Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-12-31
THE TOMBOY"
BY MINNIE M. TOWNSEND.
,. 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndica
"Whew, what q hit"

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&C. 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
"Whew, what hit"
Across the length of scrubby field,
John Blake, tired school teacher and
confirmed bachelor watched a dirty
baseball go swinging on its way, from
the home plate of the Sorry village
grounds, straight out over the field TO
the main street. No-he held his
breath in consternation-straig into
the cellar window of the cottage be-
longing to the towns one constable.
1t wasn't the beauty of a perfect
Babe Ruth" home runner the preten-
tious smashing of the aforesaid win
dow, that called for the above ejacula-
ton by the usually grouchy teacher,
but the fact that the young person at
the plate wore pink skirt and neat
MILDLY blouse and had curly dark hair
blowing provokingly from under the
| boys cap which she wore.
Under ordinary circumstances John
| Blake would have called the guilty
| person to task, as the field was part
| of the school property. But this was a
| different Casa girl and apparently
new conner to the village. He had never
seen girl handle a bat In such
| fearless, businessllke way. Wavering
| as to the proper course for him TO
| pursue, he watched her hurry across
the field to his curiosity and the ire OF
| the cOnstable's wife. She bravely
| mounted the cottage steps and rang
| the bell. The lady, who was subject to
neuralgia and was having an off day,
| gared in anger.
"Humph. My man just fixed that
winder last week. If you must play
ball near folks houses why can't you
| 20 easy. The idea of hittin' clear
across that field" The girl on the
steps below, smiled wistfully, I'm
sorry, madam; you see it was home
run" and added with touch of pride,
and these don't happen very often
The old lady's eyes flashed.
"Wen it's nothin' to me, home runs
er-er--" She tloundered hopelessly
until the girl put in softly "Or two
Dagger, perhaps
The thin lips shut with a snap and
then-"It will cost you fifty cents any
way and | ought to charge you more
for my mans labor"
Suddenly tall figure doomed up in
back of the girl and a slim white hand
thrust a crisp dollar bill out at the old
lady. "BeIieve me- madam" said the
cool voice of John Blake, that hit
was easily worth a dollar"
A moment later the tomhOy and John
Blake, who had been eavesdropping
for the first time in his life, were walk
Ing down the street together.
Guess our neuralgia friend doesn't
appreciate the intricacies of our ma
tional game" he remarked kindly, and
was about to make himself more plain
when she answered easily, ooh, but
cellar windows do not grow on trees,
sir. / thank you for helping me out
and I'll return the money at school, to-
morrow"
The young man had an uncomfort-
able feeling that the brown eyes under
the bOyish cap were laughing at him
as the girl soberly babe him goOdby,
and If there was anything that nettled
him 1t was ridcule. What the joke
was he tried hard to fathom. He had
merely tried to be kind to a little
tomhoy in a rather tight financial
position. He tried to salve over his
wounded dignity. but next morning
found him grouChier than ever and
much disposed to find the girl and
give her befated reprimand. Casually
he glanced over the older classes, but
there was no sign of the brOwn-eyed
tomboy.
In his abstraction he almost forgot
the new teacher Of the fourth grade.
After the curtest of greetings he
somberly laid down the law until the
light died out of the young teachers
ewes and she looked scared and little
bewildered.
After school closed that day, Miss
Crane fourth grade teacher, entered
the principals office and waited hum
bly, until that official finished reading
a letter. Then she carefully drew a
crisp, new dollar bin from her pocket
and held 1t out,
II want to return the money, Mr.
Blake with thanks l did not realize
that playing baseball was such crime
as | have always played with my
! brothers, but Pm sorry, especially
about the window. Also | think, sir
that | had better make another home
run-a final one. My resignation"
The sedate young principal removed
, his horn trimmed glasses and scanned
? the face above him, but there was nc
trace of mischievOusness in the brown
eyes, only a dull hurt at this sudden
elimination of her first attempt OF
teaching. He tried to vision the
fourth grade room without his particu
lar acquisition and he could not seem
TO place another teacher there. He
t shook his head emphatically, "YOu
, can't go this way, Miss Crane. Please
reconsider"
She shook her head, 81 must, never
oould work under such advantageous