Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-07-09
"What do you think Browns DOING"

uaL uO you Culuk brOWu 8 QOlnS {!
he asked. Standing out there throw
ing a baseball against the side Of the
barn. Go look at him through the win
dow. It's as good as a circus."
This strange performance happened
several times a day. Obadiah asked a
thousand questions.
"Oh, it's good for the arm" said the
hired man.
"U-m-m-m! said Obadiah thought
fully. Then commiseratingly: Too
bad you don't git enough exercise. I'll
have to see to that"
Its a fool thing" said Obadiah to
his wife. Il don't know what ails the
fellow. but the way he throws that
ball around is Il caution. | watched
him ten minutes, and he didn't miss
that circle once. Maybe it's the way
he kicks his right leg that does it,
And the way he can make that ball
twist around. 1t don't seem possible!"
Later Obadiah slapped his thigh.
I've got it," he said. You know
the way he reads them city papers and
all the sporting pieces? I'll bet he
wants to be a ball player. That's
what ails him. He better stay where
he's we'll Off"
The middle of August came, and still
the hired man persisted in his strange
target practice. He was lean and
brown and hard, and his eyes were
clear. Not a trace Of his old nervous
ness remained.
Toward the end of August he looked
up from the table one evening.
"Mrs. Hoskins," said he, "Im afraid
you're going to lose your star boarder."
Il knew it." said mother calmly.
You been itchin' to get away for
days"
Obadiah argued and preached a SER
mon from the text of the rolling stone.
The two men talked long and earnestly
on the front porch. In the end it was
settled that Brown was to leave on
Saturday. He had refused an offer of
$40 a month and his board.
Il feel like | was losin' one of the
family" said Mrs. Hoskins, wiping her
eyes on the edge of her apron.
The hired man had come into the
kitchen to say goodby. He was dressed
in the brown suit in which he had
made his appearances; he had shined
his shoes and tied his new cravat With
a smart twist which gave him a very
citified air.
"Goodby, mother" said Henry W.
Brown. you've been very good to me,
and Pm never going to forget YOU.
Goodby, Mr.. Hoskins. If l ever want
another job I'll come to you"
Then he shook hands quickly and
walked out of the house.
After he had gone Mrs. Hoskins
found a package upon the table in the
kitchen with her name written upon
the wrapping paper. 1t contained half
a dozen silver knives and forks of a
pattern to match her best spoons. Her
eyes Overt1owed again as she looked at
them.
"Bless his heart" she said. Spend
in all that money on foolishness for
an old woman! And didn't give me
a chance to thank him!"
Meanwhile the late Henry W. Brown
tramped down the road, swinging his
suit case at his side. His head was in
the air. his shoulders we're thrown
back, and the light Of freedom was in
his eyes. 1t had been a fight to a finish,
and he had won.
Monitor hnr is tho o1,>%I> x-,z- IL
close pennant races tighten up to a
certainty and the baseball writer's be
gin to talk about the home stretch. II
is also the month when the writers
who have been desperately supporting
third and fourth place teams begin to
write about next season. and the
strengthening Of the pitching staff.
The Nonpareils finished August in
third place, with a bare fighting chance
depending upon the remaining games
to be played with teams which were
leading them. Undoubtedly Keene's
loss had cost them a better position in
the race.
The Nonpareils, playing at home,
were to open September with a series
against the leaders. that tough aggre-
cation Of fighters known as the Game
cocks.
Everything depended upon the show
ing of the Nonpareils in the four games
with their rivals. By winning the entire
series they would be within two games
of the top, with an excellent chance to
win out in the remaining month Of play.
Three games would help amazingly,
but it was gloomily pointed out that
during the season which was closing
the GamecOcks had beaten the Non
parcels as they had never beaten them
before.
Here again cropped up the specter Of
the missing pitcher. for the baseball
fans. with pencil and paper. We're able
to demonstrate to a mathematical GER
tainty that this strange reversal was
due entirely to Keene's absence from
the pitching staff. The Gamecocks had
always been easy plucking for Keene.
The opening day Of the important
series rolled around md tho NopDo ro;Ie