The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-13

"Yah. For you're going TO stand
up there and get to thinking about
them heads you want TO bean. It'll
grow on you, ana grow and grow.
And you'll get wild and walk mess
Of men, and Southern will bag that
game. And you'll go crawl In a hole
and then shrink up and leave Moth
ing but some gristle and soup bones.
"It1l be your conscience" she
added, with q hushed portent, and
turning suddenly she fled, leaving
Rosy standing there In the last
fare OF a weird and prophetic sun
set.
They day OF the game was as
clear and lovely a time In the noun
tain spring as anybody could ask for
The campus was vastly excited, for
the rumor had got out that big
league scout would be In the crowd
watching the contest; and Southern
and Lincoln we're what sports story
writer's love to ailude TO as "tradi-
tional rivals"
The gray, potty man In easy
tweeds, with narrow blue eyes with
southern sandy light stu In them,
was, Rosy knew, Ike Hill, the
famous scout. Hurd put him In a
good seat on the weathered grand
stand.
The band was out In gala dress.
Hannah Shrider, with the hill music
In her bones, had made the band
and now she was a lean, slim, pretty
girls out there In her orange.and-
white regalia.
Judy Tollivar was one OF the
cheerleaders. All In white with bits
OF orange about her--the college
colors--sha was giving the cheer Sec
ton all the personality she had.
Rosy warmed UP with old man
Leacock. With the hour going to-
ward 2, the noise OF warming up
sank to q sudden calm Rosy and
the old coach came and sat on the
bench For the first time Rosy Nc
Afee knew a curious sense Of fear,
OF impending calamity It was clair
voyant and indefinable.
When he tried TO chase the feel
ing out into the light, 1t disap-
peared In hole like mountain
fox. But 1t was combination OF
memories, OF difficulties In adapt
ing himself TO college life, OF his
still unsolved troubles,
"Play ball"
Rosy walked, with an increasing
feelin gof uncertainty, out to the
mound. The cheer section gave him
all fellow could have asked for,
and yet he was nervous, and he
suddenly discovered that his pitch
Ing arm was family sore for no
reason he could think.
The first batter for Southern ad.
vanced to the plate with three bats.
He discarded two and grinned at
Rosy, who stood rubbing the ball
on his hip.
mo bean-balls, McAfeel"
Rosy felt the hot color OF fury
cross his face. The umpire behind
the catcher called again, "Play BALL"
Rosy wound up and the first pitch
went wild. The batter made an ella
borate duck just the same, and the
visiting rooters, 200 Of them, gave
the pantomime great hand.
Rosy pitched again and the jumps
called strike one. But the third
pitch was wild again, and 50 was
the fourth. Rossy shot O hard
straight ball down the groove for
the next strike, and then IT was O
game OF wits and accuracy.
Rosy tried to cut the plate with
o low outside curve as the batter
tried TO crowd the plate for a
dodge. The fellows head was low,
his neck stuck out ever so little
Something In Rossy's soul began TO
Itch to bean that head, smash that
grin of that gloating face. He walk
ed the first man to try to save his
lost soul.
He walked the next man, too,
and for about the same reason. He
knew, deep inside OF him, they were
out to get his goat. The third batter
I'D Allied the bases. The man com.
Ing UP was some remote tribesman
OF the Tollivers. Another hillbilly
guzzling the cruel OF book learning
TO get 10 play ball, TO have q chance
at big time. Sammy Tolliver, and
Southern's best batter.
Rosy heard Judy's voice crying
the cheer pattern. Fan that man,
fan that man.
For O short while Rosy was
blind. He knew Ike Hill was watch
ing his every move. That the scout
was also informed OF the history OF
Rossy'S father Rosy could not
doubt. He knew, too, that all the
Southern fans were getting his goat.
Everything was stacked TO work on
his one vulnerable spot-his ur-
stable temper.
"Play BALL" came the cry, and
Rosy pitched the first one wild.
A roar mingled with groan.
Tolliver Snickered and yelled, In
voice that carried all over the
grounds, "Bub, my heads up here!"
He tapped II with long finger
Judy broke from the cheerlead-
ers. KNOCK his block of, Rosy"
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