Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1919-02-21
Girl
or Game
~0
BY r. RAY BAKER
<Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)


Mason had to know where he stood
on the deck of sinking submarine
ship or on a flying field preparing to
soar among the clouds in a winged
machine.
If Hazel Norrin said "yes" then It
would be aviation; If she replied mega
lively that meant the plunge. All this
about soaring and plunglng, you must
understand, had to do with Steve's
mental state. The war had not yet
stretched its steel-scaled arm to Amer
fca, and Steve was considering mel
ther aero journeys nor ocean voyages,
literally speaking. He was still In Cliff
ton college, a senior and his favorite
form of combat was baseball.
After being with Hazel once on the
occasion Of theater party early in his
senior year his admiration for her in
creased to a friendship which became
so warm as the time for graduation APP
preached that 1t finally ceased to be
friendship, as far as his feelings were
concerned.
Steve reached the point mentioned
In the first paragraph at the same time
his hand found the point of picket in
the fence inclosing the garden of her
home. He had met Hazel late that
afternoon by an accident, ostensibly.
She was not supposed to know that he
had fingered full half-hour near the
millinery store where she worked,
waiting for her to appear so he could
walk nonchalantly toward her and be
surprised to meet her.
Steve had no real reason for believ-
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
chance on being the seventh or the
ninth, or even the thirteenth.
Steve knew that his red head and
freckles didn't jibe with her creamy
complexion and black hair, but he was
not to blame for the contrast.
He picked a splinter from the fence,
realized he was more nervous than he
had been at any time since his initia-
ton into Tau Beta Chi. floundered des-
perately for words, then got a grip
on himself and let it out with:
'Hazel, I'm 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
now"
go. She laughed lightly and placed her
hand over his as 1t rested on the fence
and replied:
"Pm glad you're not capable Of sen.
timental gush,' because I'm rather
tired of 1t myself. like the way you
go about this, without moons or bah.
bling brooks and I'll admit care q
lot for you, but can't answer now
FIRST l must have proof that you are
the kind of fellow would marry an6
that you really care as much Jas YOU
say. But I am not saying 'no'-just
remember that"
The next day he received a letter
from her. 1t read:
'Dear Steve-Rememberin what
you told me yesterday am giving yor
chance to prove your affection. To
morrow Clifton meets Alton for the
state college baseball championship
My cousin, Will Forbes, will pitch fol
Alton, and in a letter just received
he told me that it means everything
for him to win the game, as he ex
poets to try for a professional league
Here's your chance to prove tina
you love me. If the opportunity of
3erS to miss a ball or strike out at
critical point of the game and you cal
help Alton to win you surely can prov
beyond doubt that you care as you sa,
you do"
The letter stunned poor Steve, wit
his heart eating itself out for Haze
and the rest Of him all wrapped up il
the national game. Steve would ra
ther play baseball than anything else Il
the world except have Hazel for
wife. Then, too his love for his aim
mater was strong and his regard 70
honor and fair play was stronger.
GLOW can she ask such thing?
he groaned aloud as he sank back 4
the only rocking chair his apartment
of the rOoming house afforded. II
loneed for his pipe, but he was /
training
81 can't do it," he repeated over an
over. at wouldn't be honorable G
square; and simply can't bring m,
self to it, But HAZEL can't Civ
her up. She means too much to m
even If she does ask impossible-a
most mpossible-things."