Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-02-27
Great Pitching Won
Over Uncle Jim
By RUBY cRUBER

TOAN CRANDELL slowed the car TO
y stop and glanced quickly at the
gray-haired man beside her. The red
light changed to green and she slid
the car In motion. By the set OF his
shoulders and the lines around his
mouth, Joan decided Uncle Jim Gran
dell was In Ill humor.
Jim Crandell and his niece, Joan,
were the last of the Crandell family.
They lived in the big old house; Uncle
Jim sternly trying to dominate the
lively and lovely Joan; and she In
turn trying to coax him into agreeing
with her on more modern ideas than
his own. AS a result, they were usual
ly in a heated debate, which they both
enjoyed.
"Uncle Jim, let's stop at the ball
game-we are just In time" Joan
glanced at her wrist watch.
"You don't want to see ball game
you are running after that good-fOr-
nothing ball player. Bert Franklin"
grunted Uncle Jim, giving his cigar
tighter clamp.
"Why don't you like Bert? He
makes a good salary, and he is jolly
and likes me a little Bit" modestly
admitted Joan.
Bah! A ball player-kids' play
no better than stage actor-buy a
ticket to get in to see them act !"
Again, the innocent cigar caught the
punishment.
uncle Jim, 1 just happened to
think, Bert won't be playing today.
He pitched a game yesterday. Joan's
eyes were shining, eagerly. as she
turned for an answer.
"rhen, we will go. l enjoyed ball
games till that young fool turned me
against them," Jim Crandell grunted.
BE good for my rheumatism to sit in
the warm afternoon sum-" refusing to
agree that he wanted to see the game.
AS the usher showed them to their
seats, Joan suppressed knowing lit
tle smile-as If the width of the ball
diamond could separate Bert from
herl
Joan keenly watched the players
in practice, hoping to see Bert
Franklin.
"Oh, look The home team is COM
ing out on the field" Joan, excitedly,
spoke.
what do you want me to do?-stOp
them? That's what they get paid for,
amt it?'
This quieted Joan's attempt at con-
versation with her uncle. For eight
innings she sat silent and again she
watched the home team take their
places in the field; the score board
read three for the home team and two
for the visiting players.
Satisfied, she sat back. The pitcher
had been throwing wonderful ball.
Three up and three out, then home,
she thought. Now that the game was
almost through, she was anxious to
get home
The crack of the bat against the
ball caused Joan to drop her powder
puff and take renewed interest in the
game. The runner was rounding sec
Ond. started to third, thought better of
1t. and returned to second. Imply,
Joan sat.
The next man up stood defiantly at
the home plate. The pitcher threw the
ball. Again that crack of the bat and
a second man was on the bases. Joan
dug her nails in the palm Of her hand;
Uncle Jim was beating his knuckles
on the railing.
another hit and we are done forp
Uncle Jim gasped, his eyes never leav-
ing the game.
"That's pinch hitter coming in,"
Joan spoke. hOpelessly. 'Home-Run
Tommy they call him."
swift grOunder dashed from the
bat, filling the bnses moan went up
from the crowd. Joan sat on the edge
of the chair. They we're taking the
pitcher out, and man with a mega
phone was shouting: Bert Franklin
now pitchingW
Joan turned to her uncle. He i'm
mediately changed his interested facial
expression to one of Indifference.
Bert walked to the center of the
diamond; few preliminary throws
and he stood facing the batter. Three
times his arm went up in that swing
ing motion, and three times the UNI
pire called: Strike"
Uncle Jim lost all pretended indlf.
ference now he was shouting: "Atta
boy, Bert Come on, kid Just two
more times like that! You can do 1t,
Bertl !" Uncle Jim pleaded unmindful
of the happy Joan looking In wonder
at her relative.
The next man up to bat swung at
the first one, hit II up, the ball bound
ed In the air. Bert. like q flash, was
under 1t. He was waiting for 1t; he
had II safely in his glove.
Again Bert franklin put three swift
strikes over the center Of the plate,
and the last man was out. A deafen.
ing roar went up from the fans.
Uncle Jim called to Joan, as she
dashed from the box Loudly he
called. far more loudly than was nee.
essary.
"Oh Joan. tell Bert Franklin we
will wait for him and drive him
hOme!" Uncle Jim proudly got TO his
feet and faced the awed crowd around
him.
80. f., Uncle Jim VIII meet you
In the carl"