Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-28

4AlS A1ullcT StltOuSlf DG0 III
betting on the champion game. Kin
sey was importuned with questions
about his new pitcher and how the
matter would affect the game. He re
piled that in his W opinion his team
had as good a chance for winning with
the substitute as with the original. but
he declined to give an opinion as to the
result. A man named Kyle, who was
betting on the game. so persisted in
his questions as to who the new pitch
er was, where he came from and what
was his record that Kinsey, finally
losing his patience, said:
II don't know that I'll have a pitch
er. l may have to take me from the
team"
THAT will make you a man short"
said Kyle.
Suppose it should?"
"In that case I'll bet you $50 you
lose the game.'
I'm not betting on the game, but If
| you'll make the stake a 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 a co.
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
a 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 a 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 (at consider
able odds in their favor that the Fern
cliffes would win the game with a man
short.
When the teams walked out on the
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 straight to the pitchers box
and stood there with every spectators
eye fixed upon him. He was of me-
dunn height and appeared to be well
built, though his loose uniform was
not calculated to show the lines of his
figure. He did not look 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 a 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 encouragingly. Reassured, 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
IL the game was won at all it would
be won through the advantage he gave
his team. In the eighth inning it was
a 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
said:
"How about that bet between us?
l suppose since you had a full team
it's off,"
I've won that bet replied Kinsey.
and, thrusting his hand under his jack
ct, he brought out a bill and handed it
to Kyle.
ITO lady's hat and trimming" read
Kyle, $50. What does it mean?"
TT means that | bought the stake
for the pitcher, since | intended she
should have it if l must pay for it nly
self. Since we won with a man short
you may settle the bill"
"a man short"
Yes; our pitcher is not a man. but a
girl. a cousin of mine. a 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 a good twirler. She'll
be at our house this evening and happy
to receive callers in appropriate cos
tume.r
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 a girl had within the
few hours since the finishing of the
game spread so far that every one who
had seen her in baseball costume wish
ed to see her dressed as a oma The