The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-30
EVENING STORY
Girl or Game.
by r. RAY BAKER.

|
Mason had to know where he stood
on the deck of . sinking. Summarized
ship or on flying field preparing to
soar among the clouds in winged
machine.
If Hazel Norrin said yes then 1t
would be aviation; il she replied mega
lively that meant the plunge. All this
about soaring and plunsins, you must
understand. had to do with steve's
mental state. The var had not vet
stretched it's steeI-scaled arp to
America, and Steve was considering |
neither aero journeys nor ocean voy-
ages, literally speaking. no was stu
in Clifton college, q senior. and his
favorite form of combat was. baseball.
After being with Hazel once on the |
occasion of q theater party early In
his senior year his admiration for her |
increased to friendship which be-
came SO warm as the time for gradua-
ton approached that 1t finally ceased |
to be friendship, as Tar As MS feennSs
were concerned.
steve reached the '.point'' men
toned In the first paragraph at the
q picket in the fence enclosing the
garden Of her home. He had met
Hazel late that afternoon by an acci-
| dent, ostensibly. She was not sup
posed to know that he had. fingered
| q full half hour near the millinery
store where she worked, waiting for
her to appear so he could walk nom
chalantly toward her and be surprised
| to meet her.
steve had no real reason for befi-y-
| ing that she cared for him. He was
aware that some six or eight students
were reported to have proposed to her
and been rejected during the last
three years but he was willing to take
| ninth, or evan the thirteenth.
| Steve knew that hia red head and
freckles didn't 5ibe with her creamy
complexion and black hair, but he
was not to blame for the contrast.
He picked splinter from the fence,
realised he was more nervous than he
had been at any. time since his initia-
ton into Tau Beta Chi. floundered
desperately for words. then got q grip
on himself and let it out with:
"IazeI. LIN not going to beat about
the bush. I'm not. capable OF pouring
out sentimental gush and crawling on
my knees, but I want to marry you,
and hope this is not so sudden that
you can't decide my fate here and
4 now"
She laughed lightly and placed her
hand over his as it rested on the fence
and replied:
i Pm glad you're not capable of
sentimental gush,' because I'm rather
tired of 1t myself. I like the way you
go about this, without moons or bab-
bling brooks and I'll admit I care a
lot for you, but I can't answer now.
!, First I must have proof that you are
the kind Of fellow 1 would marry and
that you really care as much as you
say. But am not saying 'no'-just
|, remember that"
The next day he received a letter
from her. It read:
! Dear Steve-Rememberin what
, you told me yesterday I am giving
YOU a chance to prove your affection.
Tomorrow Clifton meets Alton for the
state college baseball championship.
Ny cousin, Will Forbes, Will pitch for
II Alton, and in a letter L just received
| he told me that it means everything
poets to try for a professional league.
Here's your chance to prove that
, you love me. If the opportunity offers
, to miss a ball or strike out ct critical
! point Of the game and you can help
: Alton to win you surely can prove
beyond doubt that you care - you say
a you do"
The letter stunned poor cteve, with
: his heart eating itself out for Eazel
| and the rest of him all wrapped up
2 in the national game. Steve would
!. rather play baseball than anything else
! in the world except have I-azel for a
wife. Then, too, his 1ovs for his
= alma mater was strong, and his re-
gard for honor and fair play was
: stronger.
e he groaned aloud as he sank back in
}. the only rocking chair his apartment,
q of the rooming house afforded. He
! lonsed for his pipe, but he was in
= training.
81 can't do it." he repeated over and
n over. 'It wouldn't be honorable OIL
r square; and I simply can't bring my
u self to it. But Hazel can't give hel
up. She means too much to me ever
v il s. does ask mpossible-almost i'm
Is possible-things"
IS The day of the game turned ou
bright ana clear in spite of steve
II wish that a deluge might visit the dia
Is mond. He saw her in the grandstant
as he logged out to center field fol
4 practice, and tipped his cap in an
ID swer to her jaunty wave of the hand.
n The contest started with prospect
n OF g. close struggle. Each side scoret
l. run in the second inning, and Alton
In pushed another across in the fourth
Clifton evening it up in the fifth. Thu
the score stood a tie at the opening o
the eighth.
II The first Alton man to bat was re
tired on a pop fly to third.
H But his successor hit q clean Texa.
II leaguer which landed him on second
grounder, knocked between secon,
ID ana first by the next man to the plate
+ Two men were out and another OF
le third. The Alton catcher advanced t
lic Uattc1 . pox, anu dltcT Two StTikS
9, and two balls hit one back of thir,
r which the Clifton left fielder came Vi
l. on, but not fast enough to take
to from the air. He picked it up on tn
IT bound and by quick throw to tn
ID plate forced the Alton base runner t
n stay on third: but while this play wa
h being enacted the Alton catche
ID reached second.
u The Alien pitcher was next to BAL
to Here was chance for him to win hi
i'd own game. and the set OF his ia,
showed he was determined to do Il
Of steve, out in center, watched hir
IN anxiopsly as he swung and missed tn
,s first ban.
r. Hope he doesn't send It out thi
way" Steve fnuttered hia mind sti