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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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Jack Winters' Baseball Team</p> +<p> Or, The Rivals of the Diamond</p> +<p>Author: Mark Overton</p> +<p>Release Date: February 25, 2010 [eBook #31396]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK WINTERS' BASEBALL TEAM***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="center">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i1'></a><img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +<i>Jack tried to keep the boy’s head above water</i> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<p class='fs22 mb15'>JACK WINTERS’<br />BASEBALL TEAM</p> + +<p class='mb15'>OR,</p> + +<p class='fs16 mb40'>The Rivals of the Diamond</p> + +<p class='mb10'>BY</p> + +<p class='fs14'>MARK OVERTON</p> + +<div class='tpi'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.png' /> +</div> + +<p class='fs08 mb60'>MADE IN U.S.A.</p> + +<p class='fs12'>M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY</p> + +<p>CHICAGO        ::        NEW +YORK</p></div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs08 mb20'>Copyright 1919, by<br />American Authors Publishing +Co.</p> + +<p class='c fs08'>Made in U.S.A.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<table summary='TOC'> +<tr><td colspan='3' class='center fs12'>CONTENTS</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='3' class='center fs12'></td></tr> +<tr><td class='fs08'>CHAPTER</td><td colspan='2' class='tar fs08'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>I.</td><td class='tcol2'>Three Boys of Chester</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_1'>11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>II.</td><td class='tcol2'>A Weak Link in the Chain</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_2'>19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>III.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Last Practice Game</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_3'>28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>IV.</td><td class='tcol2'>When Chester Awakened</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_4'>37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>V.</td><td class='tcol2'>Tied in the Ninth Inning</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_5'>46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VI.</td><td class='tcol2'>Fred Put to the Test</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_6'>55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VII.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Game Called by Darkness</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_7'>64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>VIII.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Puzzle Grows</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_8'>73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>IX.</td><td class='tcol2'>A Fairy in the Badger Home</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_9'>81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>X.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Warning</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_10'>89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XI.</td><td class='tcol2'>Sitting on the Lid</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_11'>98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XII.</td><td class='tcol2'>One Trouble After Another</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_12'>107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIII.</td><td class='tcol2'>When the Cramp Seized Joel</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_13'>116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIV.</td><td class='tcol2'>A Night Alarm</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_14'>124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XV.</td><td class='tcol2'>What Happened at the Fire</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_15'>133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVI.</td><td class='tcol2'>A Startling Disclosure</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_16'>142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVII.</td><td class='tcol2'>Fred Renews His Pledge</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_17'>150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XVIII.</td><td class='tcol2'>Hendrix Again in the Box</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_18'>159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XIX.</td><td class='tcol2'>The Lucky Seventh</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_19'>168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tcol1'>XX.</td><td class='tcol2'>After the Great Victory–Conclusion</td><td class='tcol3'><a href='#link_20'>177</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<h1>JACK WINTERS’ BASEBALL TEAM</h1> + +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER I<br /><span class='h2fs'>THREE BOYS OF CHESTER</span></h2> + +<p>“No use talking, Toby, there’s something on Jack’s mind of +late, and it’s beginning to bother him a lot, I think!”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>just now</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Huh! guess I do that, Toby, when, for one thing, we’re scheduled +to go up against that terrible Harmony nine day after tomorrow.”</p> + +<p>“And if Jack is getting cold feet already, on account of something or +other, I can see our finish now, Steve.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Great Cæsar! 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!”</p> + +<p>“But, shucks! Toby, the tables were sure turned <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we did lose, all right, but don’t forget that we fought +tooth and nail to the very last.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Toby was a character. He had an enviable <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_15'></a>15</span> 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 <i>hop</i> to beat the band, if I +can’t do much else.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then a little event happened that put new life <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later and Toby gave an exclamation of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>There was nothing remarkable about Jack Winters, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Does it have a bearing on the great game with Harmony, Jack?” +begged Toby, who was a bit impatient after his way.</p> + +<p>“It may mean everything to us in that battle!” Jack admitted, as +he headed for the bench in the small park.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER II<br /><span class='h2fs'>A WEAK LINK IN THE CHAIN</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now break loose and give us a hint what it’s all about, please, +Jack!” urged Toby.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span>Both the others +uttered low exclamations of surprise.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But what’s the matter with Fred?” demanded Steve.</p> + +<p>“I saw him not an hour ago,” spoke up Toby, “and say, he +didn’t look so <i>very</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“And yet,” added Steve, thoughtfully, “now that you mention +it, Jack, seems to me Fred <i>has</i> 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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>Jack shook his head.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Gee whiz! what’s coming now, Jack?” asked Toby, wriggling +uneasily on the bench.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack sighed.</p> + +<p>“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 +<i>bribe</i> 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!”</p> + +<p>Toby almost fell off his seat on hearing Jack say that.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>Both boys held up a right hand promptly.</p> + +<p>“I never blab anything, even in my sleep, Jack,” said Steve; +“and until you give permission never a single word will I pass +along.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a secret over at our house,” Toby went on to say. +“My mother happens to know that Doctor <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_24'></a>24</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Why, how can that be, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Still, he might be blind to that fact,” Jack explained. +“The one thing before his eyes would be <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_25'></a>25</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“As what, Jack?” begged Toby, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Gee whiz! the plot thickens, and that does look black for Fred, I must +say,” grunted Toby, aghast.</p> + +<p>“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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> toss away the game, if it +looks as though Chester is going to win out on a close margin.”</p> + +<p>“Then we ought to drop Fred out, and take our medicine with another man +on third,” proposed Steve, hotly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +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!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER III<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LAST PRACTICE GAME</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_29'></a>29</span> 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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Fred did not show up until just before the game with the scrub team was being +called, so that of <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then there was Big Bob Jeffries, a terror at the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> admitted, +being willing to give him the greater part of the credit.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’m going your way, it happens, this afternoon, <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Glad to have your company, Jack,” said Fred; but all the same he +did not seem so <i>very</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“We’ve just <i>got</i> 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?”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Of course I do, Jack. I’m not the one to show <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> the white feather at such +an early stage of the game. They’ve never accused <i>me</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_35'></a>35</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>your</i> way would please Molly a heap, I +reckon, Fred.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_36'></a>36</span> If it’s my promise to do my level best tomorrow +you want, Jack, you’ve got it!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER IV<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHEN CHESTER AWAKENED</span></h2> + +<p>“Did you ever see such an enormous crowd?”</p> + +<p>“Beats everything that ever happened around Chester all +hollow!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> hanging low-down +close to the horizon in the southwest. We get most of our big storms from that +quarter, don’t forget.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> certainly looked fit to do +their best in honor of their native town.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span>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.</p> + +<p>Various comments were flying around, most of them connected with the newest +member of the Chester team.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>iceberg</i>.”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Listen to all that whooping, Ernest; what’s happening, do you +think?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Of a truth, Chester had never seen such a wonderful <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Did you see that speed ball zip through the air, Specs?” +demanded the fellow who had been called Ernest by the one wearing glasses.</p> + +<p>“I tried to follow it, but lost out,” admitted the <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What for?” asked Specs.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But it’s long after three right now, and still no sign of the +game starting,” continued Specs, a little anxiously.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The others scoffed at his dismal prediction. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_44'></a>44</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER V<br /><span class='h2fs'>TIED IN THE NINTH INNING</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> had really seen +it flash past, though it landed with a thud in Mullane’s big mitt.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> 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.</p> + +<p>When the play was called the two nines on the diamond were lined up as +follows:</p> + +<table summary=''> +<tr><td class='c tdw'>Chester</td><td class='tdw'> </td><td class='c tdw'>Harmony</td></tr> +<tr><td>Jack Winters</td><td class='c'><i>First Base</i></td><td class='tar'>Hatchings</td></tr> +<tr><td>Phil Parker</td><td class='c'><i>Left Field</i></td><td class='tar'>Clifford</td></tr> +<tr><td>Herbert Jones</td><td class='c'><i>Second Base</i></td><td class='tar'>Martin</td></tr> +<tr><td>Joel Jackman</td><td class='c'><i>Centre Field</i></td><td class='tar'>Oldsmith</td></tr> +<tr><td>Toby Hopkins</td><td class='c'><i>Shortstop</i></td><td class='tar'>Bailey</td></tr> +<tr><td>Big Bob Jeffries</td><td class='c'><i>Right Field</i></td><td class='tar'>O’Leary</td></tr> +<tr><td>Fred Badger</td><td class='c'><i>Third Base</i></td><td class='tar'>Young</td></tr> +<tr><td>Steve Mullane</td><td class='c'><i>Catcher</i></td><td class='tar'>Chase</td></tr> +<tr><td>Alec Donohue</td><td class='c'><i>Pitcher</i></td><td class='tar'>Hendrix</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>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 <i>their</i> side that +is doing most of the hitting.</p> + +<p>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, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Next in line came the terrible O’Leary. He was <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“A homer!” shrieked scores of delighted Harmony fans.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Joel Jackman was next. He, too, connected with the ball, but, alas, only to +send up a tremendous <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +foul that was promptly caught, after a smart run, by Clifford in short left +field.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Here’s where we clinch the game, Chester!”</p> + +<p>“It’s all over!”</p> + +<p>“Martin, your turn to swat the bean!”</p> + +<p>“Get Donohue going at last. The best pitcher may go to the wall once +too often, especially the Harmony well!”</p> + +<p>“Now make it three this inning, boys, and we’ll forgive you for +holding back all this time!”</p> + +<p>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, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_54'></a>54</span> 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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER VI<br /><span class='h2fs'>FRED PUT TO THE TEST</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +influence with the sorely tempted third baseman, in case he were finally put to +the test.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Donohue, taking his cue from a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_57'></a>57</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Take him into camp, Alec!”</p> + +<p>“You’ve got his measure all right, old scout! Twice before he +whiffed, and he’s in line to make it three times!”</p> + +<p>“Feed him your best sizzlers, Donohue!”</p> + +<p>“Oldsmith, you’re a back number today, don’t you +know?”</p> + +<p>Then they heard the bat connect with the ball. Clifford was off toward second +in great style. <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Now it was Bailey up.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span>There were now two +down, with men on second and third.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +and possibly deceive O’Leary, as he had done twice before.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>knew</i> there was a +weak link in the chain made by the infield, and figured on taking advantage of +Fred’s intended treachery?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Make him put it over, Dan!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span>“Knock the +stuffing out of the ball, O’Leary!”</p> + +<p>“One of your old-time homers is what we need, remember!”</p> + +<p>“You’ve got his number, Dan; don’t bite at a wide +one!”</p> + +<p>“You’ll walk, all right; he’s afraid of you, old +scout!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER VII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE GAME CALLED BY DARKNESS</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You’re out!”</p> + +<p>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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> slab-artist like young Donohue should +prove to be the possessor of so much stamina.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But if the fielders were thus handicapped, the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then just as they settled down to play, another fielder called for time while +he knelt down to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was now getting quite gloomy, and a hurried consultation between the +umpire and the rival captains resulted in Mr. Merrywether announcing <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“Thank you for saying it, anyhow, Jack,” the <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Chester has been away behind the times <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE PUZZLE GROWS</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span>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.</p> + +<p>“Glad you’ve got back home, Jack, sure I am,” said Toby, +the first thing.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“And one thing we both agree about, Jack,” continued Toby, with a +grin.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” demanded the other.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It was a grand play,” admitted Jack, “and I told Fred so +while we walked home together.”</p> + +<p>Steve looked keenly at him when Jack said this.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> having a terrible struggle +in his mind as to what is the right course for him to pursue.”</p> + +<p>At that Toby gave a snort that plainly told how he was beginning to doubt +certain things in which he had hitherto fully believed.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But, Jack, I’m afraid he’s bound to have to go through the +whole business again,” interposed Steve.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span>“For one +thing, that man has been at Fred again,” asserted the other, +positively.</p> + +<p>“Do you know this for a certainty?” Jack asked.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Meaning that same place you showed me, near where the road comes down +close to the shore of the water?” suggested Toby, quickly.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Then, Jack, why don’t you try and figure out how you could put +it up to Fred that way?” urged Toby, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What you say, Steve, does your big heart <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Did you steer us this way on purpose, Jack!” demanded Toby, +suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you say, Jack,” muttered Steve, looking rather unhappy +because lie was not to be taken <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_80'></a>80</span> wholly into the confidence of the other. +“Don’t stay too long, though, unless you mean to tell us all that +happens in there.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now, what’s in the wind, Jack?” whispered Toby, as they +reached the side of the other.</p> + +<p>“Take a peek and see who’s here!” Jack told them.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Great Cæsar! is that chap the man you’ve both been talking +about, tell me?” asked Toby, half under his breath.</p> + +<p>“He is certainly the party I saw Fred talking with so +mysteriously,” asserted Jack, positively.</p> + +<p>“And the same fellow who was walking along the road with Fred while I +sat on my log, fishing,” added Steve, convincingly.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER IX<br /><span class='h2fs'>A FAIRY IN THE BADGER HOME</span></h2> + +<p>“Let’s watch and see what it all means?” suggested Steve, +quickly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +to chase him out of town, don’t you think, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Gee whiz! can she be meaning to meet this man?” ventured Toby, +apparently appalled by his own suspicion.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> a terrible thing while he was within +hearing distance.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_84'></a>84</span> shook his head as though he did not dream any harm +was going to come to little Barbara.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Oh! how do we know but what the man has a <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> 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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Let’s do it!” suggested Steve, after Toby had made mention +of this fact.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>quite</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! he may be acting that way for a purpose,” grumbled the +unconvinced Steve, still unwilling to <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_87'></a>87</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>Almost immediately afterwards Toby spoke again in a guarded tone.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I decline to commit myself to an answer,” came the reply.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> whole life. Tell +us when you strike pay dirt, that’s a good fellow, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I will,” chuckled the other, still keeping his eyes +glued on the figures of little Barbara and the stranger, not far distant.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER X<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE WARNING</span></h2> + +<p>“Hello! there, Jack, you’re wanted!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_90'></a>90</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Glad to see you, Bailey,” returned the other. “What brings +you over this way again? Anything new come up?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“That’s it, Jack. He gave me this note to deliver; <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> and I’m to answer +any questions you may see fit to ask.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“To the Captain and Members of the Chester Baseball Team:</p> + +<p>“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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> 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 <i>allow no one not a player on your side to go +anywhere near it!</i> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p class='tar'>Signed <span class='sc'>Captain Lem Martin,</span><br /> +For the entire Harmony Baseball Team.”</p> + +<p>When Jack had finished reading this remarkable letter, the first thing he did +was characteristic <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +of the boy–he reached out his hand toward Bailey.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The little shortstop’s eyes glistened as he wrung Jack’s +hand.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How about telling the other boys?” inquired Jack.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>So Jack beckoned to the rest.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> in the bargain, as well as lost us the +game. Such scoundrels ought to be locked up; they’re a menace to any +community.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER XI<br /><span class='h2fs'>SITTING ON THE LID</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Donohue had been acting somewhat queerly during the last two days, Jack +noticed. True enough, he came to the practice games, and <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’ve just <i>got</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack therefore watched until he saw Alec Donohue put on his coat and saunter +off, as though <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +heading for home. Then he proceeded to follow after the pitcher.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Young Donohue flushed a bit.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack became alarmed.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>Alec swallowed hard before starting to make answer to this question.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_101'></a>101</span> afraid that I won’t be able to pitch again +for Chester.”</p> + +<p>“How is that, Alec!” asked the other, solicitously.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>It was a time for quick thinking with Jack.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> my arm off Saturday so as to bring +another Harmony scalp home.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Glad to see you, my boy,” he observed, in his <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> 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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what the matter is, sir,” and with that Jack +plunged into a brief exposition of the Donohue family troubles.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> be +found for Mr. Donohue that would keep the family in Chester right along.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack could hardly speak for happiness. The tears actually came in his eyes as +he wrung the hand of the gentleman.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +Donohue home with that glorious news right away?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER XII<br /><span class='h2fs'>ONE TROUBLE AFTER ANOTHER</span></h2> + +<p>“Ting-a-ling!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That you, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I would have been starting you up at daybreak this morning, Jack, +only it happens that I learned the good news last night.”</p> + +<p>“How was that?” demanded the other; “did you walk over to +their place to ask Alec about it?”</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t good taste to look a gift-horse in the <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> 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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Toby laughed softly.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, Jack, I just knew what you’d be up to, and says I +to myself, it’d be a bully thing <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_110'></a>110</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That must be his place yonder!” remarked Toby, presently.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> is having a little private practice of +a morning on his own account.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_112'></a>112</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> road +that presently would take them close to the shore of Lake Constance.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 +<i>hopping</i> 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 <i>bathe</i> in it if I thought that would make me better able to do +my part toward corraling that great game for Chester.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_115'></a>115</span> may be happening, you know. Things keep following +each other these days like sheep going over a fence after their +leader!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Look, Jack, there’s some one floundering out there, and throwing +up his arms. It’s our Joel Jackman, I do believe! and great Cæsar! +he’s got a cramp and is drowning!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was all he could do to keep his head above water, struggling as he was +with the fear of a <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>Jack sized up the situation like a flash.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“All right, Jack; you bet I will!” Toby shouted, following +suit.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Seeing what Toby meant to do, the two swimmers followed suit, so that +presently the whole <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_118'></a>118</span> three of them had each picked up a plank, and were +pushing out with it.</p> + +<p>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 <i>was</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack shouted hoarsely as he swam onward:</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Perhaps these cheering words did help Joel to <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>So Toby and the other two found them when they finally arrived. The planks +were arranged <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> so +that Joel could be raised and sustained by their means; after which the little +procession of swimmers headed for the bank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now get some clothes on, Joel, and you’ll soon be feeling +prime,” he told the other, whose lips were still blue and quivering.</p> + +<p>Joel had had quite enough of swimming for one day. Indeed, he would be pretty +cautious about <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_122'></a>122</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> Joel had to go and try +to kick the bucket, and force you to yank him out of the lake.”</p> + +<p>Jack laughed and shook his head.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>you</i> who’ll wave the flag and call out for +help.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Toby brightened up on hearing the leader grimly say this.</p> + +<p>“That’s the sort of stuff, Jack!” he exclaimed, slapping +his chum on the back.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /><span class='h2fs'>A NIGHT ALARM</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>That caught Jack in a weak spot.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he knocked at the Hopkins’ door soon after seven that +evening, and was immediately admitted by Toby himself. The Hopkins <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then again Toby knew more or less concerning <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_127'></a>127</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_128'></a>128</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose now you’ve played football before, Jack?” asked +the other.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“What position did you fill?” queried Toby.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” remarked Toby, as Jack made out to <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“Hearing you say that,” chuckled Jack, “makes me think of +that story of the old man and his boy’s bull-pup.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I’ve ever heard it, so fire away and +tell the yarn, Jack,” the other pleaded.</p> + +<p>“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!’”</p> + +<p>Toby laughed as Jack finished the anecdote, which it happened he had never +heard before.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>He had hardly said this than Toby stopped in his tracks.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_131'></a>131</span> and we’ll rush out. Already I can hear people +beginning to shout.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It must be the big mill, from the light that’s beginning to show +up in the sky!” hazarded one boy.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> some one was +likely to be rendered homeless before long.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER XV<br /><span class='h2fs'>WHAT HAPPENED AT THE FIRE</span></h2> + +<p>“Hello there, fellows, you’re on the job, too, I see!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What do you think, Steve,” gurgled Toby, “I was just +saying I thought it might be Fred Baxter’s place.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>All Chester was aroused by this time. When that brazen bell kept clanging +away in such a loud <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_134'></a>134</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Whee! it looks bad for Fred’s folks, now!” cried Toby, his +first thought being of the suffering of those involved.</p> + +<p>“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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> always meant loss +for somebody, possibly deadly peril as well.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> her arms, and she’s wrapped in +bed clothes, which shows she must have been sleeping when the fire broke +out.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s make our way over and find out,” suggested Steve, +quickly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“What happened to him?” almost savagely asked Steve.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> like +he was dead. I just couldn’t stand it any more, that’s +what.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack was considerably relieved. It was not so bad as he had feared, though +Fred certainly looked weak, and next door to helpless.</p> + +<p>“I hope he’ll not be knocked out from playing that game with us +Saturday,” Steve took occasion to say.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack suddenly discovered that the man whom <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_138'></a>138</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> fire, where most people lose their +heads, and do things they would call absurd at another time.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Gee whiz! I wonder, could that happen, and the poor thing be in there +right now,” Toby exclaimed, looking horrified at the idea.</p> + +<p>“Listen to all that squealing over among the women, will you?” +Steve was saying.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_140'></a>140</span>“We’ll soon know,” said Jack, +firmly, “because here comes one of the women running this way like a +frightened rabbit.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_141'></a>141</span> poor, poor thing. Oh! somebody must try to find out +if it’s so. Fred, are you able to make the attempt?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack was about to take it upon himself to attempt the dangerous rôle when to +his astonishment the mysterious stranger sprang up, and made a thrilling +announcement.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /><span class='h2fs'>A STARTLING DISCLOSURE</span></h2> + +<p>“Let me try to save the child; it is no more than right that I should +be the one to risk his life!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_143'></a>143</span> after learning that his poor sister was in all +probability still within the cottage.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I was sure it must be you, my son, and I feared I should never see +either of you again!” she cried, passionately.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But Lucy?” wailed the poor woman.</p> + +<p>“Try to calm yourself, mother,” urged Fred, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> stoutly. “If she is in there +still he may yet be in time to save her, with the aid of Providence.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> 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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>my</i> service. What could a poor woman and her +crippled child be to him?”</p> + +<p>Then Fred, unable longer to keep his wonderful secret, burst out:</p> + +<p>“Oh! mother, don’t you know, can’t you guess <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> 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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It must be the mysterious ways of Heaven!” Jack heard her say. +“Tell me, boy, do you mean that it is―”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> 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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span><a id='link_17'></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /><span class='h2fs'>FRED RENEWS HIS PLEDGE</span></h2> + +<p>“There he is!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Here is your darling child, Mary; I saved her for you!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_152'></a>152</span> during a fire, as many a person trapped within a +burning building has discovered.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>you</i> +again?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> proud of you, Donald. But oh! I hope +your hurts may not be serious.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Another thing pleases me,” continued Jack. “We +needn’t be bothering our heads over Fred turning traitor to his team after +this.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so!” echoed Steve.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_155'></a>155</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Gee whiz! that <i>would</i> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>me</i>!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span><a id='link_18'></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /><span class='h2fs'>HENDRIX AGAIN IN THE BOX</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> practice, and would be +incapacitated from service the balance of the season.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The pitchers were trying out in one corner of <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> settled as +a citizen of Chester, and could put his whole heart into his work in the +box.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> the strain, +such a thing was likely to settle the controversy for good.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“How about the third sack, Jack?” asked Phil Parker. “You +know I’m a great hand to knock <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_165'></a>165</span> 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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span>“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!”</p> + +<p>The umpire raised his voice, and using a megaphone proceeded to announce that +the opposing batteries of the two rival teams would be:</p> + +<p>“Hendrix and Chase for Harmony; Donohue and Mullane for +Chester!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“Play ball!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span><a id='link_19'></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LUCKY SEVENTH</span></h2> + +<p>“Strike One!” announced the wideawake umpire, in his stentorian +voice.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_169'></a>169</span> fist, and was greeted with a wide grin from the +astute first baseman.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Hendrix showed no signs of being alarmed. He tempted Joel to take a chance at +a most deceptive <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +drop, which put the batter two in the hole with just as many balls called on the +box-man.</p> + +<p>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 <i>rise</i> in the air, and in consequence, Joel missed +it by half a foot.</p> + +<p>He went to his position out in centre, fastening his glove, and shaking his +head.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Of course that did not bother Joel very much. He knew how prone baseball +players are to boast <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_171'></a>171</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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. <span +class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> Still, that had been a +difficult ball to handle, and the error was excusable, Jack thought.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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, <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_173'></a>173</span> and try to duplicate their game? They know the +grounds, and have the advantage over us.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Everybody get busy this frame,” said Jack, <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_176'></a>176</span> 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.</p> + +<p>Joel struck!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And so the first tally of the game fell to Chester in the lucky seventh!</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span><a id='link_20'></a>CHAPTER XX<br /><span class='h2fs'>AFTER THE GREAT VICTORY–CONCLUSION</span></h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_178'></a>178</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“You see, they persist in trying to drive toward <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> 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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Deeds talk, Big Bob!” chuckled Toby, as Herb Jones stepped up to +see what he could do for a starter.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But after all Chase had some difficulty in picking up the ball, as sometimes +happens to the best <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_180'></a>180</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Well, he did!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span>“That sews +it up, I reckon!” many of them were heard to say.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And so the great game wound up, with the score <span class='pagenum +pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll make Rome howl tonight, boys, believe me!” asserted +Big Bob. “Bonfires and red lights <span class='pagenum pncolor'><a +id='page_183'></a>183</span> 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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p class='center'>THE END</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs14'>VICTORY BOY SCOUT SERIES</p> + +<p>Stories by a writer who possesses a thorough knowledge of this subject. +Handsomely bound in cloth; colored jacket wrapper.</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1 The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol<br /> 2 Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol +Leader Made Good<br /> 3 Pathfinder; or, the Missing Tenderfoot<br /> 4 +Great Hike; or, The Pride of Khaki Troop<br /> 5 Endurance Test; or, How Clear +Grit Won the Day<br /> 6 Under Canvas; or, the Search for the Carteret +Ghost<br /> 7 Storm-bound; or, a Vacation among the Snow Drifts<br /> 8 +Afloat; or, Adventures on Watery Trails<br /> 9 Tenderfoot Squad; or, Camping +at Raccoon Bluff<br /> 10 Boy Scouts in an Airship<br /> 11 Boy Scout +Electricians; or, the Hidden Dynamo<br /> 12 Boy Scouts on Open Plains</p> +</div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs08'>For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of +40 cents</p> + +<p class='c +fs12'>M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY</p> +<p class='c'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN +STREET   ·  ·   CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs14'>BOY SCOUT SERIES</p> + +<p class='c'>By</p> + +<p class='c fs12'>G. HARVEY RALPHSON</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p> 1. Boy Scouts in Mexico; or, On Guard with Uncle Sam<br /> 2. +Boy Scouts in the Canal Zone; or, the Plot against Uncle Sam<br /> 3. +Boy Scouts in the Philippines; or, the Key to the Treaty Box<br /> 4. +Boy Scouts in the Northwest; or, Fighting Forest Fires<br /> 5. Boy +Scouts in a Motor Boat; or Adventures on Columbia River<br /> 6. Boy +Scouts in an Airship; or, the Warning from the Sky<br /> 7. Boy Scouts +in a Submarine; or, Searching an Ocean Floor<br /> 8. Boy Scouts on +Motorcycles; or, With the Flying Squadron<br /> 9. Boy Scouts beyond the +Arctic Circle; or, the Lost Expedition<br /> 10. Boy Scout Camera Club; or, +the Confessions of a Photograph<br /> 11. Boy Scout Electricians; or, the +Hidden Dynamo<br /> 12. Boy Scouts in California; or, the Flag on the +Cliff<br /> 13. Boy Scouts on Hudson Bay; or, the Disappearing Fleet<br /> +14. Boy Scouts in Death Valley; or, the City in the Sky<br /> 15. Boy Scouts +on Open Plains; or, the Roundup not Ordered<br /> 16. Boy Scouts in Southern +Waters; or the Spanish Treasure Chest<br /> 17. Boy Scouts in Belgium; or, +Imperiled in a Trap<br /> 18. Boy Scouts in the North Sea; or, the Mystery of +a Sub<br /> 19. Boy Scouts Mysterious Signal; or, Perils of the Black Bear +Patrol<br /> 20. Boy Scouts with the Cossacks; or, a Guilty Secret</p> +</div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs08'>For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of +60 cents</p> + +<p class='c +fs12'>M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY</p> +<p class='c'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN +STREET   ·  ·   CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs14'>MOTOR BOAT BOYS SERIES</p> + +<p class='c sc'>By Louis Arundel</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1. The Motor Club’s Cruise Down the Mississippi; or The Dash for +Dixie.<br /> 2. The Motor Club on the St. Lawrence River; or Adventures Among +the Thousand Islands.<br /> 3. The Motor Club on the Great Lakes; or Exploring +the Mystic Isle of Mackinac.<br /> 4. Motor Boat Boys Among the Florida Keys; +or The Struggle for the Leadership.<br /> 5. Motor Boat Boys Down the Coast; +or Through Storm and Stress.<br /> 6. Motor Boat Boy’s River Chase; or +Six Chums Afloat or Ashore.<br /> 7. Motor Boat Boys Down the Danube; or Four +Chums Abroad</p> </div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs14 mt40'>MOTOR MAID SERIES</p> + +<p class='c sc'>By Katherine Stokes</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1. Motor Maids’ School Days<br /> 2. Motor Maids by Palm and +Pine<br /> 3. Motor Maids Across the Continent<br /> 4. Motor Maids by Rose, +Shamrock and Thistle<br /> 5. Motor Maids in Fair Japan<br /> 6. Motor Maids +at Sunrise Camp</p> </div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs08'>For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of +75c</p> + +<p class='c +fs12'>M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY</p> +<p class='c'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN +STREET   ·  ·   CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs14'>RADIO BOYS SERIES</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1. Radio Boys in the Secret Service; or, Cast Away on an Iceberg ... FRANK +HONEYWELL<br /> 2. Radio Boys on the Thousand Islands; or, The Yankee Canadian +Wireless Trail ... FRANK HONEYWELL<br /> 3. Radio Boys in the Flying Service; +or, Held for Ransom by Mexican Bandits ... J. W. DUFFIELD<br /> 4. Radio Boys +Under the Sea; or, The Hunt for the Sunken Treasure ... J. W. DUFFIELD<br /> +5. Radio Boys Cronies; or, Bill Brown’s Radio ... WAYNE WHIPPLE<br /> 6. +Radio Boys Loyalty; or, Bill Brown Listens In ... WAYNE WHIPPLE</p> </div><!-- +poetry --> + +<p class='c fs14 mt30'>PEGGY PARSON’S SERIES</p> + +<p class='c sc fs12'>By Annabel Sharp</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1. Peggy Parson Hampton Freshman<br /> 2. Peggy Parson at Prep School</p> +</div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs08'>For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of +75c</p> + +<p class='c +fs12'>M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY</p> +<p class='c'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN +STREET   ·  ·   CHICAGO</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs14'>THE AEROPLANE SERIES</p> + +<p class='c sc fs12'>By John Luther Langworthy</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1. The Aeroplane Boys; or, The Young Pilots First Air Voyage<br /> 2. The +Aeroplane Boys on the Wing; or, Aeroplane Chums in the Tropics<br /> 3. The +Aeroplane Boys Among the Clouds; or, Young Aviators in a Wreck<br /> 4. The +Aeroplane Boys’ Flights; or, A Hydroplane Round-up<br /> 5. The +Aeroplane Boys on a Cattle Ranch</p> </div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs14 mt30'>THE GIRL AVIATOR SERIES</p> + +<p class='c sc fs12'>By Margaret Burnham</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<div class='poetry'> +<p>1. The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship<br /> 2. The Girl Aviators on +Golden Wings<br /> 3. The Girl Aviators’ Sky Cruise<br /> 4. The Girl +Aviators’ Motor Butterfly.</p> </div><!-- poetry --> + +<p class='c fs08'>For Sale by all Book-sellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of +75c</p> + +<p class='c +fs12'>M · A · DONOHUE · & · COMPANY</p> +<p class='c'>711 SOUTH DEARBORN +STREET   ·  ·   CHICAGO</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK WINTERS' BASEBALL TEAM***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 31396-h.txt or 31396-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/1/3/9/31396">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/3/9/31396</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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