Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

BARBER SHOP CHORDS. “Oh, Lord!” breathed Bill, with par- donable fervor. “If I knew that I wouldn’t be sitting here suffering the way I do.” MeNulty swung at the ball and missed. Ball thumped his thighs savagely. Agaim the crowd roared its encourage- ment. Again McNulty SmMEIE and missed. Again Bill groaned. ‘‘ He seems to be cool enough,” said Hob- son. ‘TE know it,” gasped Bill. cool.” It seemed as if Bill was right, for Mc- Nulty’s attitude was almost one of detach- ment. Im the silence that fell over the dia- mond his voice could be heard humming one of the songs Taynor had taught the quartet to sing so frequently. The humming grew louder and burst into audible words. ‘Then Crawford, the Pirate catcher, joined with him and made it a duet. Crawford appeared to be in no hurry to give Hornby the signal for the next bal? he should pitch. Instead, he employed the delay to take up the tenor part of ‘“‘ Mandy Lee,” while-McNulty sang the lead. ‘Their voices grew vibrant as they approached a significant chord at the end of the line. _ Bill Joslin leaped up from the bench, en- raged. Suddenly he steod still, rooted to the spot by the sight of Taynor walking in from third base. ‘ 'Fhat’s alt wrong,” shouted Taynor. He walked deliberately down the base line to- ward the singing batter and catcher. ‘‘ Look here, Crawford, the tenor doesn’t go down on that chord. It takes a half note rise—”’ ‘Go back! Go back!” cried Bill, run- ning out from the bench, beside himself at the sight of Taynor strolling casually to- ward the plate, as if there were no other issue at stake but the chord in “ Mandy Lee.”’ Hornby, the Pirate pitcher, took a step forward and prepared to throw the ball to Crawford, alive to the chance of catch- ing Taynor halfway between third and home —a position whose disadvantages Taynor seemed in no way to sense. He continued to. direct his attention and advice to Craw- ford while the crowd looked on, amazed. ‘““Go back!” shrieked Bill Joslin. “ He’s too 229 ‘“T knew how that swipe goes,” Crawford retorted to Faynor. ‘“‘ No, you’re wrong,” insisted Taynor, ap- proaching. ‘“J’ll show you how it goes. ‘Your eyes, they shine like diamonds, love—’” His voice rang strong and clear. And at that moment, while Crawford came forward to meet him on the third base lme, and Hornby, the Pirate pitcher, leaped forward to toss the ball to his catcher, Tay- nor suddenly sprang into action. He de- serted harmony for home. Like a shot he darted past Crawford, who turned with @ cry and tried to return to the plate ahead of him. ‘Fhe ball came flashing through the air from Hornby and landed in Crawford’s out- stretched hand. The latter swung around to tag Taynor, but in that instant Taynor slid into the plate. The umpire’s lifted hand pronounced ‘Taynor safe. It was also the signal for a barbaric tu- mult of triumph, with the crowd surging out over the field, shouting, cheering, throw- ing hats in the air, and otherwise conduct- ing itself in an insane fashion in celebration of the Blue Sox as the league champions. Bill Joslin was bewildered, but happy. At the bench he pushed his way through an excited throng in an effort to reach Mr. Hobson, shake him by the hand, and so demonstrate that he had brought him the promised pennant. But Hobson ignored him and brushed past toward Taynor. ““~ want to hear that fellow sing those notes again. He’s got a fine B-flat arrange- ment. Maybe I can use it on the Presby- terian Church organ.” Bill dropped back on the bench, weakly. ‘“‘'What was that, Taynor?” It was Pudney’s voice, paying tribute to his cateher as they moved forward sur- rounded by a crowd of admiring, jubilant fans. “Was it the kangaroo’s kilties or the “alligator’s garters?” “‘ Neither,” smiled Taynor. “ It was the hyena’s harmonica.”’ Bill Joslin staggered to his feet. “‘'Fhe next time I hire a ball team,” he gasped, ‘“I’ll go to a singing school or the zoo—I don’t know which!” comiclbooolx C©