Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-23


er. I may have to take one from the
team"
That viii make you a man short"
said Kyle.
Suppose it should:"
an that case I'll bet you $50 you
lose the game"
I'm not betting on the game. but il
You'll make the stake present for the
pitcher to cost not more than $40
against a box of cigars to cost the
same amount I'll take you"
"All right" said kyle: Its go"
Several persons who were standing
near were puzzled at this strange con-
tract. but. interpreting it favorably for
the Ferncliffe team, went away to get
bets against it. The incident was
spread abroad and tended to stimulate
the backing OF kinsey's team. though
odds were obtained. it being reported
that the pitcher would come from the
team as already constituted and that
the game was liable to be played with
man short.
Up to the day the game was played
no one had seen the new pitcher. and
some contended that there would be no
new pitcher; that Kinsey had man
on his team-a dark housewife would
do the twirling. Ferncliffe folks. TAX
ing their cue from the captain, made
what bets they could get tat consider
able odds in their favor that the Fern
cliffes would win the game with man
short.
VI H. ,A,,S No
diamond, true enough, there were but
eight men in the Ferncliffes. How
ever when the game was called a man
emerged from the Ferncliffe quarters
and advanced toward the diamond.
He went strnight TO the pitchers box
and stood there with every spectators
eye fixed upon him. He was of me-
dunn height and appeared to be we'll
built, though his loose uniform was
not calculated to show the lines Of his
figure. He did not lock over eighteen
years old, but that was about the aver.
age age of either team. Kinsey tossed
him the ball, which seemed to go TO
him as If he held a magnet in his
palm. and the game began.
1t does not come within the scope OF
this story to give detailed account of
the struggle for the championship be-
tween the Hilton and Ferncliffe teams.
| 1t was closely contested from the start.
| At first the Ferncliffe's pitcher seemed
! TO be very nervous and made some bad
breaks. Kinsey was watching him
! closely and now and again spoke to
! him encourG gingly. Measured. he
! went on with his work and before the
! third inning began to show himself a
| first class twirler. Indeed. before the
! game was finished it was evident that
| If the game was won at all it would
! be won through the advantage he gave
| his team. In the eighth inning 1t was
tie, and only by the brilliant pitch
ing in the ninth did the Ferncliffes
win the game.
The teams had left the grounds
when Kyle stepped up to Kinsey and
I said:
How about that bet between us?
! / suppose since you had a full team
it's Off"
I've won that bet" replied Kinsey.
and. thrusting his hand under his jack
eft. he brought out bill and handed it
to Kyle.
ITO lady's hat, and trimming" read
Kyle. $40. What does it mean?"
1T means that | bought the stake
for the pitcher. since / Intended she
should have it If / must pay for it my
self. Since we won with a man short
you may settle the bill"
"a man Short"
Yes; our pitcher is not man. but
girl. cousin of mine. Il student in the
State Normal school. She's strong and
athletic, and I've played ball with her
often and while doing so saw in her
the making of good twirler. She'll
be at our house this evening and happy
10 receive callers in appropriate cos
tune"
1t Is needless to say that the young
lady pitchers reception in the evening
| was largely attended. She was very
modest and found it difficult to stand
against the battery of eyes brought to
bear on her. The story that the Fern,
cliffe pitcher was girl had within the
few hours since the finishing of the
game spread so far that every one whi
had seen her in baseball costume wish
ed TO see her dressed as n woman. The
| consequence was that the house was
too small to receive the crowd at one
time. SO they kept going as we'll as
coming.
The next day when the normal stu
| dent returned to her home crowd es-
cOrted her to the station. She wore
the hat that she had won by the bet
Kinsey had made in her behalf, and
many were the facetious remarks 1t ez-
cited. When the train pulled out a
shout went up. which was acknowledge
ed by waving OF the said hat.
The Fernciffes have n clubhouse.
where their trophies are displayed.
| The hat won by the team from the
Hiltons hangs on the wall. and under
| It hangs the photograph OF the girl
who enabled them to win II. She Is
now a matron and has forgotten ath.
letics in a numerous progeny Of chill.
| dren.