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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Jack Winters' Baseball Team, by Mark Overton
+
+
+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: Jack Winters' Baseball Team
+       Or, The Rivals of the Diamond
+
+
+Author: Mark Overton
+
+
+
+Release Date: February 25, 2010  [eBook #31396]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK WINTERS' BASEBALL TEAM***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
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+      See 31396-h.htm or 31396-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31396/31396-h/31396-h.htm)
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+
+
+
+
+
+JACK WINTERS' BASEBALL TEAM
+
+Or,
+
+The Rivals of the Diamond
+
+by
+
+MARK OVERTON
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: _Jack tried to keep the boy's head above water_]
+
+
+
+Made in U.S.A.
+M. A. Donohue & Company
+Chicago--New York
+
+Copyright 1919, by
+American Authors Publishing Co.
+
+Made in U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+       I. Three Boys of Chester                                 11
+      II. A Weak Link in the Chain                              19
+     III. The Last Practice Game                                28
+      IV. When Chester Awakened                                 37
+       V. Tied in the Ninth Inning                              46
+      VI. Fred Put to the Test                                  55
+     VII. The Game Called by Darkness                           64
+    VIII. The Puzzle Grows                                      73
+      IX. A Fairy in the Badger Home                            81
+       X. The Warning                                           89
+      XI. Sitting on the Lid                                    98
+     XII. One Trouble After Another                            107
+    XIII. When the Cramp Seized Joel                           116
+     XIV. A Night Alarm                                        124
+      XV. What Happened at the Fire                            133
+     XVI. A Startling Disclosure                               142
+    XVII. Fred Renews His Pledge                               150
+   XVIII. Hendrix Again in the Box                             159
+     XIX. The Lucky Seventh                                    168
+      XX. After the Great Victory--Conclusion                  177
+
+
+
+
+JACK WINTERS' BASEBALL TEAM
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THREE BOYS OF CHESTER
+
+
+"No use talking, Toby, there's something on Jack's mind of late, and
+it's beginning to bother him a lot, I think!"
+
+"Well, Steve, you certainly give me the creeps, that's what you do, with
+your mysterious hints of all sorts of trouble hanging over our heads,
+just as they say the famous sword of that old worthy, Damocles, used to
+hang by a single hair, ready to fall. Look here, do you realize, Steve,
+what it would mean if Jack went and got himself rattled _just
+now_?"
+
+"Huh! guess I do that, Toby, when, for one thing, we're scheduled to go
+up against that terrible Harmony nine day after tomorrow."
+
+"And if Jack is getting cold feet already, on account of something or
+other, I can see our finish now, Steve."
+
+"Still, we beat them in that first great game, don't let's forget that,
+Toby, and take what consolation we can from the fact."
+
+"Oh! rats! we know how that came about. They'd never been beaten the
+entire season by any team in the county, and had grown a bit careless.
+Because they had a clean record they believed they could just about wipe
+up the ground with poor old Chester, a slow town that up to this year
+had never done anything worth while in connection with boys' outdoor
+sports."
+
+"That's right, Toby. Never will I forget how humiliated I felt when they
+struck town on that glorious day. They came in a lot of cars and
+motor-trucks, with the Harmony Band playing, 'Lo, the Conquering Hero
+Comes,' and with whoops and toots galore from the crowds of faithful
+rooters. Why, bless you, they felt so confident of winning that they
+even left their star battery at home to rest up, and used the second
+string slab-team. But, oh! my eye! it was a saddened lot of Harmony
+fellows that wended their way back home, everybody trying to explain
+what had struck them to the tune of eleven to five. Wow!"
+
+"Great Caesar! Steve, but didn't old Chester go crazy that same night,
+though, with the bonfires making the sky look red, and the boys yelling
+through the main streets in a serpentine procession, carrying Jack on
+their shoulders? The campus in front of the high school was packed solid
+when Professor Yardley made a speech, and congratulated our gallant team
+because we had that same day put Chester once for all on the map!"
+
+"But, shucks! Toby, the tables were sure turned on us when we went over
+to play that second game. Those chaps were on their toes that day, and
+it was Hendrix and Chase, their star battery, that fed us of their
+best."
+
+"Yes, we did lose, all right, but don't forget that we fought tooth and
+nail to the very last."
+
+"Say, that rally in the ninth was a thrilling piece of business, wasn't
+it, Toby? Why, only for our right fielder, Big Bob Jeffries, hitting
+that screamer straight into the hands of the man playing deep centre
+instead of lifting it over his head for a homer, we'd have won out.
+There were two on bases, you remember, with the score three to four."
+
+"Now we're tied, with one game each to our credit, and Harmony coming
+over the day after tomorrow to take our measure, they boast. Jack has
+been so confident ever since he picked up that new pitcher, Donohue, on
+the sand lots in town, that I'm puzzled a heap to know what ails him
+latterly."
+
+"One thing sure, Toby, Jack is bound to speak up sooner or later, and
+let his two chums know what's in the wind. I rather expect he agreed to
+meet us here today so as to have a heart-to-heart talk; and if so, it's
+bound to be about the matter that's troubling him."
+
+"I certainly hope so, because when you know the worst you can plan to
+meet the difficulty. And if only we could win the rubber in this series
+with Harmony, it'd make little old Chester famous."
+
+The two boys who were holding this animating and interesting
+conversation stood kicking their heels on a corner where the main street
+in the town was crossed by another. It was about ten o'clock on a
+morning in early summer. Chester seemed to be quite a bustling sort of
+town, located in the East. Considerable business was carried on in the
+place, for there were several factories running, employing hundreds of
+workers at good wages.
+
+Certainly no town in the broad land could be more advantageously located
+than the borough in which Toby Hopkins and Steve Mullane lived. It lay
+close to the shore of Lake Constance, a beautiful sheet of clear water
+three miles across at its broadest point, and at least twelve long, with
+many deep and really mysterious coves, and also bordered by quite a
+stretch of swampy land toward the south. Far up toward its northern
+extremity lay the Big Woods, where during winters considerable lumbering
+was done by a concern that had a camp there.
+
+As if that wonderful sheet of water were not enough to gratify the
+tastes of all boys who loved to skate and swim and fish and go boating,
+there was Paradise River emptying into the lake close by, a really
+picturesque stream with its puzzling bends and constantly novel views
+that burst upon the sight as one drove a canoe up its lazy current of a
+sunny summer afternoon.
+
+Toby was a character. He had an enviable disposition in that he seldom
+if ever showed a temper. His many peculiarities really endeared him to
+his boy friends. As he was apt to say when introducing himself to some
+newcomer in town, "My name is Hopkins, 'Hop' for short; and that's why
+they put me at short on the diamond; because I rather guess I can
+_hop_ to beat the band, if I can't do much else."
+
+But in Chester, it was well known among the admirers of the new baseball
+team, that by his "hopping" Toby managed to cover short as few fellows
+could. Seldom did the most erratic hit get past those nimble hands of
+his, that could stab a vicious stinging ball coming straight from the
+bat of a slugger, and apparently tagged for a two-bagger at least.
+
+Steve Mullane was of heavier build, and admirably suited for his
+position of catcher. He usually proved himself well worthy of the warm
+regard of Chester's rooting fans, who flocked to the games these days.
+
+And yet, Chester, now baseball mad apparently, had, until this season,
+seemed to be wrapped in a regular Rip Van Winkle sleep of twenty years,
+in so far as outdoor sports for boys went. Time and again there had been
+a sporadic effort made to enthuse the school lads in baseball, football,
+hockey, and such things, but something seemed lacking in the leadership,
+and all the new schemes died soon after they came on the carpet.
+
+Then a little event happened that put new life and "ginger" into the
+whole town, so far as the boys were concerned. A new boy arrived in
+Chester, and his name it happened was Jack Winters. From the very start
+it seemed as though Jack must have been meant for a natural-born leader
+among his fellows. They liked him for his genial ways, and soon began to
+ask his opinion with regard to almost everything that came along. During
+the preceding winter, Jack had started several things that turned out to
+be extremely successful. Rival hockey teams once more contested on the
+smooth ice of the frozen lake; also one or two iceboats were seen
+skimming over the great expanse of Constance, something that had not
+been known in half a generation.
+
+The backward boys of Chester began to talk as though big notions might
+be gripping them. If other towns no larger than the one in which they
+lived had gymnasiums, and regularly organized field clubs, with splendid
+grounds for athletic meets, what was to hinder them from doing the same?
+
+So in due time a new baseball team was organized, consisting not only of
+those who attended Chester High, but several fellows who worked in the
+factories, but had Saturday afternoons off. They had practiced
+strenuously, and under a coach who had been quite a famous player in one
+of the big leagues, until a broken leg put him out of business; Joe
+Hooker was now working in one of the factories, though just as keen at
+sports as ever.
+
+When, earlier in the season, Chester actually walked away with two games
+in succession from the pretty strong team at Marshall, the good people
+awakened to the fact that a revolution had indeed taken place in the
+boys of the town. A new spirit and ambition pervaded every heart. Doing
+things worth while is the best way to arouse a boy to a consciousness
+that he has a fighting chance.
+
+From what passed between Toby and Steve as they waited for their chum to
+join them, it can be seen that great things were hanging in the balance
+those days. In about forty-eight hours Harmony would be swarming into
+the town riding in all manner of conveyances, shouting and showing every
+confidence in the ability of their great team to take that deciding
+game.
+
+There was good need of anxiety in the Chester camp. Not once had Harmony
+gone down to defeat all season until that unlucky day when, scorning the
+humble newly organized Chester nine, they had come over with a
+patched-up team to "go through the motions," as one of them had sadly
+confessed while on the way home after losing.
+
+Ten minutes later and Toby gave an exclamation of satisfaction.
+
+"Here comes Jack!" he told his companion, and immediately both glued
+their eyes on the clean-limbed and bright-faced young fellow who was
+swinging toward them, waving a hand as he caught their signals.
+
+There was nothing remarkable about Jack Winters, save that he seemed a
+born athlete, had a cheery, winning way about him, and seemed to have a
+magnetism such as all born leaders, from Napoleon down, possess, that
+drew others to him, and made them believe in his power for extracting
+victory from seeming defeat.
+
+"Sorry to have kept you waiting so long, fellows," Jack remarked, as he
+joined them, "but a man stopped me on the street, and his business was
+of such importance that I couldn't break away in a hurry. But let's
+adjourn to a quieter place; over there in the little park under the
+trees I can see a bench that's empty. I've got something to tell you
+that nobody must hear except you two."
+
+"Does it have a bearing on the great game with Harmony, Jack?" begged
+Toby, who was a bit impatient after his way.
+
+"It may mean everything to us in that battle!" Jack admitted, as he
+headed for the bench in the small park.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A WEAK LINK IN THE CHAIN
+
+
+When Jack dropped down on the bench, the others crowded as close up on
+either side as they could possibly get. No one was near by, save a
+couple of nursemaids chatting and gossiping while they trundled their
+baby carriages back and forth; and they were too much engrossed in
+exchanging views of the gallant policeman on the block to notice three
+boys with their heads close together, "plotting mischief," as they would
+doubtless believe.
+
+"Now break loose and give us a hint what it's all about, please, Jack!"
+urged Toby.
+
+"Because both of us have noticed that something's been bothering you
+latterly," added Steve; "and as you're not the fellow to borrow trouble
+it's got us guessing, I tell you. Who's the weak brother on the team
+you're afraid of, Jack?"
+
+"I see your guessing has been in the right direction, Steve," the other
+went on to remark, with an affectionate nod; for in the few months he
+had known them, these new chums had won a warm place in Jack Winters'
+heart. "Don't be startled now when I tell you it's Fred who's keeping me
+awake nights."
+
+Both the others uttered low exclamations of surprise.
+
+"What! Fred Badger, our bully reliable third baseman, equal to that
+crackerjack Harmony boasts about as the best in the State!" gasped Toby.
+"Why, only yesterday I heard you say our Fred was getting better right
+along, and that his equal couldn't be easily found. We don't even need
+to keep a substitute back of Fred, his work is that gilt-edged."
+
+"That's just what's troubling me," admitted Jack, quietly. "If I was
+able to lay my hand on some one right now who could fill Fred's shoes
+even fairly well, I wouldn't be so bothered; but there isn't a boy in
+Chester who can play that difficult position so as not to leave a
+terrible gap in our stone-wall infield, no one but Fred."
+
+"But what's the matter with Fred?" demanded Steve.
+
+"I saw him not an hour ago," spoke up Toby, "and say, he didn't look so
+_very_ sick then, let me tell you, Jack. He was swallowing an
+ice-cream soda in the drug-store, and seemed to be enjoying it
+immensely, too."
+
+"And yet," added Steve, thoughtfully, "now that you mention it, Jack,
+seems to me Fred _has_ been acting a little queer lately. There's
+been a sort of shifting way he avoids looking straight into your eyes
+when you're talking with him. Why, when I got speaking about our next
+big game, and hoped he'd play like a regular demon at third sack he
+grinned sheepishly, and simply said he meant to try and do himself
+credit, but nobody could ever tell how luck was going to pan out."
+
+Jack shook his head.
+
+"That's just it, fellows," he went on to say, gloomily. "I've heard the
+same thing from others. In fact, Phil Parker even went on to say it
+looked like Fred was getting ready to excuse himself in case he did
+commit some terrible crime in juggling a ball when a vital time in the
+game came, and a clean throw meant win or lose."
+
+"I'd hate to see that spirit shown under any conditions," said Jack,
+"because it means lack of confidence, and such a thing has lost no end
+of games. It's the fellow who says he can and will do things that comes
+in ahead nearly every time. But listen, boys, that isn't the worst of
+this thing."
+
+"Gee whiz! what's coming now, Jack?" asked Toby, wriggling uneasily on
+the bench.
+
+"Of course you know that over in Harmony, which is a larger place than
+Chester, there is quite a sporting element," Jack continued. "Latterly,
+we've been told quite an interest has been aroused in the outcome of
+this deciding game between the two rival clubs; and that some rich
+sports from the city have even come up to make wagers on the result.
+I've heard gentlemen here tell this, and deplore the fact that such a
+thing could invade an innocent sport like baseball. You both know this,
+don't you, fellows?"
+
+"Yes," said Steve, quickly, "I've heard a lot of talk about it, and how
+they are determined to arrest anybody making an open bet on the game at
+the grounds when the crowd is there; but even that isn't going to
+prevent the laying of wagers in secret."
+
+"I ran across a Harmony fellow yesterday," Toby now remarked, eagerly,
+"and he said there was a terrible lot of excitement over there about
+this game. You see, the news about our new pitcher has leaked out, from
+the Chester boys doing considerable bragging; and they're going to play
+their very best to win against us. He also admitted that there was open
+betting going on, with heavy odds on Harmony."
+
+Jack sighed.
+
+"That all agrees with what came to me in a side way," he explained. "In
+other words, the way things stand, there will be a big lot of money
+change hands in case Harmony does win. And those sporting men who came
+up from the city wouldn't think it out of the way to pay a good fat
+_bribe_ if they could make sure that some player on the Chester
+team would throw the game, in case it began to look bad for Harmony!"
+
+Toby almost fell off his seat on hearing Jack say that.
+
+"My stars! and do you suspect Fred of entering into such a base
+conspiracy as that would be, Jack?" he demanded, hoarsely; while Steve
+held his very breath as he waited for the other to reply.
+
+"Remember, not one word of this to a living soul," cautioned Jack; "give
+me your solemn promise, both of you, before I say anything more."
+
+Both boys held up a right hand promptly.
+
+"I never blab anything, even in my sleep, Jack," said Steve; "and until
+you give permission never a single word will I pass along."
+
+"Same here," chirped Toby; "I'll put a padlock on my lips right away,
+and wild horses couldn't force me to leak. Now tell us what makes you
+suspect poor old Fred of such a horrible crime?"
+
+"I've tried to make myself believe it impossible," Jack commenced; "and
+yet all the while I could see that Fred has changed in the last ten
+days, changed in lots of ways. There's something been bothering him,
+that's plain."
+
+"Stop a minute, will you, Jack, and let me say something," interrupted
+Toby. "I wouldn't mention it even to you fellows only for this thing
+coming up. I chance to know why Fred has been looking worried of late.
+Shall I tell you, in hopes that it might ease your mind, Jack?"
+
+"Go on, Toby," urged Steve. "We ought to get at the bottom of this thing
+before it's too late, and the mischief done. Any player can throw a
+game, if he's so minded, and the opportunity comes to him, and mebbe not
+even be suspected; but as a rule, baseball players are far too honorable
+to attempt such tricks."
+
+"It's a secret over at our house," Toby went on to say. "My mother
+happens to know that Doctor Cooper told Mrs. Badger she could be a well
+woman again if only she went to a hospital in the city, and submitted to
+an operation at the hands of a noted surgeon he recommended. But they
+are poor, you know, boys, and it's next to impossible for them to ever
+think of raising the three hundred dollars the operation would cost. She
+told my mother Fred was making himself fairly sick over his inability to
+do something to earn that big sum. So you see the poor chap has had
+plenty of reason for looking glum lately."
+
+"I knew nothing about Fred's mother being sick," Jack admitted; "and I'm
+sorry to learn it now; but don't you see, your explanation only seems to
+make matters all the blacker for him, Toby?"
+
+"Why, how can that be, Jack?"
+
+"Only this, that while Fred might never be bribed to listen to any
+scheme to throw the game in favor of Harmony, on his own account, the
+tempting bait of three hundred dollars might win him over now, because
+of his love for his mother."
+
+"But, Jack, however could he explain where he got so much money?" cried
+Steve. "It would come out, and he'd be called on for an explanation.
+Even his mother would refuse to touch a cent dishonestly gained, though
+she died for it. Why, Fred would be crazy to think he could get away
+with such a game."
+
+"Still, he might be blind to that fact," Jack explained. "The one thing
+before his eyes would be that he could pick up the money so sorely
+needed, and for which he might even be tempted to barter his honor. All
+sorts of explanations could be made up to tell where he got the cash.
+But there's even something more than that to make matters look bad for
+Fred."
+
+"As what, Jack?" begged Toby, breathlessly.
+
+"Just day before yesterday," the other continued, "I chanced to pass
+along over yonder, and glancing across saw Fred sitting on this very
+bench. He was so busy talking with a man that he never noticed me. That
+man was a stranger in Chester, at least I had never seen him before.
+Yes, and somehow it struck me there was a bit of a sporty look about his
+appearance!"
+
+"Gee whiz! the plot thickens, and that does look black for Fred, I must
+say," grunted Toby, aghast.
+
+"I was interested to the extent of hanging around to watch them
+further," Jack went on to say, "and for half an hour they continued to
+sit here, all the while talking. I thought the sporty stranger glanced
+around a number of times, as though he didn't want any one to overhear a
+word of what he was saying. He seemed to have a paper of some sort, too,
+which I saw Fred signing. I wondered then if he could be such a
+simpleton as to attach his name to any dishonorable deal; but sometimes
+even the sharpest fellow shows a weak point. Now I know that Fred must
+be fairly wild to get hold of a certain sum of money, it makes me more
+afraid than ever he is pledged to toss away the game, if it looks as
+though Chester is going to win out on a close margin."
+
+"Then we ought to drop Fred out, and take our medicine with another man
+on third," proposed Steve, hotly.
+
+"I'd do that in a minute, and take no chances of foul play," said Jack,
+"if only we knew of anybody capable of filling his shoes. If Harmony
+knows a weak player covers third bag, they'll make all their plays
+revolve around him, that's sure. The only thing I can see is to let Fred
+keep on, and hope the game will not be so close that he could lose it
+for Chester by a bad break. Besides that I could have a heart-to-heart
+talk with him, not letting him see that we suspected his loyalty, but
+impressing it on his mind that every fellow in the team believed in him
+to the utmost, and that we'd be broken-hearted if anything happened to
+lose us this game on which the whole future of clean sport in Chester
+hangs."
+
+"That might do it, Jack!" snapped Toby, eagerly. "You've got a way about
+you that few fellows can resist. Yes, that's our only plan, it seems;
+Fred is indispensable on the team at this late stage, when a sub
+couldn't be broken in, even if we had one handy, which we haven't. Play
+him at his regular position, and let's hope there'll be no chance for
+double-dealing on his part."
+
+"But we'll all be mighty anxious as the game goes along, believe me,"
+asserted Steve, as they arose to leave the vicinity of the bench. "I'll
+be skimpy with my throws to third to catch a runner napping, for fear
+Fred might make out to fumble and get the ball home just too late to nab
+the runner. And, Jack, try your level best to convince Fred that the
+eyes of all Chester will be on him during that game, with his best girl,
+pretty Molly Skinner, occupying a front seat in the grand stand!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE LAST PRACTICE GAME
+
+
+On the following morning, twice Jack walked around to where the humble
+cottage of the Badger family stood, on purpose to call on Fred, and have
+a chat with him; but on each occasion missed seeing the third baseman.
+His mother Jack had never met before, and he was quite interested in
+talking with her. Purposely Jack influenced her to speak of Fred, and
+his ambitions in the world. He could see that, like most mothers, she
+was very proud of her eldest son, and had an abiding faith in his
+ability to accomplish great things when later on he took his place in
+business circles.
+
+She had been a widow for some years. The house was very tidy, and a
+pretty flower and vegetable garden spoke well for Fred's early rising
+and assiduous labors as a young provider. When Jack purposely mentioned
+that he had heard something about her anticipating a visit to the city
+to spend a little while at a hospital, she shook her head sadly, and a
+look of pain crossed her careworn face as she said:
+
+"Dr. Cooper wants me to go and see his friend, who is a famous surgeon,
+but I'm afraid the cost is much more than I can afford at present,
+unless some miracle comes up before long. But I try to forget my
+troubles, and feel that I have much to be thankful for in my three
+children, all so healthy and so clever. Why, there's hardly a thing Fred
+wouldn't do for me. Ah! if only his father could have lived to see him
+now, how proud he would be of such a boy!"
+
+When Jack came away after that little interesting talk, he felt very
+down-hearted. What a shock it would be to his fond mother should she
+ever be forced to learn that her boy had taken money from those who were
+betting on the outcome of the great game, in order to betray his
+comrades who placed the most implicit confidence in his loyalty.
+
+Even though it were done with the best motive in the world, that of
+trying to make his mother a well woman again, she would bitterly regret
+his having yielded to such an ignoble temptation and fallen so low as to
+sell a game.
+
+Then came the last practice that afternoon, to prepare for the morrow,
+when Harmony's confident hosts would come with brooms waving, to
+indicate how they meant to sweep up the ground with poor Chester's best
+offering.
+
+Coach Hooker was on deck, for already the spirit of newly awakened sport
+had permeated the whole place, so that the boss at his factory gladly
+released him from duty for that special afternoon, in order that the
+Chester boys might profit from his sage advice.
+
+Fred did not show up until just before the game with the scrub team was
+being called, so that of course Jack could not find an opportunity just
+then to indulge in any side talk with the keeper of the third sack. He
+determined not to let anything prevent his walking home in company with
+Fred, however, and trying to see behind the mask which he believed the
+other was wearing to conceal the real cause of his uneasiness.
+
+The game started and progressed, with every fellow filled with vim and
+vigor. To those who had come to size up the team before the great
+battle, it seemed as if every member had made strides forward since the
+last match, when Harmony won out in that last fierce inning after the
+rally that almost put Chester on top.
+
+From time to time, each, individual player would seem to rise up and
+perform the most remarkable stunts. Now it was Joel Jackman, out in
+center, who made a marvelous running catch, jumping in the air, and
+pulling down a ball that seemed good for at least a three-bagger, also
+holding the horse-hide sphere even while he rolled over twice on the
+ground.
+
+Later on, a great triple play was pulled off, Winters at first to Jones
+on second, and home to Mullane in time to catch a runner attempting to
+profit by all this excitement. Such a wonderful handling of the ball in
+a match game would give the crowd a chance to break loose with mighty
+cheers, friends and foes joining in to do the clever athletes honor.
+
+Then there was Big Bob Jeffries, a terror at the bat; three times up,
+and each occasion saw him almost knock the cover off the ball, making
+two home runs, and a three-bagger in the bargain. Why, if only Big Bob
+could duplicate that performance on the following day, it was
+"good-night to Harmony." But then there was a slight difference between
+the pitcher of the scrub team and the mighty slab artist who officiated
+for Harmony; and possibly, Bob might only find thin air when he struck
+savagely at the oncoming ball, dexterously tagged for a drop, or a
+sweeping curve.
+
+Nevertheless, everybody seemed satisfied that the entire team was "on
+edge," and in the "pink of condition." If they failed to carry off the
+honors in that deciding game, there would be no valid excuse to offer,
+save that Harmony was a shade too much for them. Even though they might
+be defeated, they meant to fight doggedly to the end of the ninth
+inning, and feel that they had given the champions of the county a "run
+for their money."
+
+Win or lose, Chester had awakened to the fact that the local team was
+well worth patronizing. Another season would see vast improvements, and
+the time might yet come when Chester would write her name at the top of
+the county teams. All sorts of other open-air sports were being talked
+of, and there was a host of eager candidates ready to apply for every
+sort of position. Jack Winters had managed to awaken the sleepy town,
+and "start things humming," most fellows admitted, being willing to give
+him the greater part of the credit.
+
+So when the game was ended, the players gathered around Joe Hooker to
+listen to his frank criticisms, and pledge themselves anew to do their
+level best to "take Harmony's scalp" on the morrow.
+
+Jack kept on the watch, and both Toby and Steve saw what he was aiming
+at when he hurriedly left the group and walked quickly after Fred, who
+had started toward home.
+
+"Only hope he makes his point," muttered Toby to the other. "Fred
+certainly played like a fiend today. Nothing got by him, you noticed. He
+scooped that hummer from Bentley's bat off the ground as neat as wax. No
+professional could have done better, I heard Joe Hooker say. He thinks
+Fred is a jim-dandy at third, and that he's a natural ball player,
+strong at the bat, as well as in the field."
+
+Meanwhile, Jack had overtaken Fred, who, hearing his footsteps, turned
+his head to see who might be hurrying after him. Jack fancied he looked
+a trifle confused at seeing the captain of the team trying to come up
+with him, though that might only be imagination, after all. Still,
+doubtless Fred's mother must have mentioned the fact that Jack had been
+at the house twice that morning, as though he had something of
+importance to communicate.
+
+"I'm going your way, it happens, this afternoon, Fred," Jack remarked as
+he came up, "as I have an errand over at your neighbor, Mrs. Jennings, a
+commission for my mother; so I'll step alongside, and we can chat a bit
+as we walk along."
+
+"Glad to have your company, Jack," said Fred; but all the same he did
+not seem so _very_ enthusiastic over it. "The boys all worked like
+a well-oiled machine today, I noticed, and if only we can do as well in
+the big game, we ought to have a look in, I should think."
+
+"We've just _got_ to make up our minds we mean to win that game
+tomorrow, no matter how Hendrix pitches gilt-edged ball," Jack told him.
+"Every fellow must tell himself in the start that he will let nothing
+whatever interfere with his giving Chester of his very best. I don't
+care what it may be that stands in the way, we must brush it aside, and
+fight together to carry the day. Why, Chester will just go crazy if only
+we can down the boasting team that has never tasted defeat this season
+up to that fluke game, when they underestimated the fighting qualities
+of the rejuvenated Chester nine. And we can do it, Fred, we surely can,
+if only we pull together in team work, and every fellow stands on his
+honor to do his level best. You believe that, don't you, Fred?"
+
+The other looked at Jack, and a slight gleam, as of uncertainty, began
+to show itself in his eyes. Then he shut his jaws together, and
+hurriedly replied:
+
+"Of course I do, Jack. I'm not the one to show the white feather at such
+an early stage of the game. They've never accused _me_ of having
+cold feet, no matter how bad things seemed to be breaking for my side.
+In fact, I've been a little proud of the reputation I have of being able
+to keep everlastingly at it. Stubbornness is my best hold, I've
+sometimes thought."
+
+"Glad to know it, Fred, because that's a quality badly needed in
+baseball players. There's always hope up to the time the last man is
+down. Joe Hooker tells lots of wonderful stories of games he's seen won
+with two out in the ninth frame, and the other side half a dozen runs to
+the good. You are never beaten until the third man is out in the last
+inning. I'm glad to hear you say you mean to fight as never before in
+your life to get that game for the home club. Fact is, Fred, old fellow,
+I've been a little anxious about you latterly, because I thought you
+seemed upset over something or other, and I was afraid it might
+interfere with your play."
+
+Fred started plainly, and shot Jack a quick look out of the corner of
+his eye, just as though he might be asking himself how much the other
+knew, or suspected.
+
+"Well, the fact of the matter is, Jack, I have been feeling
+down-spirited over something. It's a family matter, and I hope you'll
+excuse me for not going into particulars just now. Day and night I seem
+to be wrestling with a problem that's mighty hard to solve; but there's
+a little ray of sunlight beginning to crop up, I don't mind telling you,
+and perhaps I'll find a way yet to weather the storm. I'm trying to feel
+cheerful about it; and you can depend on me taking care of third sack
+tomorrow the best I know how."
+
+"That's all I can ask of any man, Fred; do yourself credit. Thousands of
+eyes will watch every move that is made, and among them those we care
+for most of every one in the whole world. I heard Molly Skinner saying
+this afternoon that she wouldn't miss that game for all the candy in the
+world. She also said she had a favorite seat over near third, and would
+go early so as to secure it. A brilliant play over _your_ way would
+please Molly a heap, I reckon, Fred."
+
+The other turned very red in the face, and then, tried to laugh it off
+as he hastened to say in a voice that trembled a little, despite his
+effort to control it:
+
+"Yes, she told me the same thing, Jack, and it was nice of Molly to say
+it, for you know she's the prettiest girl in Chester, and a dozen boys
+are always hanging around her. Yes, I'd be a fool not to do myself proud
+tomorrow, with so many of my friends looking on; though of course any
+fellow might run into a bit of bad judgment and make a foozle, when he'd
+give five years of his life to work like a machine. I'm hoping, and
+praying, too, Jack, that such a streak of bad luck won't come my way,
+that's all I can say. Here's where I leave you, if you're bound for
+Jennings' place. If it's my promise to do my level best tomorrow you
+want, Jack, you've got it!"
+
+So they parted. Still, Jack was not altogether easy in his mind. He went
+over every little incident of their recent intercourse as they trudged
+along side by side; and wondered whether Fred, who was not very well
+known to him, could be deceiving him. He cudgeled his brain to
+understand what those strange actions of the third baseman could mean,
+and who that sporty looking individual, whom he had with his own eyes
+seen talking so mysteriously to Fred might be.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+WHEN CHESTER AWAKENED
+
+
+"Did you ever see such an enormous crowd?"
+
+"Beats everything that ever happened around Chester all hollow!"
+
+"Talk to me about excitement, the old town has gone stark, staring crazy
+over baseball; and it's all owing to Jack Winters coming to Chester, and
+shaking the dry bones of what used to be a Sleepy Hollow place."
+
+"Right you are, Pete, and this is only a beginning of the glorious
+things scheduled to happen within the next six months or so. Already
+there's great talk about a football eleven that will clean up things in
+this neighborhood. We've got the right sort of stuff to make up a strong
+team, too, remember."
+
+"And, Oliver, when I hear them speak of ice hockey, and skating for
+prizes, it gives me a heap of satisfaction, for you know I'm a crank on
+winter sports. Because the boys of Chester didn't seem to enthuse over
+such things has been the grief of my heart. But this day was certainly
+made for a thrilling baseball game."
+
+"Oh! the sky looks blue enough, and that sun is some hot, I admit, but
+somehow I don't exactly like the looks of yonder bank of clouds that
+keeps hanging low-down close to the horizon in the southwest. We get
+most of our big storms from that quarter, don't forget."
+
+A burst of derisive boyish laughter greeted this remark from the fellow
+named Oliver, who apparently was a bit of a pessimist, one of those who,
+while admitting that a day might be nearly perfect, chose to remember it
+was apt to be a weather-breeder, and bound to be followed by stormy
+times.
+
+"Listen to the old croaker, will you?" one Chester rooter called out.
+"How anybody could pick a flaw with this splendid day beats me all
+hollow. Why, it was made on purpose for Chester to lick that boasting
+Harmony team, and send them back home like dogs, with their tails
+between their legs. Hurrah for Chester! Give the boys a cheer, fellows,
+because there they come on the field."
+
+There was a wild burst of shouts from a myriad of boyish throats, and
+school flags, as well as other kinds, were waved from the grand-stand
+where most of the town girls sat, until the whole wooden affair seemed a
+riot of color in motion.
+
+The boys set to work passing the ball, and calling to one another as
+though they were full of business and confidence. Those in the audience
+who knew considerable about games felt that at least none of the home
+team suffered from stage fright. It looked promising. Evidently Jack
+Winters had managed to instill his nine with a fair degree of his own
+bubbling animation. They certainly looked fit to do their best in honor
+of their native town.
+
+There were hosts of the Harmony folks over. They had come, and still
+arrived, in all sorts of conveyances, from private cars to stages and
+carryalls; and from the great row they kicked up with their calls and
+school cries, one might think it was an open-and-shut thing Chester was
+fated to get a terrible drubbing on that decisive day.
+
+There were thousands on the field. Every seat in the grand-stand, as
+well as the commodious bleachers, was occupied, and countless numbers
+who would have willingly paid for a chance to take things comfortable,
+found it necessary to stand.
+
+Chester had reason to feel proud of her awakening; and since it seemed
+an assured fact that her boys could do things worth while, there was
+reason to hope the town on Lake Constance would never again allow
+herself to sink back into her former condition of somnolence. So long as
+Jack Winters lived there, it might be understood first and last that
+such a catastrophe would never happen.
+
+All eyes were upon the new pitcher who was yet to prove his worth. Most
+of those gathered to see the game only knew of Alec Donohue as a
+youngster who had been playing on the sand-lots, as that section near
+the factories was usually called, for there the toilers in the iron
+foundry and the mills were in the habit of playing scrub games.
+
+Jack had come across Donohue by accident, and apparently must have been
+struck with the amazing speed and control that the boy showed in his
+delivery. He had taken Alec under his wing from that day on, and coached
+him, with the assistance of old Joe Hooker, until he felt confident he
+had picked up a real wonder.
+
+Various comments were flying around, most of them connected with the
+newest member of the Chester team.
+
+"One thing I like about that Donohue," a rangy scout of the high school
+was saying to a companion wearing glasses, and looking a bit effeminate,
+though evidently quite fond of sport; "he acts as though he might be as
+cool as a cucumber. Those Harmony fellows in the crowd will do their
+level best to faze him, if ever he gets in a tight corner, and lots of
+things are liable to happen through a hard-fought game."
+
+"Oh! I asked Jack about that," observed the one with spectacles, "and he
+assured me the fellow seemed absolutely devoid of nerves. Nothing under
+the sun can bother him. He banks on Jack, and knows the captain has
+confidence in his work; so you'll see how all the jeering and whooping
+and stamping on the boards of the grand-stand will fail to upset him.
+Jack says he's an _iceberg_."
+
+"Glad to hear it, Specs. That kind of pitcher always has a big lead over
+the fellow who gets excited as soon as the enemy begins to lambast his
+favorite curves. The cool sort just changes his gait, and lobs them over
+between, so that he has the hard batters wasting their energy on the air
+long before the ball gets across the rubber."
+
+"Listen to all that whooping, Ernest; what's happening, do you think?"
+
+"Well, by the way they're standing up on the seats, and waving hats and
+handkerchiefs, I rather guess the Harmony players are coming along."
+
+His guess proved to be a true one, for a minute afterwards a big
+motor-stage entered the enclosure, and from it jumped a dozen or more
+athletic chaps clad in the spic-and-span white suits with blue stockings
+that distinguished the Harmony baseball team.
+
+Paying little or no attention to all the wild clamor, they ran out on
+the near field and commenced flinging several balls back and forth with
+astonishing vigor. From time to time the boys from the rival town would
+wave a hand at some enthusiastic friend who was trying to catch their
+eye from his position in the stand, or on the bleachers.
+
+The band had accompanied them aboard another vehicle. It now burst out
+with that same encouraging tune "Lo! the Conquering Hero Comes!" though
+the strains could hardly be heard above the roar of many lusty voices
+trying to drown each other out.
+
+Of a truth, Chester had never seen such a wonderful day. It seemed as
+though the wand of a magician must have been manipulated to awaken the
+hitherto sleepy town to such real, throbbing life. And every boy in the
+place, yes, and girl also, not to mention hundreds of grown-ups who were
+thrilled with such a magnificent spectacle, had determined that this
+would only be a beginning; and that Chester must, under no conditions,
+be allowed to fall back into that old dead rut. Why, they had just begun
+to discover what living meant, and learn what the right sort of a spirit
+of sport will bring to a town.
+
+It was now three, and after. The immense crowd began to grow impatient.
+Both teams had occupied the diamond in practice for fifteen minutes
+each, and many clever stunts were pulled off in clean pick-ups, and
+wonderful throws, which called forth bravos from the admiring
+spectators.
+
+Several pitchers on either side had also warmed up, and naturally the
+new recruit, Donohue, was watched much more closely than those whose
+offerings had been seen on previous occasions.
+
+He made no effort to disclose what he had in the way of various balls,
+his sole object, apparently, being to get his arm limbered up and in
+condition. Still, occasionally, he would send one in that caused a gasp
+to arise.
+
+"Did you see that speed ball zip through the air, Specs?" demanded the
+fellow who had been called Ernest by the one wearing glasses.
+
+"I tried to follow it, but lost out," admitted the other, frankly. "It's
+true, then, this Donohue must have a swift delivery, for I could always
+follow the ball when McGuffey hurled his best; and seldom lost one that
+speed-king Hendrix sent along. See how most of those Harmony chaps are
+looking out of the tail of their eyes at our man."
+
+"They're trying to size Donohue up, that's all," said the knowing
+Ernest. "I've heard it said, though not able to vouch, for the truth of
+the rumor, that they've had a scout over in Chester every day for a week
+past."
+
+"What for?" asked Specs.
+
+"Trying to get a line on Donohue's delivery so as to report whether he's
+the wonder they've been told. But Jack was too clever for them, I guess.
+They say he had his battery off practicing in secret most of the while;
+and whenever Donohue did pitch for the local games he was held back.
+That's why some people said they believed he must be over-rated, and
+might prove a disappointment. But Jack only gave them the merry ha! ha!
+and told them to wait and see."
+
+"But it's long after three right now, and still no sign of the game
+starting," continued Specs, a little anxiously.
+
+"Yes," spoke up Oliver from his seat near by, "and, believe me, that
+bank of clouds looks a mite higher than it did when the Harmony fellows
+arrived. Unless they jig up right smart now, we'll get our jackets wet,
+you mark my words."
+
+The others scoffed at his dismal prediction. With that bright sun
+shining up in the heavens, it did not seem possible that any such
+radical change in the weather could take place within a couple of hours.
+
+"Hey! Big Bob, what's the matter with starting this game right away?"
+called Ernest, as the stalwart right-fielder of the local team chanced
+to be passing in the direction of the players' bench after chatting with
+friends.
+
+"Umpire hasn't shown up yet!" called the accommodating Bob, raising his
+voice, as he knew hundreds were just as curious as Ernest concerning the
+mysterious reason for play not having commenced. "He had a break-down
+with his car on the way. Telephoned in that he would be half an hour
+late, and for them to get another umpire if they couldn't wait that
+long."
+
+"Well, apparently, they've decided to wait," said Specs, resignedly,
+settling back in his seat for another fifteen minutes of listening to
+the chatter of a Babel of tongues and merry laughter. "Good umpires are
+almost as scarce as hens' teeth; and that Mr. Merrywether is reckoned as
+fair and impartial as they make them. So the game will start half an
+hour late after all!"
+
+"Too bad!" Oliver was heard to say, with another apprehensive look in
+the direction of the southwest, as though to measure the location of
+that cloud bank with his weather-wise eye, and decide whether it gave
+promise of stopping play, perhaps at a most interesting stage of the
+game.
+
+Most of those present did not begrudge the half hour thus spent. Just
+then none of them could even suspect how great an influence the lost
+time might have in respect to the eventual close of a fiercely contested
+game. But, as we shall see later on, it was fated that the dismal
+prophecies of Oliver were to have some foundation; and time cut a figure
+in the eventual outcome of that great day's rivalry on the diamond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+TIED IN THE NINTH INNING
+
+
+The crowd stood up again, and there arose a jargon of cries followed by
+the appearance of a small wiry man dressed in blue, and wearing a cap
+after the usual type umpires prefer, so it seemed as though the delayed
+game would be quickly started.
+
+When Hendrix, the expert hurler from Harmony, mowed down the first three
+men who faced him, two by way of vain strikes at his deceptive curves,
+and the other through a high foul, the shouts of the visitors told what
+an immense number of Harmony people had come across to see their
+favorites effectually stifle the rising ambition of Chester's athletes
+on the diamond.
+
+Then came the turn of the locals in the field. Everything depended now
+on what Jack's new find could show in the way of pitching. Not an eye in
+that vast throng but was leveled at the youngster. It was certainly
+enough to try the nerve of any veteran, let alone a newcomer in the
+arena.
+
+When his first ball sped across with a speed that made it fairly sizzle,
+many of the Chester rooters gave a shout of approval. Hutchings, the
+reliable first baseman of the visitors, had struck vainly at the ball.
+It was doubtful whether he had really seen it flash past, though it
+landed with a thud in Mullane's big mitt.
+
+But the knowing ones from afar only laughed, and nodded their wise
+heads. They had seen speed before, and knew how often a pitcher "worked
+his arm off" in the start of a game, to fall a victim to their heavy
+batters later on. Unless this wonder of a youngster could stay with
+Hendrix through inning after inning, why, his finish could be seen. So
+they settled back in their seats with sighs of contentment, under the
+conviction that they might see a good game after all.
+
+"Hendrix needs something to make him pitch his head off," remarked one
+of the visiting fans, in the hearing of Specs and Ernest. "He's taken
+things too easy most of the time. Why, not once this season so far has
+he been touched for as many hits as Chester got in the last game. It
+made the big fellow wake up, and we hear he's been doing a lot of
+practice lately. Today he ought to shine at his best."
+
+"We all hope so, Mister," said Ernest, boldly, "because, unless the
+signs fail, he's going to need all his cunning this same day. That lad
+has the measure of your hard hitters already taken. Did you see him mow
+down Clifford then like a weed? Why, he'll have the best of them eating
+out of his hand before the day is done, believe me."
+
+The gentleman only laughed. He could make allowances for a boy's natural
+enthusiasm. They did not know Hendrix at his best, as the Harmony folks
+did. He needed a little scare to force him to exert himself to the
+utmost. Yes, it really promised to be something of a game, if only the
+youngster kept going for half a dozen innings before he went to pieces,
+and the ball commenced to fly to every far corner of the field.
+
+When the play was called the two nines on the diamond were lined up as
+follows:
+
+       Chester                            Harmony
+    --------------     -----------    --------------
+    Jack Winters        First Base         Hatchings
+    Phil Parker         Left Field          Clifford
+    Herbert Jones      Second Base            Martin
+    Joel Jackman       Centre Field         Oldsmith
+    Toby Hopkins        Shortstop             Bailey
+    Big Bob Jeffries   Right Field           O'Leary
+    Fred Badger         Third Base             Young
+    Steve Mullane        Catcher               Chase
+    Alec Donohue         Pitcher             Hendrix
+
+The first inning ended in no hits on either side. It looked very much as
+though the game might turn out to be a pitchers' duel. Some people like
+that sort of battle royal, but in the main the spectators would much
+rather see a regular old-fashioned batting fest, especially if it is
+_their_ side that is doing most of the hitting.
+
+Again did Hendrix start in to dazzle the locals with an exhibition of
+his wonderfully puzzling curves and drops. He certainly had them
+guessing, and in vain did they try to get the ball out of the diamond.
+Joel Jackman, the first man up, did manage to connect with the ball,
+perhaps by sheer accident. At the crack everybody held his or her breath
+and waited, for Joel was long-legged and a noted sprinter, so if only he
+got on first there might be some hope of succeeding batters working him
+around the circuit.
+
+But Martin out near second made a leap, and snatched the ball off the
+ground as easily as though it were a habit of his to get anything that
+came within reach. He took his time to recover, and then sent the sphere
+to first as accurately as a bullet fired from a rifle.
+
+Toby fouled three times, and then whiffed; while the swatter of the
+team, Big Bob, let a good one go by, and then vainly smote the air
+twice, for his judgment was certainly at fault, and the ball not where
+he thought it was.
+
+Once again did Donohue step into the box, and after a few balls to
+Mullane, the first batter, Oldsmith, strode forward swinging his club,
+and looking especially dangerous. But when he only swung at the air, and
+backed away from the plate, shaking his head as though puzzled to know
+what it all meant, long and lusty yells broke out from the loyal Chester
+rooters.
+
+Bailey, the alert little shortstop, managed to touch a whizzing ball,
+and send up a skyrocketing foul which Mullane amidst great excitement
+managed to get under, and smother in that big mitt of his.
+
+Next in line came the terrible O'Leary. He was a swatter from away back,
+and all sorts of stories were circulated as to the number of home runs
+he had to his credit up to date.
+
+Donohue looked perfectly cool and confident. He continued to send them
+in with a dazzling delivery. O'Leary allowed two to pass by, one strike
+being called on him by the alert umpire. Then he picked out a nice one,
+and there was an awful sound as he smote it with all his might and main.
+
+Every one jumped up, and necks were stretched in the endeavor to follow
+the course of that wildly soaring ball, looking like a dot against the
+low sky-line.
+
+"A homer!" shrieked scores of delighted Harmony fans.
+
+"Watch Joel! He's after it!" shouted the local rooters, also thrilled by
+the spectacle of the long-legged centre fielder bounding over the ground
+like a "scared rabbit," as some of them said to themselves.
+
+They saw Joel jump into the air and make a motion with his hand. Then he
+rolled over with a mighty lunge, but scrambled to his feet holding his
+hand aloft, to almost immediately hurl the ball in to Jones on second.
+
+It had been a terrific swat, likewise a most amazing catch; and all of
+the yelling that burst forth was for Joel, who came trotting in,
+grinning happily, as though he rather liked that sort of thing.
+
+And so the great game went on, inning after inning, amidst excitement
+that gripped every one present like a vise. When in the sixth Harmony
+managed to get a man on first through a fluke Texas leaguer, and began
+to work him along by bunt hitting, it looked dangerous for the locals.
+In the end, the visitors scored through a slip on the part of Herb Jones
+on second, who allowed the ball to get away from him because of his
+nervousness. The run was not earned, but it might decide the game, many
+people believed.
+
+Jack put more ginger into his crowd when they went to bat in turn. The
+result of it was he himself made a neat single, and the crowd woke up to
+the fact that possibly Hendrix might not be so invincible as he was
+rated.
+
+Up stepped Phil Parker with a grin, and pasted the sphere out in short
+left, advancing the runner a base with himself safely anchored on first.
+Jones did his duty and bunted, so that while he went out the runners
+were now on second and third with only one down.
+
+It was amusing to see how the staid elderly men of Chester became
+excited at this critical juncture of the game. They could hardly keep
+their seats, and were watching the movements of those occupying the
+diamond as though the fate of nations depended on the outcome of this
+bitter rivalry in sport.
+
+Joel Jackman was next. He, too, connected with the ball, but, alas, only
+to send up a tremendous foul that was promptly caught, after a smart
+run, by Clifford in short left field.
+
+Everything depended on Toby Hopkins now. Toby was not known as a heavy
+hitter, but managed to connect frequently. He was due for a hit, the
+crowd yelled at him; whereupon the obliging Toby shot a swift one
+straight at Young on third. It was a hard ball to trap, and Young
+juggled it. Jack started like a blue streak for home as soon as he saw
+Toby had connected. He made a slide that carried him over the rubber
+just before Chase had the ball. It meant that the score was tied, with
+men on first and third, and two out.
+
+Such shouts as broke forth, the very air seemed to quiver. Hope ran high
+as Bob Jeffries stepped up, swinging his bat. Alas! he failed miserably
+to connect with those puzzling curves of Hendrix, and after two vain
+strikes popped up a little infield fly to the pitcher that, of course,
+finished the exciting inning.
+
+The game went on, without any more scoring until finally the ninth
+inning came. Both pitchers were doing as well or better than in the
+start, and it looked as though extra innings would be the rule. Such an
+outcome to a game always arouses great enthusiasm among the spectators.
+A few began to notice the fact that the sun was long since hidden by the
+rising clouds, and that overhead the blue had given place to a gray that
+looked suggestive of trouble.
+
+Oliver in particular called attention to the fact that no matter how the
+other fellows had made fun of his prediction about the weather, it was
+likely to come true after all. If the game went into extra innings some
+of that mighty host of spectators might get soaking wet before they
+could find shelter.
+
+Harmony was out to win the game in this inning. They had managed to get
+a line on Donohue's speed ball, or else guessed when it was coming over,
+for the first man up, Clifford, got a safety past short that Toby only
+stopped by such an effort that he rolled over, and by the time he could
+deliver the ball to Jack the runner had gone leaping past the bag and
+was safe.
+
+Pandemonium broke loose just then. The Harmony crowd yelled and whooped
+and carried on as though a legion of real lunatics had broken out of an
+asylum near by.
+
+"Here's where we clinch the game, Chester!"
+
+"It's all over!"
+
+"Martin, your turn to swat the bean!"
+
+"Get Donohue going at last. The best pitcher may go to the wall once too
+often, especially the Harmony well!"
+
+"Now make it three this inning, boys, and we'll forgive you for holding
+back all this time!"
+
+These and dozens of other cries could be heard. They were partly
+intended to flustrate the Chester slab-artist, and make him send in the
+ball wildly, so that the next man might be given his base, something
+that had only occurred once thus far with Donohue. But Jack sent him a
+cheering word, and Donohue seemed as cool as ice as he proceeded to
+serve Captain Martin with his choice swift ones.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+FRED PUT TO THE TEST
+
+
+Through the game, Jack had been observing just how Fred Badger carried
+himself. Since hits were so few and far between thus far, he had not had
+a great deal to do in the field. Once he ran in on a bunt, and got it to
+first in time to cut off the runner. No one could have carried out the
+play in better shape. Another time he took a hot liner straight off the
+bat, and received a salvo of cheers from the crowd, always pleased to
+see such clever play, no matter on which side it occurs.
+
+At bat Fred had not succeeded in shining brilliantly. Hendrix was
+apparently a puzzle to him, as to many another player. He struck out
+twice, and perished on a foul another time; but there could be no doubt
+Fred was trying his best to get in a drive that might be effectual.
+
+Jack noticed that he often cast glances in the direction of the
+grand-stand where a number of enthusiastic Chester girls sat, and waved
+their flags or handkerchiefs whenever anything occurred that aroused
+their admiration. He remembered that pretty Molly Skinner was seated
+there. Fred evidently had not forgotten that fact either, and Jack found
+himself hoping it might have considerable influence with the sorely
+tempted third baseman, in case he were finally put to the test.
+
+Martin was apparently out for a hit, if one could judge from his
+determined attitude as he stood there at the plate, and swung his bat
+back and forth in his own peculiar fashion, meanwhile watching the
+pitcher like a hawk.
+
+The coaching had become vehement, Harmony players seeking to unnerve
+Donohue by running back and forth around first, until the umpire called
+a halt on this proceeding, after Jack had drawn his attention to the
+infringement of the rules.
+
+Then Martin swung. He missed connection, and a groan arose from his
+crowd, while the Chester contingent cheered Donohue lustily. But Martin
+only smiled. Such a little thing as that was not going to faze him. He
+had still two more chances, and the next time he would make more
+certain.
+
+A deathly silence fell upon the crowd, waiting to see whether Harmony
+could pull the game out of the fire in the ninth, as had happened
+several times that same season, for they were famous on account of their
+rallies.
+
+Martin had a second strike called on him, though he made no effort to go
+after the ball. In fact, it must have passed him so speedily that he
+could not properly gauge whether it would be a strike or a ball.
+
+Then suddenly Donohue, taking his cue from a motion Jack made, changed
+his pace. Although he went through exactly the same gyrations as though
+about to send up another swift one, the ball came lazily floating
+through the air, and Martin was seen to viciously stab with his bat long
+before there was any chance to make connections.
+
+Bedlam broke loose again at that. Auto horns and sirens tooted
+strenuously, boys shrieked through megaphones, girls waved their flags
+furiously, and Donohue was greeted with encouraging shouts from every
+side. Really, he was working wonderfully well considering that he could
+be called a newcomer to the diamond. In time he was certain to make a
+name for himself among the big clubs, if some wandering scout ever heard
+of him, and visited Chester to size his work up.
+
+But here came Oldsmith, and there was that about his manner to proclaim
+how his whole heart was bent on making at least a single, if not better,
+so that Harmony might break the tie, and get the home team on the run.
+
+"Take him into camp, Alec!"
+
+"You've got his measure all right, old scout! Twice before he whiffed,
+and he's in line to make it three times!"
+
+"Feed him your best sizzlers, Donohue!"
+
+"Oldsmith, you're a back number today, don't you know?"
+
+Then they heard the bat connect with the ball. Clifford was off toward
+second in great style. Toby Hopkins threw himself and managed to stop
+the shoot that was headed for centre, but he could not get to Jones on
+second in time to nail the runner, for the umpire held up his hand, and
+that meant Clifford was safe.
+
+Again things began to look dark for Chester. Harmony had "found" Donohue
+at last, it seemed, and there could be no telling when the salvo of hits
+could stop. Perhaps the game would be "sewed up" right there, in case
+Harmony scored, and Hendrix shut his opponents out when their turn at
+bat came.
+
+Now it was Bailey up.
+
+The little shortstop was primed for anything. He struck at the first
+ball, and knocked a foul which dropped safe. Then he missed the next
+ball so that he was "two in the hole." Of course it was expected that
+Donohue would now try to deceive him by tempting him with a curve that
+would be wide of the plate; but Jack had signaled for a third one
+straight, and it came with swiftness.
+
+Bailey was ready, however, and knew he had to strike, for it would count
+against him at any rate. He got a fluke hit that started toward first.
+By jumping in Jack managed to pick up the ball, and then having touched
+the bag, he hurled it toward second in hopes of making a double play.
+
+Oldsmith, however, had made a fine slide, and was clutching the corner
+of the second sack when Jones took the ball; while Clifford had won
+third.
+
+There were now two down, with men on second and third.
+
+Everything depended on the next batter, and when it was seen to be that
+formidable slugger O'Leary, the home-run maker, how those Harmony
+rooters did scream. Some of the more irresponsible took to dancing like
+idiots, clasped in each other's arms. In fact, every known device for
+"rattling" a pitcher was resorted to, of course legitimately, in order
+to further their waning cause.
+
+Eagerly did many of the local fans watch to see whether Donohue gave any
+evidence of going to pieces. He seemed as cool as ever, and smiled as he
+handled the ball; while O'Leary was knocking his big bat on the ground
+to test its reliability, as though he meant to put it to some good
+service then and there. He was seen to turn his head and grin toward
+some of his ardent admirers in the bleachers back of him. By this means
+he doubtless informed them that he had been only playing with the
+tenderfoot pitcher hitherto, and would now proceed to show what strength
+lay in those muscular arms of his.
+
+Jack waved the fielders back. He anticipated that O'Leary was due for
+one of his famous lengthy drives, and it was necessary that those
+guarding the outer gardens should be in position to make a great run,
+once the ball left the bat. Still, he continued to feel fairly confident
+that Donohue would recover from his temporary set-back, and possibly
+deceive O'Leary, as he had done twice before.
+
+He realized that the crisis he had feared was now upon them. If O'Leary
+sent a scorcher toward Fred, how would the third baseman handle it?
+Clifford knew what was expected of him, and already part way home on the
+movement of the pitcher winding up to throw, he would shoot along at the
+crack of the bat, taking his chances, since there were already two down.
+
+He saw O'Leary actually turn his head slightly and take a quick look
+toward third as though making up his mind just where he wanted to send
+the ball, should he be able to connect with the horse-hide sphere. Jack
+felt a cold chill pass over him. Could it be possible that O'Leary
+actually _knew_ there was a weak link in the chain made by the
+infield, and figured on taking advantage of Fred's intended treachery?
+
+At that moment it seemed as though Jack lived years, so many things
+flashed into his mind. He even remembered how earlier in the game two
+men, strangers in town, had made themselves obnoxious by standing up in
+the bleacher seats and shaking handfuls of greenbacks, daring Chester
+people to back their favorites at odds of three to four. They had been
+spotted almost immediately, and the mayor of Chester ordered them to
+desist under penalty of being arrested, since it was against the law of
+the town for any sort of wagering to be indulged in.
+
+The presence of the local police, and their movement toward the spot had
+resulted in the two sporty looking strangers subsiding. Some of the
+Harmony boys, however, scoffed at such Puritanical methods of procedure,
+since over at their town things were allowed to run wide open; or at
+least winked at by the authorities.
+
+Jack had been too far away to make sure, but he had a suspicion that one
+of the pair of betting men looked very much like the party with whom he
+had seen Fred Badger in close conversation, and who had offered him a
+paper to sign, after which something passed between them that might have
+been money, though Jack had not been absolutely certain about that part
+of it.
+
+Deep down in his heart, Jack hoped most earnestly that the chance for
+Fred to soil his hands with any crooked work might not arise. It would
+be all right, for instance, if only Donohue could strike the great
+O'Leary out for the third time. Then again perhaps even though the
+batter managed to connect with the ball, he might be unable to send it
+straight toward Fred. It was liable to go in any other direction, and if
+a tally should result from the blow, at least it could not be placed to
+a supposed error on the part of Badger.
+
+Donohue delivered his first one wide of the plate. O'Leary laughed, and
+nodded his head, as though to tell the pitcher he was too old a bird to
+be caught with such chaff.
+
+"Make him put it over, Dan!"
+
+"Knock the stuffing out of the ball, O'Leary!"
+
+"One of your old-time homers is what we need, remember!"
+
+"You've got his number, Dan; don't bite at a wide one!"
+
+"You'll walk, all right; he's afraid of you, old scout!"
+
+All these and many other cries could be heard, but the players were
+paying no attention to the crowd now. Every fielder was "on his toes,"
+so to speak, anticipating that it might be up to him to save the day. In
+the main, the crowd was so anxious over the outcome of the next ball
+from the pitcher that they almost forgot to breathe, only watching the
+pitcher wind up preparatory to making his throw.
+
+Jack saw Fred give one of his quick looks toward the spot where pretty
+Molly Skinner sat. He hoped it meant that he had resolved to be staunch
+and true to his team-mates, and loyal to his native town, despite any
+terrible temptation that may have come to him in the shape of a big
+bribe.
+
+O'Leary had a peculiar crouch at the plate. His odd attitude made Jack
+think of a squatty spider about to launch itself at a blue-bottled fly
+that had ventured too near his corner. No doubt it accounted in some
+measure for his swatting ability, as he would necessarily put the whole
+force of his body in his blow. Often when he missed connections he would
+whirl all the way around; and then recovering make a humorous gesture
+toward his admirers in the crowd, for O'Leary, being Irish, was almost
+always in good humor, no matter what happened.
+
+He let the first ball speed past for a strike, and higher rose the
+excitement. The umpire called the second one a ball, which evened
+matters a little. Next came "strike two," and yet the great O'Leary
+waited, while his admirers began to feel fainthearted, fearing that he
+would stand there and be counted down when everything depended on his
+making a hit.
+
+Then there came an awful crack! O'Leary had picked out just the kind of
+a ball he wanted. It must have left his bat like a bullet, and Jack felt
+himself turn cold when he realized that the ball was headed straight as
+a die for Fred Badger!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE GAME CALLED BY DARKNESS
+
+
+A terrible roar broke forth from thousands of throats. Jack had actually
+closed his eyes for just a second, unable to witness what might be a
+plain palpable muff on the part of the tempted Fred. As he opened them
+again, unmindful of the fact that the batter was rushing toward him with
+all possible speed, he saw that while Fred had knocked the ball down he
+had also made a quick recovery.
+
+Just then, he was in the act of hurling it toward home, where Mullane
+had braced himself to receive the throw, and tag the oncoming runner
+out. Should Fred veer ever so little from a direct line throw he would
+pull the catcher aside, and thus give Clifford the opportunity he wanted
+to slide home.
+
+Away went the ball. Jack held his breath. He saw Mullane, reliable old
+Mullane, make a quick movement with his hands, and then throwing himself
+forward, actually fall upon the prostrate and sliding form of the
+Harmony lad.
+
+"You're out!"
+
+That was the umpire making his decision. Not one of the Harmony fellows
+as much as lifted a voice to dispute the verdict; in the first place,
+they knew Mr. Merrywether too well to attempt browbeating him at the
+risk of being taken out of the game; then again every one with eyes
+could see that Clifford had been three feet away from the plate when
+Mullane tagged him with the ball.
+
+How the crowd did carry on. A stranger chancing on the spot might have
+thought Pershing's gallant little army had managed to capture the
+Kaiser, or crossed the Rhine on its way to Berlin. Indeed, those
+"whoopers" could not have made more noise to the square inch under any
+conditions.
+
+And Jack's one thought was gratitude that after all Fred had been able
+to come through the great test with his honor unsullied. He had shot the
+ball as straight as a die at Mullane; and the game was still anybody's
+so far as victory was concerned.
+
+They played a tenth inning, and still not a runner so much as reached
+second. Really both pitchers seemed to be getting constantly better,
+strange to say, for they mowed the batters down in succession, or else
+caused them to pop up fouls that were readily captured by the first or
+third basemen, or the man behind the bat.
+
+This was not so wonderful on the part of the veteran Hendrix, for he was
+well seasoned in the game, and had been known to figure in a
+thirteen-inning deal, coming out ahead in the end when his opponent
+weakened. Everybody, however, declared it to be simply marvelous that a
+greenhorn slab-artist like young Donohue should prove to be the
+possessor of so much stamina.
+
+The eleventh inning went through in quick order. Still the tie remained
+unbroken, though Jack managed to get a single in his turn at bat. Phil
+Parker also rapped a ferocious screamer across the infield, but hit into
+a double that ended the hopeful rally at bat.
+
+When the twelfth opened up, a number of people were seen to start away.
+They may have been enthusiastic fans enough, but the day was waning,
+home might be far distant, and they did not like the way those clouds
+had rolled up, promising a storm sooner or later.
+
+The sun was out of sight long since, and objects could not be determined
+as easily as when the game began. Every little while that weather-sharp,
+Oliver, would take a sailor-like squint aloft, and chuckle to himself.
+Indeed, Specs, his companion, was of the opinion that Oliver would be
+willing to cheerfully take a good ducking if he could only have his
+scorned prediction prove a true shot.
+
+There were those present so intent on the game that they paid no
+attention to the gathering clouds, and the fact that it was getting
+difficult to see the ball. This latter fact was depended on to help
+bring matters to a focus, because errors were more likely to occur, any
+one of which might prove sufficient to let in the winning run.
+
+But if the fielders were thus handicapped, the batters had their own
+troubles. They could not distinguish the fast-speeding ball as it shot
+by, and consequently were apt to whack away at anything, so strike-outs
+must become the order of the day.
+
+The twelfth ended with nothing doing on either side. By now some of the
+boys were beginning to tire out, for the long strain was telling on
+them. These fellows of weak hearts were willing to have the game called
+a draw, which must be played over again at Harmony on the succeeding
+Saturday. As playing on the home ground is usually considered a great
+advantage, because the players are accustomed to every peculiarity of
+the field, Harmony would reap more or less profit from having the
+postponed game on their diamond. And consequently, when they trooped out
+for the finish of the thirteenth inning, several of them seemed to have
+conspired to delay play as much as possible.
+
+This they did in various ways. One fellow made out to have received a
+slight injury, and the umpire called time until a companion could wrap a
+rag around the scratched finger. Doubtless he would hardly like to show
+the extent of his hurt, but the wide grin on his face after the tedious
+operation had been concluded, told the truth; indeed, most of those
+present were able to guess his object.
+
+Then just as they settled down to play, another fielder called for time
+while he knelt down to fasten his shoe-lace which seemed to have come
+undone, and might trip him at a critical time when he was racing for a
+fly.
+
+The crowd yelled and jeered, but in spite of all, Clifford took a full
+minute and more to effect his purpose. Finally, rising, he waved his
+hand to the umpire to let him know the game could now proceed.
+
+The crowd knew that Harmony was fighting for time, anxious now to have
+the game called a draw, so that they might have another chance on their
+home grounds. Such yelling as took place. Harmony was loudly accused of
+weakening, and trying to crawl out of a tight hole. Loud calls were made
+for Big Bob at bat to knock one over the fence and lose the ball for
+keeps.
+
+He did his best, and every one leaped up when the sound of his bat
+striking the pellet sounded above all other noises. The ball went
+screeching over second, and apparently was tagged for a three-bagger at
+least; but Oldsmith had been playing deep when he saw who was up, and by
+making a most desperate effort he managed to clutch the ball just in
+time.
+
+That was the expiring effort on the part of Chester. The other two
+batters went out in quick order just as the first few drops of rain
+started to fall.
+
+It was now getting quite gloomy, and a hurried consultation between the
+umpire and the rival captains resulted in Mr. Merrywether announcing
+through a megaphone that the game would have to be declared a draw,
+which tie must be played off at Harmony, according to previous
+arrangements, on the following Saturday.
+
+Then the vast crowd commenced to scatter in a great hurry, fearful lest
+the rain start falling and drench them. There was more or less confusion
+as scores of cars and carryalls rushed along the road leading to
+Harmony, distant ten miles or more. Since everybody hurried, the grounds
+were soon deserted save by a few who remained to look after things.
+
+Jack and several of the boys would have lingered to talk matters over,
+but the lateness of the hour and the overcast sky forbade such a thing,
+so they, too, headed for their various homes.
+
+Jack, however, did manage to locate Fred, and made it a point to
+overtake the other on the road. He linked his arm with that of the third
+baseman, and dropped into step.
+
+"I want to say, Fred, that stop and throw of yours saved the day for
+Chester," he told the other. "If you had drawn Steve a foot away from
+home Clifford would have slid safe, for he was coming like a hurricane.
+Chester will remember that fine work of yours for a long time. And the
+girls, Fred, why I thought they'd have a fit, they carried on so. I'm
+sure you pleased some of your best friends a whole lot by being
+Johnny-on-the-spot today!"
+
+"Thank you for saying it, anyhow, Jack," the other was saying, and
+somehow Jack could not help thinking Fred did not show just as much
+gratification as most fellows would have done at being so highly
+complimented.
+
+But then, he must make allowances. If matters were as desperate as he
+suspected, poor Fred must by now be feeling the effect of having allowed
+his chance for securing all that money, so badly needed in order to help
+his mother, slip through his fingers. Now that all the excitement had
+died away, and he found himself face to face with the old question, with
+the prospect of seeing his mother's tired looks again reproaching him,
+Fred must be wondering whether he had after all chosen wisely in letting
+honor take the place of duty.
+
+So Jack commenced to chatter about the game, and how proud Chester folks
+would be of the young athletes who represented the town that day.
+
+"It's pretty evident, you must see, Fred," he continued, after thus
+arousing the other's interest, "that our big task of getting
+subscriptions toward building or renting a building for a club-house and
+gymnasium has been helped mightily by the clever work done this day. I
+heard of three influential gentlemen who had declared they were willing
+to take a hand, just because such determined and hard-playing boys stood
+in need of such an institution."
+
+"Yes, Chester has been away behind the times in looking after the morals
+and requirements of her young people," admitted Fred. "There's Marshall
+with its fine Y. M. C. A. building and gym., and even Harmony has a
+pretty good institution where the young fellows can belong, and spend
+many a winter's evening in athletic stunts calculated to build up their
+bodies, and make them more healthy."
+
+"Well, believe me, the day is about to dawn when Chester will be put on
+the map for the same stuff," asserted Jack, not boastingly, but with
+full confidence; "and these splendid baseball matches we're pulling off
+nowadays are bound to help to bring that same event to pass. Men who had
+almost forgotten that they used to handle a bat in their kid days have
+had their old enthusiasm for the national sport of America revived.
+Depend upon it, Fred, in good time we'll be playing football, hockey,
+basketball, and every sort of thing that goes to make up the life of a
+healthy boy."
+
+In this fashion did the pair talk as they hurried along. The drops were
+beginning to come down faster now, showing that when the game was
+called, it had been a very wise move, for many people must otherwise
+have been caught in the rain.
+
+Fred seemed to be fairly cheerful at the time Jack shook his hand again,
+and once more congratulated him on his fine work for the team. Looking
+back after they had parted, Jack saw the boy stop at his door and
+hesitate about entering, which seemed to be a strange thing for a member
+of the gallant baseball team that had covered themselves with glory on
+that particular day to do.
+
+But then Jack could guess how possibly Fred might be feeling his heart
+reproach him again because he had chosen his course along the line of
+honor. He must get a grip on himself before he could pass in and see
+that weary look on her face. Jack shook his head as he hurried on to his
+own house. He felt that possibly the crisis in Fred's young life had,
+after all, only been postponed, and not altogether passed. That terrible
+temptation might come to him again, more powerful than ever; and in the
+game at Harmony, if a choice were given him, would he be just as able to
+resist selling himself as he had on this wonderful day?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE PUZZLE GROWS
+
+
+It was just three days afterwards when Jack saw his two chums again. On
+Sunday morning his father had occasion to start to a town about thirty
+miles distant, to see a sick aunt who depended on him for advice. She
+had sent word that he must fetch Jack along with him, Jack being the old
+lady's special favorite and probably heir to her property.
+
+Jack's father was a lawyer, and often had trips to make in connection
+with real estate deals, and estates that were located in distant parts.
+Consequently, it was nothing unusual for him to receive a sudden call.
+Jack might have preferred staying in Chester, where things were
+commencing to grow pretty warm along the line of athletics, his favorite
+diversion. His parents, however, believed it would be unwise to offend
+the querulous old dame who was so crotchetty that she might take it into
+her head to change her will, and leave everything to some society for
+the amelioration of the condition of stray cats. It would be a great
+pity to have all that fine property go out of the Winters' family, they
+figured; and perhaps they were wise in thinking that way; little Jack
+cared about it, not being of a worldly mind.
+
+So when he sighted Toby and Steve on the afternoon of his return, he
+gave the pair a hail, and quickly joined them on the street.
+
+"Glad you've got back home, Jack, sure I am," said Toby, the first
+thing.
+
+"Why," added Steve, "we didn't even get a chance to compare notes with
+you about that great game on Saturday, though Toby and myself have
+talked the subject threadbare by now."
+
+"And one thing we both agree about, Jack," continued Toby, with a grin.
+
+"What's that?" demanded the other.
+
+"Fred saved the day when he stopped that terrible line drive of O'Leary,
+and shot the ball home as straight as a die. No professional player
+could possibly have done it a shade better, I'm telling you."
+
+"It was a grand play," admitted Jack, "and I told Fred so while we
+walked home together."
+
+Steve looked keenly at him when Jack said this.
+
+"Oh! then you got a chance to talk with Fred after the game, did you?"
+he ventured to say, in a queer sort of way. "How did Fred act then,
+Jack?"
+
+"Well, I must say he didn't impress me as being over-enthusiastic,"
+admitted Jack. "You see, he had done his whole duty in the heat of
+action, and after he had a chance to cool off and realize what he had
+lost, he may have felt a touch of remorse, for he certainly does love
+that poor mother of his a heap. I can understand just how he must be
+having a terrible struggle in his mind as to what is the right course
+for him to pursue."
+
+At that Toby gave a snort that plainly told how he was beginning to
+doubt certain things in which he had hitherto fully believed.
+
+"Now, looky here, Jack," he started to say good-humoredly, "don't you
+reckon that you might have been mistaken in thinking poor Fred was
+dickering with some of those men to throw the game, so they could make
+big money out of if? Why, after all, perhaps his looking so dismal comes
+from his feeling so bad about his mother. We ought to give him the
+benefit of the doubt, I say."
+
+"I sometimes feel that way myself, Toby, don't you know?" acknowledged
+Jack in his usual frank fashion. "And yet when I consider the
+conditions, and remember how suspiciously Fred acted with that
+sporty-looking gentleman, I find myself owning up that it looks bad for
+the boy. But at any rate he succeeded in fighting his own battle, and
+winning a victory over his temptation."
+
+"But, Jack, I'm afraid he's bound to have to go through the whole
+business again," interposed Steve.
+
+"Do you know I more than half suspected you had got wind of something
+new in the affair, Steve," Jack told him. "I could see how your eyes
+glistened as you listened to what Toby here was saying; and once or
+twice you opened your mouth to interrupt him, but thought better of it.
+Now tell us what it means, Steve."
+
+"For one thing, that man has been at Fred again," asserted the other,
+positively.
+
+"Do you know this for a certainty?" Jack asked.
+
+"Why, I saw them talking, I tell you," explained Steve, persistently.
+"This is how it came about. You see, yesterday, as Toby here couldn't go
+fishing with me I started off alone, taking my bait pail and rod along,
+and bent on getting a mess of perch at a favorite old fishin' hole I
+knew along the shore of the lake about a mile or so from town."
+
+"Meaning that same place you showed me, near where the road comes down
+close to the shore of the water?" suggested Toby, quickly.
+
+"Right you are, son," continued Steve, nodding his head as he spoke.
+"Well, I had pretty fair luck for a while, and then the perch quit
+taking hold, so I sat down to wait till they got hungry again. And while
+I squatted there on the log that runs out over the water at my favorite
+hole, I heard the mutter of voices as some people came slowly along the
+road.
+
+"First I didn't pay much attention to the sounds, believing that just as
+like as not it was a couple of town boys, and I didn't like the idea of
+their finding out where I got such heavy strings of fish once in so
+often. And then as they passed closer to me something familiar in one of
+the voices made me twist my head around.
+
+"Well, it was Fred Badger, all right, walking along with that same
+sporty-looking stranger. And say, he isn't such a bad-looking customer
+after all, Jack, when you get a close look at him, being gray-bearded,
+and a bit halting in his walk like he might have been injured some time
+or other. It's more the clothes he wears that give him the sporty
+appearance, though, if you say he's one of that betting bunch up at
+Harmony, he must be a bad lot.
+
+"They had their heads together, and seemed to be discussing something at
+a great rate. I couldn't hear what they said, the more the pity, for it
+might have given us a line on the whole silly business; but the man
+seemed trying to convince Fred about something, and the boy was arguing
+kind of feebly as if ready to give in. Well, something tempted me to
+give a cough after I'd stood up on the log. Both of 'em looked that way
+in a hurry. I waved my hand at Fred, and he answered my signal, but
+while you might have expected that he'd come back to ask what luck I
+had, and mebbe introduce his friend, he didn't do that same by a
+jugfull. Fact is he said something to the man, and the two of them
+hurried along the road."
+
+Jack felt his heart grow heavy again. He was taking a great interest in
+the affairs of Fred Badger, and would be very much shocked should the
+other fall headlong into the net that seemed to be spread for his young
+feet.
+
+"I know for one thing," he told the others, "I'll be mighty glad when
+that tie game is played off with Harmony, no matter which side wins the
+verdict. And I hope Fred is given no such chance to choose between right
+and wrong as came his way last Saturday. If those men increase the bribe
+his scruples may give way. And if only Fred could understand that his
+mother would utterly refuse to profit by his dishonor, he might have his
+heart steeled to turn the tempters down."
+
+"Then, Jack, why don't you try and figure out how you could put it up to
+Fred that way?" urged Toby, eagerly.
+
+"I've tried to think how it could be done without offending him, or
+allowing him to suspect that I know what he's going through," mused
+Jack. "There might be a way to mention a hypothetical case, as though it
+were some other fellow I once knew who had the same kind of choice put
+up to him, and took the wrong end, only to have his father or sister,
+for whom he had sinned, reproach him bitterly, and refuse to accept
+tainted money."
+
+"Gee whiz! it does take you to hatch up ways and means, Jack!" exclaimed
+Toby, delightedly. "Now, I should say that might be a clever stunt. You
+can warn him without making him feel that you're on to his game. Figure
+it out, Jack, and get busy before next Saturday comes, won't you?"
+
+"Yes," added Steve, "Fred Badger is too good a fellow to let drop. We
+need him the worst kind to fill that gap at third. Besides, suspecting
+what we do, it would be a shame for us not to hold out a helping hand to
+a comrade who's up against it good and hard."
+
+"What you say, Steve, does your big heart credit," remarked Jack, "but
+it might be wise for us to drop our voices a little, because somehow we
+have wandered on, and are right now getting pretty close to Fred's home,
+which you know lies just on the other side of that clump of bushes."
+
+"Did you steer us this way on purpose, Jack!" demanded Toby,
+suspiciously.
+
+"Why, perhaps I had a little notion of stopping in and seeing Mrs.
+Badger," admitted the other, chuckling. "In fact, my mother commissioned
+me to fetch this glass of home-made preserves over to her, knowing that
+Fred's mother has not been at all well. Yes, I own up I was influential
+in making her think that way, and was on my way when I ran across you
+fellows."
+
+"Huh! I wouldn't be at all surprised, Jack!" declared Toby, "if you had
+a scheme in your mind right now to put a crimp in this foolishness on
+the part of Fred Badger."
+
+"I'm not saying I haven't, remember, fellows," laughed the other, who
+evidently did not mean to show his full hand just then. "When the time
+comes perhaps I'll let you in on this thing. I want to do some more
+thinking first, though. Many a good idea is wasted because it isn't
+given a foundation in the beginning. Now, suppose you boys wait for me
+here while I step around and leave this little comfit with Mrs. Badger
+with my mother's compliments."
+
+"Just as you say, Jack," muttered Steve, looking rather unhappy because
+lie was not to be taken wholly into the confidence of the other. "Don't
+stay too long, though, unless you mean to tell us all that happens in
+there."
+
+Jack only smiled in return, and stepped forward. His comrades saw him
+suddenly draw back as though he had made a discovery. Then turning
+toward them, he beckoned with his hand, at the same time holding up a
+warning finger as though telling them not to make the least noise.
+
+"Now, what's in the wind, Jack?" whispered Toby, as they reached the
+side of the other.
+
+"Take a peek and see who's here!" Jack told them.
+
+At that both the others advanced cautiously and stared beyond the big
+clump of high bushes. They almost immediately shrank back again, and the
+look on their faces announced the receipt of quite a shock.
+
+"Great Caesar! is that chap the man you've both been talking about, tell
+me?" asked Toby, half under his breath.
+
+"He is certainly the party I saw Fred talking with so mysteriously,"
+asserted Jack, positively.
+
+"And the same fellow who was walking along the road with Fred while I
+sat on my log, fishing," added Steve, convincingly.
+
+"But what under the sun is he doing out here near Fred's house, leaning
+on that fence, and keeping tabs on the little Badger home, I'd like to
+know?" Toby went on to say, wonder written in big letters on his face.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A FAIRY IN THE BADGER HOME
+
+
+"Let's watch and see what it all means?" suggested Steve, quickly.
+
+Even Jack did not seem averse to doing that same thing. In fact, his
+curiosity had been aroused to fever pitch by so unexpectedly discovering
+the very man of whom they had been lately talking hovering around poor
+Fred's home in such a suspicious fashion.
+
+Peeping around the high bushes again, they saw him leaning idly on the
+picket fence. He seemed to have a stout cane, and was smoking a cigar,
+though in his undoubted eagerness to keep "tabs" on the humble house he
+forgot to draw smoke from the weed between his teeth.
+
+"I must say this is going it pretty strong," grumbled Toby, half under
+his breath; "to have that chap prowling around Fred's home, just like he
+was afraid the boy'd get out of his grip, and so meant to find a
+stronger hold on him."
+
+"That's it," assented Steve; "he wants to learn why Fred seems to hold
+back. He means to meet the little mother, and the two small girls, one
+of 'em a cripple in the bargain. It's a shame that he should push
+himself in on that family, and he a city sport in the bargain. We ought
+to find a way to chase him out of town, don't you think, Jack?"
+
+"Hold up, and perhaps we may learn something right now," whispered the
+other, after a hasty look; "because there's Fred's mother coming out of
+the door."
+
+"Gee whiz! can she be meaning to meet this man?" ventured Toby,
+apparently appalled by his own suspicion.
+
+"Well, hardly likely," Jack told him, "because the man has ducked down
+as if he didn't want to be seen by her, though he's looking like
+everything all the while."
+
+"That's little Barbara Badger, the five-year-old sister of Fred," Steve
+was saying. "She's got a basket on her arm, too, and I reckon her ma is
+sending her to the store down the street for a loaf of bread, or
+something like that. Everybody seems to agree that Barbara is the most
+winsome little girl in the whole of Chester."
+
+"Barring none," admitted Toby, immediately. "Why, she's just like a
+little golden-haired fairy, my dad says, and since he's something of an
+artist he ought to know when he sees one. Yep, you were right, Steve,
+the child is going after something at the store. I wonder now would that
+wretch have the nerve to stop Barbara, and try to get some information
+from the little thing?"
+
+"What if he tries to kidnap her?" suggested Steve, suddenly, doubling up
+his sturdy looking fist aggressively, as though to indicate that it
+would not be safe for the stranger to attempt such a terrible thing
+while he was within hearing distance.
+
+"Oh! I hardly think there's any fear of that happening," Jack assured
+the aggressive member of the trio. "But he acts now as if he meant to
+drop back here out of sight, so perhaps we'd better slip around this
+bunch of bushes so he won't learn how we've been watching him."
+
+Suiting their actions to Jack's words, the three boys quickly "made
+themselves scarce," which was no great task when such an admirable
+hiding-place as that stack of bushes lay conveniently near by. Sure
+enough, the stranger almost immediately came around the clump and made
+sure that it hid him from the small cottage lying beyond. Jack, taking a
+look on his own account from behind the bushes, saw that Mrs. Badger had
+started to reenter the house; while pretty little Barbara was
+contentedly trudging along the cinder pavement.
+
+Evidently the child was quite accustomed to doing errands of this nature
+for her mother, when Fred did not happen to be around; nor was it likely
+that Mrs. Badger once dreamed Barbara might get into any sort of
+trouble, for the neighborhood, while not fashionable, was at least said
+to be safe, and honest people dwelt there.
+
+"He's staring as hard as anything at Barbara," whispered Toby, who had
+been peeping. "Why, he acts for all the world like he could fairly eat
+the sweet little thing up. Perhaps it's a good job we chance to be
+around here after all," but Jack shook his head as though he did not
+dream any harm was going to come to little Barbara.
+
+"If he's so much taken up watching her," he remarked, "we can spy on him
+without his being any the wiser. But take care not to move too quickly
+at any time; and a sneeze or a cough would spoil everything for us."
+
+Accordingly, they crept forward. Looking cautiously around their covert,
+the boys could easily see that Barbara Badger had by now turned the
+bushes and reached the spot where the stranger stood.
+
+Now he was speaking to her, bending low, and using what struck the
+suspicious Steve as a wheedling tone; though to Jack it was just what
+any gentleman might use in seeking to gain the confidence of a child who
+had never seen him before.
+
+Apparently the little girl did not seem to be afraid. Perhaps she was
+accustomed to having people speak kindly to her on the street, just to
+see that winsome smile break over her wonderfully pretty face. At any
+rate, she had answered him, and as he started to walk slowly at her
+side, it seemed as though they had entered into quite an animated
+conversation, the stranger asking questions, and the little girl giving
+such information as lay in her power.
+
+"He's just trying to find out how the land lies in Fred's house, that's
+what he's doing, the sneak!" gritted Steve.
+
+"Oh! how do we know but what the man has a small girl of his own
+somewhere?" Jack interposed; "and Barbara somehow reminds him of her.
+Besides, can you blame anybody for trying to get acquainted with Fred's
+sweet little sister?"
+
+Steve subsided after that. Apparently he could find no answer to the
+logic Jack was able to bring against his suspicions. By skirting the
+inside of a fence it would be possible for them to follow after the man
+and the child without disclosing their presence.
+
+"Let's do it!" suggested Steve, after Toby had made mention of this
+fact.
+
+Accordingly they started to steal along. As the others were walking very
+slowly the three boys found no great difficulty in keeping close behind
+them. They could even pick up something of what passed between the pair
+on the cinder pavement. The man was asking Barbara about her home folks,
+and seemed particularly interested in hearing about mother's pale looks
+and many sighs; and also how sister Lucy seemed to be able to walk
+better lately than at any time in the past; though she did have to use a
+crutch; but she hoped to be able to go to school in the fall if she
+continued to improve.
+
+Fred's name did not seem to be mentioned once by the man. Even when
+Barbara told some little thing in which the boy figured, the man failed
+to ask about him. His whole interest was centered in the mother, the
+crippled child, and this wonderfully attractive little angel at his
+side.
+
+Jack also noticed that he had hold of Barbara's small hand, which he
+seemed to be clutching eagerly. Yes, it must be the man had a daughter
+of his own far away, and memories of her might be making him sorry that
+he had engaged in such a disreputable business as tempting Barbara's
+brother to betray his mates of the baseball team.
+
+Then the man stopped short. He had looked around and discovered that if
+he went any further he might be noticed from the side windows of the
+Badger cottage. Apparently he did not wish that the child's mother
+should discover him walking with her. Jack somehow felt an odd thrill
+shoot through him when he saw the man suddenly bend his head and press
+several kisses on the little hand that had been nestling so confidingly
+in his own palm. That one act seemed to settle it in the boy's mind that
+there was more or less truth in his conjecture in connection with
+another Barbara in some distant city waiting for her father to come back
+home.
+
+"Say, he's acting real spoony, isn't he, Jack?" gasped Toby, taken aback
+as he saw the man do this. "I reckon now, Steve, your ogre isn't
+_quite_ as tough a character as you imagined. He's got a spark of
+human about him, seems like, and like most Chester folks has to knuckle
+down before that pretty kid."
+
+"Oh! he may be acting that way for a purpose," grumbled the unconvinced
+Steve, still unwilling to give up. "Such fellows generally have a deep
+game up their sleeve, you understand. Just wait and see, that's all,
+Toby Hopkins. I don't like his actions one little bit, if you want to
+know how I feel about it."
+
+Almost immediately afterwards Toby spoke again in a guarded tone.
+
+"Look at her picking something up from among the cinders, and holding it
+out! Why, it looks like a shining new fifty-cent bit, which is just what
+it is. And to think we walked right over it when we came along, and not
+one of us glimpsed what the sharp eyes of that child have found."
+
+"Huh! mebbe it wasn't there when we came along, Toby!" suggested Steve.
+"Just as like as not that chap he dropped the coin, and ground it
+part-way into the cinders with his toe, then managed so little Barbara
+should pick it up. There, listen to him now telling her that findings is
+keepings, and that the money belongs to her by right of discovery. That
+was a smart dodge, wasn't it? I wonder what his game is. Can you guess
+it, Jack?"
+
+"I decline to commit myself to an answer," came the reply.
+
+"That means you've got some sort of hazy suspicion, which may and again
+may not pan out later on," hinted Steve. "Oh! well, it seems as if we've
+run smack up against a great puzzle, and I never was a good hand at
+figuring such things out--never guessed a rebus or an acrostic in my
+whole life. Tell us when you strike pay dirt, that's a good fellow,
+Jack."
+
+"Perhaps I will," chuckled the other, still keeping his eyes glued on
+the figures of little Barbara and the stranger, not far distant.
+
+Now the man had evidently said good-bye, for, as she tripped along the
+walk, she turned to wave her chubby hand to him, and even kiss the tips
+of her fingers to her scarlet rosebud lips as if sending a kiss back.
+
+He stood there staring after her. Jack watching saw him take out a
+handkerchief and wipe his eyes several times. Apparently that meeting
+with Barbara Badger had affected the man considerably. Jack hoped it
+would be for his good, and also for the benefit of Fred Badger, who
+seemed to be struggling with some secret that was weighing his young
+spirit down.
+
+Then the man turned and looked long and earnestly back toward the humble
+cottage home of the widow. He was shaking his head and muttering
+something half under his breath; but somehow Jack thought he did not
+look very ferocious just then. In fact, after the man strode away and
+they were free to once more come out on the walk, Jack had a feeling
+that the stranger did not appear quite so much like a desperate city
+sport as he had formerly believed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE WARNING
+
+
+"Hello! there, Jack, you're wanted!"
+
+The boys were practicing on the following afternoon when this hail
+reached the ears of the first baseman, diligently stopping terrific
+grounders that came from the bat of substitute catcher, Hemming, the
+best man on the nine for this sort of work.
+
+So Jack trotted in toward the group near the bench. A score or two of
+boys, with also a sprinkling of enthusiastic girls, had gathered to
+watch and admire the different plays which were put through, and to
+generously applaud any especially clever one.
+
+Jack saw a boy leave the group and advance toward him. He felt a little
+apprehension when he recognized Bailey, the smart shortstop of the
+famous Harmony nine. What did this mean? Could it be possible that those
+fellows of the other town had gotten "cold feet" after the last game,
+and were about to withdraw from the match to play out the tie?
+
+Jack could hardly believe such a thing possible. He knew and respected
+Martin, the gentlemanly captain of the rival team, too well, to think he
+would show the white feather. Why, it would be talked about all through
+the county, and Harmony could never again make any boast. Oh! no,
+something of a minor nature must have come up, and Martin wished to
+consult with the captain of the Chester nine in advance--possibly some
+local ground rule had been framed which, in all honor, he believed the
+others ought to know about before the time came to apply it.
+
+"Hello! Jack!" said Bailey with the easy familiarity that boys in
+general show when dealing with one another, though they may even be
+comparative strangers.
+
+"Glad to see you, Bailey," returned the other. "What brings you over
+this way again? Anything new come up?"
+
+None of the other players had followed Bailey when he advanced. They
+seemed to take it for granted that if it was any of their business, Jack
+would be sure to call them up.
+
+"Why, something has happened that we thought you fellows ought to know
+about," continued the shortstop of the Harmony team, with a little trace
+of confusion in his manner.
+
+"And Captain Martin sent you over as a messenger, is that it, Bailey?"
+asked Jack, shaking hands cordially; for he had liked the other chap
+through all the two games already played; Bailey was clean in everything
+he did, and that sort of a boy always appealed to Jack Winters,
+detesting fraud and trickery as he did.
+
+"That's it, Jack. He gave me this note to deliver; and I'm to answer any
+questions you may see fit to ask."
+
+There was something a bit queer in the other's manner as he said this;
+and the way in which he thrust out a sealed envelope at the same time
+smacked of the dramatic. Jack took it with rising curiosity. Really,
+this began to assume a more serious aspect than he had at first thought
+could be possible. It was therefore with considerable interest he tore
+off the end of the envelope, and pulled out the enclosure, which proved
+to be a full page of writing easily deciphered.
+
+Since it is necessary that the contents of that missive should be
+understood by the reader we shall take the liberty of looking over
+Jack's shoulder and devouring Martin's letter as eagerly as the
+recipient did.
+
+"To the Captain and Members of the Chester Baseball Team:
+
+"We, the entire Harmony baseball organization, take this method of
+warning you that it is more than half suspected there is a miserable
+plot afloat to cause you fellows to lose the game next Saturday through
+a fluke. It may not be true, but we believe it to be our duty to put you
+on your guard, because we would disdain to profit by any such trickery
+bordering on a crime. There are some reckless sports up from the city,
+who have been wagering heavily on our winning out. After the game last
+Saturday, it seems that they have begun to get cold feet, and believe
+that Harmony might not have such a soft snap as they thought when they
+made all those heavy wagers. Needless to state the boys of the team do
+not share in their fears, for we are perfectly confident that we can
+down you again, as we did in the first game. But we would be ashamed if
+anything happened to cast the slightest doubt on the glory of our
+anticipated victory. We believe you Chester fellows to be an honorable
+lot and no matter whoever wins we want it to be a victory as clean and
+honest as they make them. We intend to have men on the watch for crooked
+business. One thing we beg you to do, which is to set a guard on your
+water-bucket, and _allow no one not a player on your side to go
+anywhere near it!_ There have been occasions on record where dope was
+given through the drinking water, that made players sick, and unable to
+do their best in the game, thus losing for their side.
+
+"We send you this, believing that you will give us full credit for being
+lovers of clean sport. So keep in the pink of condition for Saturday,
+and able to do your prettiest, for, believe us, you will have need of
+every ounce of ability you possess, because Hendrix says he never felt
+more fit in his life.
+
+                                        Signed   CAPTAIN LEM MARTIN,
+                              For the entire Harmony Baseball Team."
+
+When Jack had finished reading this remarkable letter, the first thing
+he did was characteristic of the boy--he reached out his hand toward
+Bailey.
+
+"Shake again, Bailey! I honor such sentiments, and believe me, the boys
+of Chester will never forget such a friendly spirit as your team shows.
+We, too, would refuse to play in a game where we had the slightest
+reason to believe crooked work was going on, that would be to the
+disadvantage of our adversaries."
+
+The little shortstop's eyes glistened as he wrung Jack's hand.
+
+"Glad to see you take it in the right spirit, old fellow," he hastened
+to say. "We were horribly worked up when we got wind of this business
+through sheer accident. Only a mean skunk like a tricky sport from the
+city could dream of doing such a thing. But now it's come out, you'll
+find that all Harmony will be on edge looking for signs of treachery
+toward you fellows."
+
+"How about telling the other boys?" inquired Jack.
+
+"You're at perfect liberty to do that," the shortstop assured him. "In
+fact, we expected you would. The sooner the news is carried through
+Chester the better chance that nothing so low-down will be attempted;
+and no matter how the game turns out, it will be clean. Much as we want
+to win we all agree that we'd rather be badly licked by Chester than
+have it ever said there was a shadow of fraud on our victory."
+
+So Jack beckoned to the rest.
+
+"Only the members of the team, subs. as well as regulars, are wanted
+here!" he called aloud; and accordingly, they came forward, most of the
+boys exchanging looks of natural curiosity, and doubtless fearing that
+some hitch had occurred in the programme for the ensuing Saturday.
+
+Judge of their amazement when Jack read aloud the letter from Captain
+Martin. It seemed almost unbelievable to some of the boys. Others who
+always made it a practice to glean all the baseball news in the city
+papers that came to certain Chester homes, may have known that such evil
+practices had been attempted occasionally, especially where unprincipled
+men began to wager money on the result of championship games.
+
+All of them seemed unanimously of the opinion that Harmony had evinced a
+most laudable and sportsmanlike spirit in sending this strange warning.
+It made them feel that in struggling for the mastery on the diamond with
+such manly fellows, they were up against the right kind of foe-men.
+Indeed, even a defeat at the hands of Harmony would not seem so dreadful
+a disaster, now that they knew Martin and his crowd to be such good
+fellows.
+
+Bailey did not wait to listen to many of the remarks that followed the
+reading of the letter. He could see that Chester had received the
+warning in the same friendly spirit in which it had been sent; and this
+was the news he meant to carry back with him.
+
+"I want to own up they're a pretty decent bunch of ball players after
+all!" declared Phil Parker, who had been known to say a few hard things
+about the hustling Harmony boys after that first game, in which Jack's
+team was given such a lively set-back.
+
+"Glad you've found that out, Phil," remarked Steve Mullane, drily. "Next
+time don't be so quick to judge your opponents. Because a chap happens
+to be a hustler on the baseball or football field, isn't a sign that
+he's anything of a brute in private life. Only the hustlers succeed on
+the diamond. Umpire-baiters are sometimes the kind of men who are
+bullied by a little bit of a woman at home."
+
+"That's right for you, Steve!" declared Herbert Jones, nodding his head
+in the affirmative. "I've got an uncle who used to be known as a regular
+scorcher on the gridiron, and who gained the name of a terror; but, say,
+you ought to see that big hulk wash dishes for Mrs. Jones, who can walk
+under his arm. Why, in private life he's as soft as mush, and his
+fog-horn voice is toned down to almost the squeak of a fiddle when he
+sings the baby to sleep. It isn't always safe to judge a man by what he
+does when he's playing ball."
+
+"But just think of the meanness of those men wanting to put some kind of
+dope in our drinking water!" ejaculated Fred Badger in evident anger.
+"Why, they might have made some of us real sick in the bargain, as well
+as lost us the game. Such scoundrels ought to be locked up; they're a
+menace to any community."
+
+"Well, Harmony town is responsible for pretty much all of this,"
+suggested Jack. "They are letting things go along over there that sleepy
+old Chester never would think of permitting. Those who sow the wind must
+expect to reap the whirlwind sooner or later."
+
+"Yes," added Toby Hopkins, with a snort, "they seemed to think it gave
+tone to their games to have those city men come up and back Harmony with
+money. Let's hope that after the lesson our worthy mayor set them last
+Saturday and with this disgrace threatening their good name those
+Harmony folks will get busy cleaning their Augean stables before any
+real harm is done."
+
+Every one had an opinion, and yet they were pretty much along similar
+lines. The Chester boys thought it terrible that such a warning had to
+be sent out; though of course they all gave Martin and his crowd full
+credit for doing the right thing.
+
+Jack was interested in watching Fred Badger, and listening to what he
+had to say from time to time. Apparently Fred was as indignant as any of
+them, and so far as Jack could tell there was not a particle of sham
+about his fervent denunciation of the evil deed contemplated by those
+strangers anxious to beat the Chester people, who wagered with them, out
+of their money.
+
+And yet what else could be expected of such men, accustomed to evil
+ways, and earning their money at race-tracks and the like? What of a boy
+who had the confidence of his mates on the team, conspiring to sell them
+out for a bribe? Jack fairly writhed as he thought of it. Looking at
+Fred's earnest face as he spoke he could not bring himself to fully
+believe the other capable of attempting such a dastardly trick; and yet
+Jack had his fears all the same.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+SITTING ON THE LID
+
+
+The troubles and tribulations of the captain of a baseball team are
+many, and ofttimes peculiar, as Jack was fast finding out. A load of
+responsibility rests on his shoulders such as none of the other players
+knows. He must watch every fellow, and notice the slightest
+deterioration in his playing; be ready to chide, or give encouraging
+words; and lie awake nights cudgeling his brains to discover a way of
+getting better work out of certain delinquent members of the nine, or
+else making way for a substitute who gives promise of being worth his
+salt.
+
+Jack was already having troubles enough, he thought, what with the petty
+annoyances, his grave suspicions of Fred Badger's loyalty, and now this
+prospect of foul play being attempted by those evil-disposed men from
+the city, only bent on reaping a harvest of money from the outcome of
+the game. There was more to come for the boy who was "sitting on the
+lid," it turned out.
+
+Donohue had been acting somewhat queerly during the last two days, Jack
+noticed. True enough, he came to the practice games, and seemed to have
+all of his old cunning in his arm when they had him pitch, striking out
+men at pleasure; but he never smiled, would draw off to himself
+frequently, and was seen to shake his head as though his thoughts could
+not be any too pleasant.
+
+What could be ailing the boy, Jack wondered? Surely after his wonderful
+and even brilliant work in the box on the preceding Saturday, Alec was
+not beginning to doubt his ability to turn back those sluggers on
+Harmony's roll. No, Jack concluded that it could not be this.
+
+"I've just _got_ to get Alec by himself, and have it out with him!"
+he told Toby, with whom he had been earnestly discussing the matter.
+"Whatever is troubling the boy, the sooner it's laid the better; for if
+he keeps on in the frame of mind he seems to be in just now, it's bound
+to affect his work when we want him to be at his very best."
+
+"That's the only way to do, Jack," his chum assured him. "Get Alec by
+himself, and talk to him like a Dutch uncle. Nobody can do it as well as
+you, I'm sure. And, Jack, if there's any way I can help, any of us, in
+fact, remember you've only got to speak. Every fellow on the nine would
+work his fingers to the bone to please you. And, besides, we've got our
+hearts set on winning that game. It would mean the making of Chester as
+a town where clean sport for boys is indulged in."
+
+Jack therefore watched until he saw Alec Donohue put on his coat and
+saunter off, as though heading for home. Then he proceeded to follow
+after the pitcher.
+
+"I'm going your way, Alec," he remarked, when the other turned his head
+and lifted his eyebrows in some little surprise at discovering the
+captain of the nine trotting along in his wake. "Besides, I want to have
+a nice little talk with you while we have the chance."
+
+Young Donohue flushed a bit.
+
+"I rather half expected you'd say that, Jack," he remarked, with a tinge
+of distress in his voice. "But, after all, the sooner it's over with the
+better, I reckon. I was trying to muster up enough courage to speak to
+you about it this afternoon, but I felt too hanged bad even to get
+started."
+
+Jack became alarmed.
+
+"I've noticed that you seemed anything but happy lately, Alec," he
+hastened to say, as he threw an arm across the shoulders of the pitcher,
+"and it began to bother me a heap; because I know a pitcher can hardly
+deliver his best goods unless he's feeling as fit as a fiddle. What's
+gone wrong? I hope you're not feeling sick, or anything like that?"
+
+Alec swallowed hard before starting to make answer to this question.
+
+"Never felt better in my whole life, Jack, so far as my body goes; and,
+if I do say it myself, I firmly believe I'd be able to do better work on
+Saturday than any of you have ever seen me give. But I'm in a peck of
+trouble at home, and I'm terribly afraid that I won't be able to pitch
+again for Chester."
+
+"How is that, Alec!" asked the other, solicitously.
+
+"Why, I may not be living in the town on Saturday, you see, and one of
+the rules of our match games is that every player shall be a resident of
+the town his club represents. My folks are going to move to Harmony on
+Friday, sure!"
+
+"That's bad for us, Alec," admitted Jack, his heart sinking as he
+remembered how ineffectual McGuffey had been in the box even while
+Chester was scoring against the Harmony man; and with Hendrix sending
+his puzzling shoots over, defeat was positive for Chester unless they
+had Donohue to depend on. "Tell me how it happens, will you?"
+
+"Why, my father lost his job a few weeks back, being sick for a spell.
+He doesn't seem able to strike anything here, but is promised a good job
+up in Harmony on condition that he moves there right away, so he can
+start in Saturday. And, Jack, he said this morning that much as he hated
+to leave town, there wasn't any other way out; so we're going the day
+after tomorrow. I knew I'd have to tell you, but, say, every time I
+tried to speak it seemed like I'd choke."
+
+It was a time for quick thinking with Jack.
+
+"I wish you could hold this off for just twenty-four hours, Alec," he
+told the other. "Perhaps I may find a way out long before then. Could
+you promise me that?"
+
+"Sure thing, Jack, and believe me I'd be mighty happy if only you did
+run across a way of bridging this trouble. But we're out of money at
+home, and jobs don't seem to be floating around in Chester, at least for
+men as old as my dad."
+
+"Would you mind telling me what he was promised over at Harmony?"
+continued the other, at which question Alec started, and looked eagerly
+at him.
+
+"Why, you see, all my dad's fit for these days, with his rheumatism
+bothering him, is a job as night watchman in some factory or mill. That
+was what he has been promised in Harmony."
+
+"And what wages does he expect to draw down, Alec? I'm not asking from
+any curiosity, remember, but I ought to know if I'm going to try to get
+your father a position here in his old town where he's known so well and
+respected; and where his eldest son is making such a name for himself as
+a sterling baseball player."
+
+"He is promised twenty-one a week, Jack. You see, in these times wages
+have all gone up to meet the high cost of living. Time was when he only
+got fifteen per. I reckon now, it's your plan to interview some of the
+gentlemen who are interested in baseball, and that you hope they'll
+consent to give my dad a steady job so as to keep the Donohue family in
+Chester. Well, here's hoping you strike luck, Jack. If you do I'll be
+the happiest boy in Chester tonight, and ready to pitch my arm off
+Saturday so as to bring another Harmony scalp home."
+
+They shook hands heartily, and then Jack scurried away. It was one of
+his cardinal principles never to delay when he had anything of
+importance on his hands. So a short time later he entered one of the big
+hives of industry that was managed by Mr. Charles Taft, a middle-aged
+gentleman who seemed greatly interested in the rise of boys' sports in
+Chester, and who had already favored Jack on several occasions.
+
+It was partly through his generosity that the team had been able to
+secure suits and outfits in the way of bats, balls, bases, and such
+things, when the season began. More than that, it was this same Mr. Taft
+who had gladly agreed to let one of his workers have an occasional
+afternoon off duty when his services were required to coach the
+struggling ball players, sadly in need of professional advice and
+encouragement.
+
+When the boy was ushered into his private office, the stout gentleman
+held out his hand, and smiled pleasantly. He was a great and constant
+admirer of Jack Winters, because he could read frankness, honesty,
+determination to succeed, and many other admirable traits in the boy's
+face. In fact, Mr. Taft had been quite an athlete himself when at
+college, and his interest in clean sport had never flagged even when he
+took up serious tasks in the business world.
+
+"Glad to see you, my boy," he observed, in his customary genial fashion,
+as he squeezed Jack's hand. "What can I do for you today? How is the
+team getting along after that glorious game you played? No press of
+business is going to prevent one man I know of in Chester from attending
+the game next Saturday. I hope you are not in any trouble, Jack?"
+
+Evidently his quick eye had noted the slight cloud on the boy's face, an
+unusual circumstance in connection with the captain of the nine.
+
+"Yes, I am in a peck of trouble, sir," candidly confessed Jack. "The
+fact of the matter is it looks as though, we might be short our
+wonderful young pitcher, Alec Donohue, next Saturday."
+
+"How's that, Jack?" demanded the gentleman, anxiously. "I'm greatly
+interested in that lad's work. He certainly has the making of a great
+pitcher in him. Why, if we lose Donohue, I'm afraid the cake will be
+dough with us, for I hear Hendrix is in excellent shape, and declares he
+will pitch the game of his life when next he faces your crowd."
+
+"I'll tell you what the matter is, sir," and with that Jack plunged into
+a brief exposition of the Donohue family troubles.
+
+As he proceeded, he saw with kindling joy that a beaming smile had
+commenced to creep over the rosy countenance of the one-time college
+athlete. This encouraged him to state how a wild hope had arisen in his
+heart that possibly some job might be found for Mr. Donohue that would
+keep the family in Chester right along.
+
+"We need him the worst kind, Mr. Taft," he concluded. "If Alec quits us
+cold I'm afraid it's bound to set all our fine schemes for athletics in
+Chester back a peg or two. This seems to be a most critical time with
+us. If we win that game we're going to make many new friends around
+here, who will assist us in getting that club-house we've been talking
+about, and putting athletic sports on a sound footing in our town."
+
+"Make your mind easy, Jack, my boy," said the stout gentleman, with a
+nod, "Alec will toss for us next Saturday, because we won't allow the
+Donohue family to shake the dust of Chester off their shoes. Why, it
+happens that my night watchman has just given notice that he must throw
+up his job because he has taken a position in one of those munition
+works in another town, where they pay such big wages for men who know
+certain things. So consider that I offer Donohue the position at
+twenty-four dollars a week; and there's no reason why it shouldn't be a
+permanent job, as I understand he's a reliable watchman."
+
+Jack could hardly speak for happiness. The tears actually came in his
+eyes as he wrung the hand of the gentleman.
+
+"Oh! you don't know how happy you've made me by saying that, Mr. Taft,"
+he managed to declare. "And have I permission to go over to the Donohue
+home with that glorious news right away?"
+
+"Suit yourself about that, son. Tell him to come around tomorrow and see
+me; but that the job is his right now. And also tell Alec from me that
+Chester expects him to fool those heavy hitters of Harmony to the top of
+his bent, when he faces Hutchings, Clifford, Oldsmith, O'Leary and the
+rest."
+
+When Jack went out of that office his heart was singing with joy. The
+clouds had rolled away once more, and the future looked particularly
+bright. He only hoped it would be an augury of success in store for the
+Chester nine in their coming battle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+ONE TROUBLE AFTER ANOTHER
+
+
+"Ting-a-ling!"
+
+The telephone bell in Jack's home was ringing just as the boy passed
+through the hall on Thursday morning around ten. He had been busily
+engaged in matters at home, and not gone out up to then. As he held his
+ear to the receiver he caught the well-known voice of Toby Hopkins.
+
+"That you, Jack?"
+
+"No one else; and what's going on over at your house?" Jack replied. "I
+thought for sure you'd have been across before now, if only to learn how
+I came out with that Donohue trouble."
+
+"Oh! I would have been starting you up at daybreak this morning, Jack,
+only it happens that I learned the good news last night."
+
+"How was that?" demanded the other; "did you walk over to their place to
+ask Alec about it?"
+
+"I went over to offer Mr. Donohue a job in the Cameron mill tending a
+plane, only to have him tell me with a happy look in his eyes that he
+had already taken a position as night watchman with the foundry and
+rolling mill people, meaning Mr. Taft, your special friend and backer.
+So I knew you had been busy as well as myself. But you can tell me all
+about it, and what the Donohues said, when you join me inside of five
+minutes; because I'm coming over in our tin-Lizzie to take you on a
+little jaunt with me."
+
+"But I don't believe I ought to go off just now," expostulated Jack;
+"because I've got a number of things to see to; and besides, we must be
+out to practice again this afternoon."
+
+"Rats! you've got plenty of time for all that," snorted Toby, who
+evidently would not take no for an answer when once his heart was set on
+a thing. "And, besides, it happens that I'm heading for Harmony this
+time, on some business for dad. We can come back by the road that
+finally skirts the lake shore. I heard some of the fellows say they
+meant to go swimming this morning, and we'll like as not come across
+them in the act, perhaps have a dip ourselves for diversion. Say you'll
+go, Jack?"
+
+It was a very alluring programme for a boy who loved the open as much as
+Jack did. His scruples vanished like the mist before the morning sun.
+
+"All right, then, Toby," he went on to say; "I'll go with you, because
+we can kill two birds with one stone. It happens that I'd like to have a
+chat with Martin, the Harmony captain. There are several things we ought
+to settle before we meet on the diamond Saturday afternoon. I'll be
+ready for you when you come around with your antique chariot."
+
+"It isn't good taste to look a gift-horse in the mouth, Jack; and you
+ought to know that same flivver can show her heels to many a more
+pretentious car when on the road. So-long, then. See you in five
+minutes!"
+
+Toby was as good as his word, and the car stopped before Jack's gate
+with much honking of the claxon. Once they were off of course Toby
+demanded that his companion relate his experiences of the preceding
+afternoon, when he interviewed the affable manager of the big rolling
+mills, and secured that offer of a good job for Mr. Donohue, calculated
+to keep their wonderful wizard of a pitcher on the roll-call of the
+Chester baseball team.
+
+"Of course," said Jack, in conclusion, "when I got to Alec's place and
+told them what good news I was fetching, they were all mighty well
+pleased. I thought Alec would certainly have a fit, he danced around so.
+And take it from me, Toby, that boy will show the Harmony players some
+wonderful tricks from his box when they face him again, because he's
+feeling simply immense. When a pitcher is in the pink of condition, he
+can make the heaviest sluggers feed from his hand; and Alec certainly
+has a bunch of shoots that run all the way from speed, curves, drops,
+and several others that, for one, I never before heard of. Now tell me
+about your offer of a job."
+
+Toby laughed softly.
+
+"Well, you see, Jack, I just knew what you'd be up to, and says I to
+myself, it'd be a bully thing if I could beat Jack out for just once. So
+I humped myself and ran around to see Joe Cameron, who happens to be a
+distant relative of my mother, you remember. He wanted to help me, but
+at first couldn't see any way where he could make use of a man like
+Donohue, at least at living wages. But I pleaded so hard, that in the
+end he remembered a certain place that was vacant. True, it only paid
+fifteen a week, but he placed it at my disposal. And so after supper I
+ran around to see if Donohue wouldn't consent to fill that job, through
+the summer, or until a better one showed up. But I was tickled when Alec
+told me about your stunt."
+
+Chatting as they rode along, they were not long in reaching Harmony.
+This town was somewhat larger than Chester, though the latter did more
+business when it came to the matter of dollars and cents, on account of
+the mills and factories along the lake and the river.
+
+Toby soon transacted his errand, which was connected with a business
+house. Then they made inquiries, and learned that Martin lived on the
+outskirts of the town, actually on the road they meant to take going
+home by another route.
+
+"That must be his place yonder!" remarked Toby, presently.
+
+"No doubt about it," laughed Jack, "for you can see that a baseball
+crank lives in that big house with the extensive grounds. Listen to the
+plunk of a ball landing in a glove, will you. Martin is having a little
+private practice of a morning on his own account."
+
+"Yes, I can see two fellows passing the ball across the lawn," admitted
+Toby. "If all the other members of the Harmony team are just as hard at
+work every hour of daylight, it's mighty evident they mean to be as fit
+as a fiddle for that big game. They must feel that if they lose, all
+their good work of the summer will go in the scrap heap."
+
+"I'm glad to know they feel so anxious," chuckled Jack. "It shows how we
+made them respect our team that last time, when they had their full
+line-up on deck. We are due for a thrilling game, and don't you forget
+it, Toby."
+
+When the two boys who were passing the ball so swiftly discovered the
+stopping flivver, and recognized their morning callers, they hurried out
+through the gate to shake hands with Jack and Toby. Martin's companion
+proved to be Hutchings, the efficient first baseman and hard hitter of
+the locals.
+
+They chatted for some time, Jack making such, inquiries as he had in
+mind, and being given all the information at the disposal of the other
+pair.
+
+"About that letter of mine," Captain Martin finally remarked, when the
+visitors were preparing to depart; "it was a nasty subject to handle,
+and I hardly knew how to go about it; so finally decided to hit straight
+out, and tell you what we suspected was going on over here. I was glad
+to hear from Bailey that you boys took it in just the same spirit it was
+sent."
+
+"We were in a humor to give you and your fellows a hearty cheer," Jack
+told him; "we all agreed that it was a genuine pleasure to run up
+against such a fine bunch of honorable ball players; and believe me, if
+we can't carry off that game for Chester, we'll not begrudge your crowd
+for taking it, because we know it will have been fairly won."
+
+It was in this friendly spirit that the rival captains shook hands and
+parted. Each leader would fight tooth and nail to capture the impending
+game, using all legitimate means to further his ends; but there would be
+no hard feelings between the opposing players. Harmony's fine act had
+rendered this a certainty.
+
+Jack had said nothing about the narrow escape Chester had from a real
+catastrophe in the loss of their wonderful young pitcher. He thought it
+best not to mention matters that concerned only Chester folks; although
+feeling positive that Martin would congratulate him on his success in
+keeping Alec; for the game would lose much of its interest if only a
+second-string pitcher officiated in the box for either side when they
+anticipated showing their best goods.
+
+"He's all wool, and a yard wide, that Martin," asserted Toby, after they
+had turned their faces toward home again, and were booming along the
+road that presently would take them close to the shore of Lake
+Constance.
+
+"There's no doubt about his being a good fellow," agreed Jack; "and it's
+certainly a real pleasure to go up against such a crowd. For one, I've
+underestimated the Harmony boys. We've heard a lot about their noisy
+ways and hustle, but, after all, I think most of it's on the surface,
+and deeper down they're just as much gentlemen as you'd find anywhere.
+Most games of rivalry are won through aggressiveness, and plenty of
+fellows cultivate that mode of playing. It doesn't follow that such
+chaps are boors, or clowns, or brawlers off the field. We could stand a
+little more of that sort of thing ourselves, to tell you the truth,
+Toby--standing on our toes, and keeping wide awake every second of the
+time play is on."
+
+"Right you are, Jack, and after this I'm going to whoop it up a lot
+more'n I've ever done before. You'll see some _hopping_ to beat the
+band, too. I've managed to cover a good deal of territory up to now but,
+say, I aspire to do still better. I'm rubbing snake oil on my joints
+right along so as to make 'em more supple. Why, I'd _bathe_ in it
+if I thought that would make me better able to do my part toward
+corraling that great game for Chester."
+
+"There, I had a first glimpse of Lake Constance," remarked Jack. "The
+trees have closed the vista again, so you can't catch it; but I suppose
+we'll soon come to a place where we'll have the water on our left, and
+the road even runs along close to the edge. I remember skating up about
+this far last February, soon after I arrived in Chester; and the lake
+was then a solid sheet of smooth ice."
+
+"Queer how cold the water stays all summer," mused Toby. "There are
+times when I've seen boys shivering in July and August while bathing.
+It's fed by springs, they say, though Paradise River also empties into
+the lake. There, now you can see away across to the other shore, Jack.
+Isn't it a bully sheet of water, though?"
+
+"What dandy times we can have next winter iceboating, skating, playing
+hockey, and everything like that," suggested Jack, delightedly, as his
+eyes feasted on the immense body of fresh water, with its surface just
+rippled in the soft summer breeze.
+
+"We'll soon come to where the boys said they meant to go in swimming
+this morning," added Toby. "It's a perfect day, too, even if the sun
+does feel hot. Just such a day as this when I got that nasty little
+cramp in the cold water of the lake, and might have had a serious time
+only for Big Bob Jeffries taking me on his back and carrying me like a
+baby to the shore."
+
+"Listen!" exclaimed Jack just then, "what's all that yell going on ahead
+of us? The boys must be cutting up capers; and yet it strikes me there's
+a note of fear in their shouts. Turn on the juice, Toby, and eat up the
+road! Something terrible may be happening, you know. Things keep
+following each other these days like sheep going over a fence after
+their leader!"
+
+Toby made the flivver fairly bound along, such was his eagerness to
+arrive at the scene of all the excitement. Twenty seconds later he gave
+a loud cry.
+
+"Look, Jack, there's some one floundering out there, and throwing up his
+arms. It's our Joel Jackman, I do believe! and great Caesar! he's got a
+cramp and is drowning!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL
+
+
+What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly
+the truth. There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy
+who was struggling so desperately out in the lake. He was threshing the
+water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again
+in a whirl of bubbles.
+
+When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a
+champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his
+life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in
+deep water. It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes
+like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
+
+Joel Jackman was long-legged and thin, but had always been reckoned one
+of those wiry sort of chaps, built on the order of a greyhound. He could
+run like the wind, and jump higher than any fellow in all Chester,
+barring none. But when that awful cramp seized him in the cold water of
+Lake Constance, lie found himself unable to make any progress toward
+shore, distant at least fifty feet.
+
+It was all he could do to keep his head above water, struggling as he
+was with the fear of a terrible death before his eyes. His two comrades
+were running up and down on the shore; not that they were such arrant
+cowards but what they would have been willing to do almost anything to
+help Joel; but unfortunately they had lost their heads in the sudden
+shock; and as Toby afterwards contemptuously said, "acted like so many
+chickens after the ax had done its foul work."
+
+Jack sized up the situation like a flash.
+
+"Toby, you get one of those boards over yonder, and come out to help me
+if I'm in trouble, understand?" he jerked out, even as the flivver came
+to a sudden stop, and he was bounding over the side regardless of any
+exit.
+
+"All right, Jack; you bet I will!" Toby shouted, following suit.
+
+Jack began to shed his outer clothes as he ran swiftly forward. First
+his cap went, and then his coat. He had low shoes on so that he was able
+to detach them with a couple of quick jerks, and at the loss of the
+laces.
+
+Two seconds, when at the verge of the water, sufficed for him to get rid
+of his trousers, and then, he went in with a rush.
+
+Toby meanwhile had tried to follow suit even as he made for the boards
+in question. It had been just like Jack to glimpse these in the
+beginning, while those other fellows apparently did not know a board was
+within half a mile.
+
+Seeing what Toby meant to do, the two swimmers followed suit, so that
+presently the whole three of them had each picked up a plank, and were
+pushing out with it.
+
+Jack had plunged ahead, swimming in any old way, since his one object
+just then was speed, and not style. He could not have done better had he
+been up against a swarm of rivals working for a prize. Well, there
+_was_ a prize dangling there in plain sight. A precious human life
+was at stake, and unless he could arrive in time poor Joel might go
+down, never to come up again in his senses.
+
+He had already been under once, and through his desperate efforts
+succeeded in reaching the surface of the agitated water again. Even as
+Jack started swimming, after getting in up to his neck, the drowning boy
+vanished again.
+
+Jack swam on, trying to increase his pace, if such a thing were
+possible. He must get on the spot without the waste of a second. Joel
+would likely come to the surface again, but battling more feebly against
+the threatening fate. If he went down a third time it would be all over
+but the funeral, Jack knew.
+
+He was more than two-thirds of the way there when to his ecstatic joy he
+once more discovered the head of Joel. The boy was still making a
+gallant fight, but under a fearful handicap.
+
+Jack shouted hoarsely as he swam onward:
+
+"Keep fighting, Joel! We'll get you, old chap! Strike out as hard as you
+can! You're all right, I tell you, only don't stop working!"
+
+Perhaps these cheering words did help Joel to continue his weakening
+efforts to keep himself afloat. Possibly had it not been for his hearing
+Jack's voice raised in encouragement, he might have given up the ghost
+before then.
+
+Nearer Jack surged, his heart seeming to be in his throat with dread
+lest Joel go down again a few seconds before he could get within touch.
+The three boys with the boards were also coming along in a solid bunch,
+although of course with less speed than Jack showed, owing partly to the
+fact that they had to shove the planks before them.
+
+Now, Joel, with a last despairing gurgle was sinking again, and for the
+very last time, being utterly exhausted by his frantic struggles, and
+the terrible pain occasioned by the cramp.
+
+But Jack knew he had arrived close enough to dart forward and clutch his
+comrade before the other could quite vanish from view. Joel was so far
+gone that he did not try to grip his rescuer, as most drowning persons
+will do in their frantic desire to save themselves at any cost.
+
+Jack tried to keep the boy's head above water as best he could. He made
+no effort to swim towards the shore. What was the use when the other
+fellows were coming along with their boards. The one thing necessary
+just then was to prevent Joel from swallowing any more water; he had
+already no doubt gulped in huge quantities, and lost the ability to
+breathe properly.
+
+So Toby and the other two found them when they finally arrived. The
+planks were arranged so that Joel could be raised and sustained by their
+means; after which the little procession of swimmers headed for the
+bank.
+
+When they arrived, Joel was lifted out of the water and carried tenderly
+up to a patch of green sward lying in the shade of a wide-branching oak.
+Here they laid him down on his chest, while Jack proceeded to work over
+him, instructing the other fellows just what they were to do to assist.
+
+He knelt astride with one knee on either side of Joel's body, and
+commenced pressing down regularly on the small of his back, so as to
+induce an artificial respiration. At the same time, Toby and one of the
+other fellows worked the unconscious boy's arms back and forth like a
+pair of pistons; while the third fellow started to rub his cold lower
+extremities.
+
+At first Joel seemed pretty far gone, and his appearance sent a chill
+through the sympathetic heart of Toby Hopkins. But after they had kept
+up this vigorous treatment for a little while, there were signs of
+returning animation. Joel belched out a gallon of water, Toby always
+insisted, and inside of ten minutes was able to talk, though Jack
+insisted on keeping up the rubbing until the boy's body was a rosy hue
+from the irritation.
+
+"Now get some clothes on, Joel, and you'll soon be feeling prime," he
+told the other, whose lips were still blue and quivering.
+
+Joel had had quite enough of swimming for one day. Indeed, he would be
+pretty cautious about getting any distance away from the shore after
+that, having received a most fearful shock. Still, boys recover from
+such things, given a little time, and Joel had always been reckoned a
+fellow who did not know the meaning of the word "fear."
+
+The other boys had apparently lost the joy of bathing for that day.
+They, too, started to don their clothes, and begged Toby to "hold up,"
+so that they might get a lift to town in the flivver; which, being a
+whole-souled fellow, of course, "Hop" was only too glad to do.
+
+Later on, after arriving home, Jack and Toby talked matters over between
+themselves. This new and entirely unexpected happening had been only
+another link in the growing chain of troubles hanging over the head of
+the captain of the Chester baseball team.
+
+"What if we hadn't chanced to be on the road just at that very minute,
+Jack?" ventured Toby, with a shiver; "poor old Joel would certainly have
+been drowned, because neither Frank nor Rufus had the slightest idea
+what to do so as to save him. And that would have broken up our
+combination in the nine, all right, because we'd find it hard to replace
+such a runner and fielder and batter as Joel."
+
+"Of course," said Jack, "the worst thing of all would be losing a
+friend. Joel is a mighty fine all-around fellow, and most of us are fond
+of him. And just as you say, the game would like as not have to be
+postponed, because how could we play as we would want to with a chum
+lying dead at home? So I'm grateful because we did chance to be
+Johnny-on-the-spot."
+
+"That was sure a great job you did, Jack, believe me; and when I say
+such a thing I'm not meaning to throw bouquets either. Whee! but you did
+shoot through the water like a fish. I've watched a pickerel dart at a
+minnow, but no slinker ever had the bulge on you that time."
+
+"I had to get along with all sail set," Jack told him, with a smile, for
+it is always pleasant to have a friend hand out a meed of praise, even
+to the most modest boy going. "I knew Joel was at the last gasp, and
+even a second lost might mean he'd go down for the third time before I
+could get there. And yet do you know, Toby, it seemed to me right then
+and there as if I had a ton of lead fastened to me. Why, I felt as
+though something was holding me back, just as you know the nightmare
+grips you usually. But when I was within striking distance, I knew I
+could save Joel. He made a gallant fight, and deserves a lot of praise."
+
+"I wonder what we'll have happen next, Jack? Seems to me not a day
+passes but you've got to play the rescue act with some member of our
+team. There was Fred worrying you, and still acting queer; then along
+comes Donohue threatening to give us the slip because his folks meant to
+move out of town, and he couldn't pitch unless he lived in Chester. Now,
+as if those things didn't count up enough to keep you awake nights, old
+Joel had to go and try to kick the bucket, and force you to yank him out
+of the lake."
+
+Jack laughed and shook his head.
+
+"It's hard to tell what another day may bring forth, Toby," he went on
+to say. "Remember, this is only Thursday, and Friday is said to be a
+very unlucky day in some people's lives, especially when it falls on the
+thirteenth of the month, as happens this year. There are still a few
+fellows in the nine who haven't shown up yet in the catastrophe ward.
+Why, Toby, it might even be _you_ who'll wave the flag and call out
+for help."
+
+"I give you my affidavit, Jack, that I'm going to play mighty safe from
+now on. No fishing or swimming for me, and I'll even run that old
+flivver at slow speed, for fear it takes a notion to land me in a ditch,
+and come in on top of me. But I hope, Jack, you're not getting
+discouraged with all these things coming right along?"
+
+"I might, Toby, if I were not built on a stubborn line. We'll go to
+Harmony on Saturday and make a fight for that game even if we have to
+lug along a crippled nine, some of them on crutches!"
+
+Toby brightened up on hearing the leader grimly say this.
+
+"That's the sort of stuff, Jack!" he exclaimed, slapping his chum on the
+back.
+
+"In the bright lexicon of youth there is no such word as fail! We'll go
+forth with our hearts set on victory, and that's one half of the battle.
+Hurrah! for Chester!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+A NIGHT ALARM
+
+
+Before the two boys parted that afternoon, after the practice of the
+whole regular nine, barring Joel, who, taking Jack's advice, laid off
+for one occasion, Joel had asked the captain to drop over when he had
+finished his supper.
+
+"I want to see you about a number of things," he had told Jack; "not so
+much in connection with the game we're scheduled to play, as other
+affairs looking to the ambitious programme we've mapped out for Chester
+boys the rest of the summer, in the fall, and even up to winter. For one
+thing, I'd like to give you a few pointers about the fellows in our
+crowd, so that you can size them up for the football squad later on."
+
+That caught Jack in a weak spot.
+
+"I'll go you there, Toby," he hastened to say, "because I've been trying
+to figure things out along those lines myself. When you're placing men
+on an eleven, you ought to know their every strong and weak point; and
+I'm too new a hand here in Chester to be on to such things. So I'll be
+glad to have you give me points."
+
+Accordingly, he knocked at the Hopkins' door soon after seven that
+evening, and was immediately admitted by Toby himself. The Hopkins
+family consisted of Toby's father and mother, and an older son just then
+away on a trip to the West, as he was attending college, and had been
+promised this treat if he passed with honors. There was also a very
+small girl, named Tessie, who naturally was the pet of the household,
+and in a way to be spoiled by the adoration of her two brothers.
+
+Toby had a den of his own in the upper part of the rambling house. Here
+just as most boys love to do, he had the walls fairly covered with the
+burgees of various colleges, all sorts of mementos collected during his
+outdoor experiences, curios that in Toby's eyes were precious because
+many of them bore an intimate relation with some little adventure or
+jolly outing in which he had taken part.
+
+There were also football togs, baseball contraptions, fishing
+paraphernalia in unlimited abundance, as well as striking illustrations
+covering the field of sport as seen through the eyes of youth.
+
+But one good thing about it all, you would look in vain for the
+slightest trace of any vulgar picture; Toby had no love for such
+so-called sport as prize fighting or any kindred subject.
+
+Here in this adorable den, reflecting the loves of a genuine boy with
+red blood in his veins, there often assembled a number of lads who
+always felt very much at home amidst such surroundings; but Toby would
+allow of no rough-house scuffling in his quarters, to annoy his mother,
+and get on her nerves. When the fellows dropped in to have a chat and
+lounge in his easy chairs amidst such exhilarating surroundings they
+were expected to behave themselves.
+
+Joel had the big lamp lighted. It threw a fine mellow glow over the
+walls of the den and showed up the myriad of objects with which they
+were covered. Somehow, Joel always liked his room much better when that
+royal lamp was burning, for even the most remote corner, seldom pierced
+by the intercepted rays of the sun, loomed up under its ardent rays.
+
+Here the pair settled down for a long quiet chat. Jack wanted to ask a
+hundred questions bearing on the boys with whom he had become so
+intimately associated during the few months since his advent in Chester.
+Since they had so kindly bestowed the leadership in sports upon him, he
+wished to be like a wise general and lose no opportunity for learning
+each boy's individual ability.
+
+Of course he had been keeping close "tabs" on them right along, but
+then, Toby, who had seen them attempting to play football, for instance,
+would be able to tell of certain stunts this or that fellow had done
+that were out of the common. Such points help amazingly in "putting a
+round man in a round hole." Too often a half-back should be a tackle, or
+a guard, in order to bring out the very best that is in him.
+
+Then again Toby knew more or less concerning the fighting abilities of
+the teams in the neighboring towns, Marshall and Harmony in particular.
+His love for sport had taken Toby to every game within thirty miles he
+could hear of in contemplation; for if Chester seemed bound to sleep,
+and decline to enter the lists, a fellow who yearned to indulge in such
+things must go abroad to satisfy his longings.
+
+So it came about that he was able to give Jack many valuable tips
+connected with the elevens with whom Chester was apt to come in contact,
+should they succeed in whipping a team into anything like fair
+condition.
+
+"Now, after all you've told me about our boys," Jack was saying along
+after nine o'clock, when he was thinking of starting home, feeling tired
+after such a strenuous day, "I begin to believe we can get up a squad of
+football players here capable of putting up a strong game. One thing in
+our favor is the fact that we have an old athlete like Coach Joe Hooker
+to show us how to work out greenhorns."
+
+"That's as true as you live," snapped Toby, his face glowing with
+eagerness, for one of the ambitions of his life seemed in prospect of
+being fulfilled. "I've never really played football, though of course I
+can kick, and run, and dodge pretty fairly. But in theory I'm away up in
+the game. Other fellows are in the same fix; and we'll need a whole lot
+of practice before we feel justified in going up against any older
+eleven. Like as not we'll get snowed under; but even if we lose every
+game this season, it'll give us what we need in the way of experience,
+and another year we'll show the way."
+
+"There are lots of other outdoor games we'll have to take up in season,"
+continued Jack, thoughtfully. "Once the spirit of sport has gripped the
+boys of Chester, and they'll be hungry to go into anything that means a
+test of endurance, skill or pluck."
+
+"I suppose now you've played football before, Jack?" asked the other.
+
+"Well, we had a pretty fair eleven in the city I came from, and I was
+lucky enough to belong to them," he said modestly. "I don't know that I
+shone as a star very much, but on the whole, we managed to keep up our
+end, and last year we pulled off the championship in our section of
+country."
+
+"What position did you fill?" queried Toby.
+
+"Our captain made a half-back of me," came the answer. "Somehow he
+seemed to believe I was better suited for that position than a tackle,
+though I wanted to be in the other place at the start. But it happened
+there were two sprinters better fitted than I was to hold down the job.
+So unless I run across a man who seems to show signs of being my
+superior in the field I've occupied, I suppose I'll continue to play
+half-back to the end of the chapter."
+
+"Well," remarked Toby, as Jack made out to pick up his cap with the
+intention of leaving, since the hour was getting late, "one more day,
+and then what? A whole twenty-four hours for things to happen calculated
+to bust up our plans, and knock 'em galley-west. I wish, this was Friday
+night, and nothing serious had come about. We need that big game to make
+us solid with the people of Chester. It might be hard on poor Harmony,
+but it would be the making of our town."
+
+"Hearing you say that," chuckled Jack, "makes me think of that story of
+the old man and his boy's bull-pup."
+
+"I don't know that I've ever heard it, so fire away and tell the yarn,
+Jack," the other pleaded.
+
+"Why, once a boy had a young bull-pup of which he was very fond. His
+father also took considerable interest in teaching the dog new tricks.
+On one occasion the old man was down on his knees trying to make the
+small dog jump at him, while the boy kept sicking him on. Suddenly the
+bull-pup made a lunge forward and before the old man could draw back he
+had gripped him by the nose, and held on like fun. Then the boy, only
+thinking of how they had succeeded in tempting the small dog, clapped
+his hands and commenced to dance around, shouting: 'Swing him around,
+dad, swing him every which way! It's hard on you, of course, but I tell
+you it'll be the making of the pup!'"
+
+Toby laughed as Jack finished the anecdote, which it happened he had
+never heard before.
+
+"Well, Harmony will be dad, and the bull-pup I know turns out to be
+Chester, bent on holding through thick and thin to victory. I'm glad you
+came over, Jack, and if I've been able to hand you out a few pointers we
+haven't wasted our time."
+
+"I noticed when on the way here that it had clouded up," remarked Jack.
+"Let's hope we don't get a storm that will compel us to postpone that
+game. Our boys are in the pink of condition, with so much practice, and
+might go stale by another week."
+
+"That's another cause for anxiety, then," croaked Toby shrugging his
+shoulders. "Here, I'll find my cap, and step outdoors with you. My eyes
+are blinking after so much light, and a breath of fresh air wouldn't go
+bad."
+
+He had hardly said this than Toby stopped in his tracks.
+
+"Listen, Jack, the fire-alarm bell! There's a blaze starting up, and
+with so much wind blowing it may mean a big conflagration. Where did I
+toss that cap of mine?"
+
+"I saw something like a cap behind the rowing-machine over there when I
+tried it out," observed the other, whose habit of noticing even the
+smallest things often served him well.
+
+"Just what it is," asserted Toby, after making a wild plunge in the
+quarter designated; "that's my meanest trait, Jack. Mother tries to
+break me of it ever so often, but I seem to go back again to the old
+trick of carelessness. Now come on, and we'll rush out. Already I can
+hear people beginning to shout."
+
+They went downstairs two at a jump. For once Toby did not think of his
+mother's nerves. Fires were not so frequent an occurrence in the history
+of a small city like Chester that a prospective conflagration could be
+treated lightly.
+
+Once out of the house and they had no difficulty about deciding in which
+direction the fire lay. Some people, principally boys, were already
+running full-tilt through the street, and all seemed to be heading in
+the one direction. At the same time all manner of comments could be
+heard passing between them as they galloped along, fairly panting.
+
+"It must be the big mill, from the light that's beginning to show up in
+the sky!" hazarded one boy.
+
+"Shucks! what are you giving us, Sandy!" gasped another. "The mill ain't
+over in that direction at all. Only cottages lie there, with an
+occasional haystack belongin' to some garden-truck raiser. Mebbe it
+might be a barn."
+
+"Just what it is, Tim," a third boy chimed in eagerly. "Hay burns like
+wildfire you know, and see how red the sky is agettin' now."
+
+Neither Jack nor Toby had thus far ventured to make any sort of guess.
+No matter what was afire it promised to be a serious affair, with the
+wind blowing at the rate of twenty miles an hour or more. If it turned
+out to be a private house some one was likely to be rendered homeless
+before long.
+
+The bell continued to clang harshly. Chester still clung to the
+volunteer system of firemen, though there was some talk of purchasing an
+up-to-date motor truck engine, and hiring a force to be on duty day and
+night.
+
+"Jack," suddenly called out Toby, "don't you see that we're heading
+straight for Fred's house. Honest to goodness I believe it's that very
+cottage afire right now."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FIRE
+
+
+"Hello there, fellows, you're on the job, too, I see!"
+
+That was burly Steve Mullane calling out as he came tearing along in the
+wake of Jack and Toby. Steve was passionately fond of anything in the
+line of a fire. He had been known to chase for miles out into the
+country on learning that some farmer's haystacks and barn were ablaze;
+though he usually arrived far too late to see anything but the ruins.
+
+"What do you think, Steve," gurgled Toby, "I was just saying I thought
+it might be Fred Baxter's place."
+
+"Seems like it was around that section of territory anyhow," replied the
+other, as well as he was able to speak, while exerting himself to the
+utmost.
+
+Jack made no immediate comment, but he himself was beginning to believe
+Toby's guess might not be far wrong. It gave him a fresh wrench about
+the region of his heart to believe this. It would mean another source of
+trouble for poor Fred, and might in the end eliminate him from the game
+on Saturday.
+
+All Chester was aroused by this time. When that brazen bell kept
+clanging away in such a loud fashion people knew that something out of
+the usual run was taking place. They flocked forth, all hurrying in the
+same general direction, until the streets were fairly blocked with the
+crowds.
+
+Now came the engine, driven by an expert member of the fire company, the
+pair of horses galloping wildly under the whip, and the spur of such
+general excitement. Loud cheers greeted the advent of the volunteer
+department. The men looked very brave and heroic with their red
+firehats, and rubber coats. They would undoubtedly do good work once
+they got on the ground; but that wind was playing havoc with things, and
+perhaps after all it might not be possible to save the imperiled
+building.
+
+All doubts were removed, for on rounding a bend the three boys
+discovered that it was actually the modest Badger house that was afire.
+Flames could be seen pouring out of the windows, and a great smoke
+arose, telling that the whole interior must be heating up, and liable to
+break into a vast blaze at any minute.
+
+"Whee! it looks bad for Fred's folks, now!" cried Toby, his first
+thought being of the suffering of those involved.
+
+"It's going to make a dandy fire, all right!" Steve was heard to say to
+himself; and it was not because he was a heartless boy that this was his
+first thought, for Steve could be as tender as the next one; only he did
+dearly love a fire, and on that account was apt to forget how a blaze
+almost always meant loss for somebody, possibly deadly peril as well.
+
+There was quite a mob of people already on the spot. Some who lived much
+closer than the three chums had been able to reach the scene of the fire
+in considerably less time.
+
+Jack was trying to remember what things looked like in the near vicinity
+of the Badger home. He had been there only once or twice in all, but
+that habit of observation clung to him, and he was thus able to
+recollect how he had noticed that some sort of a woodshed stood close to
+the back of the house. If this held considerable fuel for the kitchen
+stove, and a fire managed to start in some way, it was just situated
+right to sweep through the house, being on the windward end.
+
+"Where's Fred and his folks?" asked Toby just then, as they started
+boy-fashion to elbow their way through the crowd, determined to get in
+the front rank in order to see everything that transpired.
+
+Jack was himself looking eagerly around, with the same object in view.
+He remembered the sad face of Fred's little mother, who he feared had
+seen much of trouble during the later years of her life. It looked as
+though there might be still more cause for anxiety hovering over her.
+
+"She must be in that bunch of women folks over yonder," asserted Steve.
+"Yes, I just had a glimpse of that pretty little kid, Fred's sister,
+Barbara. One of the women is holding the child in her arms, and she's
+wrapped in bed clothes, which shows she must have been sleeping when the
+fire broke out."
+
+"I wonder what's happening over where that group of men is standing,"
+remarked Toby, solicitously. "There, a boy has fetched a dipper of water
+from the well bucket. Why, somebody must have been hurt, Jack."
+
+"Let's make our way over and find out," suggested Steve, quickly.
+
+Accordingly the three boys pushed through the various groups of
+chattering men, women and children. The firemen had by now managed to
+get to work, and the first stream of water was playing on the burning
+house; though every one could see that there was little chance of saving
+any part of the doomed structure, since the fire fiend had gained such a
+start.
+
+"What's the matter here?" Jack asked a small boy who came reeling out
+from the packed crowd, as though unable to look any longer.
+
+"Why, it's Fred Badger!" he told them in his shrill piping tones that
+could be heard even above the hoarse cries of the fire laddies and the
+murmur of voices from the surging mob, constantly growing larger as
+fresh additions arrived.
+
+"What happened to him?" almost savagely asked Steve.
+
+"He was trying to haul some of the furniture out, I heard tell,"
+continued the Chester urchin, "and he got hurted some way. He's lying
+there like he was dead. I just couldn't stand it any more, that's what."
+
+Filled with horror Jack pushed forward, with his two chums backing him
+up. What fresh calamity was threatening the Badger family, he asked
+himself. Poor Fred certainly had quite enough to battle against without
+being knocked out in this fashion.
+
+When, however, they had managed to press in close enough to see, it was
+to discover the object of their solicitude sitting up. Fred looked like
+a "drowned rat," as Toby hastened to remark, almost joyously. Evidently
+they had emptied the pail of cold water over his head in the effort to
+revive him, and with more or less success.
+
+Jack was considerably relieved. It was not so bad as he had feared,
+though Fred certainly looked weak, and next door to helpless.
+
+"I hope he'll not be knocked out from playing that game with us
+Saturday," Steve took occasion to say.
+
+"Oh! Fred's made of tough stuff," asserted Toby, the wish being father
+to the thought; "he'll recover all right. I only hope they've got their
+goods covered by insurance. It'd be pretty rocky if they didn't, let me
+tell you. Nearly everything is gone, I'm afraid. Fred did manage to drag
+a little out, but that fire is bound to eat up the balance, no matter
+what the firemen can do to throw water inside."
+
+Jack suddenly discovered that the man whom he had seen talking with Fred
+was pushing his way through the group. He acted too as though he might
+be deeply interested in matters, for he shoved folks aside with an air
+that would not stand for a refusal to allow him free passage. Toby
+discovered him at about the identical moment.
+
+"Look who's here, Jack!" he muttered, tugging at the other's coat
+sleeve. "Now, what under the sun's gone and fetched that duck out here
+to bother Fred again? We really ought not allow such a thing, Jack. The
+nerve of the slick sport to push his way in to where Fred lies there."
+
+"Just hold your horses, will you, Toby?" Jack told him. "As yet we don't
+know anything about that man, who or what life is, and the nature of his
+business with Fred. There, you see the boy seems to be glad to have him
+around. Why, the man has gripped his hand. He seems to be a whole lot
+excited, for he's questioning Fred as if he wanted to make sure
+everybody was safe out of the cottage."
+
+"I wonder if they are?" remarked Toby. "I've seen little Barbara, and
+here's our comrade, while I reckon I glimpsed Mrs. Badger over there
+among those women; but how about the crippled girl, Jack? Anybody seen
+her around?"
+
+A fresh thrill seized Jack's heart in a grip of ice. Of course it was
+almost silly to suspect that the cripple could have been forgotten in
+all the excitement; but anything is liable to happen at a fire, where
+most people lose their heads, and do things they would call absurd at
+another time.
+
+"Fred would be apt to know, I should think," suggested Steve, anxiously,
+casting an apprehensive glance in the direction of the burning house,
+and mentally calculating just what chance any one still inside those
+walls would have of coming out alive.
+
+"Unless he was rattled in the bargain," said Jack. "Lots of people leave
+things for others to do. Fred may have thought his mother would fetch
+Lucy out; and on her part she took it for granted Fred had taken care of
+his sister the first thing."
+
+"Gee whiz! I wonder, could that happen, and the poor thing be in there
+right now," Toby exclaimed, looking horrified at the idea.
+
+"Listen to all that squealing over among the women, will you?" Steve was
+saying.
+
+Indeed, a fresh outburst of feminine cries could be heard. Apparently
+something had happened to give the women new cause for fright. Some of
+those around Fred turned to look. They could see the women running this
+way and that like a colony of bees that has been disturbed.
+
+"They certain sure act like they might be looking for somebody!"
+asserted Toby. "See how they ask questions of everyone they meet. Jack,
+do you think Fred's mother could have just learned that something had
+happened to her boy; or would it be Lucy they miss for the first time?"
+
+"We'll soon know," said Jack, firmly, "because here comes one of the
+women running this way like a frightened rabbit."
+
+Eagerly, and with their pulses bounding like mad, they awaited the
+arrival of the woman. Many others had also turned to greet her, sensing
+some fresh calamity, before which even the burning of the poor widow's
+cottage would sink into insignificance.
+
+"Is she here, men?" gasped the woman, almost out of breath. "Have any of
+you seen Lucy Badger? We can't find her anywhere. Is that Fred there on
+the ground? He ought to know, because his mother says he must have taken
+his sister from the house."
+
+They all turned toward Fred. He still sat there looking white and weak,
+though he was evidently recovering by degrees from his swoon after being
+hit on the head by some falling object. He looked up in sudden anxiety
+as he heard the woman speaking.
+
+"What's the matter, Mrs. Moody?" he asked, trying to get on his knees,
+though the effort was almost too much for his strength. "What's that you
+said about my sister Lucy? Oh! isn't she with mother and Barbara? I
+thought sure I saw her in the crowd while I was working trying to save
+some of the furniture mother valued."
+
+"We can't find the girl anywhere!" the woman cried, in anguish, "and
+perhaps she's still in there, stupefied by the smoke, and unable to save
+herself, poor, poor thing. Oh! somebody must try to find out if it's so.
+Fred, are you able to make the attempt?"
+
+Poor Fred fell back on his knees. His powers of recuperation did not
+seem equal to the demand. He groaned miserably on discovering how unable
+he was to doing what in his manly heart he believed to be his solemn
+duty.
+
+Jack was about to take it upon himself to attempt the dangerous role
+when to his astonishment the mysterious stranger sprang up, and made a
+thrilling announcement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A STARTLING DISCLOSURE
+
+
+"Let me try to save the child; it is no more than right that I should be
+the one to risk his life!"
+
+Possibly some of the men might have laid hands on the stranger and
+prevented his attempting such a rash act, for with the house so filled
+with smoke and flame it seemed next door to madness for any one to brave
+the peril that lay in wait. He managed to elude them, however, and to
+the astonishment of the three boys in particular, plunged recklessly
+through the door where vast columns of smoke could be seen pouring
+forth.
+
+Apparently one of the valiant firemen might have been better fitted for
+this dangerous duty than a gentleman of his calibre. Jack was tempted to
+follow after the stranger, but the firemen had formed a line in front of
+the entrance, and by their manner announced that no second fool would be
+allowed to take his life in his hands by entering that blazing building.
+
+Just then Mrs. Baxter came staggering up. She must have seen the little
+episode, and suspected strongly that the one who had gone in was her own
+boy Fred, unable to hold himself in check after learning that his poor
+sister was in all probability still within the cottage.
+
+Some of the men caught her as she was trying to rush toward the door,
+holding out her arms entreatingly. The boys understood when they heard
+her crying:
+
+"Oh! why did you let him go in there? Was it not enough that I should
+lose one of my children, but now I am doubly bereft! Fred, Fred, come
+back to me!"
+
+"Mother, see here I am!" called the boy, this time managing to regain
+his feet, though he swayed unsteadily, and might have fallen in his
+weakness only for Jack, who quickly put a sustaining arm around him.
+
+Mrs. Badger turned swiftly and with a look of new-born joy on her
+strained features. Another instant and she had darted forward and
+embraced Fred. The poor woman was almost frantic with mingled emotions,
+nor could any one blame her for giving way to weeping as she hugged
+Fred.
+
+"Oh! I was sure it must be you, my son, and I feared I should never see
+either of you again!" she cried, passionately.
+
+"I wanted to go, mother," he told her, soothingly, "but I couldn't stand
+alone. You see, I was struck on the head and knocked out, so I'm feeling
+as weak as a kitten."
+
+"But Lucy?" wailed the poor woman.
+
+"Try to calm yourself, mother," urged Fred, stoutly. "If she is in there
+still he may yet be in time to save her, with the aid of Providence."
+
+"But tell me who was so ready to take his own life in his hands, so as
+to try and save my child for me?" she went on, almost hysterically. "Oh!
+I shall never cease to remember him for a noble man in my prayers. What
+neighbor could have been such a Good Samaritan to me and mine!"
+
+"It was the stranger, Mrs. Badger!" said one of the men close by, and
+Jack, as well as Toby listened eagerly for what was coming.
+
+"Yes, a party who's been hanging around town for a week or more,
+stopping at the Eureka House," added another of the citizens, who
+apparently had noticed the presence of the guest in question, and even
+speculated as to his object in staying so long in Chester, where there
+were no special summer attractions outside of the beautiful lake near
+by.
+
+"And he seemed to have lots of money in the bargain," a third went on to
+say, as he eyed the burning house as though wondering greatly why a
+stranger would accept such grave risks for people whom he could never
+have seen before.
+
+"Mebbe I might throw a little light on this thing," said another man,
+eagerly. "I happened to get in conversation with the party at one time.
+He goes by the name of Smith at the hotel. He told me he'd been pretty
+much of a wanderer, and had seen most of the world. But among other
+things he said was that once on a time he had been a fireman. He even
+showed me a scar that he said reminded him of a night when he nigh lost
+his life in a big blaze. So you see he's right in his line when he goes
+into a burning building to effect a rescue!"
+
+Jack was picking up points as he listened to these things so hurriedly
+said. He turned to see what effect they had upon Fred and his mother.
+The woman seemed more bewildered than ever. Evidently she could not
+understand why a total stranger should risk his life for her child when
+so many of her neighbors stood around; unless it might be the old fever
+still burned in Smith's veins, and he could not resist the lure of the
+crackling flames that seemed to be defying him.
+
+Fred, however, did not look at all puzzled. There was an eager light in
+his eyes that Jack began to understand. Fred knew something that his
+mother was utterly ignorant of. He had heard those words of hers about
+remembering the gallant stranger in her prayers with considerable
+emotion. Jack even thought the expression written on the face of the boy
+might spell delight.
+
+"But even if he had at one time been a fire-fighter in the city," Mrs.
+Badger kept on saying, wonderingly, "why should he be so eager to throw
+away his life in _my_ service. What could a poor woman and her
+crippled child be to him?"
+
+Then Fred, unable longer to keep his wonderful secret, burst out:
+
+"Oh! mother, don't you know, can't you guess who he is? Why, it's only
+right he should be the one to save our poor Lucy, or perish in the
+attempt; because this is the great chance he's been praying would come,
+so he could prove to you that he has redeemed the past. Mother, surely
+now you know who he is?"
+
+She stared at him as though bewildered. Then her eyes again sought the
+burning building into which the stranger had plunged, bent on his
+mission of mercy. By now the staggering truth must have forced itself
+into her groping mind, for she suddenly caught hold of Fred again, and
+hugged him passionately.
+
+"It must be the mysterious ways of Heaven!" Jack heard her say. "Tell
+me, boy, do you mean that it is----"
+
+"Yes, my father!" Fred said, "and for a whole week and more I have known
+about his being here. He wanted to wait until I could get up courage
+enough to break the news to you. He has changed, mother, oh! so much,
+and made a fortune honestly in the mines, just to show you that the past
+has been wiped out. And surely this last act of his proves it."
+
+The poor woman sank on her knees. Jack could see her lips move, though
+of course he was unable to catch a single word she uttered; but he felt
+positive she was sending up a prayer of gratitude, and beseeching
+Providence that the precious lives of both father and daughter might be
+spared through a miracle.
+
+It was all as clear as daylight to Jack now. He could easily understand
+how at some time in the past, while the Badgers lived in another town,
+the husband and father had fallen into evil ways, almost breaking his
+wife's heart. Finally he had possibly been forced to flee from the law,
+which he may have broken while under the influence of liquor. And all
+through the years that had come and gone they had never heard of him
+again, so that she felt she had a right to call herself a widow.
+
+Then one day had come this stranger to Chester, whom Fred must have met,
+to learn that the other was his own father. He doubtless had been old
+enough to understand how cruelly his beloved mother had been treated in
+the past, and it took time to make the boy believe in the protestations
+of the prodigal father. As the days passed he saw the other frequently,
+and was gradually coming to believe that his reformation had been
+sincere.
+
+All the while Mr. Badger had been afraid lest his wife refuse to forgive
+him, and receive him. From afar he had taken to watching the humble
+cottage home in which his dear ones dwelt, and doubtless each day saw
+his yearning to embrace them grow stronger.
+
+Why, Jack could easily understand now his peculiar actions at the time
+he stood leaning on the picket fence, and watching; also why he should
+seek to hold the trusting little hand of pretty Barbara as he walked at
+her side. He would doubtless have given worlds just then for the
+privilege of clasping the child in his arms and straining her to his
+heart, but he did not dare, lest she repulse him.
+
+It was simply grand, and Jack's heart beat tumultuously as he watched
+Mrs. Badger praying for the safety of little Lucy, yes, and also for the
+life of the man whom she had for years been trying to put out of her
+mind as utterly unworthy of remembrance.
+
+Just then in the light of his noble sacrifice she undoubtedly forgot all
+the misery he had caused her during their married life, and could only
+think of him as he had appeared during their courtship, when she
+believed him the best of his sex.
+
+It would be all right, Jack believed, if only Mr. Badger might find his
+Lucy, and be able to save her life. His wife would be only too ready and
+willing to let the bitter past sink into oblivion, and begin life anew,
+in her belief in his reformation.
+
+So all interest now hung over the burning cottage. Somewhere inside
+those doomed walls the man who had once upon a time in his checkered
+career served as a fireman on a city force, was groping his way about,
+seeking to stumble over the unconscious form of the poor little cripple
+whom the pungent smoke had caused to collapse before she could creep to
+safety.
+
+His utter ignorance of the interior of the cottage would be against him,
+Jack feared. He wondered whether a double tragedy might complete this
+wonderful happening; or would Heaven be so kind as to allow the
+repentant man to save Lucy, and thus again cement the bonds his
+wickedness in the past had severed?
+
+The only things in his favor were first of all the fact that he had had
+much experience along this line of life-saving, and would know just how
+to go about it; and then again his great enthusiasm might serve to carry
+him along through difficulties that would have daunted most men.
+
+The firemen could do next to nothing to assist in the rescue. They
+gathered before the building, and sent several streams of water in at
+the gaping front door, as if desirous of keeping the flames back as long
+as possible, and thus affording the stranger a better chance for
+effecting his purpose.
+
+Already he had been inside for several minutes. Events had occurred with
+lightning-like rapidity, for Fred and his mother had talked eagerly. To
+Jack, however, it seemed as though a quarter of an hour must have
+elapsed, he was in such a state of suspense. He felt as though he must
+break through the line of fire fighters and dash into the cottage, to
+find the pair they knew to be still there amidst that terrible smoke, so
+dense and suffocating.
+
+Would they ever come out, he kept asking himself, as he strained his
+eyes while looking. When hope was beginning to fade away Jack heard a
+shout that thrilled him to the core, and made him pluck up new courage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+FRED RENEWS HIS PLEDGE
+
+
+"There he is!"
+
+It was this thrilling cry that broke out above the noise of the
+crackling flames, the spatter of rushing water, and the murmur of many
+voices.
+
+"And he's got the child with him!" another sharp-eyed onlooker shouted
+exultantly; for although they knew nothing of the tie that bound the
+stranger to the crippled girl he had gone to save, they could appreciate
+the heroism at its true value, and were ready to honor the other for his
+brave deed.
+
+Staggering forth from the building came the man. He utterly disdained
+any assistance from the ready firemen, lost in admiration for his
+courage. They might have deemed him next-door to a fool when he dashed
+into the building, but now in the light of his astonishing success he
+was a hero.
+
+Mrs. Badger gave a thrilling cry, and advanced toward the man who bore
+the cripple in his arms. He was a pitiable sight, for most of his beard
+and hair had been scorched, and in places doubtless he had received
+burns more or less serious; but he paid no attention to such things.
+
+"Here is your darling child, Mary; I saved her for you!"
+
+Hardly had Mrs. Badger taken the unconscious girl in her arms when the
+man sank down at her feet in a dead faint. He had held up through
+everything until he was able to effect his purpose, and then Nature
+could stand no more.
+
+Jack bent over him and called for water. He sincerely hoped that it
+might not be so serious as he feared. The experienced fire-fighter would
+have known better than to have inhaled any of the flame as he passed
+through; and apparently from the condition of his clothes he could not
+have been very seriously burned.
+
+No sooner had cold water been applied to his face and neck than he came
+to, and persisted in sitting up. His gaze wandered wistfully over to
+where his wife was bending over the crippled girl so solicitously. Jack
+knew, however, that no matter if the rescue had been made too late, Mr.
+Badger had undoubtedly earned a right to the forgiveness of the one whom
+he had so cruelly wronged in the past.
+
+But it seemed that everything was going to come out all right, for now
+he saw that the women gathered about the mother and child were looking
+less alarmed. Undoubtedly Lucy was responding to their efforts at
+resuscitation. She must have fallen on the floor in such a position as
+to keep her from inhaling much less smoke than would have been the case
+had she remained on her feet. The air is always found to be purer near
+the floor during a fire, as many a person trapped within a burning
+building has discovered.
+
+Now Mrs. Badger had started back toward the spot where the rescuer lay.
+Perhaps some appealing word from Fred had caused her to remember what
+she owed to the savior of her crippled child.
+
+Mr. Badger saw her coming; trust his eager eyes for that. He managed to
+struggle to his feet, and stood there waiting; but he need not have
+feared concerning the result. What he had done this night had forever
+washed out the bitterness of the past. All the former tenderness in her
+heart toward him was renewed when she hurried up, and taking one
+solicitous tearful look into his blackened face, threw herself into his
+arms with a glad cry.
+
+"Oh! Donald, we have lost our little home, but I am the happiest woman
+on earth this night; for what does that matter when I have found
+_you_ again?"
+
+"Mary, my wife, can you find it in your gentle heart to really forgive
+me?" Jack heard him ask; not that he meant to play the part of
+eavesdropper, but he chanced to be very close, and was unable to break
+away from such an affecting scene.
+
+"Never speak of it again to me," she told him. "It is buried forever,
+all that is displeasing. We will forget it absolutely. In saving our
+child you have nobly redeemed yourself in my eyes. I am proud of you,
+Donald. But oh! I hope your hurts may not be serious."
+
+"They could be ten times as serious and I would glory in them," he was
+saying as Jack turned away; but he saw the man bend down and tenderly
+kiss his wife, while her arms were about his neck.
+
+Toby, too, had heard everything. He was the possessor of a very tender
+heart, and as he trotted off at Jack's side he was making all sorts of
+queer faces, which the other knew full well were meant to hide the fact
+that his eyes were swimming in tears, and no boy likes it to be known
+that he is actually crying.
+
+"Did you ever hear of such a fine thing as that, Jack?" Toby was saying
+between sniffles. "Why, it just goes away ahead of any story I ever
+read. Think of that man we believed might be a city sport, bent on
+bribing Fred to throw the great game, turning out to be his own dad! I
+reckon he treated his poor wife right mean some years ago, and she's
+never been able to think of him except as a bad egg. But say, he
+certainly has come back in the last inning, and carried the game off
+with a wonderful home-run hit."
+
+"And Toby," remarked the delighted Jack, "we can easily understand now
+why that man hung around the Badger cottage at the time we discovered
+him leaning on the picket fence. He was hungering for a sight of his
+wife's face, and counting the minutes until Fred could find some way to
+introduce the subject to his mother."
+
+"And then about little Barbara, I rather guess he was taken with her
+pretty face and quaint speech," continued Toby, reflectively. "Why, at
+the time he skipped out she could not have been any more than a baby.
+Well, it's all been a drama equal to anything I ever saw shown in the
+movies; and in the end everything has come out well. I feel like
+shouting all the way home, I'm so tickled over it."
+
+"Another thing pleases me," continued Jack. "We needn't be bothering our
+heads over Fred turning traitor to his team after this."
+
+"That's so!" echoed Steve.
+
+"For one," added Toby, sagaciously, "I've had a hunch, Jack, you never
+could bring yourself to believe that there was anything about that same
+affair. In spite of the circumstantial evidence in the case you always
+kept believing Fred must be innocent. Am I right?"
+
+"Perhaps you are, Toby, but I do confess I was considerably worried.
+Fred's actions were all so suspicious; and besides, we knew that he had
+great need for a certain sum of money at home. If ever I allowed myself
+to fear the worst, at the same time I understood that the temptation was
+great, because of his love for his mother."
+
+"But it's all going to come out just bully now," laughed Toby. "You both
+heard what Fred said about his father having made a fortune honestly in
+the mines, working ever so hard, just to prove to his wife how he had
+surely reformed, and wanted to show it by deeds. They'll have no need to
+worry over money matters from this time out. And let's hope the prodigal
+dad will make everybody so happy that they'll almost be glad he went bad
+and had to reform."
+
+The other boys had to laugh at Toby's queer way of putting it, but they
+understood what he meant. The fire was still burning furiously, and
+despite the efforts of Chester's valiant fighters it seemed disposed to
+make a clean sweep of the cottage with its contents, all but the few
+precious heirlooms Fred had been able to drag out in the beginning.
+
+"I certainly do hope, though," Steve thought to say presently, "that
+Fred won't be so knocked out by his blow on the head, and all this
+wonderful excitement, as not to be able to play in our big game
+Saturday."
+
+"Gee whiz! that _would_ be a calamity for sure!" exclaimed Toby.
+"Jack, you wondered whether anything else could happen to give you
+trouble about your line-up against Harmony, and here it has come along.
+Better have a little heart-to-heart talk with Fred, and get him to
+promise not to go back on his old pals; for we certainly couldn't fill
+the gap at third if he dropped out, not at this late day anyhow."
+
+"I meant to do that without your mentioning it, Toby," responded the
+other, patting his chum on the shoulder as he spoke. "I'll hang around
+and try to get a chance to speak with Fred when things simmer down a
+bit. But I tell you right now that boy isn't the one to go back on his
+friends. He'll play if he's in fit condition, no matter how his home
+conditions have altered for the better. Why, he'll be so full of
+happiness, I reckon, Fred Badger will star through the whole game."
+
+"According to all reports from Harmony," remarked Steve, drily, "we'll
+be apt to need all the starring we can get. They're working like
+troopers over there, I'm told, because we threw such a scare in 'em that
+last game, when we got on to Hendrix, and most knocked him out of the
+box."
+
+"Well, Chester is going some in the bargain," retorted Toby Hopkins. "We
+believe our team is ten per cent. better than it was last Saturday.
+Donohue says he never felt so fit as right now; and every fellow on the
+nine is standing on his toes, ready to prove to the scoffers of Chester
+that Jack's team here is the peer of any aggregation in the whole
+country, not even barring the hitherto invincible Harmony crowd. We've
+got it in for Hendrix, believe _me_!"
+
+Jack liked to hear such enthusiasm. If every member of the team were as
+much inspired as Toby seemed to be, they would almost certainly prove
+unbeatable. With such a spirit to back them up, a ninth inning rally was
+always a strong possibility.
+
+The fire was now beginning to die down, for the house had been pretty
+well gutted, and there was little standing save the charred walls. Of
+course the firemen continued to play the hose upon the smoldering pile,
+but the picturesque part of the conflagration was over, and many people
+had already commenced to start back home.
+
+Numerous neighbors had offered the family temporary accommodations, and
+insisted on them coming to stay until they could secure fresh quarters.
+Perhaps these offers were all of them wholly sincere, though it would
+perhaps have been only human for some of the good women to be a bit
+curious concerning the unexpected appearance of Mr. Badger on the scene,
+whom they had all believed to be dead; and they might relish hearing
+about the family reunion; though Jack could well believe little would
+ever be told reflecting on the good name of the repentant husband and
+father.
+
+He managed to find a chance to speak with Fred, and the squeeze of his
+hand told the other how much Jack sympathized with him, as well as
+rejoiced over the happy ending of all Fred's troubles.
+
+"Will I stand by you fellows, and work in that game, are you asking me,
+Jack?" he ejaculated, presently, when the captain had found a chance to
+put his question. "Why, wild horses couldn't drag me away from that
+baseball field. This glorious thing that has come to my dear mother and
+the rest of us just makes me feel like I could perform better than ever
+in my life. Make up your mind, Jack, old fellow, Little Fred will be on
+guard at that third sack on Saturday, barring accidents, and trying to
+put up the game of his young life. Why, I'm just bubbling over with joy;
+and I feel like I ought to do my little part toward putting Chester on
+the map as a center for all boys' sports."
+
+And when later on Jack wended his way toward home, accompanied by Toby
+and Steve, he felt more positive than ever that a great future was
+beginning to loom up for the boys of Chester; and the winning of the
+coming contest would be a gateway leading into the Land of Promise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+HENDRIX AGAIN IN THE BOX
+
+
+On Friday there was a light fall of rain that gave the boys of Chester a
+fear lest the great game be postponed. It turned out that this was a
+needless scare, for Saturday opened with fair skies, while even the air
+seemed delightful for a day in the middle of summer, with a gentle
+breeze blowing from the west.
+
+The exodus began early in the day, and after noon traffic along the main
+road leading to Harmony was exceedingly heavy, all sorts of vehicles
+rolling onward, from sporty cars and laden motor trucks, down to humble
+wagons and buggies, with plenty of bicycles and motorcycles in evidence.
+
+Once they arrived at the Harmony Field Club grounds, they found that
+there was to be a most amazing crowd of people to cheer the respective
+teams on with all manner of encouraging shouts and class yells.
+
+There would not be any change in the line-up of Chester, for luckily all
+the boys had come through the grilling work of the past week without
+encountering any serious injuries. Harmony had not been quite so lucky,
+for their efficient third baseman, Young, had had his collarbone
+fractured during practice, and would be incapacitated from service the
+balance of the season.
+
+In his place, a fellow by the name of Parsons was expected to guard
+third. None of the Chester boys remembered ever having seen him work, so
+they were utterly in the dark as to his abilities. The Harmony fellows
+gave out mysterious hints about the "great find" they had made in
+picking up Parsons, who was a most terrific batter, as well as a dandy
+third-sacker. He was very likely, they claimed, to break up the whole
+game by his way of slamming out three-baggers every time he stepped up
+to bat.
+
+Of course few Chester boys really believed all this high talk. They
+understood very well that if a weakness had really developed in
+Harmony's infield, it would be policy on the part of the local rooters
+to try to conceal the fact, so that the Chester batters might not focus
+all their hits in the direction of third. Nevertheless, the boasting of
+the Harmony fans gave more than one visitor a cold feeling around the
+region of his heart. He watched Parsons in the practice before the game
+was called, and every little stunt which he performed was horribly
+magnified in their eyes.
+
+Fortunately, Mr. Merrywether, the impartial umpire, was able to
+officiate again, which fact pleased both sides. They knew they could be
+sure of a square deal at his hands, and that was all any honest ball
+player could ask. When the public understands that an umpire always
+tries to do his duty as he sees it, and cannot be swerved from his path
+by any hoodlum tactics, they seem to feel a sort of affection for such a
+man, who is an honor to his chosen profession.
+
+Long before the time came for play to begin every seat was taken, and
+hundreds were standing; while every avenue leading to the enclosed
+grounds seemed to be choked with hurrying, jostling throngs. They were
+anxious to at least get within seeing distance of the diamond, where
+they could add their voices to the cheers bound to arise as brilliant
+plays were pulled off by either side.
+
+This was certainly the biggest event in the line of boys sports that had
+ever occurred at or near Harmony. Such a vast outpouring of people had
+never before been seen. Chester was represented by hundreds of her best
+citizens, attended by their wives. And really it would be hard to think
+of a Chester boy over ten years of age who had not managed somehow or
+other to get over, so as to watch how Jack Winters and his team came out
+in the conclusive game with the great Hendrix.
+
+All species of noises arose all around the field, from a myriad of
+automobile horns and frequent school yells given under the direction of
+the rival cheer captains, who stood in front of the bleachers, and waved
+their arms like semaphores as they led their cohorts in concert,
+whooping out the recognized yells of either Harmony or Chester.
+
+The pitchers were trying out in one corner of the grounds in full view
+of the entire mass of spectators. Many curious eyes watched them limber
+up their arms for the work before them. Besides Hendrix and Donohue
+several reserve pitchers on either side were in line, sending and
+receiving in routine; but of course never once delivering their
+deceptive curves or drops, lest the opposing players get a line on their
+best tricks, and prepare to meet them later on.
+
+No one had any doubts concerning who was slated to occupy the box. It
+was bound to be the same batteries as in the last game, Hendrix and
+Chase for Harmony, Donohue and Mullane for Chester. If for any reason
+either of these star pitchers should be so unfortunate as to get a
+"lacing," then possibly one of the substitutes might be introduced so as
+to save the day; but there was a slim chance of any such thing coming to
+pass.
+
+Jack had no reason to feel discouraged. To be sure, he had passed
+through quite a strenuous week, and been worried over a number of his
+leading players; but after all, things had turned out very well. Now
+that the great day had arrived, he believed every fellow on the nine was
+feeling first class.
+
+There was Donohue, for instance, who had been on the verge of throwing
+up his job as pitcher because he believed he would be over in Harmony
+when the day arrived, living there for good; but Jack had fixed all
+that, so that he was now firmly settled as a citizen of Chester, and
+could put his whole heart into his work in the box.
+
+Joel Jackman had come close to drowning, but it was Jack who had been
+instrumental in rescuing him when he caught that cramp in the cold water
+of the lake; and, so far as appearances went, Joel was feeling as he
+declared, "just prime." He ran after the loftiest flies that were
+knocked his way as though he had the speed of the wind; yes, and not
+once was he guilty of a flagrant muff, though some of those balls called
+for an exhibition of agility and skill bordering on genius.
+
+Lastly, there was Fred Badger, who had also given Jack many a heartache
+since the last tie game with Harmony; but Fred was jumping around his
+favorite third sack, smothering every grounder that sped his way, and
+pegging to first with a promptness and accuracy that made some of the
+Harmony fans shiver as they thought of how easily their fastest runner
+would be caught miles from the base by such wonderful playing as that,
+provided Fred could do as well in the real game.
+
+The time was close at hand for the umpire to call play, and of course
+there was an eagerness as well as a tinge of anxiety running through the
+crowds of spectators. In a hotly contested game such as was very likely
+to develop, often a little thing will seem like a mountain; and upon a
+mere trifle the fate of the contest may in the end depend. Should any
+one of the players "crack" under the strain, such a thing was likely to
+settle the controversy for good.
+
+Since there was such a monstrous crowd present that ropes had to be used
+to keep them from surging on to the field, of course ground rules had to
+be arranged in advance. This was certain to work a little in favor of
+the home team. For instance, every Harmony batter knew that a hit toward
+right would send the ball into the near bleachers, which feat would
+count for two bases; whereas, if the ball were free to travel, it might
+be fielded back in time to hold the runner at first. Then again, a
+little more steam would send the horse-hide careening over right-field
+fence for a home-run. Doubtless Harmony batters had practiced for just
+such special hits many, many times; whereas, the Chester fellows, being
+almost green to the grounds, would be apt to hit as they were accustomed
+to doing at home.
+
+Jack, like a wise general, saw this opening, and one of the first things
+he did in giving counsel to his players was to point it out to Big Bob
+Jeffries, Joel Jackman, Steve Mullane and the rest of the heavy
+sluggers.
+
+"Start them for right field every time you can, boys," he advised. "It
+doesn't take so much of a tap to put them across the fence there; and if
+you can't get so far land a few in the bleachers for a double."
+
+"How about the third sack, Jack?" asked Phil Parker. "You know I'm a
+great hand to knock across the line there. Some get into foul territory,
+passing outside the bag; but when they do go over squarely they always
+count for keeps. Do you believe half they're saying about that Parsons
+being a regular demon for grabbing up ground scorchers, and tossing
+fellows out at first?"
+
+"None of us will know until we make the test," Jack told him. "Start
+things up lively for Mr. Parsons the first time you face Hendrix, Phil.
+If we find he's all to the good there, we'll change off, and ring in a
+new deal. But somehow I seem to have a sneaking notion that same Parsons
+will turn out to be the Harmony goat in this game. They've done their
+best to replace Young; and now hope to hide the truth by all this
+bragging."
+
+"I wouldn't be at all surprised if what you say turns out to be a fact,
+Jack," remarked Steve. "You know we read a whole lot these days about
+the war over in Europe, and how the French have a masterly way of hiding
+their big guns under a mattress of boughs, or a painted canvas made to
+represent the earth, so that flying scouts above can't see where the
+battery is located. Well, perhaps now Harmony, in making all this brag
+is only trying to hide their gap. Camaflouge they call it, I believe.
+But we'll proceed to see what Parsons has got up his sleeve. You watch
+me get him to guessing. If he gets in the way of the cannonball I shoot
+at third, it'll feel like a hot tamale in his hands, believe me."
+
+"Well, there's Mr. Merrywether going to announce the batteries, and so
+we'll have a chance to see what we can do at bat, for of course Harmony
+takes the field first. Every fellow fight tooth and nail for Chester. We
+want to go home this afternoon in a blaze of glory. Win or lose, we must
+show that we are a credit to our folks. That's all I've got to say as a
+last word; every fellow on his toes every second of the time, at bat,
+and in the field!"
+
+The umpire raised his voice, and using a megaphone proceeded to announce
+that the opposing batteries of the two rival teams would be:
+
+"Hendrix and Chase for Harmony; Donohue and Mullane for Chester!"
+
+A storm of approval greeted the announcement. Everybody settled back as
+though relieved, and confident that no matter who won, they would see a
+game well worth patronizing.
+
+Hendrix received the new ball, and proceeded to send a few swift ones to
+his basemen. They of course managed to drop it on the ground as often as
+they could, so that it might be dextrously rolled a bit, and discolored,
+for it is always considered that a new ball works in favor of the
+batter.
+
+Jack was the first man to face Hendrix, as he led the batting list. From
+all over the place loud cries greeted the captain of the Chester team as
+he stepped up to the plate, and stood there with his bat on his
+shoulder. Of course most of these encouraging cries came from the
+faithful Chester rooters; but then there were fair-minded fellows of
+Harmony who believed in giving due credit to an honorable antagonist;
+and Jack Winters they knew to be such a type of boy, clean in everything
+he attempted, and a true lover of outdoor sports.
+
+"Play ball!"
+
+Hendrix took one last look all around. He wished to make sure that his
+fielders and basemen were just as he would have them placed. He knew
+that Jack could wield a bat with considerable skill; and moreover had
+proved his ability to solve his delivery on that former occasion. So
+proceeding to wind up he sent in the first one with sizzling speed, and
+a sharp drop.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE LUCKY SEVENTH
+
+
+"Strike One!" announced the wideawake umpire, in his stentorian voice.
+
+Subdued applause ran through the immense throng. Apparently Hendrix had
+perfect control over the ball. That wonderful drop had been too quick
+for Jack, who, considering that it was entirely too high, had not
+struck. Perhaps, though, he was waiting to see what Hendrix meant to
+feed him.
+
+The next one went wide in a curve that elicited murmurs of admiration
+from the sages of the ball game, who invariably insisted on sitting in a
+direct line with catcher and pitcher, their one occupation being to
+gauge the delivery, and shout out approval or disdain over every ball
+that comes along; or else plague the umpire because his decision differs
+from their wonderful judgment.
+
+Then came the third toss. Jack stepped forward, and before the break
+could occur he had met the twisting ball with the point of his bat,
+sending it humming down toward short.
+
+Bailey was on his job, and neatly smothered what might have been a
+splendid single. When Jack reached first after a speedy rush, he found
+the ball there ahead of him gripped in Hutching's fist, and was greeted
+with a wide grin from the astute first baseman.
+
+"One down!" remarked Toby Hopkins, as Phil Parker toed the mark, and
+watched the opposing pitcher like a hawk, meaning to duplicate Jack's
+feat if possible, only he aspired to send the ball through the infield,
+and not straight at a man.
+
+"But Jack got at him, you noticed," said Joel Jackman, who did not seem
+to be showing any signs of his recent adventure in the chilly waters of
+the lake. "Hendrix may be a puzzle to a good many fellows, but once you
+solve his tricks well, say, he's as easy as pie at Thanksgiving."
+
+Well, Joel had a chance that very inning to show what he meant, for
+while Phil reached first on a Texas leaguer, and Herbert Jones whiffed
+vainly at three balls that came over the plate with lightening speed,
+there were only two out.
+
+Joel made a swing at a wide one on purpose, for he had received the
+signal from Phil that he meant to make a break for second when next
+Hendrix started to wind up to deliver the ball. Luck was with Phil,
+thanks partly to the great slide with which he covered the last ten feet
+of ground; and also to the fact that the generally reliable Chase,
+Harmony's backstop, managed to draw the second baseman off his bag to
+stop his speedy throw.
+
+Hendrix showed no signs of being alarmed. He tempted Joel to take a
+chance at a most deceptive drop, which put the batter two in the hole
+with just as many balls called on the box-man.
+
+With the next toss, Joel, meaning to emulate Jack's manner of stepping
+forward and meeting the ball before the break came, entirely
+miscalculated Hendrix' scheme. As a consequence, the ball, instead of
+being a sharp drop, seemed to actually _rise_ in the air, and in
+consequence, Joel missed it by half a foot.
+
+He went to his position out in centre, fastening his glove, and shaking
+his head.
+
+"How'd you find Hendrix today, Joel?" asked Oldsmith, the Harmony
+middle-field man, as they passed on the way. "Some stuff he's got on
+that ball, hey?"
+
+"That last was certainly a new one for me," confessed Joel, frankly.
+"Why, honest to goodness, it seemed to jump up in the air just before I
+swung."
+
+"Sure, that's the new jump ball he's been practicing lately," grinned
+Oldsmith, though whether he really believed such a thing himself or not
+was a question, for he seemed to be a practical joker. "Old Hendrix is
+always hatching up something fresh, for the other side. You fellows
+needn't expect to do much running today, for most of you will only whiff
+out at the rubber. He's got your number, all right."
+
+Of course that did not bother Joel very much. He knew how prone baseball
+players are to boast when things are turning their way; and at the same
+time find all sorts of plausible excuses when the reverse tide begins to
+flow against them.
+
+Donohue seemed to be at his best, for he immediately struck out the
+first man who faced him, tossing up just three balls at that. This was
+quite a creditable performance the Chester rooters kept telling their
+Harmony neighbors, considering that he was no veteran at this sort of
+thing, and Hutchings could usually be counted on as a dependable hitter.
+
+Clifford fared but little better, though it was through a lofty foul to
+right field which Big Bob easily smothered, that he went out. Then
+Captain Martin tried his hand, and he, too, seemed unable properly to
+gauge the teasers that Donohue sent in, for after fouling several, he
+passed away on the third strike.
+
+The crowd made up its mind that it was going to be a pitchers' duel in
+earnest. Many would go the way of those who had been unable to meet the
+puzzling curves and drops that had come in by turns.
+
+When next the Chester boys tried their hand, Toby got his base through
+Parsons juggling the hot grounder which came his way, and failing to
+send it across the diamond in time to nip the runner. The Chester folks
+took notice of this error on the part of the third baseman, who had been
+touted as a wonder at snatching up everything that came his way,
+regardless of its character. Still, that had been a difficult ball to
+handle, and the error was excusable, Jack thought.
+
+There was no run made, though Big Bob did send out a terrific drive that
+under ordinary conditions should have been a three-bagger at least.
+Oldsmith, after a gallant sprint at top speed, was seen to jump into the
+air and pull the ball down. He received a storm of applause, for it was
+a pretty piece of work; and Chester fans cheered quite as lustily as the
+home crowd; for, as a rule, baseball rooters can admire such splendid
+results regardless of partisanship.
+
+Badger struck out, in his turn, being apparently unable to solve those
+puzzling shoots of the cool and smiling master in the box. But then
+Harmony was no better off in their half of that inning, for not a man
+got as far as second; though O'Leary did send up an amazing fly that
+dropped squarely in the hands of Big Bob. The other two only smashed the
+thin air when they struck, for they picked out wide ones, and let the
+good balls shoot over the edges of the plate like cannonballs.
+
+"Notice one thing," said Jack to several of the Chester players when
+once more it was their turn at bat. "Every Harmony fellow turns partly
+toward the right when he bats. That's the short field in this enclosure,
+and with the bleachers in between. They know the advantages of sending
+the ball in that direction every time it's possible. Phil, Joel and Bob,
+make a note of that, will you, and try to duplicate their game? They
+know the grounds, and have the advantage over us."
+
+"Watch my smoke, Governor," chuckled Big Bob Jeffries, confidently. "I'm
+only trying things out so far. When the right time comes, me to cash in
+with a ball clean over that short field fence. They'll never find it
+again either, if I get the swoop I'm aiming for."
+
+"Well, use good judgment when you make it," laughed Jack, "and see that
+the bases are occupied. We may need a homer before this gruelling game
+is over."
+
+It certainly began to look like it when the sixth inning had ended and
+never a run was marked up on the score-board for either side. Once Fred
+Badger had succeeded in straining a point, and reaching third with a
+wonderful exhibition of base stealing; but alas! he died there. Steve,
+usually so reliable, could not bring him in, though he did valiantly,
+and knocked a sky-scraper which O'Leary scooped in after a run back to
+the very edge of the bleachers. Five feet further and it would have
+dropped safe, meaning a two-bagger for Steve, and a run for Badger.
+
+So the seventh started. Both pitchers were going as strong as in the
+start, even more so, many believed. It was a wonderful exhibition of
+skill and endurance, and thousands were ready to declare that no such
+game had ever been played upon the grounds of the Harmony Field Club.
+
+"Everybody get busy this frame," said Jack, encouragingly, as Donohue
+picked up a bat and strode out to take his place. "We've got to make a
+start some time, and the lucky seventh ought to be the right place. Work
+him for a walk if you can Alec. And if you get to first, we'll bat you
+in, never fear."
+
+Considerably to the surprise of everybody, Donohue, instead of striking
+out, managed to connect with a swift ball, and send up a weak fly that
+fell back of second. Three players started for it, but there must have
+been some fierce misunderstanding of signals, for they all stopped short
+to avoid a collision, each under the belief that one of the others had
+cried he had it. In consequence, the ball fell to the ground safely, and
+the Chester pitcher landed on the initial sack.
+
+Such roars as went up from the faithful and expectant Chester rooters.
+They managed to make such a noise that one would have been pardoned for
+thinking the entire crowd must be in sympathy with the visitors.
+Anticipation jumped to fever heat. With a runner located on first base,
+no one out, and several reliable batters coming up, it began to look as
+though that might yet prove the "lucky seventh" for the plucky Chester
+boys.
+
+Jack knew that Hendrix would have it in for him. He would depend on
+sweeping curves that must deceive, and try no more of that drop ball,
+which Jack had proved himself able to judge and meet before it broke.
+
+So Jack, after one swing at a spinner which he did not expect to strike,
+dropped a neat little bunt along the line toward first. This allowed the
+runner to reach second, although Jack himself was caught; for Hendrix
+instantly darted over to first, and was in time to receive the ball
+after Hatchings had scooped it out of the dirt.
+
+But the runner had been advanced to second, and there were still two
+chances that he could be sent on his way by a mighty wallop, or even a
+fine single. Phil did crack out one that did the trick, and he found
+himself landed on first, though Donohue, unfortunately, was held at
+third. Bedlam seemed to be breaking loose. Chester rooters stormed and
+cheered, and some of the more enthusiastic even danced around like
+maniacs. Others waited for something really to be accomplished before
+giving vent to their repressed feelings.
+
+Next up stepped Herb Jones, with a man on third, another on first, and
+but a lone out. He failed to accomplish anything, Hendrix sending him
+along by the usual strike-out line.
+
+Everything depended on Joel. A single was all that was needed to bring
+in the tally so ardently desired. It was no time to try for a big hit.
+Even Phil on first was signaled not to take risks in starting for
+second.
+
+Joel waited. He was fed a couple of wide ones that the umpire called
+balls. Then came a fair one clean across the rubber, but Joel did not
+strike. Jack made a motion to him. He believed the next would also be a
+good ball, for Hendrix was not likely to put himself in a hole right
+there, depending more on his dazzling speed to carry him through.
+
+Joel struck!
+
+They heard the crack of the bat, but few saw the ball go, such was its
+momentum as it passed through the diamond. Hendrix, however, made a stab
+with his glove and managed to deflect the ball from its first course.
+That turned out to be a fatal involuntary movement on his part, for it
+made Bailey's job in knocking down the ball more difficult. The nimble
+shortstop managed to recover the ball and send it in home; but as the
+runner at third had of course started tearing along as he heard the
+blow, he had slid to safety before Chase caught the throw in.
+
+And so the first tally of the game fell to Chester in the lucky seventh!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+AFTER THE GREAT VICTORY--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Toby Hopkins made a gallant effort to duplicate the performance of some
+of his mates. He cracked out a dandy hit well along toward the bleachers
+out in right field. Again did O'Leary run like mad, or a "red-headed
+meteor," as some of his admirers yelled. They saw him actually leap
+amidst the bleachers, the spectators giving way like frightened sheep.
+Yes, and he caught that fly in a most amazing fashion, well deserving
+the loud salvos of cheers that kept up as he came in, until he had
+doffed his cap in response to the mad applause.
+
+But Harmony came back in their half of the seventh with a tally that
+resulted from a screaming hit by the hero of the game, O'Leary, which
+carried far over the famous right-field fence.
+
+With the score thus evened up, they went at the eighth frame. Big Bob
+got a single out in right. He was advanced to second by a fine bunt on
+the part of Fred Badger, which the new third baseman found it difficult
+to handle, though he did succeed in nailing the runner at first. Along
+came Steve with a zigzag hit that made a bad bound over shortstop's head
+and allowed Big Bob to land on third. He was kept from going home by the
+coacher there, who saw that Oldsmith had dashed in from short center,
+and was already picking up the ball for a throw home, which he did with
+fine judgment.
+
+Donohue was unable to duplicate his previous lucky pop-up, for he struck
+out. Jack was given his base on balls, an unusual occurrence with
+Hendrix. Apparently, however, he was banking on being better able to
+strike out Phil Parker, which he immediately proceeded to do, so that
+after all, the Chester rally did not net a run, and the score was still
+a tie.
+
+Chester went to the field for the finish of the eighth, determined that
+there should be no let down of the bars. Jack had spoken encouraging
+words to Donohue, and was confidently told by the pitcher that he felt
+as "fresh as a daisy, with speed to burn."
+
+He proved the truth of his words immediately by striking out the first
+man to face him. Then the next Harmony batter managed to send up several
+high fouls that kept Big Bob in right hustling; though he finally
+succeeded in getting hold of one, and putting the man out.
+
+The third batter hit the ball with fierceness, but Jack took it for a
+line drive, and that inning was over. The ninth was looming up and the
+game still undecided. Indeed, they were no better off than when making
+the start, save that they had had considerable practice whiffing the
+thin air.
+
+"You see, they persist in trying to drive toward right," urged Jack, as
+his players came trooping in, eager to get busy again with their bats,
+so as to win the game in this ninth round.
+
+"Yes, and they kept me on the jump right smart in the bargain," remarked
+Big Bob Jeffries, wiping his reeking forehead as he spoke. "Never mind,
+I'll have a chance at Hendrix again this inning, likely, if one of you
+fellows can manage to perch on the initial sack. Then watch what
+happens. I'm going to break up this bally old game right now."
+
+"Deeds talk, Big Bob!" chuckled Toby, as Herb Jones stepped up to see
+what he could do for a starter.
+
+His best was a foul that the catcher smothered in his big mitt after
+quite an exciting rush here and there, for it was difficult to judge of
+such a twister. Herb looked utterly disgusted as he threw down his bat.
+Joel Jackman struck the first offering dealt out to him, and got away
+with it in the bargain. Perched on first the lanky fielder grinned, and
+called out encouragingly at Toby, who was next.
+
+Hendrix tightened up. He looked very grim and determined. Toby wanted to
+bunt, but he managed instead to send a little grounder along toward
+first. Joel was already booming along in the direction of second, and
+taking a grand slide, for fear that the throw would catch him.
+
+But after all Chase had some difficulty in picking up the ball, as
+sometimes happens to the best of them; and while he did hurl it to
+second, the umpire held up his hands to announce that Joel was safe. No
+one disputed his decision, though it had been a trifle close.
+
+Matters were looking up for Chester again. One man was down, but that
+was Big Bob Jeffries striding up to the plate, with a grim look on his
+face. If Hendrix were wise he would send him along on balls; but then
+the pitcher had perfect faith in his ability to deceive the heaviest of
+hitters.
+
+Twice did Big Bob swing, each time almost falling down when his bat met
+with no resistance. He took a fresh grip and steeled himself. Jack
+called out a word of warning, but Big Bob shook his head. No matter what
+Hendrix gave him, he could reach it, his confident, almost bulldog
+manner declared.
+
+Well, he did!
+
+He smacked the very next offering of the great Harmony pitcher so hard
+that it looked like a dot in the heavens as it sped away over
+right-field fence for a magnificent home run.
+
+Big Bob trotted around the circuit with a wide grin on his face, chasing
+Joel and Toby before him, while the crowd went fairly wild with joy--at
+least that section of it representative of Chester did. The Harmony
+rooters looked pretty blue, to tell the truth, for they realized that
+only a miracle could keep their rivals from running off with the
+hard-fought game.
+
+"That sews it up, I reckon!" many of them were heard to say.
+
+There were no more runs made by Chester, for Hendrix mowed the next
+batter down with comparative ease; but the mischief had already been
+done.
+
+Harmony made a last fierce effort to score in their half of the ninth.
+Chase got his base on balls, and Hendrix tried to advance him with a
+sacrifice, but succeeded only in knocking into a double. Then Hutchings
+cracked out a two-sacker, and Clifford came along with a neat single
+that sent the other runner on to third, while he occupied the initial
+sack. Harmony stock began to rise. Those who had made a movement as
+though about to quit their seats sat down again. Possibly the game was
+not yet over. Some clever work on the part of Martin, Oldsmith and
+Bailey might tie the score, when, as on the last occasion, extra innings
+would be necessary in order to prove which of the teams should be
+awarded the victor's laurel.
+
+Everybody seemed to be rooting when Captain Martin stepped up. He
+succeeded in picking out a good one, and with the sound of the blow
+there was an instinctive loud "Oh!" on the part of hundreds. But, alas!
+for the fate of Harmony! the ball went directly at Fred Badger, who sent
+it straight home in time to catch Hutchings by seven feet, despite his
+mad rush.
+
+And so the great game wound up, with the score four to one in favor of
+Chester. Doubtless, the most depressed member of the defeated Harmony
+team would be Hendrix, who had failed to baffle those batters with all
+his wonderful curves and trick drops.
+
+On the way home after the game, with the Chester players occupying a big
+carryall, their joyous faces told every one along the way how they had
+fared, even if their shouts failed to announce their victory.
+
+"This is a grand day in the history of Chester," said Jack for the tenth
+time, since he shared in the enthusiasm that seemed to run through every
+fellow's veins. "It will be written down as a red letter day by every
+boy, young and old; for we have put the old town on the baseball map for
+keeps. After this folks will speak of Chester teams with respect, for
+we've gallantly downed the champions of the county two to one, with a
+great tie thrown in for good measure. I want to thank every one of you
+for what you've done to help out--Phil, Herb, Joel, Toby, Big Bob, Fred,
+Steve, and last but far from least our peerless pitcher Alec Donohue.
+Not one of you but played your position to the limit; and as to batting,
+never this summer has Hendrix had the lacing he got today, so I was
+privately told by one of the Harmony fans whose money has been back of
+the team all summer."
+
+"We'll make Rome howl tonight, boys, believe me!" asserted Big Bob.
+"Bonfires and red lights all over the town, while we march through the
+streets, and shout till we're hoarse as crows. The like never happened
+before in Chester, and it's only right the good folks should know we've
+made the place famous."
+
+"What pleases me most of all," Jack went on to say, when he could find a
+chance to break into the lively talk, "is the bright prospect that looms
+up before us. This glorious baseball victory clinches matters. I know
+several gentlemen who will now be eager to back up our scheme for a
+club-house this winter, as well as a football eleven to compete for the
+county championship up to Thanksgiving. And during the balance of the
+summer I've got a lively programme laid out that ought to give the bunch
+of us a heap of pleasure, as well as profit us in the way of healthy
+exercise."
+
+His announcement was greeted with hearty cheers, for they knew full well
+that when Jack Winters engineered any scheme it was likely to turn out
+well worth attention. But it would hardly be fair just now to disclose
+what Jack's plans were; that may well be left to the succeeding volume
+in this series of athletic achievements on the part of the Chester boys,
+which can be found wherever juvenile books are sold under the title of
+"Jack Winters' Campmates; or, Vacation Days in the Woods."
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+VICTORY BOY SCOUT SERIES
+
+Stories by a writer who possesses a thorough knowledge of this subject.
+Handsomely bound in cloth; colored jacket wrapper.
+
+    1 The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol
+    2 Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good
+    3 Pathfinder; or, the Missing Tenderfoot
+    4 Great Hike; or, The Pride of Khaki Troop
+    5 Endurance Test; or, How Clear Grit Won the Day
+    6 Under Canvas; or, the Search for the Carteret Ghost
+    7 Storm-bound; or, a Vacation among the Snow Drifts
+    8 Afloat; or, Adventures on Watery Trails
+    9 Tenderfoot Squad; or, Camping at Raccoon Bluff
+    10 Boy Scouts in an Airship
+    11 Boy Scout Electricians; or, the Hidden Dynamo
+    12 Boy Scouts on Open Plains
+
+For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 40 cents
+
+M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
+
+
+
+
+BOY SCOUT SERIES
+
+By
+
+G. HARVEY RALPHSON
+
+Just the type of books that delight and fascinate the wide awake boys of
+today. Clean, wholesome and interesting; full of mystery and adventure.
+Each title is complete and unabridged. Printed on a good quality of
+paper from large, clear type and bound in cloth. Each book is wrapped in
+a special multi-colored jacket.
+
+     1. Boy Scouts in Mexico; or, On Guard with Uncle Sam
+     2. Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone; or, the Plot against Uncle Sam
+     3. Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or, the Key to the Treaty Box
+     4. Boy Scouts in the Northwest; or, Fighting Forest Fires
+     5. Boy Scouts in a Motor Boat; or Adventures on Columbia River
+     6. Boy Scouts in an Airship; or, the Warning from the Sky
+     7. Boy Scouts in a Submarine; or, Searching an Ocean Floor
+     8. Boy Scouts on Motorcycles; or, With the Flying Squadron
+     9. Boy Scouts beyond the Arctic Circle; or, the Lost Expedition
+    10. Boy Scout Camera Club; or, the Confessions of a Photograph
+    11. Boy Scout Electricians; or, the Hidden Dynamo
+    12. Boy Scouts in California; or, the Flag on the Cliff
+    13. Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay; or, the Disappearing Fleet
+    14. Boy Scouts in Death Valley; or, the City in the Sky
+    15. Boy Scouts on Open Plains; or, the Roundup not Ordered
+    16. Boy Scouts in Southern Waters; or the Spanish Treasure Chest
+    17. Boy Scouts in Belgium; or, Imperiled in a Trap
+    18. Boy Scouts in the North Sea; or, the Mystery of a Sub
+    19. Boy Scouts Mysterious Signal; or, Perils of the Black Bear Patrol
+    20. Boy Scouts with the Cossacks; or, a Guilty Secret
+
+For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 60 cents
+
+M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
+
+
+
+
+MOTOR BOAT BOYS SERIES
+
+By Louis Arundel
+
+    1. The Motor Club's Cruise Down the Mississippi; or The Dash for
+       Dixie.
+    2. The Motor Club on the St. Lawrence River; or Adventures Among
+       the Thousand Islands.
+    3. The Motor Club on the Great Lakes; or Exploring the Mystic Isle
+       of Mackinac.
+    4. Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys; or The Struggle for the
+       Leadership.
+    5. Motor Boat Boys Down the Coast; or Through Storm and Stress.
+    6. Motor Boat Boy's River Chase; or Six Chums Afloat or Ashore.
+    7. Motor Boat Boys Down the Danube; or Four Chums Abroad
+
+MOTOR MAID SERIES
+
+By Katherine Stokes
+
+    1. Motor Maids' School Days
+    2. Motor Maids by Palm and Pine
+    3. Motor Maids Across the Continent
+    4. Motor Maids by Rose, Shamrock and Thistle
+    5. Motor Maids in Fair Japan
+    6. Motor Maids at Sunrise Camp
+
+For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c
+
+M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
+
+
+
+
+RADIO BOYS SERIES
+
+    1. Radio Boys in the Secret Service; or, Cast Away on an
+       Iceberg ... FRANK HONEYWELL
+    2. Radio Boys on the Thousand Islands; or, The Yankee Canadian
+       Wireless Trail ... FRANK HONEYWELL
+    3. Radio Boys in the Flying Service; or, Held for Ransom by
+       Mexican Bandits ... J. W. DUFFIELD
+    4. Radio Boys Under the Sea; or, The Hunt for the Sunken
+       Treasure ... J. W. DUFFIELD
+    5. Radio Boys Cronies; or, Bill Brown's Radio ... WAYNE WHIPPLE
+    6. Radio Boys Loyalty; or, Bill Brown Listens In ... WAYNE WHIPPLE
+
+PEGGY PARSON'S SERIES
+
+By Annabel Sharp
+
+A popular and charming series of Girl's books dealing in an interesting
+and fascinating manner with the the life and adventures of Girlhood so
+dear to all Girls from eight to fourteen years of age. Printed from
+large clear type on superior quality paper, multi-color jacket. Bound in
+cloth.
+
+    1. Peggy Parson Hampton Freshman
+    2. Peggy Parson at Prep School
+
+For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c
+
+M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
+
+
+
+
+THE AEROPLANE SERIES
+
+By John Luther Langworthy
+
+    1. The Aeroplane Boys; or, The Young Pilots First Air Voyage
+    2. The Aeroplane Boys on the Wing; or, Aeroplane Chums in the Tropics
+    3. The Aeroplane Boys Among the Clouds; or, Young Aviators in a Wreck
+    4. The Aeroplane Boys' Flights; or, A Hydroplane Round-up
+    5. The Aeroplane Boys on a Cattle Ranch
+
+THE GIRL AVIATOR SERIES
+
+By Margaret Burnham
+
+Just the type of books that delight and fascinate the wide awake girls
+of the present day who are between the ages of eight and fourteen years.
+The great author of these books regards them as the best products of her
+pen. Printed from large clear type on a superior quality of paper;
+attractive multi-color jacket wrapper around each book. Bound in cloth.
+
+    1. The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship
+    2. The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings
+    3. The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise
+    4. The Girl Aviators' Motor Butterfly.
+
+For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 75c
+
+M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY
+
+711 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
+
+
+
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