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

cigar and eyed 1t thoughfully. Me- Guire was unhappy. He had a stone wall for an infield, and only Texas leaguers could get by the boys in the outfield. What he lacked waa a third pitcher, ani he needed that man badly. Seven tryouts, and all of them more or less fizIies-not big league man in the bunch! Soon he would be going north with only two reliable pitchers on his string. to do battle. He saw how it would be. He'd have to pay through the nose for the third men-cash and players he could not spare.
 He was turning away from the cigar counter when a hand, touching his elbow, detained him. He wheeled and saw a total stranger, young. handsome, a healthy tan on his cheeks, the whites of his eyes like china, and a smile that was genial and unafraid.
 Mir. Mcclure, I understand you are fin need of pitcher" It was not a query; it was a statement. The voice was rather low.
 That may be-" replied Mcclure. Having noted the physical assets, his glance absorbed the sartoriaI. Nice looking chap, well set up, and big city clothes.
 singular thing happened. The young man took from a pocket small pad and pencil and pushed them along the glass top of the cigar counter.
 My name is Lynn. I'm stone-deaf; but l can pitch baseball"
 Deaf! McGuire took the pad and pencil and wrote: Nothing doing" He under scored 1t vigorously. He shook his head. There was sympathy in his expression. Tough for young chap like this to be handicapped by deafness. But he had sworn he would never have any freaks warming his benches.
 Cant you give me a tryout--your best batter and catcher, in the morn ing?"
 Mcclure wrote again: Sorry; your afflicition is a touglp thing. But I've always drawn the line at anything like deafness. Nothing doing" Me- Guire moved away rapidly It was an embarrassing situation. and he wanted to get away from it.
 The young man who said his name was Lynn sighed and restored his pad and pencil to his pocket. He stroiled over to the nearest lobby chair and sat down.
 As Mcclure reached the line of lounging chairs by the windows. an elderly but agile man jumped up.
 "Ready?'
 Yep. Let's go and see Charlie Chaplin throw pie. I want to see if he can shoot 'em as straight as that bunch of blind men you turned loose on me, after all your horn blow ing"
 "Aw, Mac. the kids are choked upi tell you thev can pitchn
 "Quoits. maybe, but not big league ball Murph, as a scout you're good Kelly pool shark You rounded up seven tin cans for me There jsn't a pitcher in that bunch" The two passed out into the street. And say, it seems the whole country knows haven't a real string of pitchers this season. While l was lighting my cigar. lad touches my arm and asks me for job as pitcher Then he takes out a tab and pencil and shoves 'em along to me. Deaf as post"
 What name%'
 Lynn, l think he said
 Lynn" the scout repeated the name. not to memorize it but to jog his recollection. "Lynn?" Holy Mackeredn"
 What's the matter?'
 w here IS ne
 Left him by the cigar counter"
 The scout whirled and ran back to the lobby. Mcclure continued on slowly. Three minutes later the scout rejoined him.
 Mac. let's cut out this movie stuff. I've got something to tell you-big! Come along to my room. where l can lay hands on that scrapbool of mine"
 Guire.
 "On the level. I've got a whale of an idea If it doesn't work, I'll scout this summer for board and fare. All you got to do Is to come up to my room. There's two shows: the second begins at s:15. Come on"
 "All right agreed Mcclure re sgnedly, "Ill listen to the dope. But I'll hold you to that bet"
 Murphy dug up his scrapbook and began thumbling the pages. "Ha! Here 1t is Listen, Mac, This Lynn is the college guy l told you about last summer Member"
 But you never told me he was y!"-indignantly.
 Mac, he wasn't when l first lamped him Here's the dope I trail ed this lad three separate times. He was a wonder-speed control, brains, saw him shut out Yale two out three games; same with Princeton. And don't you fool yourself. Mac. Outside the majors. these college boys are the grand ball players"