The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-06-10
STRUCK OUT
BY HENRY L. STERRETT.

Jam anu SuDpoHc SoulS VIII ne u JUL
tie royal. l expect to enjoy it greatly"
The speaker was a beautiful damsel
of nineteen, "co-ed" 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
attainments 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 heavy club, garnished
by 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 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 on to victory"
"HOW nice. Yes, I'll wear them as it
is championship day. What is your Of
fer, Mr.. CarlyleP
81 regret that l 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 red, red rose.
win you accept this one2"
"Oh, how charmingw 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"
eve 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 man clad in white duck
with 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
lisle stalked slowly toward the box
while his men scattered to their posi-
tons. Then the white man tossed
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 it 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 on bases and two out vas
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 it 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
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 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 a lot of high benders curving
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 no
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 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 on
which Carlisle rested. Tins head
was bandaged, but as he held the hand
Of the girl he seemed to care little for
his injury.
Miss Edith" blurted Hal, "you said
you'd wear the winners colors. | claim
your promise"
81 have kept it, sir" said the girl
with quiet dignity. 81 have told Tim
so. This" indicating the rose, lis
the winners colOrs. You struck out,
Mr.. Stone" she added, pointing mean
ingly to the recumbent figure on the
couch.
Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Unon.)