It Happens Every Spring Page #5

But he has!

Please call the police, and tell them

to stop their search at once.

I cannot overemphasize the urgency of this.

Why that in itself is suspicious.

My associates are rather rough and ready,

and their peculiar skill is a

constant source of astonishment.

Skill at what?

How should I know?

The work is strenuous and exciting,

but the financial rewards are quite fantastic.

Yes, they must be.

Well, isn't that rather unusual

for scientific demonstrations?

It's not unusual.

Whatever he's doing is not legitimate.

I don't know whether I have chosen wisely

in casting my lot with this particular group.

But whether I have or not,

the die is cast.

Oh dear. That does sound rather ominous, doesn't it?

Certainly does.

I'm sure there's some explanation.

Yes, the explanation's very simple.

He's mixed up with some kind of a racket.

Oh, Father, you've no right to assume that.

Well he certainly got his leave of absence

under false pretenses.

I can't forgive him for that.

Now, now wait, Alfred.

I'm sure he'll clear it all up very soon.

He says I won't hear from him for several months.

Well why not?

He says it'll be too risky.

Debbie, darling, I-

I've always liked Vernon,

but your father's perfectly right.

It all sounds very strange and frightening.

Of course it may not be a real diamond, only glass.

Father, of course it's real.

The box is from Mark's.

Well, I'm going into St. Louis tomorrow,

I'll take it in, and I'll-

-No you're not.

-Why not?

Because I don't care if it's glass or not.

I'm going to wear it.

[Crowd noise and bell ringing]

You just about made it.

What were we expected to do?

Get here early and polish the engine?

Tobacco?

No, thank you.

He's getting old. He can't steal anymore.

Yeah, and poor old Bush last week.

The bums knocked him all over the lot.

Yeah? I'm layin' for him. We'll kill him.

Come on, boys. Let's get on the train.

Hello, Debbie?

Debbie, I've just seen Vernon.

He was taking a train for Chicago.

He was with a lot of men.

Oh, they were very tough-looking, all of them.

They looked like, well, you know-

like gangsters.

Oh, Mother. Gangsters?

How do you know?

Know?

You should've heard what they said!

Oh, you must be wrong, Mother.

It may have looked like him,

but I know it couldn't be Vernon.

[Indistinct chatter]

You're out!

[Crowd cheers]

Kelly's bearing down.

Every pitch counts now.

Last half of the ninth. One out.

One more out is all Kelly needs

to reach the heights.

I won't tell you what those heights are.

That'll jinx him.

You know the ol' baseball superstition.

Nobody ever mentions what Kelly is trying to do.

But the score is one to nothing for St. Louis.

Slugging Sammy Lee is up.

The tension among the crowd is terrific.

They're going wild.

Here comes the pitch.

Strike one!

[Crowd cheers]

Strike one is called.

A few weeks ago, Kelly was unknown,

but tonight he's trying for every pitcher's dream.

But Lee means business.

A hit here could break up this ballgame.

He's not giving away any presents,

and neither is Kelly.

Strike two. This is it.

One more like that is all Kelly needs.

[Whoop]

You're out.

He's done it!

Kelly's done it!

He's pitched a no-hit, no-run game.

Come on, sweetheart. Let's celebrate.

Well, I'm kinda tired, Monk.

And my arm's pretty sore.

Ah, forget it, kid.

This is our big night.

Jimmy says we can have a glass of beer.

Alright.

Here he comes.

Hey, Kelly.

Howdy, Kelly!

Wait, whoa.

No, no, please.

Who does he think he is?

Wait, wait, wait.

Now don't get him wrong.

Kelly's a great guy.

He's just tired.

He was a G.I., see? He had it rough,

and them flash bulbs got him upset, that's all.

He'll talk to you. Wait.

Kelly-

You gotta talk to those guys.

Square yourself.

They can ruin ya.

Exactly, one recognizable

picture in the paper, and I'm-

Look, kid- I'll tell 'em no pictures, see?

But ya gotta talk to 'em.

All right.

Come on in, boys. Kelly's waitin'.

But no flash bulbs, see. No pictures.

Where did Dolan find you, Kelly?

What's your hometown, Kelly?

Where'd you pitch last year?

Gentlemen, gentlemen. Please, one at a time.

Is it true that you're an ex-G.I., Kelly?

Yeah, what about it?

Yes, yes. I was in the service.

As a matter of fact, it was there that I

developed my ability to pitch.

I was stationed on a small island

off in the corner of the Pacific,

and the Army supplied our outfit

with all recreational equipment,

mostly baseball gear.

As a matter of fact,

they sent enough for two full teams,

although there were only ten of us on the island,

and hardly enough flat ground

to put three shacks on.

So, out of sheer desperation and boredom,

I spent months pitching to another lad

on a narrow strip of beach.

And of course you know if you spend that much time

doing anything you're bound

to become quite skillful at it.

What about before the war?

Yeah.

Before the war.

Well, before the war, you see,

my life was extremely colorless and dull.

And as a matter of fact,

I'm really very tired tonight,

gentlemen, so, if you'll excuse me

I'll say goodnight-

Yeah, you boys got your story.

Come on, now. Let's go.

Great game, Kelly.

Hey, that sure was some yarn

you handed them, sweetheart.

I sure gotta give it to ya.

Thanks.

Strangely enough, it happens to be true.

Hey, Monk. You're wanted on telephone.

Long distance.

That's Mabel.

[Crackling noise]

[Crackling]

[Crackling]

How's the arm, kid?

Well, it's still pretty sore, Monk.

I told you not to walk around with

your arm bare like that after I rubbed it.

You gotta keep it warm.

I'm gonna shave!

You're gonna put a sweater on right now.

I don't own one.

Then you'll wear mine, see?

Here, put it on.

Go on. Get into it.

You know, you're pitching today,

you silly cluck.

Yes, I know.

If I don't suffocate first.

How you expect me to shave with a

turtleneck sweater, I don't know.

Hey, today's the second.

I forgot.

I've gotta go downtown.

-We'll stop on the way to the field.

-No.

This is something personal.

I'll see you down at the field.

Hey, wait a minute, Foo-man-choo.

[Phone rings]

Yes, Mabel.

Yes, Mabel.

Here's your receipt for the balance.

Did the lady like the ring?

Oh, I don't know. I hope so.

Would you care to look at some wedding rings?

No, thank you.

Not 'til the end of the season.

Debbie!

Vernon.

Look at you.

Well, I must apologize for my appearance.

What are you doing inside there?

-Well, if you must know, I-

-No, no. Don't tell me.

I know.

I read about Chicago, Vern.

You did?

You're not going to try the same thing here.

You can't right on Locust.

They've got guards and police.

Debbie, what are you talking about?

Oh, don't pretend you're so innocent.

After all, I'm not a child.

Hey, have you seen Kelly?

Kelly who?

Not Kelly Who.

King Kelly the pitcher.

[Crackling]

'Scuse me, boss.

I needs a drink.

You can't expect me to keep on worrying about you.

Not knowing where you are or what you're doing.

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