Morris tribune., 1910-12-09

too, when | Lit, he grumbled. Il
barked my shin some"
Far away In the valley whistles were
blowing for II o'clock. No doubt
clocks were striking also, and people
were going home to dinner. But the
dance program with its little blue pen
Gil lay in the dusty road, trampled by
the feet of passersby. AS far from Don
AIDS stubby, earth stained fingers as
from his boys mind-all rude. male,
HOmeric activity were the sweet moth
ings which should have been written
on it at this hour.
Maybe we'd better go round by the
little drug store and plaster up my
head; it feels kind O. queer. Say. we
| got to buy some sandwiches at the
park. I'm as hungry as hound dog.
Who's got the mon'?"
He had no desire to avoid a sensa-
| tiOnal episode. He was only too pre-
occupied with important things to stop
| and play hero. Otherwise he might
have remembered to pause and oblige
his comrades with dramatic moment
or two.
81 ought to wash off this blood" he
allowed. Didn't scratch my face up
rolling down there? l rolled most of
the way" He turned a battered coun-
tenance from one to another. I'm
afraid if my folks see me looking like
this they'll take me out of the game,
and some Of them are sure to be
there"
Lets go over to the creek" suggest
ed Dinkey Martin. But when they ar
rived at the bank of the bowlder check
ed stream controversy arose as to dry
ing conveniences.
use your shirt an leave it hangin'
on limb-we'll get it after the game"
some one suggested.
The boy who had twice in one morn
ing pulled the whiskers of death put
up a really serious objection to this.
''Td forget and go home without 1t,
and then mad miss it and scold me.
I can stand most things, but mas
scolding gets me. I'll dry on my shirt
and put it back on. It'll feel nice and
cool"
One O'clock at the park saw strag.
glers beginning to gather for the
o'clock game and the Dons negotiating
for lunch Donald ate two ponderous
sandwiches, pronounced himself fit,
lined up his men and prepared for
battle.
Two o'clock came, and the familiar
cry, "Play ballv' The visitors, anx-
ious for a chance to bring in the pro-
fessionals they had secured, put for
ward their weakest players.
In the first inning the Mount Pisgah
boys made one home run and a three
bagger, and in the second inning one
run. 1t looked like easy victory,
but neither Donald nor Swaney was
deceived. They were aware that the
Bellevilles felt willing not to score
until they could bring in their hired
professional talent. At signal from
the manager one of their players felt
his shin, groaned and limped off the
field. There was a call for his substi-
tute two calls, a fusillade of catcalls,
tiger yells. the howl of the jungle wolf
for that substitute, for any substitute.
but none was forthcoming!
Instead note was put into the
hands of the Belleville captain. In it
the professionals informed him that
conscience had at the last moment
seized them, as it were, by the throat,
and dragged them out of the way of
%opop+o+iOp oD6 roToindod him &ho+ ~
is not all Of glory to win-that honesty
and fair play are the best part of any
game. They added that they were
leaving for Belleville on the next train,
but neglected to mention that these
fine sentiments had cost the manager
of the Dons SIS.
The lame player recovered miracu-
lously and drifted back to his base,
wearing a sheepish grin. The Belle
villes had deliberately lost ground.
Their captain came to the bat with
the courage of despair. He looked his
men over; they understood that, hav-
ing failed at treachery, they were ex-
pected to do the impossible-and they
meant to try.
One run on two hits for the visit
ing team in the third inning. No score
for the home nine
"We're beat-we're beat right nOww
groaned Sam as Donald came out.
The manager Of the home team
ground his teeth. A strip of plaster
running the length of his forehead,
bramble scratches swelling on his sun
blistered face, he dropped the end of |
his bat to earth and glared defiance.
Somewhere clock struck 3-but not |
In that world which his spirit now
What need to tell the de- |
tails of the boyish struggle, heat pal
pitat1ng in the air, the sun glaring |
down pitilessly upon the dry, baked
with the cinder lines? Suf
fee it to say that in the ninth inning,
after pulling forward and back, the !
score stood to 7. Donald was again
at the bat, the captain of the Belle
villes in the pitchers box.