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JVEEKLY" No. 160.
E6: -
May now took Jim by the arm and led
him into the house.
drink of milk,” she said. “It
‘Thank you, I will," was the reply.
Horace came in, followed by Mrs. Evans,
and Just then the ranchman came in
through the kitchen.
He gave our hero a welcome that was of
Nothing would do but that he must stay
to dinner, so he unsaddied his horse and
made himself at home.
But try as he might. hegcould not get a
chance to talk to May alone. Horace
Crary hung around like a shadow.
At the dinner-table the conversation turn-
ed upon broncho busting and cattle roping,
and finally the ranchman nodded to our
hero and said: ‘
‘I've been thinkin' of havin' a big blow-
ther month, Jim t'll he
lo-morrer. Me and mother has been talk-
in’ it over, an‘ s ‘ ' it's our six-
an’ we allow-
chance ter know what kind of folks we are.
I reckon we'll go ahead an’ have a regular
old-fashioned shindig here. We'll have
dancin‘, plenty of good things ter eat an’
drink, ah’ ter give you an’ ther rest of ther
cowboys a chance, we'll have somethin’
dam’ in ther line of bustlu' bronchus an‘
ropin’ cattle, fur prizes. That ought ter
take, hadn't it?"
“I should say so, Mr. Evans!" exclaim-
ed Jim. looking at him with undisguised
“It will b ' w.”
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“That is where l come in. I think." spoke
up Crary. “I may not know how to ride
horses, but I do know all about tlancing.
I wouldn't miss this celebration for any-
thing "
“You may miss it if that rascal of B Tack
Hoover runs across you, when no one is
around. a. few more times,” said lilay.
' ‘I think-aw-i will have to learn how
to shoot." the dude answered. “That fel-
low makes me tired.” -
There was a laugh at this. for it seemed
funny when they thought of what Horace
would do in the shooting line.
is wife wanted to
know all about it. so he told, in his own
w the foreman of Bader’s ranch
‘had played another trick on him
‘That fellow is a bad one. I think.” said
Evans, shaking his head. “i can’t see why
your uncle‘ keeps him, Jim.‘ .
“He says he is a good one at his busi-
ness; that's all I know,” the boy replied.
“I guess Uncle Tom has never found him
doing anything wrong, and that is why he
keeps him. Anyhow. I am not afraid of
him, and he knows it.”
A little over an hour later Jim bade them
good-by, and mounted his broncho to re-
turn to his uncle's ranch.
lie did not meet anyone until he got to
the place where he had to ford the creek.
and then. much to his surprise, a masked
horseman rode out of the timber strip and
halted before him.
‘Your money or your life, young feller.”
said the horseman, nourishing a revolver
in his face.
Unexpected as it was, the Boy Broncho
Buster did not lose presence of mind, and
with well-directed blow, he sent the
weapon flying from the man's ban
(TD an coxrrxrzzn.)
RO0O0f0tO90wO+090
A an hooi t ry. Out to-
I-00k! day in“ -within AWAKE
Don't miss reading
‘Dick Daresome’s ‘Mistake; or, losing a
Game to Belleville." It contains an ac-
count of a rattling ball game. ' ‘ ’
VOf0909'O‘$OQOQO9000OOfOOO9-OV‘0Q
A west side congregation was called upon
long ago to choose a pastor. The last
three ministers had been persona non grata
with most of the parishioners; and before
selecting another the congregation did
some pretty hard thinking. There was
one woman of experience whose voice car-
ried particular weighL Preacher after
preacher was invited to the Dupit for a
trial sermon, and all, in the llnal analysis,
were rejected by the female arbiter. At
last there came along a possible incumbent
who met with her approval. “The reason
I am sure he will give satisfaction.‘ she
said. “is because he has the right kind of a
wife for a minister. She allows him to
rant around all he wants at home, and
doesn't sass back. 1 found out a long while
, agm-shortly after i was married myself. in
fact-that a man who hasn't that privilege
at home works off his silieen elsewhere.
A minister vents it on his congregation.
And upon
t unique recommendation the congre-
gation really did give the man a call. Ac-
cording to last accounts both he and the
congregation were doing well. The wife
has not been hoard from. g
,HAPPY
(This story commenced in No. 759)
THE BOY‘ PITCHER j
V-
The Winning Baseball Nine
By P. T. Runorm
Author 0] “Winning the .’i1a.ra.tlmn." “Lost
in the Sahara Desert,“ “Sam and tile
Smugglers," “The Red ‘P:nmznt‘,":tc. -
‘CHAPTER xxn.
WINNING THE GAME
The inning was at an end, and the Had-
ley players were sore as they came in to
at.
They felt that they had lost a chance by
carelessness, and the actions of lilaloney
had created dissenslon. ny ball player
knows that such a feeling is fatal to the
team work of any n ne
Of course the Townsend boys were elated.
“We have got them on the run, fellows,"
said Tom Ford. "They are fighting among
themselves, and you know What that
right. Tom!" called out Bob
“That was a dandy trick of Joe’s
in running home.“
The boys felt good indeed that they had
got a run so early in the game. but now it
depended upon the pitching of Joe. for that
inning. for the Hadley players had declared
that they would even up the score.
Joe. however. played the game of his life,
and not a Hadley man was able to get fur-
ther than second base.
Now such a pitcher's battle followed as
none there had ever seen in their lives,
for not a man crossed the home plate for
elther side until the ilrst of the eighth
us. ’
Then Catcher Bowler put out a clever
single, and he was followed by Smith with
.’l hunt. The Hadley rooters were greatly
excited and called for a run.
Carter made a two-baggcr and cleared
the bases.
That was two runs for Hadley. and it
E?
:1
end boys
he third was out on an inn hit, but
there was the lead of one ru that w
now a thorn in the’ sides of the Townsend
players.
As they came in for the last half of the
eighth inning Tom Ford said: '
‘Fellow we'have got to make a run
this time or we will be surely beaten. Now
let's get together and do it."
e ys were grim and - determined.
They did not want to lose the game, for it
would be humiliating now, after all that
had passed, and they could not blame Joe.
for he had pitched great bzlll.
To be sure, he had been batted in this
inning, but it was to be expected after all
the wonderful work he had done.
game was being lost by their in-
ability to bat blaioney. As Tom said, this
was their last chance, for the game was
nearly over.
But it looked dark indeed when Lew
llanley and J m e both went up and put
out little dinky infield hits that spoiled any
chance to score.
“it's all over!” shouted Carter. “They
d yo
5 the matter
11 a .
think of it, fellows! What i
er? Oh, here he
I
with their wonderful pitch
comes like a conquering hero
It was Joe's turn at
He walked up to the plate as cool as ever.
. He was determined to
do his best to avert defeat. It seemed to
depend all upon him.
He faced his rival, liiaioney, and waited
for the puzzling curve that had fooled all
the boys so far. .
Joe Harris knew that every eye on those
grounds was on him. and he realized that
he was expected to do his best.
The Hadley nine had one run to the
good. It was the chance of a lifetime now
for Joe to show his friends that he could
come to the rescue in 3 pinch by putting
hi
But could he do it? ’
he believed that he had the
game -won. He twirled the ball over a
couple of times for two balls. Then he
sent one down that the umpire called a
rike.
Joe looked at the grand stand. He saw
hundreds of eager 9nd excited faces there.
He felt that they were all hoping that he
would his the ball. Oh, if he only could.
Once again he glanced at the stand. and
lie caught sight of a face there which gave
him a thrill.
nus way. for
2'.
Lucy Walton. pale and eager, was looking
straight at him. There was :1 light of su-
rrreme confidence in her eyes that made Joe
feel nervous. v
She believed he would pull the Townsend
nine out of their dilemma.
at was enough for Joe.
lie gripped his hat and looked at the in-
vincibie pitcher, who, with his sneer and
his cold smile, was measuring the distance
to the plate again.
itialoney threw an out curve. llsually it
‘was just the ball that Joe liked. and he.
made a swing at it. '
1
DAYSJ
For some unknown reason it was just
beyond his reach, and the umpire called
another strike. Two strikes, and the crowd
was hooting and jeering. Joe once more
looked at the grand stand, and he saw
Lucy's face white and strained. but the
same light of confidence was there.
‘By thunder! I 'will do it.”
lliaioney doubled himself up for another
of his puzzling curves, and when the ball
came down it was so swift that few among
the spectators saw it in its night.
But Joe's quick eye was on .
His feet were braced in the dirt, and his
bat swung around like a dash, and the ball
struck it with a snap. The next moment
Joe was off for the base, running as he
never ran before.
And the hall. What of that?
Every man and woman in the grand
stand was up looking at the sphere that
was sailing far out into deep center. The
outllelder was running for it. and a cry
wen up:
e’ll get it! Too bad! It was intend-
ed for a safe hit! Oh, if it had only gone
a few yards further.”
T the tlrst conclusion of the
crowd. But now there was a sudden wild
outburst. The all was seen to be trav-
eling further than it had at nrsi‘. seemed
that it would.
The neider was making desperate edorts
to get under it.
But it dropped in the grass far out in
the field. and by this time Joe was turn-
ingdthlrd base for home. The crowd was
il . -
‘Home run. Home run! Go it, Joe!
Hurrah for the boy pitcher! He willowin
the game.” r
It was just as the bail came into the dia-
mond that Joe Harris crossed the plate
The score was tied. It stood: Townsend. 2;
H ey.
It‘ was now the chance of the Townsend
boys to win the game. It was true that two
men were down, but it was the first of the
eighth inning, an here was another
chance at ba
in any event, it would compel the other
club to play more than nine innings to win.
The scene in the grand stand was a wild
one, for the crowd was almost insane with
delight. The Townsend cooters could do
nothing but call out Joe’: name.
v Joe, however, went to the bench in a.
modest way, though he could not help a
glance up at the stand where he saw Lucy
Walton with a light of joy and pride in her
eyes. It gave the boy pitcher a thrill.
Tom ord came over and fairly h gged
the little pitcher. - v
“That was I dandy, Joe! You have given
us another chance to win. If we lose now
it will not be your fault."
“We must win. Tom," said Joe. “I think
there is a good chance if i can hold their
batsmen down for another inning.‘
h Lane was next up, and be t e
hard to put out a hit.‘ But the redoubtable
hlaloney was furious. and he sen in some
wizard curves that put Hugh out in quick
or er.
Then the Hadley boys came in for the
hrst of the ninth inning. There was a
chance for them. and their captain. Carter.
gave them a furious lecture. He was angry
that liialoney had allowed Joe to get the
run that tied the score. '
The Townsend boys went out into the
field with the determination that Hadley
should not score again. -
Joe went into the box coolly, and the tlrst
Hadley batsman came up and faced him.
Joe got the signal from Catcher Bob
Casey] to throw a drop. Joe always obeyed
gn s
a .
He threw the hall where Caseyhad told
him to. and as a result a foul y was sent
up and fell into the hands of Casey.
was clever work, and one man was down.
ow r was next up, and he managed to
make a base t.
The Hadley rooters were elated. for they
saw a chance to get the run that‘ might win
the game. But when Smith came up Joe
very cleverly struck him out. Two men
were down. . '
The spirits of the Hadley players and
fans went down. and there was silence on
the grounds. Captain Carter, with a rigid
expression on his face. now went to bat.
He hit at the ilrst bail. and put up a foul
strike. Then he sent up a lly-that Lew
l-lanley got under, and three men were
d
.-.
n
wn.
The effect of this upon the Hadley play-
ers-couid be hardly described. They were
as sober as could be as they went out into
the field. It looked as if they had but a
scant chance now.
The Townsend people Were overjoyed.
“Now, boys." called Tom Ford. “it is our
chance. We must make some hits and win
the game. I think we ‘can do it and put
an end this suspense. Now is our
chance "
The boys were hopeful, and they were
in earnest. too. The plucky little catcher.
Bob Casey, was llrst at bat, and he said:
“if I could only duplicate the home run
of Joe's we would be all right. l am going
to try hard."
‘That's right. Bob.” laughed Jot-. “It is
lust as easy. Hit it n the nose and lift
it with your shoulders.”
went to the plate. lifaloney had a
Bob
wicked light in his eyes. and he sent in a
' diabolical curve. But this time he had mis-
judged his man. and Bob simply killed the
ball. He swung against it viciously, and
sent it out for three bags. There was a
wild scene on the grounds.
It was the little ca.tcher’s innings now.
He was cheered wildly. . r
But Will Snyder was next up. Will had
not yet made a hit, and the crowd yelled-
“Come on. Will! Make a. base hit. That
is all we " . .
liialoney was grinning from ear to ear.
however, for he thought ill ‘was easy
meat. He reckoned on striking himbout
cislly. He poised himself and threw the
ball with terrihc speed. .
Ordinarily Will would have missed the
a
He made a. blind swipe at it, and by some
good fortune the'l)at landed on it. .
The ball shot down to the shortstop, nd
he picked it up after a moment's fumble.
He of course threw it home to cut off Casey,
who was running like 8. greyhound for the
plate.
But Casey was a fast runner, and he com-
pelled the shortstop to throw so quickly
that he made an overthrow, and the game
was over. The ball went oscr the catchers
head, and Casey crossed the plate with the’
winning l‘lllL Then a wild scene followed.
Townsend had won.
Of course, it might be claimed that it
had been by an error on the part of the
shortstop, but that ,was all in the game,
and it counted just the same. -
The crowd came down onto the diamond,
and a wild scene followed. "The Hadley
players were depressed. and they sneaked
off to the dressing rooms in a gloomy state
of mind. Their captain, Carter, wanted to
make arrangements for another game.
“We'll talk if over another timn” said
Tom Ford. “Just now we are undecided
what to ‘do.’ i .
“You think you have a world-beater in-
that Harris," said Carter, “but you will
admit that our pitcher is some, t .’f
“I do admit it."r%ald Torn. ‘Aialoney is
the fastest man we ever played against.
But he is not a whit better than Joe Har-
ris, and as for the rest of it, your boys are
thfhrgughest and rowdiest we ever played
wt .
‘That made Carter mad. and he wanted to
d ht Tom, but the Townsend captain
laughed at him and walked o
oe was in the happiest of spirits as he
left the diamond.
victory, and he felt that it had been in a
large measure due to him. He thought that
Lucy Walton had seen himnand it gave
him a thrill of joy. .
Just then Joe saw a man coming toward
m with an anxious expression on his
face. it was the clerk who had been a
friend to him-Strong. He called out to
J .
“i want to see you!’ it is very import-
nt.”
CHAPTER xxlll.
Jon or-:'rs INTO TROUBLE.
him. But Strong came up and lowered his
voice and said:
“Your enemy has turned the trick, Joe.
I warn you to see a. lawyer at once.
course you are not guilty, but you must
nghtn as you never fought before in your
if
e.
“What do you mean. Strong?’
“Done what?”
“He has brought a charge against you of
irregularity in the ks. H as been
playing a deep game to beat you."
‘A inst me?” gasped Joe. “He cannot
do it. 1 have had nothing to do with the
gooks; He the man who has handled
em
Of course; but he has in some way in-
n drawing large s
expert accountant has found it and seen
Mr. Walton about it."
feel fear. for he knew that he was inno-
cent, and he could not see how he could
be involved in a criminal way. It made
him angry. v
‘This is ridiculous, Strong! You can
stand by me, and you know that it is
confess.”
Strong shook his head. Just then he
gave a 51' 1.
“If you want to get out of the way, Joe.
now is your time, for here comes the cou-
stable to ariest you.” 7
Joe was aghast. lie stood his ground.
though. for he felt the conviction of being
not guilty’. and he could not fear the con-
sequences. He met the cunstable's sharp
gaze unilinchlngly. ‘
“Joe.” said the oillcial, “I have a painful
duty to perform. l suppose you know what
it sf" '
"l Lave just been informed.‘ said Joe.
“What it means i cannot understand. it is
all wrong.
..
e no doubt that you will prove
your innocence all right.” ,
It had been a glorious.
“Can't you guess‘! Old Hankins has done '
Joe was dumfounded. But he did not yet ‘
wrong. The old villain shall be forced to ,
-Joe halted and something of evil struck '
serted charges that purport to be your work ' v
