Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-10-28


ITN lHE first weeks We're not pleas.
i ant for the Pilot. He had
I6fMSN been beaten, and the sense OF
- failure damped his fine en-
thusiasm. which was one Of his chief
charms. The Noble Seven despised,
ignored or laughcd ut him, according
to their mood and disposition. Bruce
patronized him, and, worst Of all, the
M,ifrs pitied him. This last it was
that brought him low, and was glad
of it. l 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 a deed. 1t was.jn this way: A
baseball match was on with the Porcr-
pines from near the Fort. To His dis
gust and the teams dismny 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, Ell" said some one,
chatting him.
Hi looked glumly across ut the Pi-
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 a catch. Hi tossed him the ball
easily. The ball came back so quickly
that Eli was hardly ready, and the jar
seemed to amaze him exceedingly.
"I'll take him." he said doubtfully,
and the game began. HI fitted on his
mask, a new Importation and his pc
culiar pride, and waited.
"IIow do you like themf" asked the
Pilot.
"Hotw 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 bet!' 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:
"Strike!"
Iii sinpred the ball without holding
IL ituu SCL ullUSclk lOl liz LllAhs SANG
more that disconccrting swing and the
whiplike action of the arm, and for the
third time the umpire called:
Strike! Striker out"
Il ;.at's the hole" yelled Hi.
Tie Porcupines were amazed. HI
3 looked at the ball in his hand, then
ut the slight figure of the Pilot.
Il say, where do you get itT'
"Whdt?" asked Moore innocently.
.'The gait'
.sThe what2'
s'The gait, the speed, you known
"Oh! used to play In Princeton n
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 u 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 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-
/ lied the Porcupines till they grew des-
perate and hit wildly and blindly,
amid the jeers Of the spectators. The
bewilderlnent of the Porcupines was
. eQualed only by the enthusiasm Of I'll
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 lie could bent them at theiI
own game and still be modest about
ii, Once more his enthusiasm came
back and his brightness and his cour
age. The Duke was not present te
witness his triumph, and. besides, he
rather despised the game. Bruce was
there, however, but took no part II
the general acclaim. Indeed, ht
seemed rather Disguised with Moore'i
sudden leap into favor. Certainly hi
hostility to the Pilot and to all tina
be stood for was none tho less opeI
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 TIN
open and delighted approval of HI. VIII
was prepared to back up anything tn
Pilot would venture to say. BIZ. wiz
had not witnessed the Pilots perform
nnce In the pitchers box, but had onl.
HIS enthusiastic report to go upon
still preserved his judicial DIR. It !
fair to say. however, that there wa
no neon spirited jealousy in BIZ
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 opir
ion upon baseball. but he was not pr
pared to surrender his right of priyat
Judgment in matters theological, so b
waited fcr tho sermon before commit
ting himself to any enthusiastic az
proval.
II This service was IN undoubted sut
cess. The singing was hearty, and II
sensibly the men fell into reverer
attitude during prayer. The theme
too, was one that gave little room fo
skepticism. It was the story of Za'
cheus, and story telling was Moore
strong point. The thing was we
done. vivid norfrattnres of, the on