The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15

| they only promised. they didn't perform; or at least they didn't perform up to prom ise. The Leopards picked up a trifle as
 the weather grew warmer and climbed from the last to sixth position. But they didn't make any money. When they went
 home Nesbit left them at Chicago. He couldn't go any further. It wasn't safe. Some newspapers called the players the
 Exiles on account of the queer position in
 which their owner was placed When their home series closed and they took to
 the road again Nesbit travelled with them. This was his only diversion now. Of an the property that he had possessed. noth-
 ing remained but his interest in the ball club. If the club didn't play better ball or didn't draw more money on the road than at home, there could be but one end
 to it and hinl-bankruptcy. No one knew from his manner how desperate Nesbit' s
 situation had become. He had borrowed from one of the league magnates in Chi cago enough to carry the club along to
 the end of the season. but had pledged his control. and that meant the franchise as
 well. to secure the debt
 He had to retrench little, so he de- termined to get rid of one of his scouts. , This man was an old ball player and a fair judge of men. but he thought more of style than of ability. He didn't recog-
 nize the weakness of some of the men he sent along. If they fielded neatly, swung well with a bat and were lively in char
 acter and chock full of ambition, he saw
 all sorts of chances for development. He
 didn't realize that 1t isn't always the clean and snappy fielder that Is the best. ! It isn't always the swinging hitter who
 is the best batter. It isn't always the ac- tive, ambitious player who is the most
 reliable or the most resourceful. It's the
 man who fields well. bats naturally. is 1 nuicx h mi if of
 does exactly the right thing at exactly
 the right moment. It's the man whose | brain and muscle act in unison and act
 rightly when they do act.
 | The scout had sent half a dozen re- cruits along for trial that spring, and
 every one had failed. Every one had been | fiasny. had expected to set the league
 afire. and had been sent back as no good
 Nesbit had written over and over again | to the scout; so had the manager but | 1t was no use. The scout was industrious
 and sent more candidates. If the clut ! had been making money this would moi
 have been serious, but with the Leopards
 near bankruptcy. Nesbit lost patience Three more of the showy recruits had | been put through grueling and had l proved unequal to the task, and then Nes-
 bit sat down and wrote to the scout
 dismissng him He worded the letter Ecourteously and expressed regret that he couldn't carry the scout along unth tht end of the season, and then when h' posted the letter he gave a sigh of re ! lief
 | Two days later he didn't feel so good | Another candidate came forward from thu
 south. He had been dug up and shippet
 north before the scout got his letter oi dismissal. The letter of introduction nad
 the same glowing praise that went will
 the former recruits. This one was dano,
 fielder, a great batter and all-round play | ei. Nesbit read the letter sorrowfully ant
 then looked at the youth who brought 1t
 He was 1.-the. clean cut and clear eyed