Evening star., 1922-09-17

unconscious SynchrOn1zat1on OF eye,
mind and muscles which is his great
est asset. Fear does the rest. and
OF Joe Slump claims him for his own.
1t is a tragedy that all managers have
seen enacted, and they are powerlesS
to stave it off.
4 FTER the game Barry bought a
4 4 box Of candy and some flowers,
and went out to the hospital. He
tried with clumsy earnestness to con-
ceal his real feelings
Gee, Babe" he told his wife. I'm
so swelled up. the old cap won't fit
me at ALL You'd "a laughed your head
off to've seen me this afternoon.
didn't know r was in a ball game.
Couldn't see nothin' at all but you
and the kid. 1 was all crossed up.
Ha-ha. Funny, amt it?"
Never mind" said Maizie. Look.
Tom-he's got your long fingers-"
"Sure-that kids going to make a
ball player. He's gonna run me off
the club"
"And the nurses say that he's the
handsomest baby they've ever seen.
Now, what do you think of that?"
well, them nurses know something.
Maybe by tomorrow I'll have got used
to being a daddy, and then you watch
me CO. Believe me, Babe. them pitch
ers don't know what's in store for
'em. I'm going to knock that ball
into next week. I'm going to crash
that OIL marble so hard they won't
know which wayit went. You watch
me do my stuff! Why, damn my"
Mister Barry" protested the little
nurse "Really-"
"Oh, gosh" he apologized. There I
sister-don't chase me. I'll keep the
old trap shut; I'll be good"
He was granted probation: and
later, as a reward for decorous be-
havior, he was permitted to enthrone
himself in a rocking chair and hold
carefully in his arms the small NOR
sci Of humanity that bore his name.
The tiny pink face fascinated him;
the utter helplessness of his first-born
oppressed him with a tremendous
sense of his own obligation. Mother
and child-here were two lives utter
ly dependent upon him. Maizie's soft
voice broke in on his thoughts.
,"You mustn't come back after sup
per tonight, Tom. You look tired. and
I want you to go right to bed. I
can't have you getting out of condi-
ton. Mr.. McGovern and all the play
ers depend on you so much. Tomor-
row afternoon you can come back and
tell me all the great things you did,
and I'll whisper them to Tommy. Run
along now; you're all worn out"
He got to his feet stifay. laid the in
fant on the bed. and rallied himself
for a reassuring farewell.
yeah, I guess I'll hit the hay.
Having kids is news stuff. But to-
morrow I'll be right In the old stride.
I'll pickle the ball tomorrow-four
out of four-youIl see! Sweet lady,
how I'm going to slam that old pill!
BY. honey"
He bent to kiss the twosof them.
well pull for you," Maizie prom
ised. Tommy and I will pretend
when you're at bat, and we'll root
hard; won't we, baby?"
Thomas Barry jr., emitted a colicky
wall. and they accepted it as proof
positive Of his astounding intelligence
The big -shortstop departed. grinning
bravely; but at heart he was nothing
but q small boy staggering past
haunted house.
The next afternoon Barry He'd for the
first time to the woman he loved. He
exhibited = bandaged finger. explaining
that he had injured It during fielding
practice and had been compelled to re-
main out Of the game. He certainly
couldn't afford to let her know that he
had been up at the plate nve times
again without the semblance Of hit.