The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-03

life; but the professional suddenly finds himself something of a pariah. And the life is short. didn't think 1t good advice then, but I can get his angle now"
 %And you regret it?" went the pencil.
 '.No. We Lynns stick. we're bull headed. When we make a serious mistake, we rectify it. But I still refuse to consider that I've made, a mistake. purpose to play ball until my arm gives out.
 And then?"
 He laughed. 'Tll cross that bridge when I get to it. wonder he said, looking at his watch. I'm a movie fan I saw a good theatre couple of blocks down. We can get back by nine or so. Or don't you leave your father in the evening""
 'I'll be glad to go," she scrubbed. ~He reads until ten."
 She hurried away for her hat
 Lynn inspected the room. Simple and in good taste, like the girl her self. He brushed his forehead wig orousIy and stood up. Odd, but 1t had never come to him until this moment that he was an internal scoundrel.
 It was the tail-end of the season. the last series on the home lot. Mo- Guire had only one thing left to do and that was to take the big end of the world series money. The Dummy and Swan had cleaned up all the heavy hitters in the league.
 As a pitcher, Swan was quite as good as Lynn. As a man, however. that was another matter. Swan had low, mean streak in him. and he hated Lynn. With a pleasant, smil- ing countenance he often spoke vilely to his rival. This made the thought less weep with laughter-untfl Jen- kins, the most capable of the team, had put stop to it by The threat of his fists.
 Lay off that. Swan; this boy is my friend"
 Thanks, Bill.- said Lynn later. T got that. The last time was home. I noted Tommy going around with Swan a lot"
 The big stiffI' wrote Jenkins. Cant get to the girl, and so he's trying to put the skids under her brother. who'd be all right if he had . mans hand"
 Jenkins. just as soon as the sea- son closes, Pm going to knock that Iout's head off"
 Jenkins scribbled: Forget it.. Swan is a tough one. While he's a low down in some respects, there's nothing yellow in him as fighting man. He'd like nothing better than to beat you up and then tell Nellie about it."
 Bill, there's nothing yellow in me either. He can't any more than lick me I've got to do 1t, Bill"
 Jenlxipe pn1lad Tvnn ohouf Lynn met his glance unflinchihgly. Jenkins frowned. Lynn understood that frown. It meant that to Jenkins Lynn was fine chap and all that. but Nellie Milliken had two crosses already.
 The might after the last home game-the end of the season-Lyna succeeded in getting Nellie to go to a movie with him and have bite to eat in fashionable restaurant be- fore they went home. It was still summer weather and Nellie, in her pretty, inexpensive gown, looked as fresh and dainty as rose. Lynn could not have told you what the movies was about. His actions through the evening puzzled her nightly. She vaguely sensed that he was tremendously excited about something. Arriving at the door. he did not loiter as usual. He caught both her hands. pressed them vio- lently and dashed off.
 The truth is Lynn was afraid. He wanted to smother her with kisses, and his only safety lay in the nim- bleness of his heels. Nellie Milliken, Nellie Milliken,
 Well, tomorrow things would be different. And he carried back to the hotel as much terror as love, be- cause she was the honesrest little woman In the world. Transports that carried him to the skies and then to the bottomless pit. Win or lose he would tell her the whole story tomorrow.
 He reached he hotel at eleven and feeling more than ordinarily awake. he strolled into the pool room hop ing he would find Jenkins there. In stead, he found Brother Tommy play ing Kelley with Swan. Two f1asks of bootleg whisky stood on the stand and some dead soldiers" lay on the floor. The boy was in a bad way and Swan was fairly sober. As the scowled. Lynn walked over to the boy, -she was only eighteen.
 Come home with me, Tommy"
 The boy wrenched himself loose and appealed to Swan.
 With a grim laugh, Swan caught his rival by the Shoulders and turned him. Then he pointed to the door.
 "Yu git out o'here, This is my party. I'll take Tommy home when he wants to go" Swan spoke so Lynn could read his lips.
 Lynn, without replying, took off his coat and dropped 1t onto the fal l,1 | so