The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-10-29
The Three IQathQrnss
Bridgeon looked long and cold a
.copyrirhs 1897 By chsrls. J. Mcouirs,

Cop
Bridgeon looked long and cold at
AND I know" she told Della, "he
what makes you think he won't?"'
old Denis demanded as he appeared
from the hall. He had been asleep and
their voices had awakened him.
II don't think" Bridgeon said. II
She did know. The plan had leaped,
suddenly and complete, into her mind.
Late that night, when Della had gone
and Denis and Shane were safely
asleep she threw a coat about her and
left the apartment. She went directly
to the little compartment which held
her car. She unlocked the door, went
in and unlocked the car. Climbing into
the drivers seat, she carefully turned
on the headlights. Then she locked
the car and the. garage doors and stole
to her apartment.
She listened as she let herself in.
No sound greeted her. No one knew
she had gone. Bridgeon smiled softly
to herself.
At daybreak of the next, a lovely
morning, Bridgeon went out to the
garage and turned off the lights. Re-
turning to her bed, she said a little
prayer, like the good m she was,
that her plan might succeed. Voices
fast table awakened her and she got
up quickly and slipped under the
shower.
Shane smiled as his mother appeared
at the table. Good morning, MON.
What are you all dressed up for?"
II have to go downtown" she told
him. Shane, would you mind bringing
NV por from, tho no rar far ronOD Chn
looked at her watch. Il haven't much
time"
When he turned ON the starter, he
saw that the batteries were weak. He
started to get out and call a mechanic.
Then he remembered that Bridgeon
was in a hurry: He dug down into the
tool compartment and found the crank
shaft and went to the front of the car
and thrust it in. Bracing himself with
his left hand against the hood, he
heaved with his right. The engine half
turned. Kicked. He heaved again and
this time the engine turned over but
a sharp pain stabbed from his shoulder
to the wrist of his pitching arm.
He stood against the car as the
world Swayed, receded and came back
again. The awful pain passed and he
climbed slowly into the car and drove
it to the front of the building. His
mother eyed him sharply. Saw the
W1llGSIlGSS VI Ills 1dCc dllO WES1lGu lOI
a moment that she had not planned
so well. But her mouth set grimly in
a smile and she thanked him and went
out. As the door closed behind him,
Shane slid down under the table.
For the love O. God!" old Denis
said, reaching down and heaving him
h int a chair as though gbah he were a bale
IT hurt my arm cranking MONS
car" Shane told him. "Ill be all right
in a minute. III pitch, all right. Don't
say anything"
mo" old Denis slowly promised, II
won't. But may God grant that your
mother has not ruined a fine man
this day!'"
There were 10000 people at Titanic
park that day and three things brought
them out. The perfect, warm spring
sunshine. The fact that the Titans
we're the league champions. And that
persistent rumor that the great Pat
Leathern's son would take the first
step along the brilliant path his father
on the mound against the GrayS.
Pat Leathern crouched in the dugout
beside Bill Travis and listened impaS-
sively as Bill said:
How does it feel to have a son in
the big league, on your " team?
1 IL SGd1 Ul11S ol1d1l dSd1lloC GllC 11dyo.
BY public demand"
Bill" Pat said, Shane amt my
son today. He's just another Titan
player. I hope he turns in a good game.
I think he will"
From a box at home plate, old Denis,
Bridgeon and Della sat and watched
the p~ageantry, Della thrilled by the
parade and the band and the Mayors
tossing of the ball. But Bridgeon and
Denis stared toward the bullpen where
the pitchers were warming up, Brldg-
con, n%ervously, Denis, grimly, with
many a black look at her. He hated
her more than he had ever hated any
one in his life.
And in the bullpen Shane hurled
the ball. Old Denis had done what he
could with massage and oils. But every
time he threw, the electric stab OF pain
ran down through his whole right
side. But it was getting easier with
every ball he threw. He heard the an
nouncer below his name and turned
The crowd itself, which had been
humming like a hive Of a billion large
bees, went still as death as Shane
scraped the ball against his leg, glanced
around the field, twisted the ball in
his glove, and then looked at the
thought shane was his father as he
wound up and hurled the ball, throw
ing with his arm alone.
The batter, Beestrom, expecting any
thing, heard the ball sizzle past him.
It was a fast but it had all the
sand of the sandlots on it. 1t was a
strictly amateur ball. Beestrom knew
then that this kid didn't have a thing.
So he just held his bat up there against
his shoulder and waited. And Shane
obliged. One. Two. Three. -Four balls
in a row. Not a strike among them.
Beestrom ambled down to first.
And the crowd, which had been pre-
pairing to yell for Shane because he
was a Leathern, found itself getting
angry and ready to give him the Bronx
cheer for this is what he did in that
inning. With Beestrom on first, Parker
slapped out a sizzling single just over
the first baseman's head. Shane then
pitched four straight balls to Taylor
and the bases were full.
Here was a spot made to order for