The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-12-01
STRUCK OUT
BY HENRY L. sTERRETT.

Il do so love good game Of base
ball, and ! suppose yours will be bat
tie royal. expect to enjoy it greatly. =
The speaker was beautiful damsel
Of nineteen, coed In a fashionable
university. She was shy-eyed, demure,
clever and bewitching, with a figure
and manner that had set the students
by the ears. The young men owed
allegiance to rival universities, rival
ing each other in sports and collegiate
attachments and last of all were rivals
for the favors of Miss Edith Mars
den.
of course you PITCH" said Edith,
turning to Hal Stone, a blond giant
burdened with a heavy club, garnished
by huge knot of purple ribbon; land
Of course you expect<to win?n
That's my intention" was the mod
est reply. "By the way, Miss Edith,
can't prevail ON you to wear our coll
orsr untying the ribbon and offering
1t. ''You shall be queen of love and
beauty, and spur us ON to victory"
"How nice. Yes, I'll wear them as 1t
Is championship day. What is your Of
fer, Mr.. Carlyle?"
Il regret that have no banderole to
offer, nor scarf of our colors with me-
said Tim Carlisle. Purple is fit only
for royalty, fair lady, and felicitate
my foe on his happy thought. Yet
we crown our queens Of love and beau.
| ty as Americans with red, red rose.
WIN you accept this one?"
"Oh, how charming!" exclaimed the
girl as she inhaled the fragrance of
the flower. Her cheeks were as red
rs the rose itself as she noted the APP
peal In the eyes of her cavalier. "You
too, will VIM"
"We hope So" was the quiet an
swer. "You see we want that pen
| nant."
1t was battle royal. Two teams
more evenly matched rarely meet on
the diamond.
Ten thousand people yelled when
the teams trotted on the field ready
for the fray. A man clad In white duck
with an air Of Importance, walked to
the home plate, brushed 1t off, tossed
the broom to the mascot, looked at
his watch, and then at the sky. Car
Isle stalked slowly toward the box
while his men scattered to their posi-
tons. Then the white man tossed q
/ xxyIi 70 han N
Tim, but no one heard his remark. For
seven innings neither side scored. But
in the eighth big Harker, for the pur-
pie, found ball to his liking, and
swung on 1t. When 1t came back to
the diamond the big man was painting
on the bench. Maroon failed to score
and the purple was one run to the
good.
Three men 0ri bases una twos 0Gewas
the record In the ninth when Hal step
ped to the plate. Victory was in
the end of his bat, and he knew it.
He smashed the first ball and 1t sped
as an arrow straight for Tins head.
His hands flew up and the pitcher
rolled on the earth while two men
trotted in. Then the cunning boxman
rose and showed the ball lightly
squeezed In his hands. The man in
white made a naughty gesture and
the Maroons came In. 1t was still one
\ to nothing, with the odds In favor of
tie, at least. Stone kicked, but to
no purpose. He saw Edith wildly ap-
plauding his enemy's brilliant play,
and his face grew black. He was un-
steadied by his anger and three sharp
hits sent a man over with the tying
run. His own swiftness and skill pre-,
vented the loss of the game.
Then Tim stepped to the plate. Hal
determined to strike him out, or put
him out of the game. He had hit
every time at bat, so the big fellow
sent in lot Of high benders curyine
dangerously near the batter's head
Tim saw the play, and stepped back
to protest. Then he faced his man In
rage. In came another swift inshoot
1t struck Tim fairly on the temple, and
liz It'll as IL SHUl. 4lui AuoaCu " A.i'-
fallen enemy, wringing his hands, but
Tim was out Of the game. TEen
things settled down again, and the
game proceeded. Maroon made nc
more runs, ard the teams squared
away for the extra inning. Stone look
ed up to see Edith, but she had dis
appeared. In fierce wrath he sent the
ball so far out that 1t never got into
the game again. He scored the win
ming run, for the ratified Maroons fall
ed Purple was champion.
Stone rushed from the field In tri
umph, seeking for Edith. He found
her in the reception room of the club
house kneeling beside the couch or
which Carlisle rested. Tins heae
was bandaged, but as he held the hant
of the girl he seemed to care little fol
his injury.
s'bIiss Edith" blurted Hal, "you sait
You'd wear the winners colors. CLAIM
yorr promise"
Il have kept 1t. sir" said the gir
with quiet dignity. II have told Tin
so. Ihis," indicating the rose, II
the winners colors. You struck out
AIr Stone," she added, pointing mean
lnolv to the recumbent figure on tn