The Republican journal., 1903-06-18
Kinney, A Baseball Story.
From the Mercury

rest lIleIlu, ONCu SloHCOu q
,,cination, could not call Joseph
Uanscomb good looking. His
.nemy could not deny that he
uatured.
Plympton, known as "Boney"
Vile High School world, was
iauk and lean and freckled.
nose and bright, wide-awake
~ his thatch of yellow hair,
nance with his steady mouth
lin. His coat sleeves, always
iVo shorter than the fashion
Nh disclosed a pair of hands
-e the unmistakable imprint
plough handle, and his patch
trar was far from dainty.
.mev's five feet eleven inches
.mmework was not beautiful
on. and yet there was some
ls.ng in his appearance. A
sadiness of purpose, as well as
se of humor, betrayed itself in
ing blue eyes, while his mouth
bespoke earnestness and
vas a junior in the Elmville
,ol That simple fact meant a
ia Boney. 1t meant rising
hrk eyery morning. meant
lourney in the little old gig,
ancient mares gray back,
ln and rain and snow and hail.
iard work and plenty of it,
after school hours. 1t meant
,giy in the small brown house
me-" by four younger brothers
1t meant three years of
. and little fun. 1t meant
, hut Boney and the widowed
pose small pension was their
art knew quite what it did
r. of three years constant
the big country boy was
Jmong the students. They
n to be actually unkind,
nltations of his wardrobe
failing material for jests,
ressity of his using every
u spare time precluded the
NJ friendships outside the
lis virtues Boney was only
handwriting one. and he
ing. That failing was his
~ baseball. Not that he be-
~ school nine. Oh no, The
even dreamed of such a
ing him to play. He was
llI occasional game between
lam and visiting mines, but
school match. However,
of. boy fashion, to keep up
rent news of the diamond,
Mre moments were spent
with the twins, his broth
ader his tuition, were pre-
Nter High School in the fall.
ters were pressed into ser
asion. and with the neigh
ldren were initiated into
ees of ''inshorts,' strike
pase-hits.
Hfiug the end of the spring
Elmville High School was to
her. game with Newvale
\ silver emp had been off
. winner in the annual series
ps between the neighboring
Is by an enterprising New
.el. Each school had won
4,. and the eventful day had
!ch would send the New
home, triumphant or sor-
5ouey had early traversed
.es between his home and the
d soothing his twinging con-
.th the thought that it was
ids took some responsibility
If Youthful shoulders, and
manage old Bess and the
elements.
4 cid was crowded with spec
he grand stand was filled
. lady supporters of both
! the garnet and gold ribbons
If the visitors tiuttered de-
Ye deep blue and white ban
Ue Elmville High. Boney
wooded the ''bleachers" and
ngaiuly length up in a heap
nome players bench. The
awied "PlaAay ba-all" and
Nas on. Boney's eyes were
the diamond, and hungrily
-Gy play, He had no thought
cries and battle songs that
uT ring. He was noting every
the game to rehearse to an
ludience at home. The score
in favor of Newvale when
school boys went into the
"a beginning of the seventh
Xcitement was at fever heat,
heard captain Bob Winters
men to keep COOL" II they
lis advice-but they didn't,
the man at the bat sent a fly
"a center and right field, both
.rted on a run and met each
way with a crash. There was
Z a second, then an uproar.
we're not seriously injured,
,ere good for a week in the
'p as a Newvale supporter
it. The spirits of Elmville
their substitutes were put
cid, and the game went OH.
ii was Bob Winters himself
ratified" for he sent the ball
force from the pitchers box
sc. to put a dangerous oppo-
with all speed, that, hitting
OWNS unprotected hand,
finger Then, indeed, pan
reigned. There was not a
t school that could take the
the "star" first baseman.
was given ten minutes to
aver, at the end of that time
would go to Newvale. The
te knot of players around
.ers was augmented by all
.Imville. making impractical
IS. From his lowly vantage
oney heard Winters say, at
five minutes. "Well, boys, 1
a goner.' Boney uncoiled
ID rose to his full height near
ring captains elbow. Say,
began, blushing furiously,
y ball some, and if you say so,
The popular captain turned,
ioney's flushed countenance
eyes. He was a drowning