Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-02-03

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SGA
tGG, 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
"Whew, what a hit"
Across the length OF scrubby fieI,
John Blake, tired school teacher an
confirmed bachelor. watched a dirt
baseball go swinging on its way, froT
the home plate OF the Serry vlll..s
grounds, straight out over the field /
the main street. No-he held hi
breath in consternation-straight Int
the cellar window Of the cottage lie
longing to the towns one constable
1t wasn't the beauty Of perfec
Babe Ruth" home runner the prefer
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 a
the plate wore pink skirt and nca
MILDLY blouse and had curly dark hail
blowing provokingly from under tho
boys cap which she wore.
Under ordinary circumstances Johr
Blake would have called the guilty
person to task, as the field was part
OF the school property. But this was q
different caSe--a girl and apparently q
new conner to the village. He had never
seen a girl handle bat In such q
fearless, busineSslike 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 of day,
glared In anger.
"Humph! My man just fixed that
winder last week. II you must play
ball near folks houses why can't you
50 easy. The idea OF hlttin' clear
across that field.", The girl on the
steps below. smiled wistfuliy, "Tm
sorry. madam you see It was home
run" and added with a touch of pride,
"and these don't happen. very often"
The old lady's eyes flashed.
+Well, it:A nOthint TO me, home runs
er--er-"' She floundered Kopelessly
uRt1 the girl put In softly. "Or two
baggef. DerhaDR.~. ea
The thin lips shut with q snap and
then-''It will cOst you flfty cents any
way and ought to charge you more
for my. mans labor"
Suddenly tall figure doomed up 10
back Of the girl and i slim white hand
thrust. q crisp dollar bill out at the old 4
ady. Believe me. madam" said the 4
:ool voice OF John Blake. "that hit
vas easily worth a dollar"
A moment later the tomboy and Johh
Blake. who had been eavesdropping
or the first time in his life. were walk
ng down the street together.
"Guess our neuralgia friend doesn't
appreciate the intricacles Of our mar
iOnal game" he remarked kindly. and !
vas about to make himself more plain
When she answered easily, "Oh, hut
ellar windows do not grow on trees.
ir. / thank you for helping me out
nd I'll return the money at school, to-
morrow"
The young man had an uncomfort-
BILE feeling that the brown eyes under
he bOyish cap were laughing at him
8 the girl soberly babe him goodby,
nd If there was anything that nettfed
i'm 1t was ridicule What the Joke
as he tried hard to fathom. He had
lerely tried to be kind TO a little
'mboy in a rather tight financial
osition. He tried to salve over his
ouAded dignity, but next morning
,und him grouchier than ever and
uch disposed to find the girl and
We Ter a helated reprimand.. Casually
) glanced over the older classes, but
lere was no sign Of the brown-eyed
mboy,
In his abstraction he almost forgot 1
lie new teacher Of the fourth grade. ]
After the curtest Of greetings he
mberly laid down the law until the
yht died out Of the young teachers
'es and she looked scared and little r
'wildered.
AhlCA SNLVOl (lVoCu tHuIf udyS MISS
'ane, fourth grade teacher, entered
e principals office and waited hum I
' until that official finished reading 7
letter. Then she carefully drew a
tsp new dollar bill from her pocket
ID held 1t out. f
81 want to return the money, Mr. !
axe, with thanks. / did not realize
at playing baseball was such a crime, i
| have always played with my a
others, but I'm sorry, especially !,
out the window. Also / think, sir :
ut | had better make another home 4
n--a final one. NY resignation" V
The sedate young principal removed =
! horn rimined glasses and scanned =
! face above him, but there was no y
zee Of mlschievousDess in the brown N
es. only dull hurt at this sudden
OF her first attempt Of
chlng He tried to vision the Y
nth grade room without his barticu- S;
acquisition and lie could not seem n
place another teacher there. He
,ok his head emphaticaIly, "You
IT go this way, Miss. Crane. Please b.
onstder." 4,
She shook her head, Il must, never =,
Id work under such an antagonis- y