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diff --git a/43940.txt b/43940.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7d46e58..0000000 --- a/43940.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7028 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Baseball Joe, Home Run King, by Lester -Chadwick - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Baseball Joe, Home Run King - or, The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record - - -Author: Lester Chadwick - - - -Release Date: October 12, 2013 [eBook #43940] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING*** - - -E-text prepared by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 43940-h.htm or 43940-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43940/43940-h/43940-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43940/43940-h.zip) - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). - - - - - -[Illustration: IT WAS THE LONGEST HIT THAT EVER HAD BEEN MADE ON THE -POLO GROUNDS.] - - -BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING - -Or - -The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record - -by - -LESTER CHADWICK - -Author of -"Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars," "Baseball Joe in the Big League," -"The Rival Pitchers," "The Eight-Oared Victors," etc. - -ILLUSTRATED - - - - - - - -New York -Cupples & Leon Company - - - * * * * * * - -BOOKS BY LESTER CHADWICK - -=THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES= - -=12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.= - - BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS - BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE - BASEBALL JOE AT YALE - BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE - BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE - BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS - BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES - BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD - BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING - - -=THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES= - -=12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.= - - THE RIVAL PITCHERS - A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK - BATTING TO WIN - THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN - FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL - THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS - -CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, New York - - * * * * * * - -Copyright, 1922, by CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - -=Baseball Joe, Home Run King= - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I A DANGEROUS PLUNGE 1 - II A SURPRISE 17 - III REGGIE TURNS UP 33 - IV THE ANONYMOUS LETTER 43 - V "PLAY BALL!" 54 - VI GETTING THE JUMP 61 - VII STEALING HOME 71 - VIII A BASEBALL IDOL 79 - IX AN OLD ENEMY 87 - X THREE IN A ROW 94 - XI RIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER 101 - XII JIM'S WINNING WAYS 108 - XIII A BREAK IN THE LUCK 117 - XIV A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE 123 - XV AN EVENING RIDE 131 - XVI THE ATTACK ON THE ROAD 136 - XVII FALLING BEHIND 143 - XVIII IN THE THROES OF A SLUMP 151 - XIX A CLOSE CALL 157 - XX SPEEDING UP 163 - XXI THE WINNING STREAK 170 - XXII STRIVING FOR MASTERY 178 - XXIII HOLDING THEM DOWN 184 - XXIV A CRUSHING BLOW 191 - XXV LINING THEM OUT 197 - XXVI THE TIRELESS FOE 203 - XXVII CHAMPIONS OF THE LEAGUE 210 - XXVIII THE WORLD SERIES 218 - XXIX THE GAME OF HIS LIFE 224 - XXX CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD 230 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - IT WAS THE LONGEST HIT THAT EVER HAD BEEN MADE - ON THE POLO GROUNDS. - - THERE WAS NO DOUBT OF THE WARMTH OF THAT WELCOME. - - SUDDENLY PICKING UP THE BALL HE HURLED IT TO SECOND. - - "GREAT SCOTT!" HE CRIED. "WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOUR HAND?" - - - - -BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING - - - - -CHAPTER I - -A DANGEROUS PLUNGE - - -"I'm going to tie you up in knots, old man," said Jim Barclay, with a -smile, as he picked up the ball and stepped into the box in batting -practice at the training camp. - -"I've heard that kind of talk before," retorted Joe Matson, known all -over the country as "Baseball Joe," the king pitcher of the Giants. -"But untying knots is the best thing I do. Give me the best you have in -the shop." - -Jim wound up and put one over that just cut the corner of the plate. -Joe made a mighty swing at it, but it was just beyond his reach. - -"Nearly broke your back reaching for that one, eh?" laughed Jim, as the -ball was thrown back to him. - -"I was just kidding you that time," grinned Joe. "I'm going to kill the -next one." - -Again the ball whizzed to the plate. It was a fast, straight ball with -a slight hop to it. Joe caught it near the end of his bat and "leaned -on it" heavily. The ball soared out between right and center, and -the outfielders covering that position gave one look at it and then -turned and ran with the ball. But it kept on and on until it cleared -the fence, and the discomfited fielders threw up their hands and came -slowly back to their positions. - -Jim looked sheepish, and Joe, who was his chum and best friend, laughed -outright as he relinquished the bat to the next man in line. - -"A sweet home run, Jim," he remarked. - -"I should say so!" snorted Jim. "That hit was good for two home runs. -The ball was ticketed for kingdom come." - -"Who was it said that pitchers couldn't hit?" laughed Mylert, the burly -catcher of the Giant team, as he took Joe's place. - -"I'll tell the world that some of them can!" exclaimed Jim, as he -prepared to try his luck again. "Gee, Joe, if that had happened to me -in a regular game, it would have broken my heart." - -Two keen-eyed men in uniform had been standing near the side lines, -watching intently every move of the players, as they tried out their -batting eyes and arms. One was stocky and of medium height, with -hair that had begun to grey at the temples. The other was stout and -ruddy, with a twinkle in his eyes that bespoke good nature. Both were -veterans of many hard-fought baseball campaigns, and both had played -on the Baltimore Orioles when that great organization of stars was the -sensation of the baseball world. - -"Did you see that hit, Robbie?" asked McRae, the manager of the Giants, -of his stout companion. - -"Not all of it," replied Robson, the coach of the team. "But I followed -it as far as the fence. That was a whale of a wallop. I'll bet the -ball's going yet," and the man chuckled gleefully. - -"Of course, this was only in practice," mused McRae. "Perhaps Barclay -wasn't trying over hard." - -"Don't kid yourself, Mac," replied Robson. "Barclay wasn't just lobbing -them up. That ball came over like a bullet. It had a hop on it too, but -Joe gauged it just right. I tell you that boy is a wonder. If he wasn't -a wizard in the box, he'd be a terror at the bat." - -"I wish there were two of him, Robbie," said the manager, smiling. "One -to cover the mound and the other to use as a pinch hitter or play him -in the outfield. That would make a combination hard to beat." - -"It was the best day's work you ever did when you got that lad from St. -Louis," remarked Robson. "I'll bet the Cardinal's manager feels like -throwing a fit every time he thinks what a fool he was to let him go." - -"Well," said McRae, "if everybody's foresight in baseball was as good -as his hindsight, there'd be no trading done. I don't mind saying that -I throw out my chest a little for having seen what was in the kid. He's -certainly been the making of the team." - -"One thing is certain; and that is that you wouldn't have the World's -Championship tucked away if it hadn't been for his great work in the -Series," rejoined Robson. "He just had those Chicago birds eating out -of his hand." - -"Right you are," admitted McRae. "Here's hoping he'll repeat this -season." - -"Don't worry a bit about that," was Robson's confident answer. "You can -see for yourself that he's been going great guns in practice. And even -at that he hasn't been letting himself out. He's taking good care of -that old soup-bone of his." - -"He was never better in his life," declared McRae. "I'll admit that I -was a little worried for fear that the trip around the world had taken -something out of him. You know what a strain he was under in that -All-Star League affair, Robbie. But it hasn't seemed to affect him at -all." - -"He'll need all he's got this year," said Robbie thoughtfully. "We'll -have to depend more on the pitching than we did last year, because -we're not so strong on the batting end. When Burkett quit, it took -away a good deal of our hitting strength, and you've seen that Mylert -is slipping. On the form he's shown in practice this spring, he won't -be good for more than a two hundred and fifty per cent average, and -that's about sixty points below what he showed last year." - -"I know it," agreed the manager, a worried look coming into his face. -"And what makes it worse is that Larry, too, is slow in rounding -into form. Instead of lining them out, he's sending them up in the -air. He'll be just pie for the fielders if he keeps it up. I can't -understand the thing at all." - -"Oh, well," said Robbie, whose jolly disposition never let him stay -long under a cloud, "here's hoping that they'll come to the scratch -when the season opens. Some of the rookies look pretty good to me, and -if the old-timers fall down we may be able to fill their places all -right. Come along, Mac; let's finish working out that schedule for -the trip north. We'll have to get a hustle on to be in shape to start -to-morrow." - -McRae gave the signal to his men that practice time was over, and the -young athletes, nothing loth to drop their work and get down to the -hotel for dinner, began to gather up their bats preparatory to jumping -into the bus which was waiting outside the grounds. But before they got -to it, McRae and Robson had climbed in and given the signal to the -driver to start. - -"No, you don't!" he called out with a grin, as the bus started away. -"You fellows leg it down to the hotel. It's only two miles, and you -need the exercise. Get a move on, or Robbie and I will clear the table -before you get there." - -There were grunts and groans from the players, for the sun was warm and -the practice had been strenuous. But there was no help for it, and they -dropped into a dog trot that was quickened by the thought of the dinner -that was waiting for them at the end of the journey. - -They reached the hotel in good time, took a shower bath, changed into -their regular clothes, and were soon at the table with an appetite that -swept the board and made the colored waiters roll their eyes in wonder, -not unmixed with awe. - -After the meal was finished, Joe and Jim were on their way to the -room they shared together when they passed McRae and Robbie, who were -sitting in the lobby enjoying their after-dinner cigars. - -McRae beckoned to them, and they went over to where the pair was -sitting. - -"Well, boys," said the manager, as he motioned to a couple of chairs -into which they dropped, "our spring practice is over and I don't mind -saying that I'm feeling good over the way you fellows ate up your -work. Both of you look as fit as fiddles." - -"That's sure the way we feel," answered Joe, and Jim murmured -acquiescence. - -"In fact you look so good," went on McRae, knocking the ashes from -his cigar and settling back comfortably in his chair, "that I'm going -to call training finished, as far as you two are concerned. Just now -you're right at the top of your form, and I don't want to take any -chances on your going stale. So I'm going to let you rest up for -the next week or ten days. All you have to do is to take good care -of yourselves--and I know you boys well enough to be sure you'll do -that--and turn up in shape when the season opens week after next." - -Joe and Jim looked at each other, and the same thought was in the mind -of each. This seemed too good to be true! - -"We start north to-morrow," went on McRae, "in two lots, playing minor -league teams on the way to keep in practice. The regulars will go along -with me, while Robbie will take the second string men and the rookies. -We'll jog along in easy fashion and hope to reach the Polo Grounds in -the pink of condition." - -By this time Joe had found his voice. He smiled broadly. - -"That's mighty good of you, Mac," he said. "I suppose you want us then -to go right through to New York." - -"That's the idea," replied the manager. "Robbie will see to your -transportation this afternoon." - -But just here, Robson, who had been watching the boys' faces, broke -into a laugh. - -"For the love of Mike, wake up Mac!" he adjured his friend. "Don't you -know that Joe lives only a couple of hundred miles from here right over -the border? And don't you remember those two pretty girls that were -with us on the World Tour? And didn't we hear Joe telling Jim a few -days ago that his sweetheart was visiting his folks? And here you are -sending the lads straight through to New York with never a stop on the -way. Mac, old man, I'm ashamed of you." - -McRae grinned as he looked at the faces of the young men--faces that -had grown suddenly red. - -"Robbie hit the nail on the head, did he?" he said, with a chuckle. -"Well, I'm Irishman enough to have a soft spot in my heart for the lads -and their colleens. Fix it up, boys, to suit yourselves. As long as you -report on time, that's all I ask. Get along with you now, as Robbie and -I have got to fix up our routes." - -Joe and Jim were only too glad to "get along," and after thanking McRae -hurried to their room, where they indulged in a wild war dance. - -"Glory, hallelujah!" shouted Joe. "A whole week or more to ourselves, -and home only two hundred miles away!" - -"Your home is," replied Jim. "Mine's more than a thousand miles away." - -"You old sardine!" cried Joe, throwing a book at his head. "Isn't my -home yours? Do you think I'd dare show my face there without bringing -you along? Clara would never forgive me. Neither would Mabel. Neither -would Momsey nor Dad. Get a wiggle on now, old man, and hunt up a -time-table." - -Jim, with his face jubilant at the thought of soon seeing Joe's -pretty sister, hustled about for the time-table; and with heads close -together the young men were soon poring over the schedules. At last Joe -straightened up with a vexed exclamation. - -"Of all the roundabout ways!" he ejaculated. "We'll have to change -three or four different times with all sorts of bad connections, and -can't reach Riverside until to-morrow afternoon." - -"Wait a minute," said Jim, running his pencil along a column. "Here's -a line that will get us to Martinsville early to-morrow morning, just -before daylight. How far is Martinsville from Riverside?" - -"About fifty miles more or less," replied Joe. "But crickey, Jim, that -gives me an idea! What's the matter with going to Martinsville and -hiring an auto there? I know Hank Bixby who keeps a garage there and -has autos for hire. He used to live in Riverside, and played with me -on the old school nine before his folks moved away. I'll send him a -wire telling him what time we'll get there and asking him to have a -first-class car ready for us." - -"You know the road all right, do you?" asked Jim. "Remember it will be -dark when we get there." - -"I know it like a book," replied Joe. "I've been over it many a time. -I could travel it in the dark. It's as level as a table until you get -to Hebron. Just beyond that there's a steep hill that will give the car -something to do. But Hank will give me a machine that can climb it, -and, besides, it will be just about daylight by the time we get there. -It's a cinch that we won't have any trouble. I'll bet a hat--what's the -matter, Jim?" - -For Jim had risen and moved quickly toward the door, which had been -standing partly open. He put out his head and looked down the corridor. -Not satisfied with that, he went down the hall to the head of the -stairs. Then he slowly retraced his steps. - -Joe, who had followed his chum to the door, looked at him with -open-mouthed wonder. - -"What's the matter with you?" he queried. "Have you gone daffy?" - -"Not exactly," replied Jim. "I thought I saw somebody I knew go past -the door." - -"Likely enough," said Joe, with a touch of sarcasm. "It wouldn't be at -all surprising. The hotel is full of our fellows." - -"It wasn't one of our boys," returned Jim slowly. - -"Well, who was it then?" asked Joe, a little impatiently. "Come out of -your trance, old man." - -"I think it was a fellow we know only too well," Jim replied. "I think -it was Braxton." - -"Braxton!" exclaimed Joe with sudden interest. "The fellow that was -with us on the World Tour?" - -"The same one," affirmed Jim. "The fellow you licked within an inch of -his life in the old Irish castle." - -"Are you sure?" asked Joe. "It doesn't seem at all likely that we'd run -across that rascal in this little training-camp town. What on earth -would he be doing down here?" - -"That's just what I want to know," replied Jim soberly. "As you say, -it's all against the chances that we should run across him here by -accident. If he's here, he's come with some purpose. And that purpose -means nothing good for you. He's exactly the sort of man that won't -forget that thrashing." - -"I guess he won't," replied Joe grimly. "My knuckles ache now when I -think of it. But if he's looking for another licking, he sure can have -it." - -"He isn't looking for another," Jim returned. "He's looking to get even -for the first one you gave him. You know he swore at the time that he'd -pay you up for it." - -"He's welcome to try," declared Joe indifferently. "But really, Jim, I -think you're mistaken. It seems too improbable. There are plenty of men -in the world who look like Braxton." - -"Of course, I wouldn't swear it was he," admitted Jim. "I only saw him -side-face, and he slipped past the door like a ghost." - -"Well, we'll keep our eyes open about the hotel and around the town," -rejoined Joe. "But now let's think of pleasanter things. Our train goes -at six, and we've got lots to do in getting our duds packed. Then, too, -I've got to wire to Hank and must get the tickets for as far as the -cars will carry us." - -The afternoon proved a busy one, but by train time they had completed -their packing, said good-by to the rest of the team, who frankly envied -them their luck, and were snugly ensconced in the day coach, as the -little road had no sleeping cars, and even if they had the frequent -changes they had to make would have made a sleeper not worth while. As -it was, they slept in snatches, had luck in their connections, and -about an hour before dawn stepped off the train at the little station -of Martinsville. - -Both Baseball Joe and Jim Barclay had expected to find the town asleep, -but were surprised to find a large number of the inhabitants, chiefly -the younger men, at the station. Still another group stood in the -lighted doorway of Hank Bixby's garage, which was directly across the -street. - -"What's the big idea?" Jim asked Joe, as he looked in surprise at the -crowd that drew close about them. - -"Blest if I know," replied Joe. "Maybe there's been a fire or -something." - -But they were soon enlightened, as Hank came bustling across the -street, his face aglow with welcome and self-importance. - -"Howdy, Mr. Matson!" he exclaimed, as he wrung Joe's hand. - -"Mr. Matson!" laughed Joe, returning the handshake. "Where do you get -that stuff? What's the matter with Joe?" - -"Well, Joe, then," beamed Hank. "You see, Joe, you've got to be such a -big fellow now, known all over the United States, that I felt a bit shy -about calling you by your first name. I got your wire and mentioned it -to a fellow or two, and by heck it was all over town in no time that -the greatest pitcher in the country was going to be here. This crowd's -been waiting here all night to say howdy to you." - -The people were all crowding around him by now, waiting their turn to -shake hands, and Joe, although embarrassed, as he always was when he -found himself the center of attention, did his best to respond to the -expressions of good will and admiration that were showered upon him. -Jim also came in for his share of the crowd's interest as a promising -and rapidly rising pitcher of the baseball champions of the world. -It was with a sigh of relief that they settled themselves at last in -the speedy car which Hank had provided for them and which he proudly -assured them would "just burn up the road" between Martinsville and -Riverside. - -Joe took the wheel and the car started off, amid a waving of hands and -a roar of farewell from the crowd. - -"Great day for Martinsville," said Jim mischievously, as he settled -down by the side of his chum and the car purred along over the level -road. "How does it feel to be a hero, Joe?" - -"Quit your kidding," replied Joe, with a grin. "If they'd wrung this -old wing of mine much more, McRae would have been minus one of his -pitchers." - -"One of the penalties of greatness," chaffed Jim. - -"And now for home!" exulted Joe, as he put on added speed and the car -leaped forward. - -"And Clara," murmured Jim under his breath, as he thought of Joe's -charming sister. - -Joe did not hear him, for his thoughts were engrossed with Mabel, the -girl who had promised to marry him and who he fondly hoped might be at -this moment dreaming of him, as without her knowledge he was speeding -toward her. She had been visiting at his father's home as the guest of -his sister Clara. Since their trip together around the world the two -girls had become almost inseparable, and Mr. and Mrs. Matson already -regarded Mabel as a second daughter. - -The day for the marriage of Joe and Mabel had not yet been set, but Joe -was determined that it should take place soon, and he hoped that now he -would be able to get Mabel to set a definite date for that happy event. - -Jim, too, had his dreams, and they all centered about Clara. He had -fallen desperately in love with her at their first meeting, and he had -made up his mind that on this visit he would ask the all-important -question, on the answer to which his happiness depended. - -The car dashed along at rapid speed, and as they came near Hebron Joe -roused himself from his reverie. The darkness was disappearing, and in -the faint light of the spring morning they could see a steep hill a -little way ahead. At the side of the road ran a little river, of whose -murmur they had been conscious for some time, although in the darkness -they could scarcely see it. - -"Here's where we'll see whether Hank was bragging overmuch about this -car," remarked Joe, as he tightened his grasp on the wheel and put his -foot on the accelerator. "I'll give her a good start and see how she -can climb." - -The car gathered speed as it neared the bottom of the hill. Joe peered -forward, and then from his lips came a startled shout. - -Directly in front of them, completely blocking the road, was a mass of -heavy timbers. To strike them at that speed meant maiming or death! - -At one side of the road was a steep cliff. On the other side was the -river. - -Joe's brain worked like lightning. There was but one chance. He swung -the wheel around, the car crashed through a fence at the side of the -road, suddenly stopped short, and Joe and Jim were sent headlong into -the river! - - - - -CHAPTER II - -A SURPRISE - - -The water was icy and deep, and at this point the current was swift. -The force with which the luckless occupants of the car had been -propelled sent them far beneath the surface and some distance out into -the stream. - -A moment later their heads appeared above the water, and they struck -out for the shore. Both were strong swimmers, and in a few strokes they -reached the bank. Fortunately they had escaped striking any part of the -car in their wild hurtling through space, and apart from the chill and -wetting were unharmed. - -From the mud at the river's edge, they dragged their dripping feet to -the solid ground of the road. Then they stood still and looked at each -other. The shock and suddenness of it all still affected them, but as -they continued to look at the comical figure that each presented, with -hair plastered over their faces and clothes clinging to their bodies, -their sense of the ludicrous got the better of them and they burst into -laughter. - -"Talk about scarecrows!" gurgled Jim, as he dragged a wet handkerchief -from his pocket and mopped his face in a vain attempt to dry it. - -"None of them have anything on us," admitted Joe, as he threw off his -coat and wrung one dripping trousers leg after the other. - -"If only the team could get a snapshot of us now, they'd kid us for the -rest of our natural lives," remarked Jim. - -"You said it," agreed Joe. "But now," he added more soberly, "just -let's take a look at what it was that so nearly killed us or crippled -us for life." - -They made their way to the mass of timber in the road. At first Jim -thought that it might have fallen off some wagon, unknown to the -driver. But a closer examination showed that this was an error. The -timbers were piled in a way that could have been done only by human -hands, and what made this certain was the fact that rocks had been -placed on either side to prevent the logs from slipping. It was a -formidable barrier, and if the car had dashed into it at the rate it -was going, the occupants would almost certainly have been killed. - -"Whoever put those timbers there meant harm," said Joe solemnly, when -the examination had been completed. - -"It looks that way," agreed Jim. "Whoever did it was a scoundrel who -ought to be in jail." - -"It might have been the work of a crazy man," suggested Joe. - -"As crazy as a fox," rejoined Jim, looking squarely into his chum's -eyes. - -"What do you mean?" asked Joe, in some perplexity. - -"I mean," said Jim, carefully weighing every word, "that the man who -put that mass of timber there was just as sane as you or I. I mean -that he intended that some one should be seriously hurt. I'll go even -further. That man meant to injure Joe Matson, whom he hated with a -deadly hatred." - -"You mean that Braxton did it?" cried Joe. - -"I mean that Braxton did it," replied Jim quietly. - -They stared at each other with strange emotions stirring in their -hearts. And while they stand there, as if turned to stone, it may be -well, for the benefit of those who have not read the earlier volumes of -this series, to trace the fortunes of Baseball Joe up to the time that -this story opens. - -Joe Matson was born in a little inland village of the Middle West, -and grew up in a pleasant home amid wholesome surroundings. His first -experience in the great national game, where he was destined to become -famous as the greatest pitcher of his time, was gained on the simple -diamond of his home town, and his natural aptitude was such that -he soon became known as a rising player all over the county. What -obstacles he met and surmounted at that time are related in the first -volume of the series, entitled: "Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars." - -Some time later, when playing on his school nine, he had considerable -trouble with a bully who tried to down him, but found out, as so many -trouble makers did later on in life, that Joe Matson was not easily -downed. He put into his playing all that experience, combined with his -native ability, could teach him, and he served an apprenticeship that -stood him in good stead when later he went to Yale. The trials and -triumphs of his school experience are told in the second volume of the -series, entitled: "Baseball Joe on the School Nine." - -With the natural buoyancy of youth, Joe had hoped when he entered Yale -that he would have a chance to show his mettle in the box in some of -the great annual games that Yale played with Harvard and Princeton. -There were many rivals, however, for the honor, including those who had -already won their spurs in actual contests. But Joe's light was not -made to shine under a bushel, and one day when the cohorts of Princeton -came down in their orange and black prepared to "tie the can" to the -Bulldog's tail, Joe got his chance and sent a very bedraggled Tiger -back to his lair in Princeton. How Joe won gloriously is told in the -third volume of the series, entitled: "Baseball Joe at Yale." - -Though he enjoyed his college days at Yale, stood high in his studies, -and was popular with his mates, he felt that he was not cut out for one -of the learned professions. His mother had hoped that he would be a -clergyman and had been urgent in having him adopt that profession. But -Joe, though he respected the noble aims of that calling, was not drawn -to it. It was the open air life that he craved and for which he was -fitted, and the scholastic calm of a study had little attraction for -him. He felt that he had it in him to win supremacy in athletic fields. - -His mother, of course, was greatly disappointed when she learned how -he felt, but she was too wise to insist on her plan when she realized -that it was contrary to his special gifts. She knew very little about -baseball, but she had the impression that it was no place for an -educated man. The fact, however, that so many college men were entering -the ranks of professional baseball was made the most of by Joe, and she -finally yielded to his wishes. - -His chance was not long in coming, for he was soon picked up by one -of the scouts who are always looking for "diamonds in the rough," and -was offered a contract with the Pittston team of the Central League. -The League was a minor one, but Joe had already learned that a man -who proved that he had the makings of a star in him would soon have -an opportunity with one of the majors. How speedily his ability was -proved and recognized is narrated in the fourth volume of the series, -entitled: "Baseball Joe in the Central League." - -From the bushes to the National League was a big jump, but Joe made -it when he was drafted into the ranks of the St. Louis Cardinals. The -team was in the second division when Joe came into action, and was -altogether out of the running for the championship. But Joe's twirling -was just what it needed to put new heart and life into it, and before -the season ended it had climbed into the first division and if the race -had been a little longer might have made a big stroke for the pennant. -The story of the team's climb, with all its exciting episodes, is told -in the fifth volume of the series, entitled: "Baseball Joe in the Big -League." - -McRae, the crafty and resourceful manager of the New York Giants, had -had his eye on Joe all the season, and when the race was ended he made -an offer for him that the St. Louis management could not refuse. Now, -indeed, Joe felt that the ambition of his life was in a fair way to -be realized. McRae had intended to bring him along slowly, so that he -could be thoroughly seasoned, but circumstances put on him the heft of -the pitching, and how fully he justified his manager's confidence is -narrated in the sixth volume of the series, entitled: "Baseball Joe on -the Giants." - -After the winning of the National League Championship by the Giants, -came the World Series with the Boston Red Sox, who had won the title -that year in the American League. The Sox were a hard team to beat, -and the Giants had their work cut out for them. In addition to the -strain of the games in which he was slated to pitch, Joe had to contend -with the foul tactics of a gang of gamblers who had wagered heavily -on the Sox and did all they could to put Joe out of action. But his -indomitable will and quick wit triumphed over all obstacles, and his -magnificent pitching in the last game of the series won the World's -Championship for the Giants. The story of that stirring fight is told -in the seventh volume of the series, entitled: "Baseball Joe in the -World Series." - -During these experiences, Joe had not escaped the toils of Cupid. -Mabel Varley, a charming young girl, had been rescued by Joe at the -moment that a runaway horse was about to carry her over a cliff. The -romantic acquaintanceship thus begun soon grew into a deep affection, -and Joe knew that Mabel held the happiness of his life in her hands. -Jim Barclay, also, a promising young Princeton man and second string -pitcher for the Giants, who was Joe's special chum, had grown very -fond of Clara, Joe's pretty sister, and hoped that some day she would -promise to be his wife. - -The World Series had scarcely ended before Joe and Jim were invited by -McRae to make a trip around the world with the Giant and All-American -teams. They were eager for the chance, and their delight was increased -when it developed that there were to be a number of wives of the -players in the party so that Mabel and Clara could go along. - -The teams played in Japan, in China, and in many of the cities of -Europe, and the experience would have been a thoroughly happy one -for Joe, had it not been for the machinations of men who were trying -to form a rival league and had by the meanest trickery secured Joe's -signature to what afterward turned out to be a contract. How Joe -finally unmasked the plotters and had the satisfaction of giving the -ringleader a tremendous thrashing is narrated in the preceding volume -of the series, entitled: "Baseball Joe Around the World." - -And now to return to Joe and Jim, as they stood in their dripping -clothes on the country road in the growing light of the spring morning. - -For some seconds after Jim's startling statement, Joe stood as though -rooted to the spot. Then he pulled himself together. - -"Come now, Jim, isn't that pretty far-fetched?" he said, with a forced -laugh, in which, however, there was little mirth. "You haven't a shred -of proof of anything of the kind." - -"No," admitted Jim, "there isn't anything--yet--that would convince a -judge or a jury. I'll agree that it wouldn't go far in a court of law. -But just put two and two together. Yesterday afternoon we were talking -about this trip. You distinctly mentioned the hill near Hebron. It was -just after you spoke that I saw Braxton pass the door." - -"Thought you saw," corrected Joe. - -"All right, then," said Jim patiently, "let it go at that--thought -I saw Braxton passing the door. Now just suppose for a minute -that I was right and see what comes of it. The man who hates you -worse, probably, than any man on earth--the man to whom you gave a -terrible thrashing--knew that you would be driving a car just before -daylight--knew that you would have to climb a hill--knew that as you -got near it you'd probably put on speed to carry the car up--knew that -an obstacle put near the bottom of the hill would almost certainly -wreck the car and hurt the driver. Knowing all this, might not such a -man as we know Braxton to be see his chance and take it?" - -There was silence for a moment. Then: - -"It certainly sounds strong the way you put it," Joe said thoughtfully. -"But how on earth could Braxton get here in time to do all this? Think -of the distance." - -"It isn't so great a distance," rejoined Jim. "That is, if a man came -straight across country in a speedy car for instance. It seemed long -to us because of the roundabout way we had to go by train. Then too -that was early in the afternoon, and Braxton could have had four hours' -start of us. He's a rich man and probably has a fast car. He could have -made it all right and got here hours ago." - -"Yes, but even then," argued Joe, "he couldn't have done it all alone. -It's as much as you and I can do together to handle these timbers." - -"That's true," conceded Jim. "But he may have had one or more -confederates with him. Money you know can do almost anything. I -shouldn't wonder if that fellow Fleming helped him. He owed you a debt -too, you remember, and the pair were as thick as thieves on the world -tour." - -"Well, it may be just as you say," replied Joe. "But I hate to think -that any man hates me so badly as to try to injure me in such a -cowardly way as that. At any rate, it won't do any harm for us to keep -our eyes open in the future. But we've got plenty of time to think of -that. Now let's get busy and hustle these timbers over to the side of -the road so that nobody else can run into them. Then we'll take a look -at the car." - -They set to work with a will, and in a few minutes had removed the -obstacles from the road. - -"Now for the machine," said Joe, as he led the way to the river bank. -"I've got an idea that what we owe Hank will put a dent in our bank -rolls." - -To their delight they found, however, that, apart from superficial -injuries, the car seemed to be intact. The wind shield had been -shattered and the mud guards were badly bent. But the axles seemed -to be sound, the wheels were in place, and as far as they could -judge there had been no injury to the engine. To all appearances the -expenditure of a hundred dollars would put the car in good shape again. - -But the wheels were so firmly imbedded in the mud of the shore that -despite all their efforts they could not budge the car. They strained -and pushed and lifted, but to no avail. Joe climbed into the driver's -seat and set the engine going, but the car was stubborn and refused to -back. - -"Swell chance of our getting home in time for breakfast," grumbled Joe, -as he stopped to rest for a moment. - -"Lucky if we get there in time for supper," muttered Jim. "We'll have -to go somewhere and borrow a shovel so that we can dig the wheels out -of the mud." - -But just at this moment they heard the rumbling of a cart, and running -to the road they saw it coming, drawn by two stout horses, while the -driver sat handling the reins in leisurely fashion. - -They waved their hands and the cart came to a halt, the driver scanning -curiously the two young men who had appeared so unexpectedly from the -side of the road. He was a bluff, jovial person, and his eyes twinkled -with amusement as he noted the wet garments that were clinging to their -limbs. - -"Been taking a bath with all your clothes on?" he asked, as he got down -from his seat. - -"Something like that," replied Joe, with a laugh, "but the bath came as -a sort of surprise party. The road was blocked, and it was either the -morgue or the river for us, so we chose the river." - -"Road blocked?" repeated the newcomer, looking about with a puzzled -expression. "I don't get you. Looks clear enough to me." - -"It wouldn't if you'd been here half an hour ago," replied Joe, -and then, as the man listened with interest that soon changed to -indignation, he recounted briefly the events of the morning. - -"Whoever did that ought to be jailed," he burst out, when the boys had -concluded their story. "And he can't be very far away, either. This -road was clear when I passed over it last night. Jump in and I'll drive -you into town and we can send out an alarm." - -"Not much use of that I'm afraid," replied Joe. "The man or men may be -fifty miles away by this time. But if you'll give us a hand to get this -auto out of the mud, you'll do us a big favor." - -"Sure I'll help you," said the friend in need, whose name they learned -was Thompson. "I've got a spade right here in the cart. We'll dig -around the wheels a little. Then I'll hitch a trace chain to the -machine and my horses will yank it out in a jiffy." - -A few minutes of work sufficed to clear the wheels. Then boards were -placed behind them, the chain was attached to the rear axle, and the -horses drew the car back into the road. - -It presented rather a forlorn appearance, but the boys cared little for -that. What they were far more concerned about was their own bedraggled -condition. - -"We match the car all right," remarked Jim disgustedly, as he looked at -his own clothes and those of his companion. - -"It will never do to let Mabel and Clara see us like this," responded -Joe lugubriously. - -"Don't let that worry you," laughed their new friend. "Just drive into -town and stop at Eph Allen's tailor shop. It's pretty early, but Eph -sleeps in the back of his shop and he'll let you in and fix you up in -no time." - -This was evidently the best thing to be done, and the young men, after -repeated thanks to their newly made friend and with fullest directions -as to how to find the tailor shop in question, jumped into the auto and -started on the way back to Hebron. - -"Old bus seems to work as well as ever," commented Joe, as the car -moved on without any visible evidence of injury. - -"That's one bit of good luck," replied Jim. "And it's certainly coming -to us to make up in part for the bad." - -They thanked their stars that it was too early yet for many people to -be stirring in the town, and were relieved when they found themselves -in front of Allen's shop. Eph must have been a pretty sound sleeper, -for it took a good deal of knocking to wake him up, and when at last he -thrust his tousled head through the door to ask what was wanted, he was -not in the best of temper. But as soon as he learned the circumstances -that had occasioned the early call, he became at once all interest and -attention, and hustled about to put their clothes in presentable shape. - -It was a fairly good job that he at length turned out after he had -ironed and pressed their suits, though they had by no means the Beau -Brummel effect with which the boys had planned to impress the girls. - -By this time the sun had fully risen and Joe looked at his watch. - -"Perhaps we'll be in time to catch them at breakfast yet," he remarked. -"It's only about twenty miles from here to Riverside. Maybe they won't -be surprised when we break in on them. They don't think we're within -several hundred miles of them." - -"Perhaps we ought to have telegraphed that we were coming," said Jim. - -"It might have been just as well, I suppose," admitted Joe. "But that -would have taken away the fun of the surprise. I want to see the look -on their faces." - -"Of course we won't say anything about what happened to us this -morning," suggested Jim, as the machine bowled along over a road that -with every minute that passed was growing more familiar. - -"Not on your life," replied Joe earnestly. "None of them would ever -have another easy minute. They'd be seeing our mangled remains every -night in their dreams. All we'll tell them is that we had a little -spill and got wet. But not a word about the blocked road or what we -suspect regarding Braxton." - -Before long they were passing the straggling houses that marked the -outskirts of Riverside. Joe pulled his cap down over his eyes so that -he would not be recognized and stopped by any of the people of the -town, where he was regarded as something of an idol. All he wanted to -do was to get to his family and Mabel, or, as perhaps he would have put -it, get to Mabel and his family. - -His ruse was successful, for there was no sign of recognition from the -few he passed on the streets, and in a few minutes he brought the car -to a stop in front of the Matson home. - -The young men jumped out, and with Joe leading the way ran lightly up -the steps. He tried the front door and found that it yielded to his -touch. With his finger on his lips as a warning to Jim, he tiptoed -softly through the hall to the door of the dining room. - -The odor of coffee and bacon came to them and from the click of plates -and cups, as well as the murmur of several voices, they knew that the -family was still at the breakfast table. - -Joe waited no longer but threw open the door. - -"Hello, folks!" he cried. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -REGGIE TURNS UP - - -If Joe had counted upon producing a surprise, his success surpassed his -wildest expectations. - -At first there was a second of paralyzed silence. Then there was a wild -hubbub of delighted cries, as four figures started up from the table -and launched themselves upon the stalwart figure that stood framed in -the doorway. - -"Joe!" "Mabel!" "Clara!" "Momsey!" "Dad!" "Jim!" The names were repeated -in quick succession and were punctuated with hugs and kisses. - -In a moment Joe had his right arm around Mabel, his left about his -mother, while Clara had thrown her arms about his neck and his father -was attempting to get hold of one of his hands. There was no doubt of -the warmth of that welcome. - -[Illustration: THERE WAS NO DOUBT OF THE WARMTH OF THAT WELCOME.] - -Nor was Jim left out in the cold. Joe naturally had the center of the -stage, but after the first rapturous greeting had passed, they all made -Jim feel how delighted they were that he had come along with Joe. In -Clara's eyes especially there was a look that Jim hoped he read aright. -Her flushed and sparkling face was alive with happiness that might not -be due altogether to the return of her brother, dearly as she loved him. - -For a few minutes questions and answers followed close on each other's -heels, and it was Mrs. Matson at last who suggested that probably the -boys were hungry. They agreed with her emphatically that they were. The -girls flew about, and in a short time fresh coffee and hot biscuits and -bacon and eggs were set before them in tempting profusion. Then while -they ate like famished wolves, the others, who had been just finishing -breakfast when they burst in upon them, sat about the table and talked -and laughed and beamed to their hearts' content. Perhaps in all the -broad land there was no happier group than was gathered about that -table in the little town of Riverside. - -"You ought to have telegraphed that you were coming, Joe," said Mrs. -Matson. "Then we could have had a good breakfast ready for you." - -"What do you call this?" laughed Joe, as he helped himself to another -biscuit, watching at the same time the bewitching way in which Mabel -was pouring him another cup of coffee. "There couldn't be anything -better than this this side of kingdom come." - -"You're right there, old man," observed Jim, his own appetite keeping -pace with that of his chum. - -"Seems to me, Joe, that your clothes look a little seedy this morning," -Clara remarked, with a sister's frankness, during a moment's pause -in the conversation. "The last time you came home you looked like a -fashion plate. But now your shirt front is wrinkled, your collar is -wilted, and the colors in your necktie have run together. Looks as -though you'd got wet through and hadn't dried out yet." - -"Perhaps they've been in the river," laughed Mabel gaily, little -thinking how near she came to hitting the nail on the head. - -Mrs. Matson's motherly heart was quick to take alarm. - -"What's that?" she asked. "Nothing really has happened to you, has it, -Joe?" she inquired, looking anxiously at her son, who after one glare -at the sister who had precipitated the topic, was trying to assume an -air of nonchalance. - -But this direct inquiry from his mother left him no recourse except to -tell her a part of the truth, though not necessarily the whole truth. - -"We did have a little spill this morning," he returned indifferently. -"I turned the car a little too much to the right and we went through -a fence and into a little stream at the side of the road. Jim and I -got wet, but after we got over being mad we had a good laugh over it. -Neither one of us was a bit hurt, and it's only our clothes that got -the worst of it." - -"Oh, but you might have been killed!" exclaimed Mrs. Matson, clasping -her hands together nervously. "You must be more careful, Joe. It would -break my heart if anything happened to you." - -"Don't worry a bit, Momsey," replied Joe, placing his hand affectionately -over hers. "Only the good die young, you know, and that makes me safe." - -They all pressed him for the details of the accident, and he and Jim -both made light of it, making a joke out of their plight and their -visit to the tailor, so that apprehension vanished, and after a while -the matter was dropped. - -Joe was eager for a chance to get alone with Mabel, and Jim was quite -as keen for a tete-a-tete with Clara. The girls were quite as eager, -but as there was no servant in the simple little household the girls -flew around to clear the table, while Joe had a chance for a quiet talk -with his mother, and Jim beguiled his impatience by going out on the -porch with Mr. Matson for a smoke before the latter had to go downtown -to business. - -"How have you been feeling, Momsey?" Joe asked when they had settled -down in a cosy corner of the living room. "It seems to me that you're -a little thinner than you were." - -"I'm not feeling any too well," replied Mrs. Matson. "I have trouble -with my breathing whenever I go up or down stairs. But I'll be all -right pretty soon," she added, with an attempt at brightness. - -"I'm afraid you've been working too hard, Momsey," replied Joe, patting -her hand. "Why don't you let me get you a maid to help out with the -work? The money doesn't matter, and you know how glad I'd be to bear -the expense." - -"I don't want any regular servant, Joe," replied Mrs. Matson. "I -haven't been used to one, and she'd be more bother than help. We have a -wash woman. There isn't much to be done in this little house, and Clara -is the dearest girl. If I did what she wanted, I'd just fold my hands -and sit around in the living room. And Mabel, too, has spoiled me since -she's been here. She's already like a second daughter to me." - -"She'll be really your daughter before long, if I have anything to say -about it," replied Joe. "I'm going to put it right up to her to marry -me while I'm here this time." - -Mrs. Matson was both delighted and flustered at the boldness of this -announcement. - -"You take my breath away, talking like that," she replied. "But I'm -afraid Mabel won't let herself be carried off her feet in that way. A -girl wants to get her trousseau ready. And then, too, she'll want to be -married in her father's house. You're a dear boy, Joe, but you've got a -lot to learn about women." - -"Mabel will agree all right," replied Joe confidently, though his -masculine assurance had been slightly dashed by his mother's prediction. - -The opportunity to make sure about that important matter came a few -minutes later, when Mabel came into the room looking more lovely, Joe -thought, than he had ever seen her before. Mrs. Matson lingered only a -moment longer, and then made an excuse to leave the room. The door had -hardly closed behind her before Mabel was in Joe's arms. - -It was a long time before they were able to talk coherently, and when -at last Mabel told Joe that he was too greedy and laughingly bade him -be sensible, she was more rosy and beautiful than ever, and Joe was -deeper in love than before, if that could be possible. - -Joe was not long in putting his mother's prediction to the test. - -"Do you remember what Jim said when we said good-by to McRae after the -World Tour was over?" he asked, with a twinkle in his eye. - -The flush in Mabel's cheeks deepened. - -"Jim talks so much nonsense," she countered. - -"Think a minute." Joe was jogging her memory. "Wasn't it something -about bells?" - -"How should I remember?" asked Mabel, though she did remember perfectly. - -"Well, I remember," said Joe. "He said I'd soon be hearing wedding -bells. Now do you remember?" - -"Y-yes," admitted Mabel at last, hiding her face on Joe's shoulder, -which was very close to her. - -"I want to hear those wedding bells, very soon, dearest," said Joe -tenderly. "Next week--this week--to-morrow----" - -Mabel sat up with a little scream. - -"Next week--this week--to-morrow!" she repeated. "Why, Joe dear, we -can't!" - -"Why can't we?" asked Joe with masculine directness. - -"Why--why--we just can't," replied Mabel. "I haven't got my wedding -clothes ready. And I'll have to be married in my own home. What would -my family think? What would my friends think? It would look like a -runaway affair. People would talk. Oh, Joe dear, I'd love to, but I -just can't. Don't you see I can't?" - -Joe did not see at all, and he renewed his importunities with all his -powers of persuasion. But Mabel, though she softened her refusal with -lover-like endearments, was set in her convictions, and Joe at last -was forced to confess in his heart with a groan that his mother was -right, and that he had a lot to learn about women. - -He suggested in desperation that they go on at once to her home in -Goldsboro and be married there, but although that would have taken away -one of her arguments, the others still continued in full force, and she -added another for good measure. - -"You see, Joe, dear, your mother isn't well enough just now to travel -so far, and it would break her heart if she weren't present at our -marriage. By fall she may be better." - -"By fall!" echoed Joe in dismay. "Have I got to wait that long?" - -"I think it would be better, dear," said Mabel gently. "You see if we -got married any time after the baseball season had commenced, you would -find it hard to get away from your club. In any case, our honeymoon -trip would have to be very short. Then, too, if I traveled about the -circuit with you, you'd have me on your mind, and it might affect your -playing. But I promise you that we shall get married in the fall, just -as soon as the baseball season is over." - -And as she sealed this promise in the way that Joe liked best, he was -forced to be content. - -The days passed by, as though on wings, with Joe grudging every minute -as it passed that brought him nearer to the day when he would have to -rejoin his team. The hours were precious and he spent every one of them -that he could with Mabel. - -Jim, too, was finding his vacation delightful. He was getting on -famously with Clara, and the latter's heart was learning to beat very -fast when she heard the step and saw the face of the handsome young -athlete. The prospects were very good that two weddings would be -celebrated in the fall, and that Baseball Joe would gain not only a -wife but a brother-in-law. - -During that week the moon was at its full, and almost every night -saw the two couples out for a stroll. They would start out from the -house together and walk down the village street, with only a few yards -separating them. However, they usually lost sight of each other before -they had gone far. - -Joe was happy, supremely happy. Mabel had never been so dear, so -affectionate. He knew that he possessed her heart utterly. Yet there -was a faint something, a mysterious impression to which he could -scarcely give a name, that at times marred his happiness and caused him -to feel depressed. He chased the feeling away, and yet it returned. - -There were moments when Mabel grew quiet and seemed as though brooding -over something. Her face would become sad, and only brighten with a -gayety that seemed a little forced, when she saw that he was studying -her and seeking to learn what troubled her. At times she would cling to -him as though she feared he was to be taken from her. Once or twice he -questioned her, but she laughed his fears away and declared that there -was nothing the matter. Despite her denials, he remained vaguely uneasy. - -The day before his brief vacation came to an end there was a ring at -the bell of the Matson home. Mabel, who happened to be in the hall at -the time, opened the door. There was an exclamation of surprise and -delight as the newcomer threw his arms about her. - -"Reggie!" - -"Mabel!" - -There was a fond embrace, and then Mabel came into the living room -where the family were assembled, while close behind her came Reggie -Varley, her brother, the same old Reggie, monocle, cane, lisp, English -clothes, English accent, fancy waistcoat, fitted in topcoat, spats and -all--a vision of sartorial splendor! - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE ANONYMOUS LETTER - - -All rose to their feet in hearty welcome. It was not the first time -Reggie had visited the Matson home, and all were fond of him. Joe and -Jim especially gave him a hilarious greeting. - -"Hello, Reggie, old man," cried Joe, as he shook hands. "I'm tickled to -death to see you. What good wind blew you down this way? I didn't think -you were within a thousand miles of here." - -"Well, old top," explained Reggie, as he gracefully drew off his gloves -and divested himself of his topcoat, "it was so beastly quiet in -Goldsboro, don't y'know, that I got fed up with it and when the guv'nor -suggested that there was a bit of business I could attend to in Chicago -I just blew the bally town and ran out there. Then bein' so near, I -thought I'd run down and see Sis and the rest of you. It's simply -rippin' to see y'all again, don't y'know." - -He sat down in a chair, carefully adjusting his trousers so as not to -mar the creases in the legs, and beamed blandly upon the friendly -faces that surrounded him. - -Joe and Reggie had first met under rather unpleasant circumstances, -that bore no promise of a close friendship later on. Reggie had left -his bag in a seat of a railroad station while he went to buy his -ticket. Upon his return he missed his bag, which had been left in a -seat adjoining the one in which Joe had in the meantime seated himself, -and had practically accused Joe of taking it. As may be readily -imagined, Joe was not the one to take lightly such an accusation, and -Reggie had to apologize. It was only after Joe had met Mabel that he -again encountered Reggie and learned that he was the girl's brother. -But apart from his relationship to Mabel, Joe had found further reason -for liking Reggie, as time wore on and he became better acquainted with -him. - -Reggie had never been restrained much by his father, who was rich and -indulgent. He had an inordinate love of fine clothes and an affectation -of English customs and manner of speech. But these, after all, were -foibles, and at heart Reggie was "true blue." He was a staunch friend, -generous, kindly and honorable. He idolized his charming sister, who in -return was devotedly attached to him. - -Another thing that strengthened the friendship between Joe and Reggie -was that they were both ardent lovers of the great national game. -Reggie was a "dyed-in-the-wool fan," and though his general information -was none too great he had the records of individual players and the -history of the game at his tongue's end, and could rattle on for an -hour on a stretch when he once got started on his favorite theme. He -was a great admirer of Joe as a player, and intensely proud that he was -going to be his brother-in-law. Whenever the Giants played and Joe was -slated to pitch, the latter could be perfectly certain that Reggie, -even if he chanced to be at the time in San Francisco, was "rooting" -for him to win. - -Jim also had met Reggie frequently and liked him thoroughly. The other -members of the Matson family liked him, both for Mabel's sake and his -own. So it was a very friendly circle into which Reggie had come so -unexpectedly. - -"But I didn't expect to see you two chaps here," said Reggie, as he -looked from Joe to Jim. "I thought you were down in the training camp, -or else on your way to New York with the rest of the Giants." - -"It was just a bit of luck that we are here," replied Joe. "McRae -thought that we were trained fine enough, and might go stale if we -worked out in practice any longer. He wants us to be at the top of our -form when the bell rings at the Polo Grounds." - -"Bally good sense, I call it, too," replied Reggie, looking admiringly -at their athletic forms. "Just now you look fit to fight for a man's -life, don't y'know." - -"Never felt better," admitted Joe. "Nor happier either," he added, as -he glanced at Mabel, who dropped her eyes before his ardent look. - -"You came just in time to see the boys," put in Mrs. Matson. "They're -starting to-morrow for New York." - -"Bah Jove, I'd like to go with them," said Reggie. "I'd give a lot to -see that opening game on the Polo Grounds. But this beastly business in -Chicago will make it necessary for me to go back there in a few days. -In the meantime I thought that perhaps you might put me up here for a -little while, don't y'know?" - -He looked toward Mr. Matson as he spoke, and both he and Mrs. Matson -hastened to assure the young man that they would be only too glad to do -so. - -All had a lot to talk about, and the evening passed quickly, until at -last Mrs. Matson excused herself on the plea that she wanted to see -about Reggie's room. Mr. Matson soon followed, and the young people -were left to themselves. - -"Well, what do you think the chances are of the Giants copping the flag -again, old top?" asked Reggie, as he pulled down his cuffs and put up -his hand to make sure that his immaculate tie was all right. - -"The Giants look mighty sweet to me," answered Joe. "They've had a -good training season and shown up well in practice. They've won every -game they've played with the minor leaguers so far, and haven't had to -exert themselves. Of course that doesn't mean very much in itself, as -the bushers ought to be easy meat for us. But we've got practically the -same team with which we won the pennant last year, and I can't see why -we shouldn't repeat. Jim here has been coming along like a house afire, -and he'll make the fans sit up and take notice when they see him in -action." - -"Oh, I'm only an also ran," said Jim modestly. - -"Indeed you're not," Clara started to say indignantly, but checked -herself in time. Not so quickly, however, that Jim failed to catch her -meaning and note the flush that rose to her cheek. - -"Funny thing happened when I was in Chicago," mused Reggie. "I heard a -chap say in one of the hotels that there was heavy betting against the -Giants winning this year. Some one, he didn't know who, was putting up -cash in great wads against them, and doing it with such confidence that -it almost seemed as though he thought he was betting on a sure thing. -Taking ridiculous odds too. Queer, wasn't it?" - -"A fool and his money are soon parted," remarked Joe. "That fellow -will be a little wiser and a good deal poorer when the season ends, or -I miss my guess. Who's going to beat us out? Nothing short of a train -wreck can stop us." - -"Now you're talking!" cried Jim. - -"Another thing that's going to help us," said Joe, "was that trip we -had around the world. We had some mighty hot playing on that tour -against the All-Americans, and it kept the boys in fine fettle." - -"Speaking about that trip, old chap," put in Reggie, "reminds me of -another thing that happened in Chicago. I was going down State Street -one afternoon, and almost ran into that Braxton that you handed such a -trimming to over in Ireland." - -"Braxton!" cried Joe. - -"Braxton!" echoed Jim. - -"Sure thing," replied Reggie, mildly puzzled at the agitation that the -name aroused in the two chums. "I'm not spoofing you. Braxton it was, -as large as life. The bounder recognized me and started to speak, but -I gave him the glassy eye and he thought better of it and passed on. -Funny what a little world it is, don't y'know." - -"It surely is a little world," replied Jim, as a significant glance -passed between him and Joe. - -"I glanced back," Reggie went on, "and saw him getting into a car -drawn up at the curb. As classy a machine as I've seen, too, for a long -time. Built for speed, y'know. If he hadn't driven off too quickly, I'd -have made a note of the make. My own is getting rather old, and I've -been thinking about replacing it." - -The conversation turned into other channels and finally began to drag a -little. The others made no sign of being ready to retire, and at last -Reggie woke to the fact that he would have to make the first move. -He looked at his watch, remarked that he was rather tired after his -journey, and thought that he would "pound the pillow." - -Joe showed him to his room, chatted with him a few minutes, and then -returned to the living room where he found Mabel alone, as Clara and -Jim had drifted into the dining room. It was the last night the boys -would have at home, and the two young couples had a lot to talk about. -To Jim especially the time was very precious, for he had made up his -mind to ask a very momentous question, and there is little doubt but -that Clara knew it was coming and had already made up her mind how it -should be answered. - -It was an exceedingly agitated Jim that asked Mr. Matson for a private -interview the next morning, and it was an exceedingly happy Jim that -emerged from the room a few minutes later and announced to the family -already seated at the breakfast table that Clara had promised to be -his wife. There was a stampede from the chairs, to the imminent danger -of the coffee being upset, and Clara was hugged and kissed by Mabel -and hugged and kissed and cried over by her mother, while Jim's hand -was almost wrung off by Joe and Reggie in the general jubilation. For -Jim was a splendid fellow, a Princeton graduate, a rising man in his -chosen calling, and an all round good fellow. And there was no sweeter -or prettier girl than Clara in all Riverside, or, as Jim stood ready to -maintain, in the whole world. - -Needless to say that for the rest of that morning Reggie and Joe had -no other masculine society than each could furnish to the other, for -Jim had shamelessly abandoned them. Soon Reggie, too, had to chum with -himself, as Joe and Mabel had found a sequestered corner and seemed to -be dead to the rest of the world. - -Just before noon, however, when Mabel had gone in to help Mrs. Matson -to prepare lunch, Joe had a chance to talk with Reggie alone. - -"Mabel's looking rippin', don't you think?" remarked Reggie, as he -caught a glimpse of his sister passing the door of the room in which -they sat. - -"Most beautiful girl that lives," returned Joe, with enthusiasm. - -"I guess she's stopped worrying about----" began Reggie, and then -checked himself as though he had said more than he intended to. - -"Worrying about what?" asked Joe, with the quick apprehension of a -lover. - -"Oh, about--about things in general," replied Reggie, in some confusion -and evading Joe's searching eyes. - -"Look here, Reggie," said Joe with decision. "If anything's worrying -Mabel, I've got a right to know what it is. I've noticed lately that -she seemed to have something on her mind. Come now, out with it." - -Reggie still tried to put him off, but Joe would have none of it. - -"I've got to know, Reggie," he declared. "You've simply got to tell me." - -Reggie pondered a moment. - -"Well, old top," he said at last, "I suppose you have a right to know, -and perhaps it's best that you should know. The fact is that Mabel -got a letter a little while ago telling her that it would be a sorry -day for her if she ever married Joe Matson. Threatened all sorts of -terrible things against you, don't y'know." - -"What!" cried Joe, wild with rage and leaping to his feet. "The -scoundrel! The coward! Who signed that letter? What's his name? If I -ever lay my hands on him, may heaven have mercy on him, for I won't!" - -"That's the worst of it," replied Reggie. "There wasn't any name signed -to it. The bounder who wrote it took good care of that." - -"But the handwriting!" cried Joe. "Perhaps I can recognize it. Where is -the letter? Give it to me." - -"I haven't got it with me," Reggie explained. "It's at my home in -Goldsboro. The poor girl had to confide in somebody, so she sent it to -me. And even if you had it, it wouldn't tell you anything. It was in -typewriting." - -"But the postmark!" ejaculated Joe. "Perhaps that would give a clue. -Where did it come from?" - -"There again we're stumped," responded Reggie. "It was postmarked -Chicago. But that doesn't do us any good, for there are two million -people in Chicago." - -"Oh!" cried Joe, as he walked the floor and clenched his fists until -the nails dug into his palms. "The beastliness of it! The cowardice of -it! An anonymous letter! That such a villain should dare to torture the -dearest girl in the world! But somewhere, somehow, I'll hunt him out -and thrash him soundly." - -"Don't take the beastly thing so much to heart," returned Reggie. "Of -course it's just a bluff by some bally bounder. Nobody ought to do -anything with such a letter but tear it up and think no more about -it. Some coward has done it that has a grudge against you, but he'd -probably never have the nerve to carry out his threats." - -"It isn't that I care about," answered Joe. "I've always been able to -take care of myself. I'd like nothing better than to have the rascal -come out in the open and try to make his bluff good. But it's Mabel -I'm thinking about. You know a woman doesn't dismiss those things as a -man would. She worries her heart out about it. So that's what has been -weighing on her mind, poor, dear girl. Oh, if I only had my hands on -the fellow that wrote that letter!" - -And here he yielded again to a justified rage that was terrible to -behold. It would have been a bad day for the rascally writer of that -anonymous letter if he had suddenly stood revealed in the presence of -Joe Matson! - - - - -CHAPTER V - -"PLAY BALL!" - - -Just then Mabel came in with her hands full of flowers that she meant -to arrange for the table. She stopped short in consternation as she saw -the thundercloud on Joe's brow. For a moment she thought that he and -Reggie had been quarreling. - -"Oh, Joe, what is it?" she asked in alarm. - -Joe looked at her lovingly and his brow cleared. - -"Nothing, honey," he said, as he came up to her and slipped his arm -around her. "It's only that I've just found out from Reggie what it is -that's been worrying you." - -Mabel shot a reproachful glance at Reggie, who looked a little -embarrassed. - -"Joe got it out of me, Sis," he explained. "Said he had a right to know -and all that sort of thing, don't y'know. And 'pon honor, Sis, I don't -know but what he's right about it." - -"Of course I'm right about it," affirmed Joe. "There can't be anything -now that concerns Mabel that doesn't concern me. Don't you agree with -me, dearest?" - -"I suppose so," returned Mabel, as Joe drew her closer. "But, oh, Joe, -I didn't want to distress you about it. I was afraid that it would -weigh on your mind and affect your work this season, and I knew how -your heart was set on making a record. It was just for your sake, -dearest, that I kept it to myself. Of course I would have told you -sooner or later." - -"Well, now Mabel, listen to me," said Joe, as he placed a chair and sat -down beside her. "I don't know what fellow has done this. But whoever -he is, he is a coward as well as a rascal, and will never dare to carry -out his threats against me. And even if he should, you know that I am -perfectly able to take care of myself. You know that others have tried -to injure me, but I always came out on top. Fleming tried it; Braxton -tried it, and you know what happened to them. Now what I want you to -promise me is to banish this beastly thing entirely from your memory. -Treat it with the contempt it deserves. Will you promise me this?" - -"I will promise, Joe," answered Mabel. "I'll try to forget that it ever -happened." - -"That's the girl," commended Joe. "And to set your mind at rest I'll -promise on my part to take especially good care of myself. That's a -bargain." - -But while Joe had secured the promise of Mabel to forget the letter, -he had made no such promise himself, and he vowed that if he could -ever get any trace of the writer of that letter he would give him the -punishment he so richly deserved. - -The train Baseball Joe and Jim Barclay would take was to leave late -that afternoon. - -Somehow general knowledge of that fact had got abroad, and the -boys were dismayed, on reaching the station, to find that half the -population of the little town had gathered there to say good-by and -wish them luck. To many of the townspeople, Joe was a bigger man than -the President of the United States. He had put Riverside "on the map," -and through the columns of the papers they followed his triumphs and -felt that in a sense they were their own. - -Of course Joe appreciated this affectionate interest, but just at the -moment all he wanted was to be alone with Mabel. He had already bidden -his mother a loving farewell at the house, as she was not well enough -to go to the station. Jim also had eyes and thoughts only for Clara. - -But there was no help for it, and they had to exchange greetings and -good wishes with the kindly friends who clustered around them. At the -last minute, however, the young folks had a chance to say a few words -to each other, and what they did not have time to say was eloquent in -their eyes. - -The train moved off, and the boys leaned far out of the windows and -waved to the girls as long as they were in sight. Then they settled -back in their seats, and for a long time were engrossed in their -thoughts. Usually they were full of chaff and banter, but to-day it was -some time before they roused themselves from reverie and paid attention -to the realities around them. - -It was after they had come back from the dining car after supper that -Joe told Jim about his interview with Reggie and the anonymous letter. -Jim's wrath was almost as great as that which had shaken Joe himself. - -"And the worst of it is," said Joe, "that there doesn't seem the -slightest chance of getting hold of the cowardly fellow that did it. -You might as well look for a needle in a haystack." - -"Yes," agreed Jim, "that's the exasperating feature of it. It may be -the work of gamblers who have bet against the Giants and want to worry -you so that you won't pitch your best ball. Some of those fellows will -do anything for money. Or it may have been done by some enemy who chose -that way of striking in the dark." - -"If it's an enemy," mused Joe, "that narrows it down. There's old -Bugs Hartley, but I don't think he has intelligence enough to write a -letter. Then there's Fleming, with whom I'm just about as popular as -poison ivy. Add to that Braxton and a few old-time enemies, and you've -about completed the list." - -"I wouldn't put it past Braxton," remarked Jim thoughtfully. "That -fellow's a rattlesnake. He wouldn't stop at anything to get even with -you." - -"I hate to think he'd stoop as low as to try to strike me through a -woman," replied Joe. "But, by Jove!" he went on, as a thought struck -him, "do you remember what Reggie said about meeting Braxton in -Chicago? You know while we were on the trip he mentioned Chicago as his -home town. And that letter had the Chicago postmark." - -"Oh, well, you couldn't hang a yellow dog on that," Jim replied. "But -what struck me was what Reggie said about the speedy car that Braxton -had. It must have been a mighty speedy car that got the fellow who laid -that trap on the road from the training town to Hebron. Of course those -things are only straws, of no value separately, though straws show -which way the wind blows. One thing is certain. We've got to keep one -man in our mind and guard against him. And that man's name is Braxton." - -They reached New York without incident the day before the opening game, -and found the city baseball mad. The front pages of the newspapers had -big headlines discussing the opening of the season. The sporting pages -overflowed with speculation and prophecy as to the way the different -teams would shape up for the pennant race. In the street cars, in the -subways, in the restaurants, in the lobbies of the theatres, wherever -men congregated, baseball was the subject of discussion. The long -winter had made the populace hungry for their favorite game. - -On the following day, the migration toward the Polo Grounds began long -before noon. Every train was packed with eager, good-natured humanity -on its way to the game. By noon the bleachers were packed, and an hour -before the game was scheduled to begin, every inch of the grandstands -were packed to overflowing. - -The Bostons were to be the Giants' opponents in the opening game. The -team had finished poorly the year before, but many winter trades had -strengthened the weak spots, and the spring training of the nine had -been full of promise. A close game was looked for, with the chances -favoring the Giants. - -McRae was anxious to win the opening game, and had selected Joe to -"bring home the bacon." Hughson's arm was not yet in shape, and the -prospects were that Joe would have to bear the heft of the pitcher's -burden if the Giants were to carry off the flag. - -Both teams were greeted with hearty cheers as they came out on the -field. The Bostons as the visiting team, had the first chance at -practice, and they uncovered a lot of speed in their preliminary work. -Then the Giants took their turn in shooting the ball across the diamond -and batting long flies to the outfielders. - -The bell rang and the field was cleared, while a hush of expectation -fell on the crowds. The blue-uniformed umpire stepped to the plate. - -"Ladies and gentlemen," he bawled, "the batteries for to-day's game are -Albaugh and Menken for Boston, and Matson and Mylert for New York. Play -ball!" - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -GETTING THE JUMP - - -Neale, the heavy hitting center fielder of the Bostons, who led off in -the batting order, came to the plate, swinging three bats. He discarded -two of them and took up his position, after having tapped his heel for -luck. - -Joe looked him over for a moment. Then he wound up and whipped one -over the plate. It was a high fast one, and Neale swung at it, his bat -missing the ball by fully three inches. - -"Strike one!" called the umpire, and the crowd roared in approval. It -was an auspicious beginning. - -The next one was wide, and Neale refused to "bite." Again Joe tempted -him with a bad one, and again Neale was too wary. The next ball -was a swift incurve that broke so suddenly that it buffaloed Neale -completely. The lunge he made at it swung him round so that he almost -lost his balance, and he looked rather sheepish as Mylert, the burly -catcher of the Giants, grinned at him. - -"Had that in my mitt before you swung at it," taunted Mylert. "Gee, but -you're slow." - -Neale glared at him, but made no reply and tightened his grip on the -bat. - -This time Joe floated up a slow teaser that looked as big as a balloon -as it sailed lazily for the plate. Neale, who was all set for a fast -one, nearly broke his back reaching for it. - -"You're out," declared the umpire, while shouts and laughter came from -the crowded stands, as Neale, flinging down his bat disgustedly, went -back to the dugout. - -Kopf, the next man up, dribbled a slow one to the box that Joe had no -trouble in getting to first on time. Mitchell lifted a towering fly -that Iredell gobbled up without moving in his tracks. - -"Classy work, old man!" cried out Robbie, his face glowing with -satisfaction, as Joe drew off his glove and came in to the bench. "The -old wing seems to be working as well as ever." - -The Giants did a little better in the first inning, though not well -enough to chalk up a run. Curry started well by lining to center for a -single, the ball just escaping Warner's fingers, as he leaped into the -air for it. Iredell tried to sacrifice, but the ball went too quickly -to the pitcher, who turned and caught Curry at second. Iredell tried to -get down on the first ball pitched, but Menken showed that his throwing -arm was right and nipped him by three feet. Burkett lifted one between -right and center that had all the earmarks of a home run, but Mitchell, -by a great run, got to it with one hand and froze on to it. It was a -remarkable catch, and the sportsmanlike New York crowd applauded it as -heartily as though it had been made by one of their favorites. - -"Highway robbery," growled Burkett, who had almost reached second -before the ball was caught, and was cherishing hopes of having knocked -out the first home run of the season. - -It seemed clear that the Bostons were not to be trifled with, at least -as far as their fielding was concerned, and the crowd settled down in -expectation of a close struggle. - -The second inning for the Bostons was short. Douglas sent up a pop fly -to Willis at third. Barber fouled to Mylert. Warner tapped a little one -in front of the plate that Mylert heaved to first. Each had offered at -the first ball pitched, so that only three balls had been thrown for -the entire inning. - -The hard hitting that the Giants had done in the first session had -resulted in nothing, but it had shown them that Albaugh could be hit, -and they faced him with confidence when they next went to the bat. - -But Albaugh had braced in his short breathing spell, and he set the -Giants down in short order. The best that Wheeler could do was to lift -a high fly behind second that nestled comfortably in Douglas' hands. -Willis got to first base on an error by Warner, but Denton hit into a -double play, Ellis to Douglas to Kopf, and the inning was over. - -In the third inning, the Bostons swung their bats in vain. Joe struck -out Ellis, Menken and Albaugh, one after the other. His fast ball shot -over the plate as though propelled by a gun. It came so swiftly that -the Boston batsmen either winced and drew back, or struck at it after -the ball had passed. His outcurve had a tremendous break, and Mylert -had all he could do to get it. It was a superb example of pitching, and -Joe had to remove his cap in response to the thunderous applause of the -stands. - -"Isn't that boy a wonder, Mac?" asked Robbie in exultation. "He's -simply standing those fellows on their heads. They just can't touch -him." - -"He's the goods all right," agreed the less demonstrative McRae. "But -don't let's crow too loud. The game isn't over yet by a long shot, and -anything can happen in baseball." - -Allen was the first man up in the Giants' half, and he went out on a -grasser to Warner, who got him at first by yards. It was Joe's turn -next. - -"Win your own game now, Joe," said Jim, as his chum left the bench for -the plate. "None of the other boys seem to be doing much. Show them -one of the clouts you made at the training camp." - -Joe grinned in reply and went to the plate. Albaugh looked at him and -thought he sensed an easy victim. He seldom had much trouble with -pitchers. - -The first ball was wide and Joe let it go by. The second and third also -went as balls. - -"Good eye, Joe," sang out Robbie, who was coaching at third. "Make him -put it over." - -Albaugh now was "in a hole." Three balls had been called on him, and he -had to get the next one over the plate. He wound up carefully and sent -over a swift straight one about waist high. - -Joe timed it perfectly and caught it near the end of his bat. The ball -went on a line straight toward the right field stands. On and on it -went, still almost in a line. Neale and Barber had both started for it -from the crack of the bat, but it stayed so low and went so fast that -it eluded them and struck just at the foot of the right field bleachers. - -Joe in the meantime was running like a deer around the bases, while his -comrades leaped about and howled, and the crowds in the stands were -on their feet and shouting like madmen. He had rounded second and was -well on toward third before Neale retrieved the ball. He relayed it to -Douglas like a shot. By this time Joe had turned third and was dashing -toward the plate. It was a race between him and the ball, but he beat -the sphere by an eyelash, sliding into the rubber in a cloud of dust. - -For a few moments pandemonium reigned, as Joe, flushed and smiling, -rose from the ground and dusted himself off while his mates mauled and -pounded him and the multitude roared approval. - -"Jumping jiminy!" cried Jim, "that was a lallapaloozer! It was a longer -hit than you made off of me this spring, and that's going some. And on -a line too. I thought it was never going to drop." - -"It was a dandy, Joe," commended McRae, clapping him on the shoulder. -"It's only a pity that there weren't men on bases at the time for you -to bring in ahead of you. But we've broken the ice now, and perhaps the -rest of the boys will get busy." - -Albaugh was rather shaken by the blow, and gave Mylert his base on -balls. Curry too was passed to first, advancing Mylert to second. The -stage seemed set for more Giant runs, but Iredell hit a liner to Ellis -who took it at his shoe tops and made a smart double play by getting it -to second before Mylert could scramble back. - -Still the Giants were a run to the good, and as the fourth and fifth -innings went by without a score that run began to look as big as a -meeting house. Albaugh had stiffened up and was pitching superbly, -while his mates were giving him splendid support. He mowed down the -heavy batters of the Giants one after another, and McRae began to -fidget about uneasily on the bench. One run was a slender margin, and -he was intensely eager to win this first game, not only because of the -enormous crowd that had turned out to see their favorites win, but -because of the moral effect on his players of "getting the jump" on at -least four of the other teams by winning the first game of the season. - -When Joe came to the bat for the second time, there was a short -consultation between Albaugh and his catcher, in which the astute -manager of the Braves, Sutton, joined. Then Albaugh deliberately -pitched four wild balls, and Joe trotted down to first. - -There was a chorus of jeers and catcalls from the crowds. - -"Got you rattled by that homer, did he?" - -"You're a sport--I don't think!" - -"Don't blame you for being afraid to let him hit it!" - -"He'll lose the ball next time!" - -"Crawl into a hole and pull the hole in after you!" - -But although it was not exactly sportsmanlike, it was within the rules -of the game, and when Mylert went out on a fly a moment later, making -the third out and leaving Joe stranded at first, Albaugh took off his -glove and waved it mockingly at his tormentors. - -In the sixth inning the Bostons took their turn at scoring. Kopf sent -an easy grounder to Iredell, who ordinarily would have eaten it up. -This time, however, he fumbled it for a moment, and then in his haste -to make up for the mishap threw wild to first. Burkett made a great -jump for it, but it went high over his head to the right field fence, -and before Burkett could regain it Kopf was on third. Mitchell tried to -bring him home, but his efforts resulted in a weak grounder along the -third base line. It looked as though the ball would roll over the foul -line, and Willis waited too long. It proved to be fair, and by this -time Mitchell was legging it for second. Willis threw low and the ball -hit the bag, bounding out into center field. Wheeler ran in and got it, -making a superb throw to the plate. But it was too late, and both Kopf -and Mitchell had scored, putting Boston in the lead by two runs to one. - -Joe put on steam and struck out the next three batters. But the -mischief had been done. Two miserable errors had given them as many -unearned runs. Now all they had to do was to keep the Giants scoreless -and the game would be won. - -Poor Iredell and Willis were disconsolate as they came in to the bench -and their discomfiture was not lessened by the tongue lashing that -McRae gave them. Joe, too, might naturally have been angered at the -wretched support accorded to him in a game where he was showing such -airtight pitching, but he was too fair and generous to find fault with -comrades for a blunder that all athletes make more or less often. - -"Never mind, boys," he said to them in an undertone, as he sat beside -them on the bench. "Just get busy with your bats and we'll pull the -game out of the fire yet." - -Although the Giants made a desperate rally and in each of the next -two innings got men on second and third, the score was unchanged and -the game still "in the fire" when the eighth inning ended. Joe in the -meantime had pitched with such effect that in the two innings not a man -reached first. - -The ninth inning came, and the Giants took the field for the last time. - -"Now Joe," said McRae, as the former picked up his glove to walk out -to the box, "hold them down just for one more inning, and we'll have a -chance either to tie or win, if our boobs can wake up enough to do a -little batting. The head of their batting order is coming up, but the -way you've been pitching up to now they all look alike to you." - -"I'll pitch my head off if necessary," Joe assured him. - -The twirling that Joe did in that last inning was phenomenal. His -control of the ball was almost uncanny. It writhed and twisted about -the bats like a snake. Neale, the slugger of the Braves, struck out -on the first three balls pitched. Kopf lifted a foul that came down -straight over the plate, where Mylert gathered it in. Mitchell drove -the ball straight over Joe's head, but the latter leaped high in the -air and speared it with his gloved hand, while the stands rocked with -applause. - -McRae gathered the Giants about him as they came in from the field. - -"Now you fellows listen to me," he commanded. "You've got to cop this -game. No excuses. You've got to. Show these bean-eaters where they get -off. Make them look like thirty cents. Knock the cover off the ball. Go -in and win!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -STEALING HOME - - -Willis was first to the bat, and he strode to the plate with blood in -his eye. He was still smarting from the sharp words of the manager and -was anxious for a chance to redeem himself. A hit would help to wipe -out the memory of his error. - -The first ball was an outshoot that just cut the corner of the plate. -Willis struck at it and missed. The next one was a straight ball about -knee high. Willis gave it a resounding clout, and it soared out toward -the flagpole in left field. - -Willis was off with the crack of the bat, footing it down to first, -while a roar went up from the stands. It looked like a sure home run, -and it was clear that the Boston left fielder could not get under it. -The runner was well on his way to second before the ball touched the -ground. - -"Foul ball!" called the umpire. - -There was a groan from the Giant rooters, and Robbie rushed from the -dugout to protest. The umpire coldly waved him off. - -"I said foul and that settles it," he declared, at the same time waving -to Willis to come back to the plate. - -It was a very disgruntled Willis that complied, and he took up his bat -mumbling something about "blind" and "robber." - -"What's that?" asked the umpire sharply. - -"Nothing," growled Willis, as he squared himself to meet the next ball. -It was a bad one, and he let it go by. The next suited him, and he sent -a sizzling grounder between second and third, on which he might have -made a double, had he been quicker on his feet. But he was of the "ice -wagon" type and had to be content with a single. - -Still it was a hit, and it put all the Giants on their toes in an -instant. Their coachers at first and third began a chattering designed -to rattle the pitcher. McRae hustled Denton out of the dugout with -directions to sacrifice. The latter did his best, but Albaugh pounced -on the ball and shot it to second, putting Willis out. Douglas whipped -the ball to first in an endeavor to complete a double play, but Denton -beat the ball by a step. - -With one man out and the tail end of the Giant batting order coming up -the outlook was decidedly gloomy. Hope revived, however, when Allen -laced a single to left. It was a clean hit, but Mitchell ran in on it -and fielded so smartly that Denton was held at second. - -With two men on bases, Joe came to the bat, while the great throng gave -him an ovation. - -"Win your own game, Matson," was shouted at him from thousands of -throats. - -"Give the ball a ride!" - -"Another homer, Joe!" - -"Give the ball a passport and send it out of the country!" - -These and other encouraging cries greeted Joe as he waited for the -ball. Albaugh looked at him with some apprehension. His respect for him -as a batter had grown considerably since the beginning of the game. - -Joe refused to offer at the first ball, which was high and wide. Menken -caught it and instead of returning it to the pitcher shot it down to -second. Denton had taken too long a lead off the base and was trapped. -His first impulse was to slide back to the bag, but he saw that he -was too late for that and set out for third. The whole Boston infield -joined in running him down, and despite his doubling and twisting, he -was run down and put out near third. During the fracas, Allen reached -second, but this was poor consolation, for now two men were out. - -Albaugh grinned as he picked up the ball and stepped on the mound. -Baseball Joe resolved to knock that grin off his face. - -The ball came toward the plate like a bullet. Joe timed it perfectly, -and poled a tremendous hit out toward center. - -"A homer! A homer!" yelled the crowd, wild with excitement. - -By the time Allen had galloped over the plate, Joe had rounded second, -running like a frightened jackrabbit. But in the meantime, Mitchell, by -a herculean effort, had managed to knock down the ball, after it had -struck the ground and was speeding toward the fence. He straightened -up and threw it in a line to third. It came plump into the waiting -hands of the guardian of the bag. But Joe had already pulled up there, -panting a little, but with his heart full of exultation. - -"Jumping Jehoshaphat, how that boy can hit!" cried McRae, while Joe's -comrades jigged about and threw their caps into the air. - -"As pretty a three-bagger as I ever saw," declared Robson. "That ties -the score anyway. Now if Mylert can only bring him in, the game's ours." - -Albaugh, though sore and enraged, still maintained perfect control of -the ball. Twice in succession he sent it whizzing over the plate, and -twice Mylert missed it by inches. Perhaps he was too anxious, but it -was evident that his batting eye was off. - -Albaugh sensed this, and felt so sure of his victim that he paid -little attention to third. Suddenly, as Albaugh began to wind up for -his pitch, Joe darted down the line for the plate. A warning cry from -Menken and a roar from the crowd told Albaugh what was happening. He -stopped his windup and threw to Menken, who was covering the rubber and -yelling to him to throw. He threw high in his excitement. Menken caught -the ball and bent down, just as Joe slid over the plate in a cloud of -dust. Menken dabbed frantically at him, and they rolled on the ground -together. - -"Safe!" cried the umpire. - -The game was won and the Giants had "got the jump." - -The crowd went mad. By thousands they rushed down from the stands and -swarmed down over the field. Joe saw them coming and made a dash for -the clubhouse. But before he had reached it, the crowd had closed in -about him, and it was only by the assistance of his mates, who cleared -a way for him, that he could get away from their wild enthusiasm and -slip into its welcome shelter. - -In a few minutes more the whole team had gathered there, laughing and -shouting and going over the details of the game, while they took the -showers and changed into their street clothes. There too came Robbie -and McRae, as full of glee and happiness as the rest. - -"You old rascal!" chortled Robbie, as he slapped Joe on the back. -"What are you trying to do? Be the whole team--gyp the other fellows -out of their jobs? Such pitching, such batting--and then to cap it all -by stealing home! Joe, old boy, I've seen lots of ball games, but your -work to-day takes the cake." - -McRae, though less demonstrative, was not a whit less delighted. - -"Great work, Matson," he said. "Keep that up and there isn't a man in -either league will be able to touch you." - -Jim too was fairly stuttering with his pride in his chum's achievements. - -"Picked the game right out of the fire," he exulted. "Tied it first and -won it afterward. Joe old fellow, you're in a class by yourself. And -that steal home! They'll talk about it all the season." - -"Well," replied Baseball Joe, with a grin, "I got rather homesick on -third, and that home plate looked mighty good to me." - -Then Hughson came along with his congratulations, and these perhaps -were the greatest reward that Joe could have asked for his day's work. - -For Hughson had been Joe's baseball idol for the last ten years. For at -least that period of time, Hughson had been confessedly the greatest -pitcher that baseball had ever seen. During that decade he had been -the mainstay of the Giant team. When Hughson was slated to pitch, his -mates were ready to chalk that game up in advance as won. And on the -other hand, the opposing team was almost ready to concede the game -before it was played. He had speed, curves and everything. At the most -critical stage of a game he never lost his head. There might be three -men on bases and none out, but that never disturbed Hughson. He would -bring his wonderful "fadeaway" into action and the batters would go -down like ninepins. He had brawn--plenty of it--but in addition he had -brain, and when it came to strategy and quick thinking there was no one -to be compared with him. - -But it was not merely his remarkable skill that had made him the -hero of the baseball world. He was a gentleman through and through. -He had had a college training and could meet and talk with educated -men on equal terms. He was upright in his principles, clean in his -living, quiet, plain, and unassuming. He was hail fellow well met -with the other members of his team, and in fact with baseball players -everywhere. Everybody liked him, and those who knew him best had a warm -affection for him. - -Nor was there the slightest touch of jealousy about him. If any one -else could take his laurels by showing that he was a better pitcher, -Hughson welcomed the opportunity to give him every chance to do so. -He was wholly wrapped up in the success of his team, and was only too -glad to see any one helping to gain that success. His treatment of Joe -since the latter had joined the team had been cordial in the extreme. -He coached him, encouraged him, and did everything in his power to make -him the star pitcher he saw he was destined to become. - -Hughson had been hurt in a collision just before the final games of the -previous year, and had not been able to take part in the World Series. -His arm had become better, but he was still in no condition to pitch. -So that it had been merely as a spectator that he had witnessed the -triumph of the Giants in this opening game of the season. - -Joe's eyes lighted up as he saw Hughson coming toward him with extended -hand. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A BASEBALL IDOL - - -"Put her there, Matson!" cried Hughson, his face beaming with pleasure. -"I never saw better pitching than you showed us to-day." - -Joe's face flushed. He shook Hughson's hand heartily. - -"Oh, it's nothing compared with lots of games you've pitched, Hughson," -he said. "I'm only in the infant class yet." - -"A mighty husky infant," laughed Hughson. "At least that's what the -Bostons think. It was a hard game for them to lose, just when they -thought they had it tucked away in their bat bag." - -"I feel rather sorry for Albaugh," said Joe. "He pitched a peach of a -game and deserved to win." - -"He sure did," conceded Hughson. "And nine times out of ten that kind -of pitching would have won. But to-day he had the hard luck to be -pitted against a better man. They got only one clean hit off of you. -The other was a scratch. A little more and you'd have pitched a no-hit -game. And that's going some for the first game of the season, I'll tell -the world. - -"Another thing that tickled me," he went on, "was to see him pass -you to first rather than give you a chance to hit the ball. That's a -compliment to all the boxmen of the country. As a rule we're easy meat. -The other pitchers are glad to see us come up to the plate. It has got -to be a proverb that pitchers can't hit. But you gave the lie to that -proverb to-day. Those two hits of yours were ticketed for the fence. -And that steal home was the classiest thing I've seen for a blue moon. -That's the kind of thinking that wins ball games. Do the thing the -other fellow doesn't expect you to do." - -"It was a case of touch and go," replied Joe. "I knew that I had -touched the plate before Menken put the ball on me, but I wasn't sure -the umpire would see it the same way. But he did, and that's all that -matters. By the way, Hughson, how is that arm of yours coming along?" - -"Not as well as I should like," responded Hughson, while a touch of -gloom came into his face. "There are days when it feels all right, and -other days when I can't lift it without pain. I've been down to see -Reese again about it, and he can't see anything radically wrong with -it. Says I'll have to be patient and give it time. But it's mighty -hard to have to sit on the bench when I'm fairly aching to get in the -box again." - -"I know just how you must feel," returned Joe sympathetically. "The -boys are all rooting for you to get back into harness again. It doesn't -seem the same old team with you out of the running." - -"I'll be back with bells on before long," answered Hughson with a -smile, as he moved on to have a chat with Robbie. - -"Isn't he a prince?" Joe remarked admiringly to Jim, as they watched -the back of the tall figure. - -"He sure is an honor to the game," returned Jim. "Here's hoping that -he'll soon be on deck again." - -The next day the New York papers were full of the story of the game. -There was a general feeling of jubilation over the auspicious start -by the Giants, a feeling that was the more pronounced, because of -the feeling that had previously prevailed that Hughson's continued -disability would be a serious handicap to the chances of again winning -the pennant. - -One great subject dwelt upon in all the accounts was the marvelous -pitching that Joe had shown. The sporting reporters "spread themselves" -on the way he had held the Bostons in the hollow of his hand. To allow -only two hits in the opening game, and one of them a scratch, was a -feat that they dwelt upon at length. - -But scarcely less space was devoted to his batting. Although it was -recalled that in the previous year he had had a creditable average at -the bat, considering that he was a pitcher, his power as a twirler had -kept his other qualities in the shade. Comment was made on the perfect -way he had timed the ball and of the fact that his homer had gone -nearly to the end of the grounds almost on a straight line, a fact that -attested the tremendous power behind the hit. One of the papers headed -its article: "Is There to Be a New Batting King?" and went on to say -among other things: - - "It is an extraordinary thing to pitch a two-hit game at the - beginning of the season. But it is still more extraordinary - that, despite the strain on the muscles and nerves of the - pitcher who achieves that distinction, he should also have a - perfect batting average for the day. That is what occurred - yesterday. In four times at the bat he was passed twice and - the other times poled out a triple and a home run. And this - was done against heady and effective pitching, for Albaugh has - seldom showed better form than in yesterday's game. - - "One might have thought that with this record Matson would - have called it a day and let it go at that. But he was still - not satisfied. In the ninth, with two men out and two strikes - called on Mylert, he put the game on ice by stealing home from - third--as unexpected and dazzling a play as we shall probably - be fortunate enough to see this year. It was the climax of a - wonderful game. - - "McRae never made a shrewder deal than when he secured this - phenomenal pitcher from St. Louis. We said this last year, when - Matson's great pitching disposed of Chicago's chances for the - pennant. We said it again when in the World Series he bore the - heft of the pitcher's burden and made his team champions of - the world. But a true thing will bear repeating twice or even - thrice, and so we say it now with added emphasis." - -All of the comment was in the same laudatory strain, although in -reference to his batting, one paper cautioned its readers that not too -much importance was to be attached to that. It was probably one of -Matson's good days, and one swallow did not make a summer. But whether -he kept up his remarkable batting or not, the New York public would ask -nothing more of him than to keep up his magnificent work in the box. - -Joe would not have been human if he had not enjoyed the praise that was -showered upon him in the columns that he and Jim read with interest the -next morning. It was pleasant to know that his work was appreciated. -But he was far too sensible to be unduly elated or to get a "swelled -head" in consequence. He knew how quickly a popular idol could be -dethroned, and he did not want the public to set up an ideal that he -could not live up to. - -It was for that reason that he read with especial approval the article -that warned against expecting him to be a batting phenomenon because of -his performance of yesterday. - -"That fellow's got it right," he remarked to Jim, as he pointed to the -paragraph in question. "I just had luck yesterday in straightening out -Albaugh's slants. Another time and I might be as helpless as a baby." - -"Luck, nothing!" replied Jim, who had no patience with Joe's depreciation -of himself. "There was nothing fluky about those hits. You timed them -perfectly and soaked the ball right on the nose. And look at the way -you've been lining them out in training this spring. Wake up, man. -You're not only the king of pitchers, but you've got it in you to -become the king of sluggers." - -"Oh, quit your kidding," protested Joe. - -"I'm not kidding," Jim affirmed earnestly. "It's the solemn truth. -You'll win many a game this year not only by your pitching but by your -batting too. Just put a pin in that." - -At this moment a bellboy tapped at the door, and being told to come in, -handed Joe two telegrams. He tore them open in haste. The first was -from Reggie and read: - - "Keep it up, old top. Simply ripping, don't you know." - -Joe laughed and passed it on to Jim. - -"Sounds just like the old boy, doesn't it?" he commented. - -The second one was from Mabel: - - "So proud of you, Joe. Not surprised though. Best love. Am - writing." - -Jim did not see this one, but it went promptly into that one of Joe's -pockets that was nearest his heart, the same one that carried the -little glove of Mabel's that had been his inspiration in all his -victorious baseball campaigns. - -After a hearty breakfast, the chums went out for a stroll. Neither -was slated to pitch for that day, and they had no immediate weight of -responsibility on their minds. Markwith, the left-handed twirler of the -Giants, would do the box work that day unless McRae altered his plans. - -"Hope Red puts it over the Braves to-day the way you did yesterday," -remarked Jim, as they sauntered along. - -"I hope so," echoed Joe. "The old boy seems to be in good shape, and -they've usually had trouble in hitting him. They'll be out for blood -though, and if they put in Belden against him it ought to be a pretty -battle. Markwith beat him the last time he was pitted against him, but -only by a hair." - -It was a glorious spring morning, and as they had plenty of time they -prolonged their walk far up on the west side of the city. As they were -approaching a corner, they saw a rather shabbily dressed man slouching -toward them. - -Jim gave him a casual glance, and then clutched Joe by the arm. - -"Look who's coming, Joe!" he exclaimed. "It's Bugs Hartley!" - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -AN OLD ENEMY - - -Baseball Joe started as he looked at the man more closely. - -"Bugs Hartley!" he ejaculated. "I thought we'd seen the last of that -fellow. I imagined that by this time he'd be in jail or in a lunatic -asylum." - -"He'll get there some time likely enough," replied Jim. "But just now -he's here. That's Bugs as sure as shooting." - -It was evident that the man had recognized them also, for he stopped -suddenly, as though debating whether to advance or retreat. He decided -on the former course, and with an air of bravado came toward them. Joe -and Jim would have passed him without speaking, but he planted himself -squarely in their path, a malignant look glowing in his bleary eyes. - -"So here you are again," he snarled, addressing himself to Joe. - -"Sure thing," answered Joe coolly. "You see me, don't you?" - -"I see you all right," replied Hartley, as his eye took in Joe's -well-dressed form. "All dolled up too. The man who took the bread and -butter out of my mouth. Oh, I see you all right, worse luck." - -Bugs Hartley had been a well known character in baseball for some -years. He had gained his nickname from his erratic habits. He had never -been any too strong mentally, and his addiction to liquor had still -further contributed to throw him off his balance. But he had been a -remarkable pitcher, with a throwing arm that made up for some of his -mental deficiencies, and had played in several major league clubs. For -some years he had been a member of the Giants, and was still a member -when Joe joined the team. His vicious habits and utter failure to obey -the rules of discipline had made him a thorn in his manager's side, but -McRae had tolerated him because of his unusual skill in the box. - -Joe had felt sorry for the man, and had done all he could to help him -along. Once he had found him wandering intoxicated in the streets -on the eve of an important game, and had got him off quietly to bed -so as to hide the matter from McRae. But there was no gratitude in -Hartley's disposition, and besides he was consumed with envy at seeing -Joe's rapid progress in his profession, while he himself, owing to his -dissipation, was going backward. - -On one occasion, he had tried to queer Joe by doping his coffee just -before the latter was scheduled to pitch in a game with Philadelphia. -His hatred was increased when, after being knocked out of the box -during a game, Joe had taken his place and won out. McRae at last lost -patience with him and gave him his walking papers. Hartley's twisted -brain attributed this to Joe, though as a matter of fact Joe had asked -McRae to give Bugs another chance. - -Hartley's reputation was so bad as a man and it was so generally -understood that he was through as a pitcher that no other club cared to -engage him. This increased his bitterness against the supposed author -of his misfortunes. On one occasion he had tried to injure Joe in a -dark street by hurling a jagged bolt of iron at his head, and the only -thing that saved Baseball Joe was that at the moment he had stooped to -adjust his shoelace. At that time Joe might have handed him over to the -police, but instead he let him go with a warning. Now he had again met -this dangerous semi-lunatic in the streets of New York. - -"Now look here, Bugs," said Joe quietly and decidedly. "I'm just about -tired of that kind of talk. I've done everything I could for you, and -in return you've doped me and otherwise tried to hurt me. You've been -your own worst enemy. I'm sorry if you're hard up, and if you need -money I'll give it to you. But I want you to keep away from me, and if -there's any more funny business you won't get off as easily as you did -last time." - -"I don't want your money," snapped Bugs. "I'm after you, and I'll get -you yet." - -"I don't think you'd better try it. It won't get you anywhere, except -perhaps in jail." - -"There's ways of doing it," growled Hartley. "Ways that you ain't -dreamin' of." - -A sudden thought struck Joe. - -"Do you mean anonymous letters?" he asked, looking keenly into -Hartley's eyes. - -"Anon-non--what do you mean?" the man asked sullenly. He was an -illiterate man and had probably never heard the word before. - -"Letters without any name signed to them," persisted Joe. - -"Aw! what are you giving me?" snapped Hartley. "I don't know what -you're talking about." - -His mystification was so genuine that Joe knew that his shot, fired at -random, had missed the mark. He could eliminate Hartley at once as a -possible author of the anonymous letter Mabel had received. - -"Never mind," said Joe. "Now one last word, Bugs. Twice you've tried to -do me up and twice you've failed. Don't let it happen a third time. It -will be three strikes and out for you if you do." - -He made a move to pass on. Hartley seemed for a moment as though he -would bar the way, but the steely look in Joe's eyes made him think -better of it. With a muttered imprecation he stepped aside, and the two -friends moved on. - -"A bad egg," remarked Jim, as they walked along. - -"I don't know whether he's just bad or is mad," replied Joe regretfully. -"A combination of both I suppose. He's got the fixed idea that I've -done him a wrong of some kind and his poor brain hasn't room for -anything else. It's too bad to see a man that was once a great pitcher -go to the dogs the way he has. I suppose he picks up a few dollars now -and then by pitching for semi-professional teams. But most of that I -suppose is dissipated." - -"Well, you want to keep on your guard against him, Joe," warned Jim, in -some anxiety. "A crazy man makes a dangerous enemy." - -"Oh, I don't think there's any need of worrying about Bugs," rejoined -Joe carelessly. "The chances are ten to one we'll never run across him -again." - -The encounter had rather spoiled their morning, and they hailed a -taxicab to take them back to their hotel. There they had lunch and then -rode up to the Polo Grounds for the game. - -As Joe had predicted, the Bostons that afternoon were out for blood -and they evened up the score. Markwith pitched a good game except for -one bad inning when he lost control, and hits, sandwiched in with -passes and a wild pitch, let in three runs. He braced up after that, -but it was too late, and the Giants had to take the little end of the -score. - -In the next two weeks the Giants met the rest of the Eastern teams, -and, taking it as a whole, the result was satisfactory. They had no -trouble in taking the Phillies into camp, for that once great team had -been shot to pieces. The majority of the Boston games also went to the -Giants' credit. They met a snag, however, in Brooklyn, and the team -from over the bridge took four games out of six from their Manhattan -rivals. But then the Brooklyns always had been a hoodoo for the Giants, -and in this season, as in many others, they lived up to the tradition. - -Still the Giants wound up their first Eastern series with a percentage -of 610, which was respectable if not brilliant. But now their real test -was coming. They were about to make their first invasion of the West, -where the teams were much stronger than those of the East. Cincinnati -was going strong under the great leader who had once piloted the -Phillies to a championship. Chicago was quite as formidable as in the -year before, when the Giants had just nosed them out at the finish. -St. Louis, though perhaps the least to be feared, was developing -sluggers that would put the Giants' pitchers on their mettle. But most -of all to be feared was Pittsburgh, which had been going through the -rest of the Western teams like a prairie fire. - -"Pittsburgh's the enemy," McRae told his men, and Robbie agreed with -him. "Beat those birds and you'll cop the flag!" - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THREE IN A ROW - - -The first jump of the team was to Cincinnati, and there they found -their work cut out for them. The Reds had just lost three out of four -to Pittsburgh, and they had got such a talking to from their manager, -from the fans, and from the press of the city that they knew they had -to do something to redeem themselves. They knew that if they could hold -the Giants even, it would be something; if they could take three out of -four they would be forgiven; while if they could make a clean sweep of -the series they would "own the town." - -It was a singular thing what delight all the Western teams, and for -that matter all the teams of the League, took in beating the Giants. A -victory over them, of course, did not count any more in the final score -than a victory over one of the tailenders; but there was a fiendish -satisfaction in taking the scalps of the team from the "Big Town." So -that the managers always saved their best pitchers for the games with -the Giants, while they took a chance with their second string pitchers -against the other teams. This of course was a compliment; but it was a -compliment that the Giants did not especially appreciate, for it made -their task harder than that of any other team in the League. - -So when the Giants learned that Dutch Rutter was to try his prowess -against them in the opening game, they were not surprised. Rutter was -a left-hander who had made a phenomenal record the preceding year, and -he had been especially rested up and groomed with the Giant series in -view. Meran, the manager, had figured that if he could win the first -game with Rutter he could come back with him in the fourth, and thus -have at least a chance of getting an even break on the series. - -But McRae, anticipating such a move, had so arranged his own selection -of pitchers that Joe was in line for the first game, and he was not -afraid to pit his "ace" against the star boxman of the Cincinnatis. - -His confidence was justified, for Baseball Joe won out after a -gruelling struggle. In Rutter he had found an opponent worthy of his -steel. For six innings neither team broke into the run column. Rutter -had superb control for a left-hander, and he showed a most dazzling -assortment of curves and slants. But Joe came back at him with the -same brand of pitching that he had shown in the opening game, and the -Cincinnati batsmen were turned back from the plate bewildered and -disgruntled. In vain their manager raved and stormed. - -"Why don't you hit him?" he asked of his star slugger, as the latter -came back to the bench, after having been called out on strikes. - -"Hit him!" Duncan came back at him. "What chance have I got of hitting -him, when I can't even hit the ball he pitches?" - -Still the Giants had a scare thrown into them when in the ninth -inning, by a succession of fumbles and wild throws, the Cincinnatis -had three men on bases and none out. As they themselves had only one -run, scored in the seventh inning by a three base hit by Joe, aided by -a clean single by Mylert, the chances looked exceedingly good that the -Cincinnatis might tie the score or win the game. A clean single would -have brought in one run and probably two. - -But Baseball Joe was always at his best when most depended on him. -While the coachers tried to rattle him and the crowds frantically -adjured Thompson, who was at the bat, to bring the men on bases in to -the plate, Joe was as cool as a cucumber. - -He threw a swift high one to Thompson which the latter missed by three -inches. Mylert threw the ball back to Joe, who stopped it with his -foot and stooped as though to adjust his shoe lace. He fumbled an -instant with the lace, and then suddenly picking up the ball hurled it -to second like a shot. Emden, who was taking a long lead off the base, -tried to scramble back, but Denton had the ball on him like a flash. -Mellen who was on third made a bolt for the plate, but Denton shot the -ball to Mylert, and Mellen was run down between third and home. While -this was going on, Gallagher had taken second, and profiting by the -running down of Mellen, kept on half way to third. He did not dare go -all the way to third, because Mellen still had a chance to get back -to that base. But the instant Mellen was touched out, Joe, who had -taken part in running him down, shot the ball to Willis at third and -Gallagher was caught between the second and third bags. Three men were -out, the game was over, and the Giants had begun their Western invasion -with a 1 to 0 victory. - -[Illustration: SUDDENLY PICKING UP THE BALL HE HURLED IT TO SECOND.] - -Joe's quick thinking had cleared the bags in a twinkling. It had all -come so suddenly that the crowd was dumbfounded. Meran, the Cincinnati -manager, sat on the bench with his mouth open like a man in a daze. His -men were equally "flabbergasted." Thompson still stood at the plate -with his bat in hand. It seemed to him that a bunco game had been -played on him, and he was still trying to fathom it. - -Then at last the crowd woke up. They hated to see the home team lose, -but they could not restrain their meed of admiration and applause. The -stands fairly rocked with cheering. They had seen a play that they -could talk about all their lives, one that happens perhaps once in a -generation, one that they would probably never see again. - -McRae and Robbie for a moment acted like men in a trance. Over Robbie's -rubicund face chased all the colors of the chameleon. It almost seemed -as though he might have a stroke of apoplexy. Then at last he turned to -McRae and smote him mightily on the knees. - -"Did you see it, John?" he roared. "Did you see it?" - -"I saw it," answered McRae. "But for the love of Pete, Robbie, keep -that pile driver off my knees. Yes, I saw it, and I don't mind saying -that I never saw anything like it in my thirty years of baseball. I -have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming." - -"A miracle man, that's what he is!" ejaculated Robbie. "That wing of -his is wonderful, but it's the head on him that tops any other in the -league. He wasn't behind the door when brains were given out." - -Meran, the Cincinnati manager, who was a good sport, after he had -recovered from his astonishment, came over to the Giants' bench and -shook hands with McRae and Robson. - -"It was a hard game to lose, John," he said to the Giants' manager. "I -thought we had it sewed up in the ninth. But there's no use bucking -against that pitcher of yours. I'm only glad that you can't pitch him -in all your games." - -Joe, flushed and smiling, was overwhelmed with congratulations, but he -made light of his feat, as was his custom. - -"It was simple enough," he protested. "I had the luck to catch Emden -off second and the boys did all the rest." - -"Simple enough," mimicked Jim. "Oh, yes, it was simple enough. That's -the reason it happens every day of the week." - -It was a good beginning, but the old proverb that "a good beginning -makes a bad ending" was illustrated in this Western tour. For some -reason most of the Giant pitchers could not "get going." Jim pulled out -a victory in the Cincinnati series, but Markwith lost his game, and -Hughson, who tried to pitch one of the games, found that he was not yet -in shape. - -That series ended two and two. In Chicago the Giants had to be content -with only one victory out of the series. They hoped to make up for this -in St. Louis. But they found that the fame of "Murderers' Row" had -not been exaggerated, and there was a perfect rain of hits from the -Cardinals' bats that took two games out of three, the fourth that had -been scheduled being held up by rain. - -When the team swung around to Pittsburgh, there were some added -wrinkles between McRae's brows. - -"If we can only break even with Cincinnati and get the little end of -it in Chicago and St. Louis, what will Pittsburgh do to us?" he asked -Robbie, with a groan. - -"What Pittsburgh will do to us, John," replied Robbie soberly, "is a -sin and a shame!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -RIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER - - -The Smoky City was all agog over the games. It had won championships -before, but that was in the days of Fred Clarke and Honus Wagner and -other fence breakers. It had been a good many years since it had seen a -pennant floating over Forbes Field, and old-timers were wont to shake -their heads sadly and say they never would see it again. - -But this year the "dope" pointed in the right direction. The management -of the team had strengthened the weak point in the infield by a winter -trade that had brought to them "Rabbit" Baskerville, the crackerjack -shortstop of the Braves. The benefit of the change had been manifested -in the spring practice when the Rabbit had put new pep and ginger -in the team. And in the regular games so far they had had little -difficulty in winning a large majority from their rivals. How they -would hold out against the Giants was the problem that yet remained -to be solved. But unless the Giants showed a decided reversal from the -form in which they had been playing recently, it would not be so very -hard to take them also into camp. - -The Giants themselves felt none too much confidence, as they prepared -for this important series. One bit of luck came to them, however, in -the return at this juncture of Larry Barrett to the team. He had been -down with an attack of intermittent fever that had kept him out of part -of the spring practice and had prevented him thus far from playing in -any of the regular games. But on the team's arrival in Pittsburgh, they -found Barrett waiting for them, looking a little lighter than usual, -but declaring himself in excellent condition and fit to play the game -of his life. - -The previous year he had guarded the keystone bag, and by general -consent was regarded as the best second baseman in the League. His -batting too was a powerful asset to the team, as season after season he -ranked among the .300 hitters. Apart from his superb playing at bat and -in the field, he also helped to keep the boys in good spirits. His wit -and love of fun had gained him the nickname of "Laughing Larry," and no -team of which Larry was a member could stay long in the doleful dumps. - -His coming made necessary a change in the team. Allen, who had not -made a success in playing the "sun field," was benched, and Denton, -whose batting could not be spared, was shifted to right field in his -place, while Larry resumed his old position at second. - -On the morning of the day of the first game, McRae called his players -together for a few words of counsel. At least he called it counsel. The -players were apt to refer to it as roasting. - -"I've been thinking," he said, "that I've got the greatest collection -of false alarms of any manager in either of the big leagues." - -This was not an especially encouraging beginning, but each of the men -tried to look as though the manager could not by any possibility be -referring to him. Some of them hoped that he would not descend from -generalities to particulars. - -The manager's keen eyes ranged around the circle as though looking for -contradiction. There was a silence as of the tomb. - -"You fellows haven't been playing baseball," he went on. "You've been -playing hooky. Look at the way you've let the other teams walk over -you. The Chicagos took three out of four from you. The Cardinals -grabbed two out of three, and it's only the mercy of heaven that rain -kept them from copping another. Look at the way you've been batting. -Every team in the League except the Phillies has a better average. -You've got enough beef about you to knock the ball out of the lot, and -you've been doing fungo hitting, knocking up pop flies. What in the -name of seven spittin' cats do you mean by it? Every time you collect -your salaries you ought to be arrested for getting money on false -pretenses." - -He paused for a moment, and some of the more hopeful players thought -that perhaps he was through. But he was only getting his breath. He -faced them scornfully. - -"Giants!" he exclaimed with sarcasm. "Giants you call yourselves. Get -wise to yourselves. If you're Giants, I'm a Chinaman. It's dwarfs you -are, pygmies. Now I want you boobs to get one thing into your heads. -Get it straight. You've got to win this series from Pittsburgh. Do you -get me? You've got to! If you don't, I'll disband the whole team and -start getting another one from the old ladies' home." - -Much more he said to the same effect, with the result that when the -men, with heightened color and nerves rasped by his caustic tongue -lashing, left the clubhouse, they were in red-hot fighting mood. -Pygmies were they? Well, on the ball field they'd prove to McRae that -he didn't know what he was talking about. - -An immense crowd was present that filled Forbes Field to capacity when -the bell rang for the beginning of the game. Joe had pitched only two -days before, and McRae decided to send Markwith into the box. - -In the first inning, Dawley, the Pittsburgh pitcher, found it hard to -locate the plate, and Curry was passed to first. On the hit and run -play, Iredell popped to the pitcher, and Curry had all he could do to -get back to first. Burkett lined a clean hit over the second baseman's -head, but by sharp fielding Curry was kept from going beyond the middle -bag. On the next ball pitched, Curry tried to steal third but was -thrown out. Burkett in the meantime had got to second, but he was left -there when Wheeler sent a long fly to center that Ralston captured -after a hard run. - -The Pittsburghs were not long in proving that they had their batting -clothes on. Ralston landed on the first ball that Markwith sent up for -a home run. The crowd chortled with glee, and the Giants and the few -supporters they had in the stands were correspondingly glum. The blow -seemed to shake Markwith's nerve, and the next batter was passed. Bemis -sent a sizzling grounder to Iredell and it bounced off his glove, the -batter reaching first and Baskerville taking second on the play. Astley -dribbled a slow one to Markwith, who turned to throw to third, but -finding that Baskerville was sure of making the bag, turned and threw -high to Burkett at first. The tall first baseman leaped high in the air -and knocked it down, but not in time to get his man. With the bases -full Brown slapped a two bagger to center that cleared the bases, three -men galloping over the plate in succession. - -It was evidently not Markwith's day, and McRae beckoned him to come -in to the bench while the crowd jeered the visitors and cheered their -own favorites. Poor Markwith looked disconsolate enough, and after a -moment's conference with McRae, which he was not anxious to prolong, he -meandered over the field to the showers. - -"Bring on the next victim!" taunted some of the spectators. "All -pitchers look alike to us to-day. Next dead one to the front." - -McRae held a brief consultation with Robbie, and then nodded to Jim. - -"Go to it, Jim," encouraged Joe. "I'm rooting for you, old man. Pull -some of the feathers out of those birds. It's a tough job bucking -against a four run lead, but you're the boy to do it." - -"I'll do my best," answered Jim, as he put on his glove and went into -the box. - -It was the cue for the crowd to try to rattle him. The coachers began -chattering like a lot of magpies, and the man on second began to dance -about the bag and shout to Garrity, the next batsman, to bring him in. - -Jim sent one over the plate that cut it in half, but the batsman had -orders to wait him out, under the supposition that he would be wild. -So he let the second one go by also. - -"Strike two!" called the umpire. - -Garrity braced. This was getting serious. This time Jim resorted to a -fadeaway that Garrity swung at with all his might. But the ball eluded -him and dropped into Mylert's mitt. - -"You're out!" snapped the umpire, waving him away from the plate. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -JIM'S WINNING WAYS - - -"Good boy, Jim!" cried Joe, as his chum came in to the bench. "You put -the Indian sign on that fellow all right. Just hold them down and trust -to the boys to bat in some runs to even up the score." - -But if the boys had any such intentions they certainly took their time -about it. Larry, to be sure, poled out a long hit to right that had all -the signs of a homer, but Astley backed up and fairly picked it off the -wall. Denton cracked out a single between first and second. Jim hit -sharply to third, and O'Connor by a superb stop got the ball to first -in time, Denton in the meantime reaching second. Mylert swung savagely -at the ball, but it went up straight in the air and Dawley gathered it -in. - -In their half of the second, the Pittsburghs increased their lead to -five. O'Connor struck out on the first three balls pitched, but Jenkins -caught the ball on the nose for a single to center. Curry thought he -had a chance to make a catch, and ran in for it, instead of waiting for -it on a bound. By this mistake of judgment the ball got past him, and -before it could be retrieved Jenkins by fast running had crossed the -plate. Dawley was easy on a bounder to Willis, and Ralston, in trying -to duck away from a high incurve, struck the ball with his bat and sent -it rolling to Burkett for an out. - -"Not much nourishment for us in that inning," muttered McRae, as he -watched the man chalking up another run for Pittsburgh on the big -scoreboard at the side of the field. - -"No," agreed Robbie. "But you'll notice that the run wasn't earned. -If that hit had been played right, Jenkins would have been held for a -single." - -"Give them a row of goose eggs, Dawley," was the advice shouted to the -Pittsburgh pitcher, as he stepped into the box. - -Dawley grinned with supreme confidence. And for the third and fourth -inning his confidence seemed justified. The ball came zipping over the -plate with all sorts of twists and contortions, and the Giants seemed -helpless before him. They either struck out or put up feeble flies -and fouls that were easily gathered up. Only one hit went outside the -diamond and that plumped square into the hands of the waiting center -fielder. - -But in the meantime, the Pittsburghs were getting a little uneasy -about the kind of pitching that Jim was sending across. His fast ball -went so swiftly that the eye could scarcely follow it. He had perfect -control, and the "hop" on the ball just before it got to the plate -was working to perfection. The way he worked the corners of the plate -was a revelation. And in the fourth inning, when he struck out the -side on nine pitched balls, a ripple of applause was forced from the -spectators, despite their desire to see the home team win. - -"You're going like a house afire, old man," exclaimed Joe, as the -Giants came in for their turn. - -"That's what he is," agreed Robbie, who had overheard the remark. "But -it won't do any good unless our boys wake up and do something with -their bats. That five run lead is bad medicine." - -It did not look any better to the Giants than it did to Robbie, and -in the fifth inning they began to come to life. Dawley, for the first -time, seemed to be a little shaky in his control. He passed Iredell -and then tried to fool Burkett on a slow ball. But the latter timed -it exactly and poled it out between left and center for a beautiful -three-bagger. Iredell scored easily and a roar went up from the men in -the Giants' dugout as he crossed the plate. - -"Here's where we start a rally, boys!" cried Robbie. "Every man on his -toes now. Here's where we send this pitcher to the showers." - -Wheeler went to the plate with directions to sacrifice, which he did -neatly by sending a slow roller to first, on which Burkett scored. -Willis clipped out a liner to right, which was really only good for a -single, but in trying to stretch it to a two baser he fell a victim at -second. Then Larry came to the bat. - -"Show them that your layoff hasn't hurt your batting eye, Larry," sang -out McRae. - -The first ball was wide, and Larry held his bat motionless. On the -second offering he fouled off. The third was about waist high, and -Larry swung at it. The ball soared off to right field and landed in the -bleachers. It was a clean home run and Larry trotted easily around the -bases, a broad grin on his good-natured Irish face. - -"We're finding him!" shouted McRae. "We've got him going! Now, Denton, -put another one in the same place." - -Denton did his best, but it was not good enough. Dawley had tightened -up and was sending the ball over the plate as though thrown from a -catapult. Two strikes were called on Denton, and then he put up a fly -just back of second which Baskerville caught in good style. - -The inning was over, but the Giants felt better. There was a big -difference between five to none and five to three. Besides, they had -learned that Dawley could be hit. - -"Keep them down, Jim, and we'll put you in the lead next inning," -prophesied Larry, as he passed him on his way out to second. - -Jim proceeded at once to keep them down. He had never been in better -form. The three runs that his mates had scored had put new heart in him -and he made the Pittsburghs "eat out of his hand." They simply could -not get going against him. - -His sharp breaking curve had their best batters completely at sea. They -were swinging in bewilderment at balls that they could not reach. For -the next three innings not a man reached first base and in the eighth -inning he mowed them down on strikes as fast as they came to the plate. - -"Oh, if we'd only started the game with him!" groaned McRae, as the -eighth inning ended with the score unchanged. - -For in the meantime Larry's prophecy had not been fulfilled that the -Giant batsmen would gain the lead. They had been hitting more freely -than in the early part of the game, but had been batting in hard luck. -Every ball they hit seemed to go straight to some fielder, and the -Pittsburghs were giving their pitcher magnificent support. There was -one gleam of hope in the eighth, when with two men out, a Giant was -roosting on second and another on third. But hope went glimmering when -Burkett's hoist to center was easily gathered in by Ralston. - -"We can win yet," crowed Robbie, with a confidence he was far from -feeling, as the Giants entered on their last inning. "There's many a -game been won in the ninth. Go in now and knock him out of the box." - -Wheeler started in with a single that just escaped the outstretched -hands of Baskerville. McRae himself ran down to first to coach him. -Willis followed with another single on which Wheeler went all the way -to third. It looked as though the long-hoped for rally had at last -commenced. - -But a groan went up from the Giant dugout when Willis, on the next ball -pitched, started for second and was nailed by three feet. Still Larry -was next at bat, and his comrades, remembering his last home run, urged -him to repeat. - -Larry was only too eager to do so, and on the second ball pitched -laced it to right field for what looked to be a homer but went foul by -a few feet only. The next was a missed strike. Two balls followed in -quick succession and then, with the count three to two, slapped out a -rattling two-bagger to center. Wheeler scored and the tally was five to -four in Pittsburgh's favor. - -Then to Joe's surprise McRae beckoned him from the dugout. - -"What's the big idea?" Joe asked, as he came up to his manager. - -"I'm going to put you in as a pinch hitter," answered McRae. "I'd -rather take a chance on you than Denton. Get in there now and knock the -cover off the ball." - -There was a gasp of surprise from the stands. In their experience -it was usually a pitcher who was taken out to make room for a pinch -hitter. It was almost unheard of that the procedure should be reversed. -To them it seemed a sign that McRae was at the end of his rope, and -there were catcalls and shouts of derision as Joe came to the plate. -And these redoubled in volume as he missed the first ball that Dawley -sent over. - -"What did I tell you, boys?" - -"Nit, on that!" - -"Matson is all right as a pitcher, but as a batter, nothing doing." - -"Give him two more like that, Dawley!" - -"Take your time, Joe!" - -"Make him give you the kind you want!" - -"Here is where Pittsburgh chews the Giants up!" - -"Maybe you can do it somewhere else, but you can't do it here!" - -"One, two, three, Dawley, remember." - -So the calls ran on as Joe waited for the pitcher to deliver the sphere -again. - -The Pittsburgh rooters thought they had Joe's "goat" and they were -prepared to make the most of it. They began a chorus of yells and -groans that grew louder and louder. - -They stopped suddenly as Joe caught the next ball about a foot from the -end of his bat. There was a mighty crack and the ball soared up and up -into the sky over right field. The fielders started to run for it and -then stopped short in their tracks, throwing up their hands in despair. -The ball cleared the bleachers, cleared the wall, and went through the -window of a house on the other side of the street. - -Joe had started running like a deer at the crack of the bat, but as he -rounded first McRae shouted at him to take his time, and he completed -the rest of his journey at a jog trot, Larry of course having preceded -him. There was a wild jubilee at the plate. Robbie threw dignity to the -winds and danced a jig, and Joe was sore from the thumping of his mates. - -"The longest hit that's ever been made on Forbes Field!" cried Larry -exultingly. - -"Old Honus Wagner in his best days never made such a clout," joined in -Jim. "Joe, old boy, you've saved the game." - -"It isn't over yet," cautioned Joe smilingly; "but if you keep up -the same brand of pitching you've been showing us, they won't have a -Chinaman's chance." - -The next two batters were easy outs and the Giants' half was over. The -Pittsburghs came in for their last chance, determined to do or die. It -was exasperating for them to have the game snatched from them when they -were just about to put it on their side of the ledger. But Jim put out -the first one on a puny fly and sent the last two back to the bench by -the strike-out route--and the game was over. - -In their first clash with the redoubtable Pittsburghs, the Giants had -won by six to five! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -A BREAK IN THE LUCK - - -It was a highly elated crowd of Giants that chattered away excitedly in -the clubhouse after the finish of the game. Jim and Joe came in for the -major share of the honors, the first because of his superb pitching and -the latter for the glorious home run that had clinched the victory. - -"Some pitching, Barclay," said Hughson, clapping Jim on the shoulder. -"Do you realize that only thirty-two batters faced you and that eleven -of them went out on strikes? That's what I call twirling." - -"It'll take some of the chestiness out of these Pirates," laughed -Larry. "They thought we were going to be as easy meat for them as the -rest of the teams. And, begorra, it looked as though we would from the -way the game started." - -"You did your share all right, Larry," replied Jim. "That home run of -yours was a beauty. And that two-bagger was no slouch." - -"But that clout of Joe's was the real cheese," said Denton generously. -"Gee, Joe, I was a little sore when McRae put you in to take my turn -at bat. But when I saw that old apple clear the fence I knew that the -old man had the right dope. I haven't made a hit like that since I've -been in the game." - -"Who has?" queried Curry. "I'll bet it comes pretty close to being a -record. If that house hadn't been in the way the ball would be going -yet." - -"Don't forget, Joe, that you'll have to pay for that broken window," -laughed Wheeler. - -"I guess McRae would pay for a hundred broken windows and never say a -word," chuckled Iredell. - -He would have been still more sure of this had he been able to see -McRae's face at that moment and overheard what he was saying to Robson. - -"You've had a real bit of luck to-day, John," the latter had remarked, -his broad face radiant with satisfaction. "You've discovered that you -have another first string pitcher. That work of young Barclay was -simply marvelous." - -"You said it, Robbie," agreed McRae. "It was a rough deal to give a -young pitcher the job of beating the Pittsburghs after they had a four -run lead. But he stood the gaff and came through all right. From this -time on he'll take his regular turn in the box. But it isn't that that -pleases me most in this day's work." - -"What is it then?" asked Robbie. - -"It's the batting of Matson," replied McRae thoughtfully. "I've been in -the game thirty years, and I've seen all the fence-breakers--Wagner, -Delehanty, Brouthers, Lajoie, and all the rest of them. And I tell you -now, Robbie, that he's the king of all of them. The way he stands at -the plate, the way he holds his bat, the way he times his blow, the -way he meets the ball--those are the things that mark out the natural -batter. It's got to be born in a man. You can't teach it to him. All -the weight of those great shoulders go into his stroke, and he makes a -homer where another man would make a single or a double. Now mark what -I'm telling you, Robbie, but keep it under your hat, for I don't want -the kid to be getting a swelled head. In Baseball Joe Matson we've got -not only the greatest pitcher in the game, but the hardest hitter in -either league. And that goes." - -"Oh, come now, John," protested Robbie, "aren't you going a little too -strong? The greatest pitcher, yes. I admit that. There's no one in -sight now that can touch him, now that Hughson's laid up. And between -you and me, John, I don't believe that even Hughson in his best days -had anything on Matson. But when you speak of batting, how about Kid -Rose of the Yankees?" - -"He's all to the good," admitted McRae. "He's got a wonderful record; -the best record in fact of any man that has ever broken into the -game. He topped the record for home runs last season, and by the way -he's starting in this year he'll do it again. Up to now we haven't -had anyone in the National League that could approach him. But I'm -willing to bet right now that he never made so long a hit as Matson -made this afternoon. Of course Rose has had more experience in batting -than Matson, and for the last two or three years he's hardly done any -pitching. But if I should take Matson out of the box right now and play -him in the outfield every day, I'll bet that by the end of the season -he'd be running neck and neck with Kid Rose and perhaps a wee bit ahead -of him." - -"Well, maybe, John," agreed Robbie, though a little doubtfully. "But -what's the use of talking about it? You know that we can't spare him -from the box. He's our pitching ace." - -"I know that well enough," replied McRae. "But all the same I'm going -to see that he has many a chance to win games for us by his batting as -well as by his pitching. On the days he isn't pitching, I'll use him as -a pinch hitter, as I did to-day. Then, too, when he is pitching, I'm -going to make a change in the batting order. Instead of having him down -at the end I'm going to put him fourth--in the cleanup position. If -that old wallop of his doesn't bring in many a run I'll miss my guess." - -The very next day McRae had a chance to justify his theories. Hughson -had told the manager that he thought he was in shape to pitch, and -McRae, who had great faith in his judgment, told him to go in. The "Old -Master," as he was affectionately called, used his head rather than his -arm and by mixing up his slow ball with his fast one and resorting on -occasion to his famous fadeaway, got by in a close game. In the sixth, -Joe was called on as a pinch hitter, and came across with another -homer, which, although not as long as that of the previous day, enabled -him to reach the plate without sliding and bring in two runs ahead of -him. - -Two homers in two consecutive days were not common enough to pass -without notice, and the Pittsburgh sporting writers began to feature -Joe in their headlines. There was a marked increase in the attendance -on the third day when Joe was slated to pitch. On that day he "made -monkeys" of the Pittsburgh batters, and on the two turns at bat when -he was permitted to hit made a single and a three-bagger. In two other -appearances at bat, the Pittsburgh pitcher deliberately passed him, at -which even the Pittsburgh crowd expressed their displeasure by jeers. - -On the final day, Markwith was given a chance to redeem himself, and -pitched an airtight game. But Hooper of the Pittsburghs was also at his -best, and with the game tied in the ninth Joe again cracked out a homer -to the right field bleachers, his third home run in four days! - -Markwith prevented further scoring by the enemy, and the game went into -the Giants' winning column. - -"Four straight from the league leaders," McRae chuckled happily. "The -break in the luck has come at last." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE - - -"Well, we wound up the trip in a blaze of glory, anyway," remarked Jim -to Baseball Joe, as they sat in the Pullman coach that was carrying -them and the rest of the team back to New York. - -"Yes, and we just saved our bacon by doing it," replied Joe. "Those -last four games gave us eight out of fifteen for the trip. Not so -awfully bad for a team on a trip, and yet not good enough to win the -championship. But even at that I guess McRae won't supplant us with a -team from the old ladies' home," he added, with a laugh. - -"We've got a long series of games on the home grounds now," put in -Larry, the optimist. "We'll show these other fellows how the game ought -to be played. Just watch us climb." - -"Here's hoping you're right," chimed in Burkett. "A slice of the World -Series money this year would look mighty good to me." - -"That's looking pretty far ahead," said Curry. "Still, if Joe keeps up -the batting he's been showing us in Pittsburgh, I'll bet we cop the -flag." - -"That may be just a flash in the pan," cautioned Joe. "I may have had -just a few good days when everything broke just right for me. I'm a -pitcher, not a batter." - -"Not a batter, eh?" remarked Larry, in feigned surprise. "How surprised -Dawley and Hooper and the other Pittsburgh pitchers will be to hear -that. They seemed to think you could pickle the pill all right." - -The players found the baseball circles of New York in a ferment of -interest and excitement over the team. There had been considerable -despondency over the poor showing of the Giants in the first three -series they had played on the trip. But the four rattling victories -they had gained over Pittsburgh had redeemed them in the minds of their -followers, and hopes for the pennant had revived. - -But the one thing that obscured everything else was the tremendous -batting that Joe had done in that last series. The sporting columns of -the newspapers had headlines like: "The New Batting Star;" "A Rival -to Kid Rose;" "Is There to Be a New Home-Run King?" and "The Colossus -of Swat." Joe found his footsteps dogged by reporters eager to get -interviews telling how he did it. Moving picture operators begged the -privilege of taking him in all positions--as he gripped his bat--the -way he stood at the plate--as he drew back for his swing. Illustrated -weekly papers had full page pictures of him. Magazines offered him -large sums for articles signed with his name. He found himself in the -calcium light, holding the center of the stage, the focus of sporting -interest and attention. - -Joe was, of course, pleased at the distinction he had won, and yet -at the same time he was somewhat uneasy and bewildered. He was not -especially irked at the attention he was attracting. That had already -become an old story as to his pitching. He was hardened to reporters, -to being pointed out in the streets, to having a table at which he -happened to be dining in a restaurant or hotel become the magnet for -all eyes while whispers went about as to who he was. That was one of -the penalties of fame, and he had become used to it. - -But hitherto his reputation had been that of a great pitcher, and in -his own heart he knew he could sustain it. The pitching box was his -throne, and he knew he could make good. But he was somewhat nervous -about the acclamations which greeted his batting feats. He was not at -all sure that he could keep it up. He had never thought of himself as -any more than an ordinary batter. He knew that as a pitcher he was not -expected to do much batting, and so he had devoted most of his training -to perfecting himself in the pitching art. Now he found himself -suddenly placed on a pedestal as a Batting King. Suppose it were, as he -himself had suggested, merely a flash in the pan. It would be rather -humiliating after all this excitement to have the public find out that -their new batting idol was only an idol of clay after all. - -He confided some of his apprehension to Jim, but his chum only laughed -at him. - -"Don't worry a bit over that, old man," Jim reassured him. "I only wish -I were as sure of getting a million dollars as I am that you've got the -batting stuff in you. You've got the eye, you've got the shoulders, -you've got the knack of putting all your weight into your blow. You're -a natural born batter, and you've just waked up to it." - -"But this is only the beginning of the season," argued Joe. "The -pitchers haven't yet got into their stride. By midsummer they'll be -burning them over, and then more than likely I'll come a cropper." - -"Not a bit of it," Jim affirmed confidently. "You won't face better -pitching anywhere than we stacked up against in Pittsburgh, and you -made all those birds look like thirty cents. They had chills and fever -every time you came to the bat." - -The matter was not long left in doubt. In the games that followed Joe -speedily proved that the Pittsburgh outburst was not a fluke. Home runs -rained from his bat in the games with the Brooklyns, the Bostons and -the Phillies. And when the Western teams came on for their invasion -of the East, they had to take the same medicine. All pitchers looked -alike to him. Of course he had his off days when all he could get was -a single, and sometimes not that. Once in a long while he went out on -strikes, and the pitcher who was lucky or skilful enough to perform -that feat hugged it to his breast as a triumph that would help him the -next season in demanding a rise in salary. But these occasions were few -and far between. The newspapers added a daily slab to their sporting -page devoted to Joe's mounting home run record, giving the dates, the -parks and the pitchers off whom they were made. And there was hardly -a pitcher in the league whose scalp Joe had not added to his rapidly -growing collection. - -In the business offices of the city, in restaurants, at all kinds of -gathering places, the daily question changed. Formerly it had been: -"Will the Giants win to-day?" Now it became: "Will Baseball Joe knock -out another homer?" - -And the fever showed itself in the attendance at the Polo Grounds. Day -by day the crowds grew denser. Soon they were having as many spectators -at a single game as they had formerly looked for at a double-header. -The money rolled into the ticket offices in a steady stream, and the -owners and manager of the club wore the "smile that won't come off." -The same effect was noted in all the cities of the circuit. The crowds -turned out not so much to see the Giants play as to see if Baseball -Joe would knock another home run. Joe Matson had become the greatest -drawing card of the circuit. If this kept up, it would mean the most -prosperous season the League had ever known. For the Giants' owners -alone, it meant an added half million dollars for the season. Already, -with not more than a third of the games played, they had taken in -enough to pay all expenses for the year, and were "on velvet" for the -rest of the season. - -Nothing in all this turned Joe's head. He was still the same modest, -hardworking player he had always been. First and all the time he worked -for the success of his team. Already the Giants' owners had voluntarily -added ten thousand dollars to his salary, and he was at present the -most highly paid player in his League. He knew that next year even this -would be doubled, if he kept up his phenomenal work. But he was still -the same modest youth, and was still the same hail fellow well met, the -pal and idol of all his comrades. - -What delighted Baseball Joe far more than any of his triumphs was the -information contained in a letter he wore close to his heart that Mabel -was coming on to New York with her brother Reggie for a brief stay -on her way to her home in Goldsboro. They had been in almost daily -correspondence, and their affection had deepened with every day that -passed. Jim also had been equally assiduous and equally happy, and both -players were counting the days that must elapse before the wedding -march would be played at the end of the season. - -Luck was with Joe when, in company with Jim, he drove to the station -to meet Mabel and Reggie. The rain was falling in torrents. Ordinarily -that would have been depressing. But to-day it meant that there would -be no game and that he could count on having Mabel to himself with -nothing to distract his attention. - -Jim was glad on his friend's account, but nevertheless was unusually -quiet for him. - -"Come out of your trance, old boy," cried Joe, slapping him jovially on -the knee. - -Jim affected to smile. - -"Oh, I know what you're thinking about," charged Joe. "You're jealous -because I'm going to see Mabel and you're not going to see Clara. But -cheer up, old man. The next time we strike Chicago we'll both run down -to Riverside for a visit. Then you'll have the laugh on me, for you'll -have Clara all to yourself while Mabel will be in Goldsboro." - -Jim tried to find what comfort he could from the prospect, but the -Chicago trip seemed a long way off. - -They reached the station ahead of time and walked up and down -impatiently. The rain and wet tracks had detained the train a little, -but at length its giant bulk drew into the station. They scanned the -long line of Pullmans anxiously. Then Joe rushed forward with an -exclamation of delight as he saw Reggie descend holding out his hand to -assist Mabel--Mabel, radiant, starry-eyed, a vision of loveliness. - -Jim had followed a little more slowly to give Joe time for the first -greeting. But his steps quickened and his eyes lighted up with rapture -as behind Mabel Joe's sister Clara came down the steps, sweet as a -rose, and with a look in her eyes as she caught sight of Jim that made -that young man's heart lose a beat. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -AN EVENING RIDE - - -There was a hubbub of delighted and incoherent exclamations as the -young people greeted each other with all their heart in their eyes. Of -course in the crowded station the greetings could not be just what the -boys--and the girls, too--desired, but those would come later. Reggie -too came in for warm handshakes. - -"My word!" he exclaimed, as he smiled affably upon them all, "you folks -seem glad to see one another. I'll just slip over and look after the -luggage." - -They spared him without any regret at all. Indeed, it is doubtful if -they even heard him. Joe was saying things to Mabel in an undertone, -and Jim was doing the same thing to Clara. What they said was their own -affair, but it seemed eminently satisfactory to all concerned. - -When at last they had come somewhat to their senses, Joe poked Jim in -the ribs. - -"Some surprise, old man!" he remarked mischievously. - -"Surprise!" repeated Jim. "It's Paradise. It's heaven. Don't tell me -I'm going to wake up and find it all a dream. And you knew this all the -time, you old rascal, and didn't let me in on it." - -"Just a little scheme that Mabel and I cooked up," laughed Joe happily. -"I thought Sis might like to come on and take a look at her only -brother." - -"Brother," mimicked Mabel saucily. "Don't flatter yourself. You won't -be looked at much while Jim's around." - -Clara flushed and laughed in protest. Joe, however, did not seem -disturbed at the prospect. As long as Mabel looked at him the way she -was looking now, he had nothing more to ask. - -A taxicab whirled them up to the pretty suite that Joe had reserved for -the girls in a hotel. There were two rooms in the suite, and it was -surprising how quickly Joe and Mabel took possession of one of them, -while Jim and Clara found the other one much preferable. They had so -much to say to each other that required no audience. Reggie, who had -an adjoining room, took himself off on the plea of an engagement that -would keep him till luncheon time, and the happy young people had a -long delightful morning to themselves. - -"Oh, I'm so proud of you, Joe," Mabel assured him, among many other -things. "You're making such a wonderful record. You don't know how I -read and treasure all the things the papers are saying about you. They -give you more space than they give the President of the United States." - -"You mustn't make too much of it, honey," Joe replied. "I'm in luck -just now; but if I should have a slump the same people that cheer me -now when I make a homer would be jeering at me when I came to the bat. -There's nothing more fickle than the public. One day you're a king and -the next you're a dub." - -"You'll always be a king," cried Mabel. "Always my king, anyway," she -added blushingly. - -In the meantime Clara and Jim were saying things equally precious to -themselves and each other, but of no importance at all to the general -public. Jim was surprised and pleased at the intimate acquaintance she -had with all the phases of his rapid rise in his profession. She knew -quite as well as the rest of the world that Jim already stood in the -very front rank of pitchers, second only perhaps to Joe himself, and -she had no hesitation in telling him what she thought of him. Sometimes -it is not a pleasant thing for a man to know what a woman thinks of -him, but in Jim's case it was decidedly different, if his shining face -went for anything. - -The young people took in a matinee in the afternoon and a musical show, -followed by dinner, in the evening, and all were agreed in declaring -it a perfect day. - -Jim was slated to pitch the next day and with Clara watching from a -box he turned in a perfect game, winning by a score of 1 to 0, the run -being contributed by Joe, who turned loose a screaming homer in the -sixth. Naturally both young men felt elated. - -It was a beautiful summer evening, and they had arranged for an -automobile ride out on Long Island. Joe had hired a speedy car, -but dispensed with the services of a chauffeur. He himself was an -accomplished driver and knew all the roads. A chauffeur would have been -only a restraint on their freedom of conversation. - -They bowled along over the perfect roads, happy beyond words and at -peace with all the world. Mabel was seated in front with Joe, while Jim -and Clara occupied the tonneau. All were in the gayest of spirits. Much -of the time they talked, but speech and silences were equally sweet. - -They had dinner at an excellent inn, about forty miles out of the city. -There was a good string band and the young couples had several dances. -The evening wore away before they knew it, and it was rather late when -they turned their faces cityward. - -The car was purring along merrily on a rather lonely stretch of road in -the vicinity of Merrick, when a big car came swiftly up behind them. -The driver tooted his horn and Joe drew a little to one side to give -the car plenty of room to pass. The car rushed by and lengthened the -distance until it was about a hundred yards ahead. - -"Seems to be in a hurry," remarked Jim. - -"A bunch of joy riders, I suppose," answered Joe. "Hello, what does -that mean?" - -For the car had suddenly stopped and the driver had swung it across the -road, blocking it. - -"Something gone wrong with the steering gear," commented Joe. "Looks -like a breakdown. Perhaps we can help them." - -He slowed up as he drew near the car. The next instant four men jumped -out of the car and ran toward them. They had their caps drawn down over -their eyes, and each of them carried a leveled revolver. - -"Hands up!" commanded their leader, as he covered Joe with his weapon. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE ATTACK ON THE ROAD - - -In an instant Baseball Joe brought the car to a stop. - -But in that instant his brain worked like lightning. - -Neither he nor Jim was armed. He must temporize. Resistance at the -moment might be fatal. Shooting would result probably in the death of -one or more of the party. - -Before he had taken his hand from the wheel, he had formed a plan. - -The women had screamed and Jim had jumped to his feet. - -"Sit down, Jim," said Joe. "Don't you see they have the drop on us. I -suppose it's money you want?" he went on coolly, addressing the leader -of the gang. - -"No," was the unexpected answer. "We're not after money this time. We -want a man named Matson." - -"I didn't know I was so popular," replied Joe jokingly, though the -mention of his name in so ominous a way had sent a start through him. -"My name is Matson, Joe Matson. What do you want of me?" - -"Are you giving it to us straight?" asked the leader. "Are you Matson? -How many men are there with you anyway?" he went on, peering into the -tonneau. - -"There are two of us," replied Joe. - -"Then get down in the road, both of you," commanded the bandit. "I want -to have a look at both of you so that there won't be any mistake. My -orders are for the man named Matson. No monkey work now!" - -Joe and Jim, inwardly boiling but outwardly cool, got down into the -road. As they climbed down, Joe's hand nudged Jim ever so slightly. Jim -knew what that meant. It meant to make no move until Joe gave the sign. - -"Up with your hands!" ordered the leader curtly. "Bill, frisk them and -see if they have guns." - -The bandit called Bill ran his hands along their bodies and reported -that they were entirely unarmed. - -"Now strike a match and let's have a look at their faces," was the next -order. - -Bill obeyed, and as the light flared up, not only the leader but the -rest of the band looked over the young men keenly. - -"You're Matson, all right," said the leader to Joe, and the rest -acquiesced. "I've seen your picture in the papers many a time, and I've -seen you at the Polo Grounds too. All right. You get back in the car," -he said to Jim, poking him in the side with his pistol, "and drive off." - -"What do you want with me?" asked Joe steadily. - -"Oh, we're not going to kill you," replied the leader, with an evil -grin. "But," he muttered under his breath so low that only Joe could -hear him, "by the time we're through with you, that pitching arm of -yours will be out of business. Them's our orders." - -"Who gave you those orders?" asked Joe. - -"Never you mind who gave them," snarled the bandit. "I've got them, and -I'm going----" - -He never finished the sentence. - -Like lightning Joe's foot shot up and kicked the weapon from the -leader's hand. The next instant his fist caught another of the -scoundrels a terrific crack on the jaw. The man went down as though -he had been hit with an axe. At the same moment Jim's hard right fist -smashed into another straight between the eyes. There was the snap of -a breaking bone and the man toppled over. The fourth rascal, who had -been paralyzed with astonishment, forgot to shoot and started to run, -but Jim was on him like a tiger and bore him to the ground, his hands -tightening on his throat until the rascal lay limp and motionless. - -In the meantime, the leader, nursing his hurt wrist, had hobbled to the -car, whose engine all this time had remained running. Joe made a dash -for the car, but the chauffeur put on all speed and darted away into -the darkness. - -The first task of Joe and Jim was to gather up the weapons of the -assailants. The three still lay dazed or unconscious. Under other -circumstances, the boys would have waited until the trio had regained -their senses. But their first duty now was to the girls, who were half -hysterical with fright. Joe took Mabel in his arms, after assuring her -again and again in answer to her frantic questions that he was unhurt, -and Jim comforted Clara until she had recovered her composure. - -They laid the bandits at the side of the road, so that they could not -be run over, and then Joe took the wheel and drove on. To the first -policeman they saw, Joe reported that he had seen some men who seemed -to be hurt, alongside the road, and suggested that they be looked -after. But he said nothing about the attempted holdup. Then he sped on, -and soon they were in the precincts of the city. - -The girls in their alarm had failed to gather the true significance -of the affair. To them it was like a confused dream. Their general -impression was that a holdup had been attempted for the purposes of -robbery. Still Mabel did remember that they had asked specifically for -Matson. - -"Why was it that they asked for you especially, Joe?" she asked, -snuggling closely to the arm that had so stoutly done its work that -night. "Why was it?" - -"How do I know, honey?" answered Joe. "Perhaps," he said jokingly, -"they had heard of my increase in salary and thought I was rolling in -money. Sometimes you know they kidnap a man, make him sign a check and -then hold him prisoner until they cash it. No knowing what such rascals -may do." - -"Whatever it was, they've lost all interest in the matter now," said -Jim, with a laugh, as he thought of the discomfited bandits by the -roadside and the fleeing leader in the automobile. - -Both Joe and Jim made light of it to the girls and laughed away their -fears until they had seen them safely to their hotel. But later on two -very sober and wrathful young men sat in their own room discussing the -holdup. - -Joe had told Jim what the bandit leader had said about putting his -pitching arm out of business, and his friend was white with anger. - -"The scoundrels!" he ejaculated. "That meant that they would have -twisted your arm until they had snapped the tendons or pulled it from -its socket and crippled you for life. If I'd known that when I had my -hands on that rascal's throat, I'd have choked the life out of him." - -"You did enough," returned Joe. "As it is they got a pretty good dose. -I know I cracked the leader's wrist, and I heard a bone snap when you -smashed that other fellow. Gee, Jim, you hit like a pile driver." - -"No harder than you did," replied Jim. "That fellow you clipped in the -jaw was dead to the world before he hit the ground." - -"After all, those fellows were merely tools," mused Joe thoughtfully. -"Did you hear the leader say that he had his orders? Who gave him -those orders? If only the girls hadn't been there, I'd have trussed -the rascals up, waited until they had got their senses back, and then -put them through the third degree until I'd found out the name of -their employer. But I wouldn't for the world have the girls know what -those scoundrels were up to. They'd never have a happy moment. They'd -worry themselves to death. We've got to keep this thing absolutely to -ourselves." - -"All the same, I can guess who the fellow was that employed them," said -Jim. - -"I think I can come pretty near it, too," affirmed Joe. "In the first -place, it was a man who had money. Those fellows wouldn't have taken -the job unless they had been well paid. Then, too, it was somebody -who hated me like poison. There are two men who fulfil both of those -conditions, and their names are----" - -"Fleming and Braxton," Jim finished for him. - -"Exactly," agreed Joe. "And knowing what I do of the two, I have a -hunch that it was Braxton." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -FALLING BEHIND - - -"Braxton's the more likely one of the two to use violence--or have it -used," said Jim. "Not but what either one of them would be mean enough -to do it. But Braxton has got more nerve than Fleming. Then, too, I -happen to know that Fleming has run pretty well through his money, -while Braxton is a millionaire. He was pretty hard hit by the failure -of the All-Star League to go through last year, but he's got plenty -left. He could give those rascals a thousand, or five thousand if -necessary, and never feel it." - -"Speaking of money," said Joe, "reminds me of something else that may -be connected with this case. Do you remember what Reggie told us when -he was in Riverside about that fellow in Chicago that was betting great -wads of money that the Giants wouldn't cop the flag? Betting it, Reggie -said, as though he had something up his sleeve, as though he were -betting on a sure thing. Now what could be a surer thing in a race as -close as this than to cripple the Giant team by robbing it of one of -its pitchers? He'd be getting a double satisfaction then--making a pile -of money to make up for his losses last season and getting even with me -for the thrashing I gave him. That is, of course, if the man is really -Braxton." - -"By Jove, I believe you're right!" exclaimed Jim. "Of course that -might seem a little far-fetched, if it weren't for the other things -that point to the same man. But when you remember that Braxton hails -from Chicago, that the anonymous letter had a Chicago postmark, when -you recall that somebody tried to injure us in that road blockade the -day after I thought I saw Braxton in the training town, and that he -was the only one besides ourselves who knew the road we were going -to take--when you take all these things together, it seems a dead -open-and-shut proposition that Braxton was the man that plotted all -this scoundrelism." - -"Some day soon I hope we'll know the truth," said Joe. "And when that -day comes----" - -He did not finish the sentence, but his clenched fist and flashing eyes -were eloquent. - -The next morning the chums went around early, to learn how the girls -were feeling after their trying experience. They found them still a -little nervous and overwrought, but the society of the boys and the -knowledge that they had come through without injury soon brightened -them up, and before long they were their natural selves again. The way -the boys had carried themselves in the fight with their assailants made -them more than ever heroes in the eyes of those they loved best, and if -it had not been for the deeper knowledge they had of the affair, Joe -and Jim would have been rather glad it happened. - -Reggie, of course, had been told of the holdup and was almost -stuttering in his wrath and indignation. But he, like the girls, -figured that it had been an attack simply for the purpose of robbery, -and the boys were not sure enough of Reggie's discretion to tell him -the real facts. They feared that some slip of the tongue on his part -might reveal the matter, and they knew that a constant fear would from -then on shadow the lives of Mabel and Clara. - -In about ten days the next Western trip of the Giants was to begin, and -then Clara would return home, while Mabel would go on with Reggie to -Goldsboro. But those precious ten days were enjoyed to the full by the -young folks. Every hour that the boys could spare from the games was -spent in the society of the girls, and every day that a game was played -Mabel and Clara occupied a box in the grandstand at the Polo Grounds. -The knowledge of the bright eyes that were following their every move -put the boys on their mettle, and they played up to the top of their -form. Jim's progress as a boxman was evident with each succeeding game, -and Joe covered himself with laurels as both pitcher and batsman. But -more than once, after Joe had let down an opposing team with but a -few hits, he had an involuntary shudder as he looked at the mighty -arm that had scored the victory and thought of it as hanging withered -and helpless at his side. And only by the narrowest of margins had he -escaped that fate. - -The hour of parting came at last, and it was a great wrench to all of -them. There were promises on both sides of daily letters, that would -serve to bridge the gulf of separation. - -The fight for the pennant was waxing hotter and hotter. The Giants and -the Pittsburghs were running neck and neck. First one and then the -other was at the head in victories won. At times one would forge ahead -for a week or two, but the other refused obstinately to be shaken off -and would again assume the leadership. Everything promised a ding-dong, -hammer-and-tongs finish. - -Some of the other teams were still in striking distance, but the first -two were really the "class" of the League. The great pitching staff of -the Brooklyns had gone to pieces, and it looked as though they were -definitely out of the running. The Bostons, after a poor start, had -braced and were rapidly improving their average, but they seemed too -far behind to be really dangerous. The unfortunate Phillies were in -for the "cellar championship" and did not have a ghost of a chance. -Of the Western teams, outside of Pittsburgh, no fear was felt, though -the consistent slugging of the Cardinals gave the leaders some uneasy -moments. Still, batting alone could not win games, and the Cardinals' -pitching staff, though it had some brilliant performers, was surpassed -in ability by several teams in the League. - -In the American League also a spirited contest was going on. The White -Sox, who had usually been a dangerous factor, were out of the running -because they had had to build up practically a new team. But the -Clevelands were as strong as they had been the year before, and were -making a great bid for the flag. Detroit had started out brilliantly, -and with its hard hitting outfield was winning many a game by sheer -slugging. Washington loomed up as a dangerous contender, and only a -little while before had won fifteen straight games. - -But the chief antagonist of the Clevelands was the New York Yankee -team. For many years they had struggled to win the championship, but -though they had come so close at one time that a single wild pitch beat -them out of it, they had never been able to gain the coveted emblem. - -"It seems at times as though a 'jinx' were pursuing the Yankees," -remarked Jim. "But this year they have got together a rattling good -crowd in all departments of the game. Most of all that counts in their -hopes, I imagine, is the acquisition of Kid Rose." - -Kid Rose was a phenomenal batter of whom every baseball fan in the -United States was talking. He had been a pitcher on the Red Sox and -had done fine work in the box. It was only after he had been playing -some time in that position that he himself, as well as others, began -to realize the tremendous strength that resided in his batting arm and -shoulders. He was a left handed batter, so that most of his hits went -into right field, or rather into the right field bleachers, where they -counted as home runs. In one season he accumulated twenty-nine home -runs, which was a record for the major leagues. - -The Yankee owners made a deal with the Red Sox by which the "Kid" was -brought to the New York club at a price larger than had ever been paid -for a player. It was a good investment, however, for the newcomer was -excelling his home run record of the year before and drew so many -people to the parks where he played that a constant golden stream -flowed into the strong boxes of the club. He made as many home runs as -all the other players of his team together. Now, owing to his work, -the Yankees were fighting it out with the Clevelands for the lead, and -the papers were already beginning to talk of the possibility of both -championships coming to New York. If this should be the case, the World -Series games would probably draw the greatest crowds that had ever -witnessed such a contest, and the prize money for the players would -undoubtedly be larger than ever before in the history of the game. - -Joe and his comrades needed no such spur as this to make them play -their best. A strong loyalty to the club marked every player of the -team. Still it was not at all an unpleasing thought that the result of -winning would add a good many thousand dollars to the salary of every -member. - -The Giants started out in high hopes on this second Western invasion. - -"Sixteen games to be played on this trip, boys," McRae had said to -them, as they boarded the train at the Pennsylvania Station. "And out -of that sixteen I want at least twelve. Nix on the breaking even stuff. -That won't go with me at all. I want to get so far ahead on this trip -that we'll be on easy street for the rest of the race." - -"Why not cop the whole sixteen, Mac?" asked Larry, with a broad grin. - -"So much the better," answered McRae. "But I'm no hog. Give me an -average of three out of four in each series and I'll ask for nothing -better." - -The team started out as though they were going to give their manager -what he wanted. Their first stop this time was Pittsburgh, and here -they won the first two games right off the reel. The third, however, -was lost by a close margin. In the fourth the Giants' bats got going -and they sent three Pirate pitchers to the showers, winning by the -one-sided score of eleven to two. So that it was in high spirits that -they left the Smoky City for Cincinnati. - -Here they met with a rude shock. The Reds were in the midst of one -of their winning streaks and were on a hitting rampage. They had the -"breaks," too, and cleaned up by taking every game. It was a complete -reversal, and the Giants were stunned. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -IN THE THROES OF A SLUMP - - -Robson's round face had lost its usual smile. McRae's was like a -thundercloud, and the players evaded him as much as they could. Even -Larry was "Laughing Larry" no longer. It was a disgruntled crowd of -baseball players that shook the dust of Cincinnati from their feet and -started for Chicago. - -"Better luck next time," Joe comforted his mates. "After all it's the -uncertainty of the game that makes baseball. How many people would have -been at the park if they thought their pets didn't have a chance to -win?" - -"That's all very well," grumbled Curry, "but we ought at least to have -had our share of the breaks. We hit the ball hard enough, but every -time it went straight to the fielders. They didn't hit any better, but -the ball went just out of the reach of our fellows. Talk about fool -luck! If those Cincinnati players fell in the water they'd come up with -a fish dinner." - -"That's just the reason we're due for a change," argued Jim. "We'll get -it all back from the Cubs." - -But here again there was disappointment. Joe pitched the first game and -won in a close fight, although the Cubs tied it up in the ninth and Joe -had to win his own game in the eleventh by a homer. But the next two -went to Chicago, and in the fourth game, which Jim pitched, the best -he could do was to make it a tie, called in the twelfth on account of -darkness. - -This time it was not luck that gave to the Giants only one game out of -three. They had as many of the breaks of the game as their opponents. -They simply slumped. One of those mysterious things that come to almost -every team once at least in a season had them in its clutches. Perhaps -it was overanxiety, perhaps it was a superstitious feeling that a -"jinx" was after them, but, whatever it was, it spread through the -team like an epidemic. Their fingers were "all thumbs." Their bats had -"holes" in them. The most reliable fielders slipped up on easy chances. -They booted the ball, or if they got it they threw either too high or -too low to first. Double plays became less frequent. Two of the best -batters in the team, Larry and Burkett, fell off woefully in their -hitting. - -In vain McRae raged and stormed. In vain Robbie begged and pleaded -and cajoled. In vain Jim and Joe, who still resisted the infection, -sought to stem the tide of disaster. The members of the team with a few -exceptions continued to act as if they were in a trance. - -McRae did everything in his power to bring about a change. He laid off -Willis and Iredell, and put two promising rookies, Barry and Ward, in -their places. This added a little speed on the bases to the team, but -did not materially add to the batting or fielding, for the rookies were -nervous and made many misplays, while they were lamentably short on the -"inside stuff" that takes long experience to acquire. He shook up the -batting order. But the hits were still few and far between. - -St. Louis gave the Giants a sound trouncing in the first game, but in -the second the Giants came to life and reversed the score. - -Joe was in the box in this contest, and as he came in to the bench in -the fourth inning, he noted, sitting in the grandstand, a figure that -seemed familiar to him. The man seemed to have seen Baseball Joe at the -same time, but he hid himself behind the form of a big man sitting in -front of him, so that Joe could not be sure of his identification. - -"What were you looking at so steadily, Joe?" inquired Jim, as his -friend sat down on the bench beside him. "Did you by any chance catch -sight of the jinx that's been following us?" he continued jokingly. - -"Maybe I did, at that," replied Joe. "I could have sworn that I got a -glimpse of Bugs Hartley in the grandstand." - -"Bugs Hartley?" echoed Jim in surprise. "How could that old rascal have -got as far as St. Louis?" - -"Beat his way, perhaps," answered Joe. "Of course I'm not dead sure but -that I might have been mistaken. And I won't have much time to look for -him while I'm in the box. But suppose in the meantime you go down to -the coaching line near first. While you're pretending to coach, you can -take an occasional look at the grandstand and see if you can pick out -Bugs. He's somewhere about the third row near the center. Just where -the wire netting is broken." - -Jim did as suggested, and studied the grandstand with care. He had only -a chance to make an affirmative nod of the head as Joe, the inning -ended, went out again to the box, but when he returned after pitching -the side out on strikes, Jim told Joe that he was right. - -"It's Bugs all right," he said. "I had a good chance to see that ugly -mug of his, and there can't be any mistake. But what in thunder can he -be doing in St. Louis?" - -"Oh, panhandling and drinking himself to death, I suppose," answered -Joe carelessly, his mind intent upon the game. - -"But how did he get here?" persisted Jim. "I don't like it, old man. It -takes money to travel, and I don't think Bugs could hustle up railroad -fare to save his life. And if somebody gave him the money to get here, -why was it done? I tell you again, Joe, I don't like it." - -"Well, perhaps it's just as well we caught sight of him," admitted Joe. -"It will help us to keep our eyes open." - -In the seventh inning for the Giants, with the score tied at 3 to 3, -Larry started a rally for the Giants by lining out a screaming single -to right. Denton followed with a hit to short that was too hot for -the shortstop to handle. He knocked the ball down, however, and got -it to first. Denton had thought the play would be made on Larry, who -was already on his way to third. Denton, therefore, had rounded first -and started for second, but saw the ball coming and scrambled back to -first. There was a grand mixup, but the umpire declared Denton safe. - -It was a close play, and the St. Louis team was up in arms in a moment. -Some of them, including their manager, rushed to the spot to argue with -the umpire. The crowd also was enraged at the decision and began to -hoot and howl. One or two pop bottles were thrown at the umpire, but -fell short. - -Joe, who was next at bat, had taken his stand at the plate, awaiting -the outcome of the argument. Suddenly a bottle, aimed with great skill -and tremendous force, came through the broken wire netting, whizzed -close by his head, the top of it grazing his ear in passing. If it had -hit his head, it would have injured him greatly beyond a doubt. - -Joe turned toward the stand and saw a man hastily making his way out -toward the entrance. He could only see his back, but he knew at once to -whom that back belonged. - -"Stop him! Stop him!" he shouted, as he threw aside his bat and rushed -toward the stand. - -But Jim had already vaulted over the barrier and was rushing through -the aisle. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -A CLOSE CALL - - -The people in the grandstand had not fully grasped the significance of -the cowardly attack, as the attention of most of them was centered upon -the dispute at first base. But the shout of Baseball Joe and the rush -of Jim through the aisle of the stand had brought them to their feet, -and some of them started in pursuit or tried to stop the flying figure -of the fugitive. - -But this very desire of so many to apprehend him helped in his escape. -Men crowded in the aisle, and Jim, who could otherwise have captured -him, found himself in the midst of a throng that effectually hindered -his progress. He pushed his way through desperately, using his arms and -hands to clear a passage, but by the time he arrived at the outer edge, -the man had disappeared. Either he had mixed with the enormous crowd -or had found his way through one of the numerous exits. In any event, -he was not to be seen, and at last Jim, flaming-eyed and dripping with -sweat from his exertions, had to come back empty-handed. - -In the meantime, the umpire had asserted his authority at first base, -and given the St. Louis players one minute by his watch to resume play. -With much muttering and grumbling they obeyed. The decision stood, and -Larry was on third, while Denton danced around on first and "kidded" -the Cardinal first baseman on the umpire's decision. - -Joe again took up his position at the plate, the fairer-minded among -the spectators giving him a cheer as he did so, to express their -indignation at the dastardly attack that had been made on him. He was -somewhat shaken by the close call he had had, and the first two balls -were strikes. Then he took a grip on himself, and when the next one -came over he smashed a beauty to right. It went for two bases, while -Larry scored easily, and Denton by great running and a headlong slide -also reached the plate. The next man up sacrificed Joe to third, -but there he remained, as the next two batters, despite McRae's -adjurations, were not able to bring him in. - -The Giants, however, had now broken the tie and had a two-run lead, and -although that ended their scoring, it was sufficient, as Joe put on -extra steam and mowed down the Cardinals almost as fast as they came to -the bat. One hit was made off him for the remainder of the game, but as -the batter got no farther than first there was no damage done. - -Joe and Jim did not care to discuss the matter before their mates, and -the attack was put down to some rowdy who was sore at the umpire's -decision and took that method of showing it. But the two friends knew -that it was much more than that. - -"Well, what do you think now of my hunch?" demanded Jim, when the chums -were alone together. "Was I right when I said I was uneasy about that -fellow being in the grandstand?" - -"You certainly were, Jim," answered Joe. "It must have been Bugs -who threw that bottle. I know at any rate that it was he whom I saw -hustling out of the stands. And when I looked at where he had been -sitting the seat was empty." - -"It was Bugs all right," affirmed Jim with decision. "I saw his face -once, when he glanced behind him while he was running. Then, too, only -a pitcher could have hurled the bottle with the swiftness and precision -that he did. It went nearly as far as the pitcher's box before it -struck the ground. Gee! my heart was in my mouth for a second when I -saw it go whizzing past your ear. If it had hit you fair and square, it -would have been good night." - -"It did barely touch me," replied Joe, pointing to a scratch on his -ear. "The old rascal hasn't forgotten how to throw. How that fellow -must hate me! And yet I was the best friend that he had on the team." - -"He hates you all right," replied Jim. "But it wasn't only his own -personal feeling that prompted him to do that thing to-day. That isn't -Bugs' way. He'd dope your coffee on the sly. Or he'd throw a stone at -your head in a dark street, as he did that time when we'd started on -our tour around the world. But to do a thing in the open, as he did -to-day, means that he had a mighty big incentive to lay you out. That -incentive was probably money. Somebody has put up the cash to send him -to St. Louis, and that same somebody has probably promised him a big -wad of dough if he could do you up. The chance came to-day, when the -fans began to throw bottles at the umpire. He figured that that was the -time to get in his work. If he'd been caught, he could have said that -he was only one of a good many who did the same thing, and that he had -no idea the bottle was going to hit anybody." - -"Then you think that Bugs this time was acting as the tool of Braxton, -or whoever it is that's trying to put me out of business," remarked Joe. - -"Think so!" cried Jim. "I'm sure of it. So many things, all pointing to -deliberate purpose, don't happen by accident. The same fellow who hired -those auto bandits to cripple you hired Bugs for the same purpose. Lots -of people have heard of the hatred that Bugs has for you. I suppose -he's panning you all the time in the joints where he hangs out. This -fellow that's after your hide has heard of Bugs and put him on the -job. If he can't get you in one way, he's going to try to get you in -another. He figures that some time or other one of his schemes will go -through. Gee!" he exclaimed, jumping up and pacing the floor, "what -would I give just to come face to face with him and have him in a room -alone with me for five minutes. Just five minutes! I'd change his face -so that his own brother wouldn't know him." - -"I hope that job's reserved for me," replied Joe, as his fist clenched. -"He'd get a receipt in full for all I owe him." - -"In the meantime, what shall we do about Bugs?" asked Jim anxiously. -"He ought to be put in jail. It isn't right that a man who's tried to -cripple another should be at large." - -"No," agreed Joe, "it isn't. But I don't see just what we can do about -it. The chances are ten to one against his being found. Even if he -were, nobody could be found probably who saw him actually throw the -bottle. We didn't ourselves, though we feel absolutely certain that he -did. He could explain his leaving by saying that he was taken ill and -had to leave. Then, too, if he were arrested, we'd have to stay here -and prosecute him, and we can't stay away from the team. Besides the -whole thing would get in the papers, and Mabel and Clara and all the -folks would have heart failure about it. No, I guess we'll have to keep -quiet about it." - -"I suppose we will," admitted Jim reluctantly. "But some day this -scoundrel who's hounding you will be caught in the open. And I'm still -hoping for that five minutes!" - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -SPEEDING UP - - -St. Louis was in good form on the following day, and a perfect deluge -of hits came from their bats. The Giants, too, had a good hitting day, -and the fans who like to see free batting had their desire satisfied to -the full. And their pleasure was all the greater because the home team -had the best of the duel, and came out on top by a score of 17 to 12. - -Jim was in the box on the next day, and by superb pitching had the St. -Louis sluggers hitting like a kindergarten team. They simply could not -solve him. His team mates had scarcely anything to do, and only by the -narrowest of margins did he miss turning the Cardinals back without a -hit. One hit narrowly escaped the fingers of the second baseman, as -he leaped in the air for it. But it did escape him, and counted for -the only hit made by the St. Louis in the game. It was a magnificent -exhibition and wound up a disastrous trip in a blaze of glory. - -Still it could not be denied that the trip had put a big dent in the -Giants' aspirations for the pennant. Instead of the twelve games out -of sixteen that McRae had asked for, they had only turned in six -victories. It was the most miserable record that the Giants had made -for years. - -"And we call ourselves a good road team!" snorted Curry in disgust, as -they settled down in the Pullman for the long ride back from St. Louis -to New York. "A bunch of school girls could have done better work." - -"Luck was against us," ventured Larry. "It sure was against us." - -"Luck, nothing!" exclaimed Curry. "We simply fell down, and fell down -hard. The whole League is laughing at us. Look at the way the other -Eastern teams held up their end. The Brooklyns copped ten games, the -Bostons got eleven, and the Phillies pulled down seven. We ought to -sneak back into New York on a freight train instead of riding in -Pullmans." - -"I guess there won't be any band at the station to meet us," remarked -Joe. "But after all, any team is liable to have a slump and play like -a lot of dubs. Let's hope we've got all the bad playing out of our -systems. From now on we're going to climb." - -"That's the way to talk," chimed in Jim. "Of course we can't deny that -we've stubbed our toes on this trip. But we know in our heart that -we've got the best team in the League. We've got the Indian sign on all -of them. The fans that are roasting us now will be shouting their heads -off when we get started on our winning streak. Remember, boys, it's a -long worm that has no turning." - -There was a general laugh at this, and the spirits of the party -lightened a little. But not all of the gloom was lifted. - -The prediction that their reception in New York would be rather frosty -was true. Such high hopes had been built on the result of this trip -that the reaction was correspondingly depressing. And what made the -Giants feel the change of attitude the more keenly was the fact that -while they had been doing so poorly, the Yankees at home had been going -"like a house afire." They had taken the lead definitely away from the -Clevelands, and it did not seem as though there was any team in their -League that could stop them. New York was quite sure that it was going -to have one championship team. But it was quite as certain that it was -not going to have two. That hope had gone glimmering. - -Both teams were occupying the Polo Grounds for the season, while the -new park of the Yankees was being completed. The schedule therefore had -been arranged so that while one of the teams was playing at home the -other was playing somewhere out of town. - -Thus on the very day the Giants reached home the Yankees were starting -out on their trip to other cities. They went away in the glory of -victory. The Giants came home in the gloom of defeat. - -The change of sentiment was visible in the first home game that the -Giants played. On the preceding day, at their last game, the Yankees -had played before a crowd of twenty-five thousand. The first game of -the Giants drew scarcely more than three thousand. Many of these were -the holders of free season passes, others, like the reporters, had to -be there, while the rest were made up of the chronic fans who followed -the Giants through thick and thin. There was no enthusiasm, and even -the fact that the Giants won did not dispel the funereal atmosphere. - -And then the Giants began to climb! - -At first the process did not attract much attention. The public was so -thoroughly disheartened by the downfall of their favorites in the West, -that they took it for granted that they were out of the running for the -pennant. Of course it was assumed that they would finish in the first -division--it was very seldom that a New York team could not be depended -on to do that--and that by some kind of miracle it might be possible -to finish second. But there was very little consolation in that. -New York wanted a winner or nothing. If the Giants could not fly the -championship flag at the Polo Grounds, nobody cared very much whether -they came in second or eighth or anywhere between. - -The first team to visit the Polo Grounds was the Bostons. They had -greatly improved their game since the beginning of the season, and -were even thought to have a look-in for the flag. They chuckled to -themselves at the thought that they would catch the Giants in the slump -that had begun out West and press them still deeper in the direction of -the cellar. At first they thought they might even make a clean sweep. -They lost the first game, but only by reason of a muff of an easy fly -that let in two unearned runs in the sixth. That of course disposed of -the clean sweep idea, but still, three out of four would do. But when -they lost the second game also, their jubilation began to subside. Now -the best they could hope for was an even break. But again they lost, -and the climax was put to their discomfiture when the Giants simply -walked away with the fourth game by a score of 10 to 0. - -But even with this series of four in a row captured by the Giants, the -public refused to enthuse. It might have been only a flash in the pan. -It is true that the sporting writers were beginning to sit up and take -notice. Most of their time hitherto had been spent in advising McRae -through the columns of their paper how he might strengthen his team -for next year. The present season of course was past praying for. Yet -there was a distinct chirking up on the part of the scribes, although -they carefully refrained from making any favorable predictions that -afterward they might be sorry for. They would wait awhile and see. -Besides, the Brooklyns were coming next, and they had usually found it -easy to defeat the Giants. If the Giants could hold the men from over -the big bridge to an even break, it might mean a great deal. - -The Brooklyns came, saw and--were conquered. Four times in succession -they went down before superb pitching and heavy batting. Four times -they called on their heavy sluggers and their best boxmen, but the -Giants rode over them roughshod. The sporting writers sat up and rubbed -their eyes. Was this the same team that had come home forlorn and -bedraggled after their last trip? Had the Giants really come to life? -Was the pennant still a possibility? - -By this time the public had begun to wake up. The stands at the Polo -Grounds no longer looked like a desert. The crowds began to pack the -subway cars on their way up to the grounds. Everywhere the question was -beginning to be asked: "What do you think of the Giants? Have they -still got a chance?" - -It was the Phillies' turn next, and they had also to bend the knee. The -Giants took them into camp as easily as they had the Braves and the -Dodgers. And to rub it in, two of the games were shutouts. - -Twelve games in a row, and the Giants tearing through the other teams -like so many runaway horses! - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE WINNING STREAK - - -The Giants were in for a winning streak, and New York City promptly -went baseball mad! - -Now there was no question of filling the grounds. It was rather a -question of getting there early enough to secure seats. - -The Polo Grounds could accommodate thirty-five thousand, and again and -again that number was reached and exceeded. The great amphitheatre was -a sea of eager faces. Fans stood in hundreds in the rear of the upper -grandstands. The lower stand too was filled to overflowing, and the -bleachers were packed. It was astonishing how many business men closed -their rolltop desks with a bang on those summer afternoons. Young and -old alike were wild to be at the games and see the Giants add one more -to their rapidly mounting list of victories. - -Thirteen--fourteen--fifteen--sixteen! Were the Giants ever going to be -stopped? If so, who was going to stop them? The Western teams were -coming now and the St. Louis team had left their scalps in the Giant's -wigwam. Chicago was next in line. Could they stop the Giants in their -mad rush for the flag? - -They could not, although they tried desperately, and Brennan, their -resourceful manager, used all the cunning and guile that his long -experience had taught him. The Giants tamed the Cubs with a thoroughness -that left nothing to be desired from a New York point of view. And now -the string of victories had mounted to twenty. - -Old records were got out and furbished up. It was found that once -before, when Markwith and Hughson were in their prime, the New Yorks -had won twenty-six games in a row. Could they repeat? Could they beat -their own record that had been hung up so long for other teams to aim -at? That was the question that absorbed public interest, not only in -New York, but in baseball circles all over the country. - -The reason for this phenomenal spurt of the Giants, it was recognized, -could be found in two chief factors. One was the wonderful work being -done by Joe both as a pitcher and a batter. The other was the marvelous -advance that had been made by Jim as a twirler. - -Joe had never had such complete mastery of the ball as he was showing -this season. Even the pitching he had done the previous year, in the -World Series between the Giants and the Sox, paled in comparison with -what he was doing now. His control was something almost magical. It was -such a rarity for him to give a base on balls that when it happened it -was specially noted by the sporting writers. He worked the corners of -the plate to perfection. He mixed up his fast ones with slow teasers -that made the opposing batsmen look ridiculous as they broke their -backs reaching for them. His slants and twists and hops and curves had -never been so baffling. It was fast getting to the point where the -other teams were half beaten as soon as they saw Joe pick up his glove -and go into the box. - -But it was not even his pitching, great as it was, that held the -worshiping attention of the crowds. It was the home run record that he -was piling up in such an amazing fashion that already he was rated by -many the equal of the wonderful Kid Rose. That wonderful eye of his -had learned to time the ball so accurately as it came up to the plate -that the bat met it at precisely the hundredth part of a second when -it did the most good. Then all his mighty arm and shoulder leaned on -the ball and gave it wings. Almost every other game now saw a home run -chalked up to his credit. In three games of the winning streak he had -made two home runs in a single game. It was common talk that he was -out to tie the record of Ed Delehanty, the one-time mighty slugger -of the Phillies, who in the years of long ago had hung up a record of -four homers in a game. He had not done it yet, but there was still time -before the season closed. - -More still would have gone to his credit had not the opposing pitchers -become so afraid of him that they would not let him hit the ball. Again -and again when he came to the bat, the catcher would stand away off to -the side and the pitcher would deliberately send over four balls, so -wide that Joe could not possibly reach them without stepping out of the -box. This was a mighty disappointment to the crowds, half of whom had -come with no other object in view than to see Joe smash out a homer. -They would jeer and taunt the pitcher for his cowardice in fearing -to match his slants against Joe's bat, but the practice continued -nevertheless. - -Even this, however, was not a total loss to the Giants. It put Joe on -first anyway, and counted at least for as much as a single would have -done. And Joe was so fleet of foot on the bases that McRae once said -jokingly that he would have to have detectives on the field to keep him -from stealing so many bags. Many a base on balls thus given to Joe out -of fear for his mighty bat was eventually turned into a run that helped -to win the game. - -One morning when Joe, with the rest of the Giant team, was going out -on the field for practice, his eye caught sight of a long white streak -of kalsomine that ran up the right field wall to the top, behind the -bleachers. - -"What's the idea?" he asked, turning to Robbie, who was close beside -him. - -"Don't you really know, you old fence-breaker?" asked Robbie, a smile -breaking over his jovial face. - -"Blest if I do," answered Joe. - -"Well, I'll tell you," answered Robbie. "The fact is that you've -got into such a habit of knocking the ball into the right field -stands--mighty good habit, too, if you ask me--that the umpires have -asked us to paint this line so that they can see whether the hit is -fair or foul. The ordinary hit they can tell easy enough. But yours are -so far out that they have to have especial help in judging them. It's -the first time it's had to be done for any hitter in the history of the -game. Some compliment, what?" - -But Joe's work, wonderful as it was, would not alone have started and -maintained the Giants' winning streak. No one man, however great, can -carry a whole team on his shoulders. The next most important element -was the pitching that Jim was showing. It was only second in quality -to that turned in by Joe himself. Jim was a natural ball player, and -his close association and friendship with Joe had taught him all the -fine points of the game. He had learned the weaknesses of opposing -batters. He knew those who would bite at an outcurve and those to whom -a fast high one was poison; those who would offer at the first ball and -those who would try to wait him out; those who would crowd the plate -and those who would flinch when he wound the ball around their necks. -He had a splendid head on his shoulders and a world of power in his -biceps; and those two things go far to make a winning combination. - -Another element of strength was the return of Hughson to the team and -his ability to take his regular turn in the box. His arm still hurt -him, and it was beginning to be evident that he would never again be -the Hughson of old. But his skill and knowledge of the game and the -batters was so great that it more than atoned for the weakness of his -pitching arm. His control was as wonderful as ever, and he nursed his -arm as much as possible. He did not attempt to do much striking out, -as that would have been too severe a strain. More and more he let the -batsmen hit the ball, and depended upon the eight men behind him to -back him up. Often he would go through an inning this way and the three -put outs would be made by the infield on grounders and the outfielders -on flies. But once let a man get on first and the "Old Master" would -tighten up and prevent scoring. By thus favoring his arm, he was able -to turn in his share of the victories. - -Markwith also had a new lease of life, and was winging them over as in -the days when he had been without question the best port side flinger -in the League. - -In fact the pitching staff was at the height of its form and had -never been going better. And the rest of the team, without exception, -was playing great ball. There was not a cripple on the list. Willis -and Iredell had been restored to their positions at third and short -respectively, and were playing the best ball of their careers. With -Larry at second and Burkett at first, they formed a stonewall infield -that seldom let anything get away from them. They made hair-raising -stops and dazzling double plays, gobbling up grounders on either side, -spearing high liners that were ticketed for singles, and played like -supermen. The outfielders had caught the spirit of enthusiasm that -pervaded the team, and were making what seemed like impossible catches. -Add to this that the team members were batting like fiends and running -bases like so many ghosts, and the reason for the winning streak -becomes apparent. The Giants were simply playing unbeatable ball. - -So the Cincinnatis found when the time came for their heads to drop -into the basket. That series was sweet revenge for the Giants, who had -not forgotten the beating the Reds had given them on their last swing -around the circuit. - -Twenty-one--twenty-two--twenty-three--twenty-four. Two more games to -tie their own previous record. Three more to beat it. Would they do it? - -Many shook their heads. On the mere law of averages, a break for the -Giants was now due. The team had been under a fearful strain. Such -phenomenal work could not last forever. - -Besides, the severest test was now at hand. The Pittsburghs were -coming. The Smoky City boys had been playing great ball themselves. -They had won nineteen games out of the last twenty-four, and the margin -of seven games that they had had when the Giants began their streak -still kept them in the lead by two games. They had boasted that they -would break the Giants' streak as soon as they struck New York. - -The time had come to make good their boast. Would they do it? - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -STRIVING FOR MASTERY - - -It was Jim's turn to go on the mound in the first game with the -Pittsburghs, and in the practice work before the game he showed that -he was keyed up for his work. For so comparatively young a pitcher, -he might well have been a bit nervous at facing so redoubtable a team -before the immense crowd that had gathered to see whether or not the -Giants' winning streak was doomed to be broken. But there was no trace -of it in his manner, and McRae, looking him over, concluded that there -was no reason to change his selection. - -His confidence was justified. Jim that afternoon was at as high a point -of pitching form as he had ever reached in his career. He pitched a -masterly game and held the Pirate sluggers to four hits. His support -was all that could be desired, and some of the stops and throws of his -comrades bordered on the miraculous. The Giants came out at the big end -of the score, their tally being three to the solitary run scored by -their opponents. - -"Twenty-five!" chuckled Joe, as he slapped his friend on the back, when -the Pirates had been turned back in their half of ninth. "Jim, you're a -lulu! You had those fellows rolling over and playing dead." - -"I guess we had all the breaks," returned Jim, smiling modestly. - -"Nothing of the kind," disclaimed Joe. "If anything, they had whatever -breaks there were. It was simply a case of dandy pitching. You had them -buffaloed." - -"Only one more game to go before we tie our own record," said Jim. -"Gee, Joe, I wish you were going to pitch to-morrow. We're just in -sight of the Promised Land. That will be the most important game of -all." - -"Oh, I don't know," replied Joe. "It will be something to tie the -record, but I want to break it. Day after to-morrow will be the -big day. That is, if we win to-morrow, and I think we shall. It's -Markwith's turn to go in, and he's going fine. The Pittsburghs aren't -any too good against left-handed pitchers, anyway." - -But whatever the alleged weakness of the Pirates against southpaws, -they showed little respect for Markwith's offerings on the next day. -They had on their batting clothes and clouted the ball lustily. Only -phenomenal fielding on the part of the Giants kept the score down, and -again and again Markwith was pulled out of a hole by some dazzling -bit of play when a run seemed certain. Still he worried through until -the first part of the eighth. At that time the score was five to four -in favor of the visitors. The Giants had been batting freely, but not -quite as hard as the Pirates. - -In the eighth, Markwith was plainly beginning to wobble in his control. -He passed two men in quick succession. That was enough for McRae, and -Joe, who had been warming up at the right of the grandstand, was sent -into the box. - -The Pirates' scoring stopped then and there. Astley, who was at the -bat, fanned on three successive strikes. Brown hit to the box and Joe -made a lightning throw to Larry at second, who relayed it to first for -a sparkling double play, putting out the side. - -The Giants' half of the eighth was scoreless. All the Pittsburghs had -to do now was to hold them down for one more inning, and the winning -streak would be broken. - -Joe made short work of the visitors in their last inning and the Giants -came in for their final half. - -Willis was the first man up. He made a savage lunge at the first ball -pitched, but caught it on the under side, and it went up directly -over the plate. Jenkins the Pittsburgh catcher, did not have to move -from his tracks to gather it in. Larry sent a fierce low liner to -Baskerville at short, who made a magnificent catch, picking it off his -shoe tops. Two out, and the crowd fairly groaned as the winning streak -seemed at last about to be broken. - -All hopes were now pinned on Denton. All he could do, however, was to -dribble a slow one to the box. It seemed a certain out, and nine times -out of ten would have been. But the Pittsburgh pitcher, in running in -on it, snatched it up so hurriedly that it fell out of his hand. He -recovered it in an instant and shot it to first. But that fumble had -been fatal, and Denton by a headlong slide reached first before the -ball. - -A tremendous roar arose from the stands, and the people who had started -to leave sat down suddenly and sat down hard. - -In the Giants' dugout, all was excitement and animation. McRae ran down -to first to coach Denton. Robbie rushed over to Joe, who was next in -turn and had already picked up his bat. - -"For the love of Pete, Joe," he begged, "paste the old apple. Show them -again what you've been showing us all along. Kill the ball! Just once, -Joe, just once! You can do it. One good crack, and you'll save the -winning streak." - -"I'll do my best," was Joe's reply. - -Frantic adjurations of the same nature were showered on Joe as he took -up his position at the plate. Then there was a great silence, as the -crowd fairly held their breath. - -But the crafty Pittsburgh pitcher was to be reckoned with. He had no -mind to see the game go glimmering just at the moment it seemed to be -won. He signaled to his catcher and deliberately pitched two balls wide -of the plate. It was evident that he was going to give Joe his base on -balls and take a chance with Mylert, the next batter. - -But the best laid plans sometimes miscarry. The third ball he pitched -did not go as wide of the plate as he had meant it should. Joe sized it -up, saw that he could reach it, and swung for it with all his might. - -There was a crack like that of a rifle as the bat met the ball and -sent it mounting ever higher and higher toward the right field wall. -It seemed as though it were endowed with wings. On it went in a mighty -curve and landed at last in the topmost row of the right field seats. -There it was pocketed by a proud and happy fan, while Joe, sending in -Denton ahead of him, jogged easily around the bases to the home plate. -The game was won! The winning streak was saved! The Giants had tied -their record, which had stood untouched for so many years! - -The scene in the stands and bleachers beggared description. Roar after -roar went up, while the crazy spectators threw their straw hats into -the air and scattered them by scores over the field. The Polo Grounds -had been transformed into a madhouse, but differing from other insane -asylums in that all the inmates were happy. All, that is, except the -Pirates and their supporters, who thought unspeakable things as they -saw the game in a twinkling torn from their grasp. - -Joe's only escape from his enthusiastic well-wishers lay in flight, and -he made a bee line for the clubhouse. He got inside not a moment too -soon. For a long time afterward a great crowd hung about the entrance, -waiting for him to reappear, and it was only by slipping out of a back -entrance that he eluded them. - -The old record had been tied. Could it be beaten? - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -HOLDING THEM DOWN - - -Baseball circles had rarely been more deeply stirred than by the issue -of the game, by winning which the Giants had tied their record. It was -not merely the winning, but the sensational way in which Baseball Joe's -home run had turned the scales in the last minute and snatched victory -from defeat that excited the fans. - -But now that the record was tied, would the Giants be able to hang -up a new one? That was the question on every lip, the question whose -discussion filled column after column of the sporting pages of the -newspapers. - -All agreed that the Giants had been lucky to win. If it had not been -for the error of the pitcher on Denton's slow dribble, they would have -lost. But it was conceded that it was not luck that had secured that -mighty home run that Joe had hammered out to the bleachers. That was -ball playing. That was muscle. That was determination. Once again his -cool head and quick eye and powerful arm had shown that the game was -not over until the last man was out. - -It was Joe's turn to pitch, and it was upon that fact more than -anything else that the vast crowd that stormed the Polo Grounds relied -for annexing the twenty-seventh game. The Pittsburghs too were holding -out their star pitcher, Hooper, for that critical game, and it was -certain that they would put forth superhuman efforts to win. - -In more senses than one, the game was an important one. The last two -victories of the Giants had wiped out the lead that the Pirates had -had over them, and the two teams were now on even terms in games won -and lost for the season, so that the Pirates had a double incentive to -win. If they took the game they would not only prevent the Giants from -breaking their own record for a winning streak, but would also once -more stand at the head of the League. - -"It's up to you, Joe," McRae said, just before the bell rang for the -game to begin. "How are you feeling? Are you tired at all from pitching -those last two innings yesterday?" - -"Not a bit tired," replied Joe promptly. "That little work yesterday -was just the practice I needed to get into form. I'm feeling as fine as -silk." - -"You look it," said the manager admiringly, as his eye took in the -strong, lithe figure, the bronzed face and clear eyes of his star -pitcher. "Well go in now Joe and eat them up. Hooper will be in the -box for them, and I'm not denying that he's some pitcher. But he never -saw the day that you couldn't run rings around him. Go in and win." - -It was evident from the start that there would be no such free hitting -that day as there had been the day before. Both boxmen were in superb -form, and by the time the first inning for each side was over, the -spectators had settled down to witness a pitcher's duel. - -Hooper was a spitball artist, and his moist slants kept the Giants -guessing in the early part of the game. But while he depended chiefly -on this form of delivery, he had other puzzlers in his assortment, and -he mixed them up in a most deceptive manner. In the first three innings -he had four strike-outs to his credit, and when the Giants did connect -with the ball it went up into the air and into the hands of some -waiting fielder. His control of the slippery sphere also was excellent, -and he issued no passes. - -In the fourth inning, the Giants began to nibble at his offerings. -Curry rapped one out to right for the first single of the game. Iredell -was robbed of a hit by a great jumping catch of O'Connor, who speared -the ball with his gloved hand. Burkett lined out a two-bagger that -carried Curry easily to third, but in trying to stretch the hit, he -was caught by Ralston's magnificent throw to the plate. Burkett in -the meantime had made a dash for third, but thought better of it, and -scrambled back to second just in time. The next man up went out from -short to first and the inning ended without scoring. But the Giants had -proved to themselves that Hooper could be hit, and it was with renewed -confidence that they took their places in the field. - -Joe in the meantime was mowing his opponents down with the regularity -of a machine. His mighty arm swung back and forth like a piston rod. -He had never cared for the spitball, as he knew that sooner or later -it destroyed a pitcher's effectiveness. But in his repertoire of -curves and slants he had weapons far more deadly. His fast straight -one whizzed over the plate like a bullet. He mixed these up with a -slow, dipping curve that the Pirates endeavored in vain to solve. Only -with the head of the Pittsburgh batting order did he at times resort -to the fadeaway. That he kept in reserve for some moment when danger -threatened. Twice in the first five innings he set down the side -on strikes, and not a man reached first on balls. It was wonderful -pitching, and again and again Joe was forced to doff his cap to the -cheers of the crowd, as he came into the bench. - -In the sixth inning, the Giants got busy. Wheeler lashed out a whale of -a three-bagger to left. Willis laid down a neat sacrifice, bringing -Wheeler home for the first run of the game. Larry hit the ball on the -seam for a single, but was caught a moment later in trying to purloin -second. The next batter up went out on strikes and the inning ended -with the Giants one run to the good. - -The seventh inning came and passed and not a hit had been made by the -Pirates. Then it began to be realized that Joe was out for a no-hit -game, and the crowd rooted for him madly. - -Joe himself was about the only cool man on the grounds. He measured -every man that came to the plate and took his time about pitching to -him. Man after man he fanned or made him hit feeble grounders to the -infield. And that wonderful control of his forbade any passes. The -Pirates did not dare to wait him out. It was a case of strike or be -struck out, and so they struck at the ball, but usually struck only the -empty air. - -That ball! Sometimes it was a wheedling, coaxing ball, that sauntered -up to the plate as though just begging to be hit. Again it was a -vanishing ball that grew smaller from the time it left Joe's hand until -it became a mere pin point as it glinted over the rubber. Still again -it was a savage ball that shot over the plate with a rush and a hiss -that made the batter jump back. But always it was a deceptive ball, -that slipped by, hopped by, loafed by, twisted by, dodged by, and the -Pirate sluggers strained their backs as well as their tempers in trying -to hit it. - -McRae and Robbie on the bench watched with fascination and delight the -work of their king pitcher. - -"It's magic, I tell you, John, just magic!" blurted out Robbie, as -another victim went out on strikes and threw down his bat in disgust. - -"It sure looks like it," grinned McRae. "He has those fellows jumping -through the hoops all right. I'm free to say I never saw anything like -it." - -"He's got the ball trained, I tell you," persisted Robbie, rubbing his -hands in jubilation. "It's an educated ball. It does just what Joe -tells it to." - -Almost uncontrollable excitement prevailed as the Pirates came in for -their last inning. Their heaviest sluggers were coming to the bat, and -now if ever was the time to do something. They figured that the strain -must have told on Joe and that a crack was due. - -Their hope grew dimmer, however, when Ralston, after fouling off two, -fanned on the third strike. But it revived again when Baskerville -rolled an easy one to Larry, that the latter fumbled for a moment and -then hurled to first a fraction of a second too late. - -There was a roar of glee from the Pirates, and they began to chatter -in the hope of rattling the pitcher. Bemis, the next man up, came to -the plate swinging three bats. He discarded two of them and glared at -Joe. - -"Here's where you meet your finish," he boasted, as he brandished his -bat. - -Joe merely smiled and put one over. Bemis drove it straight for the -box. Joe leaped into the air, caught it in his ungloved hand and shot -it like lightning to first, catching Baskerville before he could get -back. - -It was as pretty a double play as had ever been made on the New York -grounds! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -A CRUSHING BLOW - - -The play had been so swift that the eye could scarcely follow the ball, -and it was a few seconds before the majority of the spectators could -grasp what had happened. - -Then a tremendous shout went up that rolled across the field in -increasing volume as the crowds realized that they had seen what would -probably never be seen again in a single game. They had seen the New -York team break its own record for straight wins, and in addition they -had witnessed that rarest of pitching exploits, a no-hit game. Not even -a scratch hit had marred Joe's wonderful performance, nor had he given -a single base on balls. It was a red-letter day for the Giants and for -Joe, and the people who had been there would talk about that game for -years. - -If any one should have been elated by the marvelous result of that -day's work, it was Joe. He had never stood on a higher pinnacle, -except perhaps when he had won the last game of the World Series -the preceding year. He was more than ever a hero in the eyes of the -baseball public of New York, and within five minutes after the game -was over the wires had flashed the news to every city of the country. -But despite his natural pride in his achievement and his pleasure in -knowing that he had won this critical game for his team, it was a very -subdued and worried Joe that hurried to the clubhouse after the game -was over. There his mates gathered, in the seventh heaven of delight, -and there was a general jubilee, in which McRae and Robson joined. - -"We did it, we did it!" cried Robbie, bouncing about like a rubber ball -in his excitement. "We broke the record! Twenty-seven games in a row!" - -"Where do you get that 'we' stuff, you old porpoise," grinned McRae, -poking him jovially in the ribs. "Seems to me that Joe had something to -do with it. Put it there, Matson," he went on, extending his hand. "You -pitched a game that will go down in baseball history and you saved our -winning streak from going up in smoke." - -Joe put out his left hand, and McRae looked a little surprised. Then -he glanced down at Joe's right hand, and a look of consternation swept -over his face. - -"Great Scott!" he cried. "What's the matter with your hand? It's -swelled to twice its usual size." - -[Illustration: "GREAT SCOTT!" HE CRIED. "WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOUR -HAND?"] - -"It was that drive of Bemis', I guess," replied Joe. "When I nabbed it, -I seemed to feel something crack in the hand. Perhaps, though, it's -only strained. It will probably be all right by to-morrow." - -"To-morrow!" roared McRae, as all crowded around anxiously. "There'll -be no waiting till to-morrow. That hand is worth a half million dollars -to the New York club, to say nothing of its worth to yourself. Where's -the trainer? Where's the doctor? Jump, some of you fellows, and get -them here quick!" - -There was a general scurrying around, and in a few minutes both of -those men were examining the injured hand with the greatest solicitude. -They looked grave when they had finished. - -"It's hard to tell just what has happened until the swelling has been -reduced," pronounced the doctor, as he busied himself with splints and -lotions. "I'm afraid, though, that it's more than a sprain. When it -swells as much as that it generally means that a bone has been broken." - -There was a general groan. - -"That means, does it, that he will be out of the game for the rest of -the season?" asked McRae, in notes of despair. - -"Oh, I wouldn't say that," the doctor hastened to reassure him. "It may -be only a trifling fracture, and in that case he will have to be out -only for a short time. But for the next few weeks anyway, he isn't -likely to do any more pitching." - -"Who's the best specialist in New York?" demanded McRae. - -The doctor named a surgeon of national reputation. - -"'Phone him to come at once," commanded McRae. "Or, better yet, Joe, -you'd better come right with me now. My car's outside and I'll get you -up there in fifteen minutes. Every minute counts now." - -Joe hurriedly finished dressing, and McRae bundled him into his -automobile. It was a speedy machine, and it was to be feared that the -traffic laws were not strictly observed as it made its way downtown. -But the traffic policemen all knew McRae and Joe, and there was nothing -to prevent their getting to their destination in record time. - -A telephone call from the clubhouse had already notified the eminent -surgeon that the pair were coming, and he was waiting for them. Without -a moment's delay, they were ushered into his inner office, where he -stripped off the bandages from the hand and made a thorough examination. - -"There is a small dislocation," he said when he had finished. "But I -think it will yield readily to treatment. It will not be a permanent -injury, and in a little while the hand will be as good as ever." - -Both drew a sigh of immense relief. - -"A little while," repeated McRae. "Just what do you mean by that, -Doctor? You know we're fighting for the pennant, and we're depending on -this king pitcher of ours more than on any one else to win out. Every -day he's out of the race weakens our chances." - -"I can't tell that definitely until to-morrow morning," the doctor -replied. "But offhand I should say for two or three weeks at least." - -"Two or three weeks!" repeated McRae in tones of mingled dismay and -relief. "In those two or three weeks we may lose the flag. But thank -heaven it's no worse." - -After making an appointment for the next morning, McRae drove Joe to -his hotel. - -"It's bad enough, Joe," he said to him in parting. "I don't know how -we're going to spare you while we're in the thick of the fight. But -when I think of what it would mean to the team if you were knocked out -altogether, I've got no kick coming. We're ahead of the Pittsburghs -now, anyway, thanks to your splendid work, and if we can just hold our -own till you get back, we'll pull out all right yet." - -Joe found Jim waiting for him, full of anxiety and alarm. But his face -lighted up when he learned that the injury was not a permanent one. - -"It would have been a mighty sight better to have lost the game -to-day than to have bought it at such a price," he said. "But after -all, nothing matters as long as your hand is safe. That hand is your -fortune." - -"To-day was my unlucky day," remarked Joe ruefully, as he looked at his -bandaged hand. - -"In one sense it was," replied Jim, "but in another it wasn't. To-day -you hung up a record. You saved the Giants' winning streak and you -pitched a no-hit game!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -LINING THEM OUT - - -The pain in his injured hand was intense that night, and Joe paced -the floor for hours before he was able to get to sleep. By morning, -however, the hand had yielded to treatment, and the swelling had -greatly decreased. At the earliest hour possible Joe, accompanied by -Jim, was at the surgeon's office. - -The doctor's face expressed his satisfaction, as, after an examination, -he rendered his verdict. - -"It isn't as bad as I feared," he said while he deftly rebandaged the -injured member. "This dislocation is slight and you'll soon be as right -as ever. But you've got to take good care of it. It will be some time -before you can pitch." - -"But how about batting?" asked Joe anxiously. "That isn't a steady -strain, as I'd only have to do it three or four times in the course of -the game." - -"I don't know," replied the doctor with a smile. "I'm not familiar -enough with the game to tell where the strain comes in that case. I -can imagine, however, that it would be chiefly in the arm and shoulder. -It's possible that you may be able to bat before you can pitch. But I -can tell more about that later on, as I see how your hand mends. For -the present, you'll have to go slow." - -The sporting writers had no reason to complain of the dullness of news -for that day's issue. The papers were ringing with the stirring events -of the day before. Columns of space were devoted to the story of the -game, and there was unstinted praise of Joe for his wonderful exploit. - -But mingled with the jubilation was a strain of apprehension. The -accident that had befallen the great pitcher was a subject of the -keenest anxiety. It was recognized that a great blow had been struck at -the Giants' hope for the pennant. To have the greatest twirler of the -team put out of the game just in the hottest part of the fight was a -disaster that might prove fatal. Pittsburgh stock took a decided upward -bound in consequence. - -The effect on the Giants themselves, as far as their morale was -concerned, was almost certain to be hurtful. The tremendous strain -under which they had been, while compiling their twenty-seven -consecutive wins, had brought them to a point where a sudden blow like -this might make them go to pieces. - -As a matter of fact, that is just what did happen to them that very -afternoon. The whole team was depressed and had a case of nerves. They -played like a lot of schoolboys, booting the ball, slipping up on easy -grounders and muffing flies that ordinarily they could have caught with -ease. - -The Pittsburghs, on the other hand, played with redoubled skill and -courage. Their hopes had been revived by the misfortune that had -befallen their most dangerous opponent. Joe was personally popular with -all the players of the League, and they were sorry that he was hurt. -But that did not prevent them from taking advantage of the chance to -make hay while the sun shone. - -The game developed into a farce after the third inning, and from that -time on it was only a question of the size of the score. When the game -ended, the Giant outfielders were leg-weary from chasing hits, and the -visitors were equally tired from running bases. The Pittsburghs won by -a score of 17 to 3, and the Giants' winning streak came to an end. - -But for once the team escaped a roasting from McRae. The team had done -wonderful work, and any nine that wins twenty-seven games in succession -has a right to lose the twenty-eighth. Besides the break was due, and -the manager hoped that with this one bad game out of their systems the -team would pull itself together and start another rally. - -For the next week or two, the race see-sawed between the two leading -teams. By this time it had become generally recognized that the pennant -lay between them. The other contestants had occasional spurts, when -great playing for a short period would revive the waning hopes of their -admirers, but they soon fell back again in the ruck. It was quite -certain that the flag would fly either over Forbes Field or over the -Polo Grounds. - -In the meantime, Joe's hand was mending rapidly. His superb physical -condition helped him greatly, and the doctor was visibly surprised and -gratified by the progress of his patient. But it was hard work for Joe -to be laid off just at the time that his team needed him most. Still he -believed in the proverb "the more haste the less speed," and he tried -to be patient, even while he was "chafing at the bit." - -About ten days after the accident, the doctor delighted him by telling -him that he need not come to see him any more. But he still ordered -him to refrain from pitching. As to batting, he said cautiously that -Joe could try that out a little at a time. If he found that after easy -batting practice his hand did not hurt him, he might be permitted to -bat in an actual game. - -Joe was quick to avail himself of the permission. Very cautiously he -tried batting out fungo hits. While at first the hand felt a little -sore and stiff, this soon passed off. Then Joe had Jim pitch him some -easy ones in practice, and found that he could line them out without -ill effects. Finally he let Jim put them over at full speed, and was -delighted to find that he could lift them into the right field stands -and not suffer much of a twinge. At last he was himself again, as far -at least as batting was concerned. - -His recovery came just in time to be of immense benefit to the team. -The men had slumped considerably in batting, though they still held up -to their usual form in fielding. But fielding alone cannot win games. -Defensive work is all very well, but combined with it must be the -offensive work on the part of the batsmen. The best fielding in the -world cannot put runs over the plate. - -Joe's return put new spirit into the team at once. The batting picked -up noticeably, with Joe leading the way. At first he was a little -cautious about putting his whole strength into his blow, and for a few -days when he was used in emergencies as a pinch hitter, he gathered a -crop of singles with an occasional double and triple. But with every -successive day he let out a new link, and at length he put his whole -strength into his swing. Home runs became again a common feature, and -the Giants started in joyously on a new upward climb. - -The season was to end this year in the West, and by the time the Giants -started on their last swing around the circuit, they had a lead of four -games over the Pirates. It was not necessarily a winning lead, but it -was very comforting just the same to have those four games as a margin. -Still, the Pittsburghs were hanging on gamely, ready to forge to the -front on the least sign of weakening shown by their competitors. It -was one of the hottest races that had ever been seen in the National -League, and there was a chance that it would not be decided until the -last day of the season. - -"The last lap," remarked Jim, as the team started on its trip. "Here's -where we win or lose." - -"Here's where we win," corrected Joe. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THE TIRELESS FOE - - -The Giants opened at Chicago, and the results were none too good. -The Cubs, who just then were in the midst of a spurt, clawed and bit -their way to victory in two games of the four, and the Giants were -lucky to break even. As it was, the two games they won were annexed -by the terrific batting of Joe, who was hitting like a demon. In the -four games he made three home runs, and two of them were lined out -when there were men on bases. All pitchers looked alike to him, and he -played no favorites. The rest he had had from pitching had made him all -the more effective as a batsman. - -His fame as a hitter had spread through all the cities of the League, -and the Chicago grounds were filled to their capacity during the -Giants' visit. Most of the spectators were as eager to see him hit one -of his mammoth homers as they were to see the home team win. Cheers -greeted him every time he came to the bat. He was the greatest drawing -card that the Giants had or ever had had. - -Opinion was divided as to whether he or Kid Rose of the Yankees was -the greatest hitter. Each had his partisans. Rose had been longer -in the limelight, and those who had made up their minds that he was -the greatest hitter that ever lived were reluctant to see their idol -replaced by a newcomer. Many confidently predicted that Joe would -not last, that his work was only a flash in the pan. Others declared -that he did not have to bat against as good pitching in the National -League as was shown in the American, and that therefore Rose's work was -superior. But as Joe kept on, day in and day out, lacing out tremendous -hits that landed in the bleachers and at times sailed over the fence, -the doubters grew silent, or joined in the wild applause as Joe jogged -around the bases and crossed the plate standing up. - -The keenest interest was manifested in the race that the Yankees were -making to land the flag in the American League. If they should come out -on top, the World Series would be held between New York teams, and Rose -and Joe could be seen in action against each other. That would help to -settle the question as to which had a right to wear the batting crown -of the world. It would be a battle of giants, and it was certain that, -if such a contest took place, there would be delegations to see it -from all parts of the country. - -McRae was no longer content to use Joe simply as a pinch hitter. He -wanted to take full advantage of his marvelous hitting, and so he -put him in the regular line-up and played him every day. Wheeler was -relegated to the bench and Joe took his place in the field. The manager -also changed his batting order, putting Joe fourth in the cleanup -position. And again and again his judgment was vindicated by the way -Joe cleaned up with homers, sending his comrades in ahead of him. - -The day the third Chicago game was played was a very hot one, and Joe -and Jim were tired and warm. Jim had pitched that day and won, after a -gruelling contest, and Joe had varied his ordinary routine by knocking -out two home runs instead of one. - -Joe was seated in his hotel room, writing a letter to Mabel. Jim had -stepped down to the office to get some stationery, for he had the -pleasant task on hand of writing to Clara. - -A knock came at the door, and in answer to his call to enter, a bellboy -stepped into the room, bearing a pitcher and glasses. - -"Here's the lemonade you ordered, boss," he said, as he put his burden -on a convenient stand. - -"Lemonade?" repeated Joe in some surprise. "I didn't order any." - -"Clerk sent me up with it, sir," said the bellboy respectfully. "Said -it was for Mr. Matson, room four-seventeen. This is four-seventeen, -isn't it?" he asked as he glanced at the number on the door, which he -had left open. - -"This is four-seventeen, all right, and I'm Mr. Matson," Joe answered. -"But I didn't order anything. I'll tell you how it is though," he -added, as a thought struck him. "My friend who is sharing the room with -me has just gone down to the lobby, and he's probably told the clerk to -send it up. That's all right. Leave it there." - -"Shall I pour you out a glass, sir?" asked the boy, suiting the action -to the word. - -"If you like," responded Joe carelessly, taking a quarter out of his -pocket as a tip. - -The boy thanked him and withdrew, closing the door behind him. Joe -finished the paragraph he was writing, and then picked up the glass. He -took a sip of it and put it down. - -"Pretty bitter," he said to himself. "Not enough sugar. Still it's -cooling, and I sure am warm." - -Again he lifted the glass to his lips, but just then Jim burst into the -room. - -"Whom do you think I saw just now?" he demanded. - -"Give it up," replied Joe. "But whoever it was, you seem to be all -excited about it. Who was it?" - -"Fleming!" answered Jim, as he plumped down into a chair. - -"Fleming!" repeated Joe with quickened interest. "What's that fellow -doing here? I thought he hung out in New York." - -"That's what I want to know," replied Jim. "Wherever that fellow is, -there's apt to be dirty work brewing. And the frightened look that came -into his eyes when he saw me, and the way he hurried past me, made me -uneasy. He acted as if he'd been up to something. I don't like the idea -of a pal of Braxton being in the same hotel with us." - -"I don't care much for it myself," answered Joe. "Still, a hotel is -open to anybody, and this is one of the most popular ones in the city. -It isn't especially surprising that you should happen to run across -him." - -"Not surprising perhaps, but unpleasant just the same," responded Jim. -"It leaves a bad taste in my mouth." - -"Well," laughed Joe, "take the bad taste out with a glass of this -lemonade you sent up. It isn't very good--it has a bad taste of its -own--but it will cool you off." - -He raised his glass to his mouth as he spoke. But in an instant Jim was -on his feet and knocked the glass from his hand. It fell on the floor -and splintered in many pieces. - -Joe looked at him in open-eyed amazement, too astonished to speak. - -"Don't touch the stuff!" cried Jim. "What do you mean by saying I sent -it up?" - -"Didn't you?" asked Joe. "The bellboy said he had been told to bring it -to me, and as I hadn't ordered it, I jumped to the conclusion that you -had." - -"Not I!" replied Jim. "But I can guess who did!" - -"Who?" - -"Fleming." - -The two friends looked fixedly at each other. - -"Do you mean," asked Joe, after a moment in which surprise and -indignation struggled for the mastery, "that that lemonade was doped?" - -"Doped or poisoned, I'll bet my life," affirmed Jim. "Let's get to -the bottom of this thing. Quick, old man! Perhaps Fleming is still -somewhere in the hotel." - -"Not a chance," replied Joe, jumping to his feet. "If he's mixed up in -this, he's getting away as fast as his legs or a car can carry him. But -we'll go down and see what we can learn from the clerk." - -They went to the head clerk, whom they knew very well. He was an ardent -fan, and his face lighted up as he saw the friends approaching. - -"Saw you play to-day, gentlemen," he said. "Those two home runs of -yours were whales, Mr. Matson. And your pitching, Mr. Barclay, was all -to the mustard." - -"Sorry to beat your Chicago boys, but we needed that game in our -business," laughed Joe. "But what I want to see you about just now is a -personal matter. Did you get an order from me or from my room to send -up any lemonade?" - -The clerk looked surprised. - -"No," he replied. "I didn't get any such request. Wait a moment until I -see the telephone operator." - -He consulted the girl at the telephone, and was back in a moment. "No -message of any kind came from your room to-night," he announced. - -"But one of your bellboys brought it up," persisted Joe. - -"Which one of them was it?" asked the clerk, pointing to a group of -them lounging about. - -"None of them," responded Joe, as he ran his eye over them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -CHAMPIONS OF THE LEAGUE - - -"There are three more of the bellboys doing various errands about the -hotel," replied the clerk. "If you gentlemen will wait around they'll -be back in a few minutes." - -"All right, we'll wait," said Joe. - -Before long, all the bellboys were back, and Joe had had a good look at -the entire staff. Not one resembled the boy who had come to his room. - -"I can't understand it," mused the clerk, to whom the boys had been -careful not to impart their suspicions. "It must have been sent in by -somebody from the outside. It's certain that it wasn't sent up from -here." - -"Oh, well," said Joe carelessly, "it doesn't matter. I just wanted -to find out, so that I could thank the one who did it. Sorry to have -troubled you." - -They strolled off indifferently and returned to their room. - -"'Thank' is good," said Jim, as soon as they were out of earshot. - -"I'll thank him all right," replied Joe grimly. "In fact I'll thank him -so warmly that it will stagger him." - -"May I be there to see!" replied Jim gruffly. "I can figure out the -whole thing now. Fleming had had that lemonade doped and it was meant -to put you out of business. It was easy to find out what hotel you were -stopping at, as that's been in all the papers. Then it was a simple -thing to glance over the register and get the number of your room. He's -either got a bellboy from some other hotel or dressed up somebody in -a bellboy's uniform. He's probably bribed him well, and it's been all -the easier because he didn't have to let on to the boy that there was -anything crooked about it. Told him perhaps that he was just playing -a little joke on a friend or something like that. There's the whole -story." - -"I guess that's about right," agreed Joe. "Gee, Jim, it's mighty lucky -that you knocked that glass out of my hand. I had noticed that it -tasted rather bitter, but put that down to too little sugar." - -"Let's send some of the stuff to a chemist and have it analyzed," -suggested Jim. - -"No," objected Joe, "that wouldn't do any good. The thing would be apt -to get into the papers, and that's the very thing we mustn't let happen -for the sake of the folks at home. We know enough about the stuff to -be sure that it was doctored in some way. Everything about the incident -tells of crookedness. Fleming was probably the master hand, although he -may have simply been the tool of Braxton. Those fellows are running up -a heavy account, and some day I hope we'll get the goods on them. We'll -just dump the stuff out so that nobody else will be injured. Then we'll -lay low but keep our eyes open. It's all that we can do." - -"Gee, that was one dandy homer, Joe," said the catcher some time later. - -"Best ever," added the first baseman. - -"Oh, I don't know," answered the young ball player modestly. "I think -I have done better. But it was great to carry it along to eleven -innings," he added, with a smile. - -"That tenth had me almost going," said the shortstop. "We came close to -spilling the beans," and he shook his head seriously. - -"Well, 'all's well that ends well,' as Socrates said to General Grant," -and Joe grinned. - -From Chicago the Giants jumped to St. Louis, where, despite the -stiffest kind of resistance, they took three games out of four. They -were not quite as successful in Cincinnati, where the best they could -get was an even break. The Reds saw a chance to come in third, in which -case they would have a share in the World Series money, and they were -showing the best ball that they had played all season. The Giants had -all they could do to nose them out in the last game, which went to -eleven innings and was only won by a home run by Joe in the wind-up. - -Seven games out of twelve for a team on the road was not bad, but it -would have been worse if the Pirates, in the meantime, had not also had -a rocky road to travel. The Brooklyns had helped their friends across -the bridge by taking the Pittsburghs into camp to the tune of three -games out of four and the Bostons had broken even. With the Phillies, -however, the Pirates had made a clean sweep of the four games. So when -the Giants faced their most formidable foes, they still had the lead of -four games with which they had begun their Western trip. - -This, of course, gave the Giants the edge on their rivals. The -Pittsburghs would have to win the whole four games to draw up on even -terms with the leaders. In that case a deciding game would be necessary -to break the tie. On the other hand all the Giants had to do was to win -one game of the four and they would have the championship cinched. And -that they would do at least that seemed almost a certainty. - -But nothing is certain in baseball, as soon became evident. Perhaps -it was overconfidence or a sense of already being on easy street that -caused the Giants to lose the first game. That, however, could not be -said of the second, when the Giants "played their heads off," Jim said, -and yet could not win against the classy pitching and stonewall defense -put up by the Smoky City team. Things were beginning to look serious -for the Giants, and some of their confidence was vanishing. - -Still more serious did they become when the third game went into the -Pirates' basket. Jim pitched in that game and twirled wonderful ball, -but his support was ragged, and several Pirate blows that ought to have -been outs were registered ultimately as runs. They were unearned runs, -but they counted in the final score as much as though they had been due -to the team's hitting. The Giants were long-faced and gloomy. - -McRae was clearly worried. If the next game were lost, the leaders -would be tied, and the Pirates would still have a chance to win. It -would be a bitter pill to swallow if the Giants lost the flag just when -it had seemed that all was over except the shouting. - -Moreover, the manager was in a quandary. All his first string pitchers -had been beaten. His best one in active service at the present time, -Jim, had pitched that day and it would not do to ask him to go into the -box again to-morrow. In his desperation he turned to Joe. - -"Joe," he said, "we're up against it unless you can help us out. How -is your hand feeling? Would you dare to take a chance with it?" - -"I think it's all right now, or nearly so," replied Joe. "I've been -trying it out in practice right along, and it seems to me it's about as -good as ever. I was putting them over to Mylert yesterday, and he told -me he couldn't see any difference between them and those I threw before -I was hurt. The only thing I'm a little skittish about is my fadeaway. -That gives me a little twinge when I try it. But I guess I can leave -that out and still pull through." - -"That's good!" ejaculated McRae, with great relief. "Go in then, old -boy, and show these pesky Pirates where they get off. We simply must -win this game." - -There was a startled murmur among the spectators who thronged Forbes -Field that afternoon when they saw Joe go into the box. They had been -gloating over the supposition that McRae would have to use again one of -the pitchers whom the Pirates had already beaten in that series, and -the way their pets were going, they looked for a sure victory. Now they -saw the man who had always baffled the Pittsburghs again take up the -pitcher's burden, and their faces took on a look of apprehension. - -The Pirate players too shared in that apprehension. They had a profound -respect for Joe's ability, and had always had a sinking of the heart -when they saw him draw on his glove. Still, they comforted themselves -with the hope that his long layoff had hurt his effectiveness, and they -braced to give him the battle of his life. - -Joe himself felt a thrill of exultation when he stepped on the mound. -That was his throne. There he had won the laurels that crowned him as -the greatest pitcher of his League. Now he was back again, back to -buoy up the spirit of his team, back to justify the confidence of his -manager, back to uphold his fame, back to bring the championship of the -National League once more to New York. - -He still carried in his pocket Mabel's glove, that he had come to -regard as his mascot. He touched it now. Then he wound up for the first -pitch and split the plate for a strike. - -It was an auspicious beginning of one of the greatest games he had ever -pitched in his whole career. The Pirates simply did not have a chance. -All through the game they were swinging wildly at a ball that seemed to -be bewitched, a ball that dodged their bats and appeared to be laughing -at them. Angered and bewildered, they tried every device to avoid -impending defeat. They bunted, they put in pinch hitters, they called -the umpire's attention to Joe's delivery in the hope of rattling him, -they tried to get hit with the ball. - -Through it all, Joe kept on smiling and mowing them down. Only three -men got to first. Not one got to second. Thirteen men went out on -strikes. And then, to cap the climax, Joe sent a screaming homer into -the right field bleachers, sending in two men ahead of him. - -The final score was 8 to 0. The Giants had won the championship of the -National League. Now they were to battle for the championship of the -world! - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE WORLD SERIES - - -It was a happy team of Giants that left Pittsburgh that night on the -sleeper for New York. The season's strain was over. The coveted flag -was theirs. They had fought their way through many discouragements, had -stood the gaff, and now they were at the top of their League, with none -to contest their title as champions. - -"Some victory, eh, Joe?" remarked Jim to his chum. - -"Right, Jim," was the ready reply. - -To be sure a great battle loomed up ahead of them, but they welcomed -that with eagerness. It meant thousands of dollars to every member of -the team, win or lose. But they had no thought of losing. The return of -their king pitcher to the box that afternoon, and the proof that he was -in magnificent form, had filled them chock full of confidence. - -And they were doubly glad that the Yankees were to be their opponents. -That had been settled three days before, when the American League -season had closed with the Yankees just nosing out the Clevelands at -the finish. It was settled that every game of the World Series would be -played in New York. - -This meant that there would be no long, tiresome, overnight journeys -between cities. But it meant more than that. It meant that the question -would now be settled once for all as to which of the New York teams was -the better. - -This had been a mooted question for a good many years past. Each team -had its warm friends and admirers, who were ready to back it through -thick and thin. The Giants, of course, had been established longer, and -had gained a strong place in the affections of the metropolis. Their -games, as a usual thing, drew many more spectators than those played by -their rivals. But of late the acquisition of Kid Rose by the Yankees -had drawn the greater attention to that team, and the Giants had been -cast in the shade. They were not used to this and did not relish it. -They knew the Yankees were a strong team, but at the same time they -believed that they could take their measure if it ever came to a -showdown. Now that showdown was at hand, and the Giants were glad of it. - -The public, too, were eager to have the question of supremacy settled. -The metropolis was fairly seething with excitement over the series, and -the hotels already were filling up with visitors from as far off as -the Pacific Coast. Not only columns but whole pages of the newspapers -were filled with comments and prophecies respecting the chances of the -respective teams. - -More than anything else in the public mind was the coming duel between -Kid Rose and Joe Matson as home run hitters. Which would make the -longer hits? Which would make the more home runs? These were the -questions that were on the lips of the fans wherever two or more of -them met. And the sporting pages of the daily newspapers were full of -it. - -The series this year was to consist of nine games if so many should be -necessary. The team that first won five games would be the champions of -the world. The members of the teams were to share in the money taken in -at the first five games played, so that there would be no inducement to -spin out the series. After certain percentages had been deducted sixty -per cent was to go to the winners and forty per cent to the losers. The -outlook was that each member of the winning team would get about five -thousand dollars and each member of the losing team between three and -four thousand, a difference great enough to make each player do his -best, apart from his loyalty to his team. - -Reggie had come up from Goldsboro, bringing Mabel with him, a -charge of which Joe promptly relieved him. She seemed to Joe more -distractingly beautiful than ever, and his heart thumped as he realized -that in less than a month she would be his own. That had been arranged -in their correspondence. The wedding would take place in Mabel's home -in Goldsboro, and after their honeymoon they were to go to Riverside, -to witness the marriage of Jim and Clara. The latter had hoped to come -on to see the World Series, but Mrs. Matson was not well enough to come -along, and Clara did not want to leave her. So poor Jim had to exercise -patience and not be too envious of the almost delirious happiness of -Joe and Mabel at being together. - -A more exciting World Series than that which now began between the -Giants and Yankees had never been known in the history of the game. -Both teams were out for blood. Every man was on his toes, and the -excited spectators were roused almost to madness by the almost -miraculous stops and throws pulled off by the fielders. From the start -it was evident that the nines were very evenly balanced, and that -whichever finally won would in all probability do so by the narrowest -kind of margin. - -Victory seesawed between the teams. Joe pitched the first game, and the -Giants won by 3 to 1. The Yankees took the second by 5 to 2. Jim held -them down in the third to two runs, while the Giants accumulated six. -The Yankees made it "fifty-fifty" by galloping away with the fourth -game in a free hitting contest, of which Markwith was the victim, the -final score being 9 to 5. The Giants again assumed the lead by copping -the fifth by 4 to 0, Joe decorating his opponents with a necklace of -goose eggs. They repeated on the following day, and with only one more -game needed to make the five, it looked as though they would be certain -winners. But the Yankees were not yet through, and they came back -strong on the two succeeding days and evened up the score. Each had won -four games. The ninth and final game would determine which team was to -be the champions of the world. - -In these contests, Joe had batted like a fiend. McRae had played him -in every game, putting him in the outfield on the days that he was -not scheduled to pitch. In the eight games, Joe had made six circuit -clouts, in addition to four three-baggers, three two-base hits, and -some singles. He was simply killing the ball. - -Kid Rose also had done sterling work, and had rapped out five homers, -besides a number of hits for a lesser number of bags. But Baseball Joe -so far had outclassed him, both in the number and the length of his -hits. There was no stopping him. High or low, incurve or outcurve, they -were all the same to him. That eagle eye of his located the course of -the ball unerringly, and when the ash connected with the ball that ball -was slated for a ride. - -There was no mistake about it. Joe had arrived. The batting crown was -his. He had long since been recognized as the king of pitchers. Now he -was hailed by acclamation as the greatest hitter in the game! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -THE GAME OF HIS LIFE - - -For the ninth and deciding game, McRae had selected Joe to pitch. - -"I don't need to tell you, Joe, how much depends on this game," McRae -said soberly, as the two came out of the clubhouse and walked across -the field towards the grandstand, which was crowded to suffocation. -"You know it as well as I do. I'm just counting on you, my boy. You've -never failed me yet in a pinch. You won't fail me now." - -"Trust me, Mac," replied Joe. "I'll do my best to win out." - -Hudson, the manager of the Yankees, was also pinning his faith on -the leader of his pitching staff, Phil Hays. He was a master of the -underhand delivery, and had already captured for the Yankees the two -games of the series in which he had pitched. In both games he had -sorely puzzled the Giants, for there was no pitcher in the National -League who used that delivery, and they had found it almost impossible -to gauge it. He also had a crossfire, that he used at times with -telling effect. He had not yet matched his pitching strength against -Joe's, and the crowd was all agog with curiosity to see them battle -against each other. - -Jim had been a little later than Joe in slipping into his uniform, and -was still in the clubhouse, after his friend had gone out on the field, -when Reggie came rushing in, panting and out of breath. - -"Where's Joe?" he asked, looking wildly around. - -"He's just gone out to practice," answered Jim. "Why, what's the -matter, Reggie?" - -"I've got to get Joe," Reggie panted, making a dash for the door. - -But Jim caught his arm. - -"Look here, Reggie," he said, holding to him tightly. "Joe mustn't be -upset. I can see that something's happened. Tell me what it is, and -I'll see about letting Joe know." - -"It's M-Mabel!" answered Reggie, stammering in his excitement. "She's -disappeared." - -"Disappeared!" echoed Jim, in bewilderment. "What do you mean?" - -"Just that," answered Reggie. "She went out this morning to call on -a friend, but said she'd get back to go with me to the game. I got -anxious when she didn't come, and called up her friend, who said she -hadn't seen her. Just then a messenger boy brought me this," and he -handed over a typewritten, unsigned note, which read: - - "Miss Varley is in safe hands. If Matson loses his game to-day - she will be returned this evening. If he doesn't, it will cost - $25,000 to get her back. Personal in papers to-morrow, signed - T. Z., will give exact directions for carrying on further - negotiations." - -"Now you see why I've got to see Joe right away," said Reggie in -frenzied impatience, snatching the note from Jim's hands. - -"You mustn't!" ejaculated Jim, barring the way. "Don't you see that -that's just what the rascals want you to do? You'd just be playing -their game. They want to get Joe so frightened and upset that he can't -pitch. It's the scheme of some gamblers who have bet on the Yanks to -win. They want to make sure that they will win, and so they want to -bribe or frighten Joe into losing. But probably if he did, they'd -demand the ransom money just the same. We'll have to keep it from Joe -until the game is over. Nothing will be lost by that. I'll give McRae a -tip and he'll let me off. Then you and I will get busy and do all that -we can for the next two hours. If we turn nothing up, we'll be back -here when the game ends and tell Joe all about it. Wait here a minute -till I see McRae, and then we'll get on the job." - -In five minutes he was back with the required permission, and as soon -as he had got into his street clothes he hailed a taxicab, and he and -Reggie jumped in and were off. - -When the bell rang for the game to begin, the Giants took the field, -and Milton, the big center-fielder of the Yankees, came to the plate. -Joe wound a high fast one about his neck, at which he refused to bite. -The next one split the rubber, and Milton swung savagely at it and -missed. The next was a called strike. On the following ball, he rolled -an easy grounder to Burkett at first, who made the put out unassisted. -The next man, Pender, Joe put out on strikes in jig time. Then the -mighty Kid Rose strode to the bat. - -He grinned at Joe and Joe grinned back. They were both good fellows, -and each thoroughly respected the other. There was no bitterness in -their rivalry. - -"Now little ball, come to papa!" sang out Rose. - -"Here he comes!" laughed Joe. "Take a look at baby." - -The ball whizzed over the plate, and Rose missed it by an inch. The -next he fouled off, as he did the following one. Then Joe tried a -fadeaway, and Rose fell for it, swinging himself halfway round with the -force of his blow. - -"You're out!" cried the umpire, and the Giant supporters in the stands -broke out in cheers. It was not often that Rose struck out, and the -feat was appreciated. - -In the Giants' half, Hays set them down in one, two, three order. Curry -flied to Russell in right, Iredell went out by the strike route, while -Burkett's grounder to Pender at short was whipped smartly down to first. - -The Yankees were easy victims in the second. Russell fanned, Walsh -lifted a twisting foul, on which Mylert made a superb catch close to -the Giants' dugout and Mullen hit a grounder between first and the box, -which Joe captured and fielded to Burkett in plenty of time. - -Joe was first up in the Giants' half, and had to doff his cap in -response to the cheers which greeted him as he came to the plate. - -Hays sized him up carefully and did not like his looks. The first ball -he threw him was so wide that Banks, the catcher, had to reach far out -to nab it with one hand. - -That might have been lack of control on Hays' part, but when a second -followed, that came nowhere in the range of Joe's bat, the crowd jumped -to the conclusion that he was deliberately trying to pass him, and a -storm of protests rained down on the diamond. - -"You're a game sport--not!" - -"Let Baseball Joe hit the ball!" - -"Yellow streak!" - -"Matson took a chance with Rose. Why don't you take a chance with -Matson?" - -"Where's your sand?" - -Whether Hays was stung by these jibes or not, the next ball curved -over the plate and just above the knee. There was a ringing crack, and -the ball sailed aloft in the direction of the bleachers with home run -written all over it. There was no need of hurrying, and Joe simply -trotted around the bases, while pandemonium reigned in the stands and -bleachers. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD - - -Wheeler went out on a fly to Milton, Willis fanned, and Larry closed -the inning with a pop up to second. But the Giants had scored first -blood, and in such a close game as this promised to be, that run stood -out like a lighthouse. - -In the third, McCarthy fell victim to Joe's curves and went out on -strikes. Banks was lucky and got to first on a grasser to Iredell that -took a wicked bound just as the shortstop was all set to receive it and -jumped into left. He was nipped a minute later, when Joe saw out of the -corner of his eye that he was taking too long a lead off first and made -a lightning throw to Burkett. Hays, after fouling off two, struck out -on a mean drop, and the inning ended without damage. - -Hays put one over for Denton that the latter pickeled for a dandy -grasser between third and short. Rose at left was slow in retrieving -the ball, and Denton by fleet running and a hook slide reached the -middle station. Here, however, he was caught napping. Then Hays braced -and set the next two players down on strikes. It was a deft exhibition -of "getting out of a hole," and deserved the generous applause that it -received. - -In the Yankees' half of the fourth, Milton sent one to Willis at third -that the latter stopped neatly but threw to first too wide, the ball -almost missing Burkett's fingers as he reached for it. Pender knocked -a grounder to Larry, but the latter hesitated a moment as to whether -to make the play at first or second, and when he finally chose second, -Milton had reached that bag, and both men were safe. Then Rose came to -the bat, with the Yankee partisans shouting wildly for a homer. - -Joe fooled him twice, but Rose caught the third one and poled a hit -to right. Wheeler and Denton both raced for it, and the latter by a -herculean effort just managed to get under it. In the meantime, Milton -had started forward, and Pender too was on his way. Quick as a flash, -Denton straightened up and sent the ball on a line to first. Pender had -turned and was running back, but was an easy out. Burkett shot the ball -to Larry, putting out Milton, who was scrambling back to second. It was -a superb triple play and the crowd went crazy. - -Iredell started the Giants' fourth with a liner to McCarthy, that -settled comfortably in the third baseman's glove. Burkett lammed a -single into right. Joe walloped a shrieking three-bagger between right -and center, that brought Burkett galloping to the plate for the second -run of the game. Wheeler was ordered to sacrifice, but his attempted -bunt resulted in a little fly to Hays, and Joe was held on third. Hays -turned on steam and struck Willis out. - -The fifth inning passed without scoring by either side. Both Joe and -Hays were pitching magnificent ball, and the crowds cheered each in -turn lustily. - -The first real hit that Joe yielded came in the sixth, when after -McCarthy had struck out, Banks lined a beauty into right between first -and second. It did no harm, however, for Joe tightened up immediately -and made Hays and Milton hit at empty air. - -The Giants in their half went the Yankees one better in the matter of -hits, and yet could not score. Curry sent a twister over second that -Mullen could not get under. Iredell followed with a slow roller down -the third base line, that McCarthy could not reach in time to field. A -moment later, however, Curry was caught napping at second, and Burkett -hit into a snappy double play, retiring the side. - -In the seventh, the Yankees broke the ice. Pender got a life, when his -high fly to third was muffed by Willis. Kid Rose came to the bat. - -"Put it over, Joe, and see me lose it," he called. "I was robbed last -time." - -"That's nothing, Kid," chaffed Joe. "You'll be killed this time." - -The first ball, which completely baffled the most dangerous slugger of -the American League, seemed to bear out this prediction. On the second, -however, Rose sent a neat hit to right that was good for two bases and -brought Pender over the plate, amid the thunderous roars of the Yankee -supporters. Russell tapped a little one in front of the plate, that Joe -got in time to put him out at first, but not to head Rose off at third. -Walsh went out on strikes. Mullen rolled one to Burkett, and Joe ran -over to cover the bag, but Burkett's throw hit the dirt and Rose came -over the plate, tying the score. McCarthy fanned, and the inning was -over. One hit, sandwiched in with errors, had knocked the Giants' lead -into a cocked hat and tied up the game. - -Not for long, however. Joe was the first man up, and came to the plate -with blood in his eye. The first two offerings he let go by. The third -was to his liking. There was an explosion like the crack of a gun and -the ball started on its journey. - -That journey was destined to be talked about for years to come. It was -the longest hit that ever had been made on the Polo Grounds. On it -went over right field, over the bleachers and over the fence, clearing -it at a height of fifty feet. - -In the wild roar that went up as Joe loped around the bases, even -the Yankee supporters joined. It was an occasion that rose above -partisanship, an outstanding event in the history of sport. The -spectators cheered until they were hoarse, and it was a minute or two -before play could be resumed. - -The rest of the inning was short and sweet. Wheeler, Willis and Larry -went out in order, the first two on strikes and the latter on a -grounder fielded by Mullen. - -The eighth was on the same snappy order. Joe was determined to maintain -his advantage, and was invincible. Banks grounded to the box, and Joe -tossed him out. Hays fanned for the second time and Milton followed -suit. - -Hays, too, was going strong, and the Giant batsmen went down before -him like a row of tenpins. Denton made three futile attempts and threw -down his bat in disgust. Mylert cut three successive swaths in the -atmosphere and went back to the bench, while Curry fouled out to Banks. - -In the ninth, the Yankees again sewed it up. Pender got to first, when -Larry was slow in fielding his grounder. The mighty Rose came up amid -frantic cheering. But Joe summoned all his cunning, and for the second -time that day struck him out, while the crowd cheered his sportsmanship -in not passing him to first. Russell popped up an infield fly that -Willis and Iredell ran for but collided, the ball dropping between -them. In the scramble that ensued, Pender reached third and Russell -made second. Iredell was still a little shaken by the collision, and -fumbled the easy grounder of Walsh that ought to have resulted in an -out at the plate, Walsh reaching first in safety. In consequence Pender -scored, and again the game was tied at 3 to 3. A single now would have -brought in another run, but Joe by a quick throw caught Walsh asleep at -first and struck out Mullen, thus ending the inning. - -With the frenzied adjurations of McRae and Robbie in their ears, the -Giants came to the bat for the last half of the ninth. Iredell made -a mighty effort, but came back to the bench after three fruitless -swings at Hays' benders. Burkett sent up a towering skyscraper that was -gathered in after a long run by Milton in center. - -On Joe now rested the Giants' hopes. Twice that day he had poled out -homers, and once he had ripped out a three-bagger. Could he repeat? - -Hays was determined that he shouldn't have a chance. Amid the jeers -and taunts of the crowd, he deliberately sent three balls wide of the -plate. In attempting to do the same with the fourth, however, he sent -it a trifle too close. Joe caught it on the end of his bat. - -How that ball traveled! Almost on a line it whistled through the air -in the direction of the right field bleachers. On and on went that -terrific, screeching liner straight into the crowd in the bleachers who -scrambled frantically to get out of its path. - -Round the bases went Joe, amid shouts and yells that were deafening. -Down on the home plate he came with both feet. The game was won, the -series was over and the Giants were the champions of the world! - -Like a deer Joe made for the clubhouse, to escape the crowds that came -swarming over the field. He reached it just as a man was being carried -inside. - -"What's the matter?" he asked. "Any one hurt?" - -"Only a glancing blow," remarked the club doctor, who had been looking -the man over. "He's dazed, but he'll come to his senses soon." - -Joe bent over to look at him and started back in surprise. - -"Why, I know that man!" he exclaimed. "His name's Fleming!" - -"It's Fleming all right," said Jim's voice beside him. "And he's got -just what was coming to him." - -Joe looked up and saw Jim and Reggie. They were grave and worried, and -Joe's sixth sense told him that something was wrong. - -"What's happened?" he asked in alarm. "And where is Mabel? What kept -her from the game? Don't stand there dumb! Tell me, quick!" - -"Now, Joe----" began Jim soothingly, but was interrupted by the injured -man who opened his eyes, looked wildly around and struggled to a -sitting posture. His eyes dilated with fright when he saw Joe and Jim. - -"I didn't do it!" he half screamed. "I didn't kidnap her! It was -Braxton. He----" - -Jim interposed. - -"Clear a space here," he commanded. "This is a private matter for Joe -and me. Now, Fleming," he went on in short, menacing words that cut -like a knife, "tell me this instant where Miss Varley is. You know. -Tell me. Quick! Don't lie, or I'll tear your tongue out by the roots." - -Before the blazing fury in his eyes Fleming quailed. - -"She's at Inwood," he muttered. "She's safe enough. She's----" - -"Reggie," commanded Jim, "jump into the car and take the wheel. Joe, -help me to get this man into the car. Don't talk. I'll explain as we go -along. Doyle," he continued, turning to a police lieutenant who was a -warm admirer of the boys and who happened to be standing near, "come -along with us if you don't mind. It may be a case for you." - -"Sure thing," replied Doyle. "I'm with you." - -They half dragged, half carried, Fleming to the car, and Reggie put on -speed. The lieutenant sat in front with him, and his uniform prevented -any question on the part of the traffic policemen. Fleming, pale and -apprehensive, was thrust into a corner of the tonneau, while Jim -explained the situation to Joe, who was boiling with rage. - -The headlong speed at which Reggie drove soon brought them to the -vicinity of Inwood, and following the faltering directions of Fleming, -they drew up before a little house that was a block away from any of -its neighbors. - -They tiptoed up the steps, Joe having his hand so tightly on Fleming's -collar that his knuckles ground into his neck. - -"You know what you've got to do, Fleming," he whispered. "If you don't -do it----" - -His grip tightened and his fist clenched. - -Trembling, Fleming opened the front door with his latchkey, and the -party went softly through the hall. They stopped in front of a door -from behind which a man was heard talking. - -"I'm sorry to have to incommode you, Miss Varley," he was saying in -suave polished tones that the boys recognized at once as Braxton's. -"But unfortunately it is necessary to the success of my plans. You -can't complain that we haven't treated you with perfect respect outside -of the little violence we had to use to get you into the car." - -There was no reply, but the party could hear the sound of sobbing. - -"Knock," whispered Joe, emphasizing the command by a twist of Fleming's -collar. - -Fleming knocked. - -"Who's there?" came from within. - -"It's Fleming," was the weak answer. "Open up." - -The door opened and the party went in with a rush. - -There was a cry of joy from Mabel and a startled exclamation from -Braxton. He looked toward the door, but the burly policeman had closed -it and stood with his back against it. The next instant Joe had smashed -Braxton straight between the eyes and the rascal measured his length on -the floor. An instant more, and Mabel was in Joe's arms, sobbing her -heart out against his breast. - -For a few moments the reunited ones were dead to the world around them. -When at last they had come to their senses, Joe, with a final caress, -relinquished Mabel to Reggie's care. - -"You'd better go out to the car, dearest," he said to her. "I'll be -with you soon. I've got a little business to attend to here." - -The brother and sister went out, and Joe turned to the rest of the -party. Braxton had been yanked to his feet by Jim and jammed down hard -into a chair, where he sat glowering with rage and fear. Doyle stood -guard over Fleming, who presented a miserable picture of abjectness. - -"Shall I take them in charge, Mr. Matson?" asked the police lieutenant. -"You seem to have a clear case against them. They ought to get ten -years at least." - -The fear in the rascals' faces deepened. - -"No," answered Joe thoughtfully. "I don't want any scandal and I don't -believe I'll make a charge. At least, not yet. Jim, can you skirmish -around and find pen and ink?" - -In a minute or two Jim had found them. - -"Now, you contemptible skunks," began Joe, "listen to me. I'm going to -get a written confession from you of this whole business. Put down, -Jim, that matter of the anonymous letter. Don't try to lie out of it, -you scoundrel," he said, as Braxton started to protest. "Put down, too, -that hiring of the auto bandits to cripple me." Here Braxton gave a -violent start. "Put down that attempt to dope me in Chicago. That hits -you on the raw, doesn't it, Fleming?" he added, as the latter cringed -still lower in his seat. "We'll pass over the matter of hiring Bugs -Hartley to do me up in St. Louis, for he may have done that on his -own account. Now add this kidnaping incident and the record will be -complete." - -Jim wrote rapidly and soon had the document ready. - -"Now we'll ask these gentlemen to sign," said Joe, with exaggerated -politeness. - -"I won't sign," snarled Braxton, livid with rage. - -"Oh, you won't?" said Joe. "All right, Lieutenant----" - -"I'll sign," said Braxton hastily. - -Both he and Fleming signed, and Joe put the document carefully into his -pocket. - -"Now," he said, "I have you rascals on the hip. Dare to make one other -move against me as long as you live, and I'll have you clapped into -jail so quickly it will make your heads swim. I'll put you where the -dogs won't bite you." - -Both Braxton and Fleming rose to their feet. - -"Where are you going?" asked Joe, in apparent surprise. - -"You're through with us, aren't you?" growled Braxton. - -Joe laughed outright. - -"Oh, dear no," he said, as he rose to his feet. "There's just one -little thing to attend to yet. I'm going to thrash you within an inch -of your life." - -Braxton made a dash for the door, but Joe caught him a clip on the jaw -that sent him staggering back into a corner. - -"Now Jim," said Joe, "suppose you take that little rat out," pointing -to Fleming, "and drop him somewhere. He got his dose when the ball -knocked him out in the bleachers, and that perhaps will be enough for -him. Lieutenant," he went on, turning to Doyle, "you're a policeman, -and might feel called on to stop any scene of violence. I feel it in my -bones that there's going to be a little violence here--just a little. -Would you mind stepping outside and seeing whether the car is all -right?" - -"Sure," replied Doyle, with a grin and a wink. - -"Now, you cur," said Joe, as he turned to Braxton, "take off your coat. -It's a long account I have to settle with you, and I'm going to give -you the licking of your life." - -There was no way out, and Braxton took off his coat and closed in. He -was a big man and fought with the desperation of a cornered rat. He got -in one or two wild blows that did no damage. Joe smashed him right and -left, knocked him down and lifted him to his feet to knock him down -again, until Braxton, beaten to a finish, refused to get up, and lay in -a heap in a corner, fairly sobbing with rage and pain and shame. - -"Just one little bit of news, Braxton," said Joe, as he turned to -leave. "You've lost your bets. The Giants won!" - -He ran lightly down the steps and jumped into the car, where Mabel -snuggled up to him. - -"What kept you so long, Joe?" she asked anxiously. - -"Just settling an account, honey," he replied, as he drew her closer. -"It was a long one and took some time." - -"An account? What do you mean?" the girl asked, and then added -suddenly: "Oh, Joe, you are all--all mussed up!" - -"Am I, dear? Well, if I am you ought to see the other fellow, that's -all." - -"It was a--a fight?" she faltered. - -"Hardly that, Mabel. Braxton had it coming to him--and I gave it to him -with interest. But let us forget it. It's over now, and all I want to -think about is--you!" And he held her closer than ever. - - * * * * * - -A few weeks later the wedding march was played in Mabel's home, and she -and Joe joined hands for life. Clara was bridesmaid and Jim was best -man. Mr. and Mrs. Matson, the latter greatly improved in health, were -present. It was a glorious occasion, and all of them, the bride and -groom especially, were happy beyond words. - -"I'm quite a royal personage," said Mabel, as the happy pair, amid -a shower of rice, started off on their honeymoon. "To think of poor -little me marrying the king of pitchers and king of batters." - -"As Reggie would say, you're 'spoofing' me," he laughed. "At any rate, -I'm luckier than most kings. I've picked a perfect queen." And Baseball -Joe smiled broadly. - -And he had a right to smile, don't you think so? - - -THE END - - - - -THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES - -BY LESTER CHADWICK - - -_12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid_ - -[Illustration] - - BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS - _or The Rivals of Riverside_ - -Joe is an everyday country boy who loves to play baseball and -particularly to pitch. - - - - BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE - _or Pitching for the Blue Banner_ - -Joe's great ambition was to go to boarding school and play on the -school team. - - - BASEBALL JOE AT YALE - _or Pitching for the College Championship_ - -Joe goes to Yale University. In his second year he becomes a varsity -pitcher and pitches in several big games. - - - BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE - _or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_ - -From Yale college to a baseball league of our Central States. - - - BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE - _or A Young Pitcher's Hardest Struggles_ - -From the Central League Joe goes to the St. Louis Nationals. - - - BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS - _or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_ - -Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay. - - - BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES - _or Pitching for the Championship_ - -What Joe did to win the series will thrill the most jaded reader. - - - BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD - _or Pitching on a Grand Tour_ - -The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world. - - - BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING - _or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record_ - -Joe becomes the greatest batter in the game. - - - BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE - _or Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy_ - -Throwing the game meant a fortune but also dishonor and it was a great -honor to defeat it. - - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES - -BY CLARENCE YOUNG - - -_12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid_ - -[Illustration] - - The Motor Boys - _or Chums Through Thick and Thin_ - - The Motor Boys Overland - _or A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune_ - - The Motor Boys In Mexico - _or The Secret of The Buried City_ - - The Motor Boys Across the Plains - _or The Hermit of Lost Lake_ - - The Motor Boys Afloat - _or The Cruise of the Dartaway_ - - The Motor Boys on the Atlantic - _or The Mystery of the Lighthouse_ - - The Motor Boys in Strange Waters - _or Lost in a Floating Forest_ - - The Motor Boys on the Pacific - _or The Young Derelict Hunters_ - - The Motor Boys in the Clouds - _or A Trip for Fame and Fortune_ - - The Motor Boys Over the Rockies - _or A Mystery of the Air_ - - The Motor Boys Over the Ocean - _or A Marvelous Rescue in Mid-Air_ - - The Motor Boys on the Wing - _or Seeking the Airship Treasure_ - - The Motor Boys After a Fortune - _or The Hut on Snake Island_ - - The Motor Boys on the Border - _or Sixty Nuggets of Gold_ - - The Motor Boys Under the Sea - _or From Airship to Submarine_ - - The Motor Boys on Road and River - _or Racing to Save a Life_ - - -THE MOTOR BOYS SECOND SERIES - -BY CLARENCE YOUNG - - Ned, Bob and Jerry at Boxwood Hall - _or The Motor Boys as Freshmen_ - - Ned, Bob and Jerry on a Ranch - _or The Motor Boys Among the Cowboys_ - - Ned, Bob and Jerry in the Army - _or The Motor Boys as Volunteers_ - - Ned, Bob and Jerry on the Firing Line - _or The Motor Boys Fighting for Uncle Sam_ - - Ned, Bob and Jerry Bound for Home - _or The Motor Boys on the Wrecked Troopship_ - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES - -BY ROY ROCKWOOD - - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_Stories of adventures in strange places, with peculiar people and -queer animals._ - - 1. THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE - _or The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch_ - -The tale of a trip to the frozen North with a degree of reality that is -most convincing. - - 2. UNDER THE OCEAN TO THE SOUTH POLE - _or The Strange Cruise of the Submarine Wonder_ - -A marvelous trip from Maine to the South Pole, telling of adventures -with the sea-monsters and savages. - - 3. FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND - _or The Mystery of the Center of the Earth_ - -A cruise to the center of the earth through an immense hole found at an -island in the ocean. - - 4. THROUGH SPACE TO MARS - _or The Most Wonderful Trip on Record_ - -This book tells how the journey was made in a strange craft and what -happened on Mars. - - 5. LOST ON THE MOON - _or In Quest of the Field of Diamonds_ - -Strange adventures on the planet which is found to be a land of -desolation and silence. - - 6. ON A TORN-AWAY WORLD - _or Captives of the Great Earthquake_ - -After a tremendous convulsion of nature the adventurers find themselves -captives on a vast "island in the air." - - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE JACK RANGER SERIES - -BY CLARENCE YOUNG - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - - -[Illustration] - -_Lively stories of outdoor sports and adventure every boy will want to -read._ - - - 1. JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL DAYS - _or The Rivals of Washington Hall_ - -You will love Jack Ranger--you simply can't help it. He is bright and -cheery, and earnest in all he does. - - - 2. JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP - _or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range_ - -This volume takes the hero to the great West. Jack is anxious to clear -up the mystery surrounding his father's disappearance. - - - 3. JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES - _or Track, Gridiron and Diamond_ - -Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts of school -games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field. - - - 4. JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE - _or The Wreck of the Polly Ann_ - -How Jack was carried off to sea against his will makes a "yarn" no boy -will want to miss. - - - 5. JACK RANGER'S GUN CLUB - _or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail_ - -Jack organizes a gun club and with his chums goes in quest of big game. -They have many adventures in the mountains. - - - 6. JACK RANGER'S TREASURE BOX - _or The Outing of the Schoolboy Yachtsmen_ - -Jack receives a box from his father and it is stolen. How he regains it -makes an absorbing tale. - - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES - -BY LESTER CHADWICK - -_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ - -_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ - -[Illustration] - -_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._ - - - 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons, a "hayseed," makes good on the scrub team of Randall -College. - - - 2. A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK - _A Story of College Football_ - -A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick's best style, that is bound to -grip the reader from the start. - - - 3. BATTING TO WIN - _A Story of College Baseball_ - -Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on -Randall College team. There is a great game. - - - 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN - _A Story of College Football_ - -After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes -a touchdown that won a big game. - - - 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL - _A Story of College Athletics_ - -The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely -exciting. - - - 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS - _A Story of College Water Sports_ - -Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track, -gridiron and diamond. - - -_Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York - - - - -THE WEBSTER SERIES - -By FRANK V. WEBSTER - - -[Illustration] - -Mr. Webster's style is very much like that of the boys' favorite -author, the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales are -thoroughly up-to-date. - -=Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. Stamped in various -colors.= - -=Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.= - - Only A Farm Boy - _or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life_ - - The Boy From The Ranch - _or Roy Bradner's City Experiences_ - - The Young Treasure Hunter - _or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska_ - - The Boy Pilot of the Lakes - _or Nat Morton's Perils_ - - Tom The Telephone Boy - _or The Mystery of a Message_ - - Bob The Castaway - _or The Wreck of the Eagle_ - - The Newsboy Partners - _or Who Was Dick Box?_ - - Two Boy Gold Miners - _or Lost in the Mountains_ - - The Young Firemen of Lakeville - _or Herbert Dare's Pluck_ - - The Boys of Bellwood School - _or Frank Jordan's Triumph_ - - Jack the Runaway - _or On the Road with a Circus_ - - Bob Chester's Grit - _or From Ranch to Riches_ - - Airship Andy - _or The Luck of a Brave Boy_ - - High School Rivals - _or Fred Markham's Struggles_ - - Darry The Life Saver - _or The Heroes of the Coast_ - - Dick The Bank Boy - _or A Missing Fortune_ - - Ben Hardy's Flying Machine - _or Making a Record for Himself_ - - Harry Watson's High School Days - _or The Rivals of Rivertown_ - - Comrades of the Saddle - _or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_ - - Tom Taylor at West Point - _or The Old Army Officer's Secret_ - - The Boy Scouts of Lennox - _or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_ - - The Boys of the Wireless - _or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_ - - Cowboy Dave - _or The Round-up at Rolling River_ - - Jack of the Pony Express - _or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail_ - - The Boys of the Battleship - _or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_ - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -THE TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES - -By ALLEN CHAPMAN - -Author of the "Fred Fenton Athletic Series," "The Boys of Pluck -Series," and "The Darewell Chums Series." - -12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid. - -Tom Fairfield is a typical American lad, full of life and energy, a boy -who believes in doing things. To know Tom is to love him. - - -[Illustration] - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS - _or The Chums of Elmwood Hall_ - -Tells of how Tom started for school, of the mystery surrounding one of -the Hall seniors, and of how the hero went to the rescue. The first -book in a line that is bound to become decidedly popular. - - - TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - _or The Wreck of the Silver Star_ - -Tom's parents had gone to Australia and then been cast away somewhere -in the Pacific. Tom set out to find them and was himself cast away. A -thrilling picture of the perils of the deep. - - - TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP - _or The Secret of the Old Mill_ - -The boys decided to go camping, and located near an old mill. A wild -man resided there and he made it decidedly lively for Tom and his -chums. The secret of the old mill adds to the interest of the volume. - - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK - _or Working to Clear His Name_ - -While Tom was back at school some of his enemies tried to get him into -trouble. Something unusual occurred and Tom was suspected of a crime. -How he set to work to clear his name is told in a manner to interest -all young readers. - - - TOM FAIRFIELD'S HUNTING TRIP - _or Lost in the Wilderness_ - -Tom was only a schoolboy, but he loved to use a shotgun or a rifle. In -this volume we meet him on a hunting trip full of outdoor life and good -times around the camp-fire. - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES - -By ROY ROCKWOOD - - -Author of "The Dave Dashaway Series," "Great Marvel Series," etc. - -12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid. - -All boys who love to be on the go will welcome the Speedwell boys. They -are clean cut and loyal lads. - - -[Illustration] - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS ON MOTOR CYCLES - _or The Mystery of a Great Conflagration_ - -The lads were poor, but they did a rich man a great service and he -presented them with their motor cycles. What a great fire led to is -exceedingly well told. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR RACING AUTO - _or A Run for the Golden Cup_ - -A tale of automobiling and of intense rivalry on the road. There was an -endurance run and the boys entered the contest. On the run they rounded -up some men who were wanted by the law. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR POWER LAUNCH - _or To the Rescue of the Castaways_ - -Here is an unusual story. There was a wreck, and the lads, in their -power launch, set out to the rescue. A vivid picture of a great storm -adds to the interest of the tale. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS IN A SUBMARINE - _or The Lost Treasure of Rocky Cove_ - -An old sailor knows of a treasure lost under water because of a cliff -falling into the sea. The boys get a chance to go out in a submarine -and they make a hunt for the treasure. - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR ICE RACER - _or The Perils of a Great Blizzard_ - -The boys had an idea for a new sort of iceboat, to be run by combined -wind and motor power. How they built the craft, and what fine times -they had on board of it, is well related. - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - - * * * * * * - - - -Transcriber's note: - - --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected - except as indicated below. - - --Archaic and variable spellings were preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - --Inconsistencies in formatting and punctuation of individual - advertisements have been retained. - - --A List of Illustrations has been provided for the convenience of - the reader. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING*** - - -******* This file should be named 43940.txt or 43940.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/3/9/4/43940 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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