Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-05-12

Wy
The second game was played under
vGy much the same conditions, and
aSIin the Arlingtons won. BY this
time u number of the Crescents had
noticed that their captain was not do
ing his best, and one Of them went to
him and expostulated. Thruston knew
very well what was the matter with
him. though he did not reveal the &C.
cret. He promised that the next game.
should show up very differently.
And it did. Barr fixed his attention
on the game and won 1t by half a
dozen runs-not only that, but he beat
the next the fourth game. During
both the third and fourth games Bea-
trice Barr was not present 1t was
given out that she was Ill. Some mali,
cious spectators declared that she had
been bribed by the Crescents with ten
pounds Of candy to keep away. This
only excited merrtment All knew that
she was wrapped up In the success Of
her brothers team. But when the
fifth game came round and she was
again absent, the Crescents winning,
many who had noticed Thruston's bad
play while she was present looked
knowing and whispered to one another
that they believed there might be
something In the bribery story after
all. Beatrice was not In her seat at
the sixth game; but, despite her ah-
sence, the Arlingtons won.
Each team had now won three
games, and the seventh was to decide
the championship. Beatrice Barr told
some Of her most intimate girl friends
that she would love to see the game.
but she had understood that unpleas-
ant remarks had been made about tho
effect of her presence on the result and
she had decided to remain away from
the grand stand. She was not in her
seat when the deciding game was
played, but 1t was said that she watch-
ed 1t from behind the blinds of a
house overlooking the oval.
i When the teams went out on to the
field a negro was noticed among the
Arlingtons. Captain Thruston was
about to protest when he remembered
that hs had agreed that Barr should
use a negro pitcher II he chose. Some
surprise was indicated that a boy Of
bis size was expected to do extra fne
! pitching. He was but average height.
and his muscles did not show under
his loose suit. But when he began to
pitch the secret came out. He could
do things with baseball that a cham
pion billiardist can work with the ivo-
ries. Few could hit bis balls. and those
| who did usually sent them straight un
in the air. to be caught by the outs.
During the changes from the bat
! various persons, mostly from among
| the Crescents' side, attempted to get
near the colored pitcher to have look
at him or question him, but he man
aged TO keep pretty well away from
them and would only answer Yes" or
NO" Finally, seeing that he was not
to be interviewed. they let him alone,
The Crescents held the last inning the
negro pitching The Arlingtons led In
the score by two runs. ThruSton was
ut the bat, and 1t was expected that
he would make a hit to enable the
men on the bases to get in, three men
hoping to complete their runs and win
the game. But the negro served the
balls with such curves that Thruston
either sent them straight up In the air
or they struck the ground near his
feet Finally, one of his skyrockets
being caught the game was lost to the
Crescents. Dick Thruston dropped his
bat and with a chivalry for which he
was noted strode forward with out
stretched hand to congratulate the
pitcher for having won the game for
his team. But the negro. instead of
waiting for him, ran away Mt the top
OF his speed and disappeared from the
oval.
Tom Barr ran up to Thruston and
said:
'I've won two bets from you. Dick"
"What two bets?"
"Bets we made at the beginning OF
the season-one that we'd beat you on
the score OF games. the other that we'd
beat you q game one man short on our
team"
you've won the first. but | don't
see how you've won the second"
Come round to the house this even
ing and I'll explain"
That evening ThruSton. having doffed
his baseball clothes, in immaculate at
tire called Mt the Barrs'. He found
Tom with Beatrice, who was dressed
in her most becoming costume. She
hung her head before the gaze of her
admirer.
"You told me today" Tom said to
Dick, that you /didr't understand
how I had won our second bet. The
last game was played with eight men
and a girl. There is the girl. She's
been two hours washing Off the burnt
cork"
Dick stood looking at Beatrice In as
tonishment; then he repeated his act
at the close of the game. He seized
her hand and poured forth n volume
Of congratulations and compliments.
The most important feature connect
ed with the struggle between the Ar
lington and Crescent teams was the
announcement In the autumn of the
engagement of Dick Thruston and
Beatrice Barr.
szeeOoOeSeeOe@oSeass
SOMETHING new !