ys interesting. In
an apparently accidental way, Braxton, who had been scribbling aimlessly
upon some pieces of paper that lay on the table, led the talk toward the
subject of handwriting.

"It's a gift to write a good hand," he remarked. "It's got to be born in
you. Some men can do it naturally, others can't. I'm one of the fellows
that can't. I'll bet Horace Greeley himself never wrote a worse hand than
I do."

"I've heard that he was a weird writer," smiled Joe.

"The worst ever," rejoined Braxton. "I've heard that he wrote to his
foreman once, ordering him to discharge a printer who had set up a bad
copy. The printer hated to lose his job and an idea struck him. He got
hold of the letter discharging him and took it to Greeley, who didn't know
him by sight, and told him it was a letter of recommendation from his last
employer. Greeley tried to read it, but couldn't, so he said he guessed it
was all right and told him he was engaged."

Joe laughed, and Braxton tossed over to him a sheet of paper on which he
had written his name.

"Greeley has nothing on me," he said. "If you didn't know my name was
Braxton, I'll bet you wouldn't recognize these hen tracks."

"You're right," said Joe. "I'm no dabster myself at writing and I can
sympathize with you."

"It couldn't be as bad as this," challenged Braxton, slipping a pen over
to Joe, together with a fresh piece of paper.

"No," said Joe, as he took up the pen, "I guess at least you could make
mine out."

He scribbled his name and Braxton picked up the paper with a laugh.

"I win," he said. "You're bad, but I'm worse. You see I am proud even of
my defects."

He dropped the subject then and talked of other things until Joe, stifling
a yawn, excused himself and went to his cabin.

The reception of the party in Australia went far beyond their
expectations. That remote continent has always been noted for its sporting
spirit and although of course the English blood made cricket their
favorite game, the crowds were quick to detect and appreciate the merits
of the great American pastime.

As a rule they would not concede that the batting was any better than that
shown by their own cricketers, but there was no question as to the
superiority of the fielding.

The lightning throws, the double plays, the marvelous catches in the
outfield and the speed shown on the bases were freely admitted to be far
and away beyond that shown by their elevens. And the crowds grew la