The Holbrook news., 1910-02-11

were, my boy" he said. And I be- heve you are a little better"
 And then the night before the game Jim went round and called on Laura Crane
 Laura" he said. I'm going to pitch for Hingham tomorrow" | You. .Iim?"
 Yes. l want to show Hingham that I'm not the quitter they take me to be. Fl want you to see the game. Laura"
 "I'll be there, Jim"
 Her searching eyes were on his face
 Jim" she said. some day tell me why you quit the league team" He flushed 'I can't do that" he stammered. 'Yes." she said. ''No." he persisted. T think I can guess. Jim."
 Then he turned and came away. What did she mean? How could she guess?
 But she had promised to be at the game. This would give him an added incentive.
 With Cullinan there, and Laura there." he muttered, "I'll have no ex- cuse fo not doing my level best"
 The day of the great game dawned bright and clear At l o'clock Hing ham ball park contained pretty nearly all the active residents of the town
 Abner Quigg was delighted. Boys" he said. 'the town has moved over into the park to see you play. Now give 'em something to look at that will be worth their while. And another thing. boys. Jim Ford knows these big fellows and he's going to handle you in the field. Watch him."
 There was a cheer from the Hing ham rooters when the team came into the field. but Jim Ford realized that there was very little of the encourage ment intended for him. The town still looked upon him as quitter, and he knew that good many friends of the club blamed Abner for lettering him play.
 The Hinghams went to bat and Jim Ford kept out of sight as much as possible. He knew the men of the league team had seen him and he fan cied they were laughing. Once he looked up and caught Manager CullI- mans gaze. and Manager Cullinan was smiling
 Jim realized that they considered him an easy mark.
 The first three Hingham batters went down like stubble before the un- erring shoots of the veteran Wingfield. and little later Jim Ford found him. self facing that extremely confident hitter, Jack Logan. And he was quite sure that Logan winked at him slightly.
 Jim had firmly resolved that he wouldn't waste a ball.
 "One strike!" cried the umpire.
 Logan looked surprised.
 Two strikes!"
 Now the batter was in hurry. Jim shot the ball away from him. He vreached for it with half-regretted swing.
 Striker outi"
 A little cheer went up from the Hingham rooters.
 The second leaguer was more wary. He found the ball he wanted and drove 1t straight at Jim. And Jim met 1t pluckily and beat 1t down and flung 1t accurately to Charley Grimes. AS he turned back to the points there was another little cheer.
 The third leaguer popped him a fly and as he walked back to the bench there was quite a little hand-clapping.
 You're singing 'em like a demon. Jim." said Abner as he laid aside his mask But can you last?'
 "Yes," responded Jim, and his teeth clicked
 "The big fellows think you'll fall down along about the fifth." whispered Abner.
 I'll show 'em." growled Jim. and his teeth clicked again.
 Laura Crane is here" said Abner. and his voice dropped She's sitting over there at the left. See herr"
 Jim flushed.
 "I can't see anything but batters today"
 Out went the Hingham men in on two-three order. and again Jim found himself in the points. Now he faced the mighty Norris. the leading batter of the league. Jim shot disconcert- ingly close ball at him and Norris bare ly escaped it. Jim grimly smiled. He knew the big batter's weakness. Nor ris dreaded being hit. And Jim played on his anxiety and eventually struck him out.
 This time Hingham's cheer was un- doubtedly jubilant, and 1t grew still louder as fly to short and an easy bounder to second disposed of the next two leaguers.