South Pasadena High School - Copa de Oro Yearbook (South Pasadena, CA)

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C O P A E O R O eee motioning to a chair, said, “Hear about the game?” “No, what game?” asked Stubby. “The Westburys had it hung on to them today by that team that just entered the league this season. I think they blow from Wilmington.” “That’s good. Rather see them have the championship than the Westies. But what of that? That’s not so much to disturb a fellow for.” “No, but I have an idea, and—” “Really! An idea! Let’s have it quick,” interrupted Stubby, producing paper and pencil. “Don't get sarcastic, but iet a man have the floor. ‘There’s a rumor that we have a pitcher in school. You know that big fellow that entered school a couple of months back? He’s the chap. Been a Freshman four years, and got canned up north for raising a rough-house in the Physical Gig Lab. Mitchell's a good pitcher, but last Saturday he got so rattled in the ninth in- ning that he threw away the game. Now, here is my idea: ‘This pitcher, Benson by name, can play in no league games until a week from Saturday, as he has to be in school here ten weeks. Next Saturday we play Wilmington, and he will then have been here only nine weeks. Aren't you able to make it rain or snow, or can’t you devise some scheme for postponing that game until a week from Saturday? ‘Then we will have a chance to win, and if we beat Wilmington, we will have another whack at Westbury. Of course, I don’t know what kind of a pitc her Benson is, but we will find out Mon- day night. It is my plan to put him in the box when we play the Preps then in the practice game.” “Happy thought,” said Stubby, “but I don’t know of any way to make rain or snow or postpone that game. Probably we'll have luck. But say, Dick, how did you find out about this Benson?” “T have a little friend among the Freshies, and he has a cousin in the school from which Benson came. ‘This cousin writes, in every letter, praises of Benson's pitching, and my young friend tells me about it. Kind of nice to have friends among the Freshmen.” A timid knock was heard on the door, and a Freshman poked his head in and asked if he might enter. “‘No,” said Stubby, “this is no kindergarten.” “Yes, you may,’ said Dick, explaining to Stub that this was the youthful collegiate; was his friend of whom they had just been speaking. All three had a pleasant chat until bedtime, when Stubby Raymond and the Fresh betook themselves to their own rooms. The following Monday, in the practice game with the Preps, Benson was put in the box to try out for pitcher, and he made good. Mitchell now took a back seat, and Benson was the hero of the college. He and Stubby were constant companions, only leaving each other’s presence when they were compelled to. A queer looking pair they made, Benson towering a head or more above Stub, but fairly worshiping him. On Friday, the prayed for rain came, and the game was postponed until a week from Saturday. “Play ball!” said the umpire, and Benson pitched one straight over the plate. ‘The batter hit the ball to the short-stop, who threw him out at first. Harrisburg rooters cheered until it seemed as if their lung's would break. On the bleachers opposite the Harrisburg rooters, the Wilmington sup- porters were very meek. ‘he second man at bat got a hit over short-stop, and the attitude of the rooters was reversed. At the end of the first inning the score was 1 to O, in favor of Wilmington, and remained the same until the eighth inning, when Harris- burg tied the score. Both sides of rooters now redoubled their cheers, and, at the be- ginning of the last half of the ninth, the Harrisburg end of the bleachers was a mass of banners, hats, handkerchiefs and neckties flying in the air, Benson having fanned three men in succession. Stubby Raymond ran over to Benson and slapped him on the back, grabbed one leg and bade little Percy Studious do the same to the other. Percy dropped his books, which he usually carried with him, and did Stub’s bidding, and to- gether they carried him to the bench. ’‘I'wo men now were up who fanned. ‘What’s the use of making a ten-inning game of

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O Fy A Is O R O knew that girl to get caught at any of her pranks yet,” and Nell walked slowly to her room. ‘ : ; : That evening, the two girls were dis- cussing the events of the day. “I know very well that the faculty, and especially Professor Perm, suspected me,” said Mar- jorie, “but since I am a woman they will give me the benefit of the doubt. I surely am going to be nice to that poor Freshman.” A SECLUDED CANYON TI BE RT HA W. ALL Ker aR iz All is still! The only sound that breaks the solitude is the tinkle of the tiny brook wending its merry course over moss grown stones, and the whisper of the flowers as they brush past each other in the crooning winds. Pines, long standing, have reached a sum- mit to the skies, and in their sweet, hushed solemnity, pause each morning to receive the benediction of the coming day. Be- tween the spaces of the branches, soft, white-flecked clouds are seen chasing each other over the sunny blue, and reflecting their softness in the depths of the mirror below. Farther on, the grasses quiver slightly in the breeze; then! a whir of wings, a flash of light, and a lark has soared upward to meet the sun, awakening the whole earth with his harmonies of song! It was a gloomy crowd that crossed the campus ¢f Harrisburg college after the game with the Westbury nine. There were no colors flying, no shouting was to be heard, and little Stubby Raymond, cap- tain of the team, did not even crack one joke all the way to the gym. On this day had been played the greatest game of the season. Had Harrisburg won, it would have meant the championship for three years in succession, and this meant the privilege of keeping the cup, awarded to them for winning the championship three years in succession. But the cup was lost to their worst enemies, the Westbury nine. Still the path leads ever on and soon a precipice is reached, over which the brook falls in a shining band of glory, reaches the earth below, and singing, bubbling, rip- pling, rushes along, quickly losing itself in the distance. Some blossoms, bolder than the others, swing outward over the rocks, only to be caught by the dashing spray and tossed back again and again, brushing the other flowers with their dewy freshness, and causing the whole place to seem brighter for their boldness. The day wanes, and soon is past. It seems as though the very brook ceases its singing and at Nature’s command relapses into a state of rest! The tall pines sing to each other crooning lullabys, the darkness falls—and all again is still! BR eA Ger Oma N i elas Mie Saturday evening, one week after this, Stubby Raymond sat in his room, reading. The door opened, and a servant stepped in and informed him that Dick Johns, who was manager of the team, wished to see Stubby in Dick’s room. Stub put on his coat and obeyed the summons, knowing Dick had something important to tell him or he would not have broken into his even- ing’s study. “Well, what can I-do for your royal high- ness?” asked Stub on entering. “You must think I’m made to shag around and do your bidding.” Dick seemed to be in deep thought, and,

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Cc O P A E O R O a OE en eS ee this?” asked Stub of Benson, who was now at bat. “Why not end it now?” “Guess I might as well,” responded Benson, and, 1 baseball terms, “he leaned up against the The and the score of this game hickory for a home run.” next man at bat fanned, was 2 to 1, Harrisburg’s favor. Preparations were now in progress for the Harrisburg-W estbury game, to be played in two weeks at Westbury. “lhere’s no use talking,” said Stubby, “there will be dirty I know the Westies. “Yes, the coach, “we'll have to keep Benson’s arm play. ” agreed in shape and also train Mitchell in case we happen to need him. It’s hard to tell what might happen.” Benson’s pitching was the talk of the school, every evening at practice, ¢ and even the Freshies, came out to see his curves. It was Friday evening when Dick rushed Stubby’s dragging into room, holding, or rather Percy Studious, by his coat col- lar. Sippy was rearranging some postal cards in a rack which he had on the wall. He looked up in astonishment and asked, “What's the matter, Dick; can’t you scrape up someone larger to pick on?” “Tt’s not that, Stubby; Percy valuable information.” has some “That's no reason why you should wring his neck. Let him explain.” “It’s this way,” said Percy. “I happened to be at Westbury yesterday visiting my aunt. I thought delightful it would be to see them practice, so I strolled All the fellows talking about the new pupil. how very out to the athletic grounds. were From what I could gather, there was a new stu- dent, who was an excellent pitcher, and who is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. I asked an acquaintance if he were out on the grounds then, and he pointed out to me a tall, thin positive that | knew him, but I did not know fellow. Who was he? I was just where ‘t had been that I had made his I studied for awhile, and, He used to pitch professional ball for a small eastern league, Smith. ‘What’s name?’ I asked of a bystander. “Thomas,” he replied. ‘Of course, thought I, ‘he wouldn’t enter college under his own name acquaintance. like a flash it came to me. and his name was his . 9 if ie wished to play ball. said Stubby ; “don’t say anything about this to anyone, and we Good for you, Perc,” will have a good chance to protest that game tomorrow.” SATO save, now? promised Percy. “But may I not go I have to prepare Caesar, Geometry, and Rhetoric for Mc ymnday.” “Yes, you're excused,” said Dick. “What good luck!” said Stubby. The bleachers were packed with rooters. Freshmen, Preps, and upper classmen, school teachers, old and young, men, women, and children carried banners, pen- nants or ribbons bearing the colors of one of the opposing teams. What seemed to be the the ‘They were not giving any yells. the raised his hands for silence. He matter with Harrisburg rooters? Presently Stubby appeared before bench and gave a little speech, the purport of which was that, being without a yell leader, he would nomi- nate Percy Studious for that honored posi- tion. Everybody seemed to be in favor of this but icallv objected to yells of the order of which Percy. This studious youth rad- college yells were. Thereupon two + Sopho- mores, to show off, carried him to the stand in front of the bleachers and presented him with a megaphone. The cheering on both Just as the Stubby stepped to the sides was now about even. game was called, umpire and officials of the game and pro- When the Westbury nine saw that they were found out, they tested ‘Thomas. knew it would be better to put in their regular pitcher and possibly win, than to win and have the game protested. Everything went well until the eighth in- ning, when the score was 1 to 0, Harris- burg’s favor. Benson came to bat and hit the ball to short-stop, who threw it high to the first baseman. Anyone could see that it had been pre-a The first base- caught it, arranged. man made a jump for the ball, and came down on Benson’s foot with all his might, spiking him so severely that he could scarcely walk. Harrisburg rooters could scarcely be restrained from being violent, for every one was angry at having lost by foul play their best player