The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-10-22
enough to keep quiet when he told

enough to keep quiet when he told
But she worked on Shane. She was
always sneering at his baseball and
painting pretty pictures to him of him.
self as a judge in flowing robes o. a
and a little knife in his hands, cutting
out somebody's gizzards.
Not that Denis had anything against
education. It was a fine thing. But
it would be a sin to throw away for
it a gift like the boys; but maybe
Shane would throw it away himself,
with his mother always after him. A
woman was like water dropping on a
rock soft at first but never letting up
until the rock was worn down.
Denis didn't know. Shane was hard
to read. He was so easy-going. And
smart. He'd always been good in his
studies. He'd had a fine year at Yale.
He was obedient. He did what any of
the three of them told him to do with
a smile. He never protested. That was
the trouble. Denis didn't know whether
there was any real fight in him.
And now, when Pat told him what
he was going to tell him, he'd have a
decision to face. Would he follow his
father or his mother? Would he go on
and become the third Leathern to write
his name high in the record books?
Or would he go on studying until he
worked himself into some dusty office
and throw away that fine body and
faced, big-bellied judge? Denis sighed.
Pat, in his own way, was telling
Shane at that moment. He had his
arm around the boys sWeatered Shoul-
der and he was speaking casually.
You're dom all right, kid. Try to
remember some of the things I've told
you. In pinches.
Never mind who's holdin' that bat
against you. Your fast n will make
Ducky Medwick and a rookie look like
twins. Nobody can hit what they can't
see.
Don't throw at a batter. But don't
throw away from him either. Any time
you think he can hit you, you're hit.
Don't get a swelled head. You're
good-for a rookie. But you've got
plenty to learn. Remember this. There
are eight teams in the National league.
With coaches, that means Is men to a
team. Two hundred experts. You'll
meet all of them many times in a
season; And every time you pitch
against them, they'll be studyin' you.
If you got a falkland you have and
you'll develop others-theyTl find it.
You have to correct it. If you don't.
you're out.
This is where you and I separate,
Shane. We amt playing on the same
team any more" His arm on Shane'S
shoulder frightened a little. Tn on my
way out. It was a good life and I hate
minute-for anybody. You're on your
way up. If you keep your head and
play the game. And If some smart guy
dom dust you off,"
whats all this about, Pope"
"Oh! Didn't I tell you?" Pat grinned
back: Why, Bill Travis told me last
night to have you report to the Titan
ballyard: Maybe he'll start you in the
opener Saturday"
"Oh, Pop!"
And take tonight off. But be in by
-. I suppose you'll be up at Radio
City music hall. Well, say Hello to
Della for me. I like them Rockettes.
BE- bat tin d Sg1se: vo xGa go for Della nna
Shes all right" Shane admitted
FUNNY" Pat unused. How us
Leatherns always 60 for dancers"
You would never think to look at
BrlQgeOn Leatnern, mat Sne was either
a. climbing or a domineering woman.
Or even a woman of middle age. The
first feeling you would have on meet
ing her. after knowing her big son,
would be surprise at her smallness.
She wasn't an inch over 5 feet, four
inches. She was small-boned and she
had kept most of her shapliness through
the years. Old Denis private opinion
was that the acids of her ambition
kept her food from doing her any
good. But then Denis wa a little pre-
JUDGED.
She was still as pretty as a picture,
dark and blue-eyed. She had a slightly
crooked smile to her mouth which, If
you were reader of character, gave her
away. It was an arrogant mouth.
But she showed no arrogance that
night to her three men in their apart
ment on Coogan's Bluff. A little added
w~atchfulness in her eyes because she
could see that something tremendous
had happened and she had a pretty
good idea what it was. Shane busted
any last speck Of hope from her mind.
I'm with the Titans, Mom!" He
told her, sweeping her into his arms