The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, January 16, 1902, Image 4
PARSON
HARWOOD’S
CURVES
i i wm By Bert Estes
- Copyright, 1901, by Bert Estes.
fVV I ALMA CITY, like most Ohio
I I river towns, hnd n mlxetl pop*
C latlon full of sharp nntago-
t 1 nlsnis, social, political and re-
llKlous. Notwithstanding, there was
one local Institution about which there
was only qne .mind. The Gallia City
Baoebatt’Vlub, the nplile of the munic
ipal eye, was felt to be set for the city's
defense against the world in general
and the nine from Centerport In par
ticular.
Centerport, a few miles down the
river, was * high headed little town
given to vaunting Itself unseemly and
challenging other towns to come out
and meet their doom. Worse than that,
Centerport had in hand a large stock
of doom and was llltorpl In applying It
—over the diamond. The mutual scorn
of Centerport and Gallia City had
something tragic In Its intensity. To
bent Centerport was the summit of
Galilnn achievement; Centerport lived
only to repeat Its victories over the
hated foe. In both business of all sorts
was transacted as a sort of adjunct to
the larger mission In life.
Brent Harwood came to Gallia City
to supply Dickson's pulpit while Dlek-
’son, poor man, was away In hospital.
Dickson was the Presbyterian minis
ter. Harwood was to live in the va
cant parsonage and take his meals over
with the Potters. Dickson had ar
ranged all that. Harwood hoped be
had arranged also for some one to meet
him, but when be stepped off tlfe IsHit
from Cincinnati early one Saturday
morning and looked about he found
noiw to welcome him.
When the dock had l>een desorb'd by
all but ninstalsmts and chronic loung
ers. Harwood made up his mind that
then- was some hitch—tils letter of an
nouncement had possibly uitsrarricd —
so he walked up to an old river man In
the frvlghthouae and said: _
• r l believe I am to Nmrd'nlth a fain
tty Imtv named Potter. Do jTJU know
of any such people Y*
"Know 'em7 Why, sonny, they ain't
man, woman nor child-doggone tt.
rven or orucrey ) alter purp imt aeaae
ly er flea on that purp lit In* In th<-sc
here iMlia that I don’t tn*<w! Yon l«rt
I knua ’em hull fanddy, lurludln' the
rat ote < tiap. with b'llefl on hla noae;
nice otr gal fer hla mlaaua, w>n. the gol
alfemale«t rusa In seretitren states ter
m It pkantn-m an* orgtna. an*' the son's
wife. Annie, nlst Is >e«t er great big
hunk u* the salt «*' the earth, day
nltal d'ye want wtlb 'em? He ye on*
o' l lean drummer that* try In' t
Put some mure gmetaY*
llaraisst sIms>Ii hla head. “I’trcomie
t.. •(■tel t be nuaMBTf I.. f* t.e ss'l
"I shall take my im-ala aith the Pot
ter* and Ure at the parsonac*."
"Why. It's shot ap* imkwai’s gone
t* r New York ter hate a»>ue I tig tbs tor
mt tuna open an* right hl^i up tnakk'.**
the river man said.
"I dal hear thar wad a
fellow, you ain’t the
that* cumin’Y*
"I am going to try ami preach.” liar
wood sab I noah-at |y. 'kly name Is
llarauud.”
"Hrother |larw<asl.” fnlleml the riv
er man. "trmmr lag ymar jsinlon the
danalest worst way I had mi hire
you don't look like a psra.*u yon ikai't
dress like a isarsoti. yon daln't let on
yon wus a parson bow In tuuklt was a
fellow to know T I bo|ie you'll ft'Tglt I
calbsl you soutiy If you will, by grab
you <-sa Ih-k me If I dou’l come to
chun b not nrit HumUy. Imt some
lime before you go."
"Ttist s n hargaiu.’* Ilarwmsl said
shaking baud* la-fore he made hla way
to bn-akfast at the boleL
l pan ht» second klnpdsrin.
cm Hatunwy, and Tom /Jordan IT off
on a big. big 1 hat You know, thera
ain’t auotber man In the whole darn
towu that can pitch a ball within four
feet of the plate. Centerport knows It
too—that’s Just why they’ve run thla
challenge on us.”
Bound up Tom. He can get In
shape,” Potter said confidently.
Colonel snorted: "Bound nothin’l
Tom’s a holy terror when he’s on a
spree—Insides, he’s gone. Maybe the
Lord' knows where ho Is—I don’t, for
sure. It’s the very cussedest luck—Pd
rather lose a hundred dollars than
have them fellows come and wallop us
—and we’ve got to play ’em. If we re
fuse they'll crow over It forever aud
the day after.’’
“Great mud!” said Potter—he never
said anything stronger—’’thut mustn’t
happen. Can’t we lmi»ort a pitcher?
What’s the matter with Stevens of the
RiversidesV He's a bird—no mistake.”
Colonel shook his bead. “Never d°
In the world,” he said. “’Twouldn’t
La* a square deal tor one thing; for an
other k they’d be sure to get ou to It—
and theu”—
"Well, we've got to-accept the chal
lenge," Potter said. "Do Ik rigid away
and throw in a big bluff. Tell ’em
we've got a new pitcher thut will take
all the kinks out of ’em. Theu we
must rustle for a pitcher—we’ve got to
—that’s all.”
“Lord, Pot, It makes me sick abhd
thluktu' of the luck of those Ceuter-
|M>it scrubs," Colonel said. “They’ve
Is-st us and la-at us on flukes fids way
—we've uot bad a fair show In the
longest time. And now, Just ns Tom
Ionian was pitching In such great
i|iii|K‘, off lie goes and gets full agnlu.
Wish the old man Jordan would pitch
min In ilie river, neck and crop-It's
icsri thnii he deserves.’’
“Well, whining nor cussing don’t
help us, as 1 scd. I’m going buck to
mik wtth tbe preacher,” Potter snliL
“Preacher lie liaiigisP’* 4'olouel said
Irivwrehtly. "Are you going to set
hit.i praying against the t'ctiterjiortHf’’
Pi l|« r did ii 't aower the la>t \\"id
caught him luilf way aero*** the street.
"Who Is your military frlcndY” liar-
woimI asked. smIUlig.
Poller ex|»h«iiM-d briefly ttuft Colo
nel was not a military man. He hnd
been l>«|»fl«'-d tliat way and was tire
“soil” of U*« dscll Jk Hon. kloitsl by
4iii lm|Hilse he did not understand, he
told also of the challenge and of Gallia
Oty’a pre«b< aui< id. Harwtiwd UaUuw
tbrrrmtning aoftly ou the strings of a
flue guitar. At tire end he said:
“Pm feeling pretty dull ami blue this
morning. 1 to jo«i think your friend
Colonel would let me toao t«ll to him
long enough In art lay blood rtrculdl-
Ingr
‘’Great atml. parson! IH> you play
I oil Y* putter asked.
“I did at rolKgt*. also at lb* aemiaa-
ry w hcne»«e I had Itw chance," liar-
Wiant answered. Puller whistled.
"Idc-ksun almost had flta If you nam
oil isMeloll to htaw” hs natd> —Wtry.
hr loenebed against It and came mar
"That’a right where they would go It
you didn’t get out of the way. Stand
•till and keep your eyes open,” liar* .
wood commanded. "Now!"
Biff! Another alxallng Inshook Crack!
Colonel was In the air dancing like a
wild Indian, trying to blow on his
hands and rub his elltows at the tjnme
‘I'm very torry," llnruoixl »il<l ih
t nu rely.
iy. ymr
preaHs
Ma Jab
He
did
loor half (be
Harwood gripp
*i
he
leallh
C1»
n£TT
galkm.
Hut <
'UOM
(ML l W*i»l
lra|H*l tier IrWgt
b o
t t
be U
Ci
-1 to aow
yowA
tw Ul of lb* w
rial
A
ul b
I
mH •i*r<
*) a 11
tile
at Harwood**
straight dn*p or
er
IV
| j, |
n*
!ur«l. lull
uvlied
bta
two vlaltuT*
plate. Ib**l pul
up
hit
■ ban
wW
1 In
lo tbe
»lb-y t
•ik
of Ibr aiorn
til* AtttASrttNMML
tbe
th
t—m al
’I
Ul
trre
they n
light t
t'oll* |u Ibelr
Att him niutt •• Ait
hi «
rtl
1 ftfcif
b*
Alia
roaiea
1 and
led
a auul be tbe
II.* Aik Ilk’ to a
• el
MIC
srt
•fff.
Hul lo
llarwu
.*r*
■uggratton of
Imt h U-»» II Artoro*
iid
IKS
It! H
Ck
»% ato
be utsly
Mill,
*lf It g»*l* loo bid.
In* »aU| aIku4m»( fti
>ugt
»l>
•IhH
tlsfftg CTT£ Harwood *tr»*lled down to
Htevrnrmi Potter's musk* st«Ne Hit
“Ltmitui lt<w pardon, brother liar-
wood,” faltered the river man.
venson he had fouud a fine fellow, al
though everybody but his own family
did call him Pot. Pot, ou his part, had
at first been doubtful of the young
preacher just out of seminary, but aft
er a little had said of him to a friend:
“Our parson Is all right from the
ground up, not one of those white chok-
erod fellows who go around with
faces as long as a snail track, ns If
they had given up the world, tbe flesh
and the devil and were almighty sorry
they had to. Harwood la none of-that
sort. He’s a man first and a minister
•Mm nanL" " •
As Harwood stepped inside the mu
■ic store a strong voice called across
the street:
“Hey, there, Potl”
“Coming, colonel,” Potter answer*!,
picking Lis way across the newly
sprinkled street to a big crockery store
opposite. A -muscular young fellow
leaned against the doorjamb.
“Here’s the devil to pay aud no pitch
hot, and mighty far to water,” he said.
^Oti terport has challenged ua to plgy
HI put ’em ua. but I reckon tlM-«v won’t
hr auy lung w litsktra on tbs Intis you
P'tch"
llarwoml’s rye twinkled wickedly.
I tut he said nothing, only-wtiiiqicd off
mat. vest ami odlar ami began to toss,
lie lightly. I wit easily. Colonel
cnuglA with an air of coudrsoscmkwi
ami returned the tmll with a great
show of r-onakteralkwi fur tbe minis
ter’* ■••fI hand* After a Hitt* liar
wmet a*ked If fotuorl would mind
rsh Itlng a bit while lie tried hla band
at pltcMng.
"Itlsse away, imrsun.” grinned Colo
nel In a minute or two a square tail
••over was In phnv a* a “home plate"
*Im| Colonel l■-himl It. csricaluriug tbe
man at the lie!. Harwood pivit-tph-d
Hot to see the Implhtl natiry. He
t»rd Bitnilht-imflwr’A.pIs 1st si iii. ii he
Ji»il utarkctl at tbe proper distance. A
l«alt or Two went over the plate true as
an arrow.
"Good , enough, paradn!" Golem-!
laughed, at 111 luitrunlilngty. “You’re
got the hall under bully coutrol, sure.”
Harwood said over his shoulder to
Potter: “Open your eyes aud get right
hehiiul me. You’ll k« > e something. Ho
w ill Colonel.” Then In a louder voles:
"Do you mind If I pitch a few atiffer
ones? 1 want to see If 1 ftave lost the
iiang of It.”
’T4*t ’em come, parson!” Colonel
shouted Itack, almost convulsed that a
little man, whom he could fling over
IiIn shoulder, should l>e so considerate.
Harwood nodded, saying:
“Thank you. Of course 1 would not
put twist In them unless I knew you
did not object. I wish you’d put on
gloves, though. I hate to pitch hard
a man In bare hands.”
“Gloves, nothin’i” Colonel said, al
most nettled. “Maybe I don’t look
contagious, but you can bet your last
nick you’ll find me catching.”
“Very well, n^y Christian friend!”
Harwood called -back. “CffTeMtig* ~as
you may bo, you are not entirely Im
mune. Mind out! Here goes!”
Biff! slxz! the ball went out of tbe
parson's rigid hand like n rifle shot,
flipping off tbe ends of his fingers with
a crack like a whiplash. It started to
the rigid of Colohel so fast the eyh
could scarcely follow It. Colonel dart
ed to get behind It, when suddenly It
changed its mind, plunged to the left,
passed him entirely and writhed, hiss
ing, far down the alley.
“Sufferin’ Jltniuy! What was that?”
gasped' Colonel.
Oh, only one of the tilings yon
time. The ball bad gone as lIarw»»od
said. Tbe concussion of It had Jarred
Colonel from fin&cr tips to shoulder
blad**s. «
"If yon’d only put on the mitts."
Harwood said, with a tantalizing grin,
"I’d like to throw you a few speedy
ones. Othcrwlge I'm really* afraid I
might hurt you.”
“Hurt me!” Colonel’s tone was nt>
Jeet. “And them paw* feeling Ilia- a
full crockery orate had smasbi'd ’em
I’m no glutton, parson. I know when
I’ve had enough. But, say. you’re the
decelvlngest |iackagc ever I struck.’’
"Mr. Harwood,’’ sab I potter, if v««.i •
dxii't mted I II go get Bill lb dd to t
qnd <*nnh for you.”
"I should like It of all thing*,” said
Harwoqd. “The little I have done
makes me feel a new’ man.”
• "MV, Too, and a denied poor one.”
Colonel add<'<l. but he plm-kcd up *|
to grin heartily when Potter canw I
with Hill Bred, catcher to the Gal
that rag. Paroon has give out fair, an’
square lie wants to t»e took on the dead
level- a man same ns we are, only a
dashed sight-excuse my French, imr-
Bon—It gits tlit l>est o’ my ITiltod
States .before I know It. The case Is
tills—we want you to help us lick them
da—-er, .them measly Centerport qliitjis
We can do It If yob pitch for us.
Nothin’ In this eount-y .’alnt In the
game with you. If you'll do it. every
man Jack o’ us ’ll stick to you lii:e a
lean tick to a hog. That’s whut’s the
matter with us, and there ye he.”
Harwood’s face was ft study. He
was amused,, pleased, beyond every
thing touched, by tills recognition of
Common manhood. It wits the passion
of Ids life to help men realize their
own possibilities. He yearned to
preaeli manhood rather than dogmas.
His heart was warm, and he smiled
ns ho said: ,
“I thought you had come for that,
and. am gln'd you came. If you had
not,J should have volunteered—that Is,
if you hnd agreed to my conditions”—
“We’ll fix all that, parson,” two or
three began eagerly. ,
Harwood held up his hands. “You
don’t understand. 1 don’t want
money,” he s^iid. “I do want—your
selves. If 1 do something for you—
something on which your hearts are
set. you ought to do something fer me*
That is to say, if I play ball you come
to church. Is it a bargain?”
"You help us everlastingly lick them
Centerports,” Bill burst out, “and you
can say, ‘Boys, come roost on the
church steps from sunup to sundown
every Funday,’ and gamble on our
doin’ It—every dashed one of us. Hey,
Isiys? Oh, do excuse me, parson. I’vo
been n tough sort all me life, but I’ll
Ik* hanged If I don’t quit swearin’
rigid now.”
“Ah!” said Harwood,. "Gentlemen,
this brings up something else. You
know, and 1 know, how 111 I can af
turd tn have It said I tsdong to an
organization of toughs. I want to lie
lung tn an orgnntzntlnn of gentlemen
In the Itvst sense of the word. If 1 am
to l«c a club member, yon must give
tre your word that drunkenness and
rwcurlng shall stop. Now we under
stand **ch other. There’s my hand.
If yon shake It, 1 Khali know yoii-tnko
n,t* <-oiidittnu* and all.”
Kvtry maw in tin* room gave’ Idtn n
tit
i-k
• e
. v *
A
• i *
v>f * "V
A i > r
k f v
/■Am
\ .
i- • A
; ‘. v ■ • •' *- " •
Corn
rcnuivcs from tlic soil
-a
large Quantities of
rw _ |
Potash.
r im/m
i v r\ w
fl Ve fl. CA. AC? A1 •
The fertilizer’ ap-
i) Kw-
plied, must furnish
enough Potash, or the
land will Ipse its pro-
rl \v
(lining power.
r ^ y
Mart carefully our book*
im i-rops—sent ./rrr.
\r T J f /sdtJ&dL
CrnMAN KAI.l WORKS,
93 N.itiau St., New York. ,
smile. ,
“Say, Jim,” bawled the captain, “cl
ther tills here ‘pjienom’ is’young, or it
was picked mighty green. Anyway it
ain’t big enough to send a ball across
the rubltor. It oughter be set pUiyin
marbles. This nlu’t no place for chil
dren. Now, then, Jim, swat ’er over
the fence and break the ‘phcnomV
heart.”
“You Just watch my smoke,” Jim
said. “When I hit ’er a lick, she’ll look
like a saucer. I'm going to knock the
dashed thing flat”
“Excuse me, but thar ain’t to be no
swearin' this game,” a deputy marshal
said, touching the bfg batsman's elbow.
“All right, Ih*ss. I didn’t know this
was a prayer mectin',” Jim said, amaze
incut in every line of his fare.
All eyes were fast on the pitcher, tlw
“phenntn.” lie rrrtatoiy looked ton
Might for the game he wus up against.
Would he fail? Harwood screwsl tin-
ball into tlte palm of his right hand,
sprang forward, then lightly, swiftly,
a* nn archer might louse a L'jma U»u-
string, Umuus) Id*, arm and sent the I
u* :t. v
I could u*.r stay there’ longor, 1 be-
atr.c : o weak. In my njlnd now ns 1
vritc I can fee a big knuckled, hairy
iBud. w ill' a diamond flashing ou the
middle linger, renflii'ng-reaching.
Almost ns 1 went- through’the swing
ing iioors the report cnflic to me.
I heard voices inside the building,
and a reporter rushed past me, his face
eblaze with news.
The pa pets were nil wrong. They
who remember it and read this will
learn the truth. "
- The Cincinnati ITtceCurrent, app
lication that is wholly free from influ
ence or bias by the operators on the
boards of trade, says ihc com cr >p of
the United Stales is fully raainiiining
its promise cf a total yield of 1^4(X),-
000,000-busbies. This is more than
two-thirds of an average crop, and
much belter than expected. ,
II
H v griyii
ut Vatiml
.thru.-rate
hsga'n tn
All agn*
kept
-+n—r
hissing across the plate to raise a p
of saud between tie* platr and Itccd
Inc stride!" erk
1 -■■■-v. I......— .
I' - *nfhiin«ier:" sbonted Jl
.1
Lark, a
d w
two or three other nwinl«-i
rml "fans” beside*.
When Ha rwnnd utisTi** *i
Bill sniffed even more «bmtul
('•dooel laid done, liarwas*
Im- took paMltloa In the !■<
aoftly; “Nay where yon wm
Mr, Heed. I’ll try to put the
plate about right ”
Hill squatted bnek of the
)WWW wrTttr’—
i a low balL”
and
lb
A 14191
1114* 1
■ Ik rl;
lilth' <
m <
see nr
ll-trwimal
ri«c tliat W
utte
1,,
ly in:
ilk-,1
lif ul
il M
t and sat
if the twlb
I'm over Ih
IffT
d |,
lb
>nfoiin<
■trike'
iglit It
itnly pHrbed a w
id over tin* plate
ling of thu Iwiter
if’ said tie uAipti
was g<4si‘ to I**
lidn
tliit.g
to II
a loWT
. A Good Story on Gov. Noktiien.
—People in Tampa, Fla., te 1 a story at
•he expense of eX-Governor Northen,
)f Georgia. The gt nial- Georgian has
a beautiful pme at Clearwater, on the
the bay, where he enjoystreedom fiom
the political strife of bis own State.
The • Governor’s place fronts on the
bay, where ihere is a considetable use
and Isll of the tide. As the house was
ready fuhnthcd> the lost thing the
Governor did this year when he came
down was to open the building and air
it and its contents thoroughly. The
bedding came in tor special attention,
and it struck him that the smooth,
white, sandy beach in front of the
house was just the place on which to
spread the inattre«ses for a sun hath.
He came from a region where the vaga
ries of old ocean are not known, and
the question of tid s wa-< somt thing new
to him. Acting up n his thought of a
sun bath for the bedding, the Gover
nor gathered up seven qr eight lag
mattresses and spread them out on tbe
sand for a nice sun bath. Going back
again into Ihe house ami pursuing Ins
labors, he forg.l all alxrut the mat
tresses. When b*- came out acveia
hours later he was pomly z-d to tind I
that the incoming tide had floated t IT ,,, n „ j
his tine bidding. Reports fr un FIrar- k
water do not slate wha* ttb-1 / vem"*
said, but possibly his thoughts wen
too vivid f< r word*, lie alway s turn*
iheVubjtcl now wTirn a TrUoi l ask*
b:m about •• i>un h:ttb« f >r hold
goods:”.
Hi’UInkmn*.'Wi i n 4mi One id
the hcnelH* gro ing * u »*f tl.«- en r
m<^» supply of criab '*il whe h i» p w
ft uud in s'* many p
■ays the
H«view,
f. r *pnn
lav iug tii
cities, an
country r
I Hill 4«% t li
Do veil have a feeling of undue fullness
in the stomach, belchings, or sour or
hitter risings? These ure but a few of
the Symptoms of the diseased stomach.
The worst thing which can lie done
for the stomach in such a case is to take
some tablet or powder which merely
gives temporary relief frond discomfort.
The*best tiling to do is to begin the cure
o! the disease bv beginning the use of
Dr Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery.
It cures diseases of the stomach «ivi
other organs of digestion and nutrition.
It makes the "weak" stomach strong
and puts the liody in a condition of
vigorous health.
I W.- tnj»Ne<t S ! *>«ne w1,h dvapej
- Or* Mr* J
as* *
rt, an«i writ
Of 1M
»*Yr
alt
I UK
•V*
ira,
nh.*
fft Co, NC -Cmll
all. tfiaild h i\x ultacka
coliv Hnd %i>«nrtinir% il
tl<l aa«*4 Iivy I wtv*lr !•»
my cmujitHJO. and in .1
l it tin or arfnre. itHluA V
> soM/n \lrdl*'»I
»nfl’ «*nr rial In
t* 1 c an rat ankthm* I
n*
<1H
al
it rnttukkiM*
la a urc CC
Ih 1 ! ^
THK VOPNOBtQQD
LUMBEK COMPANY
si
• t WT«.
*•. Nn*
n.%.
* Ar
hi
lb
il otuu
it h:sl
M’CWUI
ih
Ujv
IW.-vW
nilfla and
‘ •r'lwwr- .
I'W'^lee's
ING AND
MURK
*
M-n
• i
i; hnt
rketf
•*. i »r
d IU
I It
awake ulghta thtiiktii' o I
ttoii’t need tvo ghiie* to cal
ev's |»lt«-hni’.”
Ilarw.aal IMMkl.-'l Slot
an iim* Inst toot lie had a* r
Hill l•••|■rd tu this sbh- «
vain attempt t*» c t behlml the l-n11
Aa it p*■**•«! him nml wetrt hnatprix
throush tbe dust lie cried:
“fYllows, did ytol ■»■- inal tltiti£? If
I luvdn’t quit drink in’. I d aw t ar I had
'rin a sain”'
I‘oiler lines) up Ids force* I* hind ttw*
I’arwoii. llarwiHwl wlnk<d at Holier;
then, wllb a uioltoti like the umsdling
of a steel spring, lie m-nt ainitlu-r in-
■ Im■ *t to RmsI-mi swift tost Ibasl had
ini tttue tu dodge It. Hill inanam-d t
get hi* Uan«l* up In I Ik.- bi*tiiK^lv
n.ovemen^ «»f jyit d.-rcovy’ | y- ‘-mtihi.
In I luma i tki' p'. ■»»r r
of Ihe
m *>*• wby
not <>Uv of tbe nl
b.i<l si
h>w«*I hla fa.
rw al Mike Grugai
. w ht* h thi
vlafure bad Iw
baoeba
ill IwaibiiMr
i.r* Heyood II
ll„ rv \
wire luctvvllb
Ir rumor* of no Im
on th*
> gmunils-m
>t even the ruato
ary tw
•o keg* for lb
i- team. Tbe Dull
ted
vt u
l.ll
•Rrf
that
ArT,
• 4t
It I
at!
talk
Eli
me t»t
narlt
€ Ai
a
nn nu
n* ik>
Ih
fuel ttiMl a little Inter 11,11 1 u 11 n,I ' au > 118 l ° 8T -
r, Golonel. f " 1 hmr Ye ain’t pitchitf to
? did not kmiwT T>wit bn<lly sold, and by their own. trip,” theVnptnln’w,
dhlu’-t cntrtF-Tlot exposed enough, I
fancy,” Harwood grinned. “Now let
me give you another.”
\\ hlzz! A groat. out shoot went
whistling.through the nlr. Colonel did
his little dauce again—only this time
he reversed. As he brought up stand
Ing, empty handed, he said In awe
struck tones:
For tbe lore o’ God, parson, nobody
but a crosseyed man could catch those
dum things! Get one right at rae-
rlghf here!” folding bis bauds lu front
of hla stomach. ’
though his finger* did m*t fegl It. they
wen* so Jam d and nuiiib.
"\Vhoo|».’” Yoan-d. Hill, sitting down
suddenly and Ntarlng wild eyetl at the
parson. ’Thvy*." lie went on solemnly.
“Hint wus a eloM- shave. If I hadn't
caught the dimicd thing-'twonhl a gone
plumb throiigli my Innards. Say,” Usik-
Ing ruefully at his hand*, “no more
ball today, tbauk you! I've got to see
I>oc Johnson atsuit tlieui tilings.”
“I’m very sorry,” llarwiMMl said de
murely. “but you wouldn't put on
gloves for a parson’s pitching, you
know. Soak your hands In very hot
water; It will set.tliein all rigid. Now,
Is then 1 an other gentleman who cares
to play ball?’’
In the soft, warm twilight of that
eventful day Harwood sat costless and
comfortable In the parsonage study.
He was smoking and trying hard to
keep cool He was also very lonely
and. it must be confessed, blue frwm
staying alone in the deserted house.
So he was genuinely glad to hear heavy
steps upon the gravel and a little later
to welcome I’otti
some more mm tie TT
“This Isn't exactly a social call,” Pot
ter Ix'gnn, “yet we can’t cxaotly call it
business,and the fact is we re all afraid
to l*egiu.”
“Oh, ho! Somebody going to commit
matrimony? Who is it-M’olonol or my
‘friend Reed?” Harwood asked, his eyes
twinkling. Reed grinned broadly. The
day liefore he would have thrashed the
man who had named him friend to a
parson. But a man who could play such
hall—that was another matter nltogeth-
* r '
“You're dead wrong, parson. That
sort of thlng COlnoa rq'lif [ v i-..pr liH“-
HTTfl Tiurs Is way off it,” Potter said.
\\ e are In a hole. We want your help,
but we don’t know how you’ll take our
proposition.”
“But you io know-at least you ought
to—that If I can legitimately help you
or any one In this town I shall be I tot It
proud and happy to do it.” said Har
wood.
"But this Is clean outside ministerial
duty,” Potter began, Harwood *ni!l, d.
“I am a man as well as n niluitucr.”
be said.
Bill Reed broke In; “Now, looky
’AtaR Lu use chawin’ longer on
•I I
lo V
(•and
a*< d at It*
white clad
off tu
*o*lal gtixxle. Instead
II lb* d met them and
Ih- Is del. while tbe Gall hi
it .»!>playiug He loud
TTY
L
x Pr
hut
•f d- »>f
The
Ite ue
• UW€‘U
- >uth
W,
Sit
iIONE
C V
•t
Lmm rt* utrrel
ir
t
ru
n«
*•*•■ «.1 1 TH
h< ws* slipping lj|to hlsjDltt Hit
n- t ti‘* go w fth tin- procession, but
tiH*4*f the team at the ground*. *
It w.i* n great ppmsoudon, tlie band
at the head putting doggedly through a
Foiisa march; nett the bus tienringCcn-
ter|s»iier* In ivliitt*. with blue caps ami
hos«-: after them nnoUit'r busful of Gal-
lias. also In white, but rod on benils
ami foot; then swarms of buggies,
hac ks and farm wagons, packed with
friends of Isdli nines; last of all a fray
ed out drizzle of small boys Intent up
on finding rj-aeks or knotholes in the
fence through which they might at
least view the promised land.
It would tee hard to say whether
there Wus more cufflosltj or anxiety in
the glances wliieh-Gallia City folk Is-m
U]M>n their champions. Interest, of
course, centered on the “phenom." The
strain was not relieved when careful
counting showed in the Gallia hut only
eight regular players and two substi
tutes. Gloom deepened perceptibly.
Those who had given odds on Gallia
felt their coin already as good as lost
AYlthout new Mood in the home team
the game vyas a gift to Centerport, and
so far there was no sign of new Mood.
About a intnute after- tbe appointed
hour the umpire sent the Gnlllas to the
field and the Centerports to the bench.
Their short stop spat loyally upon the
gleaming new ball and rolled It in the
dirt, so the pitcher might easily grip
it. There had been preliminary prac-
: tice by both teams. Gallia partisans
| were amazed and somewhat cheered to
: see the substitute pitcher go to the
1 bench, not the box. The points were
empty. Alllios^ liefoi-o nnylin.ly
remark it, out from the dressing room,
beneath the grand stand shot n slight,
wiry figure in white, with ml stock
ings null red cap. When the figure
walked briskly Into the pitcher's place,
a buzz rippled clean around the ground.
Centerport’s captain seemed to kick,
but at a low word from the umpire
dropped back, saying to himself:
“Fer Gawd’s sake!”
“Batter up!” 08111*1 the umpire. A
modern Goliath, big Jim Bunker, stalk
ed up to the plate.
"l‘l«> i»all!” cried the umpire. The
MU was passed. Brent faced. tbe
mighty slugger «t4h a IJttle irritating
«J UM t*oi thl
i npM Awwu
Juu>!»*l very far
Joatu* U» bwo-
man%u
aii'Mir uf the rubber.
Th«M strike*’ linker Mltr Saw ltd
tbe umpire “Hatter'upr*
Tbe < ruwd wa» at first too ajuaud ta
applaud. It eonl<! hardly believe IU
aye*. A stripling hnd nirucb out tba
Invincible Jim Hunker. Jim slunk in
ward Hie Im-ik li, grow ling at whbt bo
e:ille<l "the empire.’* Ue was prouipt-
Jy ■ilem'ed by the assertion that tbo
“empire” was all right;.U, was Irhwself.
Jim Hunker, who had an oyster In Lta
forehead In place of ati eye.
When Centcri»nrt’§ captalu had said
that, li<‘ went to Hie hat himself. Har
wood smiled. Back at college It bad
been, said that Brent Harwood won at
ball ns much by Ids grin as' by Ids
curves. The grin was slow, insinunt
Ing, exasperating, calculated to drive
the coolest batier wild, dlnrwood stood
a half minute rubbing the ball anil grin
ning at tbe captain.
‘ Aw, git a move on ye, there, ki.d,”
snarled the batter. Harwood grinned.
“Needn’t be ’fraid I’ll bust the duell
ed thing. Gimme er crack at ’er, an’
I ll flhuw. yo a H4ek with a hole In’If.
no birnd Man .this
rent on. >
The parson kept on grinning.
The batter got explosively red. Har-
cigar simply (hopped out of his nerve
less lips, and lie made a shivering
sound ns if lie were cold or freeaing.
I pitied him. — *
He finished mid spread himself along
the liars for support. He did not say a
word. I could not lift my eyes to his
and turned away.
Then i heard a sound that made a
chill run up my hack.
“I’st! I’st!* The noise that i*eople of-
ton njjlkll-.tii nttrau—a-tiriH-hw-fti—n—.
crowd.
I glanced around, and such u siglit 1
saw!
Roach had one arm stretched at full
length through *the cage across the
narrow passage to the left. There was
a stand of Springfield rifles there close
against the wall
Have you ever seen a person reach
for something on a high shelf, some- |
thing he could Just touch
Ungers?
“Tip It, Tommy” (he never called me
by that name befurvK.->-'‘Ti|} tt.” he
said In a cringing entreaty. “Go a I trail;
yon ran do If,” be aildnL, with a hide
jU i’i
V-lSfV:
L:
I’lirittr
Mi? triLf
iwml
•r r
’"f -iikAI-^Xl tmAA
# I \i. i
•rr.llt.
80B-
I ILI.K N HJ. GO
rutRn
■fine
iTMflnd
artmi*. £0
K ’ ,
Dtilutli L< *-p ■ ji *r it .
tit 'U is ah 'Ut TD.nfO, u
.f tbe incorpo-ate.l tow j
ike front ts twua y-etght
vi'lth raneei fro u one
id.
w
I’rei
- *to1
Simr in
i I v la’s
file for cal
«»K, l‘re«.
VtlniilS I'S
-v -' m
s : IN' t.Ol.ll (,l\ l \ A VS VY
Harvey Is)gin, held in K loiv-d - «i
u-picion as being Qn*’ of itie g in: tl-
obbed tlye gre t N flhcrn train, h
•ei n i'hntiiieil I'y Kxpri ** Mc**ing
itnith, whose car was looted
510,000.
Mother
’ b. mir •'c.ic. the r
l.vr rear mi*
t s iu i f.>r S( i ini' our sp’eni
HOlil-
^ l» \ V ft' «*Ks |«»r IIN'I.
Ni
* t>itr |>ri/e*
it fe 1, • Sell MU'' 1,
t 1T6
rt* * share
r j f ifl .cn yr.is.’ busilc-s r-r
rfd
buck of thi*
'1 ■ ‘cr. ti*' '*<i-nc svmpie'
Fane
(itillil only
.■■,cen;» delivered
< »rf!er tMitflt and s» ure
the
•ice of terri-
l*t It CO
•c Addn
\11 an ’a
-« t» »:. MTHUK
“My mother was troubled with
consumption for many years. At
last she was given up to die. Then
she tried Ayer’s Cherry Pector&l,
and was speedily curecl.
D. P. Jolly, Avoca, N. Y.
matter how hard
I nHstM SH I.IU CATIOX FHKK
At t'.e I tuvcM. Pc"! Ivpiip'cd and
: i no*! I r iluptitiai r,u*ine*s ( ol>pi;e u> tlie
|j'. an-li i- I’oard., Hooks and Tuition
j a> In earned i'y any energetic young
(i :>ian or lady in a slnrt time tiy work at
liorre For particulars, Addre*9,
com ritsi-: athmkr6ia L
SCHOOL, _
!. U.GklVISGKI;, Manager,
, J S| art an burg. S.
usii.e
...OSBORNE’S....
s College aiki School
of Shorthand
best thing you can take.
It’s too risky to wait 5
until you have consump- i
tion. If you are coughing a
today, get a bottle of
Cherry Pectoral at once.
• oil ilu-icrps.
dp Board.
Augusta Gs.
SitUHti pa -ccured
—• Tkrw rlmr-yrr, Mic.. t, 1 - CTTraKiti'p.
CoMBH yonr dortor. If li« jeiri UTi** t(
then do *1 h« *«y* If ho tolli toii r„>t
to Ufee tt. th«*n don’t tako It Ho knon*
L«*ti It with him. Wo nro wlllinf.
,.r. C. AYER l O., Lowoli.Jf;
tioNEY TO LOAN -
a
Ou farm !antis F!ary payments. Nocom-
friseiens efiaroed Bo'rimer pays actual
<^si bf l , "*rfer.tii g loan. For information
*;rite
_j t i—LL-lt-l'ALM Ut A —-
... Columbia S.,G.
P 4:ITM)Nd! POSITIONS’] Nil OKI MM
'■'>!< caps ti'Hii we can p<>sstblyAll.-Gu*r
antenof position* hacked l y YOOO Cours- s
ure >ci il( d. Kuf«r snr time. f'Ktalorue fr e
/ddriks, t’Ot UMH A 0 N n>l • V' *
ror.ram* 8:1’
IT WiLT. COST YOU ONLY ONE CENT TO FIND OUT"ABOUT THE
vkl
KHX MATTRESS;”
with the .The qaalltv. t a guirsnt*'., the prl:oi, aqd the »t* s 0-op us the po»*al; tlm
ply try, ^RIX*.” and sign your namn in full, address.
Dexter Broom and ’Mattress Go,
PELZER. t *