The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-28
THE EVENING STORY
SterIing's stratagem.
(By Stacy q. Baker. }

| Il am SO glad, Fred said Annie
Hertig. Her soft, brown eyes swept
ing along beside her. ut is the
chance that you have been waiting
Tor. isn't it, dear? 1 just know that
| IT Will be only a matter of months
before one of those National or Amer
| lean league clubs will send around
! for you to come and manage them"
The youth smiled. mot SO soon,
GIRL he protested. iii do well If
get into fast company in five years. I
nave my stepping-stones to greater
things in this Baneville team. This
is all ask-at present.
Fred Sterling, captain-manager of
| his college team the year before, had
| created a sensation during his several
years in amateur athletics. A pitcher
of no mean ability, he had been Of
| fered chances time and again, to sign
with professional aggregations, but
he had remained an amateur until
the completion of his course. Now
he aspired to greater things, and the
management of the Baneville Iron
and Oil league team had been offered
him. Upon his ability to make good
here, rested his future in baseball.
He had confidence in himself. He
had no fear.
| Sterling was doubly thankful to
be able to locate in Baneville; 1t was
his home town; it was also the home
OF his sweetheart.
| AHul6 I1eFI1S was the Qd1nLleSL OF
| brunettes. She was feminine from
the hem of her f1uffed gown to the
curls browning her brow. Caprices
were her specialties, but, withal,
there were always to be found gall
lants to abide by her every decree,
and all for the sake of her smiles.
Sterling had fallen in love with her,
and, for the first time, she, too.
loved. They were to be married in
the fall.
| on, clos oo,+;,,nI7 ~. 1.-+
little maid, tripping so blithely along
beside the young ball player, 81 am
glad, not only for your sake, but for
the sake of Dave. This will give him
a chance to-what do you call it,
| make good
Sterling DULY. what do you mean,
dear?" He ran his fingers through
shock of dark curly hair.
"Oh, didn't you know? I thought I
told you. Dave wants to become a
ball player. AS soon as I tell him
you are to manage the home team,
he will resign his position at the bank
and prepare to help you OUT
HE had better wait until he finds
out whether he can make the team
| or not An ironic touch to the
words brought a faint flush to the
cheeks of the girl by his side, and
she turned to her escort.
! Dave Hertig was her only brother.
He was younger than she and the
baby of the family. every member of
which continually made sacrifices to
make life more bearable to the
young bank clerk.
inoculated with the baseball fever ?"
asked Sterling, visions of trouble be-
fore him.
Il ooh, within the last week." Annie
grew enthusiastic. He pitches a ball
just splendidly. Willie Jones can't
catch it when he throws it fast
A mind picture of fourteen year old
Willie Jones flashed for an instant be-
fore Sterling. "Remarka BILE" (Again
that subtle note of irony.) "He may
!. be a coming wonder for all we know
He does so WE'LL continued the
girl eagerly, "and 1 am sure he will
want to help you win the pennant.
OF course you will give him the place
he likes best
Sterling's resolute jaw would indi-
cate that he would be the sort of a
manager not to accede to the wants
of men until they proved themselves.
but he was wise in his decision not to
J mention this. iii see how he works
out" he said, and the subject for the
| time being, was dropped
Baneville had been at the bottom of
| son closed. Sterling had ambitions.
He wished to see the present season
: product a pennant winner for his
. own town.
There was plenty of good material
. to select from at the springs tryout.
Among those who strove to win a
{ place on the local team were earnest
: eyed young athletes from all sections
of the state. Prospects indicated a
: fast nine.
The first process of wedding out
, was barely under Roadway before
! Dave Hertig materialized his tooth
pick legs sticking skinnily out from
padded baseball garments and his
white, bony arms free from tan or
any display of muscle.
: Hertig came like the conquerine
, hero of song. Wasn't that stern
faced, sullen browed giant now swear
ing so picturesquely at the awkward
antics of a "phenom" pitcher from
, Prunetown. soon-to-be brother-in-
law of his? Surely a few favors
, would be shown him-for his sisters
sake, if nothing more.
But young Hertig was none toe
pleased with his reception. He was
speedily tried out in nine different
= positions-and found wanting in all.
: Furthermore, Sterling's vocabulary
: was startlingly suggestive of a gal
' would have liked to protest against
: Sterling's method, but one glance
at the suddenly developed fighting
= face of the hitherto congenial broth
v er-in-law-to-be palsied the tongue OF
the youth: The young bank clerk
went straight. home-and retired.
/ ST want you to make ball player
/ of him. came from the girl, visit
t fully ct can't bear to have the poor
{ boy disappointed. You will, won't
r you ?"
: "Um-m," came disgustedly from
/ the manager.
: II knew it." voiced the delighted
: girl "I wouldn't love you at all If
: you didn't do this for me-"
Sterling stared. DO you mean
q that you would throw me over if
: refused to play your brother this sea-
son?''
'sWhy-yes," answered the girl
| But what is the use of all this talk
You do intend to use Dave, for you
q have promised"