Newspaper Page Text
- PARSON HARWOOD’S CORVES.
By Bert Estes.
(Copyright 1900, by Bert Estes.)
Gallia City, like most Ohio river towns,
had ;i mixed population full of sharp an
i social, political and religious. ,
Notwithstanding, there was one local in- j
wtjtution, about which there was only one
mind. The Gallia City Base Ball Club,
tne apple of the municipal eye, was felt
ho set for the city’s defense against the
world in general—and the nine from Cen- |
terport in particular.
Centerport, a few miles down the river,
was a high-headed little town, given to
vaunting Ltself unseemly, and challenging
other towns to come out and meet their
doom. Worse than that, Centerport had
h hand a large stock of doom, and was
liberal in applying it—over the diamond.
The mutual sdorn of Centerport and Gallia
Cly had something tragic in its intensity.
To beat Centerport was the summit of
Gallian achievement; Centerport lived
only ro 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 Dickson,
poor man, was away in hospital. Dickson
was the Presbyterian minister. Harwood
was to live in the vacant parsonage and
lake his meals over with the Potters.
Dickson had arranged all that. Harwood
hoped he had arranged also for someone
to meet him. But when he stepped off the
loaf from Cincinnati early one Saturday
morning and looked about, he found none
to welcome him.
When the dock had been deserted by all
" - 1 1 11 ■ "11 ■■ 1 - ■ --- , -
Grand-Stand and Bleachers Joined Hands and Carried Haiwvod on Their Shoulders.
but roustabouts and chronic loungers,
Harwood made up his mind that there was
some hitch—his letter of announcement
hal possibly miscarried, so he walked up
to an old riverman in the freight house
and said:
“I believe T am to board with a family
here named Potter. Do you know of any
such people?”
“Know ’em! Why. sonny, they ain’t
man, woman ner child—dog gone it, even
er onerey yaller purp. ner scusely er flea
on that purp—livin’ in these parts that I
don't know! You bet I know ’em—hull
fambiy, includin’ the cat—ole chap, with
biles on his nose—nice ole gal fer his mis
sus-son, the golalfernalest cuss in seven
teen states, ter sell planners an’ orgins—
an’ the son’s wife, Annie, who is jest er
great big hunk of the salt o’ the earth.
Say, what d’ye want with ’em? Be ye
one o’ them drummer chaps tryin’ ter sell
Pot some more goods?”
Harwcod shot k his head. “I’ve come to
spend the summer here,” he said. “I
shall take my m als with the Potters, and
live at the rarsor.age.”
“Why, it’s s.het up! Dickson’* gone ter
New York ter have some big doctor cut
him open an’ right him up inside,” the
river man said.
”1 did hear thar was a—say, young fel
low! you ain’t the new preacher that’s
c min’?”
“I am going to fry and preach,” Har
wcod said, modestly. “My name is Har
wood ”
“Brother Harwood!” faltered the river
man. "lemme beg yer pardon the durnd
ost worst way! I had no idee—you don’t
* jok like a parson, you don't dress like
a parson, you didn’t let on ye wus a par
son—how in tunket was a f dlow to know .’
1 hop- ye’ll fergit I called ye sonny—if
ye will, by grab, ye can l!ck mo of I
don’t come to church—not n xt Sunday—
but seme time bef re ye go”
“That’s a bargain.” Harwood said shak
ing hands before he made his way to
breakfast at the hotel.
Ppon his second Monday morning in
Gallia City Harwood str 1 ed down to Ste
venson Potter’s music store. Stevensen he
had found a fine fellow, although every
body but Ills own family did call him Pot.
Pot. on his part, had at first been doubt
ful of the young preacher just out of
seminary, hut after a little had said of
him to a friend:
‘Our par* n is all rDht from the
ground up; not one of those whltechokered
lellcws, who go around wi h faces as
long as a snail-track—as if they had given
up the wo id. the fi sh, and the and vil. and
"ere almighty sorry they h and to. Har
wood is none of that sort. He’s a man
first, and a minister afterward.”
As Harwood stepped inside the music
store a strong vo!ce called across the
street:
'Hey. there. Pot!*’
“Coming, Colonel.” Poster answered,
picking h 8 way across the newly sprink
-1 and street to a biff crockery store oppositf.
A muscular young’ fellow leaned against
the door Jamb:
“Here’s the devil to iav an 1 no pitch
hot—and nighty tar to water.” he said.
"Centcrp rt has challenge and us to play ’em
Saturday—and Tcm Jordan is oil’ on a big.
hig hat You kn .w, there ain’t another
man in the whole darn town that can
1 Itch a ball wi hin four fe t rf the plate.
Oenterport knows it. too —that's just why
they've run tills challenge on us,”
“Hound up, Tom. He can get in shape,”
Potter said, confidently. Colonel snorted:
“Hound nothin’! Tom's a holy terror,
wdwn he’s on a spree—besides, h ’s gone.
Maybe the Lord knows where he is—l
don’t, for sure Its the very cussed st
luck—l’d rath' r lose a hundred dollars
than hare til m f dlow c m and wallop
us-and we’ve got to p’ay ’m—if we ro
fuse they’ll crow over it forever and the
day after.”
“Great mud!” said Potter—he never
said anyth ng stronger—“that musn’t hap
pen. Can’t we imp ri a pitcher? What's
the matt- r with Steven * of the lUver
sidfg? He’s a bird-no misake.”
Colonel shook his head "Never do in
the world.” he said. ” ’Twouldn’t he a
square deal, for one thing: for another,
they’d bo sure to get on. to i— and then
• Well, we’ve yo‘ to accept the chal
lenge. ’• l ot or km and. “Do i' right away—
and throw in a big bluff. T 11 ’em we’ve
cot anew pitcher that wi 1 tak° all the
kink* out or ’em. Then we must rustle
for a pitcher—w v * got tc—that’s all.”
”Ix)rd, P t. it makes me sick abed,
flunkin' of in. luvk of IhoiC Oenterport
scrub?,” Colonel said “They've beat us
and beat us, on tlukes tins way—we’ve
not had a fair show In the longest time.
Ard now, just as Tom Jordan was pitch
ing in such great simp . off he goes and
gets fu 1 again. \\ ,sh the old man Jordan
would p teh him in the river, neck and
ctop—it’s less than lie deserves.”
’’Well, whining nor cussing don’! help
I 118 - as 1 fee- I'm going back to talk with
| the preacher," Potter said.
"Preacher, be damned,” Colonel said, ir
! recently. ”\ou don’t think he can get
coJ Almighty to rain down a pitcher, do
you? Or aae you going to set him praying
I against the Centerports?”
| Potter did n. r answer—the last word
I caught him half wny across the street:
i "Who is your military friend?” Har
; wood asked, smiling.
Potter * xplaiued briefly that Colonel was
i:ot a military man—he had been baptized
that way. and was the -‘son” of Roodscll
& Son. -Moved by an impulse he did not
understand, he told also of the challenge,
and of Gallia City’s predicament. Har
wood listened, thrumm.ng softly on the
strings of a line guitar. At the end he
said:
• I'm feeling p:e,‘tv dull and blue this
morning. Do you think your friend Colo
nel would let me toss ball to him long
enough to set my blood circulating?”
“Great mud! parson, do you play ball?”
Potter asked.
I ”1 did—at college, also at the seminary—
whenever I had the chance-.” Harwood
! answered. Potter whistled. "Dickson al
! uio.-i had fits if you named baseball to
j him.” he said. “Why, he preached
i against it—and came near losing his job.
j He did lose half the congregation. But,
1 come on. 1 want Colonel to see you.”
•Colonel stared a little at Harwood’s re
quest. but invited his two .visitors out
into the alley back of the store, where
they might toss balls to their heart's con
tent, and not <i soul be the wiser. But to
Harwood’s suggestion of gloves, he only
said: "If it gets too hot I’ll put ’em on—
but r re. kon there won’t be any long
whiskers on the balls you pitch.”
Harwood’s eye twinkled wickedly,
In -aid nothing, only stripped off
vest and collar, and began to toss. He
played lightly, but easily. Colonel
caught with an air of condescension, and
returned the bail with a great show of
consideration for the minister’s soft
hands. After a little Harwood asked if
Colonel would mind catching a bit while
he tried his hand at pitching.
“Blaze nwnv, parson,” grinned Colonel.
In a minute or two a square box cover
was in place as a “home plate,” and CoJ
o!;*l behind it. caricaturing the man at
the bat. Harwood pretended not to see
the implied satire. H© stepped into the
pitcher’s place, which he had marked at
the proper distance. A ball or two went
over the plate, true as an arrow.
“Good enough parson.!” Colonel laugh
ed. still patronizingly. “You’ve got th*
bo!l under bully control, sure.”
Harwood said over his shoulder to Pot
ter: “Open your eyes and get right be
hind me. You’ll see something. So will
Colonel.” Then in a louder voice: “Do
you mind if I pitch a few stiller ones? I
want ;o see if I have lost the hang of it.”
“Lei ’em come, parson!” Colonel shout
ed back, almost convulsed that a little
man, whom he could flifig over his shoul
der, should l>e so considerate. Harwood
nodded* saying:
“Lei ’em come, i*ir?on!” Colonel shout
ed back, almost convulsed that a little
man, whom he could fiing over his should
er. should be so considerate. Harwood
no* l ied, saying:
“Thank you. Of course I would not
put twist in them unless I knew you
did n< object. I wish you'd put on
gloves, though. I hate to pitch hard to
a man in bare hands.”
“Gloves, nothin’.” colonel said, almost
nettled. “Maybe I don’t look contagious,
but you ean bet your last nick you’ll
find me? catching.”
“Very well, my Christian friend!” Har
wood eaHed back. “Catching as you may
be. you are not entirely immune. Mini
out! Here goes!”
Biff! slzz! the hall went out of the
parson’s right hand like a rifle shot. flij*.
ping off the ends of his fingers with a
crack iike a whip lash, li started to
the right of Colonel so fast the eye could
scarcely follow* it. Colonel darted to get
behind It. when suddenly it changed iis
mind, plunged to the left, passed him
entirely, and hissing, far down
th<- alley.
•‘Sufferin’, Jimmy! What was that?”
gasped Cc lonel.
“Oh, only one of the things you didn’t
catch—not expos, and < nough, I fancy,”
Harwood grinned. “Now 1U me give you
annthr r.”
Whizz! A great out-shoot went whist
ling through the air. Colonel did his lit
tle dance again—crlv this time he re
vt r.-ed. As he brought up standing, emp
ty-handed, be : a il* in awestruck tpnes:
“For the love o’ God! pirson, nobody
but a crossly and man could catch thoso
diim things. Get one right at me—right
hen*!” foil ing Ids ha ds in front of his
stomach.
“That's right when they would go If
you diun’t get cut of the way. Stand
s id and k'M'p your eyes open,” Harwood
c mmanded. “Now! '
Biff! Ai oth r s zzling in-shoot! Crack!
Colonel was In the air lancing like a wild
Indian, trying to I>l w* o.i h s hands, and
rub 1 dbcwsat the s imp time. The
ball had gone as Harwood said. The con
cussion of It. had Jarred C lonel from fin
ger ti; s to shoulder blad s.
“If you’d or.ly put cn the mitts,” Har
wcQd said, with a tantalizing grin, “I’d
like to throw yen a few speedy ones—oth
erwise I’m really afraid I might hurt
you.”
•Hurt me!" C Icnel’r. ton. was abject.
“And th m laws f odog lik" a full crock
ery crate had smashed ’tnt. I’m no glut
ton, parson. I kiiow when I’ve had
enough. But, say, you’re the decelvingest
pir k go ever I struck.”
“Mr Harwood,” sad Potter, “if you
don't mind I’ll go get Bill Reed to come
and ra eh f r you.”
“I should like it rf all th ngs,” said
Harwood. “The Utile I have done makes
mi; f i.l anew man.”
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1000.
“Me. too—and a dam poor one.” Colo
nel" added—but he plucked up spirit to
grin heartily wVn Potter came back with
Bill Reed, catcher to the Gallias. two or
three other members, and several “fans”
bfsides.
When Harwood suggested gloves Bill
sn ffed ev,n more disdainfully than Colo
nel had done. Harwood smiled as he took
position in the box, said softly: "Say
where you want the balls. Mr. Reed. I’ll
try to put them over the plate about
ris:ht.”
Bill squatted back of the plate, spat
tobacco juice cn his hands and said:
“Give us a low ball.”
Harwood gripped the leathern sphere,
leaped the length of the box, gave a twist
of the wrist, and let drive a straight drop
over the middle of the plate. Reed put up
his hands, but. to his amazement, the
thing ducked under his fingers and went
skipping down the alley. He was cha
grined, of course, but when Harwood
again named gloves he said almost rough
ly: “Don’t you lay awake nights thinkin*
o' Bill Reed. lie don’t need no gloves to
‘catch no preacher's pitchin’.”
Harwood nodded and pitched the same
inshoot he had sent to Colonel. Bill leaped
to this side and that, in a vain attempt to
gel behind the boll. As it passed him and
went hustling through the dust, he cried.
“Fellows, did you see that thing! If I
hadn’t quit drinkin* I’d swear I had ’em
again!”
Potter lined up his forces behind the
Parson. Harwood winked at Potter, then
| with a motion like the uncoiling of a
steel spring, he sent another in-shoot to
Reed, so swift that Reed had no time to
, dovige It. Bill managed to get his hands
up in the instinctive movement of self
defense—he caught and hung to the pig
skin cannon ball, though his fingers did
! not feel it, they w-ere so jarred and numb.
[ "Heliety-Whoop!” roared Bill, sitting
down suddenly and staring wild-eyed at
the pardon. “Boys,” he went on solemnly,
“that wus a close shave—if I hadn’t
caught the damn thing ’twould a-gone
plumb through my innards. Say,” hx>k
ing ruefully at his hands, "No more ball
to-day, thank you. I’ve got to see Doc
Johnson about them things.”
“I’m very sorry,” Harwood said demure
ly, “but you wouldn’t put on gloves for
parson’s pitching, you know. Soak your
hands in very hot water—it will set them
all right. Now, Is there any other gen
tleman who cares to play ball?”
In the soft. Warm twilight of that
eventful day Harwood sat coatless 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, from staying
alone in the deserted house. So he was
genuinely glad to* hear heavy steps upon
fhe gravel, and a little la<er to welcome
Potter, Colonel, Reed and some more men
ho did not know*.
‘This isn’t exactly a social call,” Pot
ter began, “yet we can’t exactly call if
business—and the fact is, we’re all afraid
to begin.”
“O Ho! somebody going to commit
matrimony! Who is it? Colonel or my
friend Reed?” Harwood asked, his eyes
twinkling. Reed grinned broadly. The
day before he would have thrashed the
man who had named him friend to a par
son. But a man who could play such bull
—that w'as another matter altogether.
“You’re dead wrong, parson. That sort
of thing comes right in your line—and
ours is way off it,” Potter said. “We are
in a hble; we warn your help—but we
don’t know how you’ll take our proposi
tion.”
“But you do know*, at least you ought
to, that if I can legitimately help you
or any one in this town, I shall be both
proud and happy to do it,” said Har
wood.
"But this is clean outside ministerial
duty,” Potter began. Harwood smiled.
“I am a man as w*ell as a minister,” he
said.
Bill Reed broke in: “Now’, looky here,
’Aint no use chawin’ longer on that rag.
Parson has give out fair an’ square he
wants to be took on the dead level—a man
same as we are, only a damn-sight—ex
cuse my French, parson—it gics the best
o’ my United States before I know* it.
The case is this—we want you to help us
lick them da—er, them meazly Centerport
chaps. We can do it if you plfch fer us.
Nothin* in this county ’aint in the game
with you. If you’ll do it every man Jack
o’ us ’ll stick to you like a lean tick to a
hog. That’s whin's the matter with us,
and there ye be.”
Harwood’s face was a siudy. He was
amused, pleased. beyond everything
touched, by this recognition of common
mnnheod. It was the passion of his life
to help men realize their own possibilities.
He yearned to preach manhood rather
than dogma. His heart was warm and
he smiled as he said:
“I thought you had come for that, and
am glad you came. If you had not I
should have volunteered—that is, if you
had agreed to my conditions—”
“We’ll fix all that, parson,*’ two or
three began eagerly.
Harwood held up his hands. “You don’t
understand. I don't want money,” he said,
“I do want—ycurselves. If I do some hin-g
for you—something on which your hear is
are set, you ought to do. something fir
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 hurst out, “You can
say. ‘Boys come roosi on the church Ft p>
from sun-up to sun-down, every Sunday,*
anl gamble on our and in’ h—every dam one
of us. Hey, boys? O do ©xcu*e m*\ parsoi.
I’ve been a tough sort all me life—but be
damned if 1 don’t quit swearin* right
now.” *
“Ah’.” said Harwood, “gentlemen, this
brings up something else. You know, aid
I know, how ill I can afford to hove it
gnid 1 belong to an organization of toughs
I want to belong to-*tn organization of
gentlemen in th© best sense uf the word.
If 1 am to lie a club member you must
give me your word that drunkennes- and
swearing shall atop. New* w uiKlers'.ind
each other. There’s my hand. If you shake
it 1 shall know* you take me—condition■.
and all.”
Ifivery man In the room gove aim a
hearty grip, then talk began to buzz
about Saturday’s game. All agro and the
new pitcher had best he kept dark. Also
that Harwood should wear a baseball suit.
“I have my own with me—a G. on li?
shirt will make it all righ*,” Harwool
said, and so the little company went
away exultant beyond words.
Saturday was fair and hot—the ve*y
weather for great ball. But hot as the
i aun ahuii© it was mild compared to the
baseball enthusiasm of Gallia City. Post
ers all abount announced ihe coming con
test. The local press under the bigg-.? t.
blackest headlines possible to its fonts,
hinted darkly at a “phenofenon” in U e
pitcher’s box for the home te.im. Placards
also warned citizens to do their Satur
day buying betimes, as every shop wo li
tie shut during the hours of the game.
Bocal patriotism had risen to a pass.6n.
and swept through it in a tidul wave.
Still mystery lay thick anil murk ovrr
the pitcher, and some other things. One
of them was, why not one of the nine had
showed his face at Mike Grogan’s saloon,
which theretofore had been baseball
headquarters. Beyond that there was in
credible rumors of no beer on the grounds
—not even the customary two kegs for
the team. The Dutchman who had com
monly ow ned that profitable privilege i ad
been warned off. There was talk also of
swearing In extra deputy marshals whose
business It should be to suppress swear
ing. and all sorts of riotous language.
The visiting club was amazed at Us re
ception. There were no white-clad players
in wait to drag them off to Grogan’s for
a social guzzle. Instead Colonel and Bill
Reed met tht m and took them to the
hottl, while the Gallia City band went
al fig, i laying its loudest. The strains
came to Harwood as he was slipping into
Ms suit. He was not to gj with the pro
cession. but to meet the team at the
grounds.
It was a gnat procession—the band at
the head, putiing doggedly through a Sou
sa march; next the ’bus bearing Center
porters in white with llue caps and hose;
after th*m another ’bus full of Gallias,
also in white but red on heads and feet;
then swarms of buggies, hacks and farm
wagons, packed with friends of both
nines; last of all a frayed-out drizzle of
small boys, intent upon finding cracks of
knot-holes in the fence, through which
thfey might at least view the promised
land.
It would be hard to say whether there
was more curiosity or anxiety, in the
glances which Gallia City folk bent upon
their champions. Interest of course cen
tered on tty? “phenom.” The strain was
not relieved when careful counting show
ed in the Gallia ’bus only eight regular
players and two substitutes. Gloom deep
en? and perceptibly. Those who had given
odds on Gallia ft It their coin already as
pood as lost. They began to feel also that
they had been badly sold—and by their
own. Without new blood in home team
the game was a gift to Centerport—and so
far there was no sign of new blood.
About a minute after the appointed
hour the umpire sent the Gallias to the
field, and the Centerports to the bench.
The r short §top spat loyally upon the
gleaming new ball, and rolled it in the
dirt, so the pitcher might easily grip it.
There had bren preliminary practice by
both teams. Gallia partisans w'erc amaz
ed. and somewhat cheered to see the sub
stitute pitcher go to the bench not the
box. The points were empty. Almost be
fore anybody could remark it. out from
the dressing room beneath the grand
stand, shot a slight wiry figure in white,
with red stocking and r<:d cap. When the
figure w’alked 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 um
piie dropped back saying to himself:
“Fer Gawd's sake!”
"Batter up! called the umpire. A mod
ern Goliath, big Jim Bunker, stalked up
to the plate.
“Play ball!” cried the umpire. The ball
was passed. Brent faced the mighty slug
ger with a little irritating smile.
“Say, Jim," bawled the captain, “either
this here ‘phenom’ is (young, or It wus
picked mighty green. Anyway it 'aim big
enough to send n ball across the rubber.
It oughter be set playin, marbles. This
’aint no place for children. Now, then,
Jim, swat ’er over the fence and break
the 'phenom’s 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 damn
thing fiat.”
“Excuse me—but thar ’aint to be no
sweatin’ this game,” u deputy marshal
said, touching the big batsman’s elbow.
“All right boss! J didn’t know this was
a prayer meetin’,” Jim said, amazement
in every line of his face.
All eyes were fast on the pitcher, the
phenom. He certainly looked 100 slight for
:he game he was up*against. Would he
fail? Harwood screwed the hall into the
palm of his right hand, sprang forw’ard,
then lightly, swiftly, as an archer might
loose a tense bow-string, loosed his firm,
and sent the ball hissing across the plate
to raise n puff of sand between the plate
and Reed.
“One strike!” cried the umpire.
“Hell!” shouted Jim, “I didn’t see it!”
Harwood silently pitched a writhing rise
that wound over the plate to the utter
confounding of the batter.
“Two strikes! said the umpire.
“Thought it was agoin’ to be a low ball,”
Jim said apologetically to his captain.
The captain glowerd. Bill Reed put on the
mask and squatted close up behind th©
"bat. Harwood gripped the ball peculiarly,
a sign to Bill that the pitch would be a
wide out-curve. Th© ball started appar
ently for Jim’s stomach. Jim doubted it
would agree with him— he jumped very
far back from the plate, just ns the ball,
twisting like a serpent sailed right over
the middle of the rubber.
“Three strikes! Striker’s out!” bawled
the umpire, “batter up!”
The crowd was at first too amazed to
applaud. It could hardly believe its eyes.
A strippling had struck out the invinci
ble Jim Bunker. Jim slunk towards the
tench, growling at what he called "the
etnpire.” He was promptly silenced by
the assertion that the “empire” was all
right—it was himself. Jim Bunker, who
bad an oyster in h s forehead in place of
an eye.
When Centerr©rt’s captain had said that
he went to the bat himself. Harwood smil
* <l. Back at college it had been said that
Brent Harwood wen at ball as much by
bis grin as by his curves. The grin was
slow, insinuating, exasperating, calcufcat
el to drive the coolest batter wild. Har
wood stood a half minute rubbing the ball
and grinning at the captain.
4 Aw, gi: a move on ye, there, kid,”
snarled the batter. Harwood grinnod.
‘ Needn’t be 'fraid. I ll bust the durned
thing! Gimme or crack at 'er an’ I’ll
show ye a trick with a hole in it. Ye ain’t
pitchin’ to no blind man this trip,” the
captain went on.
The rarson kept on grinning.
Th batter pot explosively red. Har
wood, watching him narrowly, gave the
ball a little fliit, and pitched a wabbling
“dew-drop” toward the hot captain. Cen
terport s man was too disgusted and too
mad to see it. The ball went over the
plate—a strike was promptly called. Then
Harwood iepeted fh ■ pitch. It seemed
an ea£ ball. Really it was a hard one.
The Centerport lunged at it like a wild
bull before it came in six toot of him. All
he did was \o tear a big, ragged hole in
the air. His ey< s glared as Reed came
close behind and crouched in his shadow*.
Harwood drew back his arm as if to de
liver another “dew-dr* p.” The captain
fumed. Suddenly Brent shot his arm
porcss his body, and the ball sped over
th? plate like a bullet.
“Out-t!” yelied the umpire. “Batter
up! ’
Gallia City went suddenly insane. It
stood up in yelling, howling, cheer
ing. The urrp rshrl kirg for silence,
was like b cricket piping In face of a
stotm. But when, in the midst of the din,
a thlid man walked to the plate, whacked
the rubber with his bat. and squared him
self. the noise hushed as suddenly as it
had begun.
Harwood deliberated. Should he give
this new mart a chance, or clinch things,
with the game thus young? He did not
quite know how it w*ouid be with the Gal
lias at the bat. so derided upon the lat
ter course. Three wide out-shoots, sent
as fast as he could deliver them, yet give
Bill time to come up. bewildered the new
bolter, and put Centerport out.
It was while the players wire chang
ing and p.indemoniyn reigned that the
phenom’s identify was made known to
tne crowd. At first all GaTfta City gasp
ed. as from a cold plunge. A parson. In
knee breeches and red stockings, pitching
it> a ganv of ball! For a quorter of a
minute Gallia City was stricken silent.
Then down in the bleachers a whisper
began, and swelled and grew, until a bold
| man leaped on the rail and called; “Three
| cheers for Ihe little parson!” The cheers
In some cases tlie external signs of Contagious Blood Poison are so slight that the Make
#Jf fig, victim is firmly within the grasp of the monster before the true nature ol the disease
’V, is known. In other cases the blood is quickly filled with this poisonous virus and the
PH * JJ , swollen glands, mucus patches in the mouth, sores on scalp, ulcers on tongue, sore J
r.M /r throat, eruptions on. skin, copper colored splotches, and falling hair and eyebrow's ™
leave no room for doubt, as these are all unmistakable signs of Contagious Blood Poison. PM/v# f
Doctors still prescribe mercury and potash as the only cure for Blood Poison. These poisonous min- MraH t i |[|
erals never yet made a complete and permanent cure of Contagious Blood Poison. They drive the disease
back into the system, cover it up for a while, but it breaks out again iu worse form. These powerful minerals produce mercurial
rheumatism and the most offensive sores and ulcers, causing the joints to stiffen and finger nails to drop off. Mercury and
potash mako wrecks, not euros, and those who have been dosed with these drugs an* never after free from aches and pain.
S. S. S. acts in an entirely different manner, being a purely vegetable remedy ; it forces the poison out of the system, and
instead of tearing down, builds up and invigorates the general health. S. S. S. is the only antidote for this specific virus, and
therefore the only cure for Contagious Blood Poison. No matter in what stage or how* hopeless the case may appear, even
though pronounced incurable by the doctors, S. S S. can be relied upon to make a rapid, permanent cure. S. S. S. is not a
new, untried remedy ; an experience of nearly fifty years lias proven it a sure and unfailing cure for this disease. It is the
only purely vegetable blood medicine known.
Mr, H. U- ?*tyers. ioo Mulberry St . Newnk . N J., savs “ I was afflicted with n terrible blood d incase which was in spots at firnt, but afterwards
•pread all over my body. These soon broke out into sores, and it is easv to imagine the suffering I endured Before I became convinced that the
SiV doctors could do me no good I had spent a hundred dollars, which was really thrown away. I then
tried various patent medicines, but they did not leach the disease When I had finished my first
‘‘Ttii q bottle of S S S I was greatly improved, and was delighted with the result The large, red splotches
Lyy#' ffojC on mv chest began to grow paler and smaller, and before long disappeared entirely I regained my
* >St um ‘ slron K er , and my appetite improved, I was soon entirely well, and my skin as
W Send for our Home Treatment Book, which contains valuable information about
this disease, with complete directions for self treatment. Our medical department i*
IsJlpSSr US>i&jHr in charge- of physicians who have made a life-time study of blood diseases. Dob.
‘‘‘UfiSi.J*"’ hesitate to write for anv information or advice wanted We make no charge what.
v*r for this. All correspondence is held in the most sacred confidence. THE SWIFT SPECIFIC COMPANY, ATLANTA, GA,
came with a will. From end to end the
fair grounds rang- with “Harwood! Har
wood! What’s the matter with Hu-ar
woo-od? He’s all right!” Nor would the
cheering cease until Harwood stood upon
a bench and took off his red cap to the
crowd.
Faith in their unparalleled pitcher made
the Gallia all superbly confident. Bill
Reed, th< first man up, went to the bat,
like a Trojan going to battle. Center
pjrt’s pitcher had tremendous speed and
110 curves. Ills third ball met Bill’s ashen
stick with a noise like the splitting of n
mast. When the fielder recovered it Bill
sat at second, fanning himself with Ids
can. The next man made a sacrifice hit
and advanced Bill to third. Colonel
leaned against the ball for a single—and
BUI came home, amid the shrieks of the
“fans.”
“One run! One man out!” said the
scorer.
Hollis reached first on balls.
“Jones to bat, and Harwood on dock!”
called the scorer.
Jones walked to The plate. Brent se
lected his stick. A bad fumble gave Jones
his life, and advanced each man a bag.
The bases were full—Colonel on third,
Hollis on second, Jones on first. Har
wood stepped to the pla'e. He was a safe
batter, but never a hard hitter—he was
too light, besides phenomenal pitchers do
not, as a lule, bat well. But this was
Harwood’s lucky and iy. The first ball pitch
ed came at him like a rifle bullet, exactly
where he wanted it, and the. parson rap
pod with all his might. It started on a low
incline, rising as it sailed, passed over
the heads of the fielders, who had edged
in. struck the ground far back of them
and rolled and rolled as though it couldn’t
stoo. •
Then Harwood mad* 1 bis first, last, only
home run. To this good day he does not
know how* h * did it. When he came puf
fing and panting across the plate the Gal
lias became a cyclone, which filled the
air with hats, coats, canes and timbrel
las. A locomotive w histle w*c uld have been
drowned in the hubbub. The grand stand
and the bleachers joined hands and car-*
ried Harwood on their shoulders. And
Harwood grinned.
Asa chronicle of sport the game after
ward was quite too one-sided to be inter
esting. But Gallia City sat watching it,
gorged, almost drunken with joy. No
game could be too one-sided for the Gal
ibins. They owed Centerport much, you
Fee! What did they care for close scores
and fine toi*us? Kve r y one of the forty
four runs piled up by the red-legged sons
of Gallia was to them an increment of
unalloyed bliss, and as such hailed with
tumult and sh uting.
The Centerports! They played like old
women, and wore trampled into the earth.
Their two poor runs were earned by the
rankest erroYs and gave no sort of com
fort. Their glory had departed along
with their nerve. Their name was “Icha
bod"—or worse. And they laid it all on
“that damned little‘parson,” as the cap
tain said sententiously that night "Gallias!
Nothin’. The Centerports can wallop them
easy. What we’ve been up against i?>—
Gallias and God.”
Thenceforth l’arson Harwood was Gallia
City’s idol. There were exceptions, it is
true—over-strait people, who were scandal
ized by the bar© thought of o minister
playing baseball. They made him all the
trouble they could, but that is outside the
story. He had won the mass of citizens,
and could do what he pleased, and have
whatever he would take that ley within
their gift. The church no longer lacked
a congregation. “We went to see the lit
tle preacher pitch,” said the people. “Now
we must go to hear the little pitcher
preach.” Everybody went. All sorts and
conditions of men and creeds squeezed into
th< pews and even sat upon ihe pulpit
steps and overflowed the dhoir loft.
Do you ask the sum and resultant of all
this enthusiasm? Better ask the mothers
of Gallia City—mothers whose sons are
good citizens because Brent Harwood
came to GaHia and played ball with them.
For there has reign od anew era in Gallia
City ever sine© the day her nine defeated
Centerport. Perhaps it would be more ac
turate to say the new era began upon
that night when Brent Harwood made the
nine promise to he gentlemen. If ever
Fate takes you to Gallia City do not for
get to ask about the “little preacher who
pitched.” You will be qure.to hear that
no evangelist has ever converted so many
men in that town as did “Parson* Har
wood’s curves.”
A LUCKY FIND.
Will Discovered in a Discarded
Bible.
The following incident was Related by
the attorney engaged in the case. It
was in his office on© languid afternoon
when he was in a reminiscent mood.
While ihe lawyer appreciated the roman
tic outcome, the earlier stages of the case
presented more of difficulty than romance.
A credulous old sailor in a sea-port town
had acquired a snug little property, and
settled down to end his days in peace
and quietness. There lived with him on
orphan niece of whom he was fond, and
whose kindness and gentleness did much
to comfort his declining years. But with
the easy temperament oY Jack on shore,
the aid man in time fell vlcilm to the
wiles V>f a designing housekeeper, whom
he married. His life with her was un
happy, and ahe tr< ited t nh al h
great harshness.
The girl rendered the old man every
service possible, and nursed him through
the long illness which resulted in his
death. He had Informed his niece that in
return for all her care and service, she
should be generously remembered in his
will. While the man lived, his wife got
everything into her hands that she could;
and when he died she claimed everything
in sight.
Notwithstanding the assurances given
to the girl that she should be provided for
by the will, no such instrument could t>e
found after o!d man’s death. The
woman denied the existence of any will,
and she probably w;s net aware of such
a document. Feeling secure in the pos
sesaion of what she claimed. h* deter
mined to keep a firm grip on it all. What
aggravated the situation was the fact
that she was dissolute in character and
habits and unfitted for the care or enjoy
ments Of anything of value.
The question was how could the niece
obtain that share In the pr>i>erty which
she had been led to expect, and w hich she
relt rightfully belong?.d to her. Site sought
legal advice, and suit was brought more
in the Ik>i>o of effecting some sort of set
tlement than ant.vhing else. But the avail
able evidence was m. unsubstantial that
the lawyer himself regarded the ease as
hopeless. The niece had nothing to' show
in support of lu r claims. The woman was
obstinate, and would not Ibt n to any
proposition of settlement. The lawyer
finally concluded that he would write a
letter to the opposing counsel, to the effect
that he would proceed no further with the
case which would simply be dropped. Just
then a curious thing happened.
The girl had. of course.' been inform© 1
that she had nothing to expect; she must
simply resign herself to the. inevitable. So
she decided to make n personal appeal to
die woman to let her have just one thing—
Ihe old man's Bible, which- had lain by ills
bed within reach. As the Bible was not
valued by the widow, the request was
granted. It was not a book of any inter
est to her. Afterwards, on turning over
the pages of the Bible, the girl was sur
prised to find paper carefully fo!dxl be
tween the leaves. This proved to be
nothing less than her uncle’s will, duly ex
ecuted. and leaving to her as substantia!
a portion of his property as she had ever
expected or sought,
There is a grim humor In the cunning
of the dying man hitting on a hidingfplace
within reach of his Isd, where th© paper
was safe from loss and the scrutiny of the
woman he feared. You may he sure that
the niece’s affection for the good book was
not diminished. William H. P. Walker.
1 speils lor liseil. j
480 Court land Ave.,
Atlanta, Ga., April 26th, 1900
Columbia Drug Company, Savannah,
Ga.:
Gentlemen—lt gives me pleasure to
heartily recommend “Infant-Friend
Powder,” and to give to you a singu
lar little coincidence connected With
it.
During the Cotton States and Inter-
I national Exposition I was presented
I with a little box of this powder, and
[was so pleased with it that I was ex-
| seeding.y anxious to get more, button
I looking at the box I found nothing
I but Savannah, Go., no other address. !
| 1 have often wished I knew where
I to get it. This morning’s mail brought
I your circular with enclosed sample. I
I Immediately referred lo my box, and
I found i whs the “Infant-Friend Pow
der.” It Is without doubt tho best
[powder I have ever used.
I Respectfully,
MRS. Wm. KING.
For sale by all Druggists.
Manufactured by
COLUMBIA DRUG COMPANY,
Savannah, Go.
CUBAN
WATER
I MONKEYS.
lEDMMI’S IS,
JIU BROUGHTON STREET. WEST.
COSVIFORT
For your stock The rty season is now on
us and the time to use
Tough on Flies,
n lotion when applied will prevent your
horses and cattle ficra being pestered. Try
It and be convinced.
HAY, GRAIN. BRAN, COW FEED,
CHICKEN FEED, etc.
T. J. DAVIS.
Phono 223. U 8 Bay street, west.
BRENNAN BROS.,
WHOLtSALB
Fruit, Produce, Grain, Etc.
122 BAY STREET. Wot.
Telephone BSS.
LEMONS.,
Black Eye, Pigeon and Cow Peas
Potatoes, Onions, Peanuts, and all fmito
and vegetables in season.
Hay, Grain, Flour, Feed.
Rice Straw. Maglo Poultry and Stock
Food.
Our Own Co w Fead. etc.
213 and 116 BAY, WEST.
W, 1). SIM KIN S & CO.
J. D. WEED & CO
MVANIAU, GA. •
Leather Belting, Steam Packing & Hose.
Agfnm for NEW YORK RUBBER
BELTING AND PACKING COMPANY.
LEOPOLD ADLER. C. B. EGLia,
President. Vice President.
W. F. M’CATJLET. Cashier.
THkGHfITHfIMBfINK
SAVANNAH.
Will be pleaded to receive the account*
of Merchants, Finns, Individuals, Banka,
and Corporations.
IJberal favors extended.
Unsurpassed collodion facilltlaa. la*u*
!ng prompt return*.
Sep irate Savin® Department
IXTUIbS l’ CUJMMtUNUKO i) n. n-
TEIU.V UK DEPOSITS,
fiafety Deposit Box*, anil Vaults fas
rent tYirrespondenee solicited.
THE GERMANIA BANK'
•SAVANNAH, GA.
Capital {200,00k
Undivided profits 60,000
i tus oank oilers .t services to corpora
tions, merchants and Individuals.
lias authority to act as executor, ad
ministrator, guardian, etc.
Issues drafts cn the principal cities la
Great Britain and Ireland and on th#
Continent.
Interest paid or compounded quarterly
or l < * p ! , °- s l ta In the Having Department.
Hofely Boxen for rent.
HENRY BLUN, President.
GEO. \V TIEDEMAN, Vice President.
JOHN M. HOGAN. Cashier.
WALTER F. HOGAN. Ass t Cashier.
The Citizens Bank
OF SAVANNAH.
, lra CAPITAL 5500,000.
11 a ‘* luklag
Business.
Solicits Accounts of Individuals,
Merchants, Bunks and other Corpo
rations.
Collections handled with safety,
economy nnd dispatch.
Interest compounded quarterly
allowed on deposits In our Sarlnffl
Department.
Safety Deposit Boxes and Storagt
Vaults.
BRANTLEY A. DENMARK, President,
MILLS 11. LANE, Vice President.
GEORGE C. FREEMAN, Cashier.
GORDON L. GROOVER. Asst. Cash tea.
SOUTHERN BANK
of th, Slate of f>orgl.
CP ltal UGO.CW
Surplus and undivided profit.—!3SS.oQo
Ob’ THIS dTATJfi u*
GEORGIA.
Superior facilities (or transacting a
Ueuerai (tanking Hualnsss.
Collection, made on all polntis 1
accessible through tranks and bankers.
Accounts of banks. Cankers, Merchant,
and otheis solicited, bate Deposit Uoxaa
for rent.
Department of Savings, Interest payable
quarterly.
Hells Stearltng Exchange on London IS
and upwards
JOHN FLANNERY. President.
HORACE A. CRANE. Vloe President
JAMES SULLIVAN. Cashier.
DIRECTORS:
JNO. FLANNEKI. WM W. GORDON.
E. A. WEIL. W. W. GORDON. Jr.
H A. CRANE. JOHN M. EGAN.
LEE ROY .MYERS. JOSEPH FBRST.
H P. SMART. CHARLES ELLIS.
EDWARD KELLY. JOHN J. KIRBY.
Mill ill
CAPITAL f350,000.
Accounts of banks, merchants, corpora
tions and Individuals solicited.
Savings Department, interest paid
Quarterly.
Safety Boxes and Storage Vault* for
rent
Collections made on all point* at rea
sonable rates.
Drafts sold on all tbs chief cities of tbo
world.
Correspondence Invited!
JOSEPH D. WEED, President.
JOHN C. ROWLAND. Vice President
" " '-**'? . " ——
No. KAO, Chartered, INI
TUB
IM*IS Mil Mt
OF SAVANNAH.
CAPITAL, fcAJO.OOO. SURPLUS, 100,000i
Lfsiu,u JlalES UivCOaiiOKY.
J. A. G. CARSON. President,
HEIRNE GORDON, Vice k resident.
W. M. DAVANT, Cashier.
Accounts ol banka and bsnkors, mar*
chants and corporations raielvsd upon
the most favorable terms coo platent with
safe and conservative banking'.
Ca*E YttIRSELF!
ifiSs^MsSSS!
rritatiems ulceratioat
>f in ucu u l membrane*.
I’ainlMß, and not astrio*
, K ut or pod, (mom.
Mold by ©rarglat*
or feat in |iiaio wrapper.
T prepM. 7a#
|i on, or 3 tle,
_ Circular edit on rogoof*
P CHICH ESTER'S CNQII |H
ENNYROyAL t'ILLS
_ . OrlahiaT and Only pmilnr.
#AFE. \lwye rnliNhld I,*<l p*. tilt I>r<i|Ut
JMS CIIU’HKSTEK’S KNGLIHH
rf iB HKII hold me'Nllr boxes wle4
* ilh blue riti ton. Take? no • (her. Rrfueo
fl J Bangamaa bat Hit Hot, l and imlta
-1 / W Bu J ® f 7ur i>ru((t Jor *eud 4e.Ta
VV* & “<* ‘‘Relief for I.ndlr*," n i#:i#r, by re.
1 I— — fr . turn Mali. 10,000 TeeUf Intake. Hold by
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Mention thl* paper. MaAUon Square, 1 UI.A.. FA!
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17