12 Sports Aces, May 1943 — page 38: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

36 12 SPORTS ACES £2 OOO Bn Ore Oreo bebe CRO OH Pr Pare Sore - 9+ Os grinned wryly. The old grandstand stuff again, The game went on and the next hitter cracked a greund ball toward see- ond base near the bag. Jig was playing the batter that way; he took the bal, stepped on the sack, and fired to first to complete the double play. He turned and tossed his glove aside and then hesitated. Down on the ground he saw the thin red film, almost obliterat- ed by the dust now, but he knew what it was. He saw a few more drops on the ground. He went in toward the dugout and he saw Eddie Duncan trying not to limp. He saw the wet dark stocking clingmg to his ankle, And he knew that Eddie Dunean had stayed in there because the Bears were short of good utility men. An injury would break the backs of the Bears. Jig was still thinking about that when he went up to the plate. He stood there and was called out on strikes. He went back to the dugout. Slattery stepped in and hammered the first pitch over the fence to give the Bears a one-run lead. The lead held. The Bears went out one, two, three in the ninth and it was another victory, another step toward the flag. Jig Clayten went back to the hotel. Afterwards, he left the lobby and rode upstairs to the fourth floor. He went down the hall, knocked at a door, and then went inside. Eddie Duncan sat in the chair, his _ tight leg propped up, a towel tossed over it. Jig said, “You ean eut out the act, Buncan. I know what happened out there today.” Eddie Duncan said, “Se what?” Jig sat down on the edge of the bed and lighted a cigarette. “I’ve never liked you, Duncan.” The kid said, “That goes double. So what are you doing here?” “Maybe I’m curious,” Jig said. Eddie Duncan hunched up a little in the chair and the towel fell off his leg. Jig could see the gash made by the spikes across his ankle and the ugly, bruised - swelling. 1A Behe 1 See eee Ser Gor GG Ge Su SS Pir Sr Sr Srr Gu Sor Ser GooOre + “You wouldn*t understand,’ Eddie Duncan said. “You’re not that kind of guy, Clayton. You’re the kind of guy, every time you got to bat, you’re think- ing of your average. You never think about the team, about how you can help win a game. You play them al} for Clay- ton, you’ve always played them that way. And now I think you better get the hell Oat.” *: IG CLAYTON looked down at him a / minute then went outside. He left the hotel and wandered through the streets. He went into a bowling alley to try and forget what was on his mind. Sitting back of the alleys he watched the games. There was a crowd on hand, they were discussing the pennant chanees of the Bears. Jig Clayton sat there Hstening, not taking any part in the conversation. “That Duncan,” someone said. “He's made the team. A spark plug. Keeps ’em on their toes all the time.” There was general assent from the lis- teners, One man disagreed, He said, “The kid’ll crack in the stretch. Wait and see.” They didn’t like it, they hopped on the speaker and Jig cut in. He said, “The kid’s only hitting two sixty-seven. He makes errors.” “The best man in that infield,” the man next to Jig said hotly, “He ean make an error an inning and I'll still say so.” Jig said, “A hell of a lot you know about baseball.” He was prepared to leave, but the man he had addressed also got up. He gave Jig a shove, angry and ready for a fight. “Maybe you want to get tough about it, pal. 7? Jig said, “I os that loud mouthy—” The man swung on him. Jig eonnected with a right hand, then he was being held from behind. He didn’t say any- thing. He could feel his hand swelling up. He’d busted a thumb. That was smart, wasn’t it, he thought. Jig Clayton, who took care of himself, busting a hand on some guy he’d never seen before. For a guy who played his cards close to his vest, that was certainly dumb. , He thought that he had played it smart all his life. He had money in the bank comichook ‘GO