Evening star., 1934-05-20


Il stood to 3; Ferris was on the mound
for the Rockton Roamers; Greasy
Cioss was at the bat for the Mancheston MIL
men: there one out, one man OH Ii "'-O
the count of two strikes, two balIS. EleaNS
was admonlShed by his supporters TO tahe iii'
time, while Ferris was urged by MS loho"s
which were in the majority inasmuch as tiie
game was being played at tIe hoCA'oii a."
70 take his time also
"Plav ball!' called Kanaly, who was OF the
opinion that time enough had been taken
Ferris stretched his long arms high over his
head and clasped his hands; Goss grlpped the
end of the bat and wiggled his feet in a vim
dictve stance; Kanaly adjusted his mask,
gravely inclined his head; and Big Bill jerks,
catcher extraordinary for the Roamers, pushed
his cap back on his thick red hair. banged his
fist against his glove and made jumpingjack
of hAnSelf.
The crowd liked Big Bill jerks 1t liked to
see him go through his calisthenlcs behind the
plate 1t liked to hear him roar advice to
those in the outfield. 1t liked to see him when
he made a hit, for when Bill made a hit, he
made one. Especially it liked to see him when
he was mad; and it now had premonition,
not unpleasant, that he was becoming dis
tinctly annoyed with Mr.. Kanaly.
"Zzzzzzzooomp" The hall went straight into
Bills glove and Bill maintained his position
at the catch to prove beyond a doubt that a
strike had been made.
Ball thrrrrreeeee! tried Kanaly
The park reverberated with the uproar. jerks
flung off his mask and cap, he spat, he
trounced his hands on his hips. Then, with
an imperious lift of the index finger he strobe
out to Ferris. The crowd respectfully
silent.
"CTEVE," said Mr.. jerks, you shoot the
- same kind of a ball you did las time an
I'll knock his Censored. censored) block off"
"Righto,' agreed Steve. After all one ruse
was as good as another. jerks walked back TO
his post. The stamping and whistling were
renewed. There admiring calls of You
tell 'em Jenks" from the sons of Rockton and
derisive jeers of 'razzberries," from the ma
tives of Manchester.
jerks put on his mask banged his glove
and crouched behind the plate. Kanaly stood
at the catcher's heels, head solemnly bent.
Greasy Goss gripped the bat Ferris went
through his contortionstic preliminaries and
10000 people inhaled Then, "zzzzoooomp!'
went the ball into jerks glove.
Ball four!' thundered Kanaly.
Goss ambled to fir1t base Ferris stood de-
jected, but Big Bill jerks participated in the
pandemonum. Rather, he led it. His mask
was off, his cap was off, his face was of the
same violent hue as his hair. From the man.
evident he was addressing remarks of de-
rogatory nature to Kanaly The latter paid no
heed. Having been umpire in the minor
leagues for Is years, he had become Injured
to verbal abuse.
Fury possessed Bill jerks at the sight of
Kanaly strolling leisurely from him. In his
right hand he still clutched the ball that Fer
ris had thrown. Above the tumult his voice
could be heard What dya call this one!"
His right arm, long powerfully muscled arm,
drew back and the ball shot straight at Kanaly.
The umpire, with an agility surprising in one
of rather ponderous frame, stepped aside most
opportunely.
Kanaly, aroused, started for Jenks
jerks started for Kanaly. Players leaped for
ward. Four members of the Rockton police
force appeared. Ten minutes afterward Kan
ally once more called play BALL" but Ferris
was not on the mound nor was jerks behind
the plate.
A shower bath helped to lower the blood
pressure of jerks. He really shouldn't have
thrown the ball. He wondered what his pen
atty would be. fine anyway, and possibly,
very possibly, suspension. He wouldn't mind
for himself, but there was Rosie. Rosie had
been Mrs. jerks for two months only.
Near the end of the game, which was end
ing disastrously for Rockton, Bill peered IN
the direction of the box directly behind home
plate. 1t was box occupied regularly by AL
CoStelloS wife and Rosie. Rosie wasn't there.
In vain he looked for the Saucy red hat that
he himself had selected.
\h/HEN he approached his room at the hotel
wv an hour later it was with a jovial banter
ing air.