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diff --git a/27338-h/27338-h.htm b/27338-h/27338-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6638475 --- /dev/null +++ b/27338-h/27338-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7909 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Baseball Joe Around the World, by Lester Chadwick. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.ppg-pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.ppg-pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + .figleft {padding: .5em .5em 0 0; float: left;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.2em;} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + div.la p {text-align: left; margin: auto 0;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + .blockquot {margin:0.5em 5% 0.5em 5%;} + hr.minor {width: 35%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + div.ra p {text-align: right; margin: auto 0;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.4em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Around the World, by Lester Chadwick + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Baseball Joe Around the World + Pitching on a Grand Tour + +Author: Lester Chadwick + +Release Date: November 27, 2008 [EBook #27338] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 330px; height: 398px;' /><br /> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 330px; height: 512px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 330px;'> +IT WAS A HAMMER-AND-TONGS CONFLICT FROM START TO FINISH.<br /> +<i>Baseball Joe Around the World</i> <i>Page</i> 221<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:2.2em;'>Baseball Joe</p> +<p style=' font-size:2.2em; margin-bottom:0.5em;'>Around the World</p> +<p style=' margin-bottom:1em;'>OR</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:3em;'>Pitching on a Grand Tour</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1.5em;'><i>By</i> LESTER CHADWICK</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'>AUTHOR OF</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>“BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,”</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:5em;'>“THE RIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.</p> +<p style=' margin-bottom:4em;'><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p> +<p>NEW YORK</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:2em;'>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto; '><tr><td> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:0.2em;text-align: center;'>BOOKS BY LESTER CHADWICK</p> +<br /> +<p style='text-align: center;'>THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:0.7em;text-align: center;'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated</p> +<br /> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE AT YALE</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD</p> +<br /> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:1em;text-align: center;'>THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:0.7em;text-align: center;'>12 mo. Cloth. Illustrated</p> +<br /> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>THE RIVAL PITCHERS</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>BATTING TO WIN</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS</p> +<br /> +<p style=' margin-bottom:2em;text-align: center;'>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, New York</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>Copyright, 1918, by</p> +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Cupples & Leon Company</span></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>Baseball Joe Around the World</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>Printed in U. S. A.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>In Deadly Peril</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_IN_DEADLY_PERIL'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Quick As Lightning</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_QUICK_AS_LIGHTNING'>12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Stranger’s Visit</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THE_STRANGER_S_VISIT'>22</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Top Of The Wave</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_THE_TOP_OF_THE_WAVE'>32</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Lucky Joe</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_LUCKY_JOE'>40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Circling The Globe</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_CIRCLING_THE_GLOBE'>49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Gathering Of The Clans</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_THE_GATHERING_OF_THE_CLANS'>60</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Rival Teams</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_THE_RIVAL_TEAMS'>67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Under Dog</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_THE_UNDER_DOG'>75</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>By A Hair</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_BY_A_HAIR'>84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Close Call</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_A_CLOSE_CALL'>93</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Dastardly Attack</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_A_DASTARDLY_ATTACK'>103</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Danger Signals</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_DANGER_SIGNALS'>112</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Weird Game</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_A_WEIRD_GAME'>119</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Bewildered Umpire</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_THE_BEWILDERED_UMPIRE'>128</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Putting Them Over</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_PUTTING_THEM_OVER'>135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Man Overboard”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII__MAN_OVERBOARD'>143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>One Strike And Out</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_ONE_STRIKE_AND_OUT'>150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Braxton Joins The Party</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_BRAXTON_JOINS_THE_PARTY'>155</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>In Mikado Land</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_IN_MIKADO_LAND'>164</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Running Amuck</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_RUNNING_AMUCK'>175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Taking A Chance</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII_TAKING_A_CHANCE'>183</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>An Embarrassed Rescuer</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_AN_EMBARRASSED_RESCUER'>191</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Blow Falls</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIV_THE_BLOW_FALLS'>200</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXV</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Cobra In The Room</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXV_THE_COBRA_IN_THE_ROOM'>207</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVI</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>In The Shadow Of The Pyramids</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVI_IN_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_PYRAMIDS'>213</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Signed Contract</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVII_THE_SIGNED_CONTRACT'>220</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVIII</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Whirlwind Pitching</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVIII_WHIRLWIND_PITCHING'>227</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Ruined Castle</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIX_THE_RUINED_CASTLE'>234</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXX</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Brought To Book—Conclusion</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXX_BROUGHT_TO_BOOK_CONCLUSION'>240</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<div class='ce' style=' font-size:1.4em;'> +<p>BASEBALL JOE AROUND</p> +<p>THE WORLD</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I_IN_DEADLY_PERIL' id='I_IN_DEADLY_PERIL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>IN DEADLY PERIL</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Great Scott! Look at this!”</p> +<p>Joe Matson, or “Baseball Joe,” as he was better +known throughout the country, sprang to his +feet and held out a New York paper with headlines +which took up a third of the page.</p> +<p>There were three other occupants of the room +in the cozy home at Riverside, where Joe had +come to rest up after his glorious victory in the +last game of the World’s Series, and they looked +up in surprise and some alarm.</p> +<p>“Land’s sakes!” exclaimed his mother, pausing +just as she was about to bite off a thread. +“You gave me such a start, Joe! What on earth +has happened?”</p> +<p>“What’s got my little brother so excited?” +mocked his pretty sister, Clara.</p> +<p>“Has an earthquake destroyed the Polo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span> +Grounds?” drawled Jim Barclay, Joe’s special +chum and fellow pitcher on the Giant team.</p> +<p>“Not so bad as that,” replied Joe, cooling down +a bit; “but it’s something that will make McRae +and the whole Polo Grounds outfit throw a fit +if it’s true.”</p> +<p>Jim snatched the paper from Joe’s hands, with +the familiarity born of long acquaintance, and as +his eyes fell on the headlines he gave a whistle of +surprise.</p> +<p>“‘Third Major League a Certainty,’” he read. +“Gee whiz, Joe! I don’t wonder it upset you. +That’s news for fair.”</p> +<p>“Is that all?” pouted Clara, who had been having +a very interesting conversation with handsome +Jim Barclay, and did not relish being interrupted.</p> +<p>Mrs. Matson also looked relieved and resumed +her sewing.</p> +<p>“Is that all?” cried Joe, as he began to pace +the floor excitedly. “I tell you, Sis, it’s plenty. +If it’s true, it means the old Brotherhood days all +over again. It means a fight to disrupt the National +and the American Leagues. It means all +sorts of trickery and breaking of contracts. It +means distrust and suspicion between the members +of the different teams. It means—oh, well, +what doesn’t it mean? I’d rather lose a thousand +dollars than know that the news is true.”</p> +<p>“But perhaps it isn’t true,” suggested Clara, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +sobered a little by her brother’s earnestness. +“You can’t believe half the things you see in the +papers.”</p> +<p>“Will it hurt your position with the Giants, +Joe?” asked Mrs. Matson, her motherly instincts +taking alarm at anything that threatened her idolized +son.</p> +<p>Joe stopped beside his mother’s chair and +patted her head affectionately.</p> +<p>“Not for a long time if at all, Momsey,” he +replied reassuringly. “My contract with the +Giants has two years to run, and it’s as good as +gold, even if I didn’t throw a ball in all that time. +It wasn’t the money I was thinking about. As a +matter of fact, I could squeeze double the money +out of McRae, if I were mean enough to take +advantage of him. It’s the damage that will be +done to the game that’s bothering me.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps it won’t be as bad as you think,” ventured +his mother. “You know the old saying that +‘the worst things that befall us are the things that +never happen.’”</p> +<p>“That’s the way to look at it,” broke in Jim +heartily. “Let’s take a squint at the whole article +and see how much fire there is in all this smoke.”</p> +<p>“And read it out loud,” said Clara. “I’m just +as much of a baseball fan as either of you two. +And Momsey is, too, after all the World’s Series +games she’s seen played.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span></p> +<p>It is to be feared that Mrs. Matson’s eyes had +been so riveted on Joe alone, in that memorable +Series when he had pitched his team to victory, +that she had not picked up many points about the +game in general. But anything that concerned her +darling boy concerned her as well, and she let her +sewing lie unheeded in her lap as Joe read the +story from beginning to end.</p> +<p>“Seems to be straight goods,” remarked Jim, +as Joe threw the paper aside.</p> +<p>“They’ve got the money all right,” rejoined +Joe. “They’ve got two or three millionaires who +are willing to take a chance and put up the coin.”</p> +<p>“One of the names seems to be rather familiar,” +remarked Jim, with a sidewise look at +Joe. “Do you remember him?”</p> +<p>“I remember him,” replied Joe grimly, “but I’d +bet a dollar against a plugged nickel that he remembers +me better yet.”</p> +<p>“Who is it?” asked Clara with quickened interest.</p> +<p>“Beckworth Fleming,” replied Joe.</p> +<p>“Rather a pretty name,” remarked Mrs. Matson +absently.</p> +<p>“Prettier than he was when Joe got through +with him,” interposed Jim with a grin.</p> +<p>Mrs. Matson looked up, shocked.</p> +<p>“Oh, I hope Joe didn’t hurt him!” she exclaimed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></p> +<p>“Whatever Joe did was for the good of his +soul,” laughed Jim. “I can’t say as much for his +body.”</p> +<p>“It’s all right, Momsey,” smiled Joe. “He was +insolent to Mabel, and I had to give him a thrashing. +But that’s neither here nor there. He’s the +spoiled son of a very rich man, and he’s one of +the men behind this new league. ‘A fool and his +money are soon parted,’ and he’ll probably be +wiser when he gets through with this than he is +now.”</p> +<p>“But why shouldn’t they start a new league if +they want to?” asked Mrs. Matson. “I should +think they had a right to, if they wanted to do it.”</p> +<p>“Of course they have a right to,” agreed Joe. +“This is a free country, and any man has a right +to go into any legitimate business if he thinks +there’s money in it. Neither the National League +nor the American League have a mortgage on the +game. But the trouble is that there aren’t enough +good players to go round. All the really good +ones have been already gobbled up by the present +leagues. If the new league started in with unknown +players, it wouldn’t take in enough money +to pay the batboys. The consequence is that it +tries to get the players who are already under +contract by making them big offers, and that leads +to all sorts of dishonesty. You take a man who is +making three thousand a year and offer him six +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +if he’ll break his contract, and it’s a big temptation.”</p> +<p>“They’ll be after you, Joe, sure as shooting,” +remarked Jim. “It would be a big feather in +their cap to start off with copping the greatest +pitcher in the game. They’d be willing to offer +you a fortune to get you. They figure that after +that start the other fellows they want will be +tumbling over themselves to get aboard.”</p> +<p>“Let them come,” declared Joe. “I’ll send +them off with a flea in their ear. They’ll find that +I’m no contract jumper.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure that you’d never do anything mean,” +said his mother, looking at him fondly.</p> +<p>“There isn’t a crooked bone in his head,” +laughed Clara, making a face at him as he threatened +her with his fist.</p> +<p>“The contract is enough,” said Joe; “but even +if I were a free agent, I wouldn’t go with the new +league and leave McRae in the hole. I feel that +I owe him a lot for the way he has treated me. +He took me from a second-string team and gave +me a chance to make good on the Giants. He +took a chance in offering me a three-year contract +in place of one. I’m getting four thousand, five +hundred a year, which is a good big sum whatever +way you look at it. And you remember how +promptly he came across with that thousand dollars +for winning twenty games last season.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span></p> +<p>“We remember that, don’t we, Momsey?” said +Clara, patting her mother’s hand.</p> +<p>“I should say we did,” replied Mrs. Matson, +while a suspicious moisture came into her eyes. +“Will we ever forget the day when we opened that +letter from the dear boy, and the thousand-dollar +bill fell out on the table? It gave us all the happiest +time we have had in all our lives.”</p> +<p>Jim, too, mentally blessed that big bill which +had brought the Matson family to witness the +World’s Series games and so had enabled him to +meet Joe’s charming sister. Perhaps that vivacious +young lady read what was passing in his +mind, for her eyes suddenly dropped as they met +Jim’s eloquent ones.</p> +<p>Joe flushed at this reference to his generosity, +and Clara was quick to cover her own slight confusion +by rallying her brother.</p> +<p>“He’s blushing!” she declared.</p> +<p>“I’m not,” denied Joe stoutly, getting still +redder.</p> +<p>“You are so,” averred his sister in mock alarm. +“Stop it, Joe, before it gets to your hair. I don’t +want a red-headed brother.”</p> +<p>Joe made a dash at his tormentor, but she +eluded him and got into another room.</p> +<p>“Come along, Jim,” said Joe, picking up his +cap. “Let’s warm up a little. We want to keep +our salary wings in good condition, and maybe the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +open air will help to get the bad taste of the new +league out of our mouths.”</p> +<p>They went into an open lot near by and had a +half-hour’s practice, pitching to each other at a +moderate pace, only now and then unlimbering +some of the fast balls that had been wont to stand +opposing batters “on their heads” in the exciting +games of the season just ended.</p> +<p>“How does the old soup bone feel?” inquired +Jim.</p> +<p>“Fine as silk,” replied Joe; “I was afraid I +might have strained it in that last game. But it +feels as strong now as it did at the beginning of +the season.”</p> +<p>They had supper a little earlier than usual that +night, for with the exception of Joe’s father, who +was busy on a new invention, they were all going +to a show that evening at the Riverside Opera +House. It promised to be an interesting entertainment, +for the names of several popular actors +appeared on the program. But what made it especially +attractive to Joe and his party was the +fact that Nick Altman, the famous pitcher of the +“White Sox” of Chicago, was on the bill for a +monologue. Although, being in the American +League, Joe and Jim had never played against +him, they knew him well by reputation and respected +him for his ability in their chosen profession. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></p> +<p>“As a pitcher he sure is classy,” remarked Joe. +“They say that fast inshoot of his is a lulu. But +that doesn’t say that he’s any good on the stage.”</p> +<p>“He’s pulling in the coin all right,” replied Jim. +“They say that his contract calls for two hundred +dollars a week. He won’t have to eat snowballs +this winter.”</p> +<p>“Jim tells me that a vaudeville manager offered +you five hundred dollars a week the day +after you won the championship for the Giants,” +said Clara.</p> +<p>“So he did,” replied Joe, “but it would have +been a shame to take the money.”</p> +<p>“Such a shrinking violet,” teased his sister.</p> +<p>“I’m sure he would make a very good actor,” +said his mother, who would have been equally +sure that he would make a good president of the +United States.</p> +<p>The night was fine, and the town Opera House +was crowded to its capacity. There was a buzz +and whispering as Joe and his party entered and +made their way to their reserved seats near the +center of the house, for Riverside regarded the +famous pitcher as one of its greatest assets. He +had given the quiet little village a fame that it +would never have had otherwise. In the words +of Sol Cramer, the hotel keeper and village oracle, +Joe had “put Riverside on the map.”</p> +<p>There were three or four sketches and vaudeville +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +turns before Altman, who, of course, was +the chief attraction as far as Joe and his folks +were concerned, came on the stage. He had a +clever skit in which baseball “gags” and “patter” +were the chief ingredients, and as he was a natural +humorist his act went “big” in the phrase of the +profession. Knowing that Joe lived in Riverside +and would probably be in the audience, Altman +adroitly introduced his name in one of his anecdotes, +and was rewarded by a storm of applause +which clearly showed how Joe stood in his home +town.</p> +<p>“You own this town, Joe,” laughed Jim, who +was seated between him and Clara—Jim could be +depended on these days never to be farther away +from Clara than he could help.</p> +<p>“Yes,” mocked Clara. “Any time he runs for +poundkeeper he’s sure to be elected.”</p> +<p>Joe was about to make some laughing retort, +when his quick eye caught sight of something that +made the flush fade from his face and his heart +lose a beat.</p> +<p>From the wing at the left of the stage <i>a tiny +wisp of smoke was stealing</i>.</p> +<p>Like lightning, his quick brain sensed the situation. +The house was old and would burn like +tinder. There were only the two exits—one on +each side of the hall. And the place was crowded—and +his mother was there—and Clara! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></p> +<p>His plan was formed in an instant. He must +reach a narrow corridor, by which, out of sight of +the audience, he could gain the back of the stage +and stamp out whatever it was that was making +that smoke.</p> +<p>He rose to slip out, but at that moment a big +bulk of a man sitting two seats ahead of him +jumped to his feet with a yell.</p> +<p>“Fire! Fire!” he shouted wildly. “The house +is on fire!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II_QUICK_AS_LIGHTNING' id='II_QUICK_AS_LIGHTNING'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>QUICK AS LIGHTNING</h3> +</div> + +<p>For one awful instant the crowd sat as though +paralyzed.</p> +<p>But in that instant Joe acted.</p> +<p>With one powerful leap he reached the frenzied +shouter, his fist shot out, and the man went down +as though hit with an axe.</p> +<p>Up the aisle Joe went like a flash, cleared the +orchestra rail at a bound, and with one more +jump was on the stage.</p> +<p>The audience had risen now and was crowding +toward the aisles. Women screamed, some +fainted, and all the conditions were ripe for a +panic.</p> +<p>Above the hubbub, Joe’s voice rang out like a +trumpet.</p> +<p>“Keep your seats!” he shouted. “There’s no +danger. I tell you to keep your seats.”</p> +<p>The crowd halted uncertainly, fearfully, +and Joe took instant advantage of the hesitation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p> +<p>“You know me,” he cried. “I tell you there’s +no danger. Haven’t you ever smelled cigar smoke +before?”</p> +<p>The suggestion was a happy one, and the crowd +began to quiet down, regaining their courage at +the sight of that indomitable figure on the +stage.</p> +<p>Jim had been only two jumps behind Joe in his +rush to the front, and while Joe was calming the +crowd Jim had rushed into the wing and dragged +down some draperies that had caught fire from a +gas jet. In a moment he had trampled them +underfoot and the danger was over.</p> +<p>The orchestra had seemed to keep its wits better +than the rest of the throng, and Joe signaled +to the leader to strike up a tune. The next instant +the musicians swung into a popular air, and +completely reassured, the people settled down +into their seats.</p> +<p>And while Joe stands there, exulting in his +triumph over the panic, it may be well for the sake +of those who have not read the preceding books +of this series to sketch something of his life and +adventures up to this time.</p> +<p>Joe’s first experience in the great game in which +he was to become so famous was gained on the +diamond of his own home town. He did so well +there that he soon became known in the towns +around as one of the best players in the county. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +He had many mishaps and difficulties, and how he +overcame them is told in the first volume of the +series, entitled, “Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars; +Or The Rivals of Riverside.”</p> +<p>A little later on, when playing on his school +nine, he had obstacles of a different character to +surmount. The bully of the school sought to +down him, but found that he had made a mistake +in picking out his victim. Joe’s natural skill and +constant practice enabled him to win laurels for +himself and his school on the diamond, and prepared +him for the larger field that awaited him +when later on he went to Yale.</p> +<p>As may be easily understood, with all the competition +he had to meet at the great University +his chance was long in coming to prove his class +in the pitching box. But the homely old saying +that “it is hard to keep a squirrel on the ground” +was never better exemplified than in his case. +There came a time when the Yale “Bulldog” was +hard beset by the Princeton “Tiger,” and Joe was +called on to twist the Tiger’s tail. How well he +did it and what glory he won for his Alma Mater +can be read in the third volume of the series, +entitled: “Baseball Joe at Yale; Or, Pitching for +the College Championship.”</p> +<p>But even at the top notch of his popularity, Joe +was restless at college. He was bright and keen +in his studies and had no difficulty in standing up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +well in his classes. But all his instincts told him +that he was made for the out-of-door life.</p> +<p>His mother had hoped that Joe would enter +the ministry, but Joe, although he had the greatest +respect for that profession, did not feel that +his life work lay in that direction. He had been +so successful in athletic sports and took such pleasure +in them that he yielded to his natural bent and +decided to adopt professional baseball as his vocation.</p> +<p>His mother was sorely grieved at first, and the +more so as she felt that Joe was “stepping down” +in entering the professional ranks. But Joe was +able to show her that scores of college men were +doing the same thing that he planned to do, and +she had too good sense to press her opposition too +far.</p> +<p>The opening that Joe was looking for came +when he was offered a chance to play in the Pittston +team of the Central League. It was only a +minor league, but all the great players have been +developed in that way, and Joe determined to +make it a stepping stone to something higher. +How he speedily rose to leadership among the +twirlers of his league is told in the fourth volume +of the series, entitled: “Baseball Joe in the Central +League; Or, Making Good as a Professional +Pitcher.”</p> +<p>While Joe had been winning his spurs, the keen-eyed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +scouts of the big leagues had not been idle. +The St. Louis team of the National League +drafted him into their ranks and took him away +from the “bushes.” Now he felt that he was +really on the highway to success. Almost from +the start he created a sensation, and it was his +pitching that brought his team into the first division.</p> +<p>A still wider field opened up before him when +after one year with St. Louis he was bought by +the New York Giants. This had been his ambition +from the start, but he had scarcely dared to +hope that his dream would come true. He promised +himself that he would “pitch his head off” +to justify the confidence that McRae, the Giants’ +manager, had put in him. How he came through +an exciting season and in the final game won the +championship for his team can be seen in the +sixth volume of the series, entitled: “Baseball Joe +on the Giants; Or, Making Good as a Ball Twirler +in the Metropolis.”</p> +<p>Of course this brought him into the World’s +Series, in which that year the Boston Red Sox +were the Giants’ opponents. It proved to be a +whirlwind series, whose result remained in doubt +until the last inning of the last game. Joe had +fearful odds to contend against since an accident +to Hughson, the Giants’ standby, put the bulk of +the pitching burden on our hero’s shoulders. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +Unscrupulous enemies also sought by foul means to +keep him out of the Series, but Joe’s indomitable +will and magnificent pitching won out against all +odds, as told in the volume preceding this, entitled: +“Baseball Joe in the World Series; Or, +Pitching for the Championship.”</p> +<p>If ever a man had earned a rest it was Joe, +and, as we have seen, he was taking it now in his +home town. Jim Barclay, a fine young Princeton +man and second-string pitcher on the Giants, had +come with him, not so much, it is to be suspected, +because of his fondness for Joe, though that was +great, as to be near Clara, Joe’s charming sister, +who had been working all sorts of havoc with +poor Jim’s heart.</p> +<p>By the time the orchestra had finished the tune, +the panic had about subsided. But Joe was taking +no chances and he motioned for a repetition. +The leader obeyed, and at the end of this second +playing the danger was entirely over. The audience +was seated, with the exception of the man +whom Joe had knocked down, who slunk shame-facedly +out of the hall holding his hand on the +place where the blow had landed.</p> +<p>And now that the peril had passed, it was Joe +who was panic-stricken. Though brave as a lion +and quick as a panther in an emergency, he was +the most modest of men and hated to pose as a +hero. He was wondering what he should say or +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +do, when Altman solved the problem by coming +up to him with both hands extended. That gave +the audience its cue, and in a moment a tempest +of cheers swept the hall.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with Matson?” someone +shouted in a stentorian voice.</p> +<p>“He’s all right!” came back in a roar.</p> +<p>“Who’s all right?”</p> +<p>“Matson! Joe Matson! Baseball Joe!”</p> +<p>Men crowded forward, and in a moment Joe +was surrounded by his friends and fellow townsmen, +most of whom had known him when he was +in knickerbockers and now were more proud of +him than they had ever been, even when he returned +to Riverside crowned with the laurels of +his last great season. Joe was mauled and +pounded until he was almost out of breath, and +it was a relief when at last he had made his way +back to his mother and sister.</p> +<p>They were both crying openly with joy and +pride, and the looks they turned on Joe were a +greater reward than all the plaudits of his +friends.</p> +<p>There was no going on with the performance +after that. The nerves of the audience were too +highly keyed by the great peril that had been escaped. +And they had a more dramatic scene to +remember and talk about than anything that could +be given them from the stage. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></p> +<p>In the excitement, a great many of those present +had lost track of the friends or relatives that had +been with them, and from all sides came various +calls.</p> +<p>“Where is Frank?”</p> +<p>“Did you see what became of my sister Bessie?”</p> +<p>“Oh, Bill! I say, Bill! Where are you?”</p> +<p>Many of the scenes were most affecting. +Women would rush into each other’s arms, crying +with joy to find that the lost ones were +safe.</p> +<p>“I can tell you it’s a grand good thing that panic +was stopped so quickly,” remarked one man to another, +as he gazed admiringly at the hero of the +occasion.</p> +<p>As Joe and his folks were leaving, a tall, well-dressed +man stepped up to Joe and extended his +hand.</p> +<p>“Let me congratulate you, Mr. Matson,” he +said effusively. “That was a splendid thing you +did to-night. I never saw anything finer.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you exaggerate it,” deprecated +Joe.</p> +<p>“Not at all,” said the stranger. “By the way, +Mr. Matson, it’s a coincidence that I came to town +with the express purpose of seeing you on a business +matter. But I didn’t expect that my first +meeting with you would be under such exciting circumstances.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>He took a card from his pocket and handed it +to Joe.</p> +<p>“My name, as you see, is Westland,” he continued. +“I’m stopping at the hotel, and I would +be glad to see you there or at any place that may +be convenient to you some time to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“Suppose you call at my home to-morrow morning,” +said Joe. “It’s only about five minutes’ walk +from the hotel.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t bother about giving me the directions,” +said Westland, with an ingratiating smile. +“Everybody in Riverside knows where Baseball +Joe lives. I’ll be around at eleven o’clock.”</p> +<p>He lifted his hat and departed, while Joe and +the others walked toward home.</p> +<p>“What do you suppose he wants of you, Joe?” +asked Clara, with lively curiosity.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” answered her brother carelessly. +“Some reporter probably who wants to +get the sad story of my life.”</p> +<p>“If it is, he’ll have something to write about +after to-night,” put in Jim. “Great Scott! Joe, +if that had happened in New York it would be +spread all over the front page of to-morrow’s +papers.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Joe, I’m so proud of you,” sighed his +mother happily.</p> +<p>“You’re a brother worth having!” exclaimed +Clara warmly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span></p> +<p>Jim was on the point of saying that Joe was a +brother-in-law worth having, but checked himself +in time.</p> +<p>They had almost reached the house when Clara +began to laugh.</p> +<p>“What’s the joke?” inquired Jim.</p> +<p>But Clara only laughed the harder until they +became a little alarmed.</p> +<p>“No, I’m not hysterical,” she said, when she +could speak. “I only happened to remember what +tune it was the orchestra played. I suppose it was +the first thing the leader thought of, and he didn’t +have time to pick out another. Do you remember +what it was?”</p> +<p>They cudgeled their brains, but could not recall +it.</p> +<p>“What was it?” asked Jim.</p> +<p>“‘There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town +To-night!’”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III_THE_STRANGER_S_VISIT' id='III_THE_STRANGER_S_VISIT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>THE STRANGER’S VISIT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Promptly the next morning at eleven, Westland +put in an appearance at the Matson home. +He was carefully groomed and everything about +him indicated money. He fairly exuded prosperity.</p> +<p>He greeted Joe with a cordiality that seemed +a trifle overdone, considering their brief acquaintance.</p> +<p>“By George, Mr. Matson,” he said, “this town +has fallen for you all right. The whole place is +buzzing with that affair of last night, and I don’t +wonder. If it hadn’t been for you, the coroner +and undertaker would be busy this morning.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” responded Joe. “If I +hadn’t got to it someone else would. It wasn’t +much of a blaze anyway, and ten to one it would +have gone out of itself.”</p> +<p>“Modest I see,” laughed Westland. “They +say that all great men are. But you can’t get anyone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +in this town to take such a slighting view of +it as you do yourself.”</p> +<p>“You said last night that you had a business +matter you wanted to see me about,” suggested +Joe, in order to change the subject.</p> +<p>“So I have,” replied Westland, “and I’ve traveled +over a thousand miles to talk to you personally +about it.”</p> +<p>He lighted a fresh cigar while Joe waited indifferently. +He had been interviewed so much in +the last year or two on all conceivable subjects +that his curiosity was scarcely awakened.</p> +<p>“Of course, Mr. Matson,” began Westland, +“you’ve heard of the new major league that has +just been organized and——”</p> +<p>Joe’s bored feeling vanished and he was wide-awake +in an instant. So this was what the visit +meant! Jim’s prediction was coming true sooner +than he had expected.</p> +<p>“Pardon me, Mr. Westland,” he interrupted, +“but if this is about baseball, I have a friend visiting +me who is as much interested in the game as +I am. In fact, he’s a player himself. It’s Jim +Barclay of the Giants. You’ve heard of him, of +course. Hello there, Jim!” he called, as he threw +open the door into the adjoining room, where Jim +was watching a distracting dimple come and go +in Clara’s cheek as they chatted together.</p> +<p>“Really, Mr. Matson,” said Westland, visibly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +flustered, “much as I would like to meet Mr. Barclay, +I would rather——”</p> +<p>But just then Jim came strolling in, and Joe +hastened to introduce him. He had used the +stratagem in order to have a witness at hand. He +was determined that no false or twisted version +of the interview should be given out broadcast in +the interest of the new league.</p> +<p>Despite his annoyance, Westland was diplomat +enough to make the best of the situation, +and he acknowledged the introduction graciously.</p> +<p>“Mr. Westland called in connection with the +new league we were reading about yesterday, +Jim,” explained Joe, “and I knew that you would +be interested and so I called you in.”</p> +<p>Jim’s jaw set a trifle, but he only nodded and +Westland went on:</p> +<p>“I’m a business man, Mr. Matson, and so are +you. So I won’t beat around the bush, but come +straight to the point. You’re the greatest pitcher +in the country, and we want to secure your services +for the new league. We’ve got oceans of +money behind us, and we’re prepared to let you +name your own terms. We’ll give you anything +in reason—or out of reason for that matter—if +you’ll sign up with us.”</p> +<p>He delivered himself of this with the air of a +man sure of having his offer accepted. But if he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +had expected Joe to gasp with astonishment and +delight, he was disappointed.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Joe quietly, after a moment’s +pause, “that’s certainly a very liberal proposition——”</p> +<p>“Oh, we’re no pikers,” put in Westland complacently.</p> +<p>“But there’s one little thing in the way,” Joe +went on; “and that is that I’m already signed up +with the Giants for the next two years.”</p> +<p>Westland saw that he was in for a tussle and +braced himself.</p> +<p>“Of course, of course,” he said, with the tolerant +smile of a man of the world. “I didn’t +think for a minute that McRae would let his kingpin +run around loose without being signed up. +But you know what baseball contracts are. +They’re so jug handled that no court would uphold +them for a minute. In fact, McRae wouldn’t +dare to bring it into court. He may threaten and +bluster, but that will be the end of it. That +ten-day clause alone would kill it with any +judge.”</p> +<p>“Even admitting that I could break my contract +with the Giants and get away with it,” said +Joe, leading him on, “what guarantee would you +have that I wouldn’t do the same thing with you +if I should want to?”</p> +<p>“The guarantee of your own self-interest,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +replied Westland, flicking the ash from his cigar. +“We’d make it so much worth your while to stay +with us that there wouldn’t be any inducement to +go anywhere else.”</p> +<p>“In other words,” said Joe, with a touch of +sarcasm, “if you once bought me you’d rely on +your money to see that I’d stay bought.”</p> +<p>“Now, now, Mr. Matson,” put in Westland +deprecatingly, “there’s no use putting it in so harsh +a way as that. This is simply business I’m talking +to you, and in this world every man has got to +look out for Number One. Now I don’t know +how much money McRae pays you, but I make a +guess that it’s about five thousand a year, a little +more or a little less. Now I’ll tell you what we’re +prepared to do. We’ll hand you twenty thousand +dollars the day you put your signature to a contract +with us. Then we’ll agree to pay you fifteen +thousand dollars a year for a three-years’ term. +And to make the whole thing copper riveted, we’ll +put the whole amount in the bank now, subject to +your order as you go along. So that even if the +new league should break up, you could loaf for +three years and be sixty-five thousand dollars to +the good.”</p> +<p>With the air of one who had played his trump +card and felt sure of taking the trick, Westland +from out his pocket drew a fountain pen.</p> +<p>“Put up your pen, Mr. Westland,” said Joe +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +calmly, “unless you want to write to those who +sent you here that there’s nothing doing.”</p> +<p>Jim brought his fist down on the arm of his +chair with a bang.</p> +<p>“That’s the stuff, Joe!” he cried jubilantly. +“You knocked a home run that time.”</p> +<p>A look of blended astonishment and vexation +came into Westland’s eyes. He seemed to doubt +the evidence of his ears.</p> +<p>“Surely you’re joking, Mr. Matson,” he said. +“No man in his senses would turn down such an +offer as that.”</p> +<p>“I must be out of my senses then,” replied Joe, +“for that’s exactly what I’m doing.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you think we’re bluffing,” said Westland, +“but money talks, and here is where it fairly +shouts.”</p> +<p>He drew from his pocket a roll of bills of large +denominations and laid it on the table.</p> +<p>“There’s the signing-up money,” he explained. +“They wanted me to bring a certified check, but +I insisted on the actual cash. Count it if you like +and take it to the bank if you doubt that it’s good. +There’s twenty thousand dollars in that roll, and +every cent of it’s yours if you put your name at +the bottom of this contract.”</p> +<p>He laid an official-looking document on the table +beside the bills, and leaned back in his chair, ostensibly +intent on the end of his cigar, but watching +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +Joe keenly from the corner of his eyes.</p> +<p>That pile of crisp yellowbacks was more money +than Joe had ever seen at one time in his life, except +through the bars of a cashier’s cage. And +all he had to do was to reach out, sign his name, +and the next minute thrust the bills into his pocket. +They meant independence. They meant security. +They meant the power and comfort and luxury +that money can give.</p> +<p>But they also meant treachery and dishonor, +and Joe never wavered for an instant.</p> +<p>“It’s a lot of money, Mr. Westland,” he agreed, +“but it isn’t enough.”</p> +<p>A look of relief came into Westland’s eyes. +Perhaps his task wasn’t hopeless after all.</p> +<p>“If that’s the case, perhaps we can raise the +figures a little,” he said eagerly, “although we +thought we were making a very liberal offer. But +as I said before, we’re no pikers, and we wouldn’t +let a few thousands stand between us. State your +terms.”</p> +<p>“You don’t understand,” replied Joe. “What +I meant was that there isn’t money enough in +your whole crowd to make me go back on my word +and jump my contract.”</p> +<p>“Hot off the bat!” exclaimed Jim. “Gee, I +wish McRae and Robbie and the rest of the Giant +bunch could have heard this pow-wow.”</p> +<p>Westland evidently had all he could do to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +contain himself. He had felt so serenely confident +in the power of his money that he had scarcely +allowed himself to think of failure. Yet here was +his money flouted as though it were counterfeit, +and he himself, instead of being greeted with +open arms, was being treated with scorn and contempt.</p> +<p>“Upon my word, Mr. Matson,” he said, with +an evident effort to keep cool, “you have a queer +way of meeting a legitimate business proposition.”</p> +<p>“That’s just the trouble,” retorted Joe. “It +isn’t legitimate and you know it. In the first place +you’re offering me a good deal more than I’m +worth.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know about that,” expostulated +Jim loyally. “There’s at least one man in the +league getting that much, and he never saw the +day when he was a better man than you are.”</p> +<p>“More than I’m worth,” repeated Joe. “Still, +if that were all, and you were simply trying to +buy my baseball ability, it would be your own affair +if you were bidding too high. But you don’t +want to give me all this money because I’m a good +pitcher. It’s because you want to make me a good +liar. You think that every man has his price and +it’s only a matter of bidding to find out mine.”</p> +<p>“Now, now!” said Westland, spots of color +coming into his cheeks. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“And more than that,” went on Joe, not heeding +the interruption, “you want to make me a tool to +lead others to break their contracts, too. I’m to +be the bellwether of the flock. You figure that if +it’s once spread abroad that Matson has jumped +into the new league, it will start a stampede of +contract breakers. I tell you straight, Westland, +it’s dirty business. If you want to start a new +league, go ahead and do it in a decent way. Get +new players and develop them, or get star players +whose contracts have expired. Play the game, but +do it without marked cards or loaded dice.”</p> +<p>Westland saw that he had lost, and he threw +diplomacy to the winds.</p> +<p>“Keep your advice till it’s asked for!” he +snarled, snatching up the money and jamming it +viciously into his pocket. “I didn’t come to this +jay town to be lectured by a hick——”</p> +<p>“What’s that?” cried Joe, springing to his feet.</p> +<p>Westland was so startled by the sudden motion +that he almost swallowed his cigar. Before Joe’s +sinewy figure he stepped back and mumbled an +apology. Then he reached for his hat, and without +another word stalked out of the house, +his features convulsed with anger and chagrin.</p> +<p>As he flung himself out of the gate, he almost +collided with a messenger boy bringing a telegram +to Joe. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></p> +<p>The latter signed for it and tore it open hastily. +It was from the Giants’ manager and read:</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“I hear the new league is coming after +you hotfoot. But I’m betting on you, Joe.</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>McRae.</span>”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>He handed it over to Jim who read it with a +smile.</p> +<p>“Betting on me, is he?” said Joe. “Well, Mac, +you win!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV_THE_TOP_OF_THE_WAVE' id='IV_THE_TOP_OF_THE_WAVE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>THE TOP OF THE WAVE</h3> +</div> + +<p>While they were still discussing the telegram, +Joe’s father came home to lunch from the harvester +works where he was employed. He seemed +ten years younger than he had before the trip to +the World’s Series, which he in his quiet way +had enjoyed quite as much as the rest of the +family.</p> +<p>He greeted the young men cordially.</p> +<p>“I met a man a little way down the street who +seemed to have come from here,” he said, as he +hung up his hat. “He had his hat jammed down +on his head, and was muttering to himself as +though he were sore about something.”</p> +<p>“He was,” replied Jim with a grin. “He laid +twenty-five thousand dollars on the table, and he +was sore because Joe wouldn’t take it up.”</p> +<p>Mr. Matson looked bewildered, but his astonishment +was not as great as that of Clara, who at +that moment put her head in the door to announce +that lunch was ready. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p> +<p>“What are you millionaires talking about?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“What do millionaires usually talk about?” answered +Jim loftily. “Money—the long green—iron +men—filthy lucre—yellowbacks——”</p> +<p>“If you don’t stop your nonsense you sha’n’t +have any lunch,” threatened Clara, “and that +means something, too, for mother has spread herself +in getting it up.”</p> +<p>“Take it all back,” said Jim promptly. “I’m +as sober as a judge. Lead me to this lunch, fair +maiden, and I’ll tell you nothing but the plain, unvarnished +truth. But even at that, I’m afraid +you’ll think I’m romancing.”</p> +<p>The merry group seated themselves at the +table, and Clara, all alive with curiosity, demanded +the fulfilment of Jim’s promise.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jim, “the simple truth is that that +fellow who was here this morning offered +Joe sixty-five thousand dollars for three years’ +work.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Matson almost dropped her knife and +fork in her amazement. Mr. Matson sat up with +a jerk, and Clara’s eyes opened to their widest +extent.</p> +<p>“Sixty-five thousand dollars!” gasped Joe’s +father.</p> +<p>“For three years’ work!” exclaimed Mrs. Matson. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span></p> +<p>“Why,” stammered Clara, “that’s—that’s—let +me see—why, that’s more than twenty-one +thousand dollars a year.”</p> +<p>“That’s what,” replied Jim, keenly relishing the +sensation he was causing. “And it wasn’t stage +money either. He had brought twenty thousand +dollars with him in bills, and he laid it down on +the table as carelessly as though it was twenty +cents. And all that this modest youth, who sits +beside me and isn’t saying a word, had to do to get +that money was to put his name on a piece of +paper.”</p> +<p>“Joe,” exclaimed Clara, “do tell us what all +this means! Jim is just trying to tantalize us.”</p> +<p>“Stung!” grinned Jim. “That’s what comes +from mixing in family matters.”</p> +<p>“Why, it’s this way, Sis,” laughed Joe. “That +fellow traveled a thousand miles to call me a +hick. I wouldn’t stand for it and made him take +it back and then he got mad and skipped.”</p> +<p>“Momsey,” begged Clara in desperation, “can’t +you make these idiots tell us just what happened?”</p> +<p>“Them cruel woids!” ejaculated Jim mournfully.</p> +<p>“Do tell us, Joe!” entreated his mother. “I’m +just dying to know all about it.”</p> +<p>Teasing his mother was a very different thing +from teasing Clara, who was an adept at that art +herself, and Joe surrendered immediately. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>They forgot to eat—all except Jim, who seldom +carried forgetfulness so far—while he told +them about Westland’s call and his proposition to +Joe to break his contract and jump to the new +league.</p> +<p>Sixty-five thousand dollars was a staggering +amount of money, a fortune, in fact, in that quiet +town, and yet there was not one of that little family +who didn’t rejoice that Joe had turned the offer +down.</p> +<p>“You did the right thing, Joe,” said his father +heartily; “and the fact that lots of people would +call you foolish doesn’t change things in the least. +A man who sells himself for a hundred thousand +dollars is just as contemptible as one who sells +himself for a dollar. I’m proud of you, my +boy.”</p> +<p>“I could have told beforehand just what Joe +would do,” said Mrs. Matson, wiping her eyes.</p> +<p>“You’re the darlingest brother ever!” exclaimed +Clara, coming round the table and giving him a +hug and a kiss.</p> +<p>The thought of Clara being a sister to him had +never appealed to Jim before, but just at that +moment it would have had its advantages.</p> +<p>For the rest of the meal all were engrossed in +talking of the great event of the morning—that +is, all but Joe, who kept casting surreptitious +glances at the clock. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>“Don’t get worried, Joe,” said his sister mischievously, +as she intercepted one of his glances. +“Mabel’s train doesn’t get in until half-past two, +and it isn’t one o’clock yet.”</p> +<p>Joe flushed a little and Jim laughed.</p> +<p>“Can you blame him?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Not a bit,” answered Clara. “Mabel’s a darling +and I’m crazy to get hold of her. After Joe, +though, of course,” she added.</p> +<p>Joe threw his napkin at her but missed.</p> +<p>“Sixty-five thousand dollars for a baseball +player who can’t throw any straighter than that,” +she mocked. “It’s a lucky thing for the new league +that you didn’t take their money.”</p> +<p>“Maybe I had better take their money after +all!” cried Joe tantalizingly.</p> +<p>At these words Clara threw up her hands in +mock horror.</p> +<p>“You just dare, Joe Matson, and I’ll disown +you!”</p> +<p>“Ah-ha! And now I’m disowned and cast out +of my home!” exclaimed the young baseball +player tragically. “Woe is me!”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe any decent player would ever +have anything to say to you, Joe, if you did such +a mean thing as that,” went on Clara seriously. +And at this Joe nodded affirmatively.</p> +<p>An hour later, all three, chatting merrily, were +on their way to the train. But their progress was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +slow, for at almost every turn they were stopped +by friends who wanted to shake hands with Joe +and congratulate him on his presence of mind +the night before.</p> +<p>“One of the penalties of having a famous +brother,” sighed Clara, when this had happened +for the twentieth time.</p> +<p>“You little hypocrite,” laughed Jim. “You +know that you’re just bursting with pride. You’re +tickled to death to be walking alongside of him. +Stop your sighing. Follow my example. I’m +tickled to death to be walking alongside of you +and you don’t hear <i>me</i> sighing. I feel more like +singing.”</p> +<p>“For goodness’ sake, don’t,” retorted Clara in +mock alarm. “Oh, dear, here’s another one!”</p> +<p>“Were you addressing me when you said +‘dear’?” asked Jim politely.</p> +<p>Clara flashed him an indignant glance, just as +Professor Enoch Crabbe, of the Riverside Academy, +stepped up and greeted Joe. He was earnest +in his congratulations, but his manner was +so stilted that they looked at each other with +an amused smile, as he stalked pompously +away.</p> +<p>“I wonder if he believes now that I can throw +a curve,” laughed Joe.</p> +<p>“He ought to ask some of the Red Sox who +whiffed away at them in the World Series,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +Jim with a grin. “They didn’t have any doubt +about it.”</p> +<p>“Professor Crabbe had very serious doubts,” +explained Joe. “In fact, he said it was impossible. +Against all the laws of motion and all that +sort of thing. I had to rig up a couple of bamboo +rods in a line, and get Dick Talbot, a friend of +mine in the moving-picture business, to take a picture +of the ball as it curved around the rods, before +I could prove my point.”</p> +<p>“Did it convince him?” queried Jim.</p> +<p>“It stumped him, anyway,” replied Joe. “But +sometimes I have a sneaking notion that he thinks +yet that Dick and I played some kind of a bunco +game on him by doctoring the film.”</p> +<p>“Well, I hope that nobody else stops us,” remarked +Clara. “It seems to me that almost +everybody in Riverside is on the street this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“It wouldn’t be such an awful mob at that,” +replied Jim. “But it’s a safe bet that one man at +least won’t stop Joe to shake hands with him.”</p> +<p>“Who is that?” asked Clara.</p> +<p>“The fellow who yelled ‘Fire’ in the hall last +night,” answered Jim with a grin.</p> +<p>“I hope I didn’t hurt him,” observed Joe, +thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Perish the thought,” replied Jim. “You just +caressed him. He was a big fellow, and he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +probably sat down just to take a load off his feet.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad he wasn’t a Riverside man, anyway,” +remarked Joe, loyal to his home town. “I never +saw him before. Probably he came from some +place near by.”</p> +<p>“Oh, then, of course he won’t mind it,” chaffed +Jim.</p> +<p>“Of all the nonsense——” Clara was beginning, +when her eye caught sight of a figure she +recognized on the station platform which they +had nearly reached.</p> +<p>She nudged her brother’s elbow.</p> +<p>“There’s the man you were talking to this +morning,” she said in a low voice.</p> +<p>“By George, so it is!” replied Joe, as he followed +her glance. “And he’s talking to Altman. +Trying to make him a convert.”</p> +<p>“A renegade, you mean,” growled Jim.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V_LUCKY_JOE' id='V_LUCKY_JOE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>LUCKY JOE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Westland saw the party coming, and with a +scowl turned his back upon them.</p> +<p>Altman, however, greeted Joe with a smile and, +excusing himself to Westland, went over to meet +him with extended hand.</p> +<p>“How are you, old scout?” he exclaimed. +“You sure batted .300 last night.”</p> +<p>Joe greeted him cordially, while Jim and Clara +strolled on toward the end of the platform. It +was astonishing what good company those two +were to each other, and how well they bore the +absence of anybody else from their conversation.</p> +<p>“I’m feeling fine as silk,” was Joe’s response to +Altman’s question.</p> +<p>“Didn’t sprain your salary wing, or anything +like that?” grinned Altman. “You fetched that +fellow an awful hit in the jaw.”</p> +<p>“I hated to do it, but it was coming to him,” +laughed Joe. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span></p> +<p>“Well, if there are any doctors’ bills, I guess +the Riverside people will be willing to take up a +collection to pay them,” replied Altman. “It’s +mighty lucky for the town that you happened to +be in the crowd last night.”</p> +<p>“I suppose you’re off to keep your next engagement,” +said Joe, to change the subject. “By +the way, Nick, that was a mighty nifty skit of +yours at the hall last night. It brought down the +house. It ought to pull big everywhere.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad you liked it,” replied Altman. “I’m +booked for twenty weeks and I’m drawing down +good money.”</p> +<p>“I suppose you’ll be with the White Sox next +year, as usual,” said Joe.</p> +<p>Altman hesitated.</p> +<p>“W-why, I suppose so,” he said slowly. “My +contract with them has another year to run. To +tell the truth, though, Joe, I’m somewhat unsettled.”</p> +<p>“Why,” said Joe, “you’re not going to give up +the game for the stage, are you?”</p> +<p>“Oh, nothing like that,” replied Altman. “I’d +rather play ball than eat, and I’ll stick to the game +as long as this old wing of mine can put them +over the plate. But whether I’ll be with the White +Sox or not is another question.”</p> +<p>“Some other team in the American league trying +to make a dicker for you?” asked Joe. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></p> +<p>“Not that I’ve heard anything about,” responded +Altman. “But the American League isn’t +the whole cheese in baseball—nor the National +League, either, for that matter.”</p> +<p>“I see Westland has been talking to you,” said +Joe. “I don’t want to butt in, Nick, but don’t let +him put one over on you.”</p> +<p>“The new league seems to have barrels of +money,” replied Altman, evading a direct answer. +“This fellow Westland seems aching to throw it +to the birds—he’s got a wad in his pocket that +would choke a horse.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Joe dryly, “I’ve seen that wad before. +But take a fool’s advice, Nick, and stick +to the old ship.”</p> +<p>“That’s all very well,” said Altman. “But a +man’s worth all that he will bring in any other +line of work—and why shouldn’t it be so in baseball? +Who is it that brings the money in at the +gate, anyway? We’re the ones that the public +come to see, but it’s the bosses that get all the +money.”</p> +<p>“Lay off on that ‘poor, down-trodden slave’ +talk, Nick,” said Joe earnestly. “You know as +well as I do that there are mighty few fellows who +get as well paid for six months’ work as we ball +players do. But, leave that out of the question +for a minute—don’t you suppose the backers of +this new league are just as eager to make money +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +out of us as anybody else? Do you think they’re +in the game for the sport of it? And don’t you +know that the coming of a new league just now is +likely to wreck the game? You know how it was +in the old Brotherhood days—they did the same +crooked work then that they’re trying to do now—bribing +men to jump their contracts by offers +of big money. The game got a blow then that it +took years to recover from, and there wasn’t a +single major league player that in the long run, +didn’t suffer from it. Play the game, Nick—and +let’s show these fellows that they can’t buy us as +they would so many cattle.”</p> +<p>Altman was visibly impressed, and Westland, +who had been watching proceedings out of the +corner of his eye, thought it time to intervene. +He strolled down toward them and without looking +at Joe, spoke directly to Altman.</p> +<p>“Train’s coming, Nick,” he said. “I just heard +the whistle. I’ll stay with you so that we can get +seats together in the smoker.”</p> +<p>“Well, good-bye, Joe!” said Altman. “I’m +glad to have seen you again, anyway, and I’ll +promise not to do anything hastily.”</p> +<p>And as Jim and Clara came hurrying up at +that moment, Joe had to be content with the hope +that, at least, he had put a spoke in Westland’s +wheel.</p> +<p>The train was in sight now, and all thoughts +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +of baseball were banished for the moment at the +thought of what that train was bringing to +him.</p> +<p>With a rush and a roar the train drew up at +the station. The colored porter jumped down the +steps of the parlor car to assist the descending +passengers.</p> +<p>Joe uttered an exclamation, and Clara gave a +little squeal of delight as two young people, +whom a family resemblance proclaimed to be +brother and sister, came hurriedly down the +steps.</p> +<p>In a moment they were the center of an eager +and tumultuous group.</p> +<p>“Mabel!” exclaimed Joe,—at least that was all +that they heard him say just then. What he said +to her later on is none of our business.</p> +<p>The girls hugged and kissed each other, much +to the aggravation of the masculine contingent, +while Reggie Varley extended his two +hands, which were grasped cordially by Joe +and Jim.</p> +<p>The romance which had culminated in the engagement +of Mabel Varley and Joe dated back +two years earlier. Joe had been in a southern +training camp, in spring practice with his team, +when one day he had been lucky enough to stop +a runaway horse which Mabel had been driving, +and thus saved her from imminent danger and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +possible death. The acquaintance, so established, +rapidly deepened into friendship and then into +something stronger.</p> +<p>Mabel was a charming girl with lustrous brown +eyes, wonderful complexion and dimples that +came and went in a distracting fashion, and it +was no wonder that Joe before long was a helpless +but willing captive. She, on her part, developed +a sudden fondness for the great national +game to which she had hitherto been indifferent.</p> +<p>They had met many times during the season, +and with every meeting her witchery over Joe had +become more potent. He had stolen a glove from +her during one of his visits to Goldsboro, her home +town in the South, and during the exciting games +of the last World’s Series he had worn it close +to his heart when he had pitched his team to +victory.</p> +<p>And when he told her this on the night following +the famous game that had set the whole country +wild with excitement, and told her too, that +victory meant nothing, unless she shared it with +him, she had capitulated and promised to become +his wife.</p> +<p>Reggie, her brother, had formed Joe’s acquaintance +earlier than Mabel and in a less pleasant +way. He was a rather foppish young man +who cultivated a mustache that the girls called +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +“darling,” and affected what he fondly believed +to be an English accent.</p> +<p>In a railway station he had left his valise near +where Joe was sitting, and, on his return, found +that the valise had been opened and some valuable +jewelry stolen from it. He had rashly accused +Joe of the theft, and had narrowly escaped +a thrashing from that indignant young man, in +consequence.</p> +<p>The matter had been patched up at the time, +and afterward, when Joe learned that he was +Mabel’s brother, had been forgiven entirely. The +men were now on the most cordial of terms, for +Reggie, despite his peculiarities and though he +would never “set the river on fire” with his intellectual +ability, was by no means a bad fellow.</p> +<p>There was a merry hubbub of greetings and +exclamations while the men arranged for the +baggage and the girls asked each other twenty +questions at once and then the party paired off +for the walk to the Matson home—that is, Joe +and Mabel and Jim and Clara, formed the pairs, +while Reggie was, so to speak, a fifth wheel to +the coach!</p> +<p>Not that this bothered Reggie in the least. He +ambled along amiably, dividing his talk and attentions +impartially, serenely unconscious that each +pair was willing to bestow him upon the other. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span></p> +<p>“We ought to have a band playing ‘See, the +Conquering Hero Comes,’” remarked Jim to +Mabel, who was walking in front with Joe.</p> +<p>“I know he’s a hero,” said Mabel, her eyes +eloquent as she looked at Joe. “I can hardly pick +up the paper but what it calls him the hero of +the World’s Series.”</p> +<p>“I don’t mean a baseball hero,” said Jim, “but +a real, honest-to-goodness hero—the life-saver +and all that kind of stuff, you know.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” joined in Clara, “you came a day too +late, Mabel. You ought to have seen Joe at the +Opera House last night. He was simply great.”</p> +<p>“At the Opera House?” Mabel repeated, in +some bewilderment.</p> +<p>“Sure,” chaffed Jim. “Didn’t you know Joe’d +gone on the stage?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Clara, carrying out the mystification. +“He made a hit, too.”</p> +<p>“There was at least one man in the audience +he made a hit with,” chuckled Jim.</p> +<p>“Don’t let them fool you, Mabel,” said Joe, +tenderly. “There was just a little excitement at +the Opera House last night and Jim and I took a +hand in stopping it. They’re making an awful +lot of a very simple matter.”</p> +<p>“You’ve no idea what a voice Joe has for +public speaking,” persisted the irrepressible Jim. +“Last night he was a howling success.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>“Clara, dear, tell me all about it,” entreated +Mabel. “We girls are the only ones who can +talk sense.”</p> +<p>Thus appealed to, Clara told about the circumstances +of the night before, and, as may be imagined, +Joe did not suffer in the telling. If the +latter had needed any other reward for his exploit +he found it in Mabel’s eyes as she looked at him.</p> +<p>“I thought I knew all about you before,” she +said, in a half whisper, “but I’m learning all the +time!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI_CIRCLING_THE_GLOBE' id='VI_CIRCLING_THE_GLOBE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>CIRCLING THE GLOBE</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the party reached the Matson home, +motherly Mrs. Matson took Mabel into her +arms as she had long since taken her into her +heart. Then Clara took her up to her room to +refresh herself after the journey, while Jim +and Joe took care of Reggie and his belongings.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad that you’ve got here at last!” +exclaimed Clara, as she placed an affectionate hand +on Mabel’s shoulder.</p> +<p>“And you may be sure that I’m glad that I am +here,” was the happy response. “I declare, this +place almost feels like home to me.”</p> +<p>“Well, you know, we want it to feel like home +to you, Mabel,” answered Joe’s sister, and looked +so knowingly at the visitor that Mabel suddenly +began to blush.</p> +<p>In the meantime, Joe had taken Reggie to the +room which the young man was to occupy during +his stay. Joe carried both of the bags, which were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +rather heavy, for the fashionable young man was +in the habit of taking a good share of his wardrobe +along whenever he left home.</p> +<p>“Some weight to one of these bags, Reggie,” +remarked Joe good-naturedly, as he deposited the +big Gladstone on the floor with a thud. “You must +have about three hundred and fifteen new neckties +in there.”</p> +<p>“Bah Jove, that’s a good joke, Joe, don’t you +know!” drawled Reggie. “But you’re wrong, my +boy; I haven’t more than ten neckties with me on +this trip.”</p> +<p>“Say, I’m glad to know you’ve got so many. +Maybe I’ll want to borrow one,” went on Joe, +continuing his joke.</p> +<p>“Of course you can have one of my neckties if +you want it, Joe,” returned the fashionable young +man quickly. “I’ve got a beautiful lavender one +that ought to just suit you. And then there is a +fancy striped one, red and green and gold, which +is the most stunning thing, don’t you know, you +ever saw. I purchased it at a fashionable shop +on Fifth Avenue the last time I was in New York. +If you wore that tie, Joe, you would certainly make +a hit.”</p> +<p>“Well, you see, I’m not so much of a hitter as +I am of a pitcher,” returned Joe; “so I guess I’d +better not rob you of that tie. Come to think of +it, I got several new ties myself last Christmas +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +and on my birthday. I think they’ll see me +through very nicely. But I’m much obliged just +the same. And now, Reggie, make yourself thoroughly +at home.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll be sure to do that,” returned Mabel’s +brother. “You’re a fine fellow, Joe; and I often +wonder how it was I quarreled with you the first +time we met.”</p> +<p>“We’ll forget about that,” answered Joe +shortly.</p> +<p>Naturally the men returned to the living room +first, and while they were waiting impatiently for +the girls to rejoin them, Joe caught sight of a +letter resting against the clock on the mantelpiece.</p> +<p>He took it up and saw that it was addressed +to himself, and that it bore the postmark of +New York. He recognized the handwriting at +once.</p> +<p>“It’s from McRae,” he said. “The second +message I’ve received from the old boy to-day, +counting the telegram this morning. Excuse me, +fellows, while I look it over.”</p> +<p>He tore it open hastily and read with glowing +interest and excitement.</p> +<p>“The World Tour’s a go!” he cried, handing +the letter over to Jim. “Mac’s got it all settled +at last. When we said good-bye to him in New +York it was all up in the air. But trust Mac to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +hustle—he’s got enough promises to make up the +two teams and now he’s calling on us, Jim, to keep +our word and go with the party. We’re all to +meet in Chicago for the start on the nineteenth +of the month.”</p> +<p>“Gee!” exclaimed Jim. “That doesn’t give us +very much time. Let’s see,” as he snatched up a +newspaper and scanned the top line. “To-day’s +the sixteenth. We’ll have to get a wiggle on.”</p> +<p>“Bah Jove,” lisped Reggie. “It’s bally short +notice, don’t you know? How long will you fellows +be gone?”</p> +<p>“Just about six months,” said Joe, his face +lengthening as he reflected on what it meant to be +all that time away from Mabel.</p> +<p>“What’s all this pow-wow about?” came a +merry voice from the door, as the girls tripped +in, their arms about each other’s waist.</p> +<p>“I’m glad we girls aren’t as talkative as you +men,” said Clara, mischievously.</p> +<p>“When we do talk we at least say something,” +added Mabel. “What is it, Joe?”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid it’s rather bad news in a way,” +said Joe. “I’ve just got a letter from McRae +in which he tells me that he’s completed all arrangements +for a baseball tour around the world. +You know, Mabel, that I spoke to you about it +just before we left New York. But it was only +a vague idea then and something of the kind is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +talked about at the end of every baseball season. +Usually though, it only ends in talk, and the +teams make a barnstorming trip to San Francisco +or to Cuba. But this time it seems to have +gone through all right. And now Mac is calling +upon Jim and me to go along.”</p> +<p>“My word!” broke in Reggie, “anyone would +think it was a bally funeral to hear you talk and +see your face. I should think you’d be no-end +pleased to have a chance to go.”</p> +<p>To tell the truth, neither Joe nor Jim seemed +elated at the prospect. Joe’s eyes sought Mabel, +while Jim’s rested on Clara, and neither one of +those young ladies was so obtuse as not to know +what the young men were thinking.</p> +<p>“When do you have to go?” asked Clara, +soberly.</p> +<p>“We have to be in Chicago by the nineteenth,” +answered Joe, “and we’ll have to leave here the +day before. To-day’s the sixteenth and you can +see for yourself how much time that gives us to +stay in Riverside.”</p> +<p>“No rest for the wicked,” said Reggie, jocularly. +“’Pon honor, you boys have earned a rest +after the work you did against the Red Sox.”</p> +<p>Clara was very far from her vivacious self +as she thought of the coming separation, but Joe +was surprised and the least bit hurt to see how +lightly Mabel seemed to regard it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span></p> +<p>“It’s too bad, of course,” she said, cheerfully, +“but we’ll have to make the best of these two +days at least. It’s a pity, though, that it +wasn’t November nineteenth instead of October.”</p> +<p>“We could have started a bit later if it were +only for the foreign trip,” explained Jim, “but +we’re going to play a series of exhibition games +between here and the Coast, and we’ve got to +take advantage of what good weather there is +left. If we can only get to the Rockies before +it’s too cold to play, we’ll be all right, because +in California they’re able to play all the year +round.”</p> +<p>“My word!” exclaimed Reggie, “I don’t see +why they don’t cut out the exhibition games altogether. +I should think this country had had +baseball enough for one season.”</p> +<p>“Not when the Giants and an All-American +team are the players,” replied Joe. “The people +will come out in crowds—they’ll fairly beg us to +take their money.”</p> +<p>“And it will be worth taking,” chimed in Jim. +“Do you know how much money the teams took +in before they reached the coast on their last +World’s Trip? Ninety-seven thousand dollars. +Count them, ladies and gentlemen—ninety-seven +thousand dollars in good American dollars!” he +added grandly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p> +<p>“That sounds like a lot of money,” said Reggie, +thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“And they’ll need every cent of it too,” said +Joe. “It’s the only way a trip of that kind can +be carried on. The teams travel in first-class style, +have the finest quarters on the ship, and stay at +the best hotels. In the games abroad there won’t +be money enough taken in, probably, to cover expenses. +Then the money we’ve taken in from +the exhibition games will come in handy.”</p> +<p>“How many men are going in the two teams?” +inquired Clara.</p> +<p>“I imagine each team will carry about fourteen +men,” replied Joe. “That will give them three +pitchers, two catchers, an extra infielder and outfielder, +beside the other members of the team. +That ought to be enough to allow for sickness +or accident.”</p> +<p>“How much do you fellows expect to get out +of it for yourselves?” asked Reggie.</p> +<p>“That’s just a matter of guess work,” Joe replied. +“I understand that what is left after all +expenses are paid will be divided equally among +the players. On the last World’s Trip I think it +amounted to about a thousand dollars apiece. +But then again, it may not be a thousand cents. +All we really know is that we’ll have a chance to +see the world in first-class style without its actually +costing us a dollar.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>“Oh, you lucky men!” said Clara, with a sigh. +“You can go trotting all over the world, while we +poor girls have to stay at home and look for an +occasional letter from your highnesses—that is, +if you deign to write to us at all.”</p> +<p>“I’ll guarantee to keep the postman busy,” said +Jim, fervently.</p> +<p>“Same here,” said Joe, emphatically, as his eyes +met Mabel’s.</p> +<p>“Do you know just what route you’ll follow?” +Reggie asked.</p> +<p>“Our first stop will be at Hawaii,” replied Joe, +consulting his letter. “So that the first game we +play outside of the States will still be under the +American flag. We’ll see Old Glory again, too, +when we strike the Philippines. But that will +come a little later. After we leave Hawaii, +we won’t see dry land again until we get to +Japan.”</p> +<p>“I fancy we’ll get some good games there, too,” +broke in Jim. “Those little Japs have gone in +for the game with a vengeance. Do you remember +the time when their Waseda and Keio University +teams came over to this country? They gave +our Princeton and Yale fellows all they could do +to beat them.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Joe, “they’re nifty players when +it comes to fielding and they’re fleet as jack rabbits +on the bases—but they’re a little light at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +bat. When it comes to playing before their home +crowds they’ll be a pretty stiff proposition.”</p> +<p>“Do you take in China at all?” asked Reggie.</p> +<p>“We’ll probably stop at Shanghai and Hongkong,” +replied Joe. “I don’t imagine the Chinks +can scrape up any kind of a baseball team, but +there are big foreign colonies at both of those +places and they’ll turn out in force to see players +from the States. Then after touching at Manila, +we’ll go to Australia, taking in all the big towns +like Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. While of +course the Australians are crazy about cricket, +like all Englishmen, they’re keen for every kind +of athletic sport, and we’re sure of big crowds +there. After that we sail for Ceylon and from +there to Egypt.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see Egypt better than any other +place,” broke in Clara. “I’ve always been crazy +to go there.”</p> +<p>“It’s full of curiosities,” remarked Jim. +“There’s the Sphinx, for instance—a woman who +hasn’t said a word for five thousand years.”</p> +<p>Clara flashed a withering glance at him, under +which he wilted.</p> +<p>“Don’t mix your Greek fable and your Egyptian +facts, Jim,” chuckled Joe.</p> +<p>“Huh?”</p> +<p>“Fact. Since this trip’s been in the wind, I’ve +been reading up. Those Egyptian sphinxes—those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +that haven’t a ram’s or a hawk’s head—have +a man’s, not a woman’s, head.”</p> +<p>“That’s why they’ve been able to keep still so +long, then!” exclaimed Jim.</p> +<p>“You mean thing!” cried Mabel.</p> +<p>“Don’t lay that up against me,” he begged, +penitently, “and I’ll send you back a little crocodile +from the Nile.”</p> +<p>“Oh, the horrid thing!” cried Clara with a +shudder.</p> +<p>“I’m doing the best I can,” said Jim, plaintively. +“I can’t send you one of the pyramids.”</p> +<p>“That’s the last we’ll see of Africa,” went on +Joe. “After that, we set sail for Italy and land +at Naples. Then we work our way up through +Rome, Florence, Milan, Monte Carlo, Marseilles, +Paris and London. We’ll stay about a month in +Great Britain, visiting Glasgow, Edinburgh and +Dublin. Then we’ll make tracks for home, and +maybe we won’t be glad to get here!”</p> +<p>The vision conjured up by this array of famous +cities offered such scope for endless surmise and +speculation that they were surprised at the flight +of time when Mrs. Matson smilingly summoned +them to supper.</p> +<p>Of course, Joe sat beside Mabel and Jim beside +Clara. If, in the course of the evening meal, +Joe’s hand and Mabel’s met beneath the table, +it was purely by accident. Jim, on his side would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +cheerfully have risked such an accident, but had +no such luck.</p> +<p>Joe was happy, supremely happy in the presence +by his side of the dearest girl in all the world. +Yet there was a queer little ache at his heart because +of the apparent indifference with which +Mabel had viewed their coming separation.</p> +<p>“You haven’t said once,” he said to her in a +low tone, with a touch of tender reproach, “that +you were sorry I was going.”</p> +<p>“Why should I,” answered Mabel, demurely, +“since I am going with you?”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII_THE_GATHERING_OF_THE_CLANS' id='VII_THE_GATHERING_OF_THE_CLANS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS</h3> +</div> + +<p>If Mabel had counted on creating a sensation, +she succeeded beyond her wildest hopes.</p> +<p>For a moment, Joe thought that he must have +taken leave of his senses.</p> +<p>“What!” he cried, incredulously, half rising to +his feet.</p> +<p>This sudden ejaculation drew the attention of +all the others seated at the table.</p> +<p>“Land sakes, Joe!” expostulated his mother, +“you almost made me upset my tea cup. What’s +the matter?”</p> +<p>“Enough’s the matter,” responded Joe, jubilantly. +“That is, if Mabel really means what she +said just now.”</p> +<p>“What was it you said, Mabel dear?” asked +Clara.</p> +<p>“Come, ’fess up,” invited Jim.</p> +<p>“I guess I’ll let Reggie tell the rest of it,” said +Mabel, blushing under the battery of eyes turned +upon her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></p> +<p>“All right, Sis,” said Reggie, affably. “Bah +Jove, I give you credit for holding in as long +as you have. The fact is,” he continued, beaming +amiably upon all the party, “the governor +asked me to take a trip to Japan and China, and +Mabel put in to come along. I didn’t twig what +the little minx was up to, until she said we could +go on the same steamer that took the baseball +party. Lots of other women—wives of the +managers and players and so on—will go along, +I understand. So there’s the whole bally story +in a nutshell. Rippin’ good idea I call it—what?”</p> +<p>“Glory hallelujah!” cried Joe, grasping +Mabel’s hand, openly this time.</p> +<p>“It’s simply great!” cried Jim, enthusiastically.</p> +<p>“You darling, lucky girl!” exclaimed Clara, +while Mr. and Mrs. Matson smiled their pleasure.</p> +<p>“Had you up in the air for a minute, didn’t it, +old top?” grinned Reggie.</p> +<p>“I should say it did,” Joe admitted. “I thought +for a minute I was going crazy. Somebody pinch +me.”</p> +<p>Jim reached over and accommodated him.</p> +<p>“Ouch!” cried Joe, rubbing his arm. “You +needn’t be so literal.”</p> +<p>“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my friends,” +said Jim, piously.</p> +<p>Questions poured in thick and fast.</p> +<p>“How can you possibly get ready in time?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +asked Clara. “It’s the sixteenth now, and the +teams leave Chicago on the nineteenth.”</p> +<p>“Oh, we’re not going to make the trip across +the country,” explained Mabel, flushed with happiness. +“Reggie and I will join the party in San +Francisco or Seattle, or wherever they start from. +So that will give us nearly a month, and I’m going +to spend most of that right here—if you can +stand me that long.”</p> +<p>Clara came round the table and gave her an +impulsive hug.</p> +<p>“I’d be glad to have you stay here forever,” +said Mrs. Matson fervently.</p> +<p>Just here a thought struck Joe.</p> +<p>“It’s the greatest thing ever that you’re going +as far as Japan,” he said. “But why can’t you +keep on with us and swing right around the +circle?”</p> +<p>“You greedy boy!” murmured Mabel.</p> +<p>“We’ve thought of that too,” explained Reggie. +“The governor promised Mabel a trip round the +world as soon as she got through with the finishing +school. She could have gone last year if +she had chosen, but she got so interested in baseball——”</p> +<p>“Reggie!” murmured Mabel, warningly.</p> +<p>“Well, anyway,” said Reggie a little lamely, +“she didn’t go, and so I put it up to the governor +that there was no reason she couldn’t go now. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +He saw it the same way—he’s a rippin’ good sort, +the governor is—and he’s left it to us to make +the trip all the way round—that is, if I can get +through my business in Japan in time.”</p> +<p>“If you don’t get through in time, there’ll be +murder done,” threatened Joe.</p> +<p>In the animated talk that ensued all took a +part. But toward the end of the meal, Joe noticed +that Jim was a little more subdued than was +usual with him, and that some of the sparkle and +vivacity had vanished from Clara’s eyes and +voice.</p> +<p>He glanced from one to the other and knew +the reason. He knew how deep the feeling was +growing between the two and realized what the +coming six-months’ separation would mean to +them. A generous impulse came to him like a +flash.</p> +<p>“Listen folks,” he said. “Surprises seem to be +in fashion, so here’s another one. Clara’s going +along with us.”</p> +<p>Astonishment and delight held Clara speechless—then +she rose and flung her arms impulsively +about her brother’s neck, and for the second time +that day Jim would have been willing to let her +be a sister to him also.</p> +<p>Jim reached his brawny hand across the table.</p> +<p>“Put her there, Joe, old boy!” he said. “You’re +the finest fellow that ever wore shoe leather.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span></p> +<p>“Won’t it be just glorious!” exulted Mabel.</p> +<p>“There never was such a boy in all the world,” +murmured Joe’s mother.</p> +<p>“But, Joe dear, won’t it be too great an expense?” +suggested Clara. “You know it’s less +than a month since you sent us that thousand-dollar +bill that took us to the World’s Series.”</p> +<p>“That’s all right, Sis,” reassured Joe, patting +her hand. “Remember I cleared nearly four +thousand dollars extra in the World’s Series, and +this won’t put much of a dent in that. You just +go ahead and doll yourself up—and hang the +expense.”</p> +<p>And so it was settled, and it is safe to say that +a group of happier young people could not be +found anywhere than those who discussed excitedly, +until late into the night, the coming trip with +all its marvelous possibilities.</p> +<p>The next two days flew by all too rapidly. The +girls, of course, had plenty of time, but Joe and +Jim had a host of things to attend to and a very +limited time to do them in. But somehow, Joe +made time enough to say a lot of things to Mabel +that, to lovers at least, seem important, and Jim, +though not daring to go quite so far, looked and +said quite enough to deepen the roses in Clara’s +cheeks and the loveliness in her eyes.</p> +<p>It was hard to part when the time for parting +came, but this time there was no long six-months’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +separation to be dreaded—that is, as far as the +young folks were concerned.</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Matson had counted on having +their son with them throughout the fall and winter, +but they had been accustomed for so long to +merge their own happiness in that of their children +that they kept up bright faces while they said +good-bye, although Mrs. Matson’s smile was +tremulous.</p> +<p>A day and night of traveling and the ball players +reached Chicago, where, at the Blackstone, +they found McRae awaiting them—the same +old McRae, aggressive, pugnacious, masterful, +and yet with a glint of worry in his eyes that +had not been there at the close of the World’s +Series.</p> +<p>Robbie was there too, rotund and rubicund, but +not just the Robbie who had danced the tango +with McRae before the clubhouse on the occasion +of the great victory.</p> +<p>But if worry and anxiety had set their mark +upon the manager and trainer of the Giants, it +had not affected the players, who were lounging +about the corridor of the hotel.</p> +<p>A bunch of them, including Burkett and +Denton and good old Larry, gave the newcomers +a tumultuous welcome.</p> +<p>“Cheer, cheer, the gang’s all here!” cried +Larry. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>McRae clasped Joe’s hand in a grip that almost +made him wince.</p> +<p>“So the new league hasn’t got you yet, Joe?” +he cried.</p> +<p>“No,” laughed Joe, returning his clasp; “and +it never will!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII_THE_RIVAL_TEAMS' id='VIII_THE_RIVAL_TEAMS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>THE RIVAL TEAMS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Robbie, who had come up just in time to hear +Joe’s last words, gave him a resounding thump +on the back.</p> +<p>“That’s the way to talk, Joe, old boy!” he +cried. “I’ve been telling Mac all along that no +matter who else weakens he could bet his last +dollar on you.”</p> +<p>“Not that I needed any bracing up,” declared +McRae. “I know a man when I see one, and I +count on you to the limit. I didn’t send that telegram +because I had any doubt, but I knew that +they’d make a break for you first of all and I +didn’t want you to be taken by surprise. By +the way, have any of them turned up yet?”</p> +<p>“A chap named Westland came to see me the +very day I got your telegram,” replied Joe.</p> +<p>“And he came well heeled, too,” put in Jim. +“Money was fairly dripping from him. He just +ached to give it away. It was only up to Joe to +become a bloated plutocrat on the spot.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p> +<p>“Offered good money, did he?” asked McRae, +with quickened interest.</p> +<p>“Twenty thousand dollars right off the bat,” +replied Jim. “Fifteen thousand dollars a year for +a three-year contract. And as if that weren’t +enough, he offered to put the money in the bank +in advance and let Joe draw against it as he went +along.”</p> +<p>McRae and Robbie exchanged glances. Here +was proof that the new league meant business +right from the start. It was a competitor to be +dreaded and it was up to them to get their fighting +clothes on at once.</p> +<p>“That’s a whale of an offer,” ejaculated +Robbie.</p> +<p>“They’ve thrown their hat into the ring,” remarked +McRae. “From now on it’s a fight for +blood.”</p> +<p>“There’s no need of asking what Joe said to +that,” said Robbie.</p> +<p>“I wish you’d been behind the door to hear it,” +grinned Jim. “The way Joe lighted into him was +a sin and a shame. He fairly skinned him alive. +It looked at one time as if there would be a scrap +sure.”</p> +<p>“It would have been a tremendous card for +them to get the star pitcher of the World’s +Series,” said McRae with a sigh of relief. “And +in these days, when so many rumors are flying +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +round it’s a comfort to know there’s one man, at +least, that money can’t buy. There isn’t a bit of +shoddy in you, Joe. You’re all wool and a yard +wide.”</p> +<p>At this moment, Hughson, the famous pitcher +who had been a tower of strength to the Giants +for ten years past, came strolling up, and Joe +and Jim fell upon him with a shout.</p> +<p>“How are you, Hughson, old man?” cried Joe. +“How’s that wing of yours getting along?”</p> +<p>“All to the good,” replied Hughson. “I +stopped off for a day or two at Youngstown and +had it treated by Bonesetter Reese. I tell you, +that old chap’s a wonder. He tells me it will be +as good as ever when the season opens.”</p> +<p>“I’m mighty glad you’re going along with us +on this trip,” said Jim, heartily. “It wouldn’t +seem like the Giant team with you out of it.”</p> +<p>“I’m going through as far as the coast anyway,” +answered Hughson. “More for the fun +of being with the boys than anything else. But +I don’t think I’ll make the trip around the world. +I made a half promise some time ago to coach the +Yale team this coming spring, and they don’t seem +inclined to let me out of it. And I don’t know +if after all it may not be best to rest up this +winter and get in shape for next year.”</p> +<p>The three strolled on down the corridor, leaving +McRae and Robbie in earnest conversation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p> +<p>“How many of the boys is Mac taking along?” +asked Joe.</p> +<p>“I think he figures on about fourteen men,” +replied Hughson. “That will give him three +pitchers, two catchers, an extra infielder and outfielder, +besides the seven other men in their regular +positions. That’ll allow for accident or +sickness and ought to be enough.”</p> +<p>“Just as I doped it out,” remarked Joe.</p> +<p>“On a pinch, McRae could play himself,” +laughed Jim. “No better player ever held down +the third bag than Mac when he was on the old +Orioles. The old boy could give the youngsters +points even now on winging them down +to first.”</p> +<p>“For that matter, Robbie himself might go in +behind the bat,” grinned Joe. “No ball could get +by him without hitting him somewhere.”</p> +<p>“It would be worth the price of admission to +see Robbie running down to first,” admitted Hughson, +with a smile.</p> +<p>“What kind of a team has Brennan got together +for the All-American?” asked Joe.</p> +<p>“Believe me; it’s a good one,” replied Hughson. +“He’s got a bunch of the sweetest hitters +that he could get from either league. They’re a +bunch of fence breakers, all right. When those +birds once get going, they’re apt to send any +pitcher to the shower. You’ll have all you want +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +to do, Joe, to keep them from straightening out +your curves.”</p> +<p>“I don’t ask anything better,” replied Joe, with +a laugh. “I’d get soft if they were too easy. But +who are these ball killers? Let me know the +worst.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Hughson, “there’s Wallie Schalk +behind the bat—you know how he can line them +out. Then there’s Miller at first, Ebers at second, +McBride at short and Chapman at third. +The outfielders will probably be Cooper and +Murray and Lange. For pitchers Brennan will +have Hamilton, Fraser and Ellis,—although +Ellis was troubled with the charley-horse toward +the end of the season, and Banks may take his +place.”</p> +<p>“It’s a strong team,” commented Jim, “and +they can certainly make the ball scream when they +hit it. They’re a nifty lot of fielders, too. I +guess we’ll have our work cut out for us, all +right.”</p> +<p>“Both Mac and Brennan have got the right +idea,” said Hughson. “Too many of these barnstorming +trips have been made up of second +string men, and when people came to see the +teams play and didn’t find the real stars in the +line-up they naturally felt sore. But they’re going +to get the simon-pure article this time and the +games are to be for blood. Anyone that lays +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +down on his job is going to get fired. It’ll be +easy enough to pick up a good man to take his +place.”</p> +<p>“What’s the scheme?” asked Joe. “Are we +two teams to play against each other all the +time, or are we to take on some of the local +nines?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think that’s been fully worked out +yet,” replied Hughson. “I know we’re going to +play the Denver nine and some of the crack California +teams.”</p> +<p>“Easy meat,” commented Jim with a grin.</p> +<p>“Don’t you believe it,” rejoined Hughson. +“Don’t you remember how the Waco team +trimmed us last spring? Those fellows will play +their heads off to beat us—and they’ll own the +town if they succeed. They figure that they’ll +catch us off our guard and get the Indian sign on +us before we wake up.”</p> +<p>“Yes. But do you think they can get the Indian +sign so easily?”</p> +<p>“No, I don’t.”</p> +<p>“Of course, those minor teams will play their +very best, because it would be a feather in their +cap if they could take a game away from us. +They’ll probably look around and pick up the very +best players they can, even if they have to put up +some money for the purpose. Just the same, we +ought to be able to polish them off with these.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span></p> +<p>“Well, of course, we’ve got to expect to lose +some games. It would be a remarkable thing to +go around the world and win every game.”</p> +<p>“Yet it might be done,” broke in Jim.</p> +<p>“I suppose there’ll be quite a party going along +with the teams, just for the sake of the trip,” +observed Joe.</p> +<p>“You’ve said it,” replied Hughson. “At least +half of the men will have their wives along, and +then there’s a whole bunch of fans who have been +meaning to go round the world anyway who will +think this a good chance to mix baseball and globe +trotting. Altogether I shouldn’t wonder if there +would be about a hundred in the party. Some +of the fellows will have their sisters with them, +and you boys had better look out or you’ll lose +your hearts to them. But perhaps,” he added, +as he saw a look of quick intelligence pass between +the chums, “you’re already past praying +for.”</p> +<p>Neither one of them denied the soft impeachment.</p> +<p>“By the way,” said Hughson, changing the subject, +“while I think of it, Joe, I want to give you +a tip to be on your guard against ‘Bugs’ Hartley.”</p> +<p>“Why, what’s he up to, now?” inquired Joe.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” Hughson replied. “But I do +know that he’s sore at you through and through. +He’s got the idea in that twisted brain of his that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +you got him off the Giant team. I met him in +the street the other day——”</p> +<p>“Half drunk, I suppose,” interjected Jim.</p> +<p>“More than half,” replied Hughson. “He’s +got to be a regular panhandler—struck me for a +loan, and while I was getting it for him, he talked +in a rambling way of how he was going to get +even with you. Of course I shut him up, but I +couldn’t talk him out of his fixed idea. He’ll do +you a mischief if he ever gets the chance.”</p> +<p>“He’s tried it before,” said Joe. “He nearly +knocked me out when he doped my coffee. Poor +old ‘Bugs’—he’s his own worst enemy.”</p> +<p>“But he’s your enemy too,” persisted Hughson. +“And don’t forget that a crazy man is a +dangerous man.”</p> +<p>“Thanks for the tip,” replied Joe. “But +‘threatened men live long’ and I guess I’m no +exception to the rule!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX_THE_UNDER_DOG' id='IX_THE_UNDER_DOG'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE UNDER DOG</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Talking of angels!” exclaimed Jim, giving +Joe a sharp nudge in the ribs.</p> +<p>Joe looked up quickly and saw Hartley coming +down the corridor.</p> +<p>“It’s ‘Bugs,’ sure enough,” he said. “And, for +a wonder, he’s walking straight.”</p> +<p>“Guess he’s on his good behavior,” remarked +Hughson. “There’s a big meeting of the American +League here just now, winding up the affairs +of the league, now that the playing season is over. +Maybe Hartley thinks he has a chance to catch +on somewhere. Like everybody else that’s played +in the big leagues, he hates to go back to the +bushes. He’d be a find, too, if he’d only cut out +the booze—there’s lots of good baseball in him +yet.”</p> +<p>“He’s a natural player,” said Joe, generously. +“And one of the best pitchers I ever saw. You +know how Mac tried to hold on to him.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think he has a Chinaman’s chance, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +though, of staying in big league company,” observed +Jim. “After the way he tried to give +away our signals in that game at Boston, the +Nationals wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot +pole, and I don’t think the American has any use +for him either. You might forgive him for being +a drunkard, but not for being a traitor.”</p> +<p>Hartley had caught sight of the group, and at +first seemed rather undecided whether to go on +or stop. The bitter feeling he had for Joe, however, +was too strong to resist, and he came over +to where they were. He paid no attention to +Jim, and gave a curt nod to Hughson and fixed a +malignant stare on Joe.</p> +<p>“All dolled up,” he said, with a sneer, as he +noted the quiet but handsome suit that Joe was +wearing. “I could have glad rags, too, if you +hadn’t bilked me out of four thousand dollars.”</p> +<p>“Cut out that talk, Bugs,” said Joe, though not +unkindly. “I never did you out of anything and +you know it.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you did,” snarled Hartley. “You got +me fired from the Giants and did me out of my +share of the World’s Series money.”</p> +<p>“You did yourself out of it, Bugs,” said Joe, +patiently. “I did my best to have Mac hold on +to you. I never was anything but your friend. +Do you remember how Jim and I put you to bed +that night in St. Louis when you were drunk? We +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +took you up the back way so Mac wouldn’t get +next. Take a fool’s advice, Bugs—cut out the +liquor and play the game.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want any advice from you!” sneered +Hartley. “And take it from me, I’ll get you +yet.”</p> +<p>“Beat it, Bugs!” Jim broke in sternly, “while +the going’s good. Roll your hoop now, or I’ll +help you.”</p> +<p>Hartley hesitated a moment, but took Jim’s +advice and with a muttered threat went on his +way.</p> +<p>“Mad as a March hare,” murmured Jim, as +they watched the retreating figure.</p> +<p>“Do a man a favor and he’ll never forgive +you,” quoted Joe.</p> +<p>“Where did he get his grouch against you?” +asked Hughson, curiously.</p> +<p>“Search me,” replied Joe. “I think it dates +from the time when he was batted out of the box +and Mac sent me in to take his place. I won the +game and Bugs has been sore at me ever since. +He figured that I tried to show him up.”</p> +<p>“I wonder how he got here?” mused Hughson. +“The last time I saw him was in New York, and +the money I lent him wasn’t enough to bring +him on.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps Mac gave him transportation,” suggested +Jim. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span></p> +<p>“Not on your life,” rejoined Hughson. +“Mac’s got a heart as big as a house, but he +hates a traitor. You see, though, Joe, I was +right in giving you the tip. Keep your eyes open, +old man.”</p> +<p>Joe was about to make a laughing reply, but +just at that moment Larry and Denton came +along with broad smiles of welcome on their faces, +and the unpleasant episode was forgotten.</p> +<p>It was a jolly party that left Chicago the next +morning for the trip around the world. The +managers had chartered a special train which was +made up wholly of Pullman sleepers, a dining +car and a smoker.</p> +<p>It was travel <i>de luxe</i>, and the sumptuous train +was to be their home for the full month that would +elapse before they reached the coast.</p> +<p>“Rather soft, eh, for the poor baseball slaves,” +grinned Jim, as he stretched out his long legs +luxuriously and gazed out of the window at the +flying telegraph poles.</p> +<p>“This is the life,” chanted Larry Barrett.</p> +<p>“Nothing to do till to-morrow,” chimed in +Denton. “And not much even then.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you boys go patting yourselves on the +back,” smiled Robbie, looking more like a cherub +than ever, as he stopped beside their seats on his +way along the aisle. “These games, remember, +are to be the real thing—there’s going to be no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +sloppy or careless work just because you’re not +playing for the championship. They’re going to +be fights from the time the gong rings till the last +man is out in the ninth inning.”</p> +<p>If Robbie wanted action, he got it, and the +first games had a snap and vim about them that +augured well for the success of the trip. It is +true that the players had not the stimulus that +comes from a fight for the pennant, but other motives +were not lacking.</p> +<p>There was one game which was a nip-and-tuck +affair from start to finish. At the end of the +fourth inning the score stood 1 to 1, and at the +end of the sixth inning the score had advanced so +that it stood 2 to 2.</p> +<p>“Say, we don’t seem to be getting anywhere in +this game,” remarked Jim to Joe.</p> +<p>“Oh, well, we’ve got three more innings to +play,” was the answer.</p> +<p>In the seventh inning a most remarkable happening +occurred. The All-Americans had three +men on bases with nobody out. It looked as if +they might score, but Joe took a sudden brace and +pitched the next man at the bat out in one-two-three +order.</p> +<p>The next man up knocked a pop fly, which Joe +gathered in with ease.</p> +<p>“That’s the way to do it, Joe!” sang out one of +his companions. “Now go for the third man!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></p> +<p>The third fellow to the bat was a notable hitter, +and nearly every one thought he would lace out +at least a two-bagger, bringing in probably three +runs. Instead, however, he knocked two fouls, +and then sent a liner down to first base, which the +baseman caught with ease; and that ended the +chance for scoring.</p> +<p>“That’s pulling it out of the fire!” cried McRae. +The showing had been a good one, but what +made the inning so remarkable was the fact that +in one-two-three order the Giants got the bases +filled exactly as they had been filled before. Then, +more amazing still, the next man was pitched out, +the second man knocked a pop fly to the pitcher, +and it was Joe himself, coming to the bat, hit out a +liner to third base, which was gathered in by the +baseman, thus ending the Giants hope of scoring.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you know about that!” cried +Brennan. “The inning on each side was exactly +alike, with the exception that our third man out +flied to first base, while your man flied to third.”</p> +<p>But that ended the similarity both in batting and +in scoring, for in the eighth inning the Giants +added another run to their score, and held this +lead to the end, even though the All-Americans +fought desperately in the effort to tie the score.</p> +<p>“Oh, we had to win,” said one of the Giants. +“Too many of our folks looking at us to lose.”</p> +<p>Many members of the teams had their wives +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +or sisters with them, and defeat would have been +galling under the eyes of the fair spectators.</p> +<p>Then, too, the Giants had their reputation to +sustain as the Champions of the World. On the +other hand, the All-Americans were anxious to +show that even though they had not been in the +World’s Series, they ought to have been—and +it was a keen delight to them to make their adversaries +bite the dust.</p> +<p>Add to this the fact that there was a strong +spirit of rivalry, good-natured but intense, between +the scrappy McRae and the equally pugnacious +Brennan, whose team had been nosed out +by the Giants in that last desperate race down the +stretch for the pennant, and it is no wonder that +the crowds kept getting larger in every city they +played, that the gate receipts made the managers +chuckle, that the great city papers gave extended +reports of the games and that the baseball trip +around the world began to engross the attention +of every lover of sports in the country.</p> +<p>Joe had never been in finer fettle. His fast +balls went over the plate like bullets from a gatling +gun. His fadeaway was working to a charm. +He wound the ball near the batters’ necks and +curved it out of reach of their bats with an ease +and precision that explained to the applauding +crowds why he was rated as the foremost pitcher +of the day. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></p> +<p>Jim, too, showed the effect of his season’s work +and Joe’s helpful coaching, and between the two +they accounted for three of the games won by the +Giants before they reached Colorado. Two +other games had gone to the All-Americans in +slap-dash, ding-dong finishes, and it was an even +thing as to which team would have the most +games to its credit by the time they had reached +the Pacific coast.</p> +<p>The tension was relaxed somewhat when they +reached Denver, where, for the first time, instead +of fighting it out between themselves a team picked +from both nines was to play the local club.</p> +<p>“Here’s where we get a rest,” sighed Mylert, +the burly catcher of the Giant team.</p> +<p>“It will be no trick at all to wipe up the earth +with these bushers,” laughed Larry Barrett.</p> +<p>“What we’ll do to them will be a sin and a +shame,” agreed “Red” Curry, he of the flaming +mop, who was accustomed to play the “sun field” +at the Polo Grounds.</p> +<p>“It’s almost a crime to show them up before +their home crowd,” chimed in Iredell, the Giant +shortstop.</p> +<p>But if the local club was in for a beating, they +showed no special trepidation as they came out +on the field for practice. If the haughty major +leaguers had expected their humble adversaries +to roll over and play dead in advance of the game +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +itself, they were certainly doomed to disappointment.</p> +<p>The home team went through its preliminary +work in a snappy, finished way that brought frequent +applause from the crowds that thronged the +stand.</p> +<p>Before the game, Brennan, of the Chicagos, +sauntered over to Thorpe, the local manager, +who chanced to be an old acquaintance.</p> +<p>“Got a dandy crowd here to-day, Bill,” he said. +“We ought to give them a run for their money. +Suppose I lend you one of our star pitchers, just +to make things more interesting.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Roger,” Thorpe replied, with a +slow smile, “but I think we’re going to make it +interesting for you fellows, anyway.”</p> +<p>“Quit your kidding,” grinned Brennan, with a +facetious poke in the ribs, and strolled back to +the bench.</p> +<p>The gong rang, the field cleared, and the visiting +team came to the bat. Larry, who had finished +the season in a blaze of glory as the leading +batsman of the National League came up to the +plate, swinging three bats. He threw away two +of them, tapped his heels for luck and grinned +complacently at the Denver pitcher.</p> +<p>“Trot out the best you’ve got, kid,” he called, +“and if you can put it over the plate I’ll murder +it.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X_BY_A_HAIR' id='X_BY_A_HAIR'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>BY A HAIR</h3> +</div> + +<p>The pitcher, a dark-skinned, rangy fellow, +wound up deliberately and shot the ball over. It +split the plate clean. Larry swung at it—and +missed it by two inches.</p> +<p>He looked mildly surprised, but set it down to +the luck of the game and squared himself for a +second attempt. This time he figured on a curve, +but the boxman out-guessed him with a slow one +that floated up to the plate as big as a balloon.</p> +<p>Larry almost broke his back in reaching for it, +but again fanned the air. The visiting players, +who had looked on rather languidly, straightened +up on the bench.</p> +<p>“Some class to that pitcher,” ejaculated Willis.</p> +<p>“It isn’t often that a bush leaguer makes a +monkey out of Larry,” replied Burkett.</p> +<p>“I’ve seen these minor league pitchers before,” +grinned “Red” Curry. “They start off like a +house afire, but about the fifth inning they begin +to crumple up.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>The third ball pitched was a wide outcurve at +which Larry refused to bite. He fouled off the +next two and then swung savagely at a wicked +drop that got away from him.</p> +<p>“You’re out,” called the umpire as the ball +thudded into the catcher’s mitt, and Larry came +back a little sheepishly to his grinning comrades +on the bench.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Larry?” queried Iredell, +as he moved up to make room for him. “Off your +feed to-day?”</p> +<p>“You’ll find out what the matter is when you +face that bird,” snorted Larry. “He’s the real +goods, and don’t you forget it.”</p> +<p>Denton, the second man in the batting order, +took a ball and a strike, and then dribbled an +easy roller to the box, which the swarthy pitcher +had no trouble in getting to first on time.</p> +<p>Burkett, who followed, had better luck and sent +a clean single between first and second. A shout +went up from the Giant bench, which became a +groan a moment later, when a snap throw by +the pitcher nailed Burkett three feet off the +bag.</p> +<p>The half inning had been smartly played and +the Giants took the field with a slightly greater +respect for their opponents.</p> +<p>Joe had pitched the day before, and it was up +to Fraser to take his turn in the box. He walked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +out to his position with easy confidence. He was +one of the best pitchers in either league, and it +was he who had faced Joe in that last battle +royal of the World’s Series and had gone down +defeated, but not disgraced.</p> +<p>But to-day from the start, it was evident that +he was not himself. His speed was there and +the curves, but control was lacking.</p> +<p>“Wild as a hawk,” muttered McRae, as the +first Denver man trotted down to base on balls.</p> +<p>“Can’t seem to locate the plate at all,” grunted +Robbie.</p> +<p>“He’ll pull himself together all right,” remarked +Brennan, hopefully.</p> +<p>But the prophecy proved false, and the next +two men up waited him out and were also rewarded +with passes. The bases were full without +a hit having been made, and the crowds in +the stand were roaring like mad.</p> +<p>Brennan from the coaching lines at first waved +to Fraser and the latter, drawing off his glove, +walked disgustedly to the bench.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with you to-day?” queried +McRae. “You seemed to think the plate was up +in the grandstand.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t get the hang of it, somehow,” +Fraser excused himself. “Just my off day, I +guess.”</p> +<p>Hamilton succeeded him in the box, and from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +the way he started out it seemed as though he +were going to redeem the poor work of his predecessor. +He struck out the first man on three +pitched balls, made the second send up a towering +foul that Mylert caught after a long run, and +the major leaguers began to breathe more +freely.</p> +<p>“Guess he’ll pull out of the hole all right,” remarked +Robbie.</p> +<p>But for the next batter, Hamilton, grown perhaps +a trifle too confident, put one over in the +groove, and the batter banged out a tremendous +three-bagger to right field. Curry made a gallant +try for it but could not quite reach.</p> +<p>Three runs came over the plate, while the +panting batsman slid to third. The crowd in the +stands went wild then, and Thorpe, the manager +of the local team, grinned in a mocking way at +Brennan.</p> +<p>“Is this interesting enough?” he drawled, referring +to Brennan’s patronizing offer to lend +him a player.</p> +<p>“Just a bit of luck,” growled Brennan. “A +few inches more and Curry would have got his +hooks on the ball. Beside, the game’s young yet. +We’ve got the class and that’s bound to tell.”</p> +<p>Hamilton, whose blood was up, put on more +steam, and the third player went out on an infield +fly. But the damage had been done, and those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +three runs at the very start loomed up as a serious +handicap.</p> +<p>“Three big juicy ones,” mourned McRae.</p> +<p>“And all of them on passes,” groaned Robbie. +“Too bad we didn’t put Hamilton in right at the +start.”</p> +<p>Neither team scored in the second inning, and +the third also passed without result.</p> +<p>Hamilton was mowing down the opposing +batters with ease and grace. But the swarthy +flinger for the local club was not a bit behind +him. The heavy sluggers of the visiting teams +seemed as helpless before him as so many school-boys.</p> +<p>“That fellow won’t be in the minors long,” +commented Brennan. “I wonder some of my +scouts haven’t gone after him before this. Who +is he, anyway?”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you who he is,” broke in Robbie, suddenly. +“I knew I’d seen him before somewhere, +and I’ve been puzzling all this time to place him. +Now I’ve tumbled. It’s Alvarez, the crack pitcher +of Cuba.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean the fellow that stood the Athletics +on their heads when they made that winter +trip to Cuba a couple of years ago?” asked +McRae.</p> +<p>“The same one,” affirmed Robbie. “I happened +to be there at one of the games, and he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +showed them up—hundred thousand dollar infield +and all. Connie was fairly dancing as he +saw his pets slaughtered. I tell you, that fellow’s +a wonder—he’d have been in a major league long +ago if it hadn’t been for his color. He may be +only a Cuban, and he says he is, but he’s so dark-skinned +that there’d be some prejudice against +him and that’s barred him out.”</p> +<p>“That’s what made Thorpe so confident,” +growled Brennan. “He’s worked in a ‘ringer’ on +us. We ought to make a kick.”</p> +<p>“That would put us in a nice light, wouldn’t +it?” replied McRae, stormily. “We’d like to see +it in the papers, that the major leagues played the +baby act because they couldn’t bat a bush pitcher. +Not on your life! Thorpe would be tickled to +death to have us make a squeal. We’ll simply +have to lick him.”</p> +<p>But if the promised licking was yet to come, +it was not in evidence in the next two innings. +Alvarez seemed as fresh as at the beginning, and +his arm worked with the force and precision of a +piston rod.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with you fellows, anyway?” +raged McRae, when the end of the fifth +inning saw the score remain unchanged. “You +ought to be in the old ladies’ home. It’s a joke +to call you ball players.”</p> +<p>“It must be this Denver air,” ventured Willis. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +“It’s so high up here that a fellow finds it hard to +breathe. These Denver boobs are used to it and +we’re not.”</p> +<p>“Air! air!” snapped McRae. “I notice you’ve +got plenty of hot air. Go in and play the game, +you bunch of false alarms.”</p> +<p>Whether it was owing to his rasping tongue or +their own growing resentment at the impudence +of the minor leaguers, the All-Americans broke +the ice in the sixth.</p> +<p>Burkett lined out a beauty between left and +center that was good for two bases. Willis followed +with a towering sky scraper to right, which, +although it was caught after a long run, enabled +Burkett to get to third before the ball was returned. +Then Becker who had perished twice before +on feeble taps to the infield, whaled out a +home run to the intense jubilation of his mates.</p> +<p>“We’ve got his number!” yelled Larry, doing +a jig on the coaching lines.</p> +<p>“He’s going up,” sang out “Red” Curry.</p> +<p>“I knew he couldn’t last,” taunted Iredell, as +he threw his cap in the air.</p> +<p>But Alvarez was not through, by any means. +Undaunted by that tremendous home run which +might have taken the heart out of any pitcher, +he braced himself, and the next two men went +out on fouls.</p> +<p>“I thought we had them on the run that time,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +observed McRae, “but he’s got the old comeback +right with him.”</p> +<p>“Never mind,” exulted Robbie. “We’re beginning +to find him now, and we’ve cut down that +big lead of theirs to one run. The boys will get +after him the next inning.”</p> +<p>But even the lucky seventh passed without +bringing any luck to the visitors, and although the +major leaguers got two men on bases in the +eighth, the inning ended with the score still three +to two in favor of the local club.</p> +<p>“Looks as though we were up against it,” said +Jim, anxiously, as the Giants went to bat for the +last time.</p> +<p>“It sure does,” responded Joe. “I’ll hate to +look at the papers to-morrow morning. The +whole country will have the laugh on us.”</p> +<p>“The boys will want to keep away from McRae +if they lose,” said Jim. “He’ll be as peeved as a +bear with a sore head for the next three days or +so.”</p> +<p>“Now, Larry, show them where you live,” +sang out Curry, as the head of the Giant batting +order strode to the plate.</p> +<p>“Kill it,” entreated Willis. “Hit it on the +seam.”</p> +<p>“Send it a mile,” exhorted Becker.</p> +<p>It was not a mile that Larry sent it, but it +looked so to the left and center fielders who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +chased it as it went on a line between the two. +A cleaner home run had probably never been +knocked out on the Denver grounds.</p> +<p>Larry came galloping in to be mauled and +pounded by his exulting mates, while McRae +brought down his hand on Robbie’s knee with a +force that made that worthy wince.</p> +<p>“That ties it up,” he cried. “Now, boys, for a +whirlwind finish!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI_A_CLOSE_CALL' id='XI_A_CLOSE_CALL'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>A CLOSE CALL</h3> +</div> + +<p>The crowds in the stand, which had been uproarious +a few moments before, were quiet now. +The lead which the local club had held throughout +the game had vanished; the visitors had +played an uphill game worthy of their reputation, +and now they had at least an even chance.</p> +<p>Denton came to the bat, eager to emulate +Larry’s feat, but Alvarez was unsteady now—that +last home run had taken something out of him. +He found it hard to locate the plate, and Denton +trotted down to first on balls.</p> +<p>As no man was out and only one run was needed +to gain the lead, a sacrifice was the proper play, +and Burkett laid down a neat bunt in front of the +plate that carried Denton to second, although the +batter died at first.</p> +<p>Alvarez purposely passed Willis on the chance +of the next batter hitting into a double play, +which would have retired the side. Becker made +a mighty effort to bring his comrades in, but hit +under the ball, and it went high in the air and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +was caught by Alvarez as it came down, without +the pitcher moving from his tracks.</p> +<p>With two out, there was no need of a double +play and the infielders, who had been playing close +in, resumed their usual positions. Iredell, the +next man up caught the ball square on the end +of his bat and sent it whistling between center +and third. The shortstop leaped up and knocked +the ball down, but it was going too fast for him +to hold.</p> +<p>Denton had left second at the crack of the bat, +and by the time the infielder regained the ball had +rounded third and was tearing like a racehorse +toward the plate. There was little time to get +set and the hurried throw home went over the +catcher’s head. Denton slid feet first over the +plate, scoring the run that put his team in the +lead.</p> +<p>Willis tried to make it good measure by coming +close behind him, but by this time the catcher +had recovered the ball and shot it back to Alvarez +who was guarding the plate. He nipped Willis +by three feet and the side was out.</p> +<p>But that one run in the lead looked as big as a +house at that stage in the game.</p> +<p>“All you’ve got to do now, Hamilton, old man, +is to hold them down in their half,” said Brennan.</p> +<p>“Cinch,” grinned Hamilton. “I’ll have them +eating out of my hand.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>But the uncertainty that makes the national +game the most fascinating one in the world was +demonstrated when the Denver team came in to +do-or-die in their half of the ninth.</p> +<p>Hamilton fed the first batter a snaky curve, +which he lashed at savagely but vainly. The +next was a slow one and resulted in a chop to the +infield which Larry would have ordinarily gobbled +up without trouble. But the ball took an ugly +bound just as he was all set for it and went over +his head toward right. Before Curry could get +the ball the batter had reached second and the +stands were once more in an uproar.</p> +<p>The uproar increased when Hamilton, somewhat +shaken by the incident, gave the next batter +a base on balls, and the broad smiles which had +suffused the faces of Robbie and McRae began +to fade.</p> +<p>“Is Hamilton going up, do you think?” asked +the Giant manager, anxiously.</p> +<p>“Looks something like it,” replied Robbie, +“but he’ll probably brace. You see Denton’s +talking to him now, to give him a chance to rest +up a little.”</p> +<p>The third baseman had strolled over to Hamilton +on pretense of discussing some point of play, +but the crowd saw through the subterfuge, and +shouts of protest went up:</p> +<p>“Hire a hall!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></p> +<p>“Write him a letter!”</p> +<p>“Play ball!”</p> +<p>Not a bit flustered by the shouts, Denton took +his time, and after encouraging his team mate +sauntered slowly back to his position.</p> +<p>But Hamilton’s good right arm had lost its +cunning. His first ball was wild, and the batter, +seeing this, waited him out and was given a pass. +His comrades moved up and the bags were full, +with none out and the heaviest sluggers of the +team coming to the bat.</p> +<p>McRae and Brennan had been holding an earnest +conference, and now on a signal from them +Hamilton came in from the box.</p> +<p>“It’s no use,” said McRae to Brennan, while +the crowd howled in derision. “We’ll have to +play our trump and put Matson in to hold them +down.”</p> +<p>“But he hasn’t warmed up,” said Brennan dubiously.</p> +<p>“That makes no difference,” replied McRae. +“I’d rather put him in cold than anyone else +warm.”</p> +<p>“All right; do as you please,” responded the +other manager.</p> +<p>McRae called over to where Joe was sitting. +The crack pitcher had been watching the progress +of the game with keen interest, although making +comparatively few comments. As McRae +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +approached Joe, the crowd howled louder than ever +at Hamilton.</p> +<p>“Why don’t you learn how to pitch?”</p> +<p>“Say, let us send one of the high-school boys +into the box for you!”</p> +<p>“Too bad, old man, but I guess we’ve got your +goat all right!”</p> +<p>“I guess you know what I want, Joe,” cried +McRae. “I want you to get in the box for us.”</p> +<p>“All right, Mac,” was the young pitcher’s answer.</p> +<p>“And, Joe,” went on the other earnestly, “try +to think for the next five minutes that you’re pitching +for the pennant.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do anything you say,” was Joe’s reply; and +then he drew on his glove and walked out upon the +ball field.</p> +<p>“Hello! what do you know about that?”</p> +<p>“Matson is going to pitch for them!”</p> +<p>“I guess they’ve enough of that other dub!”</p> +<p>“Oh, Hamilton isn’t a dub, by any means,” replied +one of the spectators sharply. “He’s a good +player, but a pitcher can’t always be at his +best.”</p> +<p>“But just you wait and see how we do up Matson!” +cried a local sympathizer.</p> +<p>At a signal the next man to bat stepped away +from the plate, and Joe had the privilege of warming +up by sending three hot ones to the catcher. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span></p> +<p>“He’ll put ’em over all right enough!” cried +one of his friends.</p> +<p>“That’s what he will!” returned another.</p> +<p>“Not much! He’ll be snowed under!”</p> +<p>“This is our winning day!”</p> +<p>So the cries continued until the umpire held up +his hand for silence.</p> +<p>“He’s going to make an announcement!” cried +a number of the spectators.</p> +<p>“Ladies and gentlemen,” roared the umpire, removing +his cap, “Matson now pitching for the +All-Americans.”</p> +<p>A howl went up from the stands, made up in +about equal parts of derision and applause. Derision +because the All-American team must, they +figured, be scared to death when they had to send +their greatest player into the game. Whether they +won or lost it was a great compliment to the +Denver team. The applause came from the +genuine sportsmen who knew the famous pitcher +by reputation and welcomed the chance to see him +in action.</p> +<p>The three men on the bases were dancing about +like dervishes in the hope of rattling the newcomer. +They did not know Joe.</p> +<p>Never cooler than when the strain was greatest +and the need most urgent, Joe bent down to pick +up the ball. As he did so, he touched it, apparently +accidentally, against his right heel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p>It was a signal meant for Denton, the third +baseman, who was watching him like a hawk.</p> +<p>Joe took up his position in the box, took a +grip on the ball, but instead of delivering it to the +batter turned suddenly on his left heel, as though +to snap it down to first. The Denver player at +that bag, who had taken a lead of several feet, +made a frantic slide back to safety.</p> +<p>But the ball never got to first, for Joe had +swung himself all the way round and shot the +ball like a bullet to Denton at third. The local +player at third had been watching eagerly the +outcome of the supposed throw to first and was +caught completely unawares.</p> +<p>Down came Denton’s hand, clapping the ball +on his back, while the victim stood dazed as +though in a trance.</p> +<p>It was the prettiest kind of “inside work,” and +even the home crowd went into convulsions of +laughter as the trapped player came sheepishly +in from third to the bench.</p> +<p>McRae was beaming, and Robbie’s rubicund +face became several degrees redder under the +strain of his emotion.</p> +<p>“Say, is that boy class, John?” Robbie gurgled, +as soon as he could speak.</p> +<p>“Never saw a niftier thing on the ball field,” +responded McRae warmly. “When that boy +thinks, he runs rings around lightning.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></p> +<p>“And he’s thinking all the time,” chimed in +Jim.</p> +<p>But the peril was not yet over. The man at +the most dangerous corner had been disposed of, +yet there was still a man on first and another on +second. A safe hit would tie the game at least, +and possibly win it.</p> +<p>Joe wound up deliberately and shot a high fast +one over the plate. It came so swiftly that the +batter did not offer at it, and looked aggrieved +when the umpire called it a strike.</p> +<p>The next was a crafty outcurve which went as +a ball. The batsman fouled off the next.</p> +<p>With two strikes on and only one ball called, +Joe was on “easy street” and could afford to +“waste a few.” Twice in succession he tempted +the batsman with balls that were wide of the +plate, but the batter was wary and refused +them.</p> +<p>Now the count was “two and three,” and the +crowd broke into a roar.</p> +<p>“Good eye, old man!” they shouted to the +batter.</p> +<p>“You’ve got him in a hole!”</p> +<p>“It only takes one to do it!”</p> +<p>“He’s got to put it over!”</p> +<p>With all the force of his sinewy arm, Joe +“put it over.”</p> +<p>The batsman made a wicked drive at it and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +sent it hurtling to the box about two feet over +Joe’s head.</p> +<p>Joe saw it coming, leaped into the air and +speared it with his gloved hand. The men on +bases had started to run, thinking it a sure hit. +Joe wheeled and sent the ball down to Burkett +at first.</p> +<p>“Look at that!”</p> +<p>“Some speed, eh?”</p> +<p>“I should say so.”</p> +<p>“Matson has got them going!”</p> +<p>The man who had left the bag strove desperately +to get back, but he was too late. That +rattling double play had ended the game with the +All-American team a victor by a score of four to +three.</p> +<p>Joe’s fingers tingled as he pulled off the glove, +for that terrific drive had stung. The crowd had +been stunned for a moment by the suddenness +with which the game and their hopes of victory +had gone glimmering. But it had been a remarkable +play and the first silence was followed by a +round of sportsmanlike applause—though of +course it was nothing to what would have greeted +the victory of the home team.</p> +<p>“Fine work, Matson!”</p> +<p>“Best I ever saw!”</p> +<p>“You’re the boy to do it.”</p> +<p>“Best pitcher in the world!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span></p> +<p>Joe found himself the center of a joyous crowd +when he reached his own bench. All were jubilant +that they had escaped the humiliation of being +whipped by a minor league team.</p> +<p>“You’ve brought home the bacon, Joe!” chortled +McRae.</p> +<p>“We all did,” replied Joe. “But we almost +dropped it on the way!” he added, with a grin.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII_A_DASTARDLY_ATTACK' id='XII_A_DASTARDLY_ATTACK'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>A DASTARDLY ATTACK</h3> +</div> + +<p>The tourists’ train was scheduled to leave Denver +at eleven-thirty that night, so that there was +ample time after the game for a leisurely meal +and a few hours for recreation for any of the +party that felt so inclined.</p> +<p>Some went to the theater, others played cards, +while others sat about the lobby of the leading +hotel and discussed the exciting events of the +afternoon’s game.</p> +<p>As for Joe and Jim, their recreation took the +form of long letters to two charming young ladies +whose address, by coincidence, happened to be +Riverside. Both seemed to have much to write +about, for it was nearly ten o’clock before the +bulky letters were ready for mailing.</p> +<p>“Give them to me and I’ll take them down to +the hotel lobby and mail them,” said Jim, as they +rose from the writing table.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied Joe, as he looked at +his watch. “Perhaps the last collection for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +outgoing eastbound mail has already been made. +What do you say to going down to the post-office +itself and dropping them in there? Then they’ll +be sure to go.”</p> +<p>“All right,” Jim acquiesced. “It’s a dandy +night anyway for a walk and I’d like to stretch +my legs a little. Come along.”</p> +<p>They went out into the brilliantly lighted +streets, which at that hour were still full of people, +and turned toward the post-office which was +about half a mile distant.</p> +<p>As they were passing a corner, Jim suddenly +clutched Joe’s arm.</p> +<p>“Did you see that fellow who went into that +saloon just now?” he asked, indicating a rather +pretentious café.</p> +<p>“No,” said Joe, dryly. “But it isn’t such an +unusual thing that I’d pay a nickel to see it.”</p> +<p>“Quit your fooling,” said Jim. “If that fellow +wasn’t Bugs Hartley, then my eyes are going back +on me.”</p> +<p>“You’re dreaming,” Joe retorted. “What in +the world would Bugs be doing in Denver?”</p> +<p>“Panhandling, maybe,” returned Jim. “Drinking, +certainly. But it isn’t what he’s doing that +interests me. It’s the fact that he’s here.”</p> +<p>“Let’s take a look,” suggested Joe, impressed +by his friend’s earnestness.</p> +<p>They went up to the swinging door, pushed it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +open and looked in. There were perhaps a dozen +men in the place, but Hartley was not among +them.</p> +<p>“Barking up the wrong tree, Jim,” chaffed Joe.</p> +<p>“Maybe,” agreed Jim a little perplexed, “but +if it wasn’t Bugs it was his double.”</p> +<p>They reached the post-office and after mailing +their letters turned back towards the hotel.</p> +<p>“It’s taken us a little longer than I thought,” +remarked Jim, looking at his watch. “We won’t +have any more than time to get our traps together +and get down to the train.”</p> +<p>“This looks like a short cut,” said Joe, indicating +a side street which though rather dark and +deserted cut into the main thoroughfare, as they +could see by the bright lights at the further end. +“We’ll save something by going this way.”</p> +<p>They had gone perhaps a couple of blocks when +they reached a part of the street which had no +dwelling houses on it. On one side was a factory, +dark and forbidding, and on the side where the +young men were walking was a high board fence +enclosing a coal yard.</p> +<p>“Wait a minute, Jim,” said Joe. “It feels as +though my shoe lace had come untied.”</p> +<p>He stooped down to fasten the lace, and just +as he did so, a jagged piece of rock came whizzing +past where his head had been a second before +and crashed against the fence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span></p> +<p>Joe straightened up with a jerk.</p> +<p>“Who threw that?” he exclaimed.</p> +<p>Jim’s face was white at the peril his friend +had so narrowly escaped.</p> +<p>“Somebody who knew how to throw,” he cried, +“and I can make a guess at who it was. There +he is now!” he shouted, as he caught sight of a +dim figure slinking away in the darkness on the +further side of the factory.</p> +<p>They darted across the street in pursuit, but +when they turned the corner there was no one +to be seen. Several alleys branched off from the +street, up any one of which the fugitive might +have made his escape. Although they tried them +one after the other they could find no trace of the +rascal.</p> +<p>Baffled and chagrined, they made their way +back to the scene of the attack. Joe picked up the +piece of rock and weighed it in his hand.</p> +<p>“About half a pound,” he judged. “And look +at those rough edges! It would have been all +up with me, if it had landed.”</p> +<p>“Do you notice that that’s about the weight of +a baseball?” asked Jim significantly. “And it +went for your head as straight as a bullet. It +would have caught you square if you hadn’t +stooped just as you did. You can thank your +lucky stars that your shoelace came untied. That +fellow knew just how to throw, as I said before.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span></p> +<p>“You don’t mean,” replied Joe, “that +Bugs——”</p> +<p>“Just that,” affirmed Jim grimly. “Now maybe +you’ll believe me when I say that I saw him to-night. +That skunk thought that I had seen him, +and slipped into the saloon to get out of sight. +Probably he went out through a rear door and +has been following us ever since.”</p> +<p>“But why——” began Joe.</p> +<p>“Why?” repeated Jim. “Why does a crazy man +do crazy things? Just because he is crazy. He +doesn’t have to have a reason. If he thinks you’ve +injured him he’s just as bitter as though you really +had. Hughson’s tip was a good one, Joe. The +fellow’s deadly dangerous. It’s only luck that +he isn’t a murderer this minute.”</p> +<p>“It’s good for him I didn’t lay my hands on +him,” replied Joe. “I wouldn’t have hit him, because +I don’t think he’s responsible for what he +does. But I’d have had him put where he couldn’t +do any more mischief for a while.”</p> +<p>“It gives me the creeps to think of what a close +call that was,” said Jim, as they walked along.</p> +<p>“Don’t say anything about it to the boys,” +cautioned Joe. “The thing would get out, and +before we knew it the folks at home would have +heard of it. And they wouldn’t have an easy +minute for all the rest of the trip.”</p> +<p>They made quick time to the hotel, and as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +most of their luggage had remained on the train, +they had only to gather a few things together in a +small hand bag and start out for the station.</p> +<p>Their special train had been standing on a side +track a few hundred yards east of the main platform. +They were picking their way toward it +across a network of tracks, when, just as they +rounded the corner of a freight car, they came +face to face with Hartley.</p> +<p>They almost dropped their handbags at the +unexpectedness of the meeting. But if they were +startled, Bugs was frightened and turned on his +heel to run. In an instant Joe had him by the +collar in a grip of iron, while Jim stood on the +alert to stop him should he break away.</p> +<p>“Let me go!” cried Hartley in stifled tones, +for Joe’s grip was almost choking him.</p> +<p>“Not until you tell me why you tried to murder +me to-night,” said Joe, grimly.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” +snarled Bugs, trying to wrench himself loose from +Joe’s hold on his collar.</p> +<p>“You know well enough,” replied his captor. +“Own up.”</p> +<p>“You might as well, Bugs,” put in Jim. “We’ve +got the goods on you.”</p> +<p>“You fellows are crazy,” replied Bugs. “I’ve +never laid eyes on you since I saw you in Chicago. +And you can’t prove that I did either.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></p> +<p>“You’re the only enemy I have in the world,” +declared Joe. “And the man who threw that rock +at me to-night was a practiced thrower. Besides, +you’re all in a sweat—that’s from running away +when we chased you.”</p> +<p>“Swell proof that is,” sneered Hartley. “Tell +that to a judge and see what good it will do +you.”</p> +<p>The point was well taken, and Joe and Jim +knew in their hearts that they had no legal proof, +although they were morally certain Bugs was +guilty. Besides, they had no time to have him +arrested, for their train was scheduled to start in +ten minutes.</p> +<p>“Now listen, Bugs,” said Joe, at the same time +shaking him so that his teeth rattled. “I know +perfectly well that you’re lying, and I’m giving +you warning for the last time. You’ve had it in +for me from the time you doped my coffee and +nearly put me out of the game altogether. Ever +since that you’ve bothered me, and to-night you’ve +tried to kill me. I tell you straight, I’ve had +enough of it. If I didn’t think that your brain +was twisted, I’d thrash you now within an inch +of your life. But I’m telling you now, and you +let it sink in, that the next time you try to do me, +I’m going to put you where the dogs won’t bite +you.”</p> +<p>He dug his knuckles into Bugs’ neck and gave +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +him a fling that sent him several yards away. The +fellow kept his feet with an effort, and then with +a muttered threat slunk away into the darkness.</p> +<p>They watched him for a minute, and then +picked up their handbags and started toward the +train.</p> +<p>“Hope that’s the last we see of him,” remarked +Joe.</p> +<p>“So do I,” Jim replied. “But we felt that way +before and he’s turned up just the same. I won’t +feel easy till I know that he’s behind the bars.”</p> +<p>“He’s usually in front of the bars,” joked Joe. +“But I’m glad anyway that we had a chance to +throw a scare into him. He knows now that we’ll +be on our guard and perhaps even he will have +sense enough to let us alone.”</p> +<p>Jim consulted his watch.</p> +<p>“Great Scott!” he ejaculated.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Jim?”</p> +<p>“We haven’t any time to spare if we want to +catch that train.”</p> +<p>“All right, let’s run for it.”</p> +<p>As best they could, they began sprinting in the +direction of the railroad station, but their handbags +were somewhat heavy, and this impeded their +progress. Then, turning a corner, they suddenly +found themselves confronted by a long +sewer trench, lit up here and there by red lanterns. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“We’ve got to get over that trench somehow!” +cried Joe.</p> +<p>“Can you jump it?” questioned Jim anxiously.</p> +<p>“I’m going to try,” returned the crack pitcher.</p> +<p>He threw his handbag to the other side of the +sewer trench, and then, backing up a few steps, +ran forward and took the leap in good shape. His +chum followed him, but Jim might have slipped +back into the sewer trench had not Joe been watching, +and grabbed him by one hand.</p> +<p>“Gosh, that was a close shave!” panted Jim, +when he felt himself safe.</p> +<p>“Don’t waste time thinking about it. We have +still a couple of blocks to go,” Joe returned, and +set off once more on the run, with Jim at his heels.</p> +<p>Soon they rounded another corner, and came in +sight of the railroad station. There stood their +train, and the conductor was signaling to start.</p> +<p>“Wait! Wait!” yelled Joe. But in the general +confusion around the railroad station nobody +seemed to notice him.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to make that train—we’ve just got +to!” cried Joe, and dashed forward faster than +ever, with Jim beside him.</p> +<p>They scrambled up the steps just as a warning +whistle sounded; and a few moments later the +train drew out on its climb over the Rockies.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII_DANGER_SIGNALS' id='XIII_DANGER_SIGNALS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>DANGER SIGNALS</h3> +</div> + +<p>The travelers were now in the most picturesque +part of their journey, and the magnificent views +that spread before them as they topped the ridges +of the continent and dropped down on the other +side into the land of flowers and eternal summer +were a source of unending interest and pleasure.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you what, Joe,” remarked Jim: “I +never had an idea that this section of our country +was so truly grand.”</p> +<p>“It certainly is magnificent scenery,” was Joe’s +answer. “Just look at those mountain tops, will +you? Some height there, believe me!”</p> +<p>“Yes. And just see the depth of some of those +canyons, will you? Say! if a fellow ever fell over +into one of those, he’d never know what happened +to him.”</p> +<p>“I’ve been watching this particular bit of scenery +for some time,” remarked Joe. “It somehow +had a familiar look to it, and now I know why.”</p> +<p>“And why is it, Joe?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></p> +<p>“I’ll tell you. Some time ago I saw a moving +picture with the scene laid in the Rocky Mountains, +and, unless I’m greatly mistaken, some of +the scenes were taken right in this locality.”</p> +<p>“Was that a photo-play called ‘The Girl From +Mountain Pass?’” questioned another player who +was present.</p> +<p>“It was.”</p> +<p>“Then you’re right, Matson; because I was +speaking about that film to the conductor of this +train, and he said that some of the pictures were +taken right around here. His train was used in one +of the scenes.”</p> +<p>This matter was talked over for several minutes, +but then the conversation changed; and, presently, +the chums went off to talk about other matters.</p> +<p>Joe and Jim were lounging in the rear of the +observation car, talking over the stirring events +of the night before, when McRae happened along +and dropped into a seat beside them.</p> +<p>“Some game that was yesterday, boys,” he remarked +genially. “Those Denver fellows were +curly bears, but we trimmed them just the same.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” grinned Jim. “But we weren’t comfortable +while we were doing it.”</p> +<p>“They sure did worry us,” acquiesced Joe. +“They made us know at least that we’d been in a +fight.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p> +<p>“It was that ninth-inning work of yours that +pulled us through, Joe,” declared McRae. “That +stunt you pulled of whirling on your heel and +shooting it over to third was a pretty bit of inside +stuff. And there wasn’t anything slow either +about spearing that ball that Thompson hit.”</p> +<p>“I’d have let the fielders take care of that,” admitted +Joe, “if there hadn’t been so much at stake. +My hand stung for an hour afterward. But I’d +have hated to let those fellows crow over us.”</p> +<p>“That fellow, Alvarez, that Thorpe rang in on +us was a sure-enough pitcher,” observed McRae. +“I’d sign him up in a minute if it weren’t for that +dark skin of his. But it wouldn’t work. We had +a second baseman like that one time, and although +he was a rattling good player it nearly broke up +the team. It’s too bad that color should stand +in the way of a man’s advancement, but it can’t +be helped.</p> +<p>“By the way,” he continued, drawing a paper +from his pocket, “here’s something that may interest +you. It’s the official record of the National +League of the pitching averages for this season. +It made me feel good when I read it and you’ll +see the reason why.”</p> +<p>He handed them the paper, which they opened +eagerly to the sporting page.</p> +<p>Joe’s heart felt a thrill of satisfaction as he saw +that his name stood at the head of the list, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +Jim, too, was elated, as he noted that although +this was his first year in a major league his name +was among the first fifteen—a rare distinction for +a “rookie.”</p> +<p>“Some class to the Giants, eh?” grinned +McRae. “There’s sixty names in that list and +no single team has as many in the first twelve as +we have. That average of yours, Joe, of 1.53 +earned runs per game is a hummer. Hughson is +close on your heels with 1.56. The Rube, you +see, is eighth in the list with 1.95, and Jim’s +eleventh with 2.09. I tell you, boys, that’s class, +and to cap it all we won the pennant.”</p> +<p>“Two pennants, you mean,” corrected Jim with +a smile.</p> +<p>“And neither one to be sneezed at,” grinned +Joe.</p> +<p>“We sure had a great season,” observed +McRae. “If we start next year with the same +team we ought to go through the league like a +prairie fire. I have every reason to think that +Hughson will be in tip-top shape when the season +opens, and if he is, there won’t be any pitching +staff that can hold a candle to ours. +But——”</p> +<p>He paused uncertainly and looked at Joe as +though he wanted to speak to him privately. Jim +saw the look and took the hint.</p> +<p>“I guess I’ll go into the smoker and see what +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +the rest of the fellows are doing, if you’ll excuse +me,” he said, rising and strolling back.</p> +<p>McRae greeted his departure with evident satisfaction.</p> +<p>“I’m glad to have a chance to talk to you alone, +Joe,” he said. “You’re my right bower and I can +talk to you more freely than to anyone else, except +Hughson. I don’t mind telling you that this +new league is worrying me a lot.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Joe with quick interest. +“Anything happened lately?”</p> +<p>“Plenty,” replied McRae. “I’ve kidded myself +with the idea that the thing was going to peter out +of its own accord. Every few seasons something +of the kind crops up, but it usually comes to nothing. +Usually the men who put up the coin get +scared when they see what a big proposition it is +they’ve tackled and back out. Sometimes, too, +they go about it in such a blundering way that it’s +bound to fail from the start.</p> +<p>“But this time it’s different. They’ve got barrels +of money behind them, and they’re spending +it like water. There’s one of them named Fleming, +whose father is a millionaire many times over, +and he seems to have money to burn. They certainly +are making big offers to star players all +over the country. You saw the way they came at +you, and they’re doing the same in other places. +There isn’t a paper that I pick up that doesn’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +give the name of some big player that they’re tampering +with. The last one I saw was Altman of +the Chicago White Sox. I guess though, that is a +wrong steer, for Altman has come out flat for his +old team and denies any intention of jumping his +contract.”</p> +<p>“Bully for Nick!” exclaimed Joe. “I guess I +helped to queer that deal. I saw Westland talking +to him, and he seemed to have him going, but +I put a few things straight to Nick and he seems +to have come to his senses before it’s too late.”</p> +<p>“There’s Munsey of the Cincinnatis, he’s left his +reservation,” continued McRae. “He’s the crack +shortstop of the country. They’ve got a line out, +too, for Wilson of the Bostons, and you know they +don’t make any better outfielders than he is. In +fact, they’re biting into the teams everywhere, +and none of them know where they’re at. If I’d +known they were going at it so seriously, and +hadn’t got so far in my preparations for this trip, +I think I wouldn’t have gone on this world’s tour. +It looks to me as though the major leagues would +be backed up against the wall and fighting for their +lives before this winter’s over.”</p> +<p>“It may not be as bad as you think,” said Joe +consolingly. “Even if they get a lot of the stars, +there will be a great many left. And, besides, they +may have trouble in finding suitable grounds to +play on.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p> +<p>“But they will,” declared McRae. “They’ve +got the refusal of first-class locations in every big +city of the major league. I tell you, there’s brains +behind this new league and that’s what’s worrying +me. I don’t know whether it’s Fleming——”</p> +<p>“No,” interrupted Joe, smiling contemptuously, +as he thought of the dissipated young fellow whom +he had thrashed so soundly. “It isn’t Fleming. +He’s got money enough, but there’s a vacuum +where his brains ought to be.”</p> +<p>“Then it’s his partners,” deduced McRae. +“And their brains with his money make a strong +combination.”</p> +<p>“Well,” comforted Joe, “there’s one good thing +about this trip, anyway. You’ve got the Giants +out of reach of their schemes.”</p> +<p>McRae looked around to see if anyone were +within earshot, and then leaned over toward Joe.</p> +<p>“Don’t fool yourself,” he said earnestly. “I’m +afraid right now there are traitors in the camp!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV_A_WEIRD_GAME' id='XIV_A_WEIRD_GAME'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>A WEIRD GAME</h3> +</div> + +<p>Baseball Joe was startled and showed it +plainly.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” he asked, as his mind +ran over the names of his team-mates.</p> +<p>“Just what I say,” replied McRae. “I tell +you, Joe, somebody’s getting in his fine work with +our boys and I know it.”</p> +<p>“Where’s your proof?” asked Joe. “I hate to +think that any of our fellows would welch on +their contracts.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” returned McRae. “We’ve been like +one big family, and I’ve always tried to treat the +boys right. I’ve got a rough tongue, as everybody +knows, and in a hot game I’ve called them down +many a time when they’ve made bonehead plays. +But at the same time I’ve tried to be just, and I’ve +never given any of them the worst end of the +deal. They’ve been paid good money, and I’ve +carried them along sometimes when other managers +would have let them go.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>“You’ve been white all right,” assented Joe +warmly. He recalled an occasion when a muff +by a luckless center-fielder had lost a World Series +and fifty thousand dollars for the team, and +yet McRae had “stood the gaff” and never said +a word, because he knew the man was trying to do +his best.</p> +<p>“I’m telling this to you, Joe,” went on McRae, +“because I want you to help me out. You’ve +proved yourself true blue when you were put to +the test. I know you’ll do all you can to hold the +boys in the traces. They all like you and feel +that they owe you a lot because it was your pitching +that pulled us through the World’s Series. +Besides, they’ll be more impressed by what you +say than by the talk I’d give them. They figure +that I’m the manager and am only looking after +my own interests, and for that reason what I say +has less effect.”</p> +<p>“I’ll stand by you, Mac,” returned Joe, “and +help you in any way I can. Who are the boys +that you think are trying to break loose?”</p> +<p>“There are three of them,” replied McRae. +“Iredell, Curry and Burkett, and all three of them +are stars, as you know as well as I do.”</p> +<p>“They’re cracks, every one of them,” agreed +Joe. “And they’re among the last men that I’d +suspect of doing anything of the kind. What +makes you think they’ve been approached?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p> +<p>“A lot of things,” replied McRae. “In the +first place, I have noticed that they are stiff and +offish in their manner when I speak to them. +Then, too, I’ve come across them several times +lately with their heads together, and when they +saw me coming they’d break apart and start talking +of something else, as if I had interrupted +them. Beside that, all three have struck me lately +for a raise in salary next season.”</p> +<p>“That’s nothing new for ball players,” said +Joe, with a smile.</p> +<p>“No,” admitted McRae, an answering smile relieving +the gravity of his face for the moment. +“And I stand ready of my own accord to give the +boys a substantial increase on last year’s pay because +of their winning the pennant. But what +these three asked for was beyond all reason, and +made me think there was a nigger in the woodpile. +They either had had a big offer from somebody +else and were using that as a club to hold +me up with, or else they were just trying to +give themselves a better excuse for jumping.”</p> +<p>“How long do their contracts have to run?” +asked Joe.</p> +<p>“Iredell has one year more and Curry and +Burkett are signed up for two years yet,” replied +the Giants’ manager. “Of course I could try to +hold them to their contracts, but you know as well +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +as I do that baseball contracts are more a matter +of honesty than of legal obligation. If a man is +straight, he’ll keep it, if he’s crooked, he’ll break +it. And you know what a hole it would leave in the +Giant team if those three men went over the fence. +There isn’t a heavier slugger in the team than +Burkett, except Larry. His batting average this +year was .332, and as a fielding first baseman he’s +the class of the league.”</p> +<p>“You’re right there,” acquiesced Joe, as he recalled +the ease and precision with which Burkett +took them on either side and dug them out of the +dirt. “He’s saved a game for me many and many +a time.”</p> +<p>“As for Iredell,” went on McRae, “he hasn’t +his equal in playing short and in covering second +as the pivot for a double play. And nobody has +played the infield as Curry does since I’ve been +manager of the team.”</p> +<p>“It would certainly break the Giants all up to +lose the three of them,” agreed Joe. “But we +haven’t lost them yet. Remember that the game +isn’t over till the last man is out in the ninth inning.”</p> +<p>“I know that. You’ve helped me win two fights +this year, Joe, one for the championship of the +league and the other for the championship of the +world. Now I’m counting on you to help me win +a third, perhaps the hardest of them all.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></p> +<p>“Put ’er there, Mac,” said Joe, extending his +hand. “Shake—I’m with you till the cows come +home.”</p> +<p>“Of course, they’ll be willing to put up big +money, Joe. You know that already.”</p> +<p>“It doesn’t make a particle of difference, Mac, +how much money they put up,” returned the crack +pitcher warmly. “There isn’t enough cash in the +U. S. treasury to tempt me.”</p> +<p>“I know that, Joe. And I only wish that I +could be as certain of the rest of the players.”</p> +<p>“Well, of course, I can’t speak for the others. +But you can be sure that I’ll use my influence on +the right side every time. Some of them may +weaken and break away, but I doubt very much +if they’ll be any of your main-stays. If I were +you, Mac, I wouldn’t let this worry me too much.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I know it’s getting on my nerves, Joe, +because, you see, it means so much to me. But +having you on my side has braced me up a good +deal,” went on the manager.</p> +<p>They shook hands warmly, and McRae, evidently +encouraged and braced by the talk with his +star pitcher, made his way back to his own immediate +party.</p> +<p>The teams were slated to play in Salt Lake City +and in Ogden. In both places they “cleaned up” +easily, and it was not until a few days later when +they reached the slope that they encountered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +opposition that made them exert themselves to win.</p> +<p>At Bakersfield, with Jim in the box, the game +went to eleven innings before it was finally placed +to the credit of the Giants by a score of three to +two. The ’Frisco team also put up a stiff fight for +eight innings, but were overwhelmed by a storm +of hits which rained from Giant bats in the ninth.</p> +<p>The game with Oakland was the last on the +schedule before the teams left for the Orient, and +an enormous crowd was in attendance.</p> +<p>Joe was in the box for the All-American team. +He was in fine form, and held the home team +down easily until the fifth inning, but the Oaklands +also, undaunted by the reputation of their +adversaries, and under the guidance of a manager +who had formerly been a famous first baseman +of the Chicago team, were also out to win if possible, +and with first-class pitching and supported +by errorless fielding, they held their redoubtable +opponents on even terms.</p> +<p>At the end of the fifth, neither team had scored, +although the Giants had threatened to do so on +two separate occasions. A singular condition developed +in the sixth. It was the Giants’ turn at +bat and Curry had reached first on a clean single +to right. A neat sacrifice by Joe advanced him to +second. A minute later he stole third, sliding feet +first into the bag and narrowly escaping the ball +in the third baseman’s hand. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span></p> +<p>With only one out and Larry coming to the bat, +the prospects for a run were bright.</p> +<p>Larry let the first go by, but swung at the second, +which was coming straight to the plate. His +savage lunge caught the ball on the underside, +and it went soaring through the air to a tremendous +height.</p> +<p>Both the second and third baseman started for +the ball. It looked as though neither would be +able to reach it, and Curry ran half-way down the +line between third and home, awaiting the result. +If the ball were caught he figured that he would +easily have time to get back to third. If it were +dropped, he could make home and score.</p> +<p>The third baseman got under the descending +ball, but it was coming from such a height that it +was difficult to judge. It slipped through his fingers, +but instead of falling to the ground, went +plump into the pocket of his baseball shirt.</p> +<p>He tugged desperately to get it out, at the same +time running toward Curry, who danced about on +the line between third and home in an agony of +indecision. Was the ball caught or not? If it +were, he would have to return to third. If it +were not, he must make a break for home.</p> +<p>The teams were all shouting now, while the +crowd went into convulsions. The third baseman +reached Curry and grabbed him with one +hand, while with the other he frantically tried to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +get the ball from his pocket and clap it on him. +But the ball stuck, and in the mixup both players +fell to the ground and rolled over and over.</p> +<p>Larry, in the meanwhile, was tearing round the +bases, but he himself wasn’t sure whether he was +really out or whether he ought to strike for home. +He reached third and pulled up there, still in the +throes of doubt. He could have easily gone on +past the struggling combatants, but in that case, +if Curry were finally declared not out, Larry +would also be out for having passed him and got +home first.</p> +<p>On the other hand, if Curry should finally escape +and get back to third, one of them would still +be out because he was occupying the bag to which +his comrade was entitled. He did not really know +whether he was running for exercise or to score +a run.</p> +<p>It was the funniest mixup that even the veteran +players had ever seen on a ball field, and as for +the crowd they were wild with joy.</p> +<p>The third baseman, finding that Curry was +about to get away from him and unable to get the +ball out of his pocket, finally threw his arms about +him and hugged him close in the wild hope that +some part of the protruding ball would touch his +prisoner’s person and thus put him out.</p> +<p>The sight of those burly gladiators, locked in +a fond embrace, threatened the sanity of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +onlookers, but the farce was ended when Curry finally +wriggled out from the anaconda grasp of +his opponent and took a chance for the plate.</p> +<p>Then there was a hot debate, as the umpire, +himself laughing until the tears ran down his face, +tried to solve the situation. Had Curry been +touched by the ball, or had he not? Had the ball +been caught or not?</p> +<p>Players on both sides tugged at him as they debated +the matter <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i>.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what that umpire’s name is,” +grinned Jim to Joe, who was weak with laughter, +“but I know what it ought to be.”</p> +<p>“What?” asked Joe.</p> +<p>“Solomon,” chuckled Jim.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XV_THE_BEWILDERED_UMPIRE' id='XV_THE_BEWILDERED_UMPIRE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>THE BEWILDERED UMPIRE</h3> +</div> + +<p>But whatever the umpire’s name might have +been, he only resembled Solomon in one respect. +He was inclined to compromise and cut the play +in two, giving one part to the major leaguers and +the other to the Oakland team.</p> +<p>He was not to blame for being bewildered, for +the baseball magnates who had framed the rules +had never contemplated the special case of a +player catching the ball in his pocket.</p> +<p>Between the opposing claims he pulled out his +book and scanned it carefully but with no result.</p> +<p>“It’s easy enough,” rasped McRae. “He tried +to catch a ball and muffed it. It goes for a hit +and Curry scores.”</p> +<p>“Not on your life,” barked Everett, the manager +of the Oakland team. “He got the ball and it +never touched the ground.”</p> +<p>“Got it,” sneered McRae. “This is baseball, +not pool. He can’t pocket the ball.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>There was a laugh at this, and Mackay, the +third baseman, looked a little sheepish. The +baited umpire suggested that the whole play be +called off and that Curry go back to third while +Larry resumed his place at the bat.</p> +<p>Larry set up a howl at this, as he saw his perfectly +good three-baser go glimmering.</p> +<p>“Oh, hire a hall,” snapped Everett. “Even if +the umpire decides against the catch it was only +an error and you ought to have been out anyway.”</p> +<p>“You can’t crawl out of it that way,” said +McRae to the umpire. “A play is a play and +you’ve got to settle it one way or the other, even +if you settle it wrong.”</p> +<p>The umpire hesitated, wiped his brow and finally +decided that the ball was caught. That put +Larry out, and he retreated, growling, to the +bench, while Everett grinned his satisfaction.</p> +<p>“That’s all right, Ump,” said the latter. “But +how about Curry? Mackay put the ball on him +all right and that makes three out.”</p> +<p>“Say, what do you want, the earth?” queried +McRae. “He didn’t put the ball on him. He +didn’t have the ball to put. It was in his pocket +all the time.”</p> +<p>“Of course I put the ball on him,” declared +Mackay. “I must have. When I fell on him I +hit him everywhere at once.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span></p> +<p>The umpire finally decided that Mackay had +not put the ball on Curry, and the red-headed +right-fielder chuckled at the thought of the run he +had scored.</p> +<p>“That makes it horse and horse,” said the umpire. +“Get back to your places.”</p> +<p>If he thought he was at the end of his troubles +he was mistaken, for Everett suddenly cried +out:</p> +<p>“Look here. You said that Mackay caught that +ball, didn’t you?”</p> +<p>“That’s what I said,” snorted the umpire.</p> +<p>“Well, then,” crowed Everett triumphantly, +“why didn’t Curry go back to third and touch the +bag before he lit out for home? He has to do +that on a caught fly ball, hasn’t he?”</p> +<p>The umpire looked fairly stumped. Here was +something on which the rules were explicit. It +was certain that Curry should have returned to the +base and it was equally certain that he hadn’t. +Mackay had caught him half-way between third +and home.</p> +<p>But McRae was equal to the occasion.</p> +<p>“Suppose he did have to,” he cried. “You said +that Mackay hadn’t touched him and he’s free to +go back yet.”</p> +<p>“And I’m free to touch him with the ball,” +Mackay came back at him.</p> +<p>“But the ball isn’t in play,” put in Robbie, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +adding his mite to the general confusion. “You +called time when you came in to settle this.”</p> +<p>“Who wouldn’t be an umpire?” laughed Jim +to Joe, as he saw the look of despair on that +worried individual’s face.</p> +<p>“The most glorious mixup I ever saw on the +ball field,” answered Joe.</p> +<p>“‘How happy he could be with either were +’tother dear charmer away,’” chuckled Jim, pointing +to the two pugnacious disputants on either side +of the umpire.</p> +<p>“Curry’s out—Curry isn’t out. Love me—love +me not,” responded Joe.</p> +<p>By this time the crowd had got over their laugh +and impatiently demanded action. The umpire +cut the Gordian knot by sending Curry back to +third, where he and Mackay chaffed each other +and the game went on.</p> +<p>It was not much of a game after that, however, +as the laughable incident had put all the players +in a more or less frivolous mood. It finally ended +in a score of six to three in favor of the All-Americans, +and the teams made a break for the showers.</p> +<p>“The last game we play on American soil for +many moons,” remarked Joe, as, having bathed +and dressed, the two young athletes strolled toward +their hotel.</p> +<p>“And every one of them a victory,” observed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +Jim. “Not a single mark on the wrong side of +the ledger!”</p> +<p>“That game at Denver was the closest call we +had,” said Joe. “The trip so far has been a big +money-maker, too. McRae was telling me yesterday +that we’d already topped ninety-five thousand, +and there was ten thousand in that crowd to-day if +there was a penny.”</p> +<p>“I guess Mac won’t have any trouble in buying +steamship tickets,” laughed Jim. “By the way, +we haven’t had a look at the old boat yet. Let’s +go down to-morrow and inspect her.”</p> +<p>“Why not make it the day after to-morrow?” +suggested Joe. “The girls will be here by that +time and we’ll take them with us.”</p> +<p>“That will suit me, Joe.”</p> +<p>“I’ve been thinking of something, Jim,” went +on the crack pitcher, after a pause. “It won’t be +long now before we leave America. What do you +say if we do a little shopping, and buy some things +for ourselves and for the girls?”</p> +<p>“Say, that’s queer! I was thinking the same +thing.” Jim paused for a moment. “Won’t it be +fine to have the others with us again?”</p> +<p>“Yes; I’ll be very glad to see Mabel, and glad +to see Clara, too. I suppose you’ve been getting +letters pretty regularly, eh, Jim?”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe I’ve been getting any more letters +than you have, Joe,” returned the other. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span></p> +<p>“Well, you’re welcome to them, Jim. I wish +you luck!” said Joe, and placed a hand on his +chum’s shoulder. For a moment they looked into +each other’s eyes, and each understood perfectly +what was passing in the other’s mind. But Jim +just then did not feel he could say too much.</p> +<p>“I’ll be glad to see Reggie again, too,” remarked +Joe, after a moment of silence. “He’s +something of a queer stick, but pretty good at +that.”</p> +<p>“Oh, he’s all right, Joe,” answered Jim. “As +he grows older and sees more of the seamy side +of life, he’ll get some of that nonsense knocked +out of him.”</p> +<p>They ate their supper that night with a sense of +relaxation to which they had long been strangers. +For the first time since they had gone to the training +camp at Texas in the spring, they were out of +harness. There had been the fierce, tense race for +the pennant that had strained them to the utmost.</p> +<p>Then, with only a few days intervening, had +come the still more exciting battle for the championship +of the world. They had won and won +gloriously, but even then they had not felt wholly +free, for the long trip across the continent which +they had just finished was then before them, and +although this struggle had been less close and important, +it had still kept them on edge and in +training. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></p> +<p>But now their strenuous year had ended. Before +them lay a glorious trip around the world, a +voyage over summer seas, a pilgrimage through +lands of mystery and romance, the fulfillment of +cherished dreams, and with them were to go the +two charming girls who represented to them all +that was worth while in life and who even now +were hurrying toward them as fast as steam could +bring them.</p> +<p>“This is the end of a perfect day,” hummed +Jim, as he sat back and lighted a cigar.</p> +<p>“You’re wrong there, Jim,” replied Joe, with +a smile. “The perfect day will be to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“Right you are!”</p> +<p>Yet little did Baseball Joe and his chum dream +of the many adventures and perils which lay ahead +of them.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVI_PUTTING_THEM_OVER' id='XVI_PUTTING_THEM_OVER'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>PUTTING THEM OVER</h3> +</div> + +<p>As the two baseball players sauntered down the +corridor after supper they chanced upon Iredell. +He was sitting at a reading table, intent upon a +letter which had attached to it what looked like +an official document of some kind.</p> +<p>It was a chance for which Joe had been looking, +and he gave Jim a sign to go on while he +himself dropped into a seat beside the famous +shortstop.</p> +<p>“How are you, Dell, old boy?” he said, genially.</p> +<p>“Able to sit up and take nourishment,” replied +the other, at the same time thrusting the document +into his pocket with what seemed like unnecessary +haste.</p> +<p>“Most of the boys are that way,” laughed Joe. +“There are just two things that every ball player +is ready to do, take nourishment and nag the umpire.”</p> +<p>Iredell laughed as he bit off the end of a cigar.</p> +<p>“That poor umpire got his this afternoon,” he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +said. “With McRae on one side and Everett on +the other I thought he’d be pulled to pieces.”</p> +<p>“He was sure up against a hard proposition,” +agreed Joe. “The next hardest was in a play that +happened when I was on the Pittston team. A +fellow poled out a hit that went down like a shot +between left and center. A lot of carriages were +parked at the end of the field and a big coach +dog ran after the ball, got it in his mouth and +skipped down among the carriages where the fielders +couldn’t get at him. It would have doubled +you up to have seen them coaxing the brute to be +a good dog and give the ball up. In the meantime, +the batter was tearing around the bases and +made home before the ball got back.”</p> +<p>“And how did his Umps decide it?” asked Iredell, +with interest.</p> +<p>“He was flabbergasted for a while,” replied +Joe, “but he finally called it a two-base hit and let +it go at that.”</p> +<p>“An umpire’s life is not a happy one,” laughed +Iredell. “He earns every dollar that he gets. +I suppose that’s what some of us fellows will be +doing, too, when we begin to go back.”</p> +<p>“It will be a good while before you come to +that, Dell,” Joe replied. “You’ve played a rattling +game at short this year, and you’re a fixture +with the Giants.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that,” said the shortstop +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +slowly. “Fixtures sometimes work loose, you +know.”</p> +<p>“It won’t be so in this case,” said Joe, purposely +misunderstanding him. “McRae wouldn’t +let go of you.”</p> +<p>“Not if he could help it,” responded Iredell.</p> +<p>“Well, he doesn’t have to worry about that just +yet,” said Joe. “How long does your contract +have to run?”</p> +<p>“A year yet,” replied Iredell. “But contracts, +you know, are like pie crust, they’re easily +broken.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that?” demanded Joe +sharply.</p> +<p>“Oh, nothing, nothing at all,” said Iredell, a +little nervously, as though he had said more than +he intended. “But to tell the truth, Joe, I’m sore +on this whole question of contracts. It’s like a +yoke that galls me.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” responded Joe. “A good +many folks would like to be galled that way. A +good big salary, traveling on Pullmans, stopping +at the best hotels, posing for pictures, and having +six months of the year to ourselves. If that’s a +yoke, it’s lined with velvet.”</p> +<p>“But it’s a yoke, just the same,” persisted Iredell +stubbornly. “Most men in business are free +to accept any offer that’s made to them. We +can’t. We may be offered twice as much as we’re +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +getting, but we have to stay where we are just +the same.”</p> +<p>“Well, that’s simply because it’s baseball,” argued +Joe. “You know just as well as I do that +that’s the only way the game can be carried on. +It wouldn’t last a month if players started jumping +from one team to another, or from one league +to another. The public would lose all interest in +it, and it’s the public that pays our salaries.”</p> +<p>“Pays our salaries!” snapped Iredell. “Puts +money in the hands of the owners, you mean. +They get the feast and we get the crumbs. What’s +our measly salary compared with what they get? +I was just reading in the paper that the Giants +cleaned up two hundred thousand dollars this +year, net profit, and yet it’s the players that bring +this money in at the gate.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” Joe admitted. “But they are the men +who put up the capital and take the chances. Suppose +they had lost two hundred thousand dollars +this year. We’d have had our salaries just the +same.”</p> +<p>Just then Burkett and Curry came along and +dropped into seats beside the pair.</p> +<p>“Hello, Red,” greeted Joe, at the same time +nodding to Burkett. “How are your ribs feeling, +after that bear hug you got this afternoon?”</p> +<p>Curry grinned.</p> +<p>“That’s all right,” he said. “But he never +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +touched me with the ball. And that umpire was a +boob not to give me the run.”</p> +<p>“What were you fellows talking about so earnestly?” +asked Burkett, with some curiosity.</p> +<p>“Oh, jug-handled things like baseball contracts,” +responded Iredell.</p> +<p>“They’re the bunk all right,” declared Burkett, +emphatically.</p> +<p>“Bunk is right,” said Curry.</p> +<p>“What’s the use of quarreling with your bread +and butter?” asked Joe good-naturedly.</p> +<p>“What’s the use of bread and butter, if you can +have cake and ought to have it?” Iredell came +back at him.</p> +<p>“Cake is good,” agreed Joe, “but the point is +that if a man has agreed to take bread and butter, +it’s up to him to stand by his agreement. A man’s +word is the best thing he has, and if he is a man +he’ll hold to it.”</p> +<p>“You seem to be taking a lot for granted, Joe,” +said Burkett, a little stiffly. “Who is talking of +breaking his word? We’ve got a right to talk +about our contracts, haven’t we, when we think +the owners are getting the best end of the +deal?”</p> +<p>“Sure thing,” said Joe genially. “It’s every +man’s privilege to kick, but the time to kick is before +one makes an agreement, not when kicking +won’t do any good.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span></p> +<p>“Maybe it can do some good,” said Curry significantly.</p> +<p>“How so?” asked Joe innocently. “No other +club in the American or National League would +take us if we broke away from the Giants.”</p> +<p>“There are other leagues,” remarked Iredell.</p> +<p>“Surely. The minors,” replied Joe, again purposely +misunderstanding. “But who wants to be +a busher?”</p> +<p>“There’s the All-Star League that’s just forming,” +suggested Burkett, with a swift look at his +two companions.</p> +<p>“‘All-Star,’” repeated Joe, a little contemptuously. +“That sounds good, but where are they +going to get the stars?”</p> +<p>“They’re getting them all right,” said Iredell. +“The papers are full of the names of players who +have jumped or are going to jump.”</p> +<p>“You don’t mean players,” said Joe. “You +mean traitors.”</p> +<p>The others winced a little at this.</p> +<p>“‘Traitors’ is a pretty hard word,” objected +Curry.</p> +<p>“It’s the only word,” returned Joe stiffly.</p> +<p>“You can’t call a man a traitor who simply +tries to better himself,” remarked Burkett defensively.</p> +<p>“Benedict Arnold tried to better himself,” returned +Joe. “But it didn’t get him very far. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +fellows that jumped, in the old Brotherhood days, +thought they were going to better themselves, but +they simply got in bad with the public and nearly +ruined the game. This new league will promise +all sorts of things, but how do you know it will +keep them? What faith can you put in men who +try to induce other men to be crooked?”</p> +<p>“Well, you know, with most men business is +business, as they put it.”</p> +<p>“I admit business is business. But so far as I +am concerned, it is no business at all if it isn’t on +the level,” answered Joe earnestly. “A great +many men think they can do something that is +shady and get away with it, and sometimes at first +it looks as if they were right about it. But sooner +or later they get tripped up and are exposed.”</p> +<p>“Well, everybody has got a right to make a living,” +grumbled Curry.</p> +<p>“Sure he has—and I’m not denying it.”</p> +<p>“And everybody has got a right to go into baseball +if he feels like investing his money that way.”</p> +<p>“Right again. But if he wants to make any +headway in the great national game, he has got to +play it on the level right from the start. If he +doesn’t do that, he may, for a certain length of +time, hoodwink the public. But, as I said before, +sooner or later he’ll be exposed; and you know as +well as I do that the public will not stand for any +underhand work in any line of sports. I’ve talked, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +not alone to baseball men, but also to football +men, runners, skaters, and even prize fighters, and +they have all said exactly the same thing—that +the great majority of men want their sports kept +clean.”</p> +<p>There was no reply to this and Joe rose to his +feet.</p> +<p>“But what’s the use of talking?” he added. +“Let the new league do as it likes. There’s one +bully thing, anyway, that it won’t touch—our +Giants. Whatever it does to the other teams, we +will all stick together. We’ll stand by Robbie +and McRae till the last gun’s fired. So long, fellows, +see you later.”</p> +<p>He strode off down the corridor, leaving three +silent men to stare after his retreating figure +thoughtfully.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVII__MAN_OVERBOARD' id='XVII__MAN_OVERBOARD'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>“MAN OVERBOARD”</h3> +</div> + +<p>Baseball Joe found Jim waiting for him near +the clerk’s desk.</p> +<p>“Been having quite a confab,” remarked the +latter.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Joe carelessly. “Burkett and +Red came along and we had a fanfest.”</p> +<p>The next day was the first of their real vacation, +and they spent the morning strolling about the +city and marveling at the quick recovery it had +made from the earthquake. They had a sumptuous +dinner on the veranda of the Cliff House, +where they had a full view of the famous harbor +and watched the seals sporting on the rocks.</p> +<p>The commerce of the port was in full swing, +and out through the Golden Gate passed great +fleets with their precious argosies bound for +the Orient, for immobile China, for restless and +awakened Japan, for the islands of the sea, for +the lands of the lotus and the palm, of minaret +and mosque and pagoda, for all the realms of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +mystery and romance that lie beneath the Southern +Cross.</p> +<p>It would have been a wrench to tear themselves +away had it been any other day than this, +but to-day was the one to which they had looked +eagerly forward through all the month of exhibition +playing, since they had left the quiet home at +Riverside, and they kept looking at their watches +to see if it were not time to go to the train and +meet the girls.</p> +<p>They were at the station long before the appointed +time, and when at last the Overland Flyer +drew in they scanned each Pullman anxiously to +catch a sight of two charming faces.</p> +<p>They were not kept long in suspense, for down +the steps of the second car tripped Clara and +Mabel, looking more wonderfully alluring than +ever, although a month before neither Jim nor +Joe would have admitted that such a thing were +possible.</p> +<p>Reggie, too, was there, dressed “to the limit” +as usual, and with his supposed English accent +twice as pronounced as ever.</p> +<p>But Reggie for the moment did not count, compared +with the lovely charges whom he had +brought across the continent. Of course, the boys +felt grateful to him, but their eyes and their +thoughts were fastened on his two charming companions. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></p> +<p>“I’m awfully glad you’ve got here at last,” cried +Joe, as he rushed up to Mabel and caught her by +both hands. He would have liked very much to +have kissed her, but did not dare do it in such a +public place.</p> +<p>“Oh, what a grand trip we’ve had!” declared +Clara, as she shook hands first with Jim and then +with her brother. “I never had any idea our country +was so big and so magnificent.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what Joe and I were remarking on +our trip across the Rockies,” answered Jim. He +could not take his eyes from the face of his chum’s +sister. Clara looked the picture of health, showing +that the trip from her little home town had +done her a world of good.</p> +<p>But if Clara looked good, Mabel looked even +better—at least in the eyes of Joe. He could not +keep his gaze from her face. And she was certainly +just as glad to see him.</p> +<p>“Ye-es, it was quite a trip, don’t you know,” +remarked Reggie. “I met several bally good +chaps on the way, so the time passed quickly +enough. But I’m glad to be here, and hope that +before long we’ll be on shipboard.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so excited to think that I’m going to +take a real ocean trip!” burst out Clara. “Just +to think of it—a girl like me going around the +world! I never dreamed I’d get that far.”</p> +<p>“And just think of the many queer sights we’ll +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +see!” broke in Mabel. “And the queer people +we’ll meet!”</p> +<p>The girls were all on the <i>qui vive</i> with excitement +in their anticipation of the delightful trip +that lay before them, and there were no +pauses in their conversation on the way to the +hotel.</p> +<p>Here they were introduced to the other members +of the party, which by this time had increased +to large proportions, for beside the ladies +who had accompanied the players across the continent, +many others had followed the same plan +as Mabel and Clara and joined their friends in +San Francisco. Altogether, there were more than +a hundred of the tourists, of whom perhaps a +third were women.</p> +<p>All were out for a good time, and the atmosphere +of good will and jollity was infectious. +There was an utter absence of snobbery and affectation, +and the boys were delighted to see how +quickly the girls fell into the spirit of the gathering +and with their own fun and high spirits +added more than their quota to the general hilarity.</p> +<p>That night there was a big banquet given to the +tourists by the railroad officials who had had the +party in charge from the beginning and by some +of the leading citizens of San Francisco. It was +a jolly occasion, where for once in affairs of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +kind the “flowing bowl” was notable for its absence. +The stalwart, clear-eyed athletes who, with +their friends, were the guests of the occasion, had +no use for the cup that both cheers and inebriates.</p> +<p>A striking feature of the table decorations was +a cake weighing one hundred and twenty-five +pounds, on whose summit was a bat and ball, and +whose frosted slopes were accurate representations +of the Polo Grounds and the baseball park +at Chicago. It is needless to say how pronounced +a hit this made with the “fans” of both sexes. It +was a great send-off to the globe-encircling baseball +teams.</p> +<p>The next day, Joe and Jim took the girls down +to the pier to see the ship on which they were to +sail. It was a splendid craft of twenty thousand +tons and sumptuously fitted up. The girls exclaimed +at the beauty of her lines and the superb +decoration of the cabins and saloons.</p> +<p>“The <i>Empress of Japan</i>!” read Clara, as she +scanned the name on the steamer’s stern.</p> +<p>“Most fittingly named,” said Jim gallantly, +“since she carries two queens.”</p> +<p>“What a pretty compliment,” said Clara, as +she flashed a radiant look at Jim.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid,” said Mabel, “that Jim’s been +practising on some of the nice girls in the party.”</p> +<p>“Have I, Joe?” appealed the accused one. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +“Haven’t I been an anchorite, a senobite, an archimandrite——”</p> +<p>“Goodness, I thought you were bad,” laughed +Clara. “But now I know you’re worse.”</p> +<p>“Keep it up, old man, as long as the ‘ites’ hold +out,” said Joe. “I guess there are plenty more in +the dictionary. But honest, girls, Jim hasn’t +looked twice at any girl since he came away from +Riverside.”</p> +<p>“I’ve looked more than twice at one girl since +yesterday,” Jim was beginning, but Clara, flushing +rosily, thought it was high time to change the +subject.</p> +<p>The next day, with all the party safely on +board, the ship weighed anchor, threaded its way +through the crowded commerce of the bay and +then, dropping its tug, turned its prow definitely +toward the east and breasted the billows of the +Pacific.</p> +<p>“The last we’ll see of Old Glory for many +months,” remarked Joe, as, standing at the rail, +they watched the Stars and Stripes floating out +from the flag-pole on the top of the government +station.</p> +<p>“Not so long as that,” corrected Jim. “We +will still be on the soil of God’s country when we +reach Hawaii seven days from now.”</p> +<p>The first two days of the voyage passed delightfully. +The girls proved good sailors, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +had the laugh on many of the so-called stronger +sex, who were conspicuous by their absence from +the table during that period.</p> +<p>On the afternoon of the third day out, Joe and +Mabel were pacing the deck with Jim and Clara +at a discreet distance behind them. It was astonishing +how willing each pair was not to intrude +upon the other.</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a tumult of excited exclamations +near the stern of the vessel, and then +above it rose a shout that is never heard at sea +without a chill of terror.</p> +<p>“Man overboard!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVIII_ONE_STRIKE_AND_OUT' id='XVIII_ONE_STRIKE_AND_OUT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>ONE STRIKE AND OUT</h3> +</div> + +<p>The two young baseball players and the girls +joined the throng that was racing toward the +stern.</p> +<p>A number of people were pointing wildly over +the port side at a small object some distance behind +the ship.</p> +<p>They followed the pointing fingers and saw +the head of a man who was swimming desperately +toward the receding ship.</p> +<p>The steamer, which had been taking advantage +of the favorable weather and had been ploughing +ahead under full steam, found it hard to stop, +although orders had been given at once to shut off +steam.</p> +<p>It was maddening to the onlookers to see the +distance increase between the giant ship and that +bobbing, lonely speck far out in the waste of +waters.</p> +<p>With all the celerity possible the great steamer +swung round in a circle and bore down upon the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +struggling swimmer, while at the same time preparations +were made to lower a boat as soon as they +should be near enough.</p> +<p>“They’re going to save him!” cried Mabel, +half-sobbing in her excitement. “Oh, Joe, they’re +going to save him after all!”</p> +<p>It seemed as though there were no doubt of +this now, for the man was evidently a strong swimmer +and seemed to be maintaining himself without +great effort, and it was certain that within the +next few minutes the boat, already filled with oarsmen +and swaying at the davits, ready to be lowered, +would reach him.</p> +<p>Suddenly Clara, with a stifled scream, clutched +at Jim’s arm.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jim!” she cried, “what is that? Look, +look——”</p> +<p>Jim looked and turned pale under his tan.</p> +<p>“Great heavens!” he cried. “It’s a shark!”</p> +<p>The cry was taken up by scores.</p> +<p>“A shark! A shark!”</p> +<p>There, cleaving the water and coming toward +the swimmer like an arrow at its mark, was a +great black dorsal fin which bespoke the presence +of the pirate of the seas.</p> +<p>The steamer had lessened speed in order to +lower its boat, but the momentum under which it +was carried it within twenty yards of the castaway. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></p> +<p>Almost instantly the ship’s boat struck the +water, and the sinewy backs of the sailors bent +almost double as they drove it toward the swimmer.</p> +<p>From the crowded deck they could see his face +now, pale and dripping, but lighted with a gleam +of hope as he saw the boat approaching. But the +horrified onlookers saw something else, that ominous, +awful fin, that came rushing on like a relentless +fate toward its intended prey.</p> +<p>Some of the women were sobbing, others almost +fainting, while the men, pale and +with gritted teeth, groaned at their helplessness.</p> +<p>It was a question now of which would reach the +luckless man first, the boat or the shark. The +boat was nearer and the men were rowing like +demons, but the shark was swifter, coming on like +an express train.</p> +<p>There must have been something in those faces +high above him that warned the man of some impending +peril. He cast a swift look behind him, +and then in frantic terror redoubled his efforts to +reach the boat.</p> +<p>“Oh, Joe, they’ll be too late! They’ll never +reach him in time!” sobbed Mabel. “Oh, can’t +we do anything to help him?”</p> +<p>Joe, as frantic as she, looked wildly about him. +His eyes fell on a heavy piece of iron, left on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +deck by some seaman who had been repairing the +windlass. Like a flash he grabbed it.</p> +<p>It seemed as though the swimmer were doomed, +and a gasp of horror went up from the spectators +as they saw that the boat would be too +late.</p> +<p>For now the fin had disappeared, and they saw +a hideous shape take form as the monster came +into plain sight, a foot beneath the surface, and +turned over upon its back to seize its prey.</p> +<p>Then Joe took a chance—a long chance, a desperate +chance, an almost hopeless chance—and +yet, a chance.</p> +<p>With all the force of his powerful arm he sent +the jagged piece of iron hurtling at the fiendish +open jaws.</p> +<p>And the chance became a certainty.</p> +<p>The missile crashed into the monster’s nose, its +most sensitive point. The brute was so near the +surface that the thin sheet of water was no protection.</p> +<p>The effect was startling. There was a tremendous +plunging and leaping that lashed the +waters into foam, and then the crippled monster +sank slowly into the ocean depths.</p> +<p>The next instant the ship’s boat had reached the +castaway, and strong arms pulled him aboard, +where he sank panting and exhausted across a +thwart. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>It had all happened with the speed of light. +There was a moment of stunned surprise, a gasp +from the crowd, and then a roar went up that +swelled into a deafening thunder of applause.</p> +<p>Joe had reversed the baseball rule of “three +strikes and out.” This time it was just one strike—and +the shark was out!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIX_BRAXTON_JOINS_THE_PARTY' id='XIX_BRAXTON_JOINS_THE_PARTY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>BRAXTON JOINS THE PARTY</h3> +</div> + +<p>The passengers crowded around Joe in wild +delight and exhilaration, reaching for his hand, +pounding him on the back, vociferous in their +praise and congratulations, until he was almost +ready to pray to be rescued from his friends.</p> +<p>Mabel, starry-eyed, slipped a hand within his +arm and the pressure was eloquent. Jim almost +wrenched his arm from the shoulder, and Clara +hugged her brother openly.</p> +<p>Naturally, Joe’s great feat appealed especially +to the baseball players of the party. They felt +that he had honored the craft to which they belonged. +He had justified his reputation as the +star pitcher of the country, and they felt that they +shared in the reflected glory.</p> +<p>“Great Scott, Joe!” beamed Larry. “You put +it all over his sharklet that time.”</p> +<p>“Straight over the plate!” chuckled Burkett.</p> +<p>“Against the rules, though,” grinned Denton. +“You know that the ‘bean ball’ is barred.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span></p> +<p>The rescued man had now been brought on +board. He had been too excited and confused to +understand how he had been snatched from the +jaws of death—and such a death!</p> +<p>He proved to be a member of the crew, a Lascar, +whose knowledge of the English language +was limited, and whose ignorance of the great +national game was fathomless.</p> +<p>But when he had recovered and had learned +the name of his rescuer, he sought Joe out and +thanked him in accents that were none the less sincere +because broken and imperfect, and from that +time on throughout the trip he was almost doglike +in his devotion.</p> +<p>A few days more and the ship reached Hawaii, +that far-flung outpost of Uncle Sam’s dominions, +which breaks the long ocean journey between +America and Japan.</p> +<p>The hearts of the tourists leaped as the ship +drew near the harbor and they caught sight +of the Stars and Stripes, floating proudly in the +breeze.</p> +<p>“I never knew how I loved that flag before,” +cried Mabel enthusiastically.</p> +<p>“The most beautiful flag that floats,” chimed in +Clara.</p> +<p>“The flag that stands for liberty everywhere,” +remarked Jim.</p> +<p>“Yes,” was Joe’s tribute. “The flag that when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +it has gone up anywhere has never been pulled +down.”</p> +<p>As the ship drew near the shore the beauty of +the island paradise brought exclamations of delight +from the passengers who thronged the steamer’s +rails.</p> +<p>The harbor was a scene of busy life and animation. +The instant the ship dropped anchor she +was surrounded by native boats, paddled by Hawaiian +youngsters, who indulged in exhibitions of +diving and swimming that were a revelation of +skill.</p> +<p>“They’ve got it all over the fishes when it comes +to swimming,” remarked Jim with a grin. “Cough +up all your spare coin, Joe, and see these little beggars +dive for it.”</p> +<p>They tossed coin after coin into the transparent +waters and swiftly as each piece sank, the young +swimmer was swifter. Every one was caught before +it reached bottom, and came up clutched in +some dusky hand or shining between ivory +teeth.</p> +<p>“I’ll be bankrupt if this keeps up long,” laughed +Joe.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jim. “You’ll wish you’d joined the +All-Star League and copped that twenty thousand.”</p> +<p>“How do they ever do it?” marveled Clara.</p> +<p>“In the blood I suppose,” replied Joe. “Their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +folks throw them into the water when they’re +babies, and like puppies, they have to swim or +drown.”</p> +<p>“They’re more at home in the water than they +are on land,” remarked Jim. “Those fellows will +swim out in the ocean and stay there all day +long.”</p> +<p>“I should think they’d be afraid of sharks,” +remarked Mabel, with a shudder, as she thought +of the recent incident in which that hideous brute +had figured.</p> +<p>“Sharks are easy meat for them,” replied Jim. +“You ought to pity the sharks instead of wasting +it on these fellows. Give them a knife, and the +shark hasn’t a Chinaman’s chance.”</p> +<p>“Not even a knife,” chimed in Joe. “A stick +sharpened at both ends is enough.”</p> +<p>“A stick?” exclaimed Mabel, wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Sure thing,” replied Joe. “They simply wait +until the shark turns over to grab them and then +thrust it right into the open jaws. You’ve no idea +how effective that can be.”</p> +<p>“It’s a case of misplaced confidence,” laughed +Jim. “The poor trustful shark lets his jaws come +together with a snap, or rather he thinks he does, +and instead of a nice juicy human, those guileless +jaws of his close on the two ends of the pointed +stick and stay there. He can’t close his mouth +and he drowns.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p> +<p>“Poor thing,” murmured Clara involuntarily, +while the boys put up a shout. “I don’t care,” she +added, flushing. “I’m always sorry for the underdog——”</p> +<p>“That’s why she’s taken such a fancy to you, +Jim, old man,” laughed Joe.</p> +<p>“Well, as long as pity is akin to——” began +Joe, when Mabel, tired with laughing, interrupted +him:</p> +<p>“But suppose the stick should break,” she said.</p> +<p>“Then there would be just one less native,” answered +Jim, solemnly. “By the way, Joe,” he +added, “speaking of sharks—what’s the difference +between a dog and a shark?”</p> +<p>“Give it up,” replied Joe promptly.</p> +<p>“Because,” chuckled Jim, “a dog’s bark is +worse than his bite, but a shark’s bite is—is—worse +than his—er——”</p> +<p>“Go ahead,” said Joe bitterly, while the girls +giggled. “Perpetrate it. What shark has a +bark?”</p> +<p>“A dog-faced shark,” crowed Jim triumphantly.</p> +<p>“Of all the idiots,” lisped Reggie, joining them +at the rail. “’Pon honor, you know, I never heard +such bally nonsense.”</p> +<p>The gibe that followed this remark was cut +short by the approach of the lighter on which the +passengers were to be carried to the shore. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span></p> +<p>They were to spend two days in Hawaii while +the steamer discharged its cargo, but they would +have gladly made it two weeks or two months.</p> +<p>Only one game was played, and that was between +the Giant and the All-American teams. +There was no native talent which was quite strong +enough to stand a chance against the seasoned +veterans, although Hawaii boasts of many ball +teams.</p> +<p>There was a big crowd present, made up chiefly +of government officials and representatives of foreign +commercial houses from all over the world +who had established branches on the island.</p> +<p>The contests between the two teams had been +waxing hotter and hotter, despite the fact that +there was nothing at stake except the pleasure of +winning.</p> +<p>But this was enough for these high-strung athletes, +to whom the cry “play ball” was like a bugle +call. The fight was close from start to finish, and +resulted in a victory for the All-Americans by a +score of three to two.</p> +<p>“That makes it ‘even Stephen,’” chortled Brennan +to his friend and rival, McRae. “We’ve won +just as many games as you have, now.”</p> +<p>“It’s hoss and hoss,” admitted McRae. “But +just wait; what we’ll do to you fellows before we +get to the end of the trip will be a crime.”</p> +<p>The time that still remained before the steamer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +resumed its journey was one of unalloyed delight. +The scenery was wonderful and the weather superb.</p> +<p>Jim and Joe hired a touring car and with Joe +at the wheel—it is unnecessary to state who sat +beside him—they visited all the most picturesque +and romantic spots in that glorious bit of Nature’s +handiwork.</p> +<p>“Do you remember our last ride in an automobile, +Mabel?” asked Joe with a smile, as she +snuggled into the seat beside him.</p> +<p>“Indeed I do,” replied Mabel. “It was the +day that horrid Fleming carried me off and you +chased us.”</p> +<p>“I caught you all right, anyway,” Joe replied.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mabel saucily. “Only to spend all +your spare moments afterward in regretting it.”</p> +<p>Joe’s reproachful denial both in words and +looks was eloquent.</p> +<p>They visited the famous volcano with its crater +Kilaeua, and watched in awe and wonder the great +sea of flame that surged hideously and writhed +like a chain of fiery serpents.</p> +<p>They saw the famous battlefield where Kamehameha, +“the Napoleon of the Pacific,” had won +the great victory that made him undisputed ruler +of the island. They saw the steep precipice where +the three thousand Aohu, fighting to the last gasp, +had made their final stand, and had at last been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +driven over the cliff to the death awaiting them +below.</p> +<p>It was with a feeling of genuine regret that they +finally bade farewell to the enchanting island and +again took ship to pursue their journey.</p> +<p>A large number of new passengers had come +on board at Honolulu, and among them was a +man who soon attached himself to the baseball +party. He was tall and distinguished in appearance, +smooth and plausible in his conversation, +and seemed to be thoroughly versed in the great +national game.</p> +<p>His ingratiating manners soon made him a favorite +with the women of the party also, and he +spared no pains to deepen this impression.</p> +<p>Reggie liked him immensely, largely, no doubt, +owing to the hints that Braxton, which was the +stranger’s name, had dropped of having aristocratic +connections. He had traveled widely, and +the names of distinguished personages fell from +his lips with ease and familiarity.</p> +<p>“How do you like the new fan, Joe?” Jim +asked, a day or two later.</p> +<p>“I can’t say that I’m stuck on him much,” responded +Joe. “He seems to be pretty well up +in baseball dope, and that in itself I suppose ought +to be a recommendation, to a ball player especially, +but somehow or other, he doesn’t hit me +very hard.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p>“I think he’s very handsome,” remarked Mabel, +with a mischievous glance at Joe, and that young +man’s instinctive dislike of the newcomer became +immediately more pronounced.</p> +<p>“He seems very friendly and pleasant,” put in +Clara. “Why don’t you like him, Joe?”</p> +<p>“How can I tell?” replied her brother. “I +simply know I don’t.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XX_IN_MIKADO_LAND' id='XX_IN_MIKADO_LAND'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>IN MIKADO LAND</h3> +</div> + +<p>But if Braxton sensed the slight feeling of +antipathy which Joe felt for him, he gave no sign +of it, and Joe himself, who wanted to be strictly +just, took pains to conceal it.</p> +<p>Braxton had a fund of anecdotes that made +him good company, and the friendship that +Reggie felt for him made him often a member +of Joe’s party.</p> +<p>“Fine fellow, that Mr. Matson of yours,” he +remarked one afternoon, when he and Reggie +and Mabel were sitting together under an awning, +which the growing heat of every day, as the +vessel made its way deeper into the tropics, made +very grateful for its shade and coolness.</p> +<p>“Indeed he is,” remarked Mabel, warmly, to +whom praise of Joe was always sweet.</p> +<p>“He’s a ripper, don’t you know,” agreed +Reggie.</p> +<p>“Not only as a man but as a player,” continued +Braxton. “Hughson used to be king pin +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +once, but I think it can be fairly said that Matson +has taken his place as the star pitcher of America. +Hughson’s arm will probably never be entirely +well again.”</p> +<p>“Joe thinks that Hughson is a prince,” remarked +Mabel. “He says he stands head and +shoulders above everybody else.”</p> +<p>“He used to,” admitted Braxton. “For ten +years there was nobody to be compared with him. +But now it’s Matson’s turn to wear the crown.”</p> +<p>“Have you ever seen Joe pitch?” asked Mabel.</p> +<p>“I should say I have,” replied Braxton. “And +it’s always been a treat to see the way he did his +work. I saw him at the Polo Grounds when in +that last, heartbreaking game he won the championship +for the Giants. And I saw him, too, in +that last game of the World’s Series, when it +seemed as though only a miracle could save the +day. That triple play was the most wonderful +thing I ever beheld. The way he nailed that +ball and shot it over to Denton was a thing the +fans will talk over for many years to come.”</p> +<p>“Wasn’t it great?” cried Mabel, enthusiastically, +at the same time privately resolving to +tell all this to Joe and show him how unjust he +was in feeling the way he did toward this generous +admirer.</p> +<p>“The fact is,” continued Braxton, “that Matson’s +in a class by himself. He’s the big cog in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +the Giant machinery. It’s a pity they don’t appreciate +him more.”</p> +<p>“Why, they do appreciate him!” cried Mabel, +her eyes opening wide with wonder. “Mr. McRae +thinks nothing’s too good for him.”</p> +<p>“Nothing’s too good except money,” suggested +Braxton.</p> +<p>“They give him plenty of that, too,” put in +Mabel, loyally.</p> +<p>“He gets a ripping salary, don’t you know,” +put in Reggie. “And he almost doubled it in this +last World’s Series.”</p> +<p>“A man’s worth what he can get,” returned +Braxton. “Now, of course, I don’t know and +perhaps it might be an impertinence for me even +to guess what his salary is, but I should say that +it isn’t a bit more than ten thousand a year.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it isn’t anything like that,” said Reggie, +a little chop fallen.</p> +<p>Braxton raised his eyebrows in apparent surprise.</p> +<p>“I didn’t think the Giants were so niggardly,” +he remarked, with a touch of contempt. “It’s +simply robbery for them to hold his services at +such a figure. Mr. Matson could demand vastly +more than that.”</p> +<p>“Where?” asked Reggie. “He’s under contract +with the Giants and they wouldn’t let him +go to any other club.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></p> +<p>“Why doesn’t he go without asking leave?” +asked Braxton.</p> +<p>“But no other club in the big leagues would +take him if he broke his contract with the Giants,” +said Mabel, a little bewildered.</p> +<p>“I’ve heard there was a new league forming,” +said Braxton, carelessly. “Let’s see, what is it +they call it? The All-Star League. There would +be no trouble with Matson’s getting an engagement +with them. They’d welcome him with open +arms.”</p> +<p>“They’ve already tried to get him,” cried +Mabel, proudly.</p> +<p>“Is that so? I suppose they made him a pretty +good offer. I’ve heard they’re doing things on a +big scale.”</p> +<p>“It was a wonderful offer,” said Mabel.</p> +<p>“It certainly was, ’pon honor,” chimed in +Reggie.</p> +<p>“Would it be indiscreet to ask the amount?” +said Braxton.</p> +<p>“I don’t think there’s any bally secret ’bout it,” +complied Reggie. “They offered him twenty +thousand dollars to sign a contract and fifteen +thousand dollars a year for a three years’ term. +Many a bank or railroad president doesn’t get +that much, don’t you know.”</p> +<p>“And Matson refused it?” asked Braxton, incredulously. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span></p> +<p>“How could he help it?” replied Mabel. “His +contract with the Giants has two years yet to +run.”</p> +<p>“My dear young lady,” said Braxton, “don’t +you know that a baseball contract isn’t as binding +as the ordinary kind? In the first place, it’s +one-sided, and that itself makes it worthless.”</p> +<p>“In what way is it so one-sided?” asked +Mabel.</p> +<p>“Well, just to take one instance,” replied +Braxton. “A baseball club may engage a man for +a year and yet if it gets tired of its bargain, it +can let him go on ten days’ notice. That doesn’t +seem fair, does it?”</p> +<p>“No-o, it doesn’t,” admitted Mabel slowly.</p> +<p>“It would be all right,” continued Braxton, “if +the player also could leave his club by giving ten +days’ notice. But he can’t. That’s what makes +it unfair. The club can do to the player what +the player can’t do to the club. So the supposed +contract is only a bit of paper. It’s no contract +at all.”</p> +<p>“Not in the legal sense, perhaps,” said Reggie, +dubiously.</p> +<p>“Well, if not in the legal sense, then in no sense +at all,” persisted Braxton. “The law is supposed +to be based on justice, isn’t it, and to do what is +right?</p> +<p>“Of course,” he went on, “it’s none of my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +business; but if I were in Mr. Matson’s place, I +shouldn’t hesitate a moment in going where my +services were in the most demand.”</p> +<p>Mabel felt there was sophistry somewhere in +the argument, but could hardly point out where +it was.</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t like to be quoted in this matter, +of course,” said Braxton, suavely. “And it might +be just as well not to mention to Mr. Matson that +I have spoken about it. He might think I was +trying to pry into his affairs.”</p> +<p>As Joe and Jim came up just then from the +engine-room of the ship which they had been inspecting, +the subject, of course, was dropped, and +after a while Braxton strode away with a self-satisfied +smile on his lips.</p> +<p>The travelers were now in the heart of the +typhoon region but luckily for them it was the +winter season when such storms are least frequent +and although they met a half gale that for two +days kept them in their cabins, they were favored +on the whole by fair weather and at the appointed +time dropped anchor in the harbor of Yokohama.</p> +<p>Now they were on the very threshold of the +Oriental world of whose wonders they had heard +and dreamed, and all were on tiptoe with curiosity +and interest.</p> +<p>The sights and scenes were as strange almost +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +as though they were on another planet. Everything +was new to their young blood and unjaded +senses in this “Land of the Rising Sun.”</p> +<p>The great city itself, teeming with commerce +and busy life, had countless places of interest, but +far more enchanting were the trips they took in +the jinrikishas drawn by tireless coolies which +carried them to the little dreaming, rustic towns +with their tiny houses, their quaint pagodas, their +charming gardens and their unhurried life, so different +from the feverish, restless tumult of western +lands.</p> +<p>“Really, this seems to be a different world from +ours,” was Clara’s comment.</p> +<p>“It certainly is vastly different from anything +we have in America,” replied Mabel.</p> +<p>“It’s interesting—I’ll admit that,” said Joe. +“Just the same, I like things the way we have them +much better.”</p> +<p>“To me these people—or at least a large part of +them—seem to lead a dreamlike existence,” was +Jim’s comment. “They don’t seem to belong to +the hurry and bustle of life such as we know it.”</p> +<p>“And yet there is noise enough, goodness +knows!” answered Clara.</p> +<p>“I think I really prefer the good old U. S. A., +don’t you know,” drawled Reggie. “There may +be society here, but really it’s so different from +ours that I shouldn’t like to take part in it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span></p> +<p>“Yes, there is plenty of noise, but, at the same +time, there is a good deal of calm and quiet,” said +Joe.</p> +<p>But the calm and quiet that seemed to be prevailing +features of Japanese life were wholly absent +from the ball games where the visiting teams +met the nines of Keio and Waseda Universities.</p> +<p>The Giants were to play the first named team, +while later on the All-Americans were slated to +tackle the Waseda men.</p> +<p>In the first game the contrast was laughable +between the sturdy Giant players and their diminutive +opponents.</p> +<p>“What are we playing against?” laughed +Larry to Denton. “A bunch of kids?”</p> +<p>“It would take two of them to make a mouthful,” +grinned Denton.</p> +<p>“I feel almost ashamed of myself,” chimed +in Burkett. “We ought to tackle fellows of our +own size.”</p> +<p>“You don’t find many of that kind in Japan,” +said Joe. “But don’t you hold these fellows too +cheap. They may have a surprise in store for +us.”</p> +<p>The snap and vim that the Japs put into their +practice before the game seemed to add point to +his prophecy. They shot the ball around the +bases with a speed and precision that would have +done credit to seasoned veterans and made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +McRae, who watched them keenly, give his men a +word of caution.</p> +<p>“Don’t get too gay, boys,” he warned.</p> +<p>The game that followed was “for blood.” The +universities had poured out their crowds to a +man to cheer their players on to victory.</p> +<p>And for the first five innings the scales hung +in the balance. The Keio pitcher had a world of +speed and a tantalizing drop, and only two safe +hits were made off him. Behind him his team +mates fielded like demons. No ball seemed too +hard for them to get, and even when a Giant got +to first base he found it difficult to advance +against the accurate throwing to second of the +Jap catcher.</p> +<p>At the bat the home players were less fortunate. +They hit the ball often enough but they +couldn’t “lean against it” with the power of their +sturdier rivals.</p> +<p>They were skillful bunters, however, and had +the Giant players “standing on their heads” in +trying to field the balls that the clever Jap players +laid deftly in front of the plate.</p> +<p>By these tactics they scored a run in the sixth +inning, against which the Giants had only a string +of goose eggs.</p> +<p>“It’s like a bear against a wildcat,” muttered +Robbie to McRae, as the little Jap scurried over +the plate. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span></p> +<p>“And it looks as if the wildcat might win,” +grunted the Giant manager, not at all pleased at +the possibility.</p> +<p>“Not a bit of it,” denied Robbie sturdily. “A +good big man is better than a good little man any +time.”</p> +<p>And his faith was justified when, in the seventh +inning, the Giants, stung by the taunts of their +manager, really woke up and got into action. A +perfect storm of hits broke from their bats and +had the Japanese players running after the ball +until their tongues hung out.</p> +<p>Five runs came in and it was “all over but the +shouting.” There was not much shouting, however, +for the home crowd had seen its dream of +victory shattered.</p> +<p>But though the Giants won handily in the end +by a score of six to two, it had been a red-hot +game, and had taken some of the conceit out of +the major leaguers. It was a tip, too, to the +All-Americans, who, when they played the Waseda +team a little later, went in with determination to +win the game from the start and trimmed their +opponents handsomely.</p> +<p>“Those Japs are the goods all right,” conceded +McRae, when at last they were ready to +embark for Hongkong.</p> +<p>“You’re right they are,” agreed Robbie.</p> +<p>“We call ourselves the world’s champions,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +grinned Jim. “But, after all, we’re only champions +of the United States. The time may come +when there will be a real World’s Series and then +the pennant will mean something more than it +does now.”</p> +<p>“It would be some big jump between the +games,” said Joe.</p> +<p>“Lots of queer things happen,” said Larry +sagely. “The time yet may come when the umpire +will take off his hat, bow to the crowd and +say—</p> +<p>“‘Ladies and gentlemen: the batteries for to-day’s +game are Matsuda and Nagawiki for the +All-Japans, Matson and Mylert for the All-Americans.’”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXI_RUNNING_AMUCK' id='XXI_RUNNING_AMUCK'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>RUNNING AMUCK</h3> +</div> + +<p>If Japan had been a revelation to the tourists, +China was a still greater one. For Japan, however +much she clung to the dreamy life of former +times, had at last awakened and was fast adapting +herself to modern, civilized conditions.</p> +<p>If Japan was still half dreaming, China was +sound asleep. This, of course, was not true of +the foreign quarter, where the great English government +buildings and commercial houses might +have been those of Paris or London.</p> +<p>But just behind this lay the real China, looking +probably the same as three hundred thousand +years ago. The little streets, so narrow in places +that the houses almost touched and a carriage +could not pass! That strange medley of sounds +and smells and noises! Here a tinker mending +his pans on the sidewalk! There a dentist, pulling +a tooth in the open street, jugglers performing +their tricks, snake charmers exhibiting their +slimy pets. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p> +<p>There was a bewildering jumble of trades, occupations +and amusements, so utterly different +from what the tourists had ever before seen that +it held their curiosity unabated and their interest +stimulated to its highest pitch during the period +of their stay.</p> +<p>“Everything is so topsy turvy!” exclaimed +Mabel, as she threaded the noisome streets, clinging +close to Joe’s arm. “I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”</p> +<p>“It’s not surprising that things should be upside +down when we’re in the Antipodes,” laughed +Joe.</p> +<p>“If we saw men walking on their heads it would +seem natural out here,” said Jim. “All that a +Chinaman wants to know is what other people +do, then he does something different.”</p> +<p>“Sure thing,” said Joe. “See those fellows +across the street. They’re evidently old friends +and each one is shaking hands with himself.”</p> +<p>“You can’t dope out anything here,” said Jim. +“When an American’s puzzled he scratches his +head—the Chinaman scratches his foot. We +wear black for mourning, they wear white. We +pay the doctor when we’re sick——”</p> +<p>“If the doctor’s lucky,” interrupted Joe.</p> +<p>“They pay him only while they’re well. They +figure that it’s to his interest then to keep them +well. We think what few brains we have are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +in our head. The Chinaman thinks they’re in the +stomach. Whenever he gets off what he thinks +is a good thing he pats his stomach in approval. +We put a guest of honor on our right, the Chinaman +puts him on his left.”</p> +<p>“Anything else?” asked Clara laughingly.</p> +<p>“Lots of things,” replied Joe. “And we’ll +probably find them out before we go away.”</p> +<p>As they passed a corner they saw a man standing +there, rigged out in a queer fashion. About +him was what seemed to be a tree box, from which +only his head protruded.</p> +<p>“Why is he going around that way?” asked +Mabel, curiously.</p> +<p>“You wouldn’t care to know that,” said Joe, +hurrying her along, but Mabel was not to be disposed +of in so cavalier a fashion.</p> +<p>“But I do want to know,” she persisted.</p> +<p>“Might as well tell her,” said Jim, “and let +her suffer.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Joe, reluctantly, “that fellow’s +being executed.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” exclaimed Mabel, in +horror.</p> +<p>“Just that,” replied Joe. “That thing that +looked like a tree box is what they call a cangue. +They put him in there so that he’s standing on +thin slabs of wood that just enable him to keep +his head above that narrow opening around his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +neck. Every little while they take one of the +slabs of wood from underneath him; then he has +to stand on tiptoe. By and by his feet can’t +touch the slabs at all, and then he chokes to +death.”</p> +<p>The girls shuddered and Mabel regretted her +ill-timed curiosity.</p> +<p>“What a hideous thing!” exclaimed Clara.</p> +<p>“And what cruel people!” added Mabel.</p> +<p>“One of the most cruel on God’s earth,” replied +Jim. “You see in all this crowd there is +nobody looking at that fellow with pity. They +don’t seem to have the slightest tincture of it.”</p> +<p>“Let’s go back to our hotel,” pleaded Mabel. +“I’ve seen all I want to for to-day.”</p> +<p>The games at Hong Kong were interesting and +largely attended. There was one rattling contest +between the major leaguers that after an eleventh-inning +fight was won by the Giants.</p> +<p>A few days later a second game was played in +which a picked team from the visitors opposed a +nine of husky “Jackies” selected from the United +States battleships that lay in the harbor.</p> +<p>To make the game more even, the Giants +loaned them a catcher and second baseman, and +a contest ensued that was full of fun and excitement.</p> +<p>Of course, the Jackies were full of naval slang, +and sometimes their talk was utterly unintelligible +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +to the landsmen. At the end of the third inning +the Giants had three runs to their credit, while the +boys from the navy had nothing.</p> +<p>“Say there, Longneck, we’ve got to get some +runs,” howled one Jackie to his mate. “Give ’em +a shot from a twelve-inch gun!”</p> +<p>“Aye! aye! Give it ’em.”</p> +<p>In the next inning the Jackies took a brace, and, +as a consequence, got two runs. Immediately they +and their friends began to cheer wildly.</p> +<p>“Down with the pirates!”</p> +<p>“Let’s feed ’em to the sharks!”</p> +<p>“A double portion of plum duff for every man +on our side who makes a run!” cried one enthusiastic +sailor boy.</p> +<p>Several of the Jackies were quite good when it +came to batting the ball, but hardly any of them +could do any efficient running, for the reason that +they got but scant practice while on shipboard. +The way that some of them wabbled around the +bases was truly amusing, and set the crowd to +laughing loudly.</p> +<p>“Our men don’t like this running,” declared one +sailor, who sat watching the contest. “If, instead +of running around those bases, you fellows had to +climb a mast, you’d see who would come out +ahead.”</p> +<p>The Jackies managed to get two more runs, due +almost entirely to the lax playing of the Giants. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +This, however, was as far as they were able to go, +and, when the game came to an end, the score +stood 12 to 5 in favor of the Giants.</p> +<p>A visit to Shanghai followed, where only one +game was played, and this by a rally in the last +inning went to the All-Americans, thus keeping +the total score of won and lost even between the +rival teams.</p> +<p>They spent a few more days in sightseeing, and +then set sail for the Philippines, glad at the prospect +of soon being once more under the flag of +their own country.</p> +<p>“Look at those queer little boats!” exclaimed +Mabel, as they stood at the rail while the ship +was weighing anchor and looked at the native +sampans with their bright colors and lateen sails +as they darted to and fro like so many gaudy +butterflies.</p> +<p>“What are those things they have on each side +of the bow?” asked Clara. “They look like +eyes.”</p> +<p>“That’s what they are,” replied Jim, seriously.</p> +<p>Clara looked at him to see if he were joking.</p> +<p>“Honest to goodness, cross my heart, hope to +die,” returned Jim.</p> +<p>“But why do they put eyes there?” asked Clara, +mystified.</p> +<p>“So that the boat can see where it’s going,” +replied Jim. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span></p> +<p>“Well,” said Mabel, with a gasp, “whatever +else I take away from this country, I’ll have a +choice collection of nightmares.”</p> +<p>The steamer made splendid weather of the +trip to the Philippines, and in a few days they +were steaming into Manila bay. Their hearts +swelled with pride as they recalled the splendid +achievement of Admiral Dewey, when, with his +battle fleet, scorning mines and torpedoes, like +Farragut at Mobile, he had signaled for “full +speed ahead.”</p> +<p>“That fellow was the real stuff,” remarked +Jim.</p> +<p>“As good as they make them,” agreed Joe. +“And foxy, too. Remember how he kept that +cable cut because he didn’t want the folks at +Washington to queer his game. He had his work +cut out and he wasn’t going to be interfered +with.”</p> +<p>“Something like Nelson, when his chief ran up +the signal to withdraw,” suggested Denton. “He +looked at it with that blind eye of his and said he +couldn’t see it.”</p> +<p>“Dewey was a good deal like Nelson,” said +Joe. “Do you remember how he trod on the +corns of that German admiral who tried to butt +in?”</p> +<p>“Do I?” said Jim. “You bet I do.”</p> +<p>The party met with a warm welcome when they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +went ashore at Manila. American officers and +men from the garrison thronged the dock to meet +the veterans of the diamond, whose coming had +been widely heralded.</p> +<p>Many of them knew the players personally and +all knew them by reputation.</p> +<p>The baseball teams went to their hotel and +after they were comfortably settled in their new +quarters, the two chums accompanied by the girls +went out for a stroll. But they had not gone +far before they were startled by excited shouts +a little way ahead of them and saw groups of +people scattering right and left in wild panic and +confusion.</p> +<p>Down the street came a savage figure, running +with the speed of a hare, and holding in +either hand a knife with which he slashed savagely +right and left at all that stood in his way.</p> +<p>His eyes were flaming with demoniacal fury, +foam stood out upon his lips, and from those lips +issued a wailing cry that ended in a shriek:</p> +<p>“Amuck! Amuck!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXII_TAKING_A_CHANCE' id='XXII_TAKING_A_CHANCE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>TAKING A CHANCE</h3> +</div> + +<p>There was a scream from the frightened girls +and a gasp from the young men as they saw +this messenger of death bearing down upon +them.</p> +<p>They knew at a glance what had happened. +A Malay, yielding to the insidious mental malady +that seems peculiar to his race, had suddenly gone +mad and started out to kill. That he himself +would inevitably be killed did not deter him for a +moment. He wanted to die, but he wanted at +the same time to take as many with him as possible.</p> +<p>He had made his offering to the infernal gods, +had blackened his teeth and anointed his head +with cocoa oil, and had started out to slay.</p> +<p>With his eyes blazing, his head rolling from +side to side like a mad dog, and with that blood-chilling +cry coming from his foam-flecked lips, he +was like a figure from a nightmare.</p> +<p>For a moment the Americans stood rooted to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +the spot. That instant past, Baseball Joe, as +usual, took the lead.</p> +<p>“Look after the girls, Jim!” he cried, and +started full tilt toward the awful figure that came +plunging down the street.</p> +<p>Mabel and Clara screamed to him to stop, but +he only quickened his pace, running like a deer, +as though bent on suicide. The Malay saw him +coming, and for a second hesitated. He had seen +everyone else scurry from him in fear. What did +this man mean by coming to meet him?</p> +<p>It was just this instant of indecision upon which +Joe had counted, and like a flash he seized it.</p> +<p>When within twenty feet of the Malay, Joe +launched himself into the air, and came down flat +on the hard dirt road, as he had done many a time +before when sliding to base.</p> +<p>The Malay, confused by the unlooked-for action, +slashed down at him. Had Joe gone straight +toward him, the knife would have been buried in +him. But here again his quickness and the tactics +of the ballfield came into play.</p> +<p>Instead of going straight toward his antagonist, +his slide had been a “fall away.”</p> +<p>Many a time when sliding to second he had +thrown himself this way out of the reach of the +ball, while his extended hand just clutched the +bag.</p> +<p>So now, his sinewy arm caught the Malay by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +the leg, while his body swung round to the right. +Down went the Malay with a crash, his blood-stained +knives clattering on the ground and the +next instant Joe was on his back.</p> +<p>His hands closed upon the man’s throat with +an iron grip.</p> +<p>But there was no more fight left in the would-be +murderer. The fall had jarred and partially +stunned him. In an instant Jim had joined Joe, +other men came rushing up; and the danger was +over.</p> +<p>The crazed man was secured with ropes and +carried away, while Joe, perspiring, panting and +covered with dust, received the enthusiastic congratulations +of the rapidly gathering crowd.</p> +<p>“Pluckiest thing I ever saw in my life!” exclaimed +the colonel of the army command, who +had witnessed the exploit.</p> +<p>“That fall-away slide of yours was great, +Joe!” cried Larry Barrett, who had come up. +“I never saw a niftier one on the ballfield.”</p> +<p>“You made the bag all right!” grinned Denton.</p> +<p>“He never touched you!” chuckled Burkett.</p> +<p>“If he had it would have been some touch,” declared +McRae, as he picked up one murderous-looking +knife and passed it round for inspection.</p> +<p>It was a wicked weapon, nearly a foot in +length, with a handle so contrived as to get all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +the weight behind the stroke and a wavy blade +capable of inflicting a fearful wound.</p> +<p>“Has a bowie knife skinned a mile!” ejaculated +Curry, expressing the general sentiment.</p> +<p>Joe hated to pose as a hero but it was some +time before the crowd would let him get away +and rejoin the girls who were waiting for him.</p> +<p>All the plaudits of the throng were tame compared +with what he read in the eyes of Mabel and +his sister.</p> +<p>The baseball teams stayed nearly a week in +Manila, making short excursions in the suburbs as +far as it could be done with safety. Two games +were played, one between the Giants and All-Americans, +which resulted in favor of the latter, +and another between the Giants and a picked nine +from the army post.</p> +<p>Many of Uncle Sam’s army boys had been fine +amateur players and a few had come from professional +teams, so that they were able to put up +a gallant fight, although they were, of course, no +match for the champions of the world.</p> +<p>“But they certainly put up a fine game,” was +Joe’s comment. “They had two pitchers who had +some good stuff in ’em.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what I was thinking,” returned +Jim.</p> +<p>“One of those pitchers used to play ball on a +professional team from Los Angeles,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +McRae, who was standing near. “I understand he +had quite a record.”</p> +<p>“I wonder what made him give up pitching and +join the army,” remarked Jim curiously.</p> +<p>“Oh, I suppose it was the love of adventure,” +answered the manager.</p> +<p>“That might be it,” said Joe. “Some fellows +get tired of doing the same thing, and when they +have a chance to leave home and see strange +places, they grab it.”</p> +<p>While warming up prior to this last game, Joe’s +attention was attracted by a muscular Chinaman, +who was standing in the crowd that fringed the +diamond, interestedly watching the players at +practice. He recognized him as a famous wrestler +who had taken part in a bout at a performance +the night before and who had thrown his +opponents with ease.</p> +<p>“Some muscles on that fellow,” Joe remarked +to Jim.</p> +<p>“Biggest Chink I ever saw,” replied Jim, “and +not a bit of it is fat either. He’d make a dandy +highbinder. You saw what he did to the Terrible +Turk in that match last night. He just +played with him. And the Turk was no slouch +either.”</p> +<p>“Look at those arms,” joined in Larry, gazing +with admiration at the swelling biceps of the +wrestler. “What a slugger he’d make if he knew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +how to play ball. He’d break all the fences in +the league.”</p> +<p>“He sure would kill the ball if he ever caught +it on the end of his bat,” declared Red Curry.</p> +<p>“I’ve half a mind to give him a chance,” +laughed Joe.</p> +<p>“Go ahead,” grinned Larry. “I’d like to see +him break his back reaching for one of your +curves.”</p> +<p>“He might land on it at that,” replied Joe. +“A wrestler has to have an eye like a hawk.”</p> +<p>He beckoned to the wrestler, who came toward +him at once with a smile on his keen but good-natured +face.</p> +<p>“Want to hit the ball?” asked Joe, piecing out +his question by going through the motions of +swinging a bat that he picked up.</p> +<p>The wrestler “caught on” at once, and the +smile on his face broadened into a grin as he +nodded his head understandingly.</p> +<p>“Me tly,” he said in the “pidgin English” he +had picked up in his travels, and reached out his +hand for the bat.</p> +<p>“Have a heart, Joe,” laughed Larry. “Don’t +show the poor gink up before the crowd. At any +rate let me show him how it’s done.”</p> +<p>“All right,” responded Joe. “You lead off and +he can follow.”</p> +<p>Larry took up his position at the plate and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +motioned to the wrestler to watch him. The latter +nodded and followed every motion.</p> +<p>Joe put over a swift high one that Larry swung +at and missed. He “bit” again at an outcurve +with no better result.</p> +<p>“Look out, Larry,” chaffed Jim, “or it’s you +that will be shown up instead of the Chink.”</p> +<p>A little nettled, Larry caught the next one full +and square and it sailed far out into right field.</p> +<p>“There,” he said complacently, as he handed +the bat to the wrestler, “that’s the way it’s done.”</p> +<p>The latter went awkwardly to the plate and a +laugh ran through the crowd at the unusual sight.</p> +<p>Joe lobbed one over and the Chinaman swung +listlessly a foot below the ball.</p> +<p>“Easy money,” laughed Denton.</p> +<p>“Where’s that good eye you said this fellow +had?” sang out Willis.</p> +<p>The second ball floated up to the plate as big +as a balloon, and again the wrestler whiffed, coming +nowhere near the sphere.</p> +<p>But as Joe wound up for the third ball, the +listlessness vanished from the Chinaman. A +glint came into his eyes and every muscle was +tense.</p> +<p>The ball sped toward the plate. The wrestler +caught it fair “on the seam” with all his powerful +body behind the blow.</p> +<p>The ball soared high and far over center field, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +looking as though it were never going to stop. In +a regular game it would have been the easiest of +home runs.</p> +<p>The wrestler sauntered away from the plate +with the same bland smile on his yellow face +while the crowd cheered him. He had turned the +tables, and the laugh was on Joe and his fellow +players.</p> +<p>“But why,” asked Jim, after the game had resulted +in a victory for the visitors by a one-sided +score, and he was walking back with Joe to the +hotel, “did he make such a miserable flunk at the +first two balls? Was he kidding us?”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” grinned Joe. “It’s because the +Chinamen are the greatest imitators on earth. +He saw that Larry missed the first two and so +he did the same. He thought it was part of the +game!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIII_AN_EMBARRASSED_RESCUER' id='XXIII_AN_EMBARRASSED_RESCUER'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>AN EMBARRASSED RESCUER</h3> +</div> + +<p>On the long trip to Australia the tourists encountered +the most severe storm of the journey. +In fact, it was almost equal to the dreaded +typhoon, and there were times when, despite the +staunchness of the vessel, the faces of the captain +and the officers were lined with anxiety.</p> +<p>After two days and nights, however, of peril, +the storm blew itself out and the rest of the journey +was made over serene seas and under cloudless +skies.</p> +<p>One night after the girls had retired, Joe and +Jim, together with McRae and Braxton, were +sitting in the smoking room. The conversation +had been of the kind that always prevails when +baseball “fans” get together.</p> +<p>After a while Jim accompanied McRae to the +latter’s cabin to discuss some details of Jim’s contract +for the coming season, leaving Joe and +Braxton as the sole occupants of the room.</p> +<p>Joe had never been able to overcome the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +instinctive antipathy that he had felt toward Braxton +from the first, but he had kept this under restraint, +and Braxton himself, though he might +have suspected this feeling, was always suave and +urbane.</p> +<p>There was no denying that he was good company +and always 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.</p> +<p>“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.”</p> +<p>“I’ve heard that he was a weird writer,” smiled +Joe.</p> +<p>“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.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span></p> +<p>Joe laughed, and Braxton tossed over to him +a sheet of paper on which he had written his +name.</p> +<p>“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.”</p> +<p>“You’re right,” said Joe. “I’m no dabster myself +at writing and I can sympathize with you.”</p> +<p>“It couldn’t be as bad as this,” challenged +Braxton, slipping a pen over to Joe, together with +a fresh piece of paper.</p> +<p>“No,” said Joe, as he took up the pen, “I +guess at least you could make mine out.”</p> +<p>He scribbled his name and Braxton picked up +the paper with a laugh.</p> +<p>“I win,” he said. “You’re bad, but I’m worse. +You see I am proud even of my defects.”</p> +<p>He dropped the subject then and talked of +other things until Joe, stifling a yawn, excused +himself and went to his cabin.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>As a rule they would not concede that the batting +was any better than that shown by their own +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +cricketers, but there was no question as to the +superiority of the fielding.</p> +<p>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 larger and larger as the +visiting teams made their triumphal progress +through the great cities of Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide +and Melbourne.</p> +<p>Inspired by their reception and put upon their +mettle by the great outpouring of spectators, the +teams themselves played like demons. One +might almost have thought that they were fighting +for the pennant.</p> +<p>They were so evenly matched that first one and +then the other was on top, and by the time they +reached Melbourne the Giants were only one +game in the lead of the total that had been played +since the trip began.</p> +<p>Melbourne itself with its romantic history and +magic growth proved very attractive. But Joe +was destined to remember it for very different +reasons.</p> +<p>While walking with Jim one day outside the +town near the Yarra Yarra river, they were startled +by hearing a cry for help, and racing toward +the sound they saw a young girl struggling in the +water. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span></p> +<p>Trained by their vocation to act quickly, they +threw off their coats, plunging into the water +almost at the same instant. They swam fiercely, +lashed on by that frantic wail, sounding fainter +each time it was repeated.</p> +<p>The race for a life was almost neck and neck +until Joe, showing his tremendous reserve +strength, shot ahead at the very end, grasping the +struggling figure as it was sinking for the last +time.</p> +<p>Jim helped, and together they brought the rescued +girl—the long dank black hair testified to +her sex—back to shore, where a group of the +native blacks, attracted by the cries, had gathered +to welcome them.</p> +<p>Dripping and exhausted, the two heroes of the +occasion staggered up the bank while willing +hands relieved them of their burden.</p> +<p>“Let’s beat it,” whispered Jim, as the crowd of +natives closed around the unconscious object of +their heroism, “while the going’s good. If that +girl ever finds out that you rescued her she’ll +want to attach herself to you for life. That +seems to be the fool custom of these parts.”</p> +<p>“She’d find it pretty hard work,” said Joe, with +a wry smile. “Besides, we don’t even know that +the girl’s alive. It would be pretty heartless to +clear out without learning.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” said Jim, uneasily. “But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +remember, if there are any consequences you’ve got +to take ’em.”</p> +<p>At that moment the crowd opened and the boys +saw a remarkably good-looking black girl standing +dizzily and supported by another native who +might have been her father.</p> +<p>She looked dazedly from one to the other of +the young men and Jim promptly “stepped out +from under.”</p> +<p>“It’s him,” said Jim, neglecting grammar in +his eagerness to shift the burden of credit to Joe’s +broad shoulders. “He did it all.”</p> +<p>The girl walked unsteadily up to Joe and +said, submissively: “My life is yours! Me your +slave!”</p> +<p>Joe started, stared, and gulped, then turned to +Jim to make sure he was awake, and not a victim +of some bad dream. But Jim had suddenly acquired +a peculiar form of hysteria, and with a +choking sound turned his back upon his friend.</p> +<p>“N-no,” stuttered Joe, gently pushing the girl +away, “no want.”</p> +<p>Another explosion from Jim did not serve to +improve Joe’s state of mind. His face was fiery +red, and his voice husky.</p> +<p>“Me slave!” persisted the girl stubbornly.</p> +<p>Then Joe turned and fled, manfully fighting a +desire to shout with laughter one moment, and +groan with dismay the next. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></p> +<p>Two very much subdued baseball players crept +in at the side door of the hotel, and scurried +along the corridor toward their rooms, hoping +ardently to meet no one on the way. It was with +a sigh of relief that they slipped inside, locked +the door, and repaired the ravages that the waters +of the Yarra Yarra had made upon their clothing.</p> +<p>A few moments later, with self respect considerably +improved, they sauntered down to the +writing room, where they found the two girls +looking more distractingly pretty than ever, engaged +in folding the last of their letters.</p> +<p>“Oh, back so soon?” queried Mabel, looking +up.</p> +<p>“Goodness, how the time has flown,” said +Clara. “It seems as though you had just gone. +Have you another stamp, Mabel dear? I have +used mine all up.”</p> +<p>“Say, you’re complimentary,” remarked Jim, +dryly. “It’s great to be missed like that.”</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll miss something more if we don’t +get a move on,” said Joe, practically. “How +about some lunch, girls?”</p> +<p>After luncheon the quartette sauntered out for +a walk up Elizabeth street to the post-office. The +boys were just congratulating themselves that +their uncomfortable, though piquant, experience +of the morning was a thing definitely of the past, +when it happened! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p> +<p>Joe felt a touch on his arm, and, looking down, +saw, to his horror, the black girl.</p> +<p>“Me yours!” she cried, eagerly.</p> +<p>Joe muttered savagely beneath his breath, and +held the girl off at arm’s length, his misery increasing +as, with a quick side glance, he saw the +growing indignation in Mabel’s eyes.</p> +<p>“Me yours!” repeated the girl, with the maddening +monotony of a phonograph.</p> +<p>But just then, when Joe was at his wit’s end, +help came from an unexpected quarter. A big +black man, glowering threateningly, elbowed his +way through the curious group that had gathered +about them, grasped the girl by the arm, and +dragged her away. There was no mistaking the +jealousy that prompted the action. Joe drew a +deep sigh of deliverance, while Jim was crimson +with suppressed laughter.</p> +<p>Mabel was the only one, except Joe himself, +who could not see the joke. There were two pink +spots in her cheeks, her eyes were very bright, +her head was held high, and poor Joe had some +explaining to do before the party left Australia, +which they did soon after, and started on their +journey to Ceylon.</p> +<p>They reached Colombo in Ceylon, the island +of spices, the richest gem in the Indian ocean, and +disembarked late one afternoon. At the hotel in +the English quarter, while the women of the party +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +went to their rooms to refresh themselves and +dress for dinner, the men, after a hasty toilet, +went into the lobby of the hotel where, as always, +their first thought was to get hold of the papers +from home.</p> +<p>Joe’s eyes fell on a New York paper and he +snatched it up eagerly and turned to the sporting +page for the latest news of the diamond. He +gave a startled exclamation as he saw the bold +headline that stretched across the top of the page:</p> +<p>“<i>Joe Matson, the Pitching King, Signs with +the All-Star League!</i>”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIV_THE_BLOW_FALLS' id='XXIV_THE_BLOW_FALLS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>THE BLOW FALLS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Baseball Joe’s first sensation was one of unutterable +surprise, followed a moment later by +fierce indignation.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Joe?” asked Jim, coming +up behind him.</p> +<p>“Matter enough!” growled Joe, thrusting the +offending paper under his comrade’s nose. “Look +at this!”</p> +<p>Jim looked and gave a long whistle of surprise.</p> +<p>“What does it mean?” he ejaculated, as his +eyes went from the headlines to the story, which +covered the greater part of the page.</p> +<p>“Mean?” snorted Joe. “It means a stab in +the back. It means that those skunks are trying +to do by lying what they couldn’t do by bribery. +It means that while we’re thousands of miles +away they are trying to gull the public and get +other ball players to jump their contracts by a +barefaced lie like this. I wish I had hold of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +fellow who’s doing this—I’d make him sweat +for it!”</p> +<p>“Of course it’s a lie,” assented Jim, “and a lie +out of whole cloth. But what beats me is why +they should do it? It’s bound to be a boomerang.”</p> +<p>They sat down side by side and read the paper +together, and the more they read the more bewildered +they became.</p> +<p>For the story was circumstantial. It went into +minute details. It embraced interviews with the +backers of the new league, who confirmed it without +hesitation. One of the paragraphs read as +follows:</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Nothing in years has created such a sensation +in the world of sport as the news just made public +that Matson, the star pitcher of the Giants, had +jumped the fold and landed in the All-Star +League. It was known that overtures were made +to this great pitcher at the end of his last season, +when his magnificent work created a record in the +National League that will probably never be surpassed. +It was understood, however, that these +offers, though coupled with a tremendous bonus +and salary, had been definitely rejected. For +that reason the news that he has reconsidered +and jumped to the All-Stars comes like a thunderbolt +from a clear sky. The major leaguers are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +in consternation, while the new league naturally +is jubilant at this acquisition to their ranks. +Matson is a popular idol among his fellow players +and it is believed that many stars who have +been wavering in their allegiance to the old +leagues will follow his example.”</p> +</div> +<p>The rest of the page was devoted to a recital +of Joe’s achievements in pitching the Giants to +the Championship of the National League and, +later, to the Championship of the World.</p> +<p>The two friends stared at each other in amazement +and rage, and just then McRae and Robbie, +together with a group of other players, came +hurrying up, holding other papers which, though +in different words, told substantially the same +story.</p> +<p>There was a babel of excited questions and +exclamations, and Joe felt a sharp pang go +through him, as for the first time in his experience +with the manager of the Giants, he saw in +McRae’s eyes a shadow of distrust.</p> +<p>“Isn’t this the limit?” asked McRae, as he +crushed the paper in his hand, threw it to +the floor and trampled on it in disgust and +anger.</p> +<p>“It sure is,” replied Joe. “I’ve had lies told +about me before but never one that touched me +on the raw like this.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span></p> +<p>“It’s a burning outrage,” cried Denton indignantly.</p> +<p>“What they expect to make out of it is beyond +me,” declared Robbie. “They ought to know +that they can’t get away with it.”</p> +<p>“But in the meantime it will have done its +work,” Willis pointed out. “What if it is contradicted +later on? By that time they’ll have a +dozen stars signed and they should worry. As +long as it’s believed that Joe has jumped, it’s just +as good for them as though he had.”</p> +<p>“That’s the worst of it,” agreed Joe bitterly. +“Of course I’ll send a cable contradicting it, but +the lie has got a head start and a lot of damage +has been done. What do you suppose my friends +in America are thinking about me just now?”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry about that, Joe,” comforted Jim. +“Your real friends won’t believe it, and for the +rest it doesn’t matter. Nobody that really +knows you believes you would jump your contract.”</p> +<p>“Whoever got that story up was foxy, though,” +commented Mylert, the burly catcher of the +Giants. “There are no ‘ifs or ands’ about it +like most phony stories where the fellow’s trying +to hedge in case someone comes back at him. It +sounds like straight goods. It’s the most truthful +looking lie I ever saw.”</p> +<p>“But it’s a lie just the same!” cried Joe +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +desperately. “All you fellows know I wouldn’t +throw the Giants down, don’t you?” he asked, as +his eyes swept the circle of fellow players who +were gathered around him.</p> +<p>There was a murmur of assent, but it was not +as hearty as Joe could have wished. If there was +not distrust, there was at least bewilderment, for +the story bore all the earmarks of truth.</p> +<p>“You know it, don’t you, Mac?” repeated Joe, +this time addressing directly the Giant leader.</p> +<p>For a fraction of a second McRae hesitated. +Then he threw doubt to the winds and gripped +Joe’s hand with a heartiness that warmed the +latter’s heart.</p> +<p>“Of course, I know it, Joe!” he exclaimed +emphatically. “I don’t deny that for a moment +the paper had me going. But in my heart I +know it’s a lie. So just send your cable and then +let’s forget it. Those fellows are just making a +rope to hang themselves with. We’ll make it +warm for them when we get back to the +States.”</p> +<p>“You ought to sue the papers for libel,” +growled Robbie.</p> +<p>“There won’t be any suing,” said Joe heatedly. +“Just let me have five minutes alone with +the fellow that started this and that’s all I’ll +ask.”</p> +<p>He hurried down with Jim to the cable office +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +and a few minutes later this message buzzed its +way across the seas:</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Report that I have signed with the All-Star +League absolutely false. Will give a thousand +dollars to charity if anyone can produce contract.</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Joseph Matson</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>“That ought to hold them for a while,” commented +Jim.</p> +<p>“It ought,” said Joe gloomily. “But you know +the old saying that ‘a lie will go round the world +while truth is getting its boots on.’”</p> +<p>Still he felt better, and by the time he got back +to the hotel and met the girls, he had so far regained +his usual poise that he could tell them all +about it with some measure of self-control.</p> +<p>“Why, Joe! how could they dare do such a +thing as that?” exclaimed Mabel, her eyes flashing +fire.</p> +<p>“It’s about the meanest thing I ever heard of!” +cried his sister.</p> +<p>“They ought to be sued for libel, don’t you +know,” broke in Reggie. “If you sued them, Joe, +you might get quite heavy damages.”</p> +<p>“It’s a pity you can’t put somebody in jail for +it,” was Mabel’s further comment.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s what ought to happen!” cried +Clara. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>Both of the girls were wild with indignation. Although +Mabel at one time, influenced by the arguments +of Braxton that Joe was not really bound +by a one-sided contract, had spoken to him about +it in a guarded way, Joe had shown her so clearly +his moral obligation that he had convinced her +absolutely. And now she was angry clear through +at the blow in the dark that had been launched +against him.</p> +<p>“Who could have done such a contemptible +thing?” she cried.</p> +<p>“It must have been that horrid Westland!” exclaimed +Clara.</p> +<p>“Maybe,” agreed her brother. “I rather hope +it was.”</p> +<p>“Why?” asked Jim curiously.</p> +<p>“Because,” gritted Joe through his teeth, “he’s +a big fellow and I won’t be ashamed to hit him.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXV_THE_COBRA_IN_THE_ROOM' id='XXV_THE_COBRA_IN_THE_ROOM'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>THE COBRA IN THE ROOM</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ceylon was a land of wonders to the tourists. +Here they were in the very heart of the Orient. +Rare flowers and strange plants grew in glorious +profusion, the air was odorous with a thousand +scents, and it was hard for them to realize that +at that very moment America might be suffering +from zero weather or swept by blizzards. +Here life moved along serenely and dreamily, +lulled by the sound of birds and drone of +locusts, wrapped in the warm folds of eternal +summer.</p> +<p>“It’s an earthly Eden!” murmured Clara, as +she and Jim walked along one of the main streets +of Colombo, followed at a little distance by Joe +and Mabel.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Jim with a laugh, “and not even +the snake is missing.”</p> +<p>He pointed to a group of natives and Europeans +on the other side of the street who were +gathered about a snake charmer. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p> +<p>“Ugh, the horrid things!” exclaimed Clara with +a shudder.</p> +<p>“Let’s go over and take a look,” suggested +Jim.</p> +<p>Clara demurred at first and so did Mabel. +They were used to seeing snakes behind a network +of wire and glass, and they did not relish +the idea of standing within a few feet of the +crawling serpents in the open street. But curiosity, +added to the urgings of the young men, finally +conquered, and they joined the throng on the other +side.</p> +<p>The performer, an old man with bronzed face, +was squatting on his haunches playing a weird +tune on a reedy instrument resembling a flute. Before +him was upreared a monstrous specimen of +the deadly cobra species, swaying gently to and +fro and keeping time to the music. Its malignant +eyes looking out from the broad head whose markings +resembled a pair of spectacles had lost something +of their fiery sparkle, and a slight haze +spread over them, as though the creature were +under a spell.</p> +<p>The music continued and two other snakes +crawled out as if in response to a call and joined +their companion in his swaying, rhythmic dance. +Then the tune changed, the snakes uncoiled, and +the performer took them up without the slightest +fear and put them back in the basket. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></p> +<p>“Suppose they should bite him!” exclaimed +Mabel.</p> +<p>“He’s had their fangs drawn already,” returned +Joe. “The old rascal’s taking no chances.”</p> +<p>“They say that a man lasts about half an hour +after one of those fellows nips him,” observed +Jim. “Somebody was telling me that over twenty +thousand natives are bitten by them every year.”</p> +<p>A little further down the street, another fakir +was giving an exhibition. He placed a small native +boy in a basket that was a tight fit and put +down the basket cover. Then after making mysterious +signs and muttering invocations, the fakir +drew a long sword and plunged it through the +basket from end to end. A scream of pain came +from within, and when the sword was withdrawn +it was red. Again and again this was repeated +until the screams died away. Then the fakir lifted +up the cover and the boy sprang out safe and +sound, and, showing his white teeth in a smile, +went around collecting coins from the bystanders.</p> +<p>They wandered further among the bazaars, +making purchases of curios as presents for the +folks at home and adding to their personal stock +of mementos. Jim secured among other things a +cane made of a rare Indian wood, which while +light was exceedingly strong and so pliable that it +could be bent almost double like a Damascus +blade. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span></p> +<p>But through all the chaff and fun of the day Joe +was unhappy and restless. What he had read in +the paper from home about himself poisoned +everything for him.</p> +<p>He had always tried to be perfectly straight and +honorable in all his business relations. His word +had ever been as good as his bond. Now, at one +stroke, he saw his reputation damaged perhaps +beyond mending. All over the United States he +had been pictured as a contract-breaker. He +could see the incredulity of his friends turning +gradually to contempt. He fancied he could hear +them saying:</p> +<p>“So Joe has fallen for that game, has he? +Well, they say that every man has his price. No +doubt Joe’s price was high, but they found out +what it was and bought him.”</p> +<p>Of course he had denied it, but he knew how +people smiled when they read denials. And +months must pass before he could get back to +America and try to hunt out the author or authors +of the story.</p> +<p>He tried to hide his mood under a cover of +light talk and banter, but the others felt it and +sympathized with him, though all refrained +from mentioning what each of them was thinking.</p> +<p>All through the day his gloom persisted, and +when night came and he had retired to the room +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +that he and Jim occupied together he felt that it +would be impossible for him to sleep.</p> +<p>“There’s no use talking,” said Jim with a yawn, +as he set his cane so that it rested against the footboard +and threw off his coat preparing to undress, +“sight-seeing’s the most tiring work there is. I +feel more done up to-night than if I had been +pitching in a hard game.”</p> +<p>“I’m tired too,” agreed Joe, “but I don’t feel +the least bit like sleep.”</p> +<p>Jim was asleep almost as soon as his head +touched the pillow. But Joe tossed about restlessly +for what seemed to him to be hours. The +night was very warm and all the windows were +open to get what breath of air might be stirring.</p> +<p>A broad veranda ran all around the building, +not more than two feet below the windows, and +from the ground to the veranda rose a luxuriant +tangle of vines and flowers.</p> +<p>The moon was at the full and its light flooded a +part of the room, leaving the rest in deep shadow.</p> +<p>Joe at last dropped off into a doze from which +he woke with a start.</p> +<p>He had heard nothing, but he had an uneasy +consciousness that something was wrong.</p> +<p>He glanced over at Jim who was peacefully +sleeping. Then he raised himself on his elbow +and his glance swept the room. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></p> +<p>Nothing seemed amiss in the lighted part, but +in a darkened corner the shadow seemed to be +heavier than usual. It was as though it were +piled in a mass instead of being evenly distributed.</p> +<p>Then to Joe’s consternation <i>the shadow moved</i>, +reached the edge of moonlight, rose higher and +higher with a sickening swaying motion. From +a hideous head two sparks of fire glowed balefully +and Joe knew that he was in the presence of +a giant cobra!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVI_IN_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_PYRAMIDS' id='XXVI_IN_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_PYRAMIDS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>IN THE SHADOW OF THE PYRAMIDS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Joe’s blood chilled with horror and his heart +seemed for a moment to stop beating.</p> +<p>He did not dare to move and scarcely to +breathe. He might have been a statue, so rigid +was his attitude. He knew that the least movement +would provoke an attack on the part of the +deadly reptile.</p> +<p>On the other hand, if he kept perfectly quiet, +there was the chance of the snake gliding away +through the window, which had evidently been its +means of entering the room.</p> +<p>Whether the serpent saw him or not, Joe could +not tell. The head swayed for a minute or two, +while the glowing eyes seemed to take in every +corner of the room. Then the coils unwound and +with a slithering sound the snake began to crawl +across the floor.</p> +<p>But instead of seeking the window it was gliding +towards the bed!</p> +<p>If he had had a revolver Joe would have had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +a chance, for at such close range he could scarcely +have missed. Even a knife to hurl, though only +a forlorn hope, might have pinned the snake to +the floor. But he was utterly without a weapon +of any kind.</p> +<p>Suddenly he remembered the cane that his chum +had leaned against the footboard a few hours +earlier.</p> +<p>He reached down stealthily and his hand closed +upon it.</p> +<p>He did not dare to wake Jim for fear that the +latter might leap from the bed and perhaps land +squarely on the gliding death that was somewhere +in the room. He had lost sight of it, but he could +still hear the dragging body and it seemed to be +now under the bed. At any instant that awful +head might rise on either side prepared to +strike.</p> +<p>Gripping the cane until his fingers seemed to +dig into it, Joe had a moment of awful suspense.</p> +<p>The gliding sound had ceased. Then from the +side nearest Jim a hideous head uprose within a +foot of the sleeping man’s face.</p> +<p>Like a flash the tough cane hissed through the +air with all Joe’s muscle back of it. It caught +the reptile full in the neck and sent it half way +across the room where it lay writhing.</p> +<p>In an instant Joe had leaped to the floor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +raining blows upon the head and floundering coils, +until at last the reptile straightened out and lay +still.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” cried Jim, awakened by +the tumult and jumping out of bed.</p> +<p>He turned pale as he saw the snake stretched +out on the floor and Joe who, now that the awful +strain was over, was leaning against the wall as +limp as a rag.</p> +<p>Jim turned on the light and they viewed the +monster, standing at a respectful distance from +the head.</p> +<p>“He seems dead enough, but you can never be +sure of a snake,” said Joe, after in a few hurried +words he had told of his experience. “Suppose, +Jim, you get that Malay’s knife out of my trunk +and we’ll make certain.”</p> +<p>Jim brought the kriss, which Joe had kept as a +memento of his struggle with the maniac, and with +one stroke severed the cobra’s head from his +body.</p> +<p>“That knife never did a better bit of work,” he +commented as he washed it off. “Now let’s get +this thing out of the window and clear up the +mess.”</p> +<p>They got through the repugnant work as soon +as possible and then made a careful search of +the room.</p> +<p>“That fellow may have had a mate,” remarked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +Joe, “and one experience of this kind is enough +for a lifetime. I’ve always felt a little doubtful +about those stories of people whose hair turned +gray in a single night, but it’s easy enough to +believe it now.”</p> +<p>“We’ll close the window too,” said Jim, suiting +the action to the word and letting the upper sash +down only for an inch or two. “That’s the way +that fellow must have crawled in. It’s pretty hot +in here but I’d rather die of heat than snake bites.”</p> +<p>They went back to bed but not to sleep, for +they were too thoroughly wrought up by their narrow +escape.</p> +<p>“You must have hit that fellow an awful crack,” +said Jim. “You sure batted .300 in the Ceylon +League.”</p> +<p>“Broke his neck, I guess,” responded Joe. “It’s +lucky it wasn’t a missed strike for I wouldn’t have +had time for another one.”</p> +<p>“Don’t let’s say anything to the girls about it,” +suggested Jim. “Not until we get away from +India anyway. They’d be seeing snakes all the +rest of the time we’re here.”</p> +<p>It was lucky that neither of them was slated +to pitch the next day, for they would scarcely have +been in condition after their night’s experience. A +game had been arranged between the visiting +teams at a date three days later. By that time +Joe was in his usual superb form and easily carried +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +off the victory for his team. This put the Giants +“on velvet,” for they now had a clear lead of two +over the All-Americans.</p> +<p>But the satisfaction that this would have usually +given Joe was lacking now. Victory had ceased +to be sweet since the receipt of that newspaper +from home.</p> +<p>Perhaps it was because of his sensitive condition +that he thought he detected a subtle change in the +conduct of his team mates towards him. While +perfectly friendly in their relations with him, they +did not “let themselves go” when in his presence, +as formerly. There was no boisterous clapping +on the back, no jolly sparring or wrestling. There +seemed to be a little holding in, a feeling of reserve, +a something in the back of their minds that +they did not care for him to see.</p> +<p>This joyous freemasonry of sport had always +been especially pleasant to Joe and for that reason +he felt its absence the more keenly.</p> +<p>But what exasperated him most was that if the +old standbys of the club were a trifle cool, Iredell, +Curry and Burkett went to the other extreme and +were more cordial than ever before. It was as +though they were welcoming a newcomer to their +ranks. They knew that they were under suspicion +of planning to jump their contracts in the +spring, and the apparent evidence that so renowned +a player as Joe was planning to do the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +same thing made them hail him as a reinforcement.</p> +<p>Where formerly they had often ceased talking +when he approached them and made him feel that +he was an intruder, they now greeted him warmly, +although they did not yet feel quite sure enough +to broach the subject of their own accord.</p> +<p>“All little pals together,” hummed Iredell significantly +on one occasion with a sidelong glance +at Joe.</p> +<p>“Just what do you mean by that?” asked Joe +sharply.</p> +<p>“Just what I say,” replied Iredell innocently. +“What is there wrong about that? Aren’t we +Giants pals to each other?”</p> +<p>“Of course we are, as long as we stay Giants,” +replied Joe. “But that wasn’t what you meant, +Dell, and you know it.”</p> +<p>“Now, don’t get red-headed, Joe,” put in Curry +soothingly. “You must have got out of bed on +the wrong side this morning. Dell didn’t mean +any harm.”</p> +<p>“Tell me one thing,” said Joe. “Do any of +you fellows believe for one minute that story in +the paper?”</p> +<p>He looked from one to the other, but none +of them looked him straight in the eye.</p> +<p>“You know that I’ve denied it,” went on Joe, +as they kept silent, “and if after that you still +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +believe the story it’s the same as saying that I lie. +And no one can call me a liar and get away with +it.”</p> +<p>He stalked away leaving them dumbfounded.</p> +<p>“Do you think he really has jumped his contract?” +asked Burkett.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied Iredell dubiously.</p> +<p>“He’s got me guessing,” muttered Curry.</p> +<p>And the trio were still guessing when several +weeks later the party reached Egyptian soil, prepared +to play the most modern of games before +the most ancient of monuments—baseball in the +very shadow of the Pyramids!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVII_THE_SIGNED_CONTRACT' id='XXVII_THE_SIGNED_CONTRACT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>THE SIGNED CONTRACT</h3> +</div> + +<p>“If old Pharaoh could only see us now!” chortled +Jim, as the teams lined up for their first +game.</p> +<p>“He’d probably throw a fit,” grinned Denton.</p> +<p>“Not a bit of it,” said Joe. “He’d probably +be up in the grandstand, eating peanuts and singing +out once in a while to ‘kill the umpire.’”</p> +<p>“And he’d do it too,” laughed Jim. “I’ll bet +an umpire in those days would have had a hard +job to get life insurance. It would have been +good dope to get a tip before the game as to just +what team Pharaoh wanted to win.”</p> +<p>“I think you men are awfully irreverent,” reproved +Mabel, who, with Clara, was seated in the +first row in the stand right behind the players’ +bench and had overheard the conversation.</p> +<p>“Not at all,” laughed Jim. “It’s a big compliment +to Pharaoh to suggest that he would have +been a baseball fan if he hadn’t been born too +soon. It puts him on a level with the President of +the United States.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span></p> +<p>The teams were playing on the cricket field used +by the English residents, and not far off the Pyramids +reared their stately heads toward the sky. +It was a strange conjunction of the past and the +present, and all were more or less impressed +by it.</p> +<p>“Well, I must confess that in my wildest dreams +of seasons gone by, I never supposed that I would +be pitching here in Egypt in the shadow of the +pyramids,” remarked Joe.</p> +<p>“It certainly takes a fellow back to ancient +days,” put in Jim. “Just imagine playing before +a crowd of those old Egyptians!”</p> +<p>“Well, they had fun in their day just as well as +we have,” said McRae. “Just the same, they +didn’t know how good baseball is.”</p> +<p>“They didn’t even know anything about yelling +to kill the umpire when a wrong decision was +given,” remarked Joe, with a grin, and at this +there was a general laugh.</p> +<p>There was a big outpouring of Europeans and +visiting Americans, and under the inspiration of +their interest and applause both teams played brilliantly. +It was a hammer-and-tongs contest from +start to finish, and resulted in the first tie of the +trip, neither team being able to score, although the +game went to eleven innings.</p> +<p>“Still two ahead,” McRae said to Brennan, as +they left the grounds after the game. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span></p> +<p>“We’re gunning for you,” retorted Brennan +good-naturedly, “and we’ll get you yet. You’ve +had all the breaks so far, but our turn has got to +come.”</p> +<p>“Tell that to the King of Denmark,” laughed +McRae. “We’ve got your number, old man.”</p> +<p>The party “did” Egypt thoroughly, visiting +Cairo, Thebes and Memphis, climbing the Pyramids, +sailing on the Nile, viewing the temples of +Karnak and Philae, the statue of Memnon, and +countless other places of interest in this cradle of +the world’s civilization. And it was a tired but +happy crowd that finally assembled at Alexandria +to take ship for Naples, their first stopping place +on the continent of Europe.</p> +<p>Braxton was no longer with the party, having +left it at Ceylon, and others had dropped away +here and there. But in the main the members +were the same as at the beginning. Their health +had been excellent, and only a few things had +occurred to mar the pleasure of the trip.</p> +<p>The discomfort that Joe had felt had largely +worn away with the passing of time. Every day +was bringing him nearer the time when with the +opening of the season he would actually appear +on the diamond wearing a Giant uniform, and thus +effectually dispose of the slander that had troubled +him.</p> +<p>There had just been time enough to receive +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +some of the earliest papers from America that +had been published after the receipt of his denial. +That denial had evidently produced a great effect, +coupled as it was with the offer to give a thousand +dollars to charity if the new league could +produce any contract signed by him. “Money +talks,” and the paper intimated that the All-Star +League had the next move and that it would be +“in bad” with the public if it failed to make its +statements good.</p> +<p>“They’ll have a hot time doing it,” grinned +Joe.</p> +<p>“I’m wondering how they’ll dodge it,” remarked +Jim.</p> +<p>“By getting out a new lie to bolster up the old +one probably,” conjectured Joe.</p> +<p>The latest papers from America had come on +board just as the steamer left Alexandria, and +in the hurry of getting aboard and settling down +in their new quarters it was after supper that night +before Joe hurried to the smoking room to have a +look at them.</p> +<p>“Got a thousand dollars handy, Joe?” inquired +Denton, as Joe came near him.</p> +<p>“Because, if you have, the All-Star League +wants it,” added Larry.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Joe, all the old +discomfort and apprehension coming back to +him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span></p> +<p>“Read this,” replied Larry, handing him a paper +opened at the sporting page.</p> +<p>Joe read:</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“All-Star League Calls Matson’s Bluff. Produces +Signed Contract. Facsimile of Contract +Shown Below.”</p> +</div> +<p>And staring right out at him was the photographic +reproduction of a regulation baseball contract +and at the bottom was written the name: +“Joseph Matson.”</p> +<p>Joe stared at it as though he were in a dream. +Here was the old blow at his reputation, this +time with redoubled force. Here was what +claimed to be the actual contract. But it was not +the body of the contract that held his attention. +The thing that made him rage, that gave him a +sense of furious helplessness, that put his brain in +a whirl, was this:</p> +<p><i>He knew that that was his signature!</i></p> +<p>No matter how it came there, it was his. A +man’s name can seldom be so skilfully forged that +it can deceive the man himself. It may get by +the cashier of the bank, but when it is referred +back to the man who is supposed to have written +it, that man knows instinctively whether he ever +wrote it. Perhaps he cannot tell why he knows it, +but he knows it just the same. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span></p> +<p>So Joe <i>knew</i> that it was his signature that was +photographed on that contract. But he also knew +another thing just as certainly.</p> +<p><i>He had never signed that contract!</i></p> +<p>Both things contradictory. Yet both things +true.</p> +<p>Larry and Denton were watching him closely. +Joe looked up and met their eyes. They were +two of his oldest and warmest friends on the +Giant team and had always been ready to back +him through thick and thin. Confidence still was +in their gaze, but with it was mixed bewilderment +almost equal to Joe’s own.</p> +<p>Before anything further could be said, McRae +and Robbie joined the group.</p> +<p>“Well, Joe, there’s the contract,” said McRae.</p> +<p>“It seems to be a contract all right,” replied +Joe. “I haven’t had time to read what it says, +but that doesn’t matter anyway. The only important +thing is that I never signed that contract.”</p> +<p>“That seems to be a pretty good imitation of +your signature at the bottom there,” chimed in +Robbie.</p> +<p>“It’s even better than that,” said Joe, taking the +bull by the horns. “It isn’t even an imitation. It’s +my own signature.”</p> +<p>Both Robbie and McRae looked at him as if +they thought he was crazy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p> +<p>“I don’t get you, Matson,” said McRae, a little +sternly. “And it seems to me it’s hardly a time for +joking. There’s the contract. You say you didn’t +sign it, and yet you admit that the name at the bottom +is your own signature. How do you explain +it?”</p> +<p>“I don’t pretend to explain it,” replied Joe. +“There’s crooked work somewhere that I’ve got +to ferret out. Somehow or other my name, written +by me, has gotten on the bottom of that contract. +But I never put it there. Some rascal has, and +when I find him, as I will, may Heaven have mercy +on him, for I won’t!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVIII_WHIRLWIND_PITCHING' id='XXVIII_WHIRLWIND_PITCHING'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>WHIRLWIND PITCHING</h3> +</div> + +<p>“A fellow who would do a thing like that is +taking long chances,” said McRae doubtfully.</p> +<p>“And how could he do it?” put in Robbie. +“The name would have to be cut from one +piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn’t +it?”</p> +<p>“Even admitting that they might get your +name from a check or letter, I don’t see how a +thing like that could stand inspection for a minute,” +chimed in Willis. “Even if it were so well +done that an eye couldn’t detect it, a microscope +would give it away.”</p> +<p>“And you can bet that the reporters who hunted +up this thing haven’t overlooked any bets,” said +Brennan. “They knew that the signature was the +nub of the whole thing and if there was anything +phony about the paper they’d have got next at +once.”</p> +<p>“It’s a horrible mixup!” cried Joe, who felt that +he was being enmeshed in a net of circumstantial +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +evidence which he might find it impossible to break. +“Let me read the story first from end to end. +Then, perhaps, I’ll find some clue that will solve +the mystery.”</p> +<p>He plunged at once into the reading, but the +more he read the worse the matter looked.</p> +<p>He found that a nation-wide interest had been +excited by his denial and his challenge. The officers +of the All-Star League had been besieged by +reporters, who had made it clear to them that +they must prove their statement that Matson had +signed with them or else stand convicted before +the American public, on whose favor they depended +for support in the coming season, of being +slanderers and liars.</p> +<p>Mr. Beckworth Fleming, the president of the +All-Star League, had shown a little hesitation in +responding to these demands. This, perhaps, was +natural enough, since no business organization +cares to have the terms of its contracts blazoned +forth to the world, perhaps to the benefit of its +rivals. Still, under all the circumstances, Mr. +Fleming had finally decided to permit a photographic +copy to be made of the contract in order +to establish the good faith of the new league. +This had been done and facsimiles had been sent +to all the leading newspapers of the United +States.</p> +<p>There was no question that the contract was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +genuine. It had been submitted to bank cashiers +who were familiar with Mr. Matson’s writing, +and they had pronounced it his signature beyond +the shadow of a doubt. The paper had been examined +under powerful glasses and found to be +a single piece. Everything was in proper form, +and it was clearly up to Mr. Matson to explain +what seemed to be explainable only in one way, +namely, that he had signed the contract.</p> +<p>There were many worthy charities that could +find a good use for the thousand dollars that the +great pitcher had so rashly offered.</p> +<p>This was the gist of the story in all the papers. +There were various suggested explanations. One +paper hinted that men had been known to sign +papers when they had dined and wined too +well.</p> +<p>Another thought that the denial was purely a +“diplomatic” one. Others ventured the hypothesis +that the whole thing was an advertising dodge, +designed to set the country agog with excitement +and stimulate big audiences for the coming season.</p> +<p>But underneath all the suppositions one thing +seemed to be unquestioned by the papers, and that +was that Joe had signed a contract to play with +the All-Star League and had left the Giants in +the lurch.</p> +<p>Joe felt as though the ground were slipping +from beneath his feet. He was perfectly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +innocent, and yet he already stood convicted in the +public mind of having done a thing that he loathed +and abhorred. And the worst of it was that he +had not the slightest clue to the scoundrel or +scoundrels who had brought this thing about.</p> +<p>“It’s beyond me, Mac,” he said at last in despair, +as he looked up and saw the Giants’ manager’s +eyes fixed upon him as though they would +read into his soul. “They seem to have a strangle +hold on me. And yet as black as things look I +tell you straight, Mac, that you know every bit +as much about this as I do.”</p> +<p>“That’s all right, Joe,” returned McRae. “I’ll +admit I’m flabbergasted. Who wouldn’t be? +There’s a plot here somewhere, and the fox that +planned it has been mighty cunning in covering +up his tracks. But there never yet was a lie that +didn’t have a weak point somewhere, and soon or +late we’ll find it.”</p> +<p>Mabel and Clara, as well as Jim, were beside +themselves with anger at the dastardly trick. +They racked their brains to find the explanation, +but every time they came up against a blank wall.</p> +<p>“I certainly can’t understand it, Joe,” said +Mabel, for at least the tenth time.</p> +<p>“Well, I can’t understand it myself, Mabel,” he +replied.</p> +<p>“Are you sure you didn’t sign that contract, +thinking it was something else—an order for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +something, or something like that?” questioned +Clara.</p> +<p>“I’m not in the habit of signing anything without +knowing what it is,” said the crack pitcher. +“If any of those fellows had brought such a thing +to me to sign, I would have handed it back and +given the fellow a piece of my mind. No, there is +something else in all this, though what it is I +haven’t the faintest idea.”</p> +<p>“It’s too bad we’re so far away from those fellows +just at present,” put in Jim. “If we were +close by we might interview them, and find out +some of the details that are as yet missing. And +then maybe somebody would get a broken head,” +he added vigorously.</p> +<p>“Oh, Jim! would you break anybody’s head?” +burst out Clara in horror.</p> +<p>“I sure would if he was trying to put Joe in +such a hole as this!” returned the young man +promptly. “Maybe you don’t understand what a +black eye this is calculated to give your brother.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I can understand that well enough,” +sighed Joe’s sister.</p> +<p>“I think it’s the meanest thing that ever could +possibly happen!” burst out Mabel. “And I don’t +wonder that Jim is angry enough to break somebody’s +head for it,” and she looked lovingly at +Joe.</p> +<p>“Oh, I suppose it will come out all right in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +end,” answered Joe. But he said this merely to +ease Mabel’s mind. Secretly he was afraid that +he was in for some real trouble.</p> +<p>It was early spring when they landed in Naples, +but the winter had been prolonged more than +usual and it was too cold to play. At Monte +Carlo and Nice, however, they were able to get +in two games, both of which were won by the +All-Americans. This put the teams again on an +equality as to games won and lost, and revived the +hopes of the All-Americans that they might still +come out ahead in the series.</p> +<p>They made but a short stay in Paris, and the +weather was so inclement that games were out of +the question. But it would have taken more than +bad weather to prevent the shopping and sightseeing +that all had been looking forward eagerly +to in the great French capital, and they enjoyed +their visit to the full.</p> +<p>In London they met with the greatest welcome +of their trip. They played at Lord’s Oval, the +most famous grounds in the United Kingdom, and +before an audience that included the most distinguished +people in the realm, including the king +himself.</p> +<p>The American colony, too, was there almost to +a man, and the United States ambassador lent his +presence to the occasion.</p> +<p>It was the most distinguished audience, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +probably, that had ever witnessed a baseball game.</p> +<p>And here it was that Joe did the most brilliant +pitching of the trip. His tireless arm mowed +down his opponents inning after inning. They +came to the bat only to go back to the bench. His +mastery of the ball seemed almost uncanny, and +as inning after inning passed without a hit being +made, it began to look as though he were in for +that dream of all pitchers—a no-hit game.</p> +<p>Brennan, the Chicago manager, fidgeted restlessly +on the bench and glowered as his pets were +slaughtered. He tried all the tactics known to +clever managers, but in vain. It was simply a day +when Baseball Joe was not to be denied.</p> +<p>His comrades, too, gave him brilliant support +and nothing got away from them, so that when +finally the last man up in the ninth inning in the +All-American team lifted a towering skyscraper +that Joe caught without stirring from his tracks, +a pandemonium of cheers forced him to remove +his cap and bow to the applauding crowds again +and again.</p> +<p>Not a man had scored, not a man had been +passed, not a man had reached first, not a man +had hit safe. Joe had won the most notable +game in his whole career!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIX_THE_RUINED_CASTLE' id='XXIX_THE_RUINED_CASTLE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>THE RUINED CASTLE</h3> +</div> + +<p>With London as their center the teams made +flying trips to Edinburg, Glasgow and Dublin. In +all three places they received a royal welcome, for +the fame of that great game in London had +spread throughout the nation and all were eager +to see the hero of that occasion.</p> +<p>Under other circumstances Joe would have been +jubilant, for he was at the very height of his reputation, +the girl he loved was with him, as well as +his only sister and his closest friend, but ever in +his thoughts like the spectre at the feast was that +matter of the signed contract—the abominable +thing that smirched his reputation and branded +him to the world as false to his word and +bond.</p> +<p>Again and again he sought to find the key to +the mystery. It seemed like some monstrous jugglery, +something akin to the fakir’s tricks that he +had witnessed at Colombo where the impossible +had seemed so clearly possible. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span></p> +<p>Try as he would he could find no explanation +of the puzzle and his friends were equally powerless +to suggest a solution.</p> +<p>The game at Dublin, which commenced auspiciously +for the Giants, was turned into a rout by +a rally of the All-Americans in the ninth. A rain +of bingles came from their bats and they won +easily with six runs to spare.</p> +<p>“Got it in the neck that time, old man,” said +Joe to Jim, after the game. “But we can’t always +win. What do you say to getting a buzz wagon +and taking a little spin out into the country? The +girls will be getting ready for that reception at +the Viceroy’s castle, and they’ll be too busy dolling +up to care what becomes of us.”</p> +<p>“Good idea,” said Jim, and the two friends +made their way to a public garage, secured a good +car together with a driver, and whirled away into +the open country.</p> +<p>They had made perhaps twenty miles through +the beautiful Irish scenery when Joe called Jim’s +attention to a cloud bank forming in the west.</p> +<p>“Better skip back, old man,” he said. “We’re +due for a wetting if we don’t.”</p> +<p>“Plenty of time yet,” objected Jim. “Those +look to me just like wind clouds. Let’s see a little +bit more of Ireland.”</p> +<p>They went on perhaps five miles further and +then Jim found that his confidence was misplaced. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +The clouds grew blacker, an ominous muttering +was heard in the sky and a jagged flash of lightning +presaged the coming storm.</p> +<p>“You see I was right,” said Joe. “In this open +car we’ll be drenched to the skin. Turn around, +Mike,” he said to the driver, “and let’s see how +fast this old boat of yours can travel in getting +back to Dublin. Throw her into high and give +her all you’ve got.”</p> +<p>The driver obeyed and the car fairly purred as +it sped back toward the city. But fast as it was, +the storm was faster. Great raindrops pattered +down, and they looked anxiously about for shelter.</p> +<p>“What’s that place up there, Mike?” asked +Jim, pointing to a rambling stone structure on an +elevation perhaps a hundred yards from the +road.</p> +<p>“’Tis the castle o’ the last o’ the O’Brian’s, +hivin rist his sowl,” replied Mike. “But they do +be sayin’ the place is hanted, an’ ’tis a brave man +that would be shteppin’ inside the dhure.”</p> +<p>“I’m a brave man, then,” cried Jim. “For I’ll +face a dozen ghosts before I would this storm. +Turn in, Mike, and we’ll wait there till the rain +is over.”</p> +<p>With a muttered protest Mike did as directed, +and a moment later the young men stepped jauntily +through the ruined portal, while Mike, shocked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +at their temerity, crossed himself and, throwing +an oilskin over his head, crouched low in his seat, +preferring the discomfort of the open to the unknown +terrors that might lurk beyond the doorway +of the ruined castle.</p> +<p>The friends had scarcely stepped inside before +the rain came down in torrents.</p> +<p>“Lucky we got here just as we did,” remarked +Joe, as they leaned up against the masonry of the +ruined hall and looked out at the cloudburst.</p> +<p>“It surely was,” agreed Jim. “I wish we had +a little more light. It’s as dark as Egypt in +here.”</p> +<p>“I’ve got my pocket flashlight with me,” said +Joe, reaching toward his hip pocket. “But listen, +what’s that?”</p> +<p>“I didn’t hear anything,” returned Jim, a little +nervously, it must be admitted.</p> +<p>The two ball players kept perfectly still for +a minute and heard what seemed to be the murmur +of voices a room or two away.</p> +<p>“Can it be that the last of the O’Brians is +rambling about the castle?” whispered Jim, with +a feeble attempt at raillery.</p> +<p>“More likely some travelers stormbound like +ourselves,” returned Joe practically. “Let’s take +a squint at them.”</p> +<p>They tiptoed their way through the hall to a +room opening on the right. The door, half +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +broken from its hinges, was standing open, and +in the darkness they saw the tips of two lighted +cigars.</p> +<p>As this was not at all ghostly and they did not +care to intrude, they were about to retire as softly +as they had come, when Joe was startled by hearing +his own name. Jim’s hand shot out and +clenched his friend’s arm, and they stood there +like statues.</p> +<p>“That was a slick trick you put over on Matson,” +said a voice which Joe recognized instantly +as belonging to Beckworth Fleming. He had +heard that voice before when he had made its +owner kneel in the dirt of the road and beg +Mabel’s pardon for his insolence.</p> +<p>“I think myself it was rather clever,” drawled +another familiar voice, that of Braxton. “He fell +for it like a lamb.”</p> +<p>“He’s a pretty keen chap usually, too,” remarked +Fleming. “How is it you caught him +napping?”</p> +<p>“I picked out just the right time,” said Braxton +complacently. “And I don’t deny that luck +helped me a little. If McRae and Barclay hadn’t +gone away just the time they did, it might not have +worked. But I got him talking about handwriting, +and the first thing you know he’d scribbled his +name on the blank sheet. I took good care that +only the bottom of the sheet was where he could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +reach it. Then I slipped the paper into my pocket, +sent it to you to have the contract printed above +the signature, and you know the rest.”</p> +<p>“Easy meat,” chuckled Fleming.</p> +<p>“Too easy,” chortled Braxton. “It makes me +laugh every time I think of it.”</p> +<p>Joe stepped into the room, followed by Jim.</p> +<p>“I do a little laughing myself sometimes,” Joe +said coldly. “And this is one of the times!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXX_BROUGHT_TO_BOOK_CONCLUSION' id='XXX_BROUGHT_TO_BOOK_CONCLUSION'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>BROUGHT TO BOOK—CONCLUSION</h3> +</div> + +<p>There was a gasp of dismay and astonishment, +as the conspirators jumped to their feet from the +windowsill upon which they had been sitting.</p> +<p>At the same instant Joe drew the flashlight +from his pocket and illumined their startled faces.</p> +<p>“Don’t move!” he commanded. “Jim, you +keep them covered.”</p> +<p>Jim took up his station in the doorway, and in +the insufficient light the rascals could not see +whether he had a weapon or not.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by this?” blustered Fleming, +in a voice that he tried to make brave, but +that quavered despite himself.</p> +<p>“It means,” said Joe grimly, “that one of you +men is in for the licking of his life. Don’t tremble +so, Fleming,” he added contemptuously. “I’ve +already thrashed you once and I don’t care to +soil my hands with you again. But I’ve been aching +for months to get my fingers on the man that +made me out a liar and a contract-breaker. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +have him now,” he added, with a steely glance at +Braxton.</p> +<p>“Here, Jim,” he continued, stepping back, “take +this flash. I’ve got some work to do.”</p> +<p>With a quick wrench he tore off his coat.</p> +<p>“You’d better be careful,” said Braxton—no +longer the suave and polished trickster, but pale +as chalk and trembling like a leaf. “This is +assault and battery, and you’ll answer to the +law.”</p> +<p>“Put up your hands,” said Joe curtly. “You’re +as big a man as I am, but you’ve got to prove +which is the better one. And you, Jim, keep your +eye on Fleming and stand by to see fair play.”</p> +<p>Even a rat will fight when cornered and Braxton, +seeing no alternative, threw off his coat and +made a desperate rush at Joe. Joe met him with +a clip to the jaw that shook him from head to +foot. Then he sailed in and gave the scoundrel +what he had promised—the thrashing of his +life.</p> +<p>Braxton tried foul tactics, butted and kicked +and tried to gouge and bite, but Joe’s powerful +arms worked like windmills, his fists ripping savagely +into Braxton’s face and chest. All the pent-up +indignation and humiliation of the last few +weeks found vent in those mighty blows, and soon, +too soon to suit Joe, the man lay on the floor, +whining and half-sobbing with shame and pain. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span></p> +<p>“Get up, you cur!” said Joe, as he pulled on his +coat. “I’m not through with you yet.”</p> +<p>“You’re not going to hit him again, are you?” +asked Fleming, while Braxton staggered painfully +to his feet.</p> +<p>“No,” said Joe. “I guess he’s had enough.”</p> +<p>“You said it!” cried Jim admiringly. “If ever +a man was trimmed to the queen’s taste he’s that +man.”</p> +<p>“But I’m going to nail, right now, the lies you +fellows have been spreading,” continued Joe, eyes +alight with the thought of his coming vindication. +“You’ve got to sign a written confession of the +part you’ve played in this dirty business.”</p> +<p>“We w-will, w-when we get back to town,” +stammered Fleming.</p> +<p>“No, you won’t,” cried Joe. “You’ll do it +right here and now.”</p> +<p>“B-but we haven’t any writing materials,” suggested +Braxton, through his swollen lips.</p> +<p>“I’ve got paper and a fountain pen!” exclaimed +Jim eagerly. “This light is rather dim, but probably +Mike has got the automobile lamps going by +this time and that’ll be light enough.”</p> +<p>“Come along!” cried Joe sternly, and his crest-fallen +opponents knew him too well by this time +to resist.</p> +<p>They went out into the open and found that +the rain had almost stopped. As Jim had prophesied, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +the automobile lamps were gleaming through +the dusk. Like every Irishman, Mike dearly +loved a scrap, and his eyes lighted with a mixture +of eagerness and regret as he looked at Braxton +and realized what he had been missing.</p> +<p>“Begorra!” he cried in his rich brogue, “’tis a +lovely shindy ye’ve been after havin’.”</p> +<p>With the paper resting on his knee and Jim’s +fountain pen in his hand, Joe wrote out the story +of the trickery and fraud that had been practiced +in getting his signature. When he had covered +every important point, he held out the pen to +Braxton.</p> +<p>The latter hesitated, and Joe’s fist clenched till +the knuckles were white. Braxton knew what that +fist was capable of and hesitated no longer. He +wrote his name under the confession and Fleming +followed suit. Then Jim affixed his name as a +witness, and Michael O’Halloran happily added +his.</p> +<p>“Now,” said Jim, as he folded the precious +paper and stowed it safely in his pocket, “you fellows +clear out. I suppose that’s your car that we +saw standing a little way down the road. I don’t +think either of you will care to mix in my affairs +again.”</p> +<p>They moved away with an assumption of +bravado they were far from feeling and were lost +in the darkness. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span></p> +<p>“And now, Mike,” said Joe with a jubilant ring +in his voice, as they leaped into the car, “let her +go. Drive to Dublin as if the ghost of the last +of the O’Brians were at your back!”</p> +<p>And Mike did.</p> +<p>The two baseball players found the girls impatiently +awaiting them, and wondering rather +petulantly what had become of them. Joe seized +Mabel in his arms and whirled her about the room +like a dancing dervish, paying no heed to her +laughing protests.</p> +<p>Jim would have liked to do the same to Joe’s +sister, but did not quite dare to—yet.</p> +<p>“Are you boys crazy?” demanded Mabel, as +soon as she could get her breath.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Joe promptly. “You’ll be, too, +when you see this.”</p> +<p>He flourished the paper before their faces and +in disjointed sentences, frequently broken by interruptions, +told them of all that had happened +since they had left them after the +game.</p> +<p>No need of telling how they felt when the boys +had finished. There was no happier party that +night in all Ireland.</p> +<p>Then, leaving the delighted girls for a few minutes, +the boys hunted up McRae. They found him +glum and anxious, talking earnestly with Robbie +in the lobby of the hotel. One glance at the young +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +men’s faces made the pair jump wonderingly to +their feet.</p> +<p>“For the love of Pete, let’s have it, Joe!” cried +McRae. “What’s happened?”</p> +<p>“Plenty!” exulted Joe. “We’ve put the All-Star +League out of business!”</p> +<p>“What!” cried McRae, as he snatched the +paper that Joe held out to him and devoured its +contents, while Robbie peered eagerly over his +shoulder.</p> +<p>Then, as they realized what it meant, they set +up a wild whoop which made the other members +of the team, scattered about the lobby, come running, +followed a scene of mad hilarity, during +which no one seemed to know what he said or did.</p> +<p>That night the cable carried the news to New +York, and from there to every city in the United +States. It sounded the death knell of the All-Star +League, and it went to pieces like a house of +cards. The American public will stand for much, +but for nothing so gross and contemptible as that +had been.</p> +<p>The trip wound up in a blaze of glory with the +Giants just one game to the good in the hot series +of games that had been played. They had a swift +and joyous journey home, and when they separated +on the dock in New York, McRae’s hearty +grip of Baseball Joe’s hand fairly made the latter +wince.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span></div> +<p>“Good-bye, old man,” he said. “You’ve stood +by me like a brick. You’ll be on hand when the +bell rings.”</p> +<p>“Joe will hear other bells before that,” grinned +Jim, as he looked at Mabel, who flushed rosily.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” asked McRae with a twinkle +in his eye.</p> +<p>“Wedding bells,” replied Jim.</p> +<div class='ce'> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES</p> +<p>By LESTER CHADWICK</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus253.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p><i>12mo. Illustrated. Price 50 cents per volume.</i></p> +<p><i>Postage 10 cents additional.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='la' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p>1. <b>BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Rivals of Riverside</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>2. <b>BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE</b></p> +<p> <i>or Pitching for the Blue Banner</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>3. <b>BASEBALL JOE AT YALE</b></p> +<p> <i>or Pitching for the College Championship</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>4. <b>BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE</b></p> +<p> <i>or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>5. <b>BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE</b></p> +<p> <i>or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>6. <b>BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS</b></p> +<p> <i>or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>7. <b>BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES</b></p> +<p> <i>or Pitching for the Championship</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>8. <b>BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD</b></p> +<p> <i>or Pitching on a Grand Tour</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>9. <b>BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>10. <b>BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE</b></p> +<p> <i>or Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>11. <b>BASEBALL JOE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM</b></p> +<p> <i>or Bitter Struggles on the Diamond</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>12. <b>BASEBALL JOE CHAMPION OF THE LEAGUE</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Record that was Worth While</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>13. <b>BASEBALL JOE CLUB OWNER</b></p> +<p> <i>or Putting the Home Town on the Map</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>14. <b>BASEBALL JOE PITCHING WIZARD</b></p> +<p> <i>or Triumphs Off and On the Diamond</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><i>Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue.</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE BOY HUNTERS SERIES</p> +<p>By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus253.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-style:italic;'> +<p>12mo. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors.</p> +<p>Price 50 cents per volume. Postage 10 cents additional.</p> +</div> + +<p><i>Captain Ralph Bonehill is one of the best known and most popular +writers for young people. In this series he shows, as no other writer +can, the joy, glory and happiness of outdoor life.</i></p> +<div class='la' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><b>FOUR BOY HUNTERS</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Outing of the Gun Club</i></p> +</div> + +<p>A fine, breezy story of the woods and waters, of adventures in +search of game, and of great times around the campfire, told in +Captain Bonehill’s best style. In the book are given full directions +for camping out.</p> +<div class='la'> +<p><b>GUNS AND SNOWSHOES</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters</i></p> +</div> + +<p>In this volume the young hunters leave home for a winter outing +on the shores of a small lake. They hunt and trap to their hearts’ +content and have adventures in plenty, all calculated to make boys +“sit up and take notice.” A good healthy book; one with the +odor of the pine forests and the glare of the welcome campfire +in every chapter.</p> +<div class='la'> +<p><b>YOUNG HUNTERS OF THE LAKE</b></p> +<p> <i>or Out with Rod and Gun</i></p> +</div> + +<p>Another tale of woods and waters, with some strong hunting +scenes and a good deal of mystery. The three volumes make a +splendid outdoor series.</p> +<div class='la'> +<p><b>OUT WITH GUN AND CAMERA</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Boy Hunters in the Mountains</i></p> +</div> + +<p>Takes up the new fad of photographing wild animals as well as +shooting them. An escaped circus chimpanzee and an escaped lion +add to the interest of the narrative.</p> +<div class='ce' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><i>Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE JEWEL SERIES</p> +<p>By AMES THOMPSON</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus254.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-style:italic;'> +<p>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in colors.</p> +<p>Price 50 cents per volume.</p> +<p>Postage 10 cents additional.</p> +</div> + +<p><i>A series of stories brimming with hardy adventure, vivid and +accurate in detail, and with a good foundation of probability. +They take the reader realistically to the scene of action. Besides +being lively and full of real situations, they are written in a +straight-forward way very attractive to boy readers.</i></p> +<div class='la' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><b>1. THE ADVENTURE BOYS <i>and the</i> VALLEY OF DIAMONDS</b></p> +</div> + +<p>In this book they form a party of five, and with the aid of a +shrewd, level-headed sailor named Stanley Green, they find a valley +of diamonds in the heart of Africa.</p> +<p><b>2. THE ADVENTURE BOYS <i>and the</i> RIVER OF EMERALDS</b></p> +<p>With a guide, they set out to find the River of Emeralds. But +masked foes, emeralds, and falling mountains are all in the day’s +fun for these Adventure Boys.</p> +<p><b>3. THE ADVENTURE BOYS <i>and the</i> LAGOON OF PEARLS</b></p> +<p>This time the group starts out on a cruise simply for pleasure, +but their adventuresome spirits lead them into the thick of things +on a South Sea cannibal island.</p> +<p><b>4. THE ADVENTURE BOYS <i>and the</i> TEMPLE OF RUBIES</b></p> +<p>The Adventure Boys find plenty of thrills when they hit the +ruby trail, and soon discover that they are marked by some sinister +influence to keep them from reaching the Ruby.</p> +<p><b>5. THE ADVENTURE BOYS <i>and the</i> ISLAND OF SAPPHIRES</b></p> +<p>The paths of the young jewel hunters lead to a mysterious +island where the treasures are concealed.</p> +<div class='ce' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><i>Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE BOMBA BOOKS</p> +<p>By ROY ROCKWOOD</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus255.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-style:italic;'> +<p>Price 50 cents per volume.</p> +<p>Postage 10 cents additional.</p> +</div> + +<p><i>Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon with a half-demented +naturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The jungle boy was a lover +of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and arrow and his trusty machete. +He had a primitive education in some things, and his daring adventures will +be followed with breathless interest by thousands.</i></p> +<div class='la' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><b>1. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>2. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE MOVING MOUNTAIN</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>3. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE GIANT CATARACT</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>4. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON JAGUAR ISLAND</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>5. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE ABANDONED CITY</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>6. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON TERROR TRAIL</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>7. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE SWAMP OF DEATH</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>8. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AMONG THE SLAVES</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>9. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON THE UNDERGROUND RIVER</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>10. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AND THE LOST EXPLORERS</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>11. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN A STRANGE LAND</b></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>12. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AMONG THE PYGMIES</b></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p><i>Send for Our Free Illustrated Catalogue</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE WEBSTER SERIES</p> +<p>By FRANK V. WEBSTER</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus256.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<p>Mr. WEBSTER’S style is very much like that of the boys’ +favorite author, the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., +but his tales are thoroughly up-to-date.</p> +<div class='ce' style=' font-style:italic;'> +<p>Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated.</p> +<p>Stamped in various colors.</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p>Price per volume, 50 cents.</p> +<p>Postage 10 cents additional.</p> +</div> + +<div class='la'> +<p><b>Only a Farm Boy</b></p> +<p> <i>or Dan Hardy’s Rise in Life</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Boy from the Ranch</b></p> +<p> <i>or Roy Bradner’s City Experiences</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Young Treasure Hunter</b></p> +<p> <i>or Fred Stanley’s Trip to Alaska</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Boy Pilot of the Lakes</b></p> +<p> <i>or Nat Morton’s Perils</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Tom the Telephone Boy</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Mystery of a Message</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Bob the Castaway</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Wreck of the Eagle</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Newsboy Partners</b></p> +<p> <i>or Who Was Dick Box?</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Two Boy Gold Miners</b></p> +<p> <i>or Lost in the Mountains</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Young Firemen of Lakeville</b></p> +<p> <i>or Herbert Dare’s Pluck</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Boys of Bellwood School</b></p> +<p> <i>or Frank Jordan’s Triumph</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Jack the Runaway</b></p> +<p> <i>or On the Road with a Circus</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Bob Chester’s Grit</b></p> +<p> <i>or From Ranch to Riches</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Airship Andy</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Luck of a Brave Boy</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>High School Rivals</b></p> +<p> <i>or Fred Markham’s Struggles</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Darry the Life Saver</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Heroes of the Coast</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Dick the Bank Boy</b></p> +<p> <i>or A Missing Fortune</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Ben Hardy’s Flying Machine</b></p> +<p> <i>or Making a Record for Himself</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Harry Watson’s High School Days</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Rivals of Rivertown</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Comrades of the Saddle</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Tom Taylor at West Point</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Old Army Officer’s Secret</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Boy Scouts of Lennox</b></p> +<p> <i>or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Boys of the Wireless</b></p> +<p> <i>or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Cowboy Dave</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Round-up at Rolling River</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>Jack of the Pony Express</b></p> +<p> <i>or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>The Boys of the Battleship</b></p> +<p> <i>or For the Honor of Uncle Sam</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' margin-top:1em;'> +<p>CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers NEW YORK</p> +</div> + +<hr class='ppg-pb' /> +<div class='ce'> +<p><i>Everybody will love the story of</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>NOBODY’S BOY</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><b>By HECTOR MALOT</b></p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus257.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<p>The dearest character +in all the literature of +child life is little Remi +in Hector Malot’s famous +masterpiece <i>Sans +Famille</i> (“Nobody’s +Boy”).</p> +<p>All love, pathos, loyalty, +and noble boy character are exemplified +in this homeless little lad, who has made the +world better for his being in it. The boy or +girl who knows Remi has an ideal never to +be forgotten. But it is a story for grown-ups, +too.</p> +<p>“Nobody’s Boy” is one of the supreme +heart-interest stories of all time, which will +<i>make you happier and better.</i></p> +<div class='ce' style=' margin-top:1em; font-style:italic;'> +<p>4 Colored Illustrations. $1.50 net.</p> +<p><b>At All Booksellers</b></p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CUPPLES & LEON CO. Publishers New York</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.55 --> +<!-- timestamp: Wed Nov 26 18:38:38 -0700 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Around the World, by Lester Chadwick + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 27338-h.htm or 27338-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/3/3/27338/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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