The Dolores star., 1922-04-07

Hes got to show us whether he's
game. hasn't he, uncle?"
"I'll bet he's quitter. watch him In
the sixth. He's not the kind to play
the game through" Uncle Thomas
was at that minute gifted with an in
spiratiOn that he hoped would mean
Tom Holt's happiness restored.
"Oh. l do hope he sticks, hate q
quitter" said Lucia vehemently.
But Uncle Thomas proved right.
The marvel" tried all his tricks in
the sixth, saw two more homers from
his futile balls, and then-sonething,
apparently, was wrong with his wrist.
He felt it gingeriy and made wry
face. He called the umpire's attention
to 1t; Uncle Thomas and Lucia could
see him trying to convince that skep-
tic gentleman that something was
wrong. Another man was put In his
place, and the marvel walked off the
diamond, nursing his wrist.
Let us go, Uncle. l don't want to
Sc the finish now; I've read about that
fellow every day and it's too much to
see him drop out like this" said Lu-
cia. then hopefully, perhaps he real
ly sprained 1t. we'll try to find out"
Listen to these two, they're from
his own club" whispered Uncle Thorn
as, drawing Lucia to one side, behind
two players who were talking In low
tones.
Sure, Bill, he quit on US, cold!
And big coin he gets. too, he's moth
ing but quitter!" said the first
chap.
THE yellow skunk! The yellow
skunk!" muttered the other.
Walking home brought back to
Uncle Thomas one other day when
very gay and happy young man had
been with them.
"Seems like Tom ought to be with
us today, doesn't 1t, Lucia?" he asked
| slyly. AS leading remark, he could
not have chosen better. Lucia was
not above bidding for sympathy.
"Oh, Uncle Thomas, we must be
an awful disappointment to you. Tom
and l have failed somehow. I have
| tried to do my part, but don't seem
to get anywhere very fast, and Tom
| itatiOn of the situation brought big
tears to Lucia's eyes, plaintive tone
| to her voice. Almost, II he had not
| certain scenes In his mind, Uncle
| Thomas could have pitied her. Lucia
looked up into his face for the SYM
pathy that failed to register there.
Little girl, life isn't much different
than baseball, you can't quit and be
happy, or well thought Of either. You
chose Tom for better or worse, as the
saying goes, and there's been a lot
more better than worse. Toms done,
and is doing his share, under handi-
cap, too, for his wife has quit, cold"
| Ignoring the tears In the reproachful
eyes, Uncle Thomas continued. Last
night when your husband tried to tell
you about business deal, you yawned
in his face, and the hand with which
you stified that yawn had gray-edged
nails. This morning, too, you did not
look like the kind of a wife to inspire
man to hard days work"
Lucia's face worked painfully, wom-
an-like. She was glad that they were
on q by-street. She could see, men,
tally, the pitcher leaving the box.
head down, another called to his work.
There was likeness between him and
herself, cold fear gripped her heart,
she could not bear to think of further
similarity.
"Am yellow skunk, too, am II"
she sobbed, now keenly sensitive to
her failure.
"Well, not exactly, Lucia. Yellow
skunks do not change their color, but
stake my guess that yours is going
to turn to true blue. Lucia, am I
right?"
Eyes, you are 1 can see how blind
I've been. You go into Toms office
and take him to dinner I've got to
go home and do some things to the
house, to myself, and to Toms clothes.
And Uncle Thomas, please send him
home after dinner-alone."
Losing no time Lucia hastened to-
wards her neglected duties.
"There's nothing. like little base
ball to straighten out our mental per
spective," declared Uncle Thomas to
himself as he boarded the town car,
en- route to tell Tom that the match
maker" had accomplished his mission.
|