Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-20
CHAPTER vi.

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~ 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 1t was
that brought him low, and was glad
Of it. I find it hard to put up with a
man that enjoys pity.
It was Hi Kendall that restored him,
though Hi had no thought Of doing 80
good q 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, H." said some one,
chatting him.
Hi looked glumly across at 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 Hi was hardly ready, and the jar
seemed to amaze him exceedingly.
'Tll take him." he said doubtfully,
and the game began. Hi fitted on his
mask, a new importation and his Pc
culiar pride, and waited.
"How do you like them" asked the
Pilot.
"Hotv said Hi. IT hain't got no
gloves to burn"
The Pilot turned his back, swung of
one foot on to the other and discharged
his ball.
STRIKER called the umpire.
"You bet!' said Hi with emphasis,
but his face was picture of amaze
ment and dawning delight.
Again the Pilot went through the
maneuver in his box and again the
umpire called; ;.--....--....
Striker
Hi stopped rhe 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
looked at the ball in his hand, then
at the slight figure Of the Pilot.
II say, where do you get it?'
What" asked Moore innocently.
1.-THE gait"
"The what?"
"The gait, the speed, you know"
"Oh! l used to play in Princeton a
little"
did, eh? 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 feet 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-
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 I 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 OH the Sun
day following. 1t was, perhaps,
thrown into stronger relief by the
open and delighted approval of Hi, 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 90 upon,
still preserved his judicial air. 1t IS
fair to say, however, that there was
no mean spirited Jealousy in Bllrs
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 ap-
proval.
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
skepticism. 1t was the story Of Zac-