minister
he said.
Bill Reed broke III: Now, looky
here. 'A.ii' - ,'"" c,.awin' 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 a
dashed sight-eXcusc my French, par
son-it gifts the best o. my United
States before ] know 1t. The case Is
this-we want you to help us lick them
da-er, them measly Centerport chaps.
We can do it If you pitch fer us.
Nothin' In this county 'aint in the
game with you. If you'll do 1t, every
man Jack O. us III stick to you like a
lean tick to n hog. That's whut's the
matter with us, and there we be-"
Harwood's face was n study. He
was amused, pleased, beyond every