The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-06-19
A PINGPONG COURTSHIP.
(Continued.)

/
have the lady What / suggest, there
fore is that you play for the right to
make your advances to her.
But the lady ?" burst out the young
man.
''The lady has left herself in my
hands," returned Josiah. Sam, you
won't hang back. Mr.. Featherstonhow
the stake is worth your efforts.
Hang me no = cried Sam, decisively.
''Sir, l await your pleasure
This is very unorthodox, you know ,"
demonstrated the stranger, slipping off
his coat, "but l never refuse u chal-
| lenge."
Good |" cried Josiah, delightedly.
First serve to you, Sam, he continu-
ed Are you ready Go !"
Ping Owing to nervousness or ex-
element Sam tlunked.
"Love-fifteen cried Josh, Sam,
pull Yourself together.
Play i" snapped Sam, Ping Pong.
The little celluloid spere ratified merrily
backwards and forwards in spirited
rally, which was ended by battling
screw from Sam.
Fifteen all !" cried Josh.
play !" cried Sam, serving an I'M
playable beauty to the edge. A sardo-
mic smile Ii. up his face as he repeated
the shot on the other side of the table.
The third time he attempted the feat,
but with neat chop his opponent sue
ceeded in returning. To and fro
danced the ball, skimming over the net
like flash of lightning.
Splendid !" cried Josh, eXcltedly, as
Sam scored with neat undercut
Beautiful That's the neatest shot
I've seen over this mahogany First
game to you; Sam. By Joye, young
man, you must play up"
I'm a bit off form, fancy" drawled
Bob Better luck this time. Are you
ready, sir ?"
Ping The ball shot forward, struck
the table, and broke at right angles'to
its line flight. 'Fifteen-love = stutter-
ed Josiah, gazing at his astonished
crony. The young man repeated the
shot, only this time causing the sphere
to fly off the other side. Again he did
it. "Forty-love !" gasped Josh.
Really never"
play r A lovely table-edger this
time, and the game was won without
his opponent touching the ball. Re
markable !" cried Josiah; you must
show me that shot, sir.
The next game, after "A varying and
exciting struggle went to the stranger
on the final serve. In the fourth also
SAM failed TO meet his rivals service
and was beaten in similar hollow
fashion. The fifth he managed to win
by a series of well.placed edgers. He
was beaten in the next by couple Of
misleading undercuts which bounced
the sphere back over the net before he
could locate it,
"Two--four y cried Josiah warning
ly. Sam my boy I"
Mr. Haddock's lips frightened Mt the
friendly adjuration and he braced him
self to the effort. The result was u
prolonged game of lightning shots and
brilliant returns that eventually gave
his the point. He mopped the per-
spiration from his brow and smiled at
Josiah.
With an ingenious stroke, too quick
to be caught by the eye Bob succeeded
in imparting a cnrving motion to the
flying ball, shot which completely
baffled his opponent He repeated this
original shot three times. Sam was
non-pulsed. His ludicrous look of sur
prise caused Bob to smile.
"Three-fve Now, Sam, my lad y
adjured Josiah, remember the prize.
Sam remembered and gained the
next point with all his old cleverness.
Serve y Ping Pong went the
merry tune, Josiah's eyes bulged like
those of GATED fish. Now Sam p
With intent Sam pinned his opponent
to the corner and then with a low,
swift shot he drove across the table.
Five all :" yelled Josh Sam, I'm
proud of you p
The final game-the game upon
which everything depended; Sam was
breathing hard, his eyes fixed and his
face set stern. His rival was smiling
as if the result was already assured
Josiah was prancing on the heart-rung
rs If in the grip of st. Vitus.
Play p Sam served Away sped
the ball on its mad dance. One minute
two three and the game stood
forty thirty Another thirty seconds,
and Josh called Deuce !" Five minutes
and Bob Featherstoneshaugh coolly
laid down his racquet and lit cigar
cite. The redoubtable Sam was van