The Alaska citizen., 1914-12-21

ne might De getting HIS NlCtudis a.
home for nothing.
Through a mouthful OF
crackers Il couldn't. Cause why ?
Because | amt a-going home no more.
Uncle Ben. This is my last day in
Windy City"
Uncle Ben ceased whiting to
cape at him.
Lands sakes. Shade. what's got
into you?"
I'm all right. Uncle Ben. But
don't aim to let pa hound me round
no more. That's all He's fixing to
do it right now. So amt going
home"
Uncle Ben's chin whiskers wabbled
in his agitation. and he spat vigor-
ously into the road.
And where he Queried, do you
aim to go, Shade, boy"
Dunno" was the reckless answer.
only it'll be just as far away from
Windy City as l can get"
The storekeeper leaned forward
and addressed Shade with extraor-
binary earnestness.
Don't you do it. son. No. sir.
don't you bulge a foot There're
worse places that lili' Of Windy Shade
you can bet there is. l know how
you feel-yes, l do was that way
myself once. But cities is hell
Just hell"
who said anything about cities."
Il know. I know. That's where
every young Teller pines to go. But
you listen to NEEDN'T you do it.
tried It once-yes. sir, went clear to
Forth Worth. And do you know
what happened"
His tone was so tragic that Shade
felt constrained to make reply and
muttered: "No, what"
Why" said Uncle Ben, "a dog
gone Teller sold me the city hall for
nine dollars cash. That's what he
done"
This was a body blow. and Uncle
Ben followed it up with others. Be
fore he had finished the last crack
er and another tin OF sardines don
OF his excitement Shade had prom
Used to give up all present ideas Of
flight.
We'll" he said, "if I'm going to
get it, better get it over with quick
anu VII liz set tO"dTu nome.
The boy did not resist the pun
ishment. Not because of filial re-
spect. but from bodily fear-he had
tried it once, only to incite his buriy
father to rage that left Shade
sadly battered and bruised There
fore, he stood grimly quiet while
Selman. senior, piled harness strap
across his shoulders.
When he stopped, Shade drew on
his vest, turning his back lest his
father see the smarting tears of
wounded pride he could not keep
back, and went out Of the woodshed
and toward the village.
Twilight found him pitching in a
game Of choose up sides-which is
neither scrub nor four old cats, but
a reliable makeshift-on a vacant
plot next the church. Uncle Ben
watched them from his door across
the street.
This was Shade-yet it wasn't
Shade. Nobody would have recogniz-
ed in him the sulky, lethargic boy
Of the woodpile. AS soon as he
stepped to the mound he was trans
formed. His shoulders squared back !.
he lifted his feet as though they
belonged to his legs instead OF be-
ing dead weights. and his smile
was three inches in width.
"He sure is on the job" chuckled
Uncle Ben.
Evidently the batters thought so.
and feared him. No one would stand
up to the plate. Invariably they
backstepped when the ball shot to-
ward them, and Shade retired them
one, two, three.
"Ri-de him. buster!" Uncle Ben
would yelp, shrill as a coyote. Ride
him, Shade, boy!"
And Shades exultation scared
with each feat.
"What're you scared of" he ask
ed with a grin, hurting high one so
close to the batter's chin that the
boy turned a pale green.
Don't throw 'em so darned hard.
Shade! You'll hurt somebody. Just
give me slow curve and I'll show
you what"
Owing to lack of players the bases
could not be manned. With only
eight men available-four a side
the custom was to place the two
not required for battery in the most
favorable positions for fielding Then
the runner took his chances. With
no way of throwing him out except
at the plate, they threw at him m
stead. II they missed him the run
ner was safe and made the circuit;
if they hit him, he would know he
was out. The ball. having seen
much service did not quite kill.
At the end of four innings, weary
ing Of his easy triumph. Shade de-
cided to let one hit it. Accordingly,
he warned Shorty of lob. and
Shorty set himself and hammered
it along the ground. With the
smack of the bat on tho ball. Shade
made a running dive and scooped
the grounder Recovering with as
tonishing speed, he turned and shot
the ball at the runner. 1t caught
the lad in the back. just over the
kidneys. and he collapsed in heap.
Shade was first to reach him-a
pallidfaced. voiceless. and agonized
Shade-and he was first to do the
doctors behest when poor Shorty was
carried senseless into the store. Aft
er what seemed an interminable
age. Shorty opened his eyes and
groaned.
Good" exclaimed the doctor in
much relief. He'll come around.
all right. But it's no fault Of yours
you didn't kill him. You boys ought
to know better"
Shade was too relieved to bother
h oh IN