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Show I By LEE MEADOWS, PifcJier For TAe Cardinals B 1 . , 4fS&ft W -0aftSiiEff4.MtAv w -dHKBESH7E.HKirMk. .fr & t " .a-- j ttv j - rr o 7 1 yiwwlRM 1 jDHHHEeIH "t tomes a wo Kidnapers, 1 hen rails in Love. wi Pl; vft Bw Hi PHIflK' i 11 HIflE ! asBwBI OSCAR STANAGE H ( j It was st hnlf-stlfled cry H ' v In a woman's piercing Hj' ' voice, and Bill Craig sprang A J to his feet. In tho same M ' 1 - I Instant ho vaulted over the M stone fenco behind which M r "N (, he had been sitting, calmly M and reflectively smoking a matutinal cigarette' H He stood In a lonely country lane. About 50 H I feet from him ho saw a young girl struggling W desperately with two men who wero forcing K her Into a limousine. Ono of them was already K Inside and had her by tho arms, while tho H other, behind her, had ono hand across her H mouth while he tried to push her Into the car. H Bho was half In, but was fighting fiercely. In Ht another moment she would have been Inside H tho car. H BUI saw he couldn't reach her In time to H cayeher, and on the Instant he stooped down, H picked up a rock about half tho slzo of his fist, wound up, as if he wero working on tho hill H for the Maroons, and let drive. Straight and swift as a rifle ball tho stono Bpcd and landed against tho head of the man who was trying to Hj push the gfrl into tho car. Ho suddenly re- H loaacd his hold and staggered back with his H hand to his head. H Tho girl broko loose from tho hold of tho U man in tho car and, bewildered, ran toward i Bill, , The man Inside tho car quickly jumpod Bi out, seized his companion, who had fallen to 1 his knees, dragged him into the car, spoko a H! Word to tho chauffeur and in a moment tho car H was speeding in the opposite direction down tho Hl line. j , Bill caught tho girl gently by the arm rb she B started to rush, by him, apparently not seeing Hj him and not realizing to what sho owed her H deliverance. i 'You're not hurt?" ho Inquired pleasantly. ', Sho stopped and looked at him in a half- Hi Cazcd way. Then sho turned and caught a H, fcllmps of tho disappearing auto. 1 'They tried to kidnap me," sho gasped. "I H ?as Juat walking along when they seized me. I Hl don't even know who they were." H Sho was whlto and her breath came in gasps, H but it appeared to Bill that it was more from H' ho exertions of her strugglo than from fear. H, "They've gono now," ho said, quietly. "Sit J iown hero a minute and get your breath." Hi And ho led her to tho low stono wall which H frin beside the road. H "It was a great throw," sho declared. "You H tnust bo a ballplayer?" H" It was a half question. Hi . ''I'm down hero with tho Maroons," ho said. B h'm Bill Craig, one of tho pitchers." ft A pleased look camo Into her face. H That's right. Why, I saw you pitch a dozec B Utnes last year. I might have known it would B (ako a pitcher and a mighty good ono to throw H like that. Thank you so much," and sho held H but her hand to him. It was a tiny littlo hand Hj Ind it sent an odd flutter pulsing through H Sill's veins as he took it In his. H "Mighty glad I happened along," he said B ''Ever sco them before?" B j ' fiia hBliiiUd jl moment. , By. "Bill picked up a rock wound up as if he were working work-ing on the hill lor the Maroons, Ma-roons, and let dnve' "So, I never saw them before. I was walking walk-ing along when the machine came up behind me and the two men Jumped out and selr.od me. I tried to cry out, I behove I did once, and they had mo almost in tho car when you camo along. I have been walking along hc-e several mornings recently after breakfast," sho explained. ex-plained. "You aro stopping at the hotel?" Bill Inquired. In-quired. "Yes," sho hesitated. "I'm going back that way now," observed Bill. "If you feel rested you'd better como on with mo. You can tell your friends about this affair and they'll know what to do about taking tak-ing It up with tho police, Miss " He paused, but Bho -said nothing, merely jumping down off tho wall and walking by his side up tho road. It was in Southern Texas at a famouB health roEort where tho' MaroonB were doing their spring training. Tho team had been there about a week, but Bill did not remember seeing tho girl among the several hundred guests at tho hotel. ' "Havo you been hero long?" ho Inquired as thoy walked along. "About a week," sho returned. Bill decided, the more ho looked at her, the prettier sho appeared. Sho was rather plainly dressed in a 3hort walking sklrc and neat waist and ho liked tho way sho carried herself and tho polso of her small head. "Mobt women would havo hysterics by now," he thought, "She's certainly a gamo kid." Sho said nothing more until thoy had covered threo-quartcrs of tho two-mllo distance to their hotel. l "I want to ask you as a favor, Mr. Craig," sho Bald, suddenly. "Not to mention this matter to anyone. I would appreciate it very much. It would embarrass mo and might causo mo to lose my position." She raised her dark bluo eyes to him. i "Certainly, I won't say anything," ho de-l de-l clared heartily. "But you must tell your friends r at tho hotel." I Sho hesitated. "I am a maid with a family l there. I would rather they didn't know anything i about this. "Sho stopped again. "I want you to know I feel deeply thankful for your klnd- . ncss. But plcaso don't say anything about IL" "Now don't ou worry about my saying any- ihlng.'i Bill said. "But you let your people know. j . . iiij 111 m I , j ..p.p .y ,i i , , ,. j i 'Its fEm. about it. Those fellows might como aiound again. I generally take a littlo walk after breakfast break-fast and cheat a little on the boss oy smoking a cigarette, which Is strictly against the mica and bad for an athlete's constitution That's why I was sitting thero behind the wall. I had walked through tho woods and decided to take a rest and a smoke and I wasn't particularly anxious for anyone to sec mo smoking a cigarette." cig-arette." Sho laughed gayly and had apparently regained re-gained her composure. She told Bill that sho lived in tho Maroons' home town, and the year before, when ho broko Into tho big league, she had often seen him pitch. Sho slopped when thoy reached tho edgo of the grounds surrounding the hotel. "I must say good-by now," sho said, demurely. de-murely. "Well, now, I think you might tell mo your namo and let mo go out walking with you tho next time you go. You certainly need an escort," es-cort," ho said. ' Sho paused as If In doubt for a moment. Then said: "I don't know, Mr. Craig. I am a maid in the family of Silas Buckley. They aro stopping stop-ping hero, you know. Thero aro several maids in tho party, and Mrs. Buckley doesn't like for them to go about much. "Wo nro paid good wages and very nicely treated, but sho likes. for us to stay In tho sulto most of tho time. You know wo havo about a dozen rooms off in ono corner of tho second floor. Wo tnko our meals there and she doesn't oven llko lor us to go with tiny of tho other mald3 In tho hotel." "I'm not Intending to bo fresh on short acquaintance." ac-quaintance." ho said, quickly. "No, no. I didn't think that," she exclaimed. 'Til tell you what I'll do. If I can got off soma ovenlng thl& week I'll call you on tho phono and If you wish wo can go to a movlo show. I'd like to go. Now I must go on In," and with a bright smllo sho hastened away and entered tho hotel through a side entrance. It was two evenings later just before dinner, and ho was Hitting with several of the othor players In the looby when a bell boy called him to a telephone booth. "Mr. Craig?" Inquired a, femlnino voice, and , W Bill Immediately felt .1 littlo thrill In his pulses as ho recognized tho voice. "How are you?" ho inqulrod. And to nor rcsponso that iho was well, he roturned, "1 hope you called me up to toll me we could go in town and sec the movies tonight?" "I havo tho evening off," sho returnod demurely. de-murely. "Well, wo'll go. Suppose I mcot you about 7:30, Miss " "Sarah Adams." she laughed over tho phone. "I forgot to even tell you my name. If It suits you I'll meet you at the main gateway at 7.30." "I'll be right there," he leplled. He was a fow minutes ahead of time and had to wait a short while before he saw a dark chid, slender figure flitting down the drive toward him. "I hope I'm not late," sho said as she gave him her hand for a fleeting moment. And then thoy waited outside under tho electric elec-tric lights for a trolley to tako them to the city two miles away. She woro a little dark straw hat bound round with a veil which half shaded her face, but ho saw that her eyes wero sparkling. She chatted gaily and when they reached tho city she suggested that they look in tho shop windows awhile beforo going to tho show. Tlmo flew swiftly, while Bill told ner something some-thing of tho training camp and how tho plaj'-crs plaj'-crs worked out. "We'ro going to havo an exhibition gamo hero tomorrow with tho Detroit Tigers," he said. ".Let mo get a couple of tickets and you como. Can't you got off?" "Let me soe. I'll think it over,," Bho said. "I do want to go." "Hore it's after 10 o'clock," suddenly exclaimed ex-claimed Bill. "And wo'd better bo hurrying back to tho hotel." They departed, caught a car and while- they were riding out sho suddenly obsorved. "I bo-llovo bo-llovo maybe I can go to the game tomorrow." "All right, I'll leavo a couple of tickets at the gate for you, Mlas Sarah Adams, and you Just ask for them," ho replied. "Sit back of our bench, on the right hand side," and sho agreed to do this. u When they got olf the car ho Insisted that he would walk with her to the side entrnnco of tho hotel, the prlvnto entrance of the Buckley's Buck-ley's sulto. Sho demurred a bit but finally itorecd. "It's dark around there and maybo those friends of yours might bo prowling about." There was no light burning on the veranda, but In tho hallway there was a light. As they stepped up on the veranda sho held out her hand and said hoftly, "Good night. I've had sveh a flno lime. And I'll be at the gamo tomorrow." to-morrow." "Call mo up after the game, will you?" "I don't know. Maybe I will If I get & chance." She smiled up Into his face and appealed ap-pealed to forget that he still held her hand. With her disengaged hand, though, she pressed a button on tho door, and In a moment they saw on tho glass panels of tho door the reflection re-flection of some ono insldo who was unlocking tho door. "Go, now, good night," sho said, softly. Sho was very cloee to Bill and her bright oyes looked very bright na they smiled into his In tho half darkness and thon, to crown It nil sho gavo his hand a gentle pressure as sho started to withdraw It. And in tho same Instant Bill leaned over and kissed her on her smiling lips. She gavo a little gasp and thon pushed him away as tho door was openod and sho gilded Inside. Next afternoon ho left two tickots at tho gott for "Miss Sarah Adams," and Just beforo this game, when he was warming up in front of tho bench, he saw her and another young woman wom-an sitting several rows back of tho Maroons' bench. He glanced toward her onco or twice, but each time her attention appeared to be centered elsewhere. Bill pitched tho flrst four irnings. It was the usual kind of spring exhibition ex-hibition game. Some good ball and a lot of bad ball. Hughcy Jennings, on tho coaching lines, chewed grass In mld-scason form, Sam Craw- ford whaled out a monstrous drlvo off Bill which Lange, a recruit outfielder, caught by a great Jump In tho air. Stanago gavo a great exhibition of catching and James had tho Ma-loons Ma-loons guessing in the threo Innings he pitched. In the third inning Bill struck out a couplo of tho Tigers, after ono was out and two men on base, and whon ho camo Into tho bench at tho end of tho inning tho crowd gavo him an ovation. Ho glanced at Sarah Adams and caw her standing and waving her handkerchief. nd It was 10 her ho lipped his hat and sho smiled directly back at him. That evening Just beforo dinner thero waa a tolcphono call for him. "Mr. Craig?" inquired a rather stern voice. And when ho had answered Bho went on. "I should not havo called you up at .all but we aro going away In tho morning and I thought I would give you a chance to apologize, at loast," "That's Just what I want. When will I see you tonight?" "You can apologize now," she replied. "Well. I Just can't apologize over the phone, '' he Insisted. "It won't sound sincere. If you don't let mo seo you I'll come over there and break Into the Buckley eulte and sea you," AWFOtfD fi-Sej - --" fT "., 1'ffi' fl?.' H' ' JFwWa i u Sr ,:m I 1 JHEii JmtJMK" m i wWmm&mm A 1 JflKj I'll hae a half hour off at about 7.30," she said. "And you come over to that private door. We can sit out on the veranda a little whilo long enough for you to apologlzo, anyway." "Thank you," he said humbly, but there was a smile on his face whon ho left the booth At 7 30 he ascended tho steps to tho veranda and thoro found Miss Adams, comfortably ensconced en-sconced In a large rocking chair. Thero was a dim light burning on the gallery further down and they were in a half twilight as he drew up ti chair In answer to her invitation, and sat down beside her. , She greeted him as If nothing had happened, t although her color wa6 slightly heightened. ' "Ilow'd you like the gameT" he Inquired, easily. "Oh, very well. You did pretty good work. y cho replied. . "Well, I'm ready to apologize," he began. But Si she broko Into a gale of laughter. ft "Don't," sho roturned. "You owe mo a mil- Vj lion apologies, but I'll take them for granted. ; Anyway, you won't havo a chance again, for i. we're going away tomorrow and wo won't seo f. each other again." ' "But wo will," he declared vehemently. "Look hore. We don't know each other well, but I p love you and I want you for my wife. And J you've got to marry' me. You mustn't go , around acting as maid to any family. You're y. going to murry me and you're going to do It j: tomorrow." V Sho had sprung to her feet and was gazing at "; him in wldo-eycd amazement. j "Why. Mr Craig!" she exclaimed. I "Well, what about It?" Bill demanded. He stood besldo her and put his arms on hef shoulders, looking squarely into her eyes, which after a littlo drooped beforo his. ' "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," sho murmured. J' And then sho sank back into her chair and j began silently weeping. "What is it, girlie? What's tho matter?" h ( Inquired tenderly. ; Ho sat down besldo her and gently put one I' arm about her neck, drawing her to him. Ho took her handkerchief and tenderly wiped tho ft tears from her face, and then kissed her. f "You must not do that, Mr. Craig." sho said l; quietly. "I must tell you. I am to be married as soon as wo return home." ; "But you shall not. You're going to marry me." ho cried. m "It's too late now. Bill," sho said gently, and K sho took his hand between hers. "Wo mustn't talk about that. You'd better tell mo good-by i now." ; Sho rose again from her chair, and as h started to protest Bho stopped him. Jf, "Please don't," sho begged. "You'll only make It harder for mo. I wish I had known t you before, perhaps but it's too late now p Good-by." Sho did not resist whon he took her In hl f! arms and kissed her, but sho gently drew nor- p self away from him. "You must go. I can't stand it any longer. '? Good-by, and raising her face eho kissed him. 1 .Then swiftly she entered tho hotel. Bill stood 5 for a few moments and then slowly walked i away. A fow minutes later ho was In his room, f "Hero's a picture of old man Buckley's daugh- f ter In tho paper from homo," announced Ted t Mahan, his roommate, who was sitting on th J- side of his bed glancing over tho papors. It's , h. too bad a queen llko that can't show herself . f down here," and he handed tho paper to B11L B Uninterested, Bill glanced at tho picture: X; "Miss Sarah Adams Buckley, daughter of tho steol king, Silas Buckley, who has several times i! tear thr subject of attempted kldnaplngs on the imrt &. persons who wished to hold her for 5 ransom, will bo married in April to Howard $ Urban, ono of tho most prominent figures In local society." f And then he read of tho several attempts of Jj a band to kidnap her so as to extort a heavy . ransom from hor millionaire father. And when ho had finished he stared long and hard at the Photographed face of Sarah Adams, wbJcft i W.ujhJJrojaJh5 firjnj&o; afiH, i f J |