Evening star., 1925-01-11
Archie Risks His All on the National Pastime.

I and this resolute and injured female
| before him was the Girl Friend, In
whose slim hands rested the happi-
| ness OF New York's base ball fans
the destiny OF the unconscious Giants,
and the fate of his thousand dollars.
We'll, l didn't say anything at the
moment. 1t was an AdoniS Bryant
film, and, somehow, whenever l see
him on the screen nothing else
seems to matter. I just get that
gooey feeling, and couldn't start a
fight II You asked me to. SO we go
off to have q soda, and said to him.
That sure was a lovely film, GUS
And, would you believe me. he says
straight out that he thought Adonis
Bryant was pill. pill!''
He neyer! exclaimed the cigar
stand girl.
He did, If I die the next minute. /
wasn't more than half way through
my vanilla and maple, but / got up
without 4 word and left him. And l
amt seen a sight of him since. SO
there you are, dearie! Was l right or
wrong?'
fed approval.
"I am glad you think acted right,
dearie," said the Girl Friend. "I guess
I been too weak with Gus, and he's
took advantage of it. ] s'pose I'll
have to forgive him one of these old
days, but believe me, 1t won't be for
q week"
The cigarstand girl was in favor
of a fortnight.
NO" said the Girl Friend regret
fully. "I don't believe I could hold
out that long. But if I speak to him
inside a week-well, Well, l gotta
be going off uptown to price some
waists. Goodbye. honey"
* 4 *
THE Girl Friend, walking with the
l. firm and decisive steps which in
dicate character, made for the swing
door leading to the street. And as
she went the paralysis which had
gripped Archie relaxed its hold
Darting in pursuit, he came upon
the Girl Friend just as she was step
ping into an uptown car. He dropped
cents into the box and reached for
a vacant strap. He looked down upon
the flowered hat and rested his left
ear against the forearm of a long,
strongly-built young man in gray
suit who had followed him into the
car and was sharing his strap, and
pondered.
What he wanted to do was to point
| on her. He wished to plead with her
to restate her war aims and TO per-
suade heretofore o'clock, when
that stricken gentleman would be
stepping into the pitchers box to
loose off the first ball against the
Pirates-to let bygones be bygones
| and forgive Augustus Biddle. But
the problem was how to find the op-
portunity TO start.
ri Fri
| sion by examining the faces Of the
upper strata of passengers. Her eye
caught Archie's in glance Of recog
| milton. and he smiled feebly, endeav-
oring to register bonhomie and good
will. He was surprised to see a
startled expression come into her
brown eyes. The next moment, the
car having stopped to pick up more
passengers. she jumped off and started
to hurry across the street.
Archie was momentarily taken
aback. He followed her off the car
with a sense that his grip on the
affair was slipping.
Preoccupied with these thoughts,
he did not perceive that the long
young man who had shared his strap
had alighted, too. His eyes were fixed
on the Girl Friend, who having
| buzzed at smart pace into Sixth
direction of the staircase leading to
one of the stations of the elevated
railway. Dashing after her, he paid
another nickel, and shortly afterward
found himself suspended from strap
gazing upon the flowers on her hat.
From another strap swayed the long
young man in the gray suit.
The train ratified on. Once or twice
the girl seemed undecided whether to
la IN a1I eA H. a
out of the car, and Archie, following, g,
found himself in a part of New York
strange TO him. He glanced at his
watch He had lunched early, but so
crowded with emotions had been the
period following lunch that he was
| surprised to find that the hour was
| only just o'clock. The discovery
was pleasant one. With a full hour
before the scheduled part of the game
much might be achieved. He hurried
after the girl and came up with her
| just as she turned the corner into
| one of those forlorn side streets pop
ulated chiefly by children. cats, desul-
tory loafers and empty meat cans.
The girl stopped and turned. Archie
smiled a winning smile
II say. my dear, sweet creaturel" he
| said. 'I say, my dear old thing-one
moment"
'Is that so?" said the Girl Friend.
Il beg your pardon?"
"Is that so?'
Archie began to feel certain tremors
Her eyes were cleaning and her de-
termined mouth had become a perfect
| ly straight line of scarlet. 1t was going
to be difficult to be chatty with this
girl.
IF you could spare me a couple OF
| minutes of your valuable time"
"Say!" The lady drew herself up
menacingly "You tie a can to your
self and disappear. Fade away, or
I'll call a cop!'
my dear old SOUL" said Archie, "you
don't understand"
Don't 1? I know your sort, you
trailing arbutus!"
~