The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-08-20
"A MINOR HERO

Or Culu upon tue LAelQ except Mary Sans
who did not stand up to clap.
After half q dozen overs, LampOn retir-
ed, knocked completely Off his lengt and
suffering from the humiliating experience
Of having been hit to every angle OF the
field by a village batsman. From an
ticipatiOns Of a crushing defeat the hopes
OF the toWnspeOple passed to the almost
imaginable possible victory True
Tom Bakers middle stump had been sent
flying In the fast bOWler's third over,
and two other batsmen had subsequently
Joined him in the pavilion, but the score on
the board was already eighty, Of which
TOnktn'S contribution was SiXty-fOur.
LampOn put on again and starting with
an excellent length, was treated with a
certain amount Of respect by TOnkin, but
with the other bowling he INDUCED in
an orgy Of hurricane hitting, such as had
never been seen on the ground. The
eighth wicket fell when his score stood
on ninety-siX.
The interest had become so intense when
LampOn started his over that people were
standing up in every direction and the sill
ence was almOst breathless. The first
ball, almost a wide, TOnkin left severely
alone, never even moving from his place;
the second, a perfect half vOlley, he drove
clean over the pavilion, beyond the six
boundary mark. The spectators gave way
to a sort Of frenzy. They stood up in all
corners of the field, shouting and whist
ling and %clapping. Twice TOnkin had to
touch his cap before the game could pro-
coed. Then he continued to deal with the
bowling with grim determination, watch
! ing the score anu RlauCluk OCCdoAuudAAg dS
the sun, hitting at everything which might
possibly produce a boundary, striving by
every means in his power to give his side
q chance Of victory.
Presently George FouIds descended from
the pavilion and hesitated by the gate. 1t
seemed wicked TO end the greatest treat
the cricketing public OF Northampton mad
ever enjoyed, but TOnkin waved his bat
at once. at the end Of the over, Melhamp-
ton declared their innings, Barnstaple,
having an hour to bat and eighty-six runs
to make to avoid defeat. It was a tri-
umph all the greater because it was so
utterly unexpected,
The return Of Owen TOnkin to the pa
viliOn was marked by scenes OF en-
I thTsiasm such as had never been wit
messed on the ground before. The spec
tatOrs positively mObbed him during the
last few yards, and it became absolutely
Impossible for him to answer the IRE OF
questions or respond to the many cOngrat-
: ~ulatiOns he was offered. When at last
he escaped he caught sight Of Mary Sans,
waiting by the steps Of the dressing room.
lnstinctively he paused. She looked al
{ him with a little flush on her face. .
81 81 think I'd like to say I'm sorry please,
she murmered under her breath.
d He had only time to stammer some in
= coherent words before she was gone. Tn
incident, however, set it's seal upon his
afternoons happiness.
gether after the shortest possible inter.
val
zone Of my suggestions came off," the
latter observed. 81 wonder whether yOu'C
care to consider another"
''TOnkin," was the cordial reply, &c
stand on my head if you told me to-"
They're a good batting side, and II
the ordinary way five or six Wlckets Il
as much as we can hope for by seven
thirty. I can keep the runs down late
if necessary. To start with, will you lie
me try a little theory Of my own ant
%WeiI.' why not?" was his hearty re
spOne. "Take the ball, my lad, and d.
what you will with us. Young Tom Bake
will bowl from the other"
TOnkin's setting Of the field was suffi
GENTLY puzzling. There were three me-
in the neighbOrhOOd Of a short leg, a dee
square leg, an extra slip, and scarcely
man on the off side. The two batsme
gazed at the field in amazement, esepci
, ally at Owen TOnkin's essay at bowling i
the first innings had been medium pace
good length balls without a great dea
Of swerve; and, although good enOug
stuff, scarcely remarkable. o..
This time he approached the crease Wit
hardly any run at all, tossed the pail mig
, apparently so simple ana easy ana 81
I. fort that the two Outfielders for an error
The batsman squared his shoulders, sGeI
, ped forward, and swiped the air, II
: ball, which pitched about a foot and
> half on the leg side, broke nearly wild
of the wicket on the off. The batsma
went out and patted the crease, returnin
= to his place with a marked dim1nuuO
of confidence. Again the little toss int
the air. seeminly much farther up tina
It really was; another terrific swipe
ell the leg, and the ball fell into the, Ion
slips hands amidst a roar OF applaus
7T The batsman paused to speak to his su
I6 SHe; breaking 'em two feet n a half
re he declared. Get in front Of your WICK
~ and poke at 'em a bit.".
- 1t was perhaps good advice, but Ill
his predecessor, the newcomer was q
ceived. He went out to hit what seem'
n as though it must be a full toss, reahz'
We Ahoh no anuT6n'f roach If. gcUrr1e0 DaC
and found his stumps down while ne w
"A still a yard out Of his place. AT ten mi
ler utes to seven the last Barnstaple WICK
en- was won by thirty-nine. Melhamppon M
by thirty-eight runs and TOnkin hi
added to his batting triumps by a K
- seven wickets for fifteen:
Trade competition in MelhamptOn W
IN a thing almost unknown. No yenturesOI
No person, for instance, had ever dared TO 8
- tack the supremacy Of Meeke's Grape
store. In ~irOnmOngery, Tom Baker
ar NAMED supreme. There was a secol
w, butcher, it is true, but nothing IN I
shape Of competition existed between I
~ two. Mr.. ScrOggins supplied the genLr
risl Mr.. POdmOre the poorer FOLK ana many
the farmers around. The establishment
Tonkin's Chemist Stores within a y
On yards of Mr.. Sans store was the ~
I real example of a trade fight which NJ.
hampton had ever knOWn. Selling Tor I
most mart, standardized goods, both mr.
SIS appealed to the same class OF custom
De- Probably young Tonkin would soon ha
dropped behind if his great exploit
the cricket field had not brought b
a clientele and patronage which his Low
md prices would never have done. AS 1t W
however, the struggle, commenced In
IeP- half hearted way, soon became a real o
ers, Sams melted thereto BY Ms daugnt
I, a who was now helping him in the sh
,Or- made the effort Of his life. For days
lelD fOrbOre to cross the threshold Of the SW
Oy- and was to be found hour AFTER nOur ,
Ont. hind his counter. There were lapses,
Only temporary ones, and they beca
rareP after one occasion upon which M
can Sans had braved the little company In
the Swan bar parlOr and boldly fetched
father out to attend to an important C
fifty toner.
ers, The tranquility, half stOlid, half dig
Hoo fled, Of che bar parlOr at the Melhamp