Evening star., 1922-09-17

and the rest will do me good. We so
south Sunday night and I always hit
fine in hot weather"
''Fll be out Of the hospital by the time
you get back" Maize told him. "Ill miss
you dreadfully, Tom, but I suppose the
papers will have something every day.
That's one thing about a ball player 8
wife; she can keep in touch with her
husband when he's away, by watching
the sporting pages But they say some
mean things sometimes. Poor Mrs. Dom
ohue cried like everything last month
when some one showed her what the
Seattle papers said about Steve
He had a run-in with the crowd up
there" Barry explained They thought
he beaned guy on purpose, but he
didn't. Steve was all broke up over it.
Babe. l don't want you to read no
papers. unless send you the clippings.
I'll write you every night, and give you
the real DOPE Newspapers are bad on
the eyes, especially when you're lying
in bed You just read my letters. and
I'll tell you Just how I'm goin'. see?'
That was q proposal to which any
wife would have readily agreed. A let
ter every day was as much as Mrs
Barry could ask.
THEY were silent awhile, feasting
i their eyes on the pink miracle cud-
died in the fold of a maternal arm
watching 1t yawn. and blink, and stretch
Barry touched warped forefinger to the
infants cheek. The skin was 30 soft
he could not feel the contact The mus
cles in his face worked, and he rose to
depart.
so long, old GIRL" he whispered. 80
long, son. Just keep a-rooting for the
old man. Heads up, everybody, eh?'
He went out, and even as he walked
down the street, he knew that the
shadow of or Joe Slump was at his
shoulder. 1t was whispering to him:
You're through. old kid; you're
through! You'll never hit the ball again.
A mans got Just SO many hits in his
system, and you've had yours. Did you
think you were going to stick in the lime
light forever? A fat chance! You're
through, and you know it! Curl up
now, and quit"
But how can a man quit when he
has q wife and new son depending on
him? Tom Barry stroye frantical-
ly to get back into his stride, but the
more consciously he sought to free
himself of the quicksand. the deeper
he sank. OF Joe Slump feeds on the
panic-stricken.
In Los Angeles, Barry's teammates
noticed his predicament and tried to
help him. out. Their intentions were
good, but the result was bad.
Tell you what you do, Tom," ad-
yised Dick Brown. outfielder baseman:
"give your bat rest. Maybe it's
the fault Of the club. I tried that
once. and it worked fine wrapped
nv old stick up in oilskins and
didn't use it for two weeks. Tried
out a new bat once that belonged to
Harrison. Then I dug up the old
club: and sweet mamma, how did
whang that ball! Try 1t, Tom; bats
need q rest Just like player"
He accepted the advice. laid aside
the faithful bludgeon that carried
him through three glorious seasons.
and tried the effect of q lighter bat
1t only served to destroy tho last
yestiRe of his self-confldence.
"It's your STEP" insisted the other
chum. Second Jimmy Bristol
Tom, you amt stepping up on the
ball enough. You try putting your
body behind the swing, and don't
bend over 80 much. You atnt set
right for Q curve bill on the outside.
and that's what them pitchers are
feedin', you. Amt I right, Peewee"
The little third-baseman frowned
and thsn contributed his suggestion.
@You got TO keep the old stomach
right up to the plate knew = guy
sdouS& In Texas oncA theG bent oyse