The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-03-19
STRUCK OUT
BY HENRY L. sTERRETT.

The speaker was a beautiful damse
of nineteen, a coed in a fashionabl,
university. She was shy-eyed, demure
clever and bewitching, with a figure
and amer that had set the student:
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 a huge knot of purple ribbon "and
of course you expect to win?"
That's my Intention" was the mod
est reply. "By the way, Miss Edith,
can't l prevail on you to wear our col
ors?" untying the ribbon and offering
it. "You shall be queen of love and
beauty, and spur US OF to victory"
"How nice. Yes, I'll wear them rs it
is championship day. What is your Of
fer, Mr.. Carlyle?"
81 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 l felicitate
my foe on his happy thought. Yet
we crown our queens of love and beau
ty as Americans with a red, red rose.
viii you accept this one?"
"Oh, how charming ~ exclaimed the
girl as she inhaled the fragrance of
the flower. Her cheeks were as red
as the rose itself as she noted the APP
peal in the eyes of her cavalier. you
too, will VIM"
I'VE hope So" was the quiet an
swer. "You see we want that pen
nant."
1t was a 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 mar clad in white duck
an air of Importance, walked to
the home plate, brushed it 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 a
white ball and some words out to
Tim, but no one heard his remark. For
seven innings neither side scored. But
in the eighth big Harker, for the pur-
pie, found a ball to his liking, and
swung on it. When 1t came back to
the diamond the big man was painting
on the bench. Maroon failed to score
and the purple was n run to the
good.
Three men on bases and two out was
the record in the ninth when Hal step
ped to the plate. Victory was In
the end of his bat, and he knew 1t.
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
white made a naughty gesture and
the Maroons came In. 1t was still one
to nothing, with the odds In favor Of
a tie, at least. Stone kicked. but to
no purpose. He saw Edith wildly APP
plauding his enemy's brilliant play,
and his face grew black. He was I'M
steadied by his anger and three sharp
hits SEN 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 a lot Of high benders c%urving
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
he fell as If shot. Hal rushed to his
fallen enemy, wringing his hands, but
Tim was out of the game. Then
things settled down again, and the
game proceeded. Maroon made nc
more runs, and 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 it never got into
the game again. He scored the win
ming run, for the ratified Maroons fail
ed Purple vas 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 on
which Carlisle rested. Tins head
was ~bandaged. but as he held the hand
of the girl he seemed to care little fol-
his injury.
Miss Edith" blurted Hal, "you said
you'd wear the winners colors. / claim
your promise"
II have kept 1t, sir" said the CIR
with quiet dignity. 81 have told Tin
so. This" indicating the rose, sis
the winners colog. You struck out
Mr.. Stone" she added, pointing mean
ingly to the recumbent figure on the
.-..oH