The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-09

I went back and settled up what
small bills I had and left q note
for the dean. I didn't want to
waste valuable hours arguing with
him. l wrote to Harry. but did not
post 1t then. ] also wrote to sis
ter May.
When I parted with Coach Simms
he. pretended to bawl me out for
quitting at such a time, but it was
for effect. He gave me q wink and
wished me luck.
stopped off in Boston and saw a
lawyer friend. He mailed nv let
tiers. He was going to handle my
affairs. Only he would know where
to reach me u the event Of
Then I turned to Mr.. Jardine.
Look here" ! said. II can't use
my own name. There are two good
reasons. First Of all, I don't want
any n to think that I am basking
IN the reflected glory Of my brothers
name. I don't want any one to say
that the only reason l got a chance
in q bush league"
Minor league, young fellow, no
bush league" Mr.. Jardine beloved,
good-naturedly.
All right. ! don't want any
one to say that I wouldn't have got
into a minor league If I hadn't been
brother Of the famous Home Run
King Of the Gothams.' My second
reason Is that I don't want to be
located by Harry or any others OF
use any name you want. young
man; call yourself Bluebeard or
Y3ft1a DNl1N - AHS Y0rASvan nUSsoAA els
How about Ben Ridley2 It's got
my own initials"
Stevenson, my lawyer, agreed that
It would do all right.
My contract for the season-end
I had demanded this contract be-
fore making such q s~acrifice-waS
changed to read that my real name
would not be divulged, but the
name Of Ben Ridley would be used.
had had with brother Harry when
he had declared that ] would never
make q ball player.
Perhaps he was rignC.
And perhaps he was dead wrong.
One thing was certain, from now
on until the end Of the season !
would get real baseball practice.
If I wasn't improved all along at
the end of the season I would DO
as T.. promised Harry in my letter,
give up aspiring to professional
. the family. They are going to be
furious because / quit college so
soon before graduating. but it
AS we travelled southwest for
Mesa City I recalled some words I
baseball, come home and be office
boy.
Mesa City, I learned, was up
against stronger teams. Jardine
hadn't mentioned this before. The
Mesa City people were all rabjd
fans and took their baseball serious
~. Texarkana and Palestine had
been their worst barriers IN their
struggle for championship. AS with
many other minor leagues, the
series were played in halves.
1T will take you some time to get
acclimated," Mr.. Jardine explained.
you'll have to get used to the water
and climate, so take it easy at the
start. You'll have only about four
days before you have to start the
SERIES"
Whatever you do, don't tell the
owner or the manager that I'm an
all around crack. You know I'm
weak with the Stick"
"Too late.".he said. and laughed
at me.
"Have you wired him a lot Of quit
about me? That will make it hard,
for me. They'll expect too much"
Didn't have to wire the owner:
I'm the owner OF the team, young
man. And when we get back I'll tell
the manager exactly what's what.
The managers name Is Floyd Glib
hons; seems easy-going, but he isn't.
Don't be skeered of him: be won't
bite"
I was grateful to learn. this. Mi.
Jardine, being owner, couldn't say
any one palmed off q lemon IN him,
even Il ! did turn out to be a lemon.
Mesa City wasn't as large as I ex-
pected.
rev cities down that way do seem
large to one who Is used to Boston,
New York, Philly and such places.
Yut the folks were genial and !
liked them.
Nj. Jardine kept his word. TO
every n I was Ben Ridley from
Boston. The initials "B. r." on my
travelling bags did not mean Bert
Rushe" TO any one for z long, long
while.