CHAPTER XXI

COLONEL BARRINGTON IS CONVINCED

It was not until early morning that Courthorne awakened from the stupor he sank into, soon after Witham conveyed him into his homestead. First, however, he asked for a little food, and ate it with apparent difficulty. When Witham came in, he looked up from the bed where he lay, with the dust still white upon his clothing, and his face showed grey and haggard in the creeping light.

"I'm feeling a trifle better now," he said; "still, I scarcely fancy I could get up just yet. I gave you a little surprise last night?"

Witham nodded. "You did. Of course, I knew how much your promise was worth, but in view of the risks you ran, I had not expected you to turn up at the Grange."

"The risks!" said Courthorne with an unpleasant smile.

"Yes," said Witham wearily; "I have a good deal on hand I would like to finish here, and it will not take me long, but I am quite prepared to give myself up now, if it is necessary."

Courthorne laughed. "I don't think you need, and it wouldn't be wise. You see, even if you made out your innocence, which you couldn't do, you rendered yourself an accessory by not denouncing me long ago. I fancy we can come to an understanding which would be pleasanter to both of us."

"The difficulty," said Witham, "is that an understanding is useless when made with a man who never keeps his word." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who woke up with difficulty?
2. What it evening?
3. When then?
4. What did he request?
5. And it went down easy?
6. Who entered?
7. What is he ready to do now?
8. Does he want to do other stuff first?
9. How much time will it take?
10. How does the other person react?
11. Does he find it to be a good idea?
12. What does he feel should have been done way before now?
13. What is the consequence of not having done so?
14. Even if he's innocent?
15. So what does he recommend?
16. Is the other guy ok with that?
17. Why not?
18. Who can barely rise from where he's resting?
19. Does he feel good or bad compared to before?
20. Where had he shown up the previous night?
Answer: 1. Courthorne
2. no
3. It was morning
4. some food
5. no
6. Witham
7. to give myself up
8. yes
9. not long
10. He laughed.
11. no
12. Witham should have denounced him
13. Witham made himself an accessory
14. yes
15. That they come to an understanding
16. no
17. He never keeps his word
18. Courthorne
19. better
20. the Grange

Problem: (CNN) -- So there was Hank Aaron, leaning back in his chair during an exclusive CNN interview in the clubhouse of an Atlanta golf club, and the former slugger of the Atlanta Braves was fretting over the spot.

What's going to happen to the spot, he said, raising his eyebrows? It's the spot that was visited on April 8, 1974, by a baseball representing the 715th home run of his career.

Just like that, Babe Ruth's record was history.

So is the spot -- almost.

For now, the spot is preserved in a parking lot that once was Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, where Aaron sealed his immortality with his high-arching blast over the fence in left-center field. The spot is surrounded by part of the old ballpark's outfield wall, and high above the spot is a large baseball-shaped placard with the inscription: Hank Aaron, home run, 715, April 8, 1974.

The whole scene is illuminated by lights. As a result, those traveling across the street to the Braves' current place of Turner Field can see the spot as they either walk through or drive by the parking lot at night.

"I'd hate for that mark to be destroyed," said Aaron, shaking his head while looking visibly distraught. "In fact, I've gone out there with several people and taken pictures at that spot."

That spot is among the places in the universe that should remain as unmolested as possible for eternity. Think Gettysburg. The Mount of Olives. Dealey Plaza. Tranquility Base.

What Aaron did 40 years ago Tuesday with a flick of his quick wrists was as much for society as it was for baseball. Just 27 years after Jackie Robinson broke the game's color barrier, Aaron was a black man from Mobile, Alabama, shattering the most sacred of records, not only for baseball, but for sports. The old mark belonged to a white man who was so beloved that he is credited with helping to save the game during the 1920s.
1. Which network was airing the interview?
2. Whose interview?
3. Who is he?
4. Which team?
5. Is he still playing for them?
6. Where the spot is preserved?
7. Where is the lot?
8. Where Aaron is from?
9. What is his racial background?
10. What record he broke?
11. What Aaron is credited with?
12. Did he help save the game?
13. During which decade?
Answer: 1. CNN
2. Hank Aaron
3. former baseball player
4. Atlanta Braves
5. no
6. in a parking lot
7. what once was Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium,
8. Mobile, Alabama
9. black
10. Babe Ruth's record
11. shattering the most sacred of records, not only for baseball, but for sports
12. possibly
13. Babe Ruth saved it in the 1920s

question: Many people like animals and raise one or more as pets--dogs, cat or some kinds of birds. I love dogs, too. My aunt gave me a dog on my birthday. We call it Wangwang. It is a little black dog. He is friendly and helpful. Most of the time he likes to run and play with me. Sometimes he follows my father around in the fields. One day, my father took off his grey coat and put it on the ground under a big tree. Wangwang stood watching him. My father said, "Watch over my coat, Wangwant." Wangwant sat down beside the coat. My father went on working. After he finished his work, he forgot all about his coat and went home. Late in the evening I didn't see my dog. I looked everywhere for him calling, "Wangwang, Wangwang!" But Wangwang didn't come back. Soon my father wanted something that was in his coat pocket. Then he remembered what he had done. He went back to the big tree. What do you think he saw? Wangwang was sitting on the coat so that nobody could take it away.
1. Do people like animals?
2. Which kinds?
3. Did someone get a pet?
4. What kind of pet?
5. What did they name it?
6. What color is he?
7. Is he a big pup?
8. Does he like to follow someone around?
9. Who?
10. Did Dad give someone a task?
11. What?
12. Did he do a good job?
13. Why did Dad go back to his coat?
14. Where did he leave it?
15. What did he discover there?
****
answer:
1. Yes.
2. Dogs, cats, or some kinds of birds.
3. Yes.
4. a dog
5. They call it Wangwang.
6. Black.
7. No, he's little.
8. Yes he does.
9. Father.
10. Yes.
11. To watch over his coat.
12. Yes he did.
13. He remembered where he left it.
14. At the big tree.
15. Wangwang was sitting on the coat still.