The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-01-16

challenge on u.s."
Ground up Tom. He can get in
shape Potter said confidently.
Colonel snortcd: "Round nothin'!
Toms holy terror when he's ON n
sprcc-Dcsides, he's gone. Maybe the
Lord knows where he isl don't, for
sure. It's the very cusscdcst lucll-I'd
rather lose hundred dollars than
have them fellows como and wnllop us
-nnd we've got to play 'cm. II we re-
fuse they'll crow over 1t forever and
the day after"
"Grcat mud" said pottcr-hc never
said anything strongcr-"thnt mustn't
| happen. Can't we import pitcher:
| What's the matter with Stevens of the
Rivcrsidcs? He's Il bird-no mistake"
| Colonel shook his head. "Ncvcr do
| In the world.' he said. "'Twouldn't
be II square deal for one thing; for an.
other. they'd be sure to get on to 1t
and thcn"---
| "Wcll. we've got to acccL& the chul-
lcngr," Potter said. "Do il right away
| and throw in big blum. Tell 'cm
we've got Il new pitcher that Will take
all the kinks out OF 'cm. Then we
that's all"
'l.ord, Pot, it makes me sick abcd
,hinkln OF the luck of those Center
pp!l SCRUBS" Colonel said. "rhcy'vc
| hrAt us and beat us Oh nukCs this way
we've not had Il fair show in the
| longest time. And now, just as Tom
!or'iHn WAS pitching In such great
~l.Hi'" Oft II" goes and gets full again
\ ia Tia" obi i'.an Jordan would pitch
| lin in th" river, neck and crop-it's
| .,,i ihAn llv Deserves"
| swell, wliE'nH nor cuSslng don't
I' il Us. rs | sec. I'm going back to
nj" with til" preacher" Potter said.
"ircIcl!"r J." hnngcd!' Colonel said
irr' yri"n'ly. Are YOU going to set
hi>u praying against the CrntrrportsW =
i";trr GtI Hrt ;lnSwrr--thC last word
,AU%ll him h3it way across the street.
"N!r Is yrjT military fricndr IIar-
wood asked. SMILING.
Potter explained briefly that Colo
mrl Was not Il military man. He had
been lApl :I'l that way and was the
"S"n' Of KuolSrll & Son. Moved by
an Impulse he did not understand, he
told also of the challenge and Of Galllu
| tity's prcdicamrnt. IIarwood listened,
drumming softly on the strings Of II
| fin" guitar. At 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 to set my blood circulnt-
MET
"Grcat mud, parson! DO YOU play
. hallt' Potter asked.
Il did at college, also at the scminn
ry, whenever had the chance" Ilar
: wood answered. Potter whstlcd.
/. "l>irkSon almost had fits If YOU nam
cd baseball 10 him." he said. "Why
g he preached against It and came nca
II losing his job. lie did lose half tn
congregation. But come ON. wan
q Colonel To sec YOU"
|. Colonel stared a little at IInrwood'
request, but invited his two visitor
out Into the alley back Of the stor,
q where they might toss balls to thcl
T. hearts content and not Il soul be tn
- wiser. But to IIarwood'H suggestion {
gloves he only said. ar It gets too ho
= III put 'rm ON, but reckon there won
be any long whiSkcrs on the balls yo
pitch."
liarwoods eye twinklcd wickcdly
5 but he said nothing, only stripped OF
coat, vest and collar ana began to toss
He played lightly, but easily. Colon,
g caught with All air OF condcsccnsio
- and returned the ball with n rrca
t show OF consideration for the minis
II ''r'S soft hands. After little IIa.
n wood asked II Colonel would min
| ,,l .l,t 1,lt
|, 1T pitching.
% IlaHr away, parSnn,' grlnnnA Col,
~ mel IN 4 minnir or two q square TO
cover was In place as n "homc plate
! and Colonel behind it, carlraturlny III
y man ut the bat. Ilarwood prctrndr
not 20 sec the implied satire. lie stcI
n ped int" the pitchers place, which h
q !Ad marked at the proper distance.
;. ''A!l or two went over the plate truu a
IN arrow.
"G""h enough. parsonw ColonC
lnnghcd. still patronzingly "You'y
got the bali under bully control, sure.
!iarWool said over his shoulder tt
i"tt"r: 'Oprn your eyes and ret righ
behind me. Youll zee something. 5,
Will Colonel" Then In n louder yoIcr
| ~ ''' iii'H'i u llttn II ICW Stlffpr
ones! | want to see If have lost tho
hang Of It."
Let en- come, pArSOn" Colonel
shouted back, almost conyuscd that II
ll''lc man. whom he could fling over
MS shoulder, should be so considcratc.
l!arW"od nodded, saying:
| hhnk you. or course ! would not
put twist in them unless I knew Won
u'I not object. ! wish you'd put on
gloves. though. ! hate to pitch hard
T. II man In bare hands,"
"Gloves, nothin'!' Colonel said, al
most nrttlcd. "Maybc don't look
contagious. hnt you can bet your last
nick you'll find me catching"
| "Nery we'll. my Christian friend"
liarwood called back. "Cntching as
you may be, YOU are not entirely i'm
m'ln". Mind out. Here goes"
BIT. sizZ! the bail went out OF the
! PARSONS right hand Ike n rifr shot