The indicator., 1904-09-17
CHAPTER VI.
HIS SECOND WIND.
I|

he Hrst weeks were not pleas
nnt for the Pilot. He had
E@5sI been beaten. and the sense OF
~ failure dumped 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 pitlcd him. This last 1t was
TINT brought him low, and was glad
of 1t. l find 1t bard to put up with q
man that enjoys pity.
1t was I'll Kendall that restored him
though Hi had no thought of doing 80
good deed. II 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.
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 u 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.
IN take him." he said doubtfully,
and the game began. Iii fitted on his
mask. II new importation and his pc
culiar pride. and waited.
How do you like thcm!" asked the
Pilot.
"Hotv' said Hi. "I haln't got nc
gloves to burn"
one foot on TO the other and discharged
his ball.
STRIKER called the umpire.
You bet"' said II with emphasis
but his face was picture of amaze
ment and dawning delight
Again the Pilot went through tbs
mancuver In his box and usain the
umpire called:
"Strikev'
HI stopped the ball without holding
It 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 ut the ball In his hand. then
at the slight figure of the Pilot.
81 say, where do you get it,
"Whatl" asked Moore innocently.
'sThe gnit.'
1.-The whntr'
.-The gait, the speed, you known
"OhI l used to play in Princeton 4
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 II deer, and
be knew the game thoroughly. He was
keen, eager. intense in play. ana before
the innings were half over he was rec
ognixed as the best all round man on
the field. In the pitchers box he ppz-
xled the Porcupincs till they grew des-
perate and hit wildly and blindly,
amid the jeers of the spectators. The
bewilderment of the Iorcupines was
equaled only by the enthusiasm of Ell
and his nine, and when the game was
over the score stood 81 10 in favor OF
the Home team. They carried the Pi-
lot OF 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 ut their
own game and still he modest about
It Once more his~enthusinsm 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 70
the general acclaim. Indeed, he
seemed rather disgusted with Moore's
sudden leap into favor. Certainly his
hostility to the Pilot and to all that
be stood for was none the less open
and bitter.
The hostility was more than usually
marked at the service held on the Sum
day following. 1t was, perhaps
thrown into stronger relief by the
open and delighted approval of I'll. 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 go upon,
still preserved bis judicial air. 1t IL
fair to say, however. that there was
no mean spirited Jealousy in Bits
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
ding himself to any enthusiastic ap-
psoval.
yhia service was an undOubted sue