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Show SI L-m IA'1 nKmJT 1 ULirX mWl- i?F L MEADOWS, H Pitcher for the Cardinals H 'VE heard of fresh breezes and B j " ' j I've seen some, but tho fresh- est thin? I'vo over soon is a H y 'busher,' " announced Sam H Woodman. Tho little group of s 1 ballplayers on tho veranda of H --J. tho Southern hotel said H r nothing. One or two of thorn H exchanged winks. No one looked directly at H Bob Estcs, who sat In a, largo arm chair a llt- H tlo to ono sido of the main group and gazed H ellontly out on tho hotel garden abloom with H lilies and roses. "That's tho one drawback about a training H camp, tho bushors. Everything clso down hero H is fine. Tho weather's been good, tho hotel and h tho food aro all right and thorc aro plenty of H lively girls to go about with, but the busher H is and always will bo the blot on tho landscape H of every training" camp," and Woodman leaned H back and took a luxurious puff at his cigar. B He was a trim, neat-looking young fellow, H dressed perhaps too much in tho height of Hl fashion and wearing a flashy diamond scarf pin H and a largo diamond on one hand. He was one Hl of tho stars of tho game, not a typical one, but 1 ono of a certain type well known to ballplayers. H "Oh, come now, Sam," drawled JInrry Con- nay, tho catcher. "You wero a busher onco H yourself, weren't jou, and, if I remember right. and Estcs, after glancing coolly at his enemy, strolled toward the other end of tho veranda. "Let's hurry up out to the park," exclaimed Coleman. "This hot sun may not last long and it's tho thing for tho arms Como on," and, followed by a dozen of tho players, he started for tho ball park where tho Greens wero doing their spring: training. Estcs was in tho group which walked with tho minagcr out to the paik, but Woodman lingered behind a few minutes and went out with somo of tho others later. "You handed him somo pretty hot stuff, kid," remarked Conncry, In a low tono to Estes, aa ho fell in stop with tho recruit. 'Yoj don't vant to havo any troublo with him If you can help it, but It's Just as well you let him know where to got off. You and tho rest of the - -. 'Bob quickly swam to the pier rookies are all right and that stuff about being fresh is all bunk. "VI be ono of tho first to see an fresh stuff, pulled off, and there hasn't been any ot that aioiind." Then ho laughed. It was a hard work-out that afternoon. "I know this Florida weather," declared Coleman on tho field, as ho coached tho young pitchers. "We've got to grab all this hot sunshine sun-shine we can. It's likely to rain or turn cool most any time. Year beforo last wo wero down here, and two-thlrd3 of tho tlmo wo couldn't work on account of bad weather." Estcs was lined up with threo other joung-sters joung-sters who wero pitching to Connery, and ono of tho other catchers, and as tho manager talked ho strolled behind tho pitchers, making no remarks, re-marks, however, about their work. After a whllo ho told the threo others td go In the outfield and chaso flics for awhile, and then he donned a. mask and ordered Estc3 to throw him a fow. "Alight put a llttlo stuff on the ball if your arm fcols all right," ho called to tho pitcher as he crouched down, Tho first two balls wero straight over, then Coleman signalled for a curve and thon a low balL Finally ho called Conncry to stand with the bat in front of him. He caught half a V dozen and thon called a halt. "Whatcher think of him, Harry?" ho inquired in-quired in a low tono of tho veteran catcher. "Looks pretty good. Got as good control right now aa anybody in mldseajlon," was tho answer. "Looks to mo that way," replied Coleman, and ho went toward tho clubhouse. A little later ho gave tho signal for work to end and the men, hot and perspiring, hastened Into the clubhouse and under the cooling shower batha. "See tho board?" asked Connery. Jvs ho stepped step-ped under a shower with Estes. 'The latter shook his head In reply and then Inquired Why. "Take a peek," said Harry, with a smile. Estes hastened to ono sido of tho room whero several of the players wore gathered in front of a bullotin board, and, leaning over, ho read ; tho list of thoao who would go to Jacksonville i tho next day to play in tho two-game series i with the Athletics, tho first practlco games of tho season. His own name and that of an- i other recruit pitcher. Small, appeared on the list, they being the only young pltchci3 to make tho trip Ills faco flushed with plcasuro as he saw his name. It was really tho first mark of real encouragement en-couragement ho had received from tho manager. man-ager. As ho turned back to his shower ho encountered en-countered tho Bnocrlng gazo of Sam Woodman, but even that failed to i-poll Ills Joy. After his show or ho romalnod at the club-houso club-houso to have his arm and shoulder rubbed and when he reached tho hotel ho encountered Helen Morrow with Sam Woodman, tho center of a llttlo group of players and girls who wero stopping at the hotel They were Just leaving the hotel and Helen, pausing, called to Bob, "Como on and go walking with us." Bob, seeing see-ing Woodman's scowl, approachod her and accompanied ac-companied them to tho nearest corner, walking one side with Woodman on the other. She was a pretty, bright-faced girl, and Bob "had met her tho year before whllo ho was at college. Ho had Leon with her several times slnco he had Joined the team, and it was this, which ho knew and all tho other players knew, hid so enraged Woodman against him. "A crowd of us aro going up to Jacksonville tomorrow and root for tho team," Helen announced an-nounced to Bob. "That'll bo fine," ho rejoined, heartily. "I'm so glad jou'ro going," sho said. "Wo expect jou to do a lot." "Well, don't expect too much, and I'll try not to disappoint you if I get in either of tho games," ho smiled back., whilo Woodman walked on Helen's sido In sullen silence. That night Bob saw Holon depart with Woodman and several other men and girls for tho picture show, tho one fcaturo of "night life" the little Jown afforded. Next morning Coleman took a squad of fifteen fif-teen players to Jacksonville for the games with tho Athletics and a doon or more of tho guosls at the hotel, who had bocoiino loyal rooters for tho Greens, accompanied them. Helen and her mother, for whoso benefit they were spending tho "winter in Florida, going with them. Tn the preliminary warm-up that day, Bob was picked aa tho first pitcher to faco the Athletics. Ath-letics. His support was ragged and it was duo to errors more than' anything that tho Mack-men Mack-men got two run3 off him in that first inning. But In iho second Inning, ho faced a trio of Philadelphia's star sluggers, Mclnnls, Oldring and Lirry Lajolc. Why go into details? They knocked him off the mound, Mclnnls and Oldring gottlng on by virtue of clean, hard singles, and both scoring on Lajolo's screaming trlplo to center field. Thcro was none out at tho time and Coleman motioned Bob to "the bench. With scarlet faco ho walko orHtho diamond, not daring to look at the "box whcra.he'knQw Helen sat. Bob slipped away 'Trom tho park beforo tho garao was, over and moodily walked back to tho hotel, no ato dirincr before tho remainder of tho crowdgot In and then 'went out In front of the.hptbl. ., i Later, others camri outsldo and sat in the peasant night air, but he remained at ono corner cor-ner in the semldarkncss. It's not tho most pleasant feeling in tho world to be knocked out of the box' In'your first essay In the "bX lesgue, and Bob's fo&lrit&Ve&W of the most pleasant. pleas-ant. f i BlHBMBMfMa y ' ii"'j"' . ' t. A REEL FBOM THE I TRAINING CAMP 1 ftp?- v - pjB I H s?'f'Zit-3T''" . ' "'"rCTtSSSSSi :M.r.- . .:u.wJi lBKz ZF&SSaBm - JWeimmX VSi.m iBaff s &? m H you w cro protty fresh when you first broke Into H tho big lcaguo five years ago," and he smiled, H remlnlbcently. H "Well, if I was fresh I had something to back H It up with," retorted Woodman. "I made good H nnd I did it pretty soon. I suppose you'll ad- M znit that?" H "Granted, granted," murmured tho other, H H inquired Bill Mason. H "What's the kick about In particular, Sam?" Hl "Ob, nothing In particular, so much," said H tho other, slowly. Then ho glanced in the H direction of Estcs, who was looking tho other H way. "If I was fresh when I broko into fast H cdigpany I at least knew my place enough not H to butt in on tho regulars, especially beforo I H know whether I was going to stick with tho Hl team, or not." H Thcro was a snicker from several of the Ht- H tlo group, and ono or two of them exchanged H glances as they looked toward Estcs. But the H recruit pitcher gave no sign that ho heard any H of Woodman's remarks. Ho merely continued H rocking back and forth in his chair. H His attitude appeared to anger Woodman. B "Yes, when they sco a Jane's taken a fancy H to a regular they appear to think it's their duty H to butt in and H "Shut up." H It was a short, sharp command from Estes as H he roso from his chair and approached Wood- H man, who stared at him in insolent amazement. H "Cut out that talk, I'm tired of it," said tho H recruit, quietly. "You've been riding somo of B tho oihcr recruits and have gotten away with H it, but I'vo heard Just about enough of your Hl month. So shut up." Hj "You think you can make me?" H "I know I will. The trouble is you're noth Hj ing but a rat, and c;ery man on tho tcana H knows It. There's not a one has a Dit of uso H for you on account of your swelled head. (And j yet you keep on talking, talking, talking. Ifa 1 e. good thing you'ro a good ballplayor or you'd H be starving to death. As it la, becauso you'ro B w'th tho team and it'sado up of nlco fellows H ou aro received by nice people." H Ho apoko quietly and evenly without a traco H of agitation, but he raised his voice a llttlo Just H bore and continued: H "I como from this part of tho country and a gentleman doesn't discuss ladies in tho tono H you havo adopted. It's probably tho proper Hl tone In tho place you como from, but you'll H have to chango it down here, clso you'll got a H lesson in manners." H Woodman sprang to his feet at the dellber- H .to insults hurled at him, but at that moment 1 Coleman, the manager, stepped out .from the lobby of the hotel and a calm fell upon the H group. Woodman acinic back in his chair, the H other nlayora broke into desultory conversation " i i 1 1 ujyA( j)j "Hello, Estcs," exclaimed one of the men. "Don't go. Sit down," he said, as ho roso from his chair and cxtendod his hand. Bob hesitated and then shook hands with big Larry liajoie, "You know Mclnnls and Oldring, Mr. Estes," siid Larry, and introduced him to several other mon in tho group. Bob sat down among them for a few minutes, min-utes, and soon felt at home in tho presenco of these players, some of the real stars of tho game, unaffected, kindly young men, who appeared ap-peared to go out of their way to put him at his -easo. "That was a nice curvo you unhooked there a couplo of times," remarked Lajoie. "If you'd worked it a llttlo moro you would havo had us going, but It's not wise to put any stuff on the ball these practlco games." "Coleman's Uko Connie," put in Oldring. "Ho doeBn't want his pitchers to use any stuff this early in the training. It wouldn't do." It was Just about this time that a tall, s.paro, black-clad figuro Joined the group. "Ah, Estes?" ho inquired, in a kindly tone, as ho' shook hands, "I was Just saying tljat wart a good curvo ho unhooked onco or twice," remarked Lajolc "It was," wild the great lessor, heartily. "But you want to be careful abut it this early." And in a fow minutes tho sting of his defeat had almost beon wiped aw"S' by a- few tactful words. A3 he went lnsldo tho lotrtry r- saw Helen Morrow with tho cver-prc3cnt Woodman by hor falde. His faco flushed and ho merely bowed, walking out on the ,tioet. ' Ho was up early the noxt morning, and after ' brca"kfast strolled down on tho river front, where, standing on a dock, ho watched tho busy hceno whero numerous freight and ieveial passenger pas-senger steamers wero tied up. Ho had escaped meeting any of his party by partaking of an early breakfast, and as thcro was no work-out that morning there was nothing to bo dono until gamo time, when ho would have to roport at tho park. IIo was gazing out over tho broad expanse of St. John's River when ho heard a scream from tho othor end of tho dock, and at tho same moment a splash in tho water. He turned and Instinctively throw off his coat as ho caught a glimpse of a tiny head of golden curls as it bank boneath tho water a dozen feet away. Head first ho sprang into the water as ho heard tho shrieks of tho negro nurbc, whoso tiny charge had fallen off, the dock. Down, down, down ho went, and then his hands camo- In contact with a soft, llttlo body. Seizing n with ono hand he made for tho surface. sur-face. He wa.s but a short distance from tho clock, and he quickly struck out for It, keeping the head of tho child abovo tho water. Ho was a strong, powerful swlrnmerJ and It did not require more than a dozen strokes to get him to the dock, which was high abovo tho water. Ho held on to a piling while a ropo was being thrown to him, and ,ns ho glanced upward ho saw tho white faco of Holon Morrow as sho leaned ovor tho railing of a bhlp tied at tho next dock. Sho was with a party which had strolled down to the docks nnd had gone on board tho ihip. Bob, holding the child under one arm, was quickly drawn up nnd it was Sam Woodman who leaned over and carefully lifted the child from Bob's arm. Then, handing it to the hys- 1 t a ) v f Wvkv)h 23g2gLAroiE" torical nurse, ho helped Bob 'clamber on to th dock. "Here's your coat, old man," ho said, briskly, : : handing Bob the coat he had thrown off a few minutes before. "Look's llko you've lost your hat. Xow como on and got in a taxi and I'll take you to tho hotel and you can chango your clothes In a Jiffy. You don't want to catch cold Tho kid's all right." i Ho called a cab and accompanied Bob to tho hotel, where ho helped him got Into dry gar- A meats. "How you, feel now?" ho inquired, solicitously after tno change had been made. 'X "All right," ox-claimed Bob. "I wasn't in tho j; water Jong enough to got really wet, you know." j "Well, you don't -want to catch cold In that arm. It's going to help us stay In first division 1 this year," and he patted Bob on tho shouldor. ; ; Every traco of tho sneering arrogance had dis appeared. . ' That afternoon Bob was again tho first pitch- er to faco the Athletics, and tho bath In tho -waters of tho river appeared to havo changed ! ' his luck, for, In the three innings Coleman kopt , ': him In tho box, ho issued but two passes and but ono hit was obtalnod off him. -' As he came in after that third Inning h looked toward tho box where Helen Morrow sat , with several other girls Ho had not talked ' with her since tho dny before and had not soon '. 5 her slnco tho Incident on tho river that morn- ing, Sho caught his eye as ho passed tho box ' and she and the girls with her led the applausa "' that grcctod him. 'j ' That night after a quiok supper tho party left Jacksonville for its own camp. Whon Bob ' ;. went into the Pullman, the first porson ho saw 1 ' was Helen and sho motioned him to tho vacant i: seat beside her. J A llttlo later, Sam "Woodman came down tha aisle, ajid as he passed by he paused lonff fi enough to remark, with a smile, "Looks like tha ?V busher ia stealing home," but thero was no 1 Lrace of rancor in his volco. f 1 3. |