Evening star., 1922-09-17

ball-every batter. no matter how
good. finds himself helpless in the
hands of some one pitcher.
For the first time Barry experience
ed a vague sense of uneasiness. He
dressed silently and went home to
Maizie. That very night Father Stork
tapped his wings and Tom Barry
rushed his wife to the hospital in a
taxicab. 1t is a terrible thing for a
man who has had no experience in
such affairs to be allowed to pace up
and down hallway helplessly with
in hearing distance of motherhoods
appeal. The doctors should never
have permitted it, for by doing so
they played right into the hands of
OF Joe Slump.
Early in the morning a nurse ap-
preached the waiting father.
It's a perfectly splendid boy" she
told him. THE doctor says you can
go in for. little while now. but you
had better not stay too long"
60 Tom Barry, herculean fence
- buster. knelt trembling at the bed
of his wife. The infant was un-
believably small and raw looking,
and-and he saw that it actually
moved! Tom Barry blinked down at
it in mute idolatry. Maizies hand
sought that of her husband.
Little Tommy" she whispered
isn't he just the cutest thing!
Honey, you collect that bet from Mr..
McGovern and put 1t right in the
bank. Wen add a dollar to it every
week"
You know it,! he affirmed He'll
wish he hadn't gambled that fifty
that it would be a girl. And III get
the old hits now-Ill kiss that old
ball right on the seam" His jaw
muscles set fiercely. ANY man gets
in front of my drives now. he's
gonna get wounded; that's all! You
just watch me swing that old lumber,
Babe, Them infielders had better dig
themselves trenches I'll show 'em,
I'll bust"
SSH" warned the nurse. "Not
quite SO loud. Mr.. Barry. I really
think you ought to go now. Gra-
cious, you're too excited to do your
wife any good"
He apologized humbly and departed
on tiptoe, his wife's eyes following
him to the door, where he turned to
grin reassuringly and wave her the
old high sign.
He showed up at tho park with his
nerves jumpy and his eyes bloodshot.
The boys all had something to say.
each after his own fashion.
go on back to your wife," Brick
McGovern told him. "You amt going
to play today"
"The hell I amt" he answered.
I've got to play now. I'm going to
make that kid Of mine a present of
some hits. I'm going to start him off
right. The wife's got one of them
baby record books. and, believe me,
boy, I'm going to paste this after
Moons box score right on the f1yleaf."
But he didn't. or Joe Slump saw
to that. Bad nerves, tired eyes. over
anxiousness-such things do not
make for success on the ball field.
Worst Of all. the big shortstop fell
Into the same trap that the evil
genius of the diamond lays for all
men who are hitting in hard luck.
Instead Of taking his natural cut at
tho bail, Barry was trying to place
his hits-trying to drive the sphere
where no player would have 4 chance
to rob him. He was swinging des-
perately and at bad balls. The op-
posing pitcher saw 1t, and he kept
the ball high and on the outside.
Barry struck out twice, and his two
remaining opportunities resulted only
in scratchy taps to the infisld. OF
Joe Slump was spinning his web.
That 10 always the way It happens.
First = man hits for a7whiie In hard
luck. them he tries to alter his style
at hat beccmaa rntfled and loao4 that