The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-18
CHAPTER VI.

i.
HIS SECOND WIND.
T~N 1HE first weeks were not pleas
ant for the Pilot. He had
'es%szSSs been beaten, and the sense of
(AezES@b failure damped his fine en-
thusiasm, which was one of his chief
charms. The Noble Seven despised,
ignored or laughed at him, according
to their mood and disposition. Bruce
patronized him, and, worst of ALL the
Muirs pitied him. This last it was
that brought him low, and l was glad
of it. | find 1t hard to put up with a
man that enjoys pity.
1t was Hi Kendall that restored him,
though Hi had no thought of doing so
good deed. 1t was in this way: A
baseball match was on with the Porcu-
pines from near the Fort To HIS dis
gust and the teams dismay Bill failed
to appear. 1t was HIS delight to
stand up for Bills pitching, and their
battery was the glory of the Home
team.
"Try the Pilot, Ill.," said some one.
chatting him.
|
lot standing some distance away; then
called out, holding up the ball:
Can you play the gamer
For answer Moore held up his hands
for catch. Hi tossed him the ball
easily The ball came back so quickly
that Hi was hardly ready, and the jar
seemed to amaze him exceedingly.
'T'll take him." he said doubtfully,
and the game began Hi fitted on his
mask, new importation and his pc
| culiar pride, and waited.
"How do you like them?" asked the
Pilot
"Hotr said Hi. 81 hain't got no
| gloves to burn"
The Pilot turned his back, swung off
one foot on to the other and discharged
| his ball
Striker called the umpire.
"You betp' said Hi with emphasis,
but his face was a picture Of amaze
ment and dawning delight.
Again the Pilot went through the
maneuver in his box and again the
umpire called:
/
Hi stopped the ball without holding
! 1t and set himself for the third Once
more that disconcerting swing and the
whiplike action of the arm, and for the
third time the umpire called:
Strike! Striker out!'
THAT'S the hole" yelled Hi.
The Porcupines were amazed. Hi
/ 81 hal ~, hi
at the slight figure of the Pilot.
II say, where do you get it?"
'What?" asked Moore innocently.
"The gaitp'
1.-THE whatT
"The gait, the speed, you known
ooh! used to play in Princeton a
little"
did, Ell? What the blank blank did
you quit for?'
He evidently regarded the exchange
Of the profession of baseball for the
study of theology as a serious error in
judgment, and in this opinion every
inning of the game confirmed him. At
the bat the Pilot did not shine, but he
made up for light hitting by his base
running. He was fleet as a deer, and
he knew the game thoroughly He was
keen, eager intense in play, and before
the innings were half over he was rec
ognized as the best all round man on
the field In the pitchers box he puz-
zled the Porcupines till they grew des-
perate and hit wildly and blindly,
amid the jeers of the spectators. The
bewilderment of the Porcupines was
equaled only by the enthusiasm of Hi
and his nine, and when the game was
over the score stood 81 to in favor of
the Home team. They carried the Pi-
lot off the field
From that day Moore was another
man. He had won the unqualified re-
spect of Hi Kendall and most of the
others, for he could beat them at their
own game and still be modest about
it. Once more his enthusiasm came
back and his brightness and his cour
age, The Duke was not present to
witness his triumph, and, besides. he
rather despised the game. Bruce was
there, however, but took no part in
the general acclaim Indeed he
seemed rather Disguised with Moore's
sudden leap into favor. Certainly his
hostility to the Pilot and to all that
he stood for was none the less open
and bitter.
The hostility was more than usually
marked at the service held on the sun
day following. 1t was, perhaps.
. thrown into stronger relief by the
: open and delighted approval of Iii, who
was prepared to back up anything the
Pilot would venture to say. Bill, who
: had not witnessed the Pilots perform
: ance in the pitchers box, but had only
; His enthusiastic report to so upon,
; still preserved his judicial air. 1t is
fair to say, however. that there was
no mean spirited jealousy in Bills
heart even though Hi had frankly as
. sured him that the Pilot was de
mon" and could give him points"
Bill had great confidence in HIS opin-
ion upon baseball, but he was not pre-
pared to surrender his right of private
judgment in matters theological, so he
: waited for the sermon before commit
ting himself to any enthusiastic APP
prevail.
: This service was an undoubted sue
cess. The singing was hearty, and in
sensibly the men fell into reverent
attitude during prayer. The theme,
: too, was one that gave little room for