Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-09-15

Winner in the Game
of Hearts
By HAROLD SINCLAIRE
&c. 1891. western Newspaper Union.)

RAY Ddl3 Iuc umpire y VOICE rug
out, and two games were on, one be-
tween the Yellow Feet and the Black
Flags, and the other between Maisie
Laughlin and Bessie Houston. In the
first game a pennant was in question !;
In the latter the happiness Of two,
IL not three lives.
Ralph Thurston, the star twirler OF
the Black Flags, was In the box, for
the Yellow Feet had the first half,
and two pairs of eyes were fastened
on his flushed face.
Realizing that he must put all
thoughts Of these two out of his
mind, Thurston put several quick, hot
ones over the plate, following with a
low grounder, and had his man out
without a strike. The next two were
easy, and the Yellow Feet were re-
tired in one, two, three order. The
Black Flags, however, failed to con-
meet with any of Comptons balls, and
he was congratulated by his team
as he, too registered the same score.
This followed for three innings; not
a strike was called on either side, al
though there were several balls, and
then Thurston went into the box for
the first Of the fourth inning. As he
ran down field he caught sight of Mai
sizes waving handkerchief, and imme-
diately the old problem confronted
him. 1t unsteadied his arm so that
when the catcher signaled for an out
curve he sent over a straight one.
The man at bat found this soft, and
he sent It soaring down past center,
easily reaching second before the ball
was captured.
After this followed a series of blum
ders by him that made the captain and
manager rave.
All the while the real cause Of this
disturbance lay in his pocket. 1t con-
sisted Of two notes, one signed Maisie,
the other Bessie. Each girl invited
him to spend the evening in her COM
pany.
Finally the first half Of the ninth
was reached. The score stood to 1,
In favor of the visitors. Instead Of
the usual cheering and applause which
had greeted Thurston as he ran to the
box, there came a dead silence more
expressive than any demonstration.
He gritted his teeth, clenched his
fists until the fingers bit into the
palms Of his hands. then began pitch
ing with all his old-time vigor. As
In the first inning, he put the men
out In one, two, three order, and the
grand stand went wild with Joy. The
Yellow Feet were not worried, how
ever, and indifferentiy trotted out In
to the field. A sneer disfgured Comp
toms face as he swung his arm, but
1t changed to something else when
Gryce, the captain Of the Black Flags.
struck out home run. This ratified
the man In the box, for he let the
next man get to second on a line
drive that easily passed left field, and
the third took his base on balls. Thurs
ton then came to bat. His two-bag-
ger brought In another run and put
a man on second. The next man
hunted, and three bases were filed.
The score was now to 8, with all
bases filed. The manager, Gordon,
was the next man at bat, but he
famed out, as did the next. Then
came Burchell, who always managed
q two-bagger. His ball rose grace
fully, scared out and over the head
Of right field, and the men began elt-
Ing up the ground to get home. Just
as the man from third began to slide.
the ball fell into the glove Of the
right fielder, and the pennant be-
longed to the Yellow Feet.
Sullenly Thurston changed to his
street clothes, then wrote his resig-
nation. The manager took 1t, saying
tartly:
"All right, IL you feel that way"
II guess all Of you feel that my
room is better than my company"
Thurston said sourly, as he slouched
out of the club house, hands deep In
his pockets, head bent down. Just as
he emerged an automobile dashed by.
In II were several Of the cheering
Yellow Feet and Maisie. In the sec
ond OF passing she tossed ner neau,
looking at him with unbared con-
tempt.
Don't run over me. Ralph" and
starting. he saw Bessie smiling up
at him, although her eyes were red
with tears Of disappointment.
"Bess," Ralph said, catching her
hand and gripping 1t hard, I'm q
piker; went up in the air on this
game, honest"
Everyone does that sometimes"
she said softly.
I say. Bess," he asked sheepishly,
II wonder II you'd be afraid Of me
In another kind Of gamer and Bes-
sic understood. She answered, as they
walked slowly towards the street cars:
mot yet. Ralph; I'll root for you