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-Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick

-

-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most

-other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions

-whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of

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-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.

-

-Title: Baseball Joe Saving the League

-       or, Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy

-

-Author: Lester Chadwick

-

-Release Date: March 31, 2019 [EBook #59169]

-

-Language: English

-

-Character set encoding: UTF-8

-

-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE ***

-

-

-

-

-Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed

-Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

-

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-

-

-

-[Illustration: HE ROUNDED THE BAG ON HIS WAY TO SECOND]

-

-

-

-

-                             Baseball Joe

-                           Saving the League

-

-                                  OR

-

-                    Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy

-

-

-                         _By_ LESTER CHADWICK

-

-                               Author of

-           “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE

-               AROUND THE WORLD,” “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

-  BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE

-

-

-=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, 1923, by

-                        CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY

-

-                   =Baseball Joe Saving the League=

-

-                          Printed in U. S. A.

-

-

-

-

-CONTENTS

-

-

- CHAPTER                           PAGE

-      I A SUDDEN CRASH                1

-     II CROOKED WORK                 14

-    III UNDER COVER                  25

-     IV LINING IT OUT                35

-      V PLAYING THE GAME             48

-     VI A HILARIOUS WELCOME          54

-    VII GROWING BEWILDERMENT         61

-   VIII A BLACK CONSPIRACY           66

-     IX THE TELLTALE PHOTOGRAPH      75

-      X WONDERFUL WORK               84

-     XI ON THE TRAIL                 90

-    XII THE POLICE RAID              96

-   XIII KEEPING IT CLOSE            105

-    XIV A NO-HIT GAME               112

-     XV THE STARTLING TELEGRAM      124

-    XVI REGGIE TO THE RESCUE        132

-   XVII SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE      140

-  XVIII THICKENING CLOUDS           148

-    XIX A FURIOUS FIGHT             156

-     XX TAKEN CAPTIVE               164

-    XXI AIR-TIGHT PITCHING          173

-   XXII JIM PUTS ONE OVER           180

-  XXIII A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE      189

-   XXIV THE ESCAPE                  198

-    XXV DOWN THE ROPE               205

-   XXVI SCATTERING THE RASCALS      212

-  XXVII LARRY HAS HIS SAY           219

- XXVIII A COUNCIL OF WAR            227

-   XXIX WEAVING THE WEB             234

-    XXX SAVING THE LEAGUE           240

-

-

-

-

-BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER I

-

-A SUDDEN CRASH

-

-

-“How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of

-the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the

-same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in

-either league.

-

-“Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American

-fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm

-and swung it around and around as though he were winding up. “Feels

-as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box

-yesterday.”

-

-“It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time

-yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim

-admiringly.

-

-“It was a hard game, sure enough,” admitted Joe. “Those fellows are

-tough birds, anyway, and always dangerous, especially when they stack

-up against the Giants. They had their batting clothes on yesterday,

-too, and were out for blood from the ring of the bell. Two or three

-times they had me in the hole, and it was only luck that we turned them

-back without a run.”

-

-“Luck, nothing!” exclaimed Jim warmly. “It was because you tightened up

-at the critical moments and stood them on their heads. You gave them a

-sample of the kind of pitching that won the last World Series for us

-against the Yanks.”

-

-“Put it down to the kind of support I got from the rest of the team,”

-said Joe modestly. “Some of the catches that Wheeler and Curry made

-were nothing less than highway robberies. That swipe by Zach Treat in

-the third inning had all the labels of a home run, and it was one of

-the niftiest bits of playing I’ve ever seen when Curry picked it off

-the fence.”

-

-“It was a whale of a catch all right,” Jim conceded. “But to offset

-that there was some rotten playing in the infield. McCarney at third

-acted as though his fingers were all thumbs. Twice he fell down on easy

-ones, and that high throw over Burkett’s head in the seventh let Ryan

-leg it all the way to third. It was only that snappy double play that

-Iredell engineered that kept us from being scored on in that inning.”

-

-“McCarney did have a bad day,” admitted Joe. “Hupft, too, let a ball

-get by him that went for two bases when he ran in to make a catch of

-Milton’s hit that he ought to have waited for on the bound. He might

-have seen that he couldn’t make it.”

-

-“I can’t quite make out those fellows,” said Jim thoughtfully. “When we

-got them on that trade with St. Louis, I thought they were going to be

-towers of strength to the team. They had a good record last year both

-in fielding and batting, and they certainly played like fiends in the

-spring-training practice. But since the regular season opened I haven’t

-known what to make of them. One day they’ll play like stars and the

-next you’d think they were a couple of bushers.”

-

-“You’re right about that,” agreed Joe. “But it isn’t that which gives

-me food for thought, Jim. Ball players are like race horses. One day

-they race like stake winners and the next they’re simply selling

-platers. There isn’t one of us that doesn’t sometimes have an off day.

-But the off days of Hupft and McCarney are different, somehow. There

-seems to be a kind of method in their offness.”

-

-“What do you mean by that?” asked Jim, with quickened interest. “Do you

-think they’re not loyal to the team?”

-

-“Why, I shouldn’t want to think that about anybody unless I had the

-goods on him,” answered Joe evasively. “Let’s hurry up now and get

-back. We’ve walked further than we intended to, and I want to get in a

-little practice this morning to keep my wing in condition.”

-

-The two chums had been strolling along in the parklike section of upper

-New York, at no great distance from the Polo Grounds. The time was a

-day in late spring, and there was just enough coolness in the air to

-make a walk delightful.

-

-Both of them were trained athletes, tall, muscular, and in the pink

-of condition. Perfect health and abounding vitality showed in the

-springiness of their steps and the easy swing of their shoulders as

-they walked along at a rapid pace.

-

-They had reported for duty at the appointed time that season in the

-training camp at San Antonio, Texas. During the winter they had kept

-themselves fit and hard, and even at the beginning of practice had

-shown that they were fit to fight for a man’s life. In both pitching

-and fielding they had been doing wonders, and when at last the bell

-rang for the beginning of the regular championship season they had

-never been in better form. Joe showed that his arm was the same mighty

-weapon that had struck fear into opposing batsmen the preceding year.

-In batting, too, he was knocking out homers with gratifying regularity.

-Jim, too, who now stood next to Joe as the most reliable flinger on

-the Giants’ staff, was playing the game of his life in the box. It was

-largely owing to the work of these two that the Giants stood up in the

-front rank of the competing clubs. The prophecy was, already, that they

-would win the championship, as they had won it the preceding year.

-

-“Come now, Joe,” coaxed Jim, as they drew near the family hotel where

-they were staying at the time, and which they had chosen for its

-proximity to the Polo Grounds. “Don’t go so far as you have without

-coming across with whatever’s on your chest. I’ve noticed for some time

-past that you were acting as though you had something on your mind.”

-

-“Nothing much except my hat, I guess,” remarked Joe, with a laugh that,

-however, did not sound very genuine.

-

-“Yes, you have,” Jim pressed him. “Something’s worrying you. I haven’t

-been with you so long, old boy, without being able to read your moods.

-A few weeks ago you were kicking up your heels like a colt let out to

-pasture. Lately you seem at times to be brooding over something. More

-than once when I’ve spoken to you you haven’t seemed to hear me. What’s

-bothering you? Out with it!”

-

-“Well,” said Joe, after a moment’s thought, “I suppose I might as well

-tell you. You’re the best friend I have on earth and there isn’t

-anybody else that I’d breathe a word to about it.”

-

-“Count on me, old boy, to be as silent as the grave,” asseverated Jim.

-

-“You were speaking about McCarney and Hupft and the off days they

-seemed to have in their playing,” said Joe slowly. “Well, have you ever

-happened to notice that most of those off days have been when I was

-pitching?”

-

-“By Jove, I hadn’t!” replied Jim, as his mind ran rapidly over some of

-the more recent games. “But now you speak of it, I can remember several

-times when they fell down badly when you were in the box. Yesterday

-was a case in point. I remember, too, that game with the Bostons when

-McCarney made three errors. And then there was that Philly game when

-you had them eating out of your hand and yet came within an ace of

-losing because of two boob plays by Hupft in center.”

-

-“Yes, that’s what you can remember offhand,” replied Joe. “But I’ve

-made a study of it and I could point out three or four other games

-when their work seemed queer. On the other hand, when the rest of the

-staff are pitching you couldn’t ask for much better support than they

-give. Now, once or twice wouldn’t mean anything. One swallow, or even

-two, doesn’t make a summer. But when it occurs so often, with me chosen

-as the goat, don’t you think there’s something more in it than mere

-coincidence?”

-

-“I certainly do,” agreed Jim. “Gee, Joe, you’ve knocked me all in a

-heap! What do you think it means? Have you had any words with them?”

-

-“None at all,” replied Joe. “In fact, I’ve tried to be especially nice

-to them, chiefly because they came from St. Louis, which, as you know,

-was my old team. I’ve gone out of my way to be friendly. But they’ve

-never thawed out, and lots of times when I’ve been going past them

-they’ve shut up as if they’d been talking about me and only resumed

-again after I got out of earshot. But there’s something more than that.

-

-“Do you remember the game we played with Pittsburgh when I came near

-to having my head knocked off by that throw from short center to the

-plate? The ball whizzed past my ear with the force of a bullet. If it

-had hit me, it would have been good night for yours truly.”

-

-“I remember,” replied Jim. “I was sitting near McRae on the bench in

-the dugout, and the old boy went white as he saw what a narrow escape

-you had.”

-

-“Well, then, do you remember who it was that threw that ball?”

-

-“Reddy Hupft!” exclaimed Jim. “He came in from center and got the ball

-only a little way back of second base. Then he threw to the plate to

-get Reilly, who was coming in from third.”

-

-“Yes,” said Joe. “And you know that throwing to the plate is his long

-suit. But that day it didn’t go to the plate. I had run out of the way

-so that he could have a clear field, and the ball followed me. It was

-altogether out of Mylert’s reach, and the runner scored. It was marked

-up against Hupft as an error.”

-

-“Great Scott!” cried Jim aghast. “Do you mean that he tried to injure

-you?”

-

-“I’m not saying anything,” replied Joe. “I’m just stating the cold

-facts. One thing more. In that game with Cincinnati last week you

-remember that I knocked out a homer in the ninth. At least I thought

-it was a homer. It had gone down to the fence, and I was nearly at

-third when Gallagher got his hands on the ball. I knew I could make the

-plate, but just as I was rounding third, McCarney, who was coaching at

-that corner, got in my way and I went down, heels over head. It was

-just by an eyelash that I was able to get to my feet and scramble back

-to third before the ball got there.”

-

-“I remember that Robbie gave him a good ragging for his clumsiness,”

-remarked Jim.

-

-“Clumsiness!” repeated Joe, dwelling significantly on the word. “If

-ever a man was deliberately tripped, I was that man. I felt his spikes

-as I went down. Going at the pace I was, I might have broken my leg or

-my neck. As it was, my ankle was sore for days.”

-

-“The skunks!” cried Jim, seething with rage that had been steadily

-growing as one after another of these facts was brought to his

-attention. “They ought to be blacklisted and put out of the league

-forever. You ought to expose them.”

-

-“No, that’s just what I don’t want to do,” objected Joe slowly. “Give

-a rascal rope enough and he’ll hang himself. In the first place, while

-I’m pretty well convinced in my own mind that all these things were

-done deliberately, I might not be able to convince others beyond a

-reasonable doubt. Of course they would be explained away by the men

-themselves as accidents, and there would be many who would believe them.

-

-“Then, too, I’m thinking of the good of the game. You know what a black

-eye baseball got when that White Sox conspiracy to throw games came to

-light. For a time it looked as though it might mean the death of the

-game. Luckily, it didn’t have that result, for the bulk of the public

-know what you and I know, that as a general thing baseball is as clean

-as a hound’s tooth――the whitest game of all American sports, except

-perhaps football. For forty years there hadn’t been a breath against

-it. But at last that sickening White Sox scandal showed that once in

-a blue moon certain ball players were weak enough or foul enough to

-betray their teams, their employers and the public.

-

-“That one lapse, that one black spot on the splendid record of the

-game, the public has forgiven in justice to the thousands of players

-that would cut off their right hands rather than not play the game

-fairly and squarely for all that is in them. The fans have wiped that

-off the slate. But don’t you see that if anything else of the kind

-should break out now it might kill the game beyond recovery?”

-

-“Sure thing,” assented Jim. “But at the same time I don’t see why you

-should let those fellows get away with it when perhaps your life might

-pay the penalty. It’s all right to think of the good of the game,

-but there’s a duty you owe to yourself and to others――to Mabel for

-instance.”

-

-“Yes, I’ve thought of all that,” said Joe, a look coming into his eyes

-at the mention of Mabel’s name that she would have been glad to see.

-“Don’t think for a minute that I’m going to be a martyr or anything

-like that. I’m not built that way. If those fellows are really out to

-do me, they’ll find before long that they have met their match. You

-know how many times rascals have tried to get the best of me and what’s

-happened to them. They’ve doped my coffee, they’ve tried to kidnap me,

-to smirch my reputation, and more than once they’ve tried to cripple

-or kill me. But they’ve never been able to put it over, and I’ve come

-out on top every time. And I’ve got a hunch that this present plot, if

-it really is a plot, is going to be knocked out like the others.

-

-“But it’s going to be done on the quiet. They’ll get all that’s coming

-to them, but if I can help it the public won’t get wise to just what it

-is that’s put them down and out. Understand?”

-

-“I get you, old boy,” returned Jim. “If they succeed in their dirty

-work, they’ll be the first that ever turned the trick on Baseball Joe.

-Count on me to stand right by you.”

-

-“I can always do that,” replied Joe warmly. “You’re always there when

-it comes to the showdown. But let’s put the matter out of our mind for

-the present. Here we are at the hotel. Let’s go out into the lot at the

-back and have a little pitching practice. I want to try out the hop on

-the ball that I’ve been developing this last week or two.”

-

-“I saw you used it two or three times yesterday,” said Jim. “It’s a

-winner, all right. The boys from over the bridge didn’t know what to

-make of it. They were hitting inches under it.”

-

-“I shan’t be satisfied until they are hitting a foot under it,” laughed

-Joe, as they went into the house.

-

-It was the work of only a moment to throw off their coats and don

-sweaters. Then they picked a ball from their collection and adjourned

-to the large open space back of the hotel that gave them abundant room

-for practice.

-

-Their temporary home was in a rapidly growing section, and all about

-them were buildings in various stages of construction. One of these was

-on the adjoining plot of ground. The work on this building had been

-temporarily stopped because of some business trouble of the builder,

-but there were large piles of building material heaped on the second

-floor and on the scaffolding that ran along the side of the building.

-

-For some time Joe and Jim pitched back and forth to each other,

-starting slowly, but gradually working out their arms until they were

-going under a full head of steam.

-

-Jim uncorked a wild one that Joe leaped for but was unable to reach.

-The ball was going with such momentum that it rolled a considerable

-distance before Joe finally retrieved it.

-

-“What do you think I am, an outfielder?” queried Joe, in mock reproach.

-

-“Too bad, old man,” laughed Jim. “But I’ve got it out of my system now

-and I won’t do it again.”

-

-“That’s what they all say,” remarked Joe, with a grin. “But ‘once

-bitten, twice shy,’ and I guess I’ll hunt up a backstop.”

-

-He looked around and found what he wanted in the side of the house that

-was being built next door.

-

-“Now you can be as wild as a hawk if you want to,” he laughed. “This

-house must be of pretty punk material if it lets the ball go through

-it.”

-

-There was no chance to prove whether it would or not, for Jim steadied

-down and kept the ball within his comrade’s reach. For perhaps ten

-minutes more they tried out their assortment of curves and slants.

-Suddenly a look of alarm came into Jim’s face.

-

-“Look out, Joe!” he yelled. “Look out! Jump! Quick!”

-

-The words had barely left his lips when, with a terrific crash a pile

-of lumber came tumbling down from the scaffold directly on the spot

-where Joe had been standing.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER II

-

-CROOKED WORK

-

-

-Quick as a panther, Joe had leaped at his friend’s shout of warning.

-

-Not so quickly, however, as wholly to escape injury. Two of the falling

-boards struck him a glancing blow on legs and arms and threw him to the

-ground.

-

-Jim was at his side in a second and pulled him to his feet.

-

-“Are you hurt, Joe?” he cried, frantic with alarm.

-

-“Nothing to speak of, I guess,” replied Joe, as he steadied himself and

-found to his infinite relief that his legs held firm under him. “A few

-bruises and scratches, but nothing worse. It was a close shave though.

-I’d have been a dead man if that pile had caught me full and square.”

-

-The sleeve of his left arm was torn, and there was a slight cut near

-the shoulder from which the blood was oozing. This, however, apart from

-bruises, was the extent of his injuries.

-

-“Lucky it wasn’t my pitching arm,” he remarked. “That would have been

-hard luck. Hello, Jim, where are you going?”

-

-This last ejaculation was caused by Jim’s action in leaving his side

-and rushing round to the front of the half-built house from the

-scaffold of which the lumber had fallen.

-

-Jim did not stop to make reply, but scurried as fast as he could to the

-street in front of the house. It was deserted, except for a solitary

-figure that had already covered a large part of the distance to the

-next corner. The man was not in overalls and did not look like a

-workman.

-

-Jim hallooed to him and the man looked back. But instead of stopping he

-broke into a run.

-

-In a moment Jim was after him like a hare. But the man was now near the

-corner, and by the speed he put on showed that he was no mean runner

-himself. He reached the corner just as a trolley car, going at a rapid

-rate, came dashing down the side street.

-

-With a recklessness that might have cost him his life, the man made a

-jump for the rear platform, clutching the rail with his extended hand.

-The shock seemed as though it might have wrenched his arm from its

-socket. But he held on desperately, and finally drew himself up on the

-platform and entered the car.

-

-By the time Jim reached the corner the car was a block away.

-Jim shouted and waved his hands, but the conductor was inside,

-expostulating with his passenger for the risk he had taken, and did not

-see or hear him.

-

-The case was hopeless, and Jim, inwardly raging, gave up the chase and

-retraced his steps. Joe, who had come to the front of the house to see

-what had caused Jim’s sudden departure, came forward to meet him.

-

-“What’s the big idea?” Joe asked, in some wonderment.

-

-“The idea,” panted Jim wrathfully, “is that I came near getting my

-hands on a big rascal and just missed doing it.”

-

-“A rascal?” exclaimed Joe.

-

-“That’s what I said,” replied Jim. “Come to the back of the house and

-I’ll show you what I mean.”

-

-“All right, Jim.”

-

-“You thought,” said Jim, “that when that pile of lumber came down it

-was an accident. So did I at first. I thought the scaffold had given

-way under the weight. But when I glanced at it I saw, as you can see

-now, that the scaffold hadn’t broken.”

-

-Joe looked and saw that Jim was right.

-

-“You mean――” he began slowly.

-

-“I mean,” said Jim, “that somebody pushed that lumber over the edge of

-the scaffold. And whoever that somebody was, he meant that the falling

-lumber should cripple you.”

-

-Joe looked at his chum with rage and horror dawning in his eyes. And

-while the full meaning of the dastardly act was sinking into his mind,

-it may be well for the benefit of those who have not read the preceding

-volumes of this series to leave him and his chum for a moment and tell

-who Joe was and by what steps he had reached his present position as

-the greatest pitcher that baseball had ever known.

-

-Joe Matson’s first experience on the diamond was gained in the little

-town of Riverside in a Middle Western State, where he had been born

-and brought up. From early boyhood he had loved the game and displayed

-a natural aptitude for pitching. His success in this restricted field

-soon made him known as one of the best amateur boxmen of his own and

-surrounding towns. His early exploits and the difficulties he had to

-overcome are narrated in the first volume of this series, entitled:

-“Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars; Or, the Rivals of Riverside.”

-

-In the second volume, “Baseball Joe on the School Nine,” can be noted

-the steady progress he was making in pitching skill. The bully of the

-school did all he could to throw obstacles in his way. But Joe throve

-on opposition and his grit first won and then increased his reputation.

-

-When, a little later, he went to Yale, he found a larger field for his

-prowess in the box. It is a hard thing for a newcomer to break into

-the ranks of the veteran upper classmen who have gained glory in the

-athletic field. But by a singular chance Joe found his opportunity

-when the “Princeton Tiger came down to put some kinks in the Bulldog’s

-tail.” It was a sadly bedraggled Tiger, however, that went back to his

-lair when Joe had got through with him and had chalked up a glorious

-victory for Yale.

-

-But Joe, although he stood well in his studies, was not altogether

-happy at the great university. His mother wanted him to study for the

-ministry, but Joe, although he respected that noble profession, felt

-too strongly the call to the outdoor life. He felt that he had it in

-him to make good in the ranks of professional baseball, and finally

-gained his mother’s reluctant consent to make the venture. His chance

-came when a minor league manager, who had been struck with his work in

-the game with Princeton, made him an offer. Joe promptly accepted, and

-it was not long before his manager learned that he had drawn a prize in

-getting a man on his team who had all the earmarks of a star. How Joe

-began to climb in professional baseball is told in the fourth volume of

-the series, entitled: “Baseball Joe in the Central League.”

-

-In these days of keen-eyed scouts no player can long hide his light

-under a bushel, and before long Joe, to his great delight, was

-drafted by the St. Louis team of the National League and ceased to be

-a “busher.” Here he was brought into competition with the greatest

-players of the game, and it soon became apparent that he could hold his

-own with any of them.

-

-No one realized this sooner than McRae, the famous manager of the New

-York Giants. Several books of this series are devoted to his exciting

-experiences with this great team, of which he was still the mainstay

-when this volume opens. It was his magnificent work in the box that won

-for the Giants the championship of the National League and carried them

-to victory in several World Series with the champions of the American

-League. After one of his greatest years he went with the team on a

-tour about the world, in the course of which he had many hazardous and

-thrilling adventures.

-

-During this time he was not only showing phenomenal skill as a pitcher,

-but was rapidly growing in repute as a batsman. He was a natural

-hitter, timing and meeting the ball perfectly and landing on it so

-hard that it sought the farthest corner of the field. Before long the

-fans began to crowd the grounds not only to see a ball game but to

-“see Matson knock out another homer.” How his batting and pitching

-combined made him a national baseball idol is narrated in the preceding

-volume of this series, entitled: “Baseball Joe, Home Run King; Or, the

-Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record.”

-

-But Joe had also won another victory that he prized above all his

-baseball triumphs. He had met and fallen in love with Mabel Varley, a

-charming girl whom he had met under romantic circumstances near her

-home at Goldsboro, North Carolina. The course of true love did not run

-altogether smoothly in his case more than in others, but all attempts

-to part them had been triumphantly overcome and at the close of the

-previous season on the diamond, Joe and Mabel had been married. Joe

-esteemed himself the happiest and luckiest of men.

-

-Joe had as his closest friend, Jim Barclay, a Princeton graduate who

-had entered the ranks of organized baseball and joined the Giants as a

-“rookie.” Joe had taken to him at once and they were speedily on the

-best of terms. Jim had a great deal of pitching ability, and under the

-careful tutelage of Joe he had blossomed out into a regular member of

-the pitching staff. At the present time he stood only second to Joe

-himself as a twirler, and bade fair to become one of the great stars of

-the game.

-

-Jim had met Joe’s sister Clara when the latter had come on to see her

-brother pitch in one of the World Series games and had lost his heart

-at once. She, for her part, had at once conceived a marked admiration

-for the stalwart, handsome friend of her brother, and this had soon

-ripened into a deeper feeling. So that when Jim the year before had

-asked her the momentous question he had got the answer he craved, and

-their marriage was to take place as soon as the playing season was over.

-

-Now to return to the two chums as they stood beside the pile of lumber

-that a few minutes before had so nearly caused the death of one of them.

-

-“You see then, Jim, that my hunch was right and that what I said to you

-a little while ago wasn’t imagination,” said Joe.

-

-“Some one is out to do you, for a fact,” assented Jim soberly. “And all

-I ask is that I may get my hands on him for five minutes. Just five

-little minutes! I’d make him wish he’d never been born!”

-

-“That fellow you were chasing must have been the one who did it,”

-ruminated Joe. “Did you get a good glimpse of him? Had you ever seen

-him before?”

-

-“Not that I know of,” replied Jim. “It certainly wasn’t either Hupft

-or McCarney, or I should have recognized him at a glance. But that

-doesn’t say that he mightn’t have been a tool of theirs. At any rate,

-you can be sure that he was the man that actually pushed over that pile

-of boards. His very running was a confession of guilt. And, by the way

-he ran, I shouldn’t wonder if he were a ball player himself. I’m not so

-slow myself, but he almost held his own. What a bit of bad luck it was

-that that trolley came along just at that minute.”

-

-“What did he look like?” asked Joe. “Was there anything you could

-identify him by if you should happen to meet him again?”

-

-“Well,” said Jim, cudgeling his memory, “I could see that his hair

-was light and that his ears stuck out more than most men’s. But I

-suppose there are ten thousand men in New York that would answer that

-description. He didn’t look like a workman and he didn’t have overalls

-on.”

-

-“How did he happen to be Johnny on the spot, I wonder,” mused Joe. “Do

-you suppose he’s been following us this morning?”

-

-“Hardly likely,” conjectured Jim. “What is more probable is that he

-knew that we were in the habit of practicing in this particular spot.

-It hasn’t been any secret, and more than once in the clubhouse I’ve

-mentioned what a dandy place we had for morning pitching practice. That

-probably led the plotters to reconnoiter about this neighborhood and

-get the lay of the land. The scaffold and the pile of lumber carried

-their own suggestion. Work on the building has stopped, and there’s

-nothing to prevent anybody lurking in the place ready to take advantage

-of any chance that might offer itself. Perhaps that fellow has been

-hiding in there every day for a week, figuring that some time in the

-natural order of things you’d be standing near that scaffold. And that

-he didn’t calculate wrongly is shown by what happened this morning.”

-

-“It was an infernal scheme all right,” said Joe. “A cunning one, too.

-If that stuff had really landed on me, it would have been put down as

-an accident, and no one would ever have been the wiser.”

-

-“Well,” remarked Jim, “a miss is as good as a mile and some good

-Providence must have been watching over you this morning. But it gives

-you a desperate feeling to realize that enemies are working against you

-in the dark and that you have no way of forcing them into the open.”

-

-“They’ll overreach themselves yet,” declared Joe confidently. “There

-never yet was a crook that didn’t give himself away at some time or

-other. In one way I’m glad this happened. It makes a certainty of what

-before had been only a probability. Now we know that somebody is trying

-to down me, and it will put us doubly on our guard. But of course I

-needn’t tell you, Jim, that Mabel and Clara must never hear a word of

-this. It would simply drive them crazy with worry.”

-

-“Trust me,” replied Jim. “We’ll keep this up our sleeves and tell them

-nothing about it until we’ve squelched the rascals who have been trying

-to get your number. And even then I guess we’d better keep mum. What

-they don’t know won’t hurt them.”

-

-“Righto,” assented Joe. “But now I guess we’d better have our lunch and

-get ready for the game. We won’t have any more time than we need to

-reach the grounds.”

-

-“I’m just as glad that it isn’t the turn of either of us to pitch

-to-day,” commented Jim. “I guess we’re both a bit too shaken up to be

-in our best form. But if my arm is idle to-day my eyes won’t be, and

-you can bet that from this time on I’ll watch Hupft and McCarney like a

-hawk.”

-

-“Same here,” responded Joe grimly. “And if I get the goods on them, may

-heaven have mercy on them――for I won’t!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER III

-

-UNDER COVER

-

-

-Joe and Jim ate their lunch that day in a little more thoughtful mood

-than usual, and that mood still persisted as they prepared to go to the

-grounds.

-

-But the ten minutes of brisk walking in the bracing air soon dissipated

-the somber shadow that had tried to settle down upon them. They were

-young and vital, the blood coursed strongly through their veins, and

-they were soon feeling the sheer joy of living that was natural to them.

-

-And this feeling grew stronger as they drew near the Polo Grounds.

-That famous park held a strong place in their affections. It was the

-visible symbol of their profession, the place where they had won their

-spurs, where they had gained glorious victories that thrilled them

-to the marrow as they recalled them, where they had fought memorable

-battles in which every particle of their strength and manhood had been

-called into play, where they had listened to the plaudits of cheering

-thousands who had lauded them to the skies when they had pulled some

-hotly contested game out of the fire.

-

-Soon they were in the midst of the procession that even at that early

-hour was wending its way towards the gates. It was not long before

-they were recognized, and admiring comments began to pass from one to

-another of the crowd.

-

-“That’s Baseball Joe, the king of them all.”

-

-“Did you see the game he pitched against the Brooklyns yesterday? It

-was a corker, all right.”

-

-“Trust him to show those bimbos from over the bridge where they get

-off.”

-

-“And that fellow with him is Barclay. There’s nothing slow about him,

-either. Has been going great guns all the season.”

-

-“If they only had two more like them the pennant would be cinched

-already. The Giants would win in a walk.”

-

-Joe and Jim would not have been human if such comments had not pleased

-them. But they were used to hero worship, and, as the crowd began to

-close in upon them and hinder their progress, they were glad enough

-when they reached the players’ gate and could slip into the grounds.

-

-Some of the players had preceded them to the clubhouse and were already

-getting into their uniforms, and the newcomers speedily followed their

-example.

-

-“What’s the matter with your arm, Joe?” asked Larry Barrett, the second

-baseman, “Laughing Larry,” as he was called because of his jolly

-disposition. “It’s all cut and bruised. Been in a fight?”

-

-“Nothing like that,” replied Joe, making haste to cover the injured

-member. “Had a tumble this morning and that arm got the brunt of it.

-Little bit sore yet, but it will be all right by to-morrow.”

-

-“Well, for the love of Pete, don’t have any more such tumbles,”

-implored Larry. “It might catch your pitching arm next time. And if

-anything happened to that wing of yours the Giants would be in the

-soup.”

-

-“They’d get out of it again,” countered Joe. “The Giants are too great

-a team to be dependent on one man. McRae would simply have to look

-around for another pitcher.”

-

-“Sure!” said Larry sarcastically. “Just as simple as that! Look around

-for another pitcher! There are plenty of pitchers such as they are, but

-there’s only one Matson.”

-

-“And that’s no lie,” broke in Curry, the star left fielder of the team.

-“Many’s the time, old boy, that you’ve carried the whole team on your

-back. And now that Hughson’s gone we’ll have to rely on you more than

-ever if we’re to have a look in for the flag.”

-

-“Good old Hughson,” murmured Joe regretfully. “It won’t seem like the

-old team without him. I only hope he’ll prove as great a manager as he

-was a pitcher.”

-

-There were murmurs of assent to this from all about him, for Hughson

-had been a favorite with every member of the team, as indeed he had

-been with players and fans all over the United States.

-

-For many years before Joe had broken into baseball, Hughson had stood

-for all that was best and greatest in the game. For more than ten

-years he had been recognized as the finest pitcher on the diamond.

-Again and again he had led the Giants to the championship. He had

-everything that a pitcher should have――speed, curves, slants, drops, in

-bewildering variety and profusion. The very fact that he was slated to

-pitch against a team was almost enough for that team to count the day

-lost. It was not merely the skill and strength of his pitching arm that

-inspired terror in his opponents. Still more formidable was the head

-set on his sturdy shoulders. He could outguess the batsman in a way

-that seemed almost uncanny. He mixed brains with his work, saving his

-strength when he could, letting the eight men behind him do their share

-of the work. But when the pinch came, he tightened up, and usually it

-was all over but the shouting.

-

-Add to this phenomenal skill that he was a gentleman, on and off the

-diamond, genial, kindly, always playing fair, an honor and an ornament

-to the national game, and it was not hard to understand his wonderful

-popularity.

-

-Joe had especial reason for the warm feeling with which he regarded

-Hughson. The latter had greeted him cordially when he first came to

-the Giant team. He had realized the marvelous skill with which Joe was

-endowed and he knew that the time might come when he would take his own

-crown as the greatest pitcher of the game. Yet there was no trace of

-jealousy or apprehension in his treatment of the newcomer. He coached

-him, corrected his faults, brought out his strong points and taught him

-all that he knew himself, not omitting the secret of the “fadeaway”

-ball that had made him famous. He and Joe had become and always

-remained the warmest of friends.

-

-An automobile crash in which Hughson had been caught had injured his

-pitching arm, and despite an extended course of treatment its magic had

-gone forever. Even after that misfortune, however, he had remained with

-the Giants for two seasons. But he was not the Hughson of old. He was

-able to get by in many games by favoring his arm and depending chiefly

-on headwork.

-

-Now he had left the team with which he had been identified for so many

-years and accepted the position of manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The

-best wishes of all the Giant team had gone with him. Already under his

-management the Reds were improving and seemed to be facing the best

-season they had had in years.

-

-Only the week before the Cincinnatis had played the Giants on the

-occasion of the first invasion of the Western clubs――played, too, with

-such vim and spirit that the best the Giants could do was to break even

-on the series.

-

-“Yes, the loss of Hughson has put a dent in our chances for the

-pennant,” put in Wheeler, the big center fielder. “Even with that lame

-wing of his he won more games for us than any others, except you and

-Jim. And you two, good as you are, can’t pitch every other day. McRae

-ought to have his lines out for a couple more prospects in the pitching

-line. The rookies we got this year haven’t made good in the box. Young

-Bradley shows promise, but he needs a year or so yet before he’ll be

-ready to take his regular turn.”

-

-“You bet the old man isn’t asleep,” said Burkett, the burly first

-baseman of the team. “He’s got his scouts out combing the minor leagues

-with a fine tooth comb. I hear he has a line on Merton of the San

-Francisco Seals. They say he shows all the signs of a top-notcher. But

-even if he gets him, he won’t be able to report till the end of the

-season, and by that time the pennant will be either lost or won.”

-

-“How about that Lemblow out in the Middle Western League?” chimed in

-Mylert, the Giant catcher. “They say he’s got speed to burn and a

-cross-fire delivery that reminds one of Hays of the Yankees. He’s crazy

-to break into the big league, and if the old man comes across with the

-‘mazuma’ I’ve no doubt he could get him.”

-

-“He may be a good pitcher,” remarked Iredell, the shortstop of the

-team. “But I’ve heard that he has a rather shady past. Not that they’ve

-ever been able to hang anything on him. Perhaps he’s too cunning for

-that. But there have been all sorts of rumors about him not being on

-the level, and where there’s so much smoke there may be some fire.”

-

-“I heard that he’s been resting up for a couple of weeks lately,”

-volunteered Willis, the Giants’ third baseman. “Hurt one of his fingers

-or something like that. I saw him pitch once in a barn-storming tour at

-the end of last season. He sure can put some smoke on the ball. Queer

-looking duck he is, too. Looks like a rube with his straw-colored hair

-and big ears sticking out from his head.”

-

-“What’s that you said?” put in Jim quickly.

-

-“I said that he put smoke on the ball,” replied Willis, in some

-surprise. “He just burned it over the plate.”

-

-“Yes, yes,” returned Jim impatiently. “But I was talking about his

-looks!”

-

-“I was just telling you he wouldn’t take any beauty prize,” replied

-Willis. “Big lob ears standing almost at right angles to his head

-and a headful of hair that looks like a stack of hay. Tall and thin,

-too, a regular beanpole. But what makes you so interested in the

-fellow’s looks? He doesn’t have to be an Apollo Cuticura――or is it

-Belvedere?――does he, to take his turn in the box?”

-

-“Not a bit of it,” agreed Jim, with a laugh. “That would rule a good

-many of us fellows off the diamond. But come along, Joe,” he added to

-his friend. “If we stay in here chinning very much longer, McRae will

-be after us with a big stick.”

-

-They went out of the clubhouse and made their way across the field. The

-bleachers were already full and there were only a few vacant spots in

-the grandstand. As Joe and Jim were recognized a vigorous handclapping

-rose from the spectators that told of the place they had in the

-affections of the fans.

-

-“Did you catch what Willis was saying about Lemblow?” Jim asked of Joe,

-as they got out of earshot of the others.

-

-“I got it all right,” replied Joe. “And I tumbled to your question

-about his looks. You thought that the description fitted the fellow

-that pushed that pile of lumber down on us.”

-

-“Fits him to a dot,” affirmed Jim emphatically. “The same hair and the

-same ears. And this fellow, too, was tall and thin. And what did I tell

-you about the way he ran? Only a trained athlete could have legged it

-that way.”

-

-“It certainly looks as though you’d hit it right,” admitted Joe

-thoughtfully. “Under ordinary circumstances it wouldn’t be possible,

-for he’d be playing with his team out West. But there’s the fact that

-he’s been laying off for a couple of weeks on account of his injured

-finger. That would make it possible for him to come on East. And if

-he’s so crazy to break into the big league, what would give him a

-better chance than to have one of us, or possibly both of us, disabled?

-It may all be a coincidence, but if it is, it’s one of the queerest

-things that ever happened.”

-

-“Then, too, there’s his reputation,” rejoined Jim. “What Iredell said

-about his not being on the level only fits in with what I’ve heard from

-others. He got into trouble near the end of last season about one or

-two games that looked crooked, and it took a good deal of hushing up to

-smooth the thing over. Now, putting all these things together, doesn’t

-it look just as clear as that two and two make four?”

-

-“Not quite so certain as that, perhaps,” replied Joe. “But it certainly

-looks as though we were getting a line on what happened to us this

-morning. Now if we can only find that there’s some connection between

-Lemblow and Hupft and McCarney, a good many puzzling things will be

-explained. But there’s McRae beckoning to us to get up to the plate and

-knock flies out to the fields in practice. Just keep your eye peeled,

-old boy, and I’ll do the same. There never yet was a skein so tangled

-that it couldn’t be unraveled if you only get your hand on the end of

-the thread. And I think we’ve got the end in our hands right now.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER IV

-

-LINING IT OUT

-

-

-The Giants’ opponents that day were the St. Louis Cardinals, the last

-of the Western clubs to visit the Polo Grounds on the first round of

-the inter-sectional games.

-

-Cincinnati, as has been said, had been able to make an even break of it

-with the Giants. The Pittsburghs had done even better, for the Smoky

-City boys had left the big town with three scalps hanging to their

-belts. The Giants had taken sweet revenge on the Chicagos, however,

-having made a clean sweep of the whole four games.

-

-For several seasons, the best the Cardinals could do was to finish

-at the tail of the first division or the head of the second. They

-had an excellent pitching staff and some of the heaviest batters in

-either league. Their fielding was good and their shortstop was such

-a phenomenon that the St. Louis owners had refused an offer of two

-hundred and fifty thousand dollars for him.

-

-But despite these advantages the team had not been able to win the

-championship. They did not work with the smoothness and perfection

-necessary for a champion team. Perhaps it was the failure of efficient

-management or a case of individual stars playing for their own records

-instead of for the good of the team. But whatever the reason, the

-record showed that while they had started out each season like a house

-afire they had failed at the end to take the coveted flag.

-

-This year, however, things were different. A new manager had seemed to

-be able to put some of his own vim and determination into the team and

-they were playing like a machine. The first four men in the batting

-order had been dubbed the “Murderers’ Row” because of the way they were

-“killing” the ball, and the rest of the team were not very far behind.

-It was perfectly clear that this year the Cardinals were a team to be

-reckoned with.

-

-Under ordinary circumstances, Joe would have pitched the first game of

-the St. Louis series so that the Giants might have a good chance to get

-the jump on their opponents by grabbing off the opening contest. But

-the day before had originally been an open date, and the Giants and

-Brooklyns had taken advantage of it to play off a postponed game; and

-as the Brooklyns had usually been a “Jonah” for the Giants, McRae had

-thought it advisable to put Joe in the box. The result had justified

-his judgment.

-

-Markwith, the portside flinger of the Giants, had been chosen,

-therefore, to open the St. Louis series. He was one of the star

-pitchers of the league, and during the season could be counted on to

-turn in his fair share of victories. His speed was dazzling and he

-had a good assortment of curves and slants. The only trouble with him

-was that he was an “in and outer.” When he was good he was very good

-indeed, practically unbeatable. But if his support were bad or the

-opposing batters began to get to him, he was liable to lose his nerve

-and be batted out of the box.

-

-This day, however, he showed up well in practice and seemed to be in

-fine fettle, so that it was with less misgiving than usual that McRae

-put on him the pitcher’s burden.

-

-“Get right after them, Red,” the manager counseled, as the bell rang

-for the Giants to take the field. “I want you to show that Murderers’

-Row that you’re some little murderer yourself.”

-

-“I’ll do my best, Mac,” said Markwith, with a grin, as he slipped on

-his glove and went to the box.

-

-The first inning was short and sweet. Remley, the lead-off man of

-the Cardinals, tried to wait Red out. This was justified perhaps by

-the fact that Markwith was a trifle unsteady at the opening and had

-difficulty in finding the plate. His first two offerings were balls.

-He whipped the third over, however, for a strike and followed it with

-another. With two strikes on him, Remley lashed out savagely at the

-next ball and missed it.

-

-“You’re out,” called the umpire, as the ball settled in Mylert’s glove.

-

-Remley threw down his bat in vexation and went grumbling to the dugout.

-

-McCarthy came next, swinging three bats of which he flung away two as

-he toed the line.

-

-“Put it over, kid, and see me kill it,” he called to Markwith, shaking

-his bat at him.

-

-Red grinned and floated up a slow one that looked as big as a balloon

-as it approached the plate but small as a pea when it reached it.

-McCarthy nearly broke his back reaching for it.

-

-“Strike one,” called the umpire.

-

-“Not so much of a killer after all, are you?” taunted Markwith, as the

-catcher returned the ball to him.

-

-McCarthy glowered and gritted his teeth as he waited for the next one.

-

-It came waist high over the plate, and McCarthy caught it on the end

-of his bat. It seemed for a moment that he had made his boast good,

-for the ball shot on a line toward center. Iredell, however, who was

-playing close to second, leaped into the air and speared it with his

-gloved hand, while the stands rocked with applause.

-

-Mornsby, the famous shortstop of the Cardinals, was next at bat.

-

-“Oh, see who’s here!” remarked Markwith, with affected surprise.

-

-“Play ball, you clown,” growled Mornsby. “You’re not on the vaudeville

-stage now.”

-

-This was a fling at a theatrical venture that Markwith had gone into

-the preceding winter.

-

-“So you’re the quarter of a million dollar beauty!” retorted Markwith,

-referring to the price that had been offered for Mornsby. “Just watch

-me make you look like thirty cents.”

-

-He put over a ball at which Mornsby refused to bite. The next one he

-fouled off. The third he struck at too high and the ball dribbled down

-to the pitcher’s box. Markwith picked it up with a tantalizing grin and

-tossed to Burkett for an easy out at first.

-

-“Thirty cents was too big an offer,” he called to Mornsby, as he drew

-off his glove and came into the bench. “I ought to have made it a dime.”

-

-“We’ll get you yet, you false alarm,” snapped Mornsby. “You’ll curl up

-before the game’s half over.”

-

-The Giants in their half made a bid for a run but were unable to score.

-Curry poled one out between right and center that Cooper gathered in

-after a long run. Iredell raised a twisting Texas leaguer over second

-that McCarthy and Weston both tried for but failed to reach, narrowly

-missing colliding with each other.

-

-In the mixup, Iredell, by fast running, reached second. Burkett came

-next, and with two balls and two strikes called on him lined out a

-grasser that Mornsby found too hot to handle. He knocked it down,

-however, but recovered it too late to get Burkett at first. Iredell,

-who had taken a good lead, had no difficulty in making third.

-

-On the first ball pitched to Wheeler, the next batter, Burkett made

-a break for second. His aim was not so much to reach the base as to

-draw a throw from the catcher which would enable Iredell to make for

-home. The catcher threw the ball, not to second but to the pitcher, and

-Iredell, who had started for the plate, was caught and run down between

-third and home. Burkett in the meantime had reached second and was half

-way down the base line between second and third, ready to dash for the

-latter if Iredell should be put out. A snap throw to Weston, however,

-the moment that Iredell had been tagged, caught Burkett between the

-bags and he was also run down, making three out. It was a bit of

-stupidity, or at least carelessness, on the part of the Giants and of

-smart playing by the visitors.

-

-The next four innings produced no tally for either side. Leadows, the

-bespectacled pitcher for the Cardinals, was having one of his best

-days, and he set the Giants down almost as fast as they came to the

-bat. Markwith, too, was pitching well. He was hit harder and oftener

-than Leadows, but so far the breaks of the game had been with him,

-and he had had spectacular support on the part of the Giant fielders.

-Hupft especially made some almost miraculous catches in the field that

-shut off sure home runs and McCarney was guarding third in a way that

-recalled the days of Jerry Denny.

-

-“Do you see that?” Joe asked in a low tone of Jim, as McCarney made a

-superb stop of a hot grounder and relayed it like a bullet to first.

-“You didn’t see him doing that kind of playing yesterday when I was in

-the box.”

-

-“Right you are,” replied Jim. “And I noted, too, the one that Hupft

-picked off the fence in the last inning. Both of them are playing like

-fiends.”

-

-In the sixth inning the Giants broke the ice. Burkett laced out a dandy

-two-bagger to right. Wheeler laid down a perfect sacrifice between the

-pitcher’s box and first that enabled Burkett to get to third. Willis

-sent out a long fly to right center that was caught, but on the throw

-in Burkett scored by a long slide to the plate. Larry went out on an

-assist from Mornsby to Blair and the inning was over. But the Giants

-were a run to the good, and at that stage of the game a single run

-might prove the winning tally.

-

-In the seventh the Cardinals went them one better. Blair led off with a

-sharp single to left. Atkins followed with a grounder that just touched

-the end of Iredell’s glove and went for a hit, Blair reaching third.

-Munson was set down on strikes and Bixby sent up a high twisting foul

-that Mylert caught at the very edge of the dugout. Remley, however,

-whaled out a mighty three-bagger to right that scored both of his

-mates. Markwith put on extra steam and struck out McCarthy, leaving

-Remley on third.

-

-The Giants’ half of the seventh was fruitless and the eighth opened

-with St. Louis one run to the good.

-

-It was not any too good a lead, and they started out to put the game

-“on ice.” Mornsby offered at the first ball pitched, and sent the ball

-crashing into the bleachers for the first home run of the game. This

-mighty hit seemed to rattle Markwith and he passed Nealon to first on

-four consecutive balls. Ralston rapped out a two-bagger on which Nealon

-went all the way to the plate. Leadows struck out, but Blair made a

-pretty single on which Nealon reached third. Markwith passed Atkins and

-the bases were full. The score now stood 4 to 1 in favor of St. Louis

-with three men on bases and one out.

-

-McRae, the Giants’ manager, beckoned to Markwith, and the latter,

-drawing off his glove, came in to the bench.

-

-“Wouldn’t give a dime for me, eh?” jeered Mornsby. “I wouldn’t give a

-plugged nickel for you. That home run broke your heart, didn’t it? I

-told you you were a false alarm.”

-

-Markwith, usually ready with a retort, was too discomfited to make

-reply.

-

-“It’s up to you, Joe,” said McRae. “I know you pitched yesterday, but

-I’ll have to call on you to save this game if it isn’t already past

-saving.”

-

-Joe was not altogether unprepared for the call, for in the previous

-inning McRae, seeing that Markwith was faltering, had sent him out to

-do a little warming up.

-

-“All right, Mac,” he responded, and walked out to the box.

-

-His coming was the signal for a storm of cheers from stands and

-bleachers. It seemed almost hopeless, but they had seen him so often

-lead a forlorn hope to victory.

-

-As was his right, Joe tossed up a few balls to Mylert to get the

-location of the plate. Then he took his stand in the box as Munson came

-to the plate, eager to send his comrades home. Even a single would

-probably bring in two of them. A long sacrifice to the outfield would

-account for one run. And a sharp two-bagger would clear the bases.

-

-Joe wound up and shot a fast high one over the plate. Munson missed it

-by inches.

-

-“Strike one!” called the umpire, and the crowd cheered boisterously.

-

-Mylert returned the ball to Joe on the bound. Joe muffed it and it

-dropped at his feet.

-

-He stooped carelessly to pick it up. Then like lightning he shot it to

-Larry at second, catching Blair flat-footed off the bag.

-

-Nealon on third made a dash for the plate. Larry tagged Blair and

-returned the ball in a flash to Joe, who had run over to the third base

-line. Joe put the ball on Nealon and the side was out.

-

-It had all happened in the twinkling of an eye. For an instant the

-crowd was paralyzed. Then it woke up and a perfect tempest of cheers

-swept over the field.

-

-Robson, the rotund assistant manager, fairly shouted with glee as he

-brought his hand down with a resounding smack on McRae’s knee.

-

-“Did you see that, John?” he roared. “Did you see that fake muff? Did

-you see that lightning throw? Did you ever see any foxier playing in

-all your life?”

-

-“No, I didn’t,” grinned McRae. “But for the love of Mike, Robbie, keep

-that ham of a hand off my knee. Yes, that was some playing. I don’t

-know which is the greater, that boy’s arm or his head. They’re both

-wonders. Joe hasn’t his match in the baseball world.”

-

-Joe came in smiling, to be mauled and pounded by his rejoicing comrades.

-

-McRae and Robson beamed upon him.

-

-“Great work, Joe,” said McRae. “Now if you hold them down in the next

-inning and our boys get busy with their bats we still have a chance to

-cop the game.”

-

-But the Giants, although they got two men on bases in their half of the

-eighth, were unable to score, and the ninth opened with St. Louis still

-three runs ahead.

-

-They made no more, however, for in their half of the ninth Joe mowed

-them down in order, and the Giants came in to make their last stand

-with three runs to tie and four to win.

-

-Burkett led off with a nicely placed single in short right. Wheeler

-followed with a clean hit over second, on which Burkett tried to reach

-third. The ball came back too quickly, however, and he had to turn back

-to second, which he reached safely only through a muff by Weston,

-who was covering the bag. It was a close call and the Giant rooters

-breathed a sigh of relief. McCarney, who had already made two hits and

-seemed to have his batting clothes on, fell an easy victim on strikes.

-Larry came to the rescue with a neat bunt that got him to first and

-advanced his comrades each a base.

-

-The bases were now full, and Hupft, who came next to bat, was implored

-to give the ball a ride and bring his mates in. But a groan went up

-when he raised an easy pop fly to the box that Leadows caught without

-moving from his tracks.

-

-Two men were now out and many of the spectators were beginning to rise

-from their seats. They sat down suddenly, however, at the mighty roar

-that went up when Joe came to the plate.

-

-Leadows looked him over carefully. He had a wholesome respect for Joe’s

-prowess, not only as a pitcher, but as a batter. Here was a foeman

-worthy of his best.

-

-Leadows took an unusually long time winding up. Then he sent in a

-swift incurve that just missed the corner of the plate. Joe remained

-motionless.

-

-An outcurve followed, and again Joe let it go by.

-

-The third was a fast one with a hop to it, and came over the plate half

-way between knee and waist. Joe met it full on the seam.

-

-There was a resounding crash and the ball started on its journey to the

-bleachers.

-

-It started almost on a line, rising steadily as it soared toward

-right field. On and on it went as though it had wings. The Cardinal

-outfielders started for it and then stopped and threw up their hands in

-despair. The ball cleared the field, cleared the bleachers, cleared the

-wall. Where it finally landed no one knew, no one cared.

-

-Joe had dropped the bat and started like a deer for first. But as he

-rounded the bag on his way to second, a glance at the ball told him

-there was no need for hurry. So he jogged around the bases at his

-leisure following the three comrades who romped joyously to the plate,

-while in his ears were the thunderous cheers of the spectators like the

-roaring of the sea.

-

-He had made a homer with the bases full. He had pulled the game out of

-the fire. At the very last moment he had snatched victory from defeat!

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER V

-

-PLAYING THE GAME

-

-

-If a visitor from Mars had seen the crowd at the Polo Grounds when Joe

-knocked out that homer, he would promptly have set down the people of

-this planet as madmen. The people in the stands and bleachers simply

-went crazy with delight. Cheer after cheer went up. Hats were thrown

-into the air and on the diamond by the hundreds. Then the throng swept

-down on the field in the frantic desire to surround the hero of the

-game and carry him in triumph on their shoulders.

-

-But Joe had seen them coming and was off at top speed for the

-clubhouse. The crowd thickened about him as he fled, and for the last

-hundred feet he had fairly to fight his way through to get away from

-the embarrassing attentions of his admirers.

-

-Even in the clubhouse his troubles were not over, for his comrades were

-almost as delirious as the outside throng. They wrung his hand and

-slapped his back until he was sore.

-

-McRae was all smiles, while Robbie, as Robson was usually called,

-fairly hugged him in his delight.

-

-“Man, you’re a wizard in the box and at the bat!” Robbie cried. “Sure,

-it’s magic that you use. You’ve put a come-hither on the ball. You’ve

-got it bewitched. You go into the box and you put two men out with only

-one ball pitched. You whack the ball and it starts for Kingdom Come.”

-

-McRae, though less exuberant, was none the less delighted.

-

-“Once more you’ve pulled me out of a hole, Joe,” he said earnestly.

-“Many’s the time I’ve had to call on you in a tight pinch, and I’ve

-never been disappointed yet. You’re my standby and the standby of the

-team. You’ve only proved to me again, what needed no proving, that when

-the test comes you’re there.”

-

-“I’m glad you feel that way, Mac,” returned Joe. “Although I think you

-make too much of what I’ve done. The team’s the biggest thing on earth

-to me outside of my home and folks, and it’s always a pleasure to give

-it my best efforts.”

-

-There were two notable exceptions to the praise that was heaped on Joe

-by his mates. Hupft and McCarney stood aloof, not saying a single word,

-and their brows were so black that one might have thought that St.

-Louis had won instead of the Giants.

-

-“How sore those spalpeens look,” remarked Larry to Wheeler, as he

-finished his dressing. “They’re like corpses at a wedding.”

-

-“I’ve noticed that,” replied Wheeler. “I suppose they’re a little bit

-crabbed because they failed to come through in the ninth inning. They

-had their chances to send the boys in, but both fell down. I’ve felt

-that way myself more than once. They’ll be all over that by to-morrow.”

-

-The grumpiness of the pair had not escaped Joe and Jim, although they

-gave no sign until they were clear of the clubhouse and on their way

-home.

-

-“I’ll bet a nickel I know what you’re thinking of,” bantered Jim.

-

-“Too easy,” laughed Joe. “Of course, we’re both thinking of the same

-thing and that is the sour looks of that precious pair of highbinders

-at the end of the game. Even the other fellows, who haven’t the reason

-we have to suspect them, were struck by it. You heard what Larry said

-to Wheeler.”

-

-“If they were really foxy they’d have made a bluff at feeling good, no

-matter how they felt,” remarked Jim. “There were all the other fellows

-fairly out of their heads with delight, and they were as black as

-thunderclouds. If they don’t look out, other people will tumble to the

-fact that there’s something crooked going on.”

-

-“What took place in the game itself showed that our previous suspicion

-was right,” observed Joe. “All the time Markwith was pitching they were

-fairly eating up every chance that came to them. See the way McCarney

-guarded third. Nothing was too hot for him and he tried for everything

-at right and left of him. And Hupft played like a miracle-man out in

-the field. Compare that with the way they played yesterday when I was

-in the box.”

-

-“And the way their batting fell off in the ninth inning,” added Jim.

-“They had been clouting the ball for keeps in the early part of the

-game. But McCarney stood there like a wooden man when Leadows set him

-down on strikes, and that pop fly that Hupft lifted to the box was

-just peaches and cream for St. Louis. It’s lucky they didn’t have any

-fielding chances in the ninth or they’d probably have fallen down on

-those, too.”

-

-“It wasn’t merely luck,” explained Joe. “I had that in mind when I toed

-the mound. I made up my mind that I’d work for strikeouts and nothing

-else. I was actually afraid to let the ball go to the infield because I

-believed that McCarney, if he had the chance, would deliberately fumble

-it. Nice, isn’t it, when a pitcher has to feel that way about any of

-the men behind him?”

-

-“It’s an awful shame!” exclaimed Jim hotly.

-

-“And here’s one other thing,” continued Joe. “You noticed that when I

-caught Blair napping at second, I ran over to the base line and shouted

-to Larry to throw the ball to me. Ordinarily I would have left it to

-McCarney to make that play and he and Mylert together could have run

-Nealon down. But I didn’t dare let McCarney take the throw for fear he

-would let it slip through his fingers on purpose. So I tagged Nealon

-myself and made sure of it.”

-

-“Gee, but you’ve got a wonderful head on you, Joe!” was the admiring

-ejaculation wrung from Jim. “You think of everything.”

-

-“One has to think of a lot of things when his reputation and perhaps

-his life is at stake,” replied Joe soberly. “I tell you, Jim, we’re

-up against a serious problem, and every day it seems to get more

-complicated. Even when we sleep, from now on we’ll have to do it with

-one eye open.”

-

-“That’s true,” agreed Jim. “Still, what has happened to-day isn’t

-altogether without its bright side. Up to now you’ve been largely in

-the dark. You’ve had an uneasy feeling that a web was being woven about

-you, and you’ve had certain suspicions about Hupft and McCarney. But

-their actions in to-day’s game and their grouchiness after the game

-have transformed those suspicions almost into certainties. Now you can

-plan to fight them and force them into the open without the fear that

-you might be doing them an injustice.

-

-“Then, too, that Lemblow matter has thrown a little more light on

-things. It indicates that he’s in cahoots with the other two rascals.

-The more there are in any conspiracy, the more likely it is that there

-will be a leak somewhere. To-day’s happenings have given you three

-sides of a triangle――Hupft, McCarney and Lemblow. Somewhere within that

-triangle is the plot that is being hatched. At least we know where to

-look, and that is something.”

-

-“And whatever that something is we’ll meet it and we’ll beat it,” cried

-Joe, throwing care to the winds. “Let’s think of something pleasant.

-The girls will be on for that promised visit soon. In less than a week

-now I’ll see the dearest girl in all the world――Mabel.”

-

-“Clara,” corrected Jim.

-

-And both laughed happily.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER VI

-

-A HILARIOUS WELCOME

-

-

-Although naturally burdened by the recent run of events, mystified

-as they were concerning the motives of McCarney and Hupft and of

-the lob-eared man whom Jim had seen hurrying from the half-finished

-structure the day the building material had been pushed from the

-scaffold, the chums stuck to their decisions to keep worry and

-conjecture as far as possible from their minds. Their job was to play

-ball, and to play ball with the best that was in them was what they

-intended to do.

-

-And on one particular bright morning it was easier than usual to banish

-dull care. Only the day before Joe and Jim had received word that Mabel

-and Clara and Mabel’s brother, Reggie, would arrive in New York by noon

-of the following day. To say that the boys were joyful would be to

-describe too tamely their emotions. They acted like a couple of wild

-Indians, brandishing the letters aloft and executing a war dance about

-the room. Even now, as they jumped into the car, preparatory to making

-a mad dash for the station to meet the twelve o’clock train, they had

-not recovered their sanity.

-

-To Joe it seemed as though he had been separated from his young

-wife for years instead of weeks, and he drove the machine through

-the traffic with a speed and recklessness that caused many a burly

-policeman to frown disapprovingly.

-

-“It’s them young speeders that makes all the trouble,” muttered one of

-them as Joe, barely waiting for the wave of his hand, rushed by with

-a warning roar of the exhaust. “It’s long been a mystery to me why

-they must always be in such a terrible hurry.” How could he know, poor

-man, that Joe was on his way to meet the most adorable girl in all the

-world? Who wouldn’t break all the speed laws, and then some, for a girl

-like Mabel?

-

-It had been the purpose of the young folks to settle down in a little

-home of their own after the honeymoon, but as Mrs. Matson, who had

-never been very strong, missed Mabel and declared she needed her,

-the young bride had decided to make her home temporarily with Joe’s

-mother――at least until such time as she should be in better health.

-

-Clara, Joe’s pretty sister and Jim’s fiancée, had also delayed her

-wedding with Jim because of her mother’s ill-health. Jim did not favor

-this arrangement very highly, but he was willing to agree to almost

-anything that would make Clara happy.

-

-“It won’t be so very long now,” she had said the last time Jim had seen

-her. “I really think mother is getting stronger, and pretty soon――we’ll

-be together always,” she had added shyly.

-

-So now, not having seen either Mabel or Clara for what seemed to them a

-never-ending period of time, it was no wonder the boys were willing to

-break all the traffic laws that had ever been made.

-

-“Do you know,” said Joe, with a chuckle, as he slowed down at the curb

-opposite the station, “I’ve scarcely given dear old Reggie a thought? I

-wonder how the old duffer is, anyway.”

-

-“Probably identically the same old chappie,” laughed Jim. “Monocle,

-cane, spats, and all complete. I’d give a lot to know how he makes that

-knife-sharp crease in his trousers always stay put.”

-

-“It is a mystery,” agreed Joe, as they made their way through the

-crowds that thronged the great station. “I’d like to try him out on the

-diamond some time. I’ve a notion that after a slide or two to the home

-plate the crease would be no longer there.”

-

-“Might spoil some of his immaculateness,” laughed Jim.

-

-Despite all this joking at his expense, the boys entertained, not only

-a warm affection, but a very real respect for Mabel’s brother, Reggie.

-Although, as the chums had already laughingly mentioned, Reggie never

-appeared anywhere without his monocle, his cane, his spats, and his

-English air and accent, he was at heart a fine fellow, always ready

-to help where help was needed, truthful and honorable, and an ardent

-baseball fan. These qualities helped the boys overlook his many foibles

-and affectations. As a matter of fact, once one got used to them, one

-rather liked them, as being a part of Reggie’s lovable personality.

-

-The guard at the head of the stairs that led to the station platform

-seemed at first inclined to deny the boys admittance. But a neighboring

-guard, having recognized Joe and Jim, whispered in his friend’s ear,

-with the result that the latter looked away, having first favored the

-boys with a wink.

-

-The next moment they had clattered down the stairs and had reached the

-station platform, just as the train pulled in.

-

-Eagerly they watched the crowd of passengers pour forth, scanning each

-face for those they sought. No sight of Mabel, no Clara, no immaculate

-and be-spatted Reggie!

-

-At first they feared that the girls had missed their train and their

-faces grew long and anxious. Then, just when they were beginning to

-lose hope, Joe saw them.

-

-With a whoop of joy and a rush that nearly bowled over an indignant and

-grip-laden porter, he was speeding down the platform with Jim hard at

-his heels.

-

-The next moment Mabel found herself in the grip of two bearlike arms,

-her smart little hat was pushed far over one ear, while into the other

-a voice was saying, over and over again:

-

-“Say, girl, you look good to me――you look good to me.”

-

-“Joe, dear, you’re mussing my hair, and my hat――――”

-

-“Hats!” cried Joe, exuberantly. “What do we care about hats! I’ll buy

-you another one, honey, a dozen, if you want them.”

-

-“Be careful, Joe,” Clara broke in, looking flushed and delightfully

-pretty herself. “She may take you up. Think of it――a dozen new hats!

-Such joy!”

-

-“Speakin’ of hats, don’t you know,” broke in a well-known voice, “I

-jolly well need a new one myself. The bally old thing did a double flip

-out of the hat rack on our trip up heah in the train. Turned an entire

-circle, don’t you know――――”

-

-“Tell them where it landed, Reggie,” chuckled Mabel, flashing a

-mischievous glance at Clara. “Be sure you don’t forget any of the

-details.”

-

-“By Jove! Do you know,” said Reggie, ruefully, “you would never guess

-the truth, not in a thousand years, unless I were to tell it to you

-myself! For this mistaken headpiece, don’t you know, instead of falling

-to the floor, where at the most it would have gathered a little dust,

-must choose a seat whereon a burly gentleman was just in the act of

-seating himself. A perfectly harmless and natural thing, don’t you

-know, on the part of the old gentleman――――”

-

-“But hard on the hat,” finished Joe, with a grin, adding as he slipped

-his arm through Mabel’s and drew her toward the stairs: “Never mind,

-old man, there are a dozen places in town where they have hats that

-will satisfy even you. Say,” he added happily, looking down into the

-smiling eyes of his young wife, “this is my lucky day.”

-

-“You’re not the only one, old son,” said Jim, adding, as he proudly

-piloted Clara through the throng: “I tell you, we’ve picked a couple of

-girls that will make these bored Manhattanites turn round and stare,

-all right.”

-

-“Bah Jove,” sighed Reggie, replacing the tiresome monocle that never

-would stay put, “you chappies are enough to make a poor old bachelor

-like me homesick, you are, truly. I feel quite out of it, don’t you

-know, _de trop_, a gooseberry, as you might say. An Antony without his

-Cleopatra, a Romeo without his Juliet. I say, it’s downright pathetic.”

-

-“Poor old Reggie,” chuckled Mabel, snuggling her free hand within his

-arm. “It is a sad, sad story, isn’t it? But then, it’s really your own

-fault. There are lots of girls in the world, you know.”

-

-“But no more Mabels,” said Joe.

-

-“And no more Claras,” added Jim.

-

-“There you go again,” said poor Reggie, swinging his cane

-disconsolately. “Bah Jove, this is no place for a bachelor. It isn’t,

-truly!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER VII

-

-GROWING BEWILDERMENT

-

-

-The boys, in their joy at having the girls with them once more, wanted

-to go to one of the big hotels for luncheon, but the girls themselves

-protested.

-

-They wanted, they said, to go to some quiet place “where they could

-talk,” and, besides, they weren’t “presentable” after the long train

-journey.

-

-Although the boys disagreed vehemently with this last statement, they

-finally yielded the point and found a quiet little restaurant just

-around the corner from Fifth Avenue.

-

-Eagerly Joe plied them with questions about home. “Had the girls been

-well?” “How was mother and dear old dad?” and so on until the girls

-rebelled, saying that they had come to hear about Joe and Jim, not to

-talk about themselves.

-

-“I say, how is the old game coming?” queried Reggie, taking the monocle

-from his eye and tapping it gently on the table. “Yesterday’s game was

-perfectly ripping, what? Hear you did yourself proud, Joe, old top.”

-

-“He always does,” murmured Mabel proudly, and somehow Joe’s hand

-managed to find hers under the table.

-

-“It was a great game,” he said, smiling at recollection of it. “Luck

-was with me.”

-

-“Do you boys play to-day?” asked Clara, adding with a little bounce of

-delight: “Oh, I’m crazy to see the game!”

-

-“Jim’s the lucky one,” said Joe. “He’s scheduled to pitch. And I tell

-you, you girls are going to see some classy work. Jim has the little

-ball trained so it comes to his whistle.”

-

-“Spare my blushes,” begged Jim, adding, with a grin: “Anyway, listen

-who’s talking!”

-

-“’Spose everything’s goin’ smoothly, is it?” queried Reggie, with a

-lift of his eyebrow that sent the monocle sliding down the front of his

-waistcoat. “No trouble with the good old teammates? Everything jolly

-and happy?”

-

-Both Jim and Joe looked at him quizzically. Was it possible that Reggie

-knew something of their suspicions of Reddy Hupft or McCarney? It

-seemed hardly possible. Probably the question was merely an idle one.

-

-“Everything’s in tip-top shape,” answered Joe, after the barest

-perceptible pause. “The boys are going at top speed and if we keep on

-the way we’ve started we ought to beat last year’s record.”

-

-Clara opened her lips as though to speak, then evidently changed her

-mind. But as Jim’s eyes met hers it seemed to him they were the least

-bit anxious.

-

-As for Mabel, she had reached out and laid a little hand on Joe’s arm.

-

-“Everything is all right, isn’t it, Joe?” she asked.

-

-“Perfectly,” he replied, hoping his tone had sounded as confident as he

-wanted it to. “What could be wrong, little girl?”

-

-“Oh, I don’t know,” Mabel replied hesitantly. “Perhaps it’s that

-trouble you had last year――――”

-

-“Here, here!” interrupted Joe, with mock severity. “I thought you

-promised to forget all about that!”

-

-“I am trying,” said Mabel gamely. “But it’s pretty hard when I’m not

-with you, Joe.”

-

-Though the boys could have lingered forever at that pleasant little

-meal, it was not long before they were reminded that time was flying

-and that if they meant to get to the ball grounds in time they must

-hurry.

-

-They took the girls to the hotel where they had accommodations ready

-for them. There they regretfully left them in Reggie’s care and hurried

-off for the field.

-

-“I wonder if Reggie has got wind of something brewing,” said Jim, as,

-a few minutes later, they struggled into their uniforms. “He certainly

-has a talent for smelling out trouble.”

-

-“Let’s hope there won’t be any serious trouble to smell out and let

-the matter go at that,” answered Joe carelessly. Then everything but

-baseball and the game on hand was forgotten.

-

-That game was a triumph for the Giants, but it was even a greater one

-for Jim. Perhaps the fact that two bright eyes were watching his work

-from the grandstand spurred Jim on to greater effort. At any rate it

-was certain that he had never done more brilliant work.

-

-Joe, who was resting from his triumphs of the day before, spent most of

-his time with the two girls and Reggie. Although ordinarily he would

-have been wild to take his place on the diamond, to-day, with McRae’s

-consent, he was content just to sit beside Mabel and watch her interest

-and enthusiasm in the game.

-

-It was good to have his pretty sister with him too, even though he knew

-her interest for the time being was entirely with Jim. And it was good

-to have old Reggie with the troublesome monocle and the hat which the

-burly old gentleman had inadvertently used as a seat!

-

-Suddenly Clara, who, with the rest of the crowd had been wildly

-cheering Jim, straightened in her seat, her eyes widening as they

-rested upon one of the Giant team.

-

-She turned and laid a hand on Joe’s arm.

-

-“Joe,” she said excitedly, “who is that man out there? That man on

-third base?”

-

-“That’s McCarney,” replied Joe, wondering at her excitement. “Want an

-introduction?” he added jokingly. “I could get you one in a jiffy, but

-I wouldn’t because he’s no good.”

-

-“Goodness, no!” said Clara, with a motion of the shoulders that was

-almost like a shudder. “I know him already.”

-

-“Know him?” repeated Joe, bewildered. “What’s the great idea?”

-

-“Well,” Clara corrected, “I don’t really mean that I know him. But I’ve

-seen him at pretty close range.”

-

-Mabel leaned forward suddenly, her troubled eyes on Clara.

-

-“What do you mean?” she asked, but a roar from the crowd drowned

-Clara’s answer.

-

-“I’ll tell you later,” she shouted above the tumult of cheers and

-whistles and turned once more to watch the game.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER VIII

-

-A BLACK CONSPIRACY

-

-

-During the game Joe wondered once or twice what Clara’s sudden interest

-in McCarney meant. His pretty sister was so deeply in love with Jim

-that it seemed almost impossible for her even to see another man. Yet

-here she was, calling attention to McCarney――――

-

-At this point a spectacular play elicited a mighty roar from the

-grandstand, and Joe forgot everything but his interest in the game.

-

-He had been back and forth several times from the bleachers to the

-grandstand and now, with a murmured word to Mabel, he slipped away

-again.

-

-He wanted to get closer to the field where he could watch the work of

-Reddy Hupft, and of McCarney, too. The two men were apparently playing

-good ball, and yet, to his experienced eye, there was something queer

-about their game. Even while he reproached himself for letting his

-imagination run away with him, his eyes narrowed and his mouth grew

-grim.

-

-If those fellows were trying to pull anything――――

-

-So it happened that when the game ended in a smashing victory for the

-Giants Joe found himself near the clubhouse and allowed himself to be

-swept along by the rush of his team mates.

-

-He made his way through to Jim, who was surrounded by a group of

-enthusiastic players, and thumped his chum heartily on the back.

-

-“Pretty work, Jim,” he said. “Didn’t I tell the girls you had that

-little ball trained?”

-

-“It did come right to papa, didn’t it?” Jim answered, with a grin,

-submitting to the rub-down gratefully. “But wait till the girls see

-your work,” he added. “That will be the whole show.”

-

-“Maybe it will be an anticlimax,” protested Joe, at which Jim grunted

-disdainfully.

-

-“Baseball Joe, an anticlimax!” he jeered, and Joe, smiling

-good-naturedly, passed on.

-

-Robson and McRae promptly collared him and engaged him in earnest

-conversation and Jim, being unable to disentangle Joe from the society

-of the two older men, shouted an “I’ll see you later” to his chum and

-started across the field to the grandstand where the two girls and

-Reggie were waiting for him.

-

-As he neared the trio he saw that they were talking excitedly and

-wondered idly what it was all about. The real thing that engaged his

-attention, though, was the fact that Clara looked amazingly sweet and

-animated and that the flush in her cheeks was the prettiest thing he

-had ever seen.

-

-“Hello, everybody,” he called to them. “Get tired of waiting?”

-

-“Oh, Jim! you were simply wonderful,” said Clara, turning sparkling

-eyes upon him. “You ought to have heard what people were saying all

-around us.”

-

-“Perhaps it’s jolly good he didn’t,” broke in Reggie, with a twinkle in

-the eye behind the monocle. “Might have swelled the old bean, you know,

-completely ruined him, what?”

-

-“He’s frightfully spoiled already,” said Clara, with a distracting,

-sidewise glance at Jim. “You’ve no idea how conceited he is.”

-

-“On the contrary,” replied Jim, stretching his long length contentedly

-in one of the hard-backed seats, “the only time I’m tempted to be

-conceited, my dear, is when I realize that I have you.”

-

-“Don’t mind us, Jim,” chuckled Mabel delightedly, and Reggie added

-benevolently:

-

-“Bless you, my children. Mabel and I are looking steadily in the

-opposite direction. But perhaps, on further reflection, you would enjoy

-our absence greater than our presence? What say, Mabel, shall we stroll

-on?”

-

-“You’re all so silly!” Clara protested, her face flaming. “I wish you

-wouldn’t talk such nonsense, Jim――in public, anyway.”

-

-“I won’t until next time,” promised Jim, then, thinking it about time

-he changed the subject, he asked what they had been talking about

-so animatedly when he approached. “You seemed all heated up about

-something,” he added.

-

-“Jim, where’s Joe?” asked Mabel, her eyes, suddenly anxious, sweeping

-the field.

-

-“Talking to McRae and Robbie,” answered Jim. “He’ll be along in a

-minute. But say,” he added, with more interest than he had hitherto

-shown, “aren’t you going to answer my question?”

-

-“Hold your horses, old chappie,” murmured Reggie. “Patience is a

-virtue, what?”

-

-Seeing that, even if patience were a virtue, Jim was at the end of it,

-Clara hastened to explain.

-

-“I don’t suppose you will think it very important, Jim,” she said. “But

-it seemed rather important to me. I’ll tell you what I know and then

-you can judge.”

-

-“Sounds like a mystery,” said Jim, sitting up straight and beginning to

-look interested.

-

-Mabel shuddered.

-

-“I hope it isn’t,” she said, adding plaintively: “I don’t like

-mysteries.”

-

-“It’s about that man, McCarney, your third baseman,” Clara hastened

-on, lacing and unlacing her fingers in an agitation she could no longer

-conceal. “I’ve seen him before, Jim. I saw him just before the season

-opened.”

-

-“Well, what about it?” asked Jim, interested, but not showing any

-especial excitement. “It’s a coincidence, of course.”

-

-“It’s a good deal more than a coincidence,” Clara declared impatiently.

-“Wait till you hear what he said――――”

-

-“Yes,” Jim prompted sharply, as she hesitated. “What did he say?”

-

-“It was at the railroad station at Liberty――the second station from

-Riverside, you know. I had gone over there to take some things to Aunt

-Lydia――――”

-

-“Yes, but what about McCarney?” It was Jim’s turn to be impatient.

-

-“McCarney was there on the station platform,” Clara hurried on. “He was

-talking to another man. I couldn’t see them at first――I was around a

-corner of the station, but I could hear their voices.”

-

-“Yes?” Jim said again, as once more Clara hesitated, her glance roving

-uneasily about the almost-emptied grandstand as though she were afraid

-of being overheard.

-

-“They were talking in whispers,” she said then, leaning closer to Jim

-while Mabel and Reggie also came a little nearer. “I didn’t hear what

-they were saying till suddenly one of them, McCarney, it was, raised

-his voice and said, quite distinctly, ‘We ought to be able to make

-fifty thousand out of this, maybe more.’”

-

-“Great Scott!” cried Jim, his startled glance fixing the girl’s. “Are

-you sure it was McCarney who said that, Clara?”

-

-“Yes,” said the latter, a little frightened at the effect of her

-revelation. Jim looked suddenly fierce. “When he said that about the

-fifty thousand dollars I was curious and strolled around the corner to

-see who it was who expected to make a fortune so easily.”

-

-“Who was the man with him?” Jim’s question came like a pistol shot.

-“Did you get a good look at him, too?”

-

-“Yes,” answered the girl. “He was a tall, thin man and something about

-him made me think he was a ball player. Of course I was interested, but

-that was all. I didn’t think of it again until I saw one of the men,

-McCarney, on the field to-day.”

-

-“Did you hear anything else?” asked Jim, alert.

-

-Clara shook her head.

-

-“When the two men saw me they strolled off to a more deserted part of

-the station. They started talking in whispers again, but of course I

-didn’t follow them. At the time I didn’t see any reason why I should.

-Only, I had a feeling that neither of the men was straight.”

-

-“Um-m,” said Jim grimly. His forehead was wrinkled and his fingers

-beat a nervous tattoo on the arm of the seat. “You didn’t happen to

-recognize the other fellow――the one McCarney was talking to――on the

-field to-day, did you?”

-

-Clara shook her head. She looked worried.

-

-“No, I looked for him after I recognized the other man,” she said. “But

-I’m sure he wasn’t on the field to-day.”

-

-“Do you think,” asked Jim, in the same grim tone, “that you could

-recognize this fellow if I were to show you his picture?”

-

-“Yes, I’m sure of that,” answered Clara quickly. “I was so curious

-because of what McCarney had said, that I took a good look at both of

-them. And I’m sure I could easily recognize the other man if I should

-see him or a picture of him. He was the kind of person,” she added,

-thoughtfully, “that one doesn’t very easily forget.”

-

-“What do you think of it, old chappie?” asked Reggie. His monocle had

-fallen from his eye and, in his agitation, he had not even bothered to

-replace it. “Looks rather like some sort of plot, what? A conspiracy,

-you might say.”

-

-“I don’t know, I don’t know,” answered Jim thoughtfully. Then, seeing

-how agitated the girls were growing, he decided to make as light of the

-matter as was possible.

-

-“Sounds rather mysterious,” he said, with a reassuring smile; “but the

-sound is probably the only mysterious thing about it. These things

-often clear up of themselves and you wonder afterward why you were such

-a fool as to wonder about them. However, I’ll keep my eyes and ears

-open, and if McCarney and his tall friend are cooking up anything, I’ll

-soon find it out.”

-

-“I wonder where Joe is?” said Mabel plaintively. “It isn’t like him to

-stay away so long.”

-

-“I’ll go and look him up,” Jim volunteered, unwinding his great length

-from the seat. “I’ll make Robbie and McRae loosen their grip on him.”

-

-As Jim started across the field the girls looked after his tall figure

-thoughtfully.

-

-“I hope,” said Mabel, putting back a lock of hair that the wind had

-whipped about her face, “that this doesn’t mean more trouble for the

-boys. Perhaps it’s foolish of me, but I’m always just a wee bit worried

-about them. And now this McCarney――――”

-

-“Stop your crabbin’,” said Reggie, laying an affectionate hand over

-his sister’s little one. “I’m not particularly impressed with this

-McCarney chap myself, but from personal observation I have learned

-that both Joe and Jim can jolly well take care of themselves. Bah Jove,

-it would take a pretty keen chap to put one over on them! It jolly well

-can’t be done, you know!”

-

-Meanwhile Jim, not completely sharing Reggie’s optimism, reached the

-clubhouse just as Joe emerged from it.

-

-“Hello!” said the latter, his eyes brightening at sight of Jim.

-“Thought I’d never be able to give McRae and Robbie the slip? Did the

-girls get tired of waiting?”

-

-“Mabel sent me in search of you,” answered Jim, with a grin, then, his

-face sobering, he swiftly told Joe the main facts about McCarney and

-his mention of the fifty thousand dollar clean-up.

-

-“What do you think of it?” he asked.

-

-“Great Scott!” said Joe, raising a hand to his troubled forehead. “I

-don’t know yet. Give me a chance to think!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER IX

-

-THE TELLTALE PHOTOGRAPH

-

-

-“Clara’s sure the fellow was really McCarney, is she?” Joe asked, as

-they hurried across the field toward the grandstand. “She may have made

-a mistake in that. A great many fellows look like McCarney, you know.

-He isn’t an unusual type.”

-

-“Ask her and see,” returned Jim. “She can answer for herself.”

-

-Clara seemed quite willing to answer for herself. In reply to Joe’s

-sober questions she told him just what she had already told the others.

-When she came to the part about the tall, thin man who was with

-McCarney, Joe and Jim exchanged significant glances.

-

-Mabel caught the interchange and put a beseeching hand on Joe’s arm.

-

-“Joe,” she said, “if you are going to be in danger again――――” but Joe

-interrupted with his flashing smile.

-

-“Don’t go to worrying, honey,” he said reassuringly. “Clara’s story

-sounds a little queer, but there’s not a thing in the world to worry

-about. Let’s get on back to the hotel where we can finish our little

-powwow in quiet.”

-

-On the way home the chums tried to keep the conversation on a lighter

-plane, but they were, nevertheless, deeply troubled.

-

-Clara seemed strangely sure that the man she had seen on the station

-platform at Liberty had been none other than the Giants’ third baseman.

-Granted that she was not mistaken in this, then who was his companion?

-

-Lemblow, perhaps. The imaginations of Joe and Jim traveled even

-further, connecting McCarney’s companion with the strange man who had

-hurried from the half-completed building the day the lumber had fallen

-from the scaffold.

-

-When they reached the hotel, the same at which Joe and Jim had been

-staying and where the girls were to stay as long as they were in the

-city, Joe was all for making plans as to how they should spend their

-first evening together.

-

-But it did not take them long to discover that the girls were not

-yet in a party mood. They made it quite clear that they wanted this

-“mystery business” cleared up first. Clara, especially, seemed fidgety

-and nervous, and she had hardly taken off her wraps before she turned

-to Joe.

-

-“Joe, dear,” she said, “Jim says you have pictures of every ball player

-and near ball player in the world.”

-

-“Not quite,” said Joe modestly. “But, at that, I’ve got quite a scrap

-book. What do you want of my rogues’ gallery?”

-

-He knew quite well what she wanted of it, but he had made up his mind,

-for the sake of the girls, to treat the whole matter as lightly as

-possible.

-

-“I want to see every last picture you have,” said Clara, with pretty

-impetuousness. “I want to see if I can’t find some one.”

-

-“Look out, Jim,” said Joe, with a heavy frown. “You have a rival!”

-

-“Oh, dear!” groaned Jim, and Clara heartlessly made a face at him.

-

-“How do you know he has only one?” she asked, evidently referring to

-“rivals,” and poor Jim groaned again.

-

-While Joe went off for his “rogues’ gallery,” Reggie stood by the

-mantel, idly twirling his monocle, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

-However, when he found Mabel’s gaze upon him he smiled brightly and

-came over to sit beside her.

-

-“You know, I really should be going,” he said. “But, you know, I have

-the oddest desire to see this ‘rogues’ gallery’ for myself. I shouldn’t

-linger for a bally second longer, I shouldn’t really. There’s a fellow

-I must look up for the gov’nor without delay. I know jolly well I

-should be upon my way.”

-

-“Listen here, old boy,” said Joe, returning at that moment with a huge

-album which looked as if it might in all truth contain the picture of

-every ball player on the globe. “Whether you know it or not, you’re

-going to attend to no business to-night. You’re going to help paint

-this little town red along with the rest of our merry party. Don’t let

-’em tell you different.”

-

-“But I say, old chap, business is business, you know,” protested

-Reggie, but this time it was Jim who put down the protest.

-

-“Business!” he snorted. “And you can talk about business on your first

-night in the greatest little town in the world? Stow it, Reggie, before

-we make you!”

-

-“But, you know”――it came feebly, but it was still a protest――“I’m

-afraid I’ll be intruding, you know――the fly in the ointment――the odd

-member――all that sort of thing.”

-

-“Oh, Reggie, you ridiculous old dear,” cried Mabel, flinging an arm

-about his neck and effectually choking off the last part of his

-sentence. “Don’t be so absurd, honey. Don’t you know we couldn’t have

-any fun at all without you?”

-

-If Joe thought this was stretching the truth a bit, he did not say

-anything. It made Reggie happy, and of course it was fine to have the

-fellow along. However, he would not have been quite human if he had not

-wanted Mabel all to himself.

-

-As for Reggie, he was fairly beaming with pleasure.

-

-“I didn’t know you felt quite so strongly!” he cried. “Bah Jove I

-didn’t, you know.”

-

-“But now you do, and so it’s all settled,” broke in Clara, giving him

-an affectionate hug in her turn which brought a laughing remonstrance

-from Jim.

-

-“Look here!” he said. “Seems to me Reggie’s getting altogether too

-popular around here. If you’re passing that sort of thing around, why

-neglect me?”

-

-“I shan’t,” said Clara so softly that nobody heard but Jim, and before

-he could do anything about it she had turned swiftly and was holding

-out her hand for Joe’s album. “Let me have it, Joe,” she said. She was

-adorably flushed and no one――except Jim――understood the reason why.

-

-The two girls enthroned themselves on the couch with the album between

-them while the boys grouped themselves back of it. Over Mabel’s

-shoulder Joe turned the pages, pointing out the different players as he

-did so with a word of explanation for each.

-

-“But I want to see the Giant players, Joe,” said Clara.

-

-“You won’t find Lemblow on the Giants,” said Joe, and instantly could

-have bitten his tongue out for the slip. Both girls glanced up at him

-quickly.

-

-“Lemblow?” repeated Mabel breathlessly. “Then you know――you suspect――――”

-

-“I don’t know anything,” retorted Joe, almost brusquely, then added,

-with an immediate softening of his tone: “I didn’t mean to speak that

-way, dear, but I want to get this thing over with. Guess I’m hungry,”

-he ended, with a laugh.

-

-“Feed the brute,” added Jim. “I’m just about starved myself.”

-

-But the girls were not to be put off. They deluged them with questions

-as to who Lemblow was until in desperation the boys carried the attack

-into the enemy’s camp.

-

-“See here!” said Joe. “We refuse to answer any more questions. If we

-didn’t, you’d be sitting with that fool album in your laps for the

-rest of the night. Altogether, boys: ‘We want dinner!’ Again: ‘We want

-dinner!’”

-

-The three gave the cry with a gusto that made the girls laugh in spite

-of themselves.

-

-“Oh, well, if you want to be so mean!” said Clara, and again turned her

-attention to the album. Almost immediately she cried out, touching one

-of the pictures with her finger.

-

-“Look,” she said. “Here’s the one I’ve been looking for all the time!”

-

-“Which one?” asked Jim, as the boys leaned forward to get a better look.

-

-“The man who was talking to McCarney on the station platform,”

-explained Clara, so excited that she stammered. Mabel’s earnest eyes

-were fixed upon her. “I’d know that face, anywhere. He’s horrid

-looking, isn’t he? Like a snake or something scaly. Look at those lob

-ears of his.”

-

-She glanced up at the boys just in time to catch the look that flashed

-between them.

-

-“Then you do know him!” she exclaimed triumphantly. “Now maybe you’ll

-tell me his name.”

-

-“His name,” said Joe slowly, all fun temporarily gone from his eyes,

-“is Lemblow.”

-

-“And his reputation,” added Jim, with a faint grin, “is conspicuous by

-its absence.”

-

-“Oh, I knew it!” cried Clara, triumph giving place to real anxiety. “I

-knew he was a wretch from the first. Oh, Jim, what does it mean?”

-

-Jim looked at Joe and slowly shook his head.

-

-“It’s hard to tell what it means,” he said gravely.

-

-“I’ll jolly well say it is!” burst from Reggie, and at his vehemence

-the monocle, as though shocked by such an improper display of feeling,

-toppled from his eye. Reggie picked it up and nervously replaced it,

-squinting his eye as he did so till he looked like a scheming old

-magpie. “But one thing I do know, old chappie,” he added, more mildly,

-“these two men are a menace to the Giant team. You might even go so far

-as to say they are a menace to the Game itself――you really might, you

-know!”

-

-“Reggie, old chap,” said Joe dryly, “I could see that myself, without

-the aid of a monocle.”

-

-“But what do you think it means?” asked Mabel, her pretty forehead

-puckered in a troubled frown. “How could anybody make fifty thousand

-dollars out of baseball all at once?”

-

-“They couldn’t, if they made it straight,” returned Joe. “Of course

-there are various ways known to crooks by which a nifty little fortune

-may be made――――”

-

-“Such as throwing games and all that sort of thing?” queried Reggie.

-

-Joe nodded.

-

-“There are plenty of other ways too, I reckon, once you get wise

-to them,” he said. “The worst of it is,” he added, with a sudden

-clenching of his hands and a fierce look in his eyes, “that rascals

-like this Lemblow and McCarney not only plot against a special team

-or a certain group of men, but go further than that, as you yourself

-said, Reggie, and attempt to put a stain on the name of all baseball.

-The scoundrels!” he added, throwing back his head with a fierce gesture

-that made Mabel proud of him, even while she was half afraid. “Whatever

-rotten thing they’re working up, they’ll find they have me to reckon

-with.”

-

-“Me too, Joe,” said Jim grimly. “Don’t forget me.”

-

-       *       *       *       *       *

-

-The happy week that the boys spent with the girls flew by as

-though on wings. Every moment they could spare from the duties of

-their profession was spent in visiting with them the sights of the

-metropolis, and they did things in royal style. In the afternoons the

-girls were in a box at the Polo Grounds, and their hearts swelled with

-pride as they saw the splendid work of Joe and Jim and realized how

-high they stood in the affections of the followers of the game.

-

-But at last the time of parting came, and they faced it with sinking

-hearts but with brave smiles that showed what sports they were.

-

-“And remember, Joe,” were Mabel’s last words to Joe, as she leaned from

-the window of the train, “to keep on your guard against those wicked

-men.”

-

-“Don’t worry, honey,” replied Joe. “I still wear your glove against my

-heart. That’s my mascot.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER X

-

-WONDERFUL WORK

-

-

-The Western clubs had come and gone and now the Giants were engaged in

-a short series with the rest of the Eastern teams before themselves

-starting on an invasion of the West.

-

-The Western clubs were decidedly the stronger half of the National

-League, and it was practically certain that one or the other of these

-would be the one that the Giants would have to beat if they again won

-the pennant.

-

-And there was not one of them that did not have a “look in” for the

-flag. St. Louis, as has been said, was especially strong with the bat,

-and her sluggers were feared by every pitcher in the league. She had a

-strong pitching staff, too, none of them bright particular stars with

-the exception of Leadows, but well up to major-league standards.

-

-Pittsburgh, too, was a team to be treated with respect. The boys from

-the Smoky City had been the runners-up in the previous season and

-during the winter they had secured some very promising material from

-the minor leagues. Their infield was a stone wall, and very little got

-by it. Their outfielders were batting well over the .300 mark, and one

-of them, Morey, the fleet-footed center fielder, was the leading base

-stealer of the league.

-

-Cincinnati had been going strong since Hughson had taken the reins of

-management and was maintaining a respectable standing compared with

-what it had held at the close of the last season. There were some

-disorganizing elements in the team, however, that would have to be

-rooted out before the nine could be recognized as a serious contender.

-Hughson had already spotted these and was casting about for available

-talent to take the place of those he intended to oust, but this

-promised to take some time.

-

-Chicago was really the club that the Giants were watching most

-carefully. Their pitching staff had been greatly strengthened and they

-were well provided for in every department of the game. They had got

-off on the wrong foot at the beginning of the season, but were now

-climbing steadily, and the way the Cubs had clawed their way through

-the Giant defense in the series lately concluded showed that they had

-to be reckoned with seriously.

-

-If the pennant were to stay in the East at all that season, the Giants

-must be depended on for the victory. Brooklyn had flashes of form in

-which they were simply unbeatable, especially when their opponents

-happened to be the Giants, against whom they always put forth their

-best efforts. But the very day after they had decorated their opponents

-with a row of goose eggs they were as likely as not to play like a

-lot of “bushers.” It seemed impossible for them to maintain a winning

-streak, and it was this in and out playing that militated against their

-chances for the flag.

-

-Boston had a good team, and when that was said it about “let them out.”

-It was not a great team, although there were two or three real stars on

-it that helped keep them in the running. At the present time they were

-sixth in the race, with very little chance of climbing much higher.

-

-The Phillies were going none too well, although better than the year

-before. Their outfield was as good as any in the league, and some

-weak spots in the pitching department had been strengthened by the

-substitution of new blood. Two or three of their rookies seemed to have

-in them the making of stars. With a stronger infield they might well

-be pennant contenders. But even as it was, they were always dangerous,

-and could stage a rally at the most unexpected moment. Any club that

-counted on them as “easy” was likely to have a rude awakening.

-

-But all clubs looked alike to Joe, who this season was showing the best

-form of his life. Never had he whipped the ball over the plate with

-more terrific speed. Many times the ball was in Mylert’s glove while

-the batsman was making a vain swing for it. The “hop” ball that he

-was making a specialty of this season had an uncanny jump just before

-it reached the plate that completely fooled the opposing batters.

-His fadeaway, too, had all the deceptive qualities that had made it

-a terror, and his other curves and slants were working with magical

-efficiency.

-

-Many elements combined to make him by far the finest pitcher in either

-league. One was the fact that he kept himself in perfect condition.

-He had no bad habits to sap his strength, no surreptitious drinking,

-no “jazzing it up” at all night dancing and card parties, such as too

-often have proved the ruin of promising players. He started every day

-with a clear head, a rested body, and with strength and vigor pulsing

-through his veins.

-

-Moreover, he had gained the knowledge and experience that gave him

-confidence when he faced the batters. He knew the strength and weakness

-of every player in the league, what kind of balls they liked, what kind

-they found hard to hit, and he served them up to them accordingly. And

-his control was so perfect that he could split the plate or cut the

-corners at will.

-

-With many clubs it is the custom of the catcher to signal the pitcher

-just what kind of ball to throw next. It was a tribute to Joe that

-Mylert had long since given this up, as he had learned to trust Joe’s

-judgment rather than his own.

-

-But apart from his natural pitching ability, there was a special reason

-for the wonderful record that Joe was making this season. The very fact

-that he felt himself the object of a conspiracy to discredit him roused

-all the resistance in his nature and made him determine that he would

-not be discredited. Every time he went into the box he put all that he

-had on the ball, and pitched as though that special game was one of the

-World Series. Of course he lost games once in a while, but they were so

-infrequent as to provoke surprise when it happened.

-

-McRae was delighted, and yet at the same time a little anxious for fear

-Joe would break down under the tremendous strain.

-

-“You’re doing wonderful work, boy,” he said one day in Philadelphia,

-when Joe had pitched a superb game, shutting out the Quaker City boys

-and allowing them only two hits, one of them a scratch. “But you want

-to be careful not to throw your arm out. If anything happened to that

-arm of yours, our chances for the pennant would glimmer away.”

-

-“Nothing to worry about, Mac,” laughed Joe. “It feels as fine as silk.

-If I had nothing more than that to worry over I’d be happy.”

-

-The last words had slipped from him before he thought, and the alert

-manager pounced upon them like a hawk.

-

-“What do you mean by that?” he asked, in some alarm. “What’s troubling

-you? Anything happened at home?”

-

-“Nothing like that,” answered Joe. “I couldn’t possibly be happier than

-I am in my home life.”

-

-“Then what is the matter?” persisted McRae. “You’ve as much as admitted

-that there is something. Come, out with it! Maybe I can help you in

-some way.”

-

-Joe reflected for a moment. He had said too much not to say more. He

-liked McRae, not only as a manager but as a man, and he had confidence

-in his discretion. Besides, it was something that in a certain sense

-McRae had a right to know. But he resolved not to mention names as yet.

-

-“I’ll tell you, Mac,” he said slowly. “I know you’ll keep it under your

-hat――for the present, anyway.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XI

-

-ON THE TRAIL

-

-

-“You know, Mac, that I’m not easily fussed,” Joe went on, while the

-manager listened with strained attention. “I’ve been up against a lot

-of things since I’ve been in baseball, but so far have always managed

-to come out ahead.”

-

-“I know,” put in McRae. “They say that death loves a shining mark, and

-I’ve noticed that crooks do too. Once let a man come into the limelight

-as you have, and there’s always a bunch of rascals that begin figuring

-how they can make something out of him. I know how they’ve tried to

-dope you, cripple you, and even worse. For the love of Pete, don’t tell

-me they’ve been at it again.”

-

-“That’s just what has happened,” replied Joe, and then he went on to

-tell of the building material that had been pushed off the scaffold and

-from which he had so narrowly escaped with his life.

-

-“The scoundrels!” exclaimed McRae, worked up to a white heat. “If I

-could only get my hands on one of them there’d be one less rascal out

-of prison. Have you any idea who it is that’s trying to put it over on

-you? Give me a hint, and I’ll get the police after them in a hurry.”

-

-“That’s just what we’d better be careful about doing, don’t you think?”

-suggested Joe. “You know that baseball is on trial now with the public,

-and if anything of this kind should come out it might queer the game

-beyond recovery. It was a case of touch and go after that White Sox

-scandal broke, and anything else just now might prove the straw too

-much.”

-

-McRae pondered for a moment, wrinkling his brows.

-

-“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed reluctantly. “But does that mean

-that we’re going to lie down and let those rascals carry out their

-plans?”

-

-“Not by a jugful!” answered Joe. “We’re going to have those fellows

-tripped and hog-tied before they know where they’re at. But we’re going

-to do it so quietly that the outside world won’t get on to it. Trust

-me, Mac, to handle this matter myself.”

-

-“There’s no one that could do it better; I’m sure of that,” admitted

-the manager. “But you haven’t answered my question yet. Have you any

-idea who’s doing this?”

-

-“I have an idea,” affirmed Joe. “But I don’t want to do any one an

-injustice, and I’m not going to mention names until I’m sure I have the

-goods on them. Just leave them to my tender mercies, Mac, and trust

-in my lucky star. You know I’m lucky,” he added, with a grin, “or I

-wouldn’t be alive and whole to-day.”

-

-“It isn’t luck. It’s brains and pluck,” corrected the manager. “You

-weren’t behind the door when those things were handed out. I’ll leave

-it to you, then, Joe. But, for the love of goodness, be careful. You

-bet I’ll keep my own eyes peeled, too, from now on.”

-

-Robson and some of the other players came along just then and the

-conversation turned into other channels. But several times on the train

-ride back to New York Joe caught McRae’s eyes turned on him with a

-worried expression, and he knew what his manager was thinking about.

-

-The next morning Joe was on his way downtown on a business errand when

-he saw McCarney and Hupft get on the platform of a subway train as it

-stopped at a station. For a moment they seemed about to enter the car

-in which he was sitting, but they changed their minds and went into the

-car ahead.

-

-Joe was quite sure they had not seen him, and it occurred to him that

-here was an opportunity to follow his renegade team mates and perhaps

-discover something of the plot in which they were engaged.

-

-He kept a sharp eye on them, moving up to the front of his own car to

-note their movements better, and when he saw them rise as the train was

-slowing up at a station he followed suit, taking care to keep in the

-rear of the mass of passengers as they hurried out.

-

-The two plotters turned westward and pursued their way, talking

-earnestly, toward a disreputable section of the city near the river

-front. At the door of a saloon they halted and looked around. Joe had

-slipped behind an elevated road pillar and they did not see him.

-

-Apparently satisfied that they were not observed they went into the

-saloon.

-

-Joe sauntered along slowly and reached a point abreast of the saloon

-just as a rough looking character pushed open the swinging doors. As

-they swung back Joe got a glimpse of the interior. There were two or

-three men lounging in front of the bar, but McCarney and Hupft were not

-in sight.

-

-Joe had seen also that there was a row of stalls along a balcony at the

-side of the saloon with dingy curtains over them to insure a certain

-amount of privacy. He conjectured that the men he had been following

-were probably in one of these. His resolution was taken on the instant.

-

-He entered the place, which in addition to being a saloon was also

-run as a cheap hotel and restaurant, and went up to the bar. There he

-bought a cigar. While he lighted it, which he did deliberately, he

-noted from the sound of voices that one of the stalls was occupied.

-He ordered a meal to be brought to him and went up the stairs to the

-balcony and into the adjoining stall.

-

-There was a murmur of conversation from the stall next to him,

-and although the voices were pitched low he had no difficulty in

-identifying them as those of Hupft and McCarney. Hupft seemed to be in

-a despondent mood, and McCarney was evidently trying to brace him up.

-

-“I tell you, it’s no use,” Joe heard Hupft say. “That fellow has the

-Indian sign on us. No matter how we try to down him, he wins.”

-

-“He’ll break down soon,” McCarney said confidently. “His luck can’t

-last forever. You can see he’s throwing his arm out. The harder we make

-it for him to win games the sooner he’ll have to quit. And think of the

-melon we’ll split between us when he does.”

-

-“We’ll have to floor him before he quits,” muttered Hupft. “And that’s

-no easy job either. The fellow has as many lives as a cat. Lemblow

-thought he had him dead to rights in that timber tumble, but he got

-away with scarcely a scratch.”

-

-Joe was listening with all his ears when the curtain was pushed aside

-and a waiter entered with a tray. He set it down on the table and as he

-glanced at Joe let out an exclamation.

-

-“Ain’t you Baseball Joe?” he asked. “Sure you are! I’ve seen your

-picture many a time!”

-

-Joe motioned him to be silent, but it was too late. There were muttered

-exclamations and the scraping of chairs in the adjoining stall, and the

-next moment Hupft and McCarney were blocking the door.

-

-“So you were spying on us, were you?” snarled Reddy, whose flushed face

-showed he had been drinking.

-

-He lunged forward as he spoke, while McCarney also rushed at Joe.

-

-The latter’s right fist shot out and caught Hupft a terrific blow

-straight between the eyes, sending him staggering back against the

-partition. The next moment Joe’s left had landed on McCarney’s jaw.

-

-They were back at him a moment later, and they went at it hammer and

-tongs. Joe could have handled either one of them easily, but the two

-made a formidable combination. Still he was getting the better of it

-when his foot slipped in the débris of the meal that had been dashed to

-the floor and he went down heavily, striking the back of his head. He

-was stunned, and the next instant McCarney and Hupft were both on top

-of him.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XII

-

-THE POLICE RAID

-

-

-What might have happened to Joe at that critical minute is a matter for

-conjecture had not fate――or the police――decided to take a hand in the

-matter.

-

-Lying there half unconscious, his hands pinioned by McCarney, Reddy’s

-bulk on his chest and Reddy’s liquor-laden breath in his face, Joe did

-not at first understand the cause of the sudden noise and confusion

-below stairs.

-

-All he knew was that his head hurt him unbearably and that in his heart

-was a rage that dulled even the pain in his head. Then gradually he

-realized that the situation was changed.

-

-The sound of running feet, the sound of raised voices, some bullying,

-some fearful, became louder and louder until they penetrated even

-Joe’s fading consciousness. He was aware that McCarney had left off

-brandishing his fist in his face and that Reddy had suddenly removed

-his weight from off his chest.

-

-He stopped not to argue about the cause of this good fortune but

-weakly and dizzily raised himself to his knees. When he had, by dint of

-all the will power he possessed plus a grip on the rickety table beside

-him, managed to raise himself to his feet, he found that Reddy and

-McCarney had miraculously disappeared.

-

-He looked toward the window and found that it was open. He pressed his

-hand to his aching forehead impatiently and fought to be able to think

-clearly.

-

-Then he caught a phrase from among the shouts and cries that filled the

-rooms beneath him, and that phrase roused him immediately to the need

-for action.

-

-“Get the whisky, boys!” a husky voice ordered. “We’ve got the men――now

-what we need is evidence. We’ll wipe this joint off the map!”

-

-“A raid! A prohibition-agents’ raid!” thought Joe, his brain now

-functioning quickly enough. That was the reason Reddy and McCarney had

-left him so suddenly just when they had him where they wanted him.

-Well, it was up to him to leave suddenly, too. If he were caught here!

-

-Swift feet were running up the stairs. No possibility of escape in that

-direction. The back stairs? No, that was hopeless too. To reach the

-back stairs he must first enter the corridor, and to do that would be

-to invite disaster. The window! That was his only chance. In a moment

-more police would be entering the room. How could he explain?

-

-He rushed to the window, taking a quick survey. He had but a minute

-to think. Eagerly he looked out, but only a blank brick wall met his

-anxious gaze. No window underneath this one, no shed to break his fall.

-

-He must take his chance, anyway. It was his only chance. Voices were

-even then on the balcony. Quick as a cat, he lifted himself over the

-sill, lowering his length along the side of the blank brick wall until

-he was hanging by his hands, only the tips of his fingers showing over

-the window sill.

-

-Allowing himself no time to think, he dropped, at the same time

-flinging his body outward so that it might not strike against the wall.

-

-The ground seemed to come up to meet him and he landed with a jar that

-seemed to shake loose every tooth in his head. Lucky for him that the

-patch of ground beside the disreputable little hotel had never been

-filled in with cement. It was hard enough and lumpy enough, but it was

-not as hard as cement.

-

-Satisfied that no bones were broken and that his legs were still in

-good working order, Joe wasted no time before making use of them.

-

-Luckily there were no policemen guarding that side of the hotel. There

-were few windows, and those high, and no doors and evidently the

-prohibition agents had discounted the possibility of any one escaping

-from that quarter. Also they had come after “evidence” more than

-prisoners, a fact which also worked in Joe’s favor.

-

-After skirting the rear of the building next to the hotel, Joe,

-straightening his clothing as well as he could, ventured out on the

-sidewalk. It was at that moment that he realized he had left his hat

-inside.

-

-Probably no one, except the poor wretch who is unfortunate enough to

-have been in a similar predicament at one time or another, can possibly

-imagine what Joe felt at that moment. Also he had never before realized

-what an important part of a man’s attire a hat really is.

-

-“You sort of get to take your head gear for granted, I guess,” he mused

-unhappily, as he walked along as nonchalantly as he could, trying to

-look as if it were his regular custom to appear hatless in the street.

-

-But in spite of his valiant attempt to seem unconcerned he soon

-realized that, even in that rather disreputable quarter of the town, he

-was attracting unwelcome attention.

-

-“Maybe I’ve got a black eye or a cut lip,” he mused miserably as he

-hurried along, trying not to notice the stares that followed him and

-the occasional laugh and gibe of some humorously inclined passer-by.

-“Shouldn’t wonder if I were a fit candidate for a circus side show.

-Some mess that was to get mixed up in!”

-

-But when an impertinent “newsie,” grinning from ear to ear, held out

-a disreputable and tattered cap for his inspection, inviting him

-gleefully to “help yourself――it ain’t much, but it’s the best I got,

-Mister,” Joe lost what little aplomb he had left.

-

-A passing taxicab caught his eye and he made a running jump for it, saw

-that it was empty, opened the door and got in before the surprised and

-outraged driver could do more than open his mouth and shut it again.

-

-A minute later the car slowed down and the chauffeur glared in at the

-occupant of his cab.

-

-“Say, what d’you think you’re doin’?” he growled, but he got no

-further. All the pent-up irritation and wrath that had been simmering

-in Joe for the past hour was poured forth on that unfortunate

-chauffeur’s head.

-

-This had the effect of ending the discussion right there as far as the

-chauffeur was concerned. Having firmly come to the conclusion in his

-own mind that a lunatic had taken possession of his cab he decided to

-take his passenger to his destination and there to drop him at the

-first possible minute.

-

-So it happened that a short time later, having paid the taxicab

-driver, Joe entered the rear of his hotel and made a break for the

-stairs.

-

-He was not going to trust himself even to the mercies of the elevator

-boy, who knew and revered him as an idol. As a matter of fact, Joe was

-not particularly eager to meet anybody until he had had a chance to

-look at himself in the mirror and discover to what extent――if any――his

-features had been damaged. Also, he wanted a hat! Oh, he very badly

-wanted a hat!

-

-In the corridor Baseball Joe met Jim, evidently sallying forth to

-practice, and the latter stood and stared――at least, that is what he

-would have done had the exasperated Joe given him a chance.

-

-In another moment they were both within Joe’s room with the door closed

-against unwelcome intrusion.

-

-“Now out with it!” Joe said. “Do your worst. Am I a total wreck?”

-

-“I think you’re a total loss as far as appearances are concerned,” Jim

-retorted. “Where’s your hat?”

-

-Joe groaned and made a rush for the bathroom beyond. There he could

-examine his countenance for himself. To his intense relief he found

-that Reddy and McCarney had left no signs of their attack other than a

-rather large bump on the back of the head.

-

-He was fingering this gingerly when Jim entered the room. In the

-mirror Joe caught sight of the worried expression his chum wore and

-grinned broadly. He was beginning at last to see the funny side of his

-adventure.

-

-“I say, Joe,” Jim said, not returning his chum’s grin, “what’s up,

-anyway? You’ve run into something. Stop grinning and give me the story.”

-

-“If you’ll wait till I get a bath and jump into some clean things, I’ll

-tell you the fool I made of myself――and more besides,” answered Joe,

-with a longing glance at the tub.

-

-So, after he had splashed around in hot water that took the ache out

-of his bones and then splashed his face with cold water that assuaged

-the ache in his head, Joe told Jim the startling events that had taken

-place since his determination to follow Hupft and McCarney and find out

-what they were up to.

-

-“Whew!” whistled Jim, as, a few minutes later, he watched Joe put

-on a clean collar. “You certainly did stage some little show all by

-yourself, didn’t you? Pity you couldn’t let a fellow in on it.”

-

-“You ought to be glad I didn’t,” retorted Joe. “It was no nice party,

-I’m telling you.”

-

-“But, say!” Jim went on excitedly. “This thing about Reddy and McCarney

-being in cahoots, joining hands in the great conspiracy stuff――what are

-you going to do about that?”

-

-“What is there to do about it?” asked Joe, with a shrug of his

-shoulders as he turned from the mirror and caught up a hat. “We don’t

-really know any more than we did before, only that our suspicions have

-been to some extent verified. If that fool waiter hadn’t come around

-just as he did I might have listened to some purpose. I haven’t learned

-yet what ring is backing them up. We’d better be on our way,” he added.

-“We’ll be late for practice as it is. Plenty of time to finish our talk

-on the way down.”

-

-“I can’t get this thing straight in my mind yet,” Jim complained, as

-they hurried along toward the field. “It begins to look as if McRae

-were right――as if this gang of crooks were really out for blood. But,

-Joe, I’m glad the cops chose that time to raid the hotel.”

-

-“What’s the idea?” asked Joe, as he skillfully wriggled and darted

-through the traffic. “I don’t get you.”

-

-“You poor old simpleton!” retorted Jim affectionately. “Do you know

-where you would be now if that raid hadn’t scared off McCarney and

-Hupft?”

-

-“I don’t know,” returned Joe, with a grin. “But I have a strong

-suspicion it would be somewhere far away from here.”

-

-“Just so,” returned Jim, adding with more than a little anxiety in his

-tone: “You’ve got to stop jumping in where angels fear to tread. Or,

-if you must do it, at least seek company in your jumpings. You’ve more

-than yourself to think of, you know. There’s Mabel.”

-

-“I know,” said Joe steadily. “Don’t suppose I’m not always thinking of

-her, old man. But I’ve got my duty to the league and the great game

-too. Not even Mabel would want me to forget that.”

-

-“Just the same,” retorted Jim stubbornly, “it won’t help the game any

-if you get injured!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XIII

-

-KEEPING IT CLOSE

-

-

-“What are you going to do about telling McRae and Robbie?” queried Jim,

-as the two players neared the baseball park. “Don’t you suppose they

-ought to know?”

-

-“I’ve thought about that,” said Joe. “But I haven’t found out very

-much――――”

-

-“Except that two of the Giants’ players frequent disreputable hotels

-and partake of contraband liquor while they hatch up their evil

-schemes,” Jim reminded him dryly. “That information ought to go a long

-way toward discrediting McCarney and Reddy Hupft for life.”

-

-“But it wouldn’t stop their plotting,” Joe retorted. “They’d go on

-hatching their rotten schemes just the same, only in such a way that

-we’d have hard work bringing the guilt home to them. No, I’d rather

-have them where I can watch them until some time when I have the chance

-to get the real goods on them.”

-

-“Perhaps you’re right,” said Jim doubtfully, adding suddenly: “How do

-you know they didn’t get pinched in the raid?”

-

-“I don’t,” answered Joe. “Only they beat it at the first sign of

-trouble and probably had a chance to get away. It would be some joke,”

-he added, as they walked together toward the entrance of the field, “if

-they had been caught.”

-

-“Some joke on them――but one also on the team,” added Jim.

-

-“Yes, there it is again. You can’t punish one member of a nine without

-reflecting more or less on the whole team.” Joe stopped short and

-stared out to the field where several of the players were already in

-practice. “Say, Jim, do you see what I see, or am I dreaming again?”

-

-“It’s Reddy and his pal McCarney all right,” said Jim grimly. “They

-gave the police the slip that time, and I suppose they’ll do it many

-times more before they’re caught.”

-

-“But when they’re caught, oh, boy!” said Joe, with relish.

-

-They were still standing, staring out toward the diamond, when Robbie

-hurried up to them.

-

-“What do you boys think this is, a star-gazing contest?” he demanded.

-

-“You’ve got your time wrong, Robbie,” said Joe, grinning. “There are no

-stars.”

-

-“You bet there ain’t!” retorted Robbie, with heavy sarcasm. “Not on

-this team, anyway!”

-

-The boys chuckled and, still chuckling, entered the clubhouse.

-

-“Well, if Robbie hasn’t any stars on the team he certainly has a couple

-of crooks,” commented Jim.

-

-“Wonder how long it will be before he tumbles to it,” conjectured Joe.

-

-“What do you suppose those two will do, Hupft and McCarney, I mean, when

-they see you back safe and sound and in your normal state?” asked Jim,

-in a carefully lowered voice.

-

-“That’s what I intend to find out,” said Joe, with a chuckle of

-amusement. “I bet they’ll be surprised to see me.”

-

-Jim stared at him for a minute, then chuckled in his turn.

-

-“Never thought of that,” he said. “I suppose they’ve had it all fixed

-up in their own minds that you were caught in the raid.”

-

-Joe nodded.

-

-“And it’s just due to the barest chance in the world,” he added

-seriously, “that I wasn’t.”

-

-Jim considered this new angle of the case for a moment.

-

-“Just what would you have done, Joe, if the police had found you in

-that place?” he asked.

-

-“I’d have told them the truth, of course. What else could I have done?”

-

-“Do you think they would have believed you?” asked Jim.

-

-Joe shrugged his shoulders.

-

-“No telling,” he answered. “I had no proof, you know. No witnesses,

-only my word. They would have let me off, probably, but it would have

-made an ugly story――something for Hupft and McCarney to chuckle over.

-No, sir, it’s lucky for me I found a means of exit.”

-

-“Even if you did nearly break your neck,” added Jim.

-

-“You notice I didn’t,” laughed Joe.

-

-As the two were leaving the clubhouse Joe grasped his friend’s arm and

-reiterated what he had said more than once:

-

-“Not a word of this to Mabel, you know, old man, or Clara either. It

-would only worry them, and they’ve had enough to worry over since Clara

-overheard McCarney and Lemblow in their scheming. Not a word!”

-

-“Not a word!” returned Jim emphatically.

-

-As the chums approached the diamond they looked at Hupft and McCarney,

-who were tossing the ball to each other――looked at them with a more

-than ordinary degree of interest.

-

-Aside from the suspicion of a black rim around Reddy’s left eye and a

-slight swelling of McCarney’s naturally thick and heavy upper lip, no

-sign could be seen of the hearty fight in which they two and Joe had

-participated.

-

-“That’s tough luck,” Joe murmured, in a crestfallen aside to Jim. “I

-surely thought I landed at least a couple of good rights. It seems as

-though, someway or other, I’d missed doing my duty.”

-

-“At that, they got more out of it than you did,” returned Jim, in the

-same modulated voice. “Your face has the smoothness of a babe, as it

-were.”

-

-“Yes, but you ought to feel the back of my head,” said Joe ruefully.

-“I’ve got a bump there the size of a hen’s egg.”

-

-“That’s probably where you hit the floor,” said Jim, and then it was

-necessary to discontinue the _sub rosa_ conversation, as they had come

-within earshot of the two players.

-

-If Joe was curious as to just the manner in which his erstwhile

-assailants meant to greet him, he was not long kept in doubt.

-

-As his glance crossed that of Reddy Hupft the latter merely scowled

-faintly and looked away, shouting something to Larry, who had just come

-up.

-

-“Snubbed, by Jiminy!” murmured Joe, and Jim replied with a grin as he

-turned and loped off toward the pitcher’s box.

-

-Later, when Joe and McCarney came face to face, the experience was

-repeated, only that there was a little more ferocity in the latter’s

-stony glance.

-

-“That fellow McCarney surely does hate me like poison,” Joe communed,

-as he played with the ball in practice, sending little teasers over the

-plate that kept the unfortunate batters in a state somewhere between

-apoplexy and nervous prostration. “I’d like to meet him again some time

-when the odds aren’t two to one.”

-

-It was hard for him to make up his mind in the hour or two that

-followed whether to tell McRae of his experience or whether to let the

-matter go by, for the time at least.

-

-One minute he was not sure but what it was McRae’s right to know the

-story and the next moment he was telling himself that, since he had

-really learned nothing from the overheard conversation between McCarney

-and Hupft, there was no vital reason why he should say anything about

-it.

-

-He was in the latter frame of mind when, after practice, McRae led him

-to a secluded corner of the field. The manager looked about him to make

-sure that no one was within earshot, and then turned to Joe, saying

-abruptly:

-

-“See here, Joe, I’m worried. There’s something wrong with this

-team――all-fired wrong. And that something is Reddy Hupft and McCarney.

-They’re not working right. They’re going stale and they’re having an

-effect on the rest of the team. Did you notice them to-day?”

-

-“What about them?” Joe asked evasively.

-

-“They’ve been drinking,” said McRae, pounding a big fist in the palm of

-his hand by way of emphasis. “I talked to Reddy, and his breath nearly

-knocked me over. And when a ball player begins to drink, you know as

-well as I do that that’s the end of him. I tell you, something’s got to

-be done or we’ll be getting new men for third base and center-field.”

-

-For several minutes longer the manager aired his grievances with Joe as

-a sympathetic and equally worried listener and several times it was on

-the point of Joe’s tongue to tell McRae what had happened that day. But

-always something held him back.

-

-“Wait,” said a voice within his brain. “Wait till you have some real

-evidence. Then you can not only talk, but act!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XIV

-

-A NO-HIT GAME

-

-

-The time had now come for the Giants’ invasion of the West, and they

-started out in fine fettle, although they knew they had hard work ahead

-of them.

-

-This year there was to be no runaway race for the pennant. All the

-Western teams were up on their toes to bring the flag to their own

-section. Since Joe had come to the Giants that team had won the

-championship for several years in succession, and from the Western

-point of view that would never do. Each team, of course, wanted it for

-themselves, but at any rate if they could not win it they wanted it to

-go to some other Western team. So the slogan was: “Anything to beat the

-Giants.”

-

-Their best pitchers were carefully groomed and kept in reserve for the

-games with the conquering New Yorkers, while the other pitchers did

-the bulk of the twirling in the less important games. In each series

-of four games the various managers maneuvered so that their king-pin

-pitcher worked in the first and fourth games, so that they could hurl

-their pitching star twice at least against the invaders. This was

-perfectly legitimate from the standpoint of shrewd management, but it

-can easily be seen that it made the Giants’ task a good deal harder

-than that of any other club.

-

-But the Giants were a fighting club, made up for the most part of

-veterans of many a hard-fought campaign, and the stiffer the opposition

-the more their battling spirit rose to meet it. The very bitterness

-of the opposition was a compliment in itself, and with Joe and Jim

-pitching the game of their lives they faced the foe with confidence.

-

-That confidence, to be sure, would have been still greater had it not

-been for the indifferent playing of Hupft and McCarney that was now

-becoming a matter of comment among all the players. McRae had his lines

-out for likely material to supplant those two, but he had not yet been

-able to land what seemed like major league material and so was forced

-to keep them on a little longer.

-

-But the demon pitching done by Joe and Jim had thus far made up for the

-deficiencies at third and center, and the Giants started their swing

-around the Western circle at the head of the league and two games to

-the good. That, of course, was only a slender margin, and might be

-wiped out in a few days of hard luck, but it at least gave them an

-“edge” on their rivals. McRae was figuring on taking at least ten of

-the sixteen games to be played on the present trip, and if he could do

-that there was every prospect that the Giants would return home in the

-lead. Then, with a long series on their home grounds in prospect, there

-was a good chance that the Giants could get so far out in the lead that

-they would never be headed.

-

-Their first series was with Cincinnati, and here they struck a snag in

-Hughson’s rejuvenated team. The Reds were playing championship ball

-and ran away with three games out of four. This was a setback, but

-the Giants evened the score when they made a similar killing with the

-Pittsburghs as the victims. At St. Louis the team met with rain on one

-of the days scheduled, and were able to play only three games. But as

-they annexed two of these, McRae, to use his own phrase, “had no kick

-coming.”

-

-It was at Chicago that the real test came. The Windy City boys had

-their fighting togs on and neither gave nor asked for quarter. The

-games were for blood from the tap of the bell. Joe won the first by a

-shut out――won in a double sense by hitting a homer for the only run

-scored by his side. Jim was next and pitched superbly in a game that

-went for thirteen innings, and was only won by Chicago in the last by

-an error of McCarney. The Cubs repeated the dose on the following day,

-when a perfect deluge of hits came from their bats that drove Markwith

-to the showers and gave Chicago the game by a score of 11 to 5.

-

-Chicago players, fans and newspapers were jubilant and implored the

-Cubs to put on the finishing touch by winning the last game of the

-series.

-

-The Giants had now won seven and lost seven of their Western trip and

-the result of the final game would decide whether they should go back

-to New York with the tally on the right or wrong side of the ledger.

-

-“Those fellows are calling themselves Giant-killers, Joe,” said McRae,

-as the teams were warming up in practice before a tremendous crowd

-that packed every inch of the stands and bleachers on the day of the

-final game. “I want you to go out and show them that you’re some little

-Cub-killer yourself.”

-

-“I’ll try to bring their pelt back to the clubhouse,” responded Joe,

-with a grin.

-

-The Cubs were relying on their great pitcher Axander, who was regarded

-as being only second to Joe himself in the National League, and the

-fans settled down to witness a battle royal.

-

-The Giants, as the visiting club, were first at bat, and Axander

-made short work of them. Curry fouled out on the second ball pitched.

-Iredell sent up a twisting fly to short that Harker gathered in. The

-redoubtable Burkett was completely buffaloed and struck out.

-

-Axander was received with a tempest of cheers as he went to the bench

-and was compelled to doff his cap in acknowledgment.

-

-But Joe went him one better by setting down the Cubs on strikes in

-their half. The ball whizzed over the plate with the whine of a bullet.

-He had speed to burn and the Cub batsmen never had a chance.

-

-It was evident that a pitching duel was impending, and this was what

-McRae was praying for. Let it come to a matter of twirling, and he was

-willing to bet on Joe against the world.

-

-The second, third and fourth innings were also scoreless for either

-side. Wheeler had found Axander for a single and Joe had poled out a

-crashing triple, but their comrades were unable to bring them in.

-

-Not a hit as yet had been scored on Joe. When the Cubs connected

-with the ball at all, they hit it on the under side for a fly to the

-outfielders or dribbled easy ones that were gobbled up by the infield.

-But his chief reliance was on strike-outs, as he wanted to give

-McCarney and Hupft as few chances as possible.

-

-In the fifth, two singles in succession got Giants on bases, but

-Axander tightened up and they got no farther. Still they were finding

-that Axander could be hit, and that it itself was something.

-

-But no such encouragement came to the Cubs. Try as they might, they

-could not solve Joe’s delivery. He mixed up his fast ones with an

-occasional slow one that they broke their backs reaching for, while Joe

-grinned at them tantalizingly. His hop ball was working to perfection

-and his fadeaway stood the Chicagos on their heads.

-

-“You’re a lot of old women,” stormed the Chicago manager, Evans, as one

-after the other of his men came discomfited to the bench. “Why don’t

-you go in and knock his head off, you bunch of sand-lot boobs?”

-

-“Aw, that feller ain’t a pitcher, he’s a wizard,” growled Burton, the

-Cub’s heaviest slugger. “He’s got the ball bewitched.”

-

-“Here, let’s see that ball,” shouted Evans, walking out toward the box

-as Joe was winding up. “Come here, umps,” he added, motioning to the

-umpire. “I want you to examine this ball and make sure there’s nothing

-phony about it.”

-

-Joe surrendered it with a laugh. He had never resorted to the tricks

-used by some pitchers of “roughening” or “shining” or putting resin on

-the ball so as to give it a peculiar motion. His arm and his head had

-been his only reliance.

-

-The umpire and manager examined the ball with the utmost care but could

-find no fault with it. A huge guffaw came from the Giants, as Evans

-reluctantly handed back the ball, and even the Chicago fans gave him

-the laugh.

-

-“Satisfied, Mr. Evans?” grinned Joe with elaborate politeness. “Now,

-just to show you that there are no hard feelings, trot out your

-rough-necks and I’ll strike them out in order――one, two, three, just

-like that.”

-

-This he did in jig time and in such a masterly fashion that the Chicago

-rooters, eager as they were to see the home team win, could not refrain

-from applauding him. They were beginning to realize that they were

-watching the performance of the greatest pitcher that had ever walked

-into the box.

-

-In the very next inning they realized also that they were watching the

-mightiest slugger that had ever swung a bat, when Joe, with one man on

-base, caught one of Axander’s fast ones on the end of his bat and sent

-it screaming over the center-field wall for the longest homer that had

-ever been clouted on the Chicago grounds. The ice was broken, and the

-score stood 2 to 0 in favor of the Giants.

-

-“You’re a miracle man to-day, Joe!” exclaimed McRae, beaming on him.

-“You’re winning your own game with a vengeance. Now all you have to do

-is to hold those birds down and we’ll have bagged the game.”

-

-One other thing was being borne in on the Chicago fans, and that was

-that they were possibly to see that rarest of things on the diamond――a

-no-hit game. Here it was the seventh inning, and not even the semblance

-of a hit had been scored on Joe. Axander had yielded five in all, of

-which Joe had gathered two. But Joe had an absolutely clean score.

-Could he keep it up?

-

-The Chicago manager growled and raged and implored his men to do

-something. They tried desperately, but it was Joe’s day and he would

-not be denied. They resorted to all the tricks of the trade, tried to

-bunt, tried to get hit with the ball, anything to get on first. Their

-coachers roared from the side lines in an attempt to rattle Joe. But he

-was as cold as ice, as hard as steel.

-

-He had never felt more sure of himself. He had thrown aside his cap and

-looked like a young Viking as he stood in the box, hurling the ball

-over with such tremendous speed that it defied the eye to follow it,

-or sending it in with such deceptive slants that he had the batsman

-striking wildly at the air. His control was perfect. The ball seemed

-inspired with almost human intelligence. It whizzed, it dodged, it

-jumped, it dropped, as though guided by a spring.

-

-The seventh inning passed. Not a hit.

-

-The eighth inning passed. Still no hit. Joe was simply toying with the

-batsmen. He held his enemies in the hollow of his hand.

-

-Axander had also kept the Giants from scoring any more runs, and was

-pitching a brand of ball that would have won nine games out of ten.

-

-In the last half of the ninth, the Chicagos came in for their final

-stand with the head of their batting order at the bat. Yells of

-encouragement came from the rooters as they implored them to stage a

-last-inning rally.

-

-Burton came to the plate. “One strike.” “One ball.” “Foul strike.”

-“Three strikes.” “Out!”

-

-Next came Gallagher. “One ball.” “Two balls.”

-

-“Wait him out,” yelled Evans. “He’s getting wild. He’s weakening. We’ll

-get him yet.”

-

-“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three strikes.” “Out!”

-

-Weston, the Chicago’s last hope, came third.

-

-“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three strikes.” “Out!”

-

-The greatest game that Chicago had seen for years was over, and the

-Giants had won by a score of 2 to 0.

-

-Not a run had been scored by Chicago. Not a Cub had touched a base. Not

-a man had been passed to first on balls. Not a Cub had made a hit!

-

-It was a no-hit game without a blemish, the greatest that Joe had

-pitched in his whole great career. And to cap it all, his own homer had

-brought the Giants out at the big end of the score.

-

-The jubilation of McRae and Robson and the rest of the Giants, with the

-exception of Hupft and McCarney, was beyond description. Their most

-formidable foe had been humbled, and the Giants could go back to New

-York in a blaze of glory.

-

-Joe had been so pounded and knocked about by his hilarious comrades

-that he was later in dressing than most of his mates, many of whom had

-finished and drifted away from the clubhouse to get ready for the train

-ride home. By the time Joe had completed his bath, the only occupants

-besides himself and Jim were Hupft and McCarney.

-

-Just as Joe stepped from under the shower Hupft came past him hurriedly

-and stepped on Joe’s bare foot with his own heavily shod foot. The pain

-was excruciating and Joe gave vent to an exclamation.

-

-“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.

-

-“Aw, what are you grouching about?” growled Hupft. “Do you think I did

-it on purpose?”

-

-But Joe had caught a triumphant gleam in his eyes that belied his words.

-

-“I know you did!” he cried. “Now, Reddy Hupft, I’m going to pay you

-something of what I owe you.”

-

-His fist shot out with a terrific impact against Reddy’s jaw. The

-latter staggered and almost fell, but, recovering himself, rushed

-furiously at Joe.

-

-The latter met him with a straight left that shook him from head to

-heels. Two others followed, delivered with such force that Hupft

-measured his length on the floor.

-

-McCarney had made a move to rush to Hupft’s assistance, but Jim barred

-the way with blazing eyes.

-

-“No, you don’t!” he cried. “One move, and I’ll smash you to bits!”

-

-McCarney “curled up” promptly, while Jim with clenched fists kept guard

-over him.

-

-“Come,” cried Joe, as he stood over his fallen antagonist. “Stand up so

-that I can knock you down again. I’m just getting warmed up.”

-

-“I’ve had enough,” growled Reddy, spitting out a tooth. “But you can

-bet McRae will hear of this.”

-

-“Tell him and welcome,” returned Joe, as he started to resume his

-dressing. “But pick yourself up now and get out of this clubhouse. If

-you’re here when I get my shoes on, I’ll kick you out.”

-

-The precious pair slouched out of the house, their eyes burning with

-rage and malice.

-

-“They’re bad medicine, Joe,” remarked Jim, as he watched them depart.

-“Be on the watch, for they’ll try to get even for this. But, gee, it

-warmed my heart to see the trimming you gave Hupft! Those smashes you

-handed him were beauties.”

-

-Jim’s prophecy was quickly realized, for that night, as the chums were

-hurrying for the train that was to carry them to New York, a jagged

-piece of railroad iron came whizzing past Joe’s head, missing him by no

-more than a couple of inches. They looked about, but could see nobody,

-and as their time was limited they had no chance to hunt for their

-unknown assailant. But in their hearts they had no doubt as to the

-source of the attack.

-

-“One more debt I owe to Hupft and McCarney,” commented Joe, as they

-settled into their train seats. “The account is getting pretty long,

-but heaven help them when the time comes for settling!”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XV

-

-THE STARTLING TELEGRAM

-

-

-“Want to do the biggest work of your young life to-day, Joe?”

-

-It was McRae speaking shortly after the team’s return to New York, and

-Joe grinned at him cheerfully.

-

-“Surest thing you know,” he said. “Before I get through with them

-to-day that Boston gang are going to wish they’d never been born. Maybe

-it’s the air, but I never felt more fit than I do at this minute.”

-

-It was the truth. At that moment Baseball Joe had never felt more

-confident, never felt more utterly sure that he could make the ball

-dance to his whistle.

-

-It was the early afternoon of the day when they were to play the big

-game with Boston. The boys had turned out early, hoping to get in a

-little extra practice before the game began. They were working out in

-fine shape and things looked extremely hopeful for the Giants.

-

-It was the kind of day just made for a game; cool for the time of year

-but clear as a bell. The air itself was a tonic, and as Joe tossed the

-ball with a speed and brilliance that delighted his mates it seemed

-indeed as though the spirit of the day had entered that good right arm

-of his. He was invincible.

-

-“Going to give it to them right where they live to-day all right, old

-boy,” said Jim gleefully, as they paused for a breathing space. “Boston

-hasn’t a pitcher that’s in the same class with you. But say,” he added

-seriously, with a quick lowering of his voice, “have you noticed

-anything queer about Reddy and McCarney?”

-

-“Nothing more than usual,” said Joe absently. His mind was on the

-beating they were going to give Boston and in his eyes was the light

-of battle. At that moment he had no thoughts to waste on anything as

-insignificant as Hupft and McCarney.

-

-But as Jim seemed to want to talk about them Joe listened absently, his

-eager eyes still on the diamond.

-

-“They’ve been watching you all morning when you didn’t know it,” Jim

-said, and there was no mistaking the worried note in his voice. “Once

-I caught them whispering together, and Reddy looked toward you and

-laughed. I tell you, Joe, I’ll bet anything I own those two are cooking

-up mischief for this afternoon.”

-

-“That seems to be their favorite outdoor sport,” returned Joe,

-with a grin. Then, seeing that his chum was still grave, he added,

-reassuringly, “Don’t worry, old man. There isn’t a thing in the world

-can stop me to-day.”

-

-Some say it is bad luck to boast, and in this particular instance it

-certainly looked as though there was some truth in the saying. For the

-words were scarcely out of Joe’s mouth when McRae appeared with a small

-uniformed boy in tow.

-

-“Here’s your man, Johnnie,” he said to the lad, indicating Joe, and the

-boy, with a look of utter adoration on his freckled face, handed Joe a

-yellow envelope.

-

-“You’re Baseball Joe, ain’t you?” he queried eagerly, and when Joe

-nodded an amused assent he rattled on excitedly: “I knowed you wuz

-’cause I’ve seen your pitchers in de paper. An’ onct in a while I have

-a grandstand seat. Gee, it’s swell! See dat hole in de fence?” He

-pointed with one small, grubby finger. “Dat’s him.”

-

-“Sure,” said Joe, gravely. “You have the right idea, old man. Why,

-that’s where I began my first education in baseball――through a hole in

-the fence!”

-

-“Didjou?” breathed the small fan devoutly. “Gee!”

-

-“Got a pencil and a bit of paper?” asked Joe, and still as though in a

-trance the boy handed over the stump of a pencil and a scrap of paper

-that had once been white.

-

-On this scrap of paper Joe scribbled something and handed it to the boy.

-

-“There, son,” he said, with a smile, “this will let you in at the gate

-if you can get the afternoon off.”

-

-The boy looked first at the scrap of paper, then at Joe, and over his

-freckled face spread a grin of sheer joy.

-

-“Say, Mister, you’re sure de berries!” he said, adding with scorn, as

-he moved away: “You said, could I get de afternoon off! What you don’t

-git give to you, you takes. Dat’s me.”

-

-“There,” said Joe, with a grin, as his eyes followed the lad, “goes a

-future baseball star, or I’ll miss my guess.”

-

-“And you’ve made a friend for life,” added Jim.

-

-“But, Joe, how about that telegram?” McRae was patently anxious. “No

-bad news, I hope.”

-

-Joe looked at the almost-forgotten yellow envelope in his hand and

-frowned.

-

-“I’m not expecting bad news,” he said, as he hastily tore open the

-envelope. “Mabel often sends me telegrams on the eve of a great game,

-wishing me luck, you know. Hello!” There was a sudden vibrant quality

-in his voice that made the two men stare at him.

-

-“What’s up, old boy?” Jim asked. But, without answering, Joe crumpled

-the paper in his hand and started on a run for the clubhouse.

-

-“Now what’s up?” groaned McRae. “If anything happens to put Joe out

-of his stride now, we’re gone coons. Go after him, Jim, and find out

-what’s wrong. Club the information out of him, if necessary.”

-

-Without replying, Jim departed on his mission of force while McRae

-followed more slowly, dismally shaking his head.

-

-“We’re sure up against a jinx,” he muttered. “If anything else happens

-to this team, it’ll have to look around for a new manager, that’s all.

-I can’t stand the pace.”

-

-Jim found Joe in the act of changing into his street clothes. His face

-was drawn and white and when Jim spoke to him he looked at his chum as

-though he hardly saw him.

-

-“Matter enough,” he said, in answer to Jim’s twice-repeated query.

-“Mabel’s sick, Jim, and she wants me. Get out of my way, old boy. This

-is no time to argue.”

-

-“Where’s the telegram?” asked Jim. “Will you let me see it?”

-

-“Good gracious, how do I know where it is?” Joe roared at him. “Get out

-of my way, will you, Jim? I tell you, Mabel’s sick!”

-

-At that moment Jim saw the crumpled bit of yellow paper where Joe, in

-his frantic haste, had dropped it. Jim picked it up and hurried to the

-light with it. When he returned, his face was grim.

-

-“See here, Joe,” he said, slowly, “you can’t go off half-cocked like

-this. We’ve got to talk this matter over a bit.”

-

-Joe turned a haggard, impatient face to him.

-

-“Talk it over! Are you crazy, Jim?” he cried. “And while we’re talking

-it over, Mabel may be――dying! For the love of Pete, Jim, get out of my

-way.”

-

-“Not till you calm down and use your head a bit,” retorted Jim

-determinedly. “Three minutes won’t make any difference one way or

-another, and that’s all it will take me to say――――”

-

-“Oh, for the love of Pete, say it then and have it over!” exploded Joe,

-taking out his watch. Jim saw that his hand was shaking as he opened

-it. “I’ll give you just three minutes.”

-

-“Listen,” cried Jim, an imperative hand on Joe’s arm. “There’s

-something phony about that telegram, Joe. Of course I can’t prove it,

-but I’d be willing to stake my reputation on it just the same.”

-

-“Phony!” repeated Joe softly. He put the watch back in his pocket and

-stared at Jim as though he were seeing him for the first time. “What

-makes you think that?”

-

-“From the fact that it isn’t signed,” Jim explained hurriedly, fearful

-of losing Joe’s attention. “And from the fact, also, that it comes at

-a time when your absence would be a horrible handicap to the team. Get

-me, old boy?”

-

-“Yes, I get you,” admitted Joe. “But, good gracious, man, don’t you

-see, I can’t afford to take a chance? This may be all as you say. I

-admit that this may be a clever, sure-fire scheme to lure me away at

-the pinch.”

-

-“It is, Joe. It must be,” insisted Jim earnestly. “The whole thing is

-too opportune to be merely coincidence. That grin that passed between

-Hupft and McCarney this morning――――”

-

-“And all the time we’re talking here,” groaned Joe, “Mabel may be――――

-Great Scott, Jim, we’ve got to act!”

-

-“Now what?” asked Jim anxiously, as he followed his chum toward McRae’s

-office.

-

-“I’m going to find a ’phone and see if I can call Riverside,” said Joe

-tersely, over his shoulder.

-

-“Now you’re talking turkey,” said Jim, to which commendation Joe merely

-grunted.

-

-They had the office to themselves for the time being and they made

-good use of it. At the telephone, his face still drawn, a look of keen

-anxiety in his eyes, Joe put in his call for Riverside.

-

-Then came the long sickening wait. Moments, hours, it seemed to Joe,

-went by. Finally came back the answer that it was impossible to get

-the number wanted in Riverside. Half an hour had gone by! A valuable

-half hour wasted!

-

-“I can’t stand this, Jim,” Joe cried, an agony of apprehension in his

-voice. “What is the losing of a game compared with Mabel? Good-by. I’m

-gone.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XVI

-

-REGGIE TO THE RESCUE

-

-

-“Not yet!” snapped Jim, resolutely. “You’re going to give me a moment

-more, or I’ll know the reason why.”

-

-Just then McRae entered the room. He gazed upon the tableau in

-surprise, then his eyes rested on Joe’s street clothes.

-

-“Why the glad rags, Joe?” he asked, trying to mask his growing concern

-by an air of easy good nature. “Not going to beat up the Bostons in

-that rig, are you?”

-

-“McRae,” said Joe in the tone of one whose patience is being pushed too

-far, “I’m sorry this has happened. I can’t even stop to explain now. My

-wife’s sick and I’ve got to go. Jim will give you all the details you

-want. Good-by.”

-

-“Just a minute, Joe,” Jim’s voice broke in crisply. “I think you owe

-it to yourself――to say nothing of McRae and the team――to make one more

-attempt to get in touch with Mabel.”

-

-“How?” Joe demanded. “The ’phone――――”

-

-“We can get Reggie. He’s staying within a short distance of Riverside

-just now, you know.”

-

-“All right, we’ll try to get Reggie,” Joe broke in impatiently. “Though

-what he can tell us I’m sure I don’t know,” he added, as he picked up

-the telephone again and called long distance.

-

-Luckily the chums happened to know that Reggie was staying with some

-friends in Ridersville, a little town not far from Riverside, while he

-looked after some business for his father. Reggie had given them not

-only the address of his friends but the telephone number as well, and

-the latter had stuck in Joe’s head.

-

-So now, more with the idea of pacifying McRae and Jim than from any

-hope of help from Reggie, Joe called the number, raging inwardly at

-the delay. Mabel, his little Mabel, was ill, perhaps seriously ill,

-and these two stood in the way of his going to her! What was a game,

-anyway, compared to the fact that his bride needed him? At that, it did

-not follow that the game would be lost even if he, Joe, were unable to

-pitch. What was the matter with Jim, with Bradley, with Markwith? But

-in his heart he knew that it was his, Joe’s, mighty batting arm as much

-as his prowess in the box that McRae was counting on to turn the tide

-against the Bostons.

-

-“It isn’t so much what Reggie can tell us as what he can find out for

-us,” he heard Jim saying. “He’s only a stone’s throw from Riverside.”

-

-Just then the telephone rang.

-

-“Here’s your party,” came from the operator.

-

-Joe’s tall form straightened and his expression became more tense. It

-was not long before he had Reggie on the line.

-

-“This you, Reggie? Joe speaking. Joe Matson――Joe――J-O-E――Baseball Joe,

-get me? Yes, that’s right. Say, Reggie, how is Mabel? Have you heard

-anything of her lately? What’s that? Speak a little louder, will you? I

-can’t hear you.”

-

-Both McRae and Jim leaned closer as Joe tried to make meaning of the

-sentences that floated so faintly over the wire, yet unmistakably

-uttered in Reggie’s familiar drawl.

-

-“What’s that?” Joe cried. “Say that over again, Reggie, and say it

-slow. You saw her? When? A week ago? Was she well then, perfectly

-well?... Yes, I got a telegram saying she’s very ill, calling me to

-Riverside.... Yes, it’s the big game with Boston to-day.... I can’t

-help it. Mabel needs me.... What’s that you say?”

-

-Reggie’s drawl was hardly noticeable. The urbane, bland Reggie was very

-much agitated. He spoke so quickly that Joe had hard work to follow

-him. McRae and Jim, of course, had to guess at the conversation from

-Joe’s part in it.

-

-“You’ll go right out there?” asked Joe in a relief that was mixed with

-uncertainty. “That’s fine of you, Reggie, but I think I ought to come

-back anyway.... What say?... Speak more slowly, old man.... You’ll let

-us know as soon as you find out?... What’s that?... Provided I stay

-around and play ball?... Say, what is this anyway, blackmail?... All

-right, all right, I promise.... All right, I’ll stick around till I

-hear from you, but make it swift, will you, old man? You know how I

-feel.... All right.... Thanks.... So long.”

-

-Joe hung up, took out his handkerchief, and wiped beads of perspiration

-from his face.

-

-“Well?” demanded Jim and McRae together.

-

-“I don’t know that it is well,” groaned Joe. “Here I’ve promised Reggie

-I’ll wait here till he calls up――a thing I’ll probably spend the rest

-of my life regretting.”

-

-“He said he would go right up there, didn’t he?” asked Jim, adding, as

-Joe nodded miserably: “Well, you see, he’ll be there hours before you

-could hope to. The chances are he’ll find Mabel as fit as a fiddle.”

-

-“But if he doesn’t――――”

-

-“Well, then,” said Jim reassuringly, “it will only mean the delay of an

-hour or so, anyway. Or no delay at all. Through express trains don’t

-run like trolleys. You can’t get away before to-night at best.”

-

-“And meanwhile I might suggest,” said McRae dryly, “that the hour of

-battle draws near and that Baseball Joe had better get into something

-more nearly resembling a uniform. Buck up, Joe,” he added, giving the

-latter a hearty thump on the shoulder. “You’re not going to turn the

-Giants down now, are you, when the team needs the best that’s in you?”

-

-Joe made no answer in words but rose and turned toward the locker room.

-

-“Great Scott!” he said to himself, passing a shaking hand through his

-hair. “How am I going to play ball?”

-

-Now he was out on the field once more with the sun beating down

-blindingly upon the newly marked diamond and the tremendous crowds in

-the grandstand and bleachers voicing approval of the husky home team.

-The bell had rung and McRae had been compelled to start the game with

-Markwith in the box.

-

-Joe wondered what had become of the confident mood he had felt so short

-a time before when he had proclaimed that no one could beat him. As

-he thought of the telegram which had so completely changed everything

-for him, he spared a fleeting thought to the small messenger boy. He

-was probably squeezed in somewhere among that tight-packed mass of

-humanity, the freckles standing out on his snub nose and his shrill

-voice joyfully murdering the English language in an attempt to make his

-enthusiasm audible.

-

-Joe smiled fleetingly, but instantly his face was grave again.

-

-Mabel――Mabel lying sick and lonely, wanting him, and he was failing

-her! He had been a fool to say that he would wait for Reggie to find

-out what was wrong. He was the one who should be investigating, not

-Reggie.

-

-Of course there was the chance――his reason told him it was a good

-chance――that the whole thing was a scheme to get him out of the way. At

-the thought his fists clenched and his mouth shut in a straight line.

-If it was a trick and he could find the identity of the player of it,

-that trick would be the last that fellow would play!

-

-Now as he sat on the bench, he remembered certain small signs and

-tokens that up to that time had almost entirely escaped his memory.

-

-He remembered having discovered a sort of triumphant hostility in

-McCarney’s gaze as it was fixed upon him, a look which had surprised

-and annoyed him only momentarily. He was used to the enmity of

-McCarney, but it was only at this moment that he remembered that

-triumph had outweighed hostility in the eyes of the man.

-

-Was that triumph caused by the certainty in McCarney’s mind that he,

-Joe, would not play in that day’s game? At the thought Joe experienced

-a sharp thrill of gladness that he had not permitted himself to be

-tricked into abandoning his team.

-

-Then came back the tormenting uncertainty again. Was it a trick? How

-could he be sure of that? What was wrong with Reggie? Why didn’t he let

-him know? Fool that he had been to trust to Reggie! Then he awoke to

-the unpleasant realization that the Bostons’ half of the first inning

-was ended and that the visitors had scored two runs.

-

-Markwith had started well by striking out the first man up. The

-second, however, he had passed to first. The next man laid down a neat

-sacrifice on which the man on first had got to second. Still there were

-two out and the chances were against scoring.

-

-But Bradbury, batting in the clean-up position, had caught a low ball

-that came singing over the plate just where he wanted it and sent it

-whistling into the bleachers for the prettiest kind of a homer.

-

-The clout rather unnerved Markwith, and he sent the next one to first

-on a free pass. But the next man hit a sharp grasser to Iredell that

-the latter handled cleanly and got to first in plenty of time for the

-out.

-

-“Fine pitching――I don’t think,” grumbled McRae, as Markwith came

-in rather sheepishly. “You poor boob,” he added to the discomfited

-pitcher, “don’t you know better than to give Bradbury a low one in the

-groove? Haven’t you seen often enough that he just eats up that kind?”

-

-Markwith merely grunted.

-

-“I’ll let you start the second in the hope you’ll settle down,”

-continued McRae. “But at the least sign of faltering, it’s you for the

-showers.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XVII

-

-SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE

-

-

-Although his heart was with Mabel, Joe’s mind was once more thoroughly

-alert. Two runs at the very beginning of a game is not much, to be

-sure, under ordinary circumstances. But it did not take him long to see

-that the team was not running right. Something was decidedly wrong even

-though he could not put his finger on just what that something was.

-

-From the way the second inning began it looked as though the Giants

-were going to have their work cut out for them simply to keep the

-opposing team from scoring further, let alone the making up of those

-two runs.

-

-Joe felt something of the old fighting spirit rising within him again

-and then, at thought of Mabel, his heart sank. He wondered, as he had

-wondered before, how, with every moment a torment of apprehension to

-him, he was going to play ball.

-

-“Go to it, Joe,” McRae ordered brusquely. “Get out there and see if

-you can’t pull this team together. Looks as if this game was lost

-before it began. Go in and give ’em a sample of pitching that’ll open

-their eyes.”

-

-Joe tried his best to smile his old joyful smile as he started for the

-box, but it was hard work. His muscles felt drawn and tight and the

-best he could manage was a rather sickly grin.

-

-Then his gaze met Reddy Hupft’s and he was suddenly conscious of a wave

-of dislike and disgust that made his former resentment of the fellow

-seem a lukewarm emotion. There was more than malice in Reddy’s eyes

-too――this time Joe was sure of it. Instinctively he threw back his

-shoulders and his head went up.

-

-“If Hupft and McCarney think they can put one over on me they’ll soon

-find out their mistake.”

-

-He wound up deliberately, then sent over a ball so swift that it seemed

-but the barest second from the time it left his hand till it dropped

-with a thud in the catcher’s glove. Three men he struck out in swift

-succession and the crowd was in an uproar.

-

-“At a boy, Joe, don’t let ’em sass you!” shrilled a voice Joe thought

-he recognized, and he grinned in the direction of the grandstand.

-

-Thereafter followed some of the most brilliant work Joe had ever given

-the fans to marvel at, and though the Giants failed to score, he at

-least kept the opposing team from scoring.

-

-But that was not enough. Joe knew it, and every member of the team, as

-well as the clamoring crowd in grandstand and bleachers, knew it too.

-

-Three, four, five innings passed without changing the score. Then in

-the first part of the sixth Neale of the Bostons knocked a homer that

-made wild men of their little band of supporters.

-

-Three to nothing the score stood now, in the first half of the sixth,

-and the Giants were in the throes of what promised to be a first-class

-slump.

-

-“Looks as if you had to carry the whole team on your shoulders, Joe,”

-said Robbie, adding, with a comprehensive glance: “They look broad

-enough to stand it, at that. Listen, Joe, pretty soon you’re going

-behind that bat and you’re going to smash that score into little bits

-and make a brand new one, understand?”

-

-And Joe did. He waited till he was sure of his ball, and then with all

-the weight of his shoulders behind it he caught the ball squarely on

-the end of his bat, sent it winging skyward as though its ambition were

-to see just how far up in the clouds it could go and manage to get back

-to earth at all.

-

-At the crack of the bat Joe started and reached home without sliding

-just as the ball connected with the catcher’s glove.

-

-The crowd went mad. There was a storm of cheering and stamping and

-frantic yells, but Joe took no notice of them. He was thinking of

-Mabel. Was his little wife waiting for him, wondering why he did not

-come, perhaps reproaching him?

-

-At the end of the sixth the score stood as Joe had made it: 3 to 1 in

-favor of Boston. In various innings there had been men on first and

-second and, at one time, on all three, but, somehow, they fell just

-short of scoring.

-

-“It’s just what I tell you, Joe,” growled Robbie. “You have to carry

-the whole team. You give them an opening and they don’t even see it.”

-

-“That was great work, Joe,” Jim told him a few moments later. “I’d give

-anything to be able to bat as you do. It sure is a privilege to see you

-knock out one of those home runs.”

-

-“Say, Jim,” Joe broke in with an abruptness that showed he had not

-heard one word of Jim’s tribute, “what do you suppose is the matter

-with Reggie? Why don’t we hear from him?”

-

-“I wish you’d give me an easy one,” answered Jim anxiously. “I’ve been

-wondering that same thing myself. However,” he added, “I suppose no

-news is good news.”

-

-“That’s pretty thin comfort for me,” growled Joe, adding quickly, the

-feverish light in his eyes showing plainly the strain he had been

-under: “I tell you I can’t stand this any longer, Jim. I’m going up

-there and try to get in touch with Riverside again, and if I can’t get

-them, I’ll try Reggie. Then, if that fails, I’m going to Mabel!”

-

-“You can’t do that, Joe,” Jim protested. “Why, you’re the only one who

-has a ghost of a show to pull this game out of the fire. Look at the

-score!”

-

-“Hang the score!” cried Joe explosively, as he got up. “I can’t stand

-this any longer, I tell you! I’ve got to find out!”

-

-As he started toward the clubhouse he found himself face to face with

-McRae. The game had evidently fretted the manager, and he was in a bad

-temper.

-

-“’Phone call for you, Joe,” he snapped. “And say, hurry back, will you?

-Something tells me I’m going to need you.”

-

-But the last words failed entirely to reach Joe. He was already half

-way to the clubhouse.

-

-At last he was going to know! He was eager, yet fearful. He did not

-know what awful news awaited him at the other end of that wire.

-

-Somehow he found his way to McRae’s office, and with shaking fingers

-lifted the receiver to his ear. He did not notice Jim, who had followed

-him in and now stood close beside him.

-

-“Hello,” said Joe, surprised that his voice sounded so nearly normal.

-“This you, Reggie? Confound it, why didn’t you ’phone long ago? How is

-she?”

-

-“Joe!” came the voice that was the sweetest music in the world to his

-ears. Just now it was eager and a little breathless. “Is this you, Joe

-dear? What in the world is the matter?”

-

-“Mabel――――” for a minute Joe could not go on. Then he cleared his

-throat noisily and demanded to know, in a voice from which all anxiety

-had not yet disappeared, if she was all right. “You’re sure you’re not

-sick?” he insisted, and Mabel’s reassuring little laugh floated back to

-him.

-

-“Of course I’m not sick, silly boy,” she said, adding with a sudden

-swift realization of what he must have suffered: “I’m so sorry you have

-been worried, honey. Who do you suppose could have done such a wicked

-thing as to send you that telegram? What do you think it means?”

-

-“I don’t know,” said Joe, feeling as though a thousand-ton weight had

-been lifted from his heart. “We’ll find out about that later. The

-important thing to me just now is that you’re well. But tell me,” he

-added, “why didn’t Reggie call me as soon as he found you were all

-right?”

-

-“He did,” said Mabel. “You see, a neighbor of Mother Matson’s bought

-himself a new car and he insisted on our going out riding with him.

-Poor Reggie had nearly collapsed with worry when we finally got back.

-Thought we had been abducted or something, I suppose.” Then followed

-a bit of conversation that would not have been a bit interesting to

-any one but Joe and Mabel but which they seemed to find eminently

-satisfactory.

-

-When Joe finally hung up the receiver and faced about to find Jim

-there, his face was beaming.

-

-“Hello, Jim, you old shadow!” he cried. “Have you been here long?”

-

-“Long enough to learn the glad news,” returned Jim, and he could not

-quite resist adding: “Didn’t I tell you not to go off half-cocked,

-especially when Reddy Hupft and McCarney are on the same lot with you?”

-

-“You did,” admitted Joe, adding with a frown as they turned to leave

-the place together: “You think the responsibility for this contemptible

-trick can be traced to Hupft or McCarney then?”

-

-“Who else?” returned Jim. “It was somebody else who actually sent the

-telegram, of course, but I’d be willing to stake my hat that the scheme

-originated with one or the other of them.”

-

-“Well,” drawled Joe, with a glint in his eye that boded no good for

-either McCarney or Hupft or any of their gang, “it seems to me it’s

-time there was some housecleaning done on this lot.

-

-“And now,” he added, as his gaze traveled joyfully out to the field,

-“we’re going to show those Bostonians how ball should be played!”

-

-To say that Joe made good his boast would be to understate the facts in

-the case.

-

-From that time on he set the side down with the ease and precision of a

-machine. The Bostons came up to the bat like so many automatons, made

-futile swings at the ball, and went back growling to the bench. And

-in the eighth, when, the score still stood 3 to 1 in favor of Boston,

-Joe lammed out a mighty three-bagger that brought home three of his

-comrades who had filled the bases. That made the score 4 to 3 in the

-Giants’ favor, and so it remained when Joe struck out the last Boston

-batsman in the ninth.

-

-It was a glorious triumph for Joe――two triumphs in fact, for he had

-not only beaten the Bostons, he had thwarted the dastardly plot of his

-enemies.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XVIII

-

-THICKENING CLOUDS

-

-

-If up to this time Joe had entertained any lingering doubts that an

-attempt was afoot to put him out of the game for good, the receipt of

-the false telegram at a critical moment served effectually to dispel

-them. In addition, it was now evident that his enemies were willing to

-stoop to any means to achieve their ends.

-

-Joe was one not to be easily alarmed, but he realized the gravity of

-the situation and knew that it could not be solved by hiding his head

-in the sand like an ostrich and ignoring it.

-

-“The matter is getting worse and worse, Jim,” he remarked, when they

-were discussing the affair in their room on the evening of the last

-game. “It is not simply a personal matter against me that may be the

-thing that they are aiming at. I have noticed lately that they are

-playing bad ball not only when I am in the box, but when the other

-fellows are, too. It is a matter that involves not only our personal

-fortunes, but those of the Giant team and possibly of the whole

-league. They may have confederates elsewhere in the league, and I guess

-it’s up to you and me to see what we can do toward putting a spoke in

-their wheel. It’s bad enough when they confine their attentions to us,

-but when they go to mixing up our families in it they’re going a bit

-too far.”

-

-“A whole lot too far,” agreed Jim grimly. “It’s a shame that there

-should be such players in the game. But in they are, and the only

-thing for us to do is show them up and get them thrown out as soon as

-possible.”

-

-“I only hope that I have a hand in the throwing,” remarked his friend.

-“Baseball is such a fine, naturally clean game that I hate to see a

-crooked bunch like that horning in. It wouldn’t take many of them to

-queer the whole outfit with the fans. There are always a lot of them

-that try to argue that baseball is crooked, even when it’s absolutely

-on the level.”

-

-“Yes, I’ve heard plenty of that breed, too,” agreed Jim. “I imagine

-they know in their hearts that they’d take dirty money if they got the

-chance, and it’s hard for them to believe that everybody else wouldn’t.

-But this bunch we’ve got on the team now are sure to make big trouble

-for us and for the whole league if we don’t manage to show them up in

-some way.”

-

-“Give them enough rope, and they’ll hang themselves,” quoted Joe. “It’s

-plain enough to me what they’re up to, but we’ve got to have proof.

-They and the gamblers who are backing them bet against our team, and

-then they do their level best to lose the game for us.”

-

-“There’s not much encouragement in playing under those conditions.”

-

-“We’ll get to the bottom of their game, never fear,” declared Joe.

-“In the meantime, Jim, it’s up to the rest of the team to play such a

-high-grade brand of baseball that we’ll win in spite of the crooks.”

-

-“That’s right,” agreed his friend, a grin lighting up his erstwhile

-gloomy countenance. “The other teams can’t win unless they make runs,

-no matter what McCarney, Hupft, Lemblow and Company does. And you and I

-are in a position to see that they don’t make the runs.”

-

-“Shake on that, old pal!” exclaimed Joe, and the two friends clasped

-hands. “We’re out after the pennant, and it’s going to take a powerful

-aggregation to stop us.”

-

-“It looks as though you and I would have to turn detectives for a

-while, and get to the root of this mystery,” said Jim. “I know we don’t

-have much time for that sort of thing, but some day when we’re neither

-of us slated to pitch, we can try our hands at the sleuth game, if you

-think it would do any good.”

-

-“Sure thing,” grinned Joe. “But the way things are going now, we won’t

-have many days when one or the other of us isn’t going to pitch. The

-boss is up against it for twirlers, and no mistake.”

-

-McRae was “up against it” in more ways than one. He knew well enough

-that there was something wrong with his new players. Any man might make

-a mistake at times, and fumble a ball or muff an easy fly, but when a

-man is good enough to get into a big league team he is not supposed to

-do these things often. And Hupft and McCarney had developed a trick of

-making such blunders at the most crucial periods of the game――at times

-when an error meant a run or two for the opposing team. He had many

-anxious conferences with Robson, but no substitutes were available, and

-while they suspected the center-fielder and third baseman of underhand

-work, they could not be quite sure.

-

-Had it not been for the sterling work of the other members of the

-team, the Giants would have been slipping steadily downward instead of

-holding their place among the leaders. They all played like demons,

-backing up their pitchers in a manner that brought joy and applause

-from the fans. In spite of costly mistakes on the part of the new

-players, the team climbed steadily toward the coveted first position.

-

-As the weather settled down to steady summer heat, Markwith rounded

-into better form and pitched several steady games, winning three out of

-five. He was really entitled to that fifth game, but was robbed of it

-by a bad misplay on the part of McCarney. In the ninth inning the score

-was 1 to 0 in favor of the Giants, with the opposing team at bat for

-the last half of the ninth inning. Markwith struck out the first man to

-face him, but the second one singled between first and second base, and

-on the next pitched ball stole second.

-

-Markwith watched the runner out of the corner of his eye and saw that

-he was getting ready to make a dash for third base. Accordingly,

-instead of throwing the ball to the batter, he suddenly whirled and

-threw to McCarney at third. By this time the runner was well on his

-way to third and McCarney should have had an easy put-out. But as the

-ball smacked into his glove he fumbled it and it dropped to the ground

-several feet from the base. He made a dash for it, but as he leaned

-down to lift it he struck the ball with the toe of his shoe, kicking it

-fifteen feet away.

-

-It looked like an accident, but whether or no, the runner instantly

-seized his chance and raced for home. Even then McCarney by quick work

-might have thrown him out at the plate, but his recovery of the sphere

-was slow, and when he finally did get it and threw it to the bag, the

-runner had arrived well ahead of it.

-

-This tied the score, and while Markwith held the opposing team down for

-the rest of the inning without any further runs, the game had to go

-into extra innings. Finally, in the eleventh, the other team manged to

-score one more run, which lost the game to the Giants when it should

-have been won.

-

-Joe and Jim had narrowly watched every move of this game, especially

-the actions of the players whom they suspected of crooked dealing. When

-McCarney fumbled the ball in that crucial ninth inning, Joe clenched

-his fists and muttered various uncomplimentary things about the baseman.

-

-“That settles it!” he exploded at last, when the opposing player

-crossed the plate with the tying run. “McCarney’s a good actor, Jim,

-but he was just a bit too clumsy in that play to be natural. He can

-play good enough ball when he wants to, and it isn’t easy for him to be

-quite as clumsy as all that. I could see him purposely drop that ball

-after he had really caught it. Didn’t it look the same way to you, Jim?”

-

-His friend nodded.

-

-“No doubt of it,” he agreed. “I’d like to keep track of McCarney

-after he leaves the clubhouse and see where he goes, but I’ve got an

-appointment with Curry and I don’t see how I can. Why don’t you shadow

-him, Joe, and see if you can find out anything? I’ll take my turn at it

-to-morrow.”

-

-“All right, I will!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll beat it for the clubhouse

-right after the game is over, and I’ll be ready to leave as soon as

-he is. I may not find out a thing, but it will be worth the chance,

-anyway.”

-

-In accordance with this plan, Joe was one of the first under the

-showers and was in his street clothes before McCarney had finished

-dressing.

-

-The latter was surly and resentful of the criticism directed at him by

-his team mates. They were not sparing of this, and did not hesitate to

-tell him what they thought of such bungling. Every big league player

-knows that mistakes are unavoidable at times, but McCarney and Hupft

-had begun to get on their nerves. In almost every game lately it seemed

-that one or the other was sure to make a bad play at a crucial time.

-

-“We could pick half a dozen fans out of the bleachers who could hold

-on to a baseball tighter than you can, Mac,” growled Mylert, the burly

-catcher. “You must have grease on your fingers, the way that ball

-slides through them. Why don’t you see if you can hold on to it once in

-a while?”

-

-“Shure, and I’ll bet if the ball wuz a twinty dollar gold piece he’d

-kape holt of it, all right, all right,” chirped up Larry Barrett.

-

-A shout of appreciative laughter followed this sally, and McCarney

-glared around at the circle of derisive faces.

-

-“I suppose you fellows are too blamed good to ever make a mistake,

-ain’t you?” he growled. “If Markwith hadn’t shot the pill at me so

-doggone fast I wouldn’t have dropped it. There wasn’t any need of

-putting so much smoke on it.”

-

-“Aw, get out of here before we throw you out,” snapped Mylert

-disgustedly. “Be a man and admit you made a punk play without trying to

-blame it on some one else.”

-

-McCarney seemed tempted to throw himself at the big catcher, but then

-thought better of it and flung out of the clubhouse, slamming the door

-behind him. A minute later Joe slipped quietly out and glanced quickly

-about to locate the renegade ball player. McCarney was only half a

-block away, and Joe set out to follow him.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XIX

-

-A FURIOUS FIGHT

-

-

-It was no easy matter to trail McCarney without himself being

-discovered, especially as the third baseman had a trick of glancing

-back over his shoulder from time to time. More than once Joe felt

-sure that he had been discovered, but fortune favored him, and he

-successfully evaded detection.

-

-At the first car track that McCarney reached he hesitated, in doubt,

-apparently, whether to take a car or walk to the subway. Joe slipped

-into a convenient doorway, where he could see without being seen, and

-waited for the other to make the next move.

-

-McCarney was still hesitating when a trolley car came into view. This

-evidently settled the third baseman’s doubts. As the car drew near he

-signaled it to stop, and then swung to the back platform.

-

-This left Joe in a quandary. He realized that it would be practically

-impossible to board the car himself without being discovered, and yet

-if he did not it meant that his first attempt at “shadowing” would end

-almost as soon as it had begun.

-

-The trolley started on, and Joe was revolving the possibility of

-keeping up with it on foot when a taxicab came careering out of a side

-street not a block away. With a heartfelt prayer of gratitude Joe

-dashed to the corner and hailed the vehicle just in the nick of time.

-

-“Keep that trolley car in sight until I tell you to stop, and I’ll

-double your fare,” Joe promised the driver.

-

-“That’s easy,” replied the other. “Them cars don’t go so fast but what

-this boiler can keep up with ’em without half tryin’. Just leave it to

-me.”

-

-Joe kept an anxious eye on the trolley car, fearful that McCarney might

-alight with some other passengers and escape him. But nothing of the

-kind happened. The chase continued for a long distance before Joe saw

-the familiar figure of the third baseman come out to the back platform

-and hang on to the lowest step, evidently preparing to drop off at the

-next corner.

-

-“Pull up, driver,” called Joe, and the man swung into the curb. Joe

-hastily paid him double the amount that the meter registered, together

-with a generous tip, and hastened after the retreating form of his

-quarry.

-

-The neighborhood in this section was of a poor description, the houses

-being ramshackle affairs with a run-down and neglected appearance.

-McCarney was evidently on familiar ground, however, for he hurried

-along at a fast pace, apparently in such a hurry that he even forgot to

-glance behind him as was his usual custom.

-

-This was a fortunate thing for Joe, as the street offered few places of

-concealment. He kept close to the houses on the opposite side of the

-street, keeping a wary eye on the suspected ball player. The latter

-had gone about two blocks when he suddenly stopped at the door of a

-house that looked even a little more dirty and out of repair than its

-neighbors, and rang the bell.

-

-Joe was about half a block away at this time, and he glanced about for

-a place in which to conceal himself until McCarney should be safely

-inside. In the basement of a house near him there was a dirty looking

-little candy store, and Joe turned into this. He bought a bar of

-chocolate and made shift to talk with the storekeeper until he judged

-that McCarney must be inside the house.

-

-When he ventured into the street again, the third baseman had

-disappeared, and Joe set himself to formulate some scheme that would

-get him inside the house. This project might well have daunted one less

-courageous than the star pitcher of the Giants. The neighborhood was

-close to the lower West Side waterfront of New York, and Joe knew that

-if he did manage to get inside the house he would probably find himself

-in the abiding place of a desperate set of men. However, he hesitated

-only long enough to decide on a plan of action, and then set boldly

-about its execution.

-

-He felt that there was a chance that whoever had opened the door to

-admit McCarney had failed to fasten it securely. At any rate, he

-decided to try this first. Accordingly, he walked boldly over to the

-house and ascended the steps. If discovered, he could simply ask for a

-“fake” name, like one who has gotten the wrong house by mistake.

-

-He reached the front door unchallenged, and gently tried the knob. As

-he suspected, the latch had not quite caught, and as he pressed against

-the door it swung open before him. Noiselessly he entered the dark

-hallway and closed the door gently behind him.

-

-Within the house it was so dark that at first Joe could see nothing at

-all. As his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, however, objects in

-the dark hallway became apparent to him.

-

-To right and left were closed doors, while directly ahead a long narrow

-staircase wound upward to the floor above. Joe listened intently

-for some sound to guide him, but at first he could hear nothing. He

-tiptoed cautiously over to one of the closed doors and listened there,

-and then at the other, but could hear no sound. Suddenly, he heard a

-subdued murmur of voices on the floor above, and he decided that in all

-probability McCarney was up there. He was about to start the ascent

-of the stairs when he was startled by the ringing of an electric bell

-almost over his head, and at the same time some one tried the handle of

-the front door by which Joe had entered.

-

-A chair was pushed back in the room upstairs, and Joe surmised that in

-another moment one or more of the inhabitants would descend the stairs

-in answer to the ring of the newcomer. There was not a second to lose

-if he were to escape detection, and Joe’s mind acted with lightning

-rapidity. Escape to the street was barred, he knew, and it would be

-hopeless to try to get to the upper landing in time to avoid whoever it

-was who was coming to open the door.

-

-His only chance was to get through one of the doors that flanked the

-hall on either side, and as this thought flashed through his mind he

-stepped swiftly to the one to his right and turned the knob. The door

-held fast, and he knew that it must be locked from the inside.

-

-A door opened upstairs, and Joe could hear heavy footsteps starting

-down the stairs. Fortunately, the staircase made a sharp turn near

-the top, so that as yet Joe was concealed from the sight of the man

-descending.

-

-Again the bell rang, as the ringer grew impatient of waiting. Another

-instant, and Joe’s last chance of escaping detection would be gone.

-Swiftly he stepped to the other door, his one remaining chance, and

-breathed a heartfelt prayer of gratitude when he found that the door

-opened to his touch.

-

-In a second he was within the room, with the door closed behind him. He

-glanced swiftly about, taking stock of his surroundings. Luckily there

-was nobody in the place, which was sparsely furnished with a table and

-a few shabby chairs.

-

-With his ear close to the door, Joe could hear the newcomer enter and

-then he heard two persons ascending the stairs. There came the bang of

-a closing door from the upper floor, and Joe judged that it would be

-safe enough to venture out again.

-

-A less courageous fellow might have been glad to take this opportunity

-to get out the front door and so to safety. But this idea did not

-enter Joe’s head. He had come here to get information about the

-gambling ring, and to abandon the quest was the thing furthest from his

-thoughts.

-

-From the floor above he could still hear the murmur of voices, growing

-louder at times in a manner that suggested a quarrel. Impatient to

-learn what was going on, Joe made for the stairs and ascended them

-cautiously, treading warily to avoid making a noise on the creaking

-boards. At length he reached the upper landing and paused to take stock

-of his surroundings.

-

-He found himself on a small square landing, from which doors gave into

-adjoining rooms. The sound of excited voices came from a room to the

-left of the stairs, and Joe edged close to this until he could make out

-what was being said within.

-

-But he was just a few minutes too late. Whatever subject had been under

-discussion had apparently been settled, for there came a scraping of

-chairs, and before Joe could move the door was thrown open, leaving him

-in plain sight of those in the room.

-

-There was a chorus of startled exclamations, and then those in the room

-made a concerted rush for Joe. He turned to make for the stairs, but

-found that avenue of escape cut off by two rough looking men dressed in

-sweaters and caps, who had ascended so quietly that Joe had no inkling

-of their approach until he saw them stepping on to the landing.

-

-Fairly cornered, Joe realized that his only chance lay in fighting

-his way out, and he had faith in the theory that the attacker has an

-advantage. With a shout he hurled himself at the two men who had just

-come up the stairs, and who had stopped at the landing, uncertain as

-to what was going on. His rush had the power and speed of a stampeding

-buffalo, and in spite of their bulk the two newcomers could not bar his

-path. One reeled back from a stunning blow on the jaw, while the other

-staggered aside as Joe’s elbow caught him in the pit of the stomach.

-Before him the path to the front door lay clear, and he would have made

-it but for an unlucky accident.

-

-As the second man reeled and fell, his foot projected out over the top

-step, and as Joe started to leap downward he tripped over the sprawling

-leg, staggered wildly for a brief moment, and then crashed head first

-down the steep stairs.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XX

-

-TAKEN CAPTIVE

-

-

-So great was the force of the fall that when Joe brought up at the

-foot of the stairs the breath was knocked out of him, and before he

-could get to his feet the crowd of rough men were on him like dogs

-on a wounded wolf. Stunned though he was, Joe would not submit to

-overpowering numbers without a struggle, and more than one of the crowd

-bore marks of the fight for many a day afterward. Joe was in the very

-finest physical condition, and as he fought the effects of the fall

-wore off somewhat, and he struck out with a force and power that sent

-his opponents reeling back. At one time Joe actually had his hand on

-the knob of the street door, but he was dragged back, fighting like a

-madman. His adversaries were hampered by their own numbers, and in the

-narrow hall only one or two could get at Joe at once. He was engaged

-with two of the fellows, when suddenly some heavy object landed on his

-head with paralyzing force, and he crumpled to the floor.

-

-“Guess that fixes that guy,” remarked one of the fellows, as he

-returned a “blackjack” to his pocket.

-

-“I hope you haven’t fixed him too well,” said the leader of the gang, a

-corpulent, flashily dressed man. “It’s all right to put him to sleep,

-but we don’t want any killings, you know.”

-

-“Leave that to me, boss,” said the other. “He’ll soon come back from

-the land o’ nod, an’ when he does, we’d better have his hands an’ feet

-tied. He’s got a punch in each mitt that’s fit to knock a mule out.”

-

-The others seemed to agree heartily with this statement, and they

-lost no time in following their companion’s advice. When Joe regained

-consciousness, some ten minutes later, he found himself securely tied

-in a chair, while the members of the gang sat about at their ease,

-planning what disposition to make of their captive.

-

-The first thing Joe did was to look for McCarney, but he was nowhere

-to be seen. During the fight he had kept in the background, and as

-soon as it was over he had slipped out of the house. He had little

-doubt that the gang would overcome Joe, but he had a great respect

-for the capabilities of the young pitcher, and he thought that in

-case Joe ever got away from them he would accuse him, McCarney, of

-being an accomplice of the gang. In that case, the less he was seen

-in their company the better. Besides this, he was anxious to bet some

-money against the Giants on the coming games, as he knew that Joe’s

-disappearance would be very likely to demoralize the whole team.

-

-Up to this time the Giants had been considered the favorites in the

-pennant race, and among the gamblers they had been better than even

-money. But when McCarney, in sporting circles familiar enough to him,

-tried to place some cash, he found that already the odds were against

-the Giants to win, and he was at no loss to guess the reason for this.

-Some of the gang that held Joe prisoner had begun to plunge heavily

-against the Giants, and the gamblers who did not know were suspicious

-and not over-anxious to back the team that was apparently the best in

-the league by a fair margin. Gamblers as a class are quick to take

-fright, and those manipulating the “baseball ring” as it was already

-called in the underworld, were no exceptions to the rule.

-

-When Joe did not put in an appearance at their hotel that night Jim

-was very uneasy, but he comforted himself with the reflection that Joe

-might have found it necessary in the course of his sleuthing expedition

-to keep close to the trail. He fully expected to see Joe at the

-baseball field the following afternoon, especially as he was slated to

-pitch that day. But there was no sign of the missing star, and when it

-was almost time for the game to start McRae sought out Jim where he was

-warming up with Mylert back of the clubhouse.

-

-“Where’s Joe, Jim?” he asked anxiously. “It isn’t like him to be late.

-Did he tell you he wouldn’t show up to-day?”

-

-“I don’t know much more about him than you do, Mac,” replied Jim, a

-worried look in his eyes. “He didn’t show up at the hotel last night,

-and I thought he was probably with one of the other fellows. But now

-that he isn’t here for the game I’m getting worried for fair. I know

-that if he isn’t here it’s because he couldn’t get here.”

-

-“Couldn’t get here!” echoed McRae. “What in thunder would stop him from

-getting here if he wanted to come?”

-

-“You know well enough that both Joe and I have had trouble with the

-gambling ring before now,” said Jim. “They’ve been after both of us,

-and it looks as though they’d landed on Joe this time. If they have――”

-Jim did not finish the sentence, but his flashing eyes and the grim set

-of his mouth supplied the rest.

-

-“That goes for the whole team,” said McRae. “Anybody that tampers with

-any member of this team is going to have trouble. I’ll get a couple of

-detectives on the job right away, and we’ll see if we can’t locate Joe

-in a hurry. In the meantime, you’ll have to pitch to-day’s game, Jim.

-I was counting on Joe for this afternoon, but I guess you can turn the

-trick, too.”

-

-“I’m here to try,” said Jim. “But after the game is over, I’m going to

-look for Joe on my own hook. And what’s more, I’m willing to bet that

-there’s at least one member of this team that could tell you right now,

-if he wanted to, where he is.”

-

-“Who?” demanded McRae quickly. “Give me his name.”

-

-“You’d better keep this quiet for the time, Mac,” said Robson who came

-up just at this juncture. “We don’t want any of this to get into the

-papers, if we can help it.”

-

-“That’s right,” admitted McRae. “Come with us, Barclay, and we’ll talk

-this over in private.”

-

-In the manager’s office under the grandstand Jim told of Joe’s resolve

-to follow McCarney the previous afternoon. McRae and Robson listened

-with worried frowns on their faces. Robson was the first to speak.

-

-“This is a thing we won’t be able to hush up, Mac,” he said. “The

-newspaper men know that we intend to pitch Matson to-day, and they’ll

-want to know the reason why he isn’t in the box. They’d soon find out

-the reason why, and if we tell them what we know, they may be able to

-help us find him.”

-

-“That’s true, in a way,” said McRae slowly. “But we won’t tell them

-about our suspicions of McCarney――not yet. Remember, we haven’t any

-proof against him, and we don’t want to make any false moves.”

-

-By the time this decision was reached it was almost time for the game

-to start, and the three hurried out on to the field, where the rest

-of the team had already congregated. They were warming up, one or two

-knocking flies to the others while a few were pitching balls back

-and forth to each other with that long, effortless swing of the arm

-characteristic of a good ball player. Jim started pitching to Mylert,

-taking it easy on the first few balls and gradually warming up to his

-regular speed and control. But it was hard for him to keep his mind on

-the work in hand, as his thoughts kept wandering to his missing friend

-while his heart was filled with gloomy forebodings. He knew that Joe

-would never have been absent from the ball field that afternoon unless

-he were actually in captivity, or perhaps worse yet, actually injured

-by his enemies to keep him from playing. The only thing that kept Jim

-from throwing down his glove and starting to search for his chum then

-and there was the knowledge that Joe would want him to pitch the game

-for the sake of the team and to frustrate the gamblers. Jim made up

-his mind that he would pitch such a game in the absence of his chum

-that the opposing team would not have even a look-in. His arm had never

-felt better, and he had an uncanny control over the ball that made him

-confident of winning.

-

-There was little time for practice before the umpire called “Play ball”

-and the game was on.

-

-The Giant fans were expecting a great battle that day, and they were

-not disappointed. The team was playing the Pittsburghs, and the latter

-were no mean adversaries. In addition to an all-around good team, they

-had a young pitcher who was one of the sensations of the season. He

-had been taken right from a high school team, where his phenomenal

-ability had earned him the attention of a big league scout. He had a

-big variety of curves, although a little erratic on control, a defect

-that time would probably remedy. He was considered the best pitcher

-the Pittsburghs had, and their manager had decided to work him that

-afternoon before he heard of Joe’s non-appearance. After learning of

-this, he decided to pitch him anyway, in order to “put the game on

-ice.” The Pittsburghs were close on the trail of the Giants; so close,

-that every game was important.

-

-However, Jim was nothing daunted by this, and was confident that he

-could pitch his team to victory. He had never played in a game against

-Miles, the Pittsburghs’ star, but from the bench he had studied him

-closely and had a pretty good line on his offerings. In addition, he

-and Joe knew the weak points of every batter in the league, and just

-what kind of delivery was least to his liking. This counted for a

-tremendous lot in a tight place, and the two chums had worked it out to

-a science.

-

-The Pittsburghs were disposed of in the first inning in quick order.

-Then the Giants came in for their turn with Curry as the first man

-in the batting order. He was a dependable batter as a rule, but he

-found himself helpless against the puzzling shoots dished up to him

-by the star pitcher of the Pittsburghs. He knew that Miles was short

-on control, and tried to wait him out, but after the pitcher had

-had three balls chalked against him, he sent over three strikes in

-succession, and Curry threw down his bat disgustedly and went over to

-the players’ bench to meet the gibes of his team mates. But Iredell,

-who followed him, was little more successful, popping up a high fly

-that Miles caught without moving from the mound. Burkett struck out

-in one-two-three order, and the Pittsburghs came trotting in from the

-field for their second turn at bat.

-

-“Guess our kid has got you fellows eating out of his hand,” gibed

-O’Connor, the Pittsburgh captain, as he passed the Giants on their way

-out to the field positions. “You fellows haven’t a chance in the world

-of winning this game.”

-

-“‘He who laugh last, irritates,’” retorted Mylert. “We’ve got as many

-runs as you so far.”

-

-O’Connor grunted and went to the dugout to get his favorite bat. In a

-few seconds he was back at the plate with it, swinging it slowly back

-and forth as he waited for Jim’s delivery.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXI

-

-AIR-TIGHT PITCHING

-

-

-O’Connor had a big reputation throughout the league as a heavy batter,

-and he was. But Joe and Jim had noticed that he invariably swung at

-comparatively low balls. High ones he did not like, so, of course, Jim

-was careful to give him nothing but high balls. O’Connor waited grimly

-for one to come across that was to his liking, but he waited in vain.

-Two strikes had been called on him, with no balls, and he realized that

-the time for waiting had gone by. The next one that Jim pitched was a

-high fast one that just clipped the corner of the plate. “Str-r-rike

-three,” chanted the umpire, and O’Connor threw his bat to the ground

-and walked over to the dugout.

-

-“What’s the matter?” inquired Mylert, as the discomfited batsman passed

-him. “It looked as though you were standing there waiting for next

-Christmas to come. I thought you said you were going to win this game.”

-

-O’Connor glared at him, but could not think of a fitting reply. The

-next man to face Jim was Jenkins. Jenkins was not a heavy batter, but

-when he did connect with the ball he was so fast on the bases that he

-often stretched an ordinary one base hit into a two-bagger. But his

-speed availed him little to-day, for he never got away from the home

-plate. Three times he swung wildly at the whispering breezes, and then

-retired sheepishly to the bench. The next man up fouled to Mylert for

-an easy out, and the Pittsburghs’ half of the inning was over, with no

-runs scored by either side.

-

-“Good work, Jim,” chortled Robson. “Hold ’em down tight, and in a

-little while we’ll blow their pitcher out of the box. The kid’s good,

-all right, but he lacks steadiness. If we can once get a man or two

-on the sacks, he’ll blow up with a bang that they can hear over in

-Hoboken.”

-

-But it was not an easy thing to “get a man or two on the sacks.” Miles

-seemed to get better and better as the innings began to mount up, and

-the game settled down into a spectacular pitchers’ duel. As the end of

-the fourth inning the score still stood nothing to nothing, and bade

-fair to stay that way. The mightiest batsmen on both sides were mowed

-down one after the other.

-

-In spite of the gnawing anxiety that bit at his heart whenever he

-thought of his missing chum, Jim was pitching the game of his life.

-

-At first he had hoped against hope that Joe had only been delayed,

-and would show up at the ball field after all, but as inning followed

-inning this hope faded out. But Jim was determined to win that game,

-for he considered that he stood in Joe’s place and that he owed it to

-his absent friend to chalk up a victory, as he was sure Joe would have

-done had he been there.

-

-Moreover, the thrill and tingle of the game were in his blood, his

-brain, his pitching arm. No matter what emergency of the game might

-arise, he had supreme confidence that he would be equal to it.

-

-In the first half of the fifth inning O’Connor, the captain of the

-Pittsburgh team, drove a vicious twisting grounder directly at Jim,

-a ball that fairly smoked as it traveled. But Jim picked it off the

-ground with a movement so swift that the eye could hardly follow

-it and tossed the runner out at first with a big margin of safety.

-When Burkett, the Giants’ first baseman, was forced far off from his

-position by a high fly between first and second base, Jim covered first

-base on the chance that Burkett might drop the ball. It was a difficult

-ball to handle, and while the first baseman managed to knock it down

-with his glove, he was unable to hold on to it. He made a snappy

-recovery, however, and tossed to Jim, putting the runner out. Had the

-Giant pitcher not been right where he was, the runner would have been

-safe.

-

-But the big test came in the eighth inning. Up to this time, so perfect

-had been Jim’s pitching, that neither McCarney nor Hupft had had

-anything to do. Jim knew that if any break came in the Giant defense,

-it would in all probability be because of some error, intentional or

-otherwise, on the part of one of the two men.

-

-This break came in the first half of the eighth inning. Ralston, of

-the Pittsburghs, swung wildly at a fast, straight ball, after two

-strikes had been called on him, and more by luck than good management

-connected squarely with it. The ball whistled straight over Jim’s head

-and almost into the hands of Hupft, who was playing center-field. But

-Hupft, instead of waiting for the ball, which was all he had to do, ran

-in on it instead, and the ball passed over his head. At the last second

-he made an ineffectual leap for it, but to no avail. The ball bounded

-along the grass until it was finally retrieved by Curry. But by this

-time the runner had reached third base and would probably have made the

-home sack had not Curry made a wonderful long throw to Jim, which made

-the runner think better of the attempt.

-

-Still the Pittsburghs had not scored, but they had a man on third base,

-with only one out. Baskerville was the next man at bat, and he made a

-sacrifice bunt in the direction of third base. It was McCarney’s ball,

-and he picked it up in snappy style, and threw to Mylert to keep the

-runner at third from reaching home. It was an easy play, but McCarney

-threw wild, so wild that Mylert, in spite of a back-breaking reach for

-it, was unable to connect. Throwing aside his mask he dashed after the

-ball, recovered it, and seeing that it was too late to nail Ralston at

-home, he made a superb toss to Larry Barrett, who nailed Baskerville at

-second. Jim struck out the next batter with three pitched balls, which

-shot over the plate so fast that the batter seemed dazed when he walked

-back to the dugout.

-

-But the Pittsburghs had scored, and that lone run looked pretty big

-at this stage of the game. The Giants had only two chances left to

-overcome it, and Miles seemed to be pitching better at this time than

-when he started.

-

-Larry was the first Giant batter to face the Pittsburgh pitcher, and

-the grim look on his usually jovial face showed that he appreciated the

-gravity of the situation.

-

-“Knock the cover off that pill, Barrett, and I’ll buy you a new one

-covered with ten dollar bills,” said McRae, as Larry started for the

-plate.

-

-“Shure, an’ I’ll do ut, thin,” promised Larry, with a flash of his

-usual happy grin. “This’ll be an expensive wallop for you, Mac.”

-

-Larry did his best, but luck was against him. He poled a hot grounder

-between first and second base, but the Pittsburgh shortstop smothered

-it and pitched Larry out at first.

-

-“Good night!” he exclaimed, as he reached the bench. “Thim

-Pittsburghers has more luck than brains. Shure, it wuz a lovely hit,

-and I had your money spint already, Mac, whin that spalpeen tuck it

-away from me.”

-

-“Well, it’s the safe ones that count,” remarked the manager. “Anybody

-can hit them at the fielders.”

-

-Allen was next at bat, and his team mates sat tense, waiting to see

-what he would do. The chances of the Giants winning the game were

-getting poor, and already many of the more pessimistic rooters were

-leaving the stands. Allen was not noted as a slugger, and Jim followed

-him. Many thought that McRae would substitute a pinch hitter for Jim,

-as a pitcher is not supposed to be a very heavy slugger, and Jim had

-not the reputation in that line that Joe possessed.

-

-Two strikes were called on Allen, when the Pittsburgh pitcher loosed a

-wild throw that struck the batter on the arm. This sent Allen to first

-base and put the next move up to Jim. To many of the fans it seemed as

-though McRae should put in his heaviest slugger at this point, but the

-manager, with that knowledge of men’s hearts and minds that had made

-him famous in the game, thought otherwise. He understood Jim’s desire

-to win this game above all others, and he believed that Jim, backed by

-that desire, would be more apt to slam out a hit than any other man on

-the team.

-

-“Go in and win your own game, Jim,” he admonished his young pitcher.

-“Make the crooks wish that they’d let Joe pitch this game. Show them

-that dirty work doesn’t pay.”

-

-“That’s exactly what I hope to do,” said Jim, with a grim set to his

-square jaw. “I’d be willing to give my next year’s pay to win this

-game.”

-

-Miles seemed a trifle rattled by hitting Allen, and the first two balls

-he pitched were wide of the plate. The next was a low, fast one, and

-Jim scooped it up, sending it whistling straight at Miles. The ball

-came so fast that the pitcher was unable to hang on to it, but he

-succeeded in stopping it, and it rolled along a few feet toward first

-base.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXII

-

-JIM PUTS ONE OVER

-

-

-As soon as Jim felt the bat connect with the ball he started down the

-base line at top speed, and top speed with Jim meant covering ground

-fast. Every bit of energy in him was concentrated on beating that

-ball to first base, and no sprinter could have made the distance more

-quickly. He was two-thirds of the way to first when Miles recovered the

-ball and straightened up for the throw. Fifteen feet from the bag Jim

-leaped through the air in a headlong dive for the sack, reaching it in

-a cloud of dust. A fraction of a second later he heard the smack of the

-ball in the first baseman’s glove, but it came too late. The umpire

-declared Jim safe, and he got to his feet, slapping clouds of dust from

-his uniform.

-

-Miles really should have thrown the ball to second and tried to cut off

-Allen; but, as it was, the latter reached the second hassock safely,

-and a moment later stole third. Things now began to look brighter

-for the home team, especially as Mylert, who was always a dependable

-slugger, was next at bat.

-

-Miles wound up and delivered a slow, elusive curve that would have

-fooled most batters. But Mylert judged it to a nicety and poled a safe

-one-base hit into right field. Allen and Jim sprinted around, the

-former crossing home plate with the tying run.

-

-By this time the Pittsburgh fielder had recovered the ball. He shot it

-to third base, in the hope of catching Jim there. But the Giant pitcher

-had already reached this base and was making for home, covering ground

-like a frightened jack-rabbit. The grandstand and bleachers rose to

-their feet _en masse_ and a roar of excited shouting swept over the

-field.

-

-It looked as though Jim had ventured too much and would surely be

-thrown out at the home plate. But he ran as he had never run before,

-and slid for the bag like a human catapult. The ball actually reached

-the catcher ahead of him, but such was the force of the slide that when

-the catcher tried to touch him out, the ball was knocked from his hand

-and bounded over the grass several feet away. Jim was safe, and the

-score stood 2 to 1 in favor of the Giants!

-

-At that the rooters went wild, and for five minutes the racket startled

-even the hardened residents of that neighborhood. Jim was surrounded

-by his team mates and pounded and thumped enthusiastically. But there

-was little time for this now as the game was not yet finished, and was

-far from being a certainty, as the Pittsburghs still had an inning at

-bat.

-

-Mylert was still at first base, and Curry came to the bat next. He did

-his best, but hit into a fast double play, which cut short the Giant

-rally.

-

-Now it was up to Jim to retain the one-run lead that he and his team

-mates had acquired. The Pittsburghs were wild at having the game

-snatched from their grasp so near the end, and went to the bat with

-determination writ large on their features.

-

-Now everything depended on Jim. His support could not be relied on.

-He knew that if the ball were once delivered into the hands of either

-Hupft or McCarney they would manage in some way to mishandle it and

-let in a run or two. He realized that the only sure thing was to keep

-the opposing batsmen from even hitting the ball, and to this end he

-summoned all his resource and skill.

-

-His arm still felt strong, and his control was little short of

-marvelous. The first man to face him was struck out on three pitched

-balls, the second fouled weakly to Mylert and was put out easily.

-The third man lifted a high fly toward third base. This ball really

-belonged to McCarney, but in an instant Jim resolved to take no

-chances. He started running for the ball at the same instant as

-McCarney.

-

-“It’s my ball! Keep away!” shouted McCarney.

-

-Jim paid no heed. He grabbed the ball as it descended and at the same

-instant collided with McCarney. The third baseman was hurled sprawling

-several feet away, but Jim kept his feet, although he was badly shaken.

-But the batter was out, and the Giants had won the game.

-

-“Confound you!” growled McCarney, as he struggled to his feet. “What do

-you mean by taking that play out of my hands? I’ll get you for this,

-you see if I don’t!”

-

-“You know blamed well why I took it,” retorted Jim. “I took it because

-I couldn’t trust you to make a straight play on it. And if you want to

-make a fuss about it I’ll tell the whole world the same thing.”

-

-“Aw, you’ve got me wrong,” protested McCarney, his threat changing to a

-whine. “I’ve just been running in a streak of bad luck lately, and here

-you and your pal try to hang it on me that I’m throwing the games. Lay

-off, can’t you?”

-

-Jim did not even take the trouble to answer this, but made the best of

-his way to the clubhouse. A mob of cheering fans was pouring down on

-to the field by this time, and he had to hurry his pace in order to

-escape their attentions.

-

-In the clubhouse there was a hot discussion going on over the merits of

-Jim’s play. The general attitude was that “all’s well that ends well,”

-though some thought that Jim should have left the play to McCarney.

-However, the wiser ones had been suspicious of the new players of late,

-and could guess pretty accurately the motives that had impelled Jim to

-act as he did. But above all else was rejoicing that they had won the

-game, and Jim was the hero of the hour.

-

-The one thought uppermost in the pitcher’s mind was to be off in search

-of his missing friend, and he was impatient of delay. As soon as

-possible he slipped out of the clubhouse and set off on his difficult

-quest.

-

-In this he had little to guide him, and he had no other plan save to

-watch for McCarney and shadow him, as Joe had done the day before. But

-this was not so simple a matter now, for the recreant third baseman had

-been rendered wary by Joe’s discovery of the gamblers’ house, and when

-he came out of the clubhouse he glanced cautiously in every direction

-before he started off at a brisk walk in the direction of the nearest

-subway station.

-

-The streets were so crowded, however, that Jim managed to escape

-detection, and in the subway boarded the same train as McCarney. The

-latter took a seat inside and Jim stuck to the platform, where he could

-keep an eye on his quarry without much likelihood of being seen himself.

-

-At Ninety-sixth Street McCarney changed to an express, and Jim did

-likewise. They were whisked rapidly downtown. McCarney got off at

-Fourteenth Street, with Jim still on his trail.

-

-From that point McCarney strode rapidly westward, and more than once

-Jim escaped detection by a miracle, as McCarney continually cast

-suspicious glances behind him. Eventually he reached the street where

-the gamblers’ house was located, and turned down it. Jim waited at the

-corner, as the street was deserted and McCarney would be almost certain

-to see him if he turned the corner.

-

-From his post of vantage he saw McCarney ascend the steps of the house

-and ring the bell. The door was opened a few inches and the ball player

-held a short conversation with some unseen person inside, after which

-he descended the steps and walked rapidly toward the corner where Jim

-was observing his actions.

-

-The latter had only time to dodge into a convenient hallway when

-McCarney passed the corner, apparently on his way back to the subway

-station. Jim gave him plenty of time to get well out of the way before

-he stepped into the street again. He had no definite plan in mind as

-yet, except to get inside the house someway and aid his friend to

-escape, provided he was there. But how to get in was the knotty problem.

-

-He sauntered down the street and past the house, examining it from the

-corners of his eyes without seeming to take undue interest in it, as

-he did not know who might be on the lookout. He walked on to the next

-corner and stood there a few minutes, trying to think of a feasible

-plan. He then started back to have another look at the place, and had

-reached a point about opposite when a big automobile came sweeping

-around the corner and drew up at the curb only a few feet from where he

-was standing.

-

-The car was filled with a crowd of rough looking men. Almost before

-he could realize what was happening, Jim was surrounded and attacked

-by these fellows. He fought desperately, but the odds were too great,

-and he was carried, still struggling, to the waiting automobile. Here

-he was pinned to the floor, a gag was stuffed into his mouth, and his

-hands and feet were securely tied.

-

-It was hardly two minutes from the time that the car drew up before it

-was again on its way, and the dexterity of Jim’s captors spoke of much

-practice in similar episodes. The gamblers, finding that the removal

-of Joe from the team was not sufficient to cause its defeat, had not

-hesitated to go further and abduct the only other pitching ace the team

-possessed, thus making it practically impossible for it to win the

-pennant.

-

-Meanwhile McRae, not knowing of this fresh disaster, was hiring

-detectives to find Joe and trying to plan a series of games in which he

-might employ Jim to the best advantage in the event that Joe was not

-found.

-

-He called at Jim’s hotel that evening to talk over matters with him,

-and when told that Jim had not been there since leaving for the ball

-field, he became wildly excited. He hunted up Robson, and together

-they held a conference. In the end McRae called up the head of the

-most famous detective agency in the country and, after swearing him to

-secrecy, commissioned him to hunt for the missing ball players.

-

-“Well, we’ve done all that we can do just now, and we might as well

-get a night’s sleep,” said Robson. “Don’t forget that both Matson and

-Barclay are resourceful lads and know how to handle themselves. I

-wouldn’t be surprised to see them both turn up in time for to-morrow’s

-game.”

-

-“If they don’t we’ll lose,” predicted McRae gloomily. “The team can’t

-pull together when things like this are going on. It’s getting so

-that nobody trusts anybody else on the team, and I never yet saw an

-aggregation of ball players win a pennant under those conditions.”

-

-The game next day proved the truth of this assertion. Both Joe and

-Jim were still missing, and while Bradley pitched a game that would

-ordinarily have been good enough to win, his team mates failed to

-support him in their usual masterly style, and the game was a walkover

-for their opponents, the score being 7 to 0 against them. Suspicion was

-rife on the team and the outlook for winning the pennant seemed gloomy

-indeed.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXIII

-

-A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE

-

-

-The interest and speculation caused by the disappearance of the two

-crack pitchers of the Giants was at fever pitch. The sporting pages of

-all the papers were filled with special articles and the story in many

-was featured on the first page. Fans collected on every street corner

-and discussed the many strange features of the occurrence. Many were

-the ingenious solutions proposed, and McRae’s mail in the morning was

-flooded with advice from amateur sportsmen and detectives.

-

-All this, however, was of little service to either Joe or Jim. After

-the former had been finally overborne by sheer weight of numbers in the

-dark hallway of the gamblers’ house, he was conveyed to a dark room in

-the basement of the old building. The place was as dark as pitch, and

-was infested with rats and other vermin. For several hours they were

-his only company, and he had ample leisure for some bitter reflections

-on the hard fate that had brought him to this pass. Too late he wished

-that he had summoned aid before entering the house. He thought of the

-team waiting for him and counting on him for the game the following

-day, and a feeling of hot resentment and rage against his captors

-welled up in him. Following this came a resolve to outwit his enemies

-and escape, and with this idea in mind he made a careful exploration of

-the place in which he was confined.

-

-The walls were of stone or cement, and were clammy and dripping with

-water. The air was cold and damp, and although in the world outside it

-was a lovely summer evening, Joe shivered in the dark atmosphere of his

-prison.

-

-The hours dragged slowly by, for what seemed an interminable time, and

-Joe was preparing to make a bed on the floor and get what sleep he

-could under the circumstances, when he heard the sound of a key being

-turned in a lock. The door of the place opened on complaining hinges,

-and the big, flashily dressed man who had directed his capture in the

-hallway entered, carrying a lantern. At his back came two rough looking

-men, each carrying a club.

-

-“Well, young feller, you seem to have got yourself into a nice mess

-now, haven’t you?” inquired the fat man.

-

-“You mean you’ve got me into it,” retorted Joe. “I’m not here because I

-want to be here.”

-

-“Well, don’t get gay, now, or maybe we can make you wish you hadn’t,”

-threatened the other. “All you’ve got to do is to follow the directions

-we give you, and you won’t get hurt.”

-

-“If you didn’t have those ruffians with you, you might get hurt

-yourself,” said Joe.

-

-“I brought them along on purpose so that wouldn’t happen, young

-feller,” said the other. “After watching you in action upstairs a while

-back, I’m ready to admit that you know how to handle yourself, but I

-don’t propose to have you make a punching bag of me.”

-

-“What is it you want me to do?” asked Joe curtly. “I can probably tell

-you in advance that I won’t do it, but it won’t hurt to listen to you.”

-

-“I don’t see that you have much choice,” said his captor. “But I don’t

-think I’ll tell you what I want you to do――not yet. Maybe a night in

-this hole will make you readier to listen to reason. The rats are

-rather thick down here, and I imagine by to-morrow you’ll be glad to

-get out on any terms. I wouldn’t like it much here myself.”

-

-The two fellows behind the speaker laughed hoarsely at this attempt at

-humor.

-

-“Better let us tap him a few wid de persuaders, boss,” said one. “The

-feller is too fresh. I kin see that with half an eye. Let’s rough ’im

-up a bit.”

-

-The leader seemed undetermined, but finally decided against this.

-

-“A night in this place will fix him, all right,” he said. “If it don’t,

-there are lots of other ways to make him act nice. When my bunch wants

-a man to do something, he does it, or he’s mighty sorry, that’s all.”

-

-With this the fellow turned, followed by the two with him. For

-an instant Joe had a mad impulse to attack the trio, but he was

-weaponless, and he told himself that better opportunities of escape

-were sure to offer. The door creaked on its rusty hinges, a lock

-snapped, and he was left alone with his thoughts.

-

-Needless to say, these were not of the pleasantest description. What

-was it that the fellow wanted of him? Whatever it was, Joe felt sure

-that it would be something with which he could not honorably comply,

-and he was ready to face any hardship before doing a dishonorable thing.

-

-That night stood out in his memory ever after like some horrible

-nightmare. He was badly bruised from the effects of his fall and the

-struggle that followed, and besides was cold and hungry. He craved

-sleep, but sleep in that rat-ridden den was impossible. He could hear

-the rats scurrying about in the darkness, and more than once he felt

-the nip of small but sharp teeth as he flung some rodent away from

-him. As the night wore on the rats became bolder in their attacks, and

-it was all Joe could do to ward them off. Every hour seemed like an

-eternity, and it was with boundless relief that he at last heard the

-key turn in the lock.

-

-This time there were three different men from those he had seen the

-night before, but he recognized two of them as having been among his

-assailants the previous day. The third man he had never seen before.

-

-“The boss wants to see you upstairs,” said this individual. “He sent us

-to take you up.”

-

-“Lead the way,” said Joe. “Any place is better than this filthy den.”

-

-The man eyed him curiously.

-

-“Say, you’re Matson, the pitcher of the Giants, ain’t you?” he asked,

-with a note of surprise in his voice.

-

-“You’re right the first time,” Joe assured him. “Anything I can do for

-you?”

-

-The other made no reply to this, but merely motioned to Joe to follow

-him. They passed through a long cellar and then up a flight of stairs

-that let them into the rear of the hall where Joe had had the battle

-the previous day. Then they climbed the main staircase, and Joe was

-conducted into the room where the rascals had been congregated.

-

-The leader of the gang was there, in company with another man whose

-face seemed familiar to Joe from the first. He could not place the man,

-however, and had little time to think of this before the ringleader

-spoke.

-

-“Well, young feller, how did you enjoy the night?” he asked, and there

-was a cruel leer on his big, flabby face.

-

-“You know well enough what that place is like without my telling you,”

-said Joe. “Tell me what your game is and let’s get it over with. You

-won’t gain anything by putting it off.”

-

-The other regarded him searchingly for a few moments.

-

-“Well, in your case, perhaps not,” he said at last. “What you have got

-to do is to sign a paper saying that you won’t play baseball again this

-season. You sign the paper, and you walk out the door a free man.”

-

-“And what if I refuse?” asked Joe.

-

-“Then you’re going toward the river. There’s too much of our money sunk

-in this game now to let us hesitate about what happens to one baseball

-player more or less.”

-

-“You must have a lot of confidence in me,” said Joe. “Suppose I sign

-this paper and then go right ahead and play ball anyway? What’s to

-stop me from doing that?”

-

-“Say, son, you must think we’re easy!” he said. “When you sign this

-paper it will tie the can to your career as a ball player. In it

-you’ll admit that you threw several games last season, and this

-for pay. You’ll name the dates and the games, and we’ll have other

-framed evidence to back it up. Oh, you won’t play any more games this

-season――nor any other season, I guess. But if you _don’t_ sign this

-paper, you won’t play any more games, either,” he added significantly.

-

-For the first time the full measure of his extremity dawned on Joe.

-On the one hand he was asked to sign a paper that would disgrace him

-and make him an outcast in the eyes of the world――such a paper as no

-decent man would care to sign and live after signing it. And if he did

-not sign, there might be even death waiting for him, without the chance

-of saying good-by to his young wife and to his parents and friends,

-certainly such an injury as would forever put him out of baseball. Of

-the two hard alternatives he quickly made his choice.

-

-“I guess it will have to be the river for mine, then,” he said, in a

-steady voice. “You can rest assured I won’t sign any such blackguard

-paper as that.”

-

-The ringleader gave an exclamation.

-

-“Take him back to the cellar, men,” he ordered. “You can have until

-to-night to change your mind, young feller. If you don’t do what I want

-you to then, you――well, you’ll take the consequences, that’s all.”

-

-The others closed in on Joe to take him away, but Joe wrenched himself

-free and with a movement like that of a leaping panther he was at the

-scoundrel. His fist shot out and caught the fellow squarely between the

-eyes. A look of vacant surprise spread over the flabby features and the

-man crumpled to the floor.

-

-Before Joe could strike another blow his hands were pinned to

-his sides, and he was hustled out of the room on the way to the

-subterranean cell.

-

-“You couldn’t have done a worse thing than that, Matson,” said the man

-who had recognized him as being the Giants’ pitcher. “The boss will

-have it in for you worse than ever now. It’ll be personal hate, as well

-as money.”

-

-“He’d probably do his worst, anyway, and that will give him something

-to remember me by,” said Joe grimly.

-

-“You’ve got nerve, kid. I’ve got to hand it to you,” said the other.

-“I’m sorry they’ve got you slated for the river. I used to be a ball

-player myself once, and I guess I’ve got some idea of how you feel

-about it.”

-

-Joe paid little attention to the man’s words, for his mind was busy

-trying to place the man whom he had seen when he first entered the room

-upstairs. He was sure he had seen him somewhere.

-

-His captors conducted him to the room in the cellar, thrust him in, and

-locked the door. Joe felt that he might perhaps go to his death when

-that door opened in the evening. The men were desperate. They planned

-injury, and a step too far―― A crowd of thoughts and memories came

-thronging through his mind. A bitter end, this, to his work for fame

-and fortune.

-

-But was there, in fact, no chance of escape from that dark pit? He

-paced to the wall and started to examine every square inch of it with

-his fingers. Nothing but hard, smooth cement met his search, and after

-an hour of fruitless effort he was about to give over the attempt when

-he heard a stealthy, scratching sound from the direction of the door.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXIV

-

-THE ESCAPE

-

-

-The scratching sound continued, and then Joe could hear the sound

-of the lock being stealthily shot back. But why should his captors

-exercise such caution? There was dead silence for a few seconds, and

-then the door swung slowly open, letting in a dim, sickly light from

-the cellar beyond.

-

-This slow approach of some unseen person was beginning to get on Joe’s

-nerves, and he was about to utter a challenge when a sibilant whisper

-warned him to be quiet.

-

-The door was now open a foot or so, and a dark figure edged itself into

-the room. Joe stood tense, waiting for the attack that he thought was

-coming.

-

-But no attack came. Instead, a tiny shaft of light, reflected from a

-flashlight in the newcomer’s hand, lit the place dimly. By its rays Joe

-recognized the man who had said that he used to be a ball player and

-who had seemed to take an interest in him.

-

-“Don’t make a sound, Matson,” he warned. “If they catch me, there’ll be

-two of us in a desperate plight to-night, instead of one. The big chief

-has sworn to get you to-night, and he’d just as soon knock me out at

-the same time.”

-

-“What has he got against you?” asked Joe curiously.

-

-“Nothing yet. But he would have if he knew I was helping you escape.”

-

-“Escape!” echoed Joe, hardly willing to believe his ears. “Do you

-really mean that you’re going to help me get away from this place?”

-

-“That’s what,” averred the other. “I’m taking my life in my hands to do

-it, but I couldn’t stand by and let them injure――or worse――a game ball

-player like you. I’ve seen you pitch more than once, and you’re too

-good to have a fate like that. I told you I used to be a ball player

-myself, before drink put me down and out. But we can’t waste time

-talking here. Follow me, and I’ll see if I can get you out.”

-

-He led Joe through the cellar until they reached the stairs leading to

-the first floor. They had started to ascend when the guide stopped,

-and Joe could hear voices from above. Joe recognized the voice of the

-leader, raised in angry protest.

-

-“I’m not going to argue with you any more now,” he shouted. “The bunch

-will be at Bill Davendorp’s to-night, and we’ll hash out the whole

-thing then and make our plans. If that doesn’t suit you, I can’t help

-it.”

-

-Joe could not hear what the other man said, but he apparently spoke

-soothingly, and their voices dropped to an indistinguishable monotone.

-

-“I’ll have to get you out another way,” whispered Joe’s guide.

-

-He noiselessly descended the steps to the cellar, with Joe at his

-heels. They had not gone far when Joe’s guide stopped at a stout door

-set in the cellar wall and fitted a key into the lock. Cautiously he

-swung the door open and then for a full minute stood listening intently.

-

-In the silence Joe could hear the wash and lap of water at no great

-distance, and the thought flashed across his mind that perhaps this man

-was leading him into some death trap. But he was totally in the power

-of the man, who had only to shout to bring members of the gang to his

-assistance. Joe resolved to follow him unhesitatingly, since, after

-all, it seemed his only chance.

-

-After listening for some time, the ex-ball player apparently decided

-that the way was clear, for he motioned to Joe to follow him. They

-entered the black tunnel, for such it seemed to be, and went slowly

-forward, the path being dimly lighted by the little flashlight. The

-walls were wet and moldy, and there was hardly room for one man to

-pass along. Ever as they walked the splash and gurgle of running water

-came nearer, until, after rounding a corner, Joe saw the cause.

-

-The tunnel ended at the river, only a foot or two above the high water

-mark. The tide was at flow, and the waters of the mighty Hudson raced

-and swirled past, moaning and gurgling about the piles of an old dock

-under which the tunnel had its exit. Joe could not repress a shudder as

-he gazed at the green water lapping past almost under his feet, for he

-reflected that possibly he had been close to an ignominious death in

-its cold depths.

-

-“There are spikes driven into the far side of that pile,” said Joe’s

-rescuer, indicating a slippery green post to the right of the tunnel.

-“When you get to the top you’ll find a trap door that will let you out

-on the dock. From there you can easily enough reach the street. Then

-see how fast you can get away from this neighborhood. And one more

-thing: Take a little advice and don’t go around alone much for the rest

-of the baseball season.”

-

-Joe extended his hand.

-

-“I don’t even know your name,” he said, “but I know you’re a real man

-in spite of the set you’re running with. Why don’t you shake them and

-play the game on the level? If I can ever help you with cash or in

-any other way, all you’ll ever have to do is to say so. I owe my whole

-future to you.”

-

-The other took the extended hand.

-

-“Your dope sounds good, kid, and maybe I’ll do it,” he said. “But don’t

-think about me any more. Go in and bring your team out at the top of

-the heap, and I’ll be paid for my trouble. I used to belong to the

-Giants once.”

-

-Joe wanted to ask him more, but the man only waved his hand and

-disappeared in the black mouth of the tunnel. Joe felt for the spikes

-in the slippery pile and found them just as his rescuer had said.

-Three minutes later he was standing on the hot planks of the dock, the

-glorious summer sun beating down on him, deep joy and thanksgiving in

-his heart.

-

-The dock was deserted, and Joe started for the landward end, on his

-guard for any sign of his enemies. But nothing occurred to hinder him,

-and in a few minutes he had reached West Street. Here he turned south

-for a few blocks and then east until he reached a subway station. Here

-he boarded a subway train that would take him to the Polo Grounds.

-

-As the train whizzed uptown it almost seemed to Joe as though he had

-been through a terrible dream, from which he had just awakened. In his

-ears was still the voice of the man, saying:

-

-“The gang will meet at Bill Davendorp’s to-night and we’ll make our

-plans then.”

-

-Joe had heard of this Davendorp before. He was a shady character, known

-to the police but never actually convicted of any crime. He was the

-proprietor of “Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors,” a resort much frequented

-by people who led an evil life.

-

-Already Joe was beginning to revolve plans in his mind for discovering

-the schemes of the plotters, but, warned by his recent terrible

-experience, he had no intention of going into the venture single-handed.

-He planned to tell the whole story to McRae and leave the matter to the

-greater experience and resources of the manager.

-

-When Joe entered the clubhouse a shout went up that brought McRae and

-Robson on the run, under the impression that a riot had broken out. Joe

-was bombarded with questions from every side, and the delight of his

-team mates passed all bounds. It was some time before McRae and Robson

-could drag him away to the former’s office, where Joe gave a complete

-account of his harrowing experiences.

-

-“But how about Jim?” asked McRae, when Joe had finished. “Wasn’t he

-with you?”

-

-“Jim?” exclaimed Joe. “Don’t tell me that the gang has got him, too!”

-

-“It looks that way,” said the manager grimly. “He went in search of

-you the day following your disappearance, and nobody’s seen nor heard

-from him since.”

-

-This news came as a terrible blow to Joe and put a damper on his

-happiness at his own escape. But he resolved to hunt for his missing

-friend right away.

-

-This was not so easy, however, as news of his arrival had gone out on

-to the field and spread to grandstand and bleachers, where the greatest

-excitement prevailed. Joe had to go out and show himself, whereupon the

-fans rose and gave him a greeting that any one might have been proud

-to receive as a tribute. They all wanted Joe to pitch the game that

-afternoon, but McRae would not hear of it.

-

-“After what you’ve been through, Matson, you need a good rest before

-you’ll be ready to pitch again. Take the afternoon off, and forget

-about baseball for that length of time.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXV

-

-DOWN THE ROPE

-

-

-It was not easy for Joe to “forget about baseball,” but the thought of

-his chum in captivity, perhaps as bad as that from which he himself had

-just escaped, did much to take his mind from the game that he loved so

-well.

-

-How was he to find out where Jim was held captive? New York is a

-tremendously big city, and Joe had not the faintest clue on which to

-work. McCarney would be likely to know something about it, Joe thought,

-but if he did there was little hope of getting the information out of

-him.

-

-Joe decided that the first step would be to go to his hotel, get a bath

-and put on some respectable clothes before starting the hunt for Jim.

-The clothes he had on were torn and bedraggled, and when he caught a

-glimpse of himself in a mirror he realized that he looked more like a

-tramp than the spruce star pitcher of the New York Giants.

-

-When he arrived at the family hotel the clerk, a young woman, threw up

-her hands in mingled wonder at his unkempt appearance and delight at

-his return. She had a keen interest in both Joe and Jim, and had been

-sorely grieved at their disappearance.

-

-Joe gave her a brief sketch of his experience and told her that Jim was

-still missing.

-

-“Oh, that reminds me!” exclaimed the clerk. “A note came from Mr.

-Barclay not an hour ago, and as you weren’t here I was going to call up

-Mr. McRae and tell him about it.”

-

-“A note from Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Who brought it? Let’s have a look at

-it.”

-

-The clerk turned to her desk, and finally produced a crumpled scrap of

-paper.

-

-“There it is,” she said, handing it to Joe. “It was brought by the

-dirtiest boy I ever saw. He said that he saw it thrown out of a window,

-and when he saw that it was addressed to Joe Matson he pretty near

-killed himself to bring it here. He seemed awfully disappointed when I

-told him you weren’t here. He talked to me the longest while about what

-a wonderful pitcher you were, and it was all I could do to get rid of

-him. I never could understand why people think it’s such a wonderful

-thing to be able to throw a baseball around,” and she smiled.

-

-But Joe did not hear a word that she was saying. He was engrossed in

-the note, which had been scribbled on a torn piece of brown wrapping

-paper.

-

-    “The crooks have got me in a house opposite to number 821

-    East 17th St. Am taking a chance that you’ve got clear and

-    can help me. Come if you can.                        JIM.”

-

-“Will I!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll tell the world!” and he bounded up the

-stairs to his room.

-

-“Tell the world what?” called the clerk after him, but she got no

-answer. Joe scrubbed the worst of the dirt off his hands and face,

-jumped into another suit of clothes, and was out the door like a shot,

-much to the disappointment of the young woman clerk, who was consumed

-with curiosity to know his plans.

-

-As a matter of fact, Joe did not have any definite plan, but his

-friend had called on him for aid and his one thought was to fly to his

-assistance. The idea uppermost in his mind was to locate the building,

-reconnoiter it, and then see what he could do. It seemed hours before

-he finally got out of the subway at East Eighteenth Street, although

-really the trip was a short one. He walked rapidly in the direction of

-the East River, scanning the house numbers as he went.

-

-It did not take him long to find the address that Jim had scribbled in

-his note. Opposite this house was a big building that looked as though

-it had once been used as a warehouse. There seemed to be no sign of

-life about it now, however. There were few windows, and most of these

-were tightly boarded up.

-

-Joe scanned the front anxiously, wondering if the note had been a fake

-after all. Even if Jim were in the place, how could he let Joe know it?

-

-These and many other doubts passed through Joe’s mind as he stood

-looking at the high, drab wall of the place. But suddenly, from a small

-window close to the roof, a hand was waved and a moment later Joe saw

-the face of his friend framed in the opening.

-

-Joe waved back to him, and a few minutes later he saw a bit of paper

-come fluttering down. Joe picked it up almost before it had touched the

-roadway and scanned its contents.

-

-“Be careful, Joe, and whatever you do, don’t call the police,” read the

-note. “If this place is raided, the first thing they’ll do is get me

-out of the way. Try and get a rope up to me some way. If you can’t, it

-will be bad for me.”

-

-Joe measured the height of the window with his eye. It was at least one

-hundred feet from the ground, but suddenly Joe had an inspiration.

-

-He waved his hand to let Jim know that he had gotten the note and

-understood, and then walked at top speed toward Second Avenue. After a

-further walk of a few short blocks, he saw a small hardware store. He

-purchased a long coil of stout hemp rope and a ball of light but strong

-twine. Then in a small stationery store he bought a baseball, and with

-his newly acquired property he hurried back to the place where his

-friend was held prisoner.

-

-Fortunately for Joe’s project, that part of the city, close to the

-East River, is a quiet neighborhood, far removed from the roaring

-tides of traffic that go surging up and down the main avenues. The

-inhabitants of that neighborhood are prone to mind their own business,

-and while several people whom he passed looked curiously at his unusual

-equipment, no embarrassing questions were asked. The old warehouse was

-the last building between the street and the river, and when Joe got to

-it the street seemed deserted, for which he was duly grateful.

-

-Taking the baseball from his pocket, he wound it firmly about with

-twine and then attached a long string of that material to it. While he

-was making these preparations, he could see Jim peering from the little

-window, and he knew that his friend would quickly understand his plan.

-

-Joe carefully measured the distance with his eye, wound up, and pitched

-the ball with all his strength toward the small opening high in the

-wall. It struck within a few inches of the window, but bounded off and

-bounced down into the street. Joe picked it up, untangled the twine,

-and tried again. This time the ball went right through the center of

-the open window. The throw must have been all of a hundred feet from

-the sidewalk to the window, and in addition the ball was weighted with

-the trailing twine. It is doubtful if any other pitcher in the big

-leagues could have equaled the wonderful throw. Joe, however, never

-gave the matter a thought. Jim had one end of the twine, and Joe was

-elated that his scheme had been successful so far.

-

-He glanced cautiously about, but as far as he could tell his actions

-had not attracted any attention. Half way up the block a few people

-were going in and out of the shabby tenement houses, but they took no

-notice of him. However, he judged it wise to wait a few minutes before

-proceeding farther, and so sat down on his coil of rope and whittled

-nonchalantly at a sliver of wood. The thin string hanging down the

-front of the old warehouse would never be noticed from the street, and

-Joe felt reasonably secure so far.

-

-After about ten minutes of waiting there came a time when the street

-was again almost deserted, and Joe was not slow in taking advantage

-of this. Crossing swiftly over, he attached the end of the one-inch

-hemp line to the twine, and gave a gentle pull to let Jim know that

-everything was all right.

-

-The latter had grasped Joe’s idea as soon as the baseball with the

-twine attached came bounding into the room. Now, when he felt the tug

-on the cord, he pulled the rope up hand over hand, and soon had the end

-in the room. There were several big hooks in the room, and he quickly

-fastened the cord to one of these. This done, he prepared to essay the

-perilous descent.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXVI

-

-SCATTERING THE RASCALS

-

-

-It required nerve to climb out on the narrow window sill and trust his

-life to that swaying rope, but Jim was plentifully equipped with that

-article, and he hesitated not a second. He twisted the rope several

-times about one leg, so as to take some of the strain off his arms, and

-then started sliding slowly down.

-

-Down on the sidewalk, Joe held the lower end of the rope, to prevent

-its swinging, and gazed anxiously up at his friend. One false move or a

-moment of dizziness, and Jim would be dashed to death on the paving.

-

-So engrossed was Joe in watching his chum that he forgot to watch for

-anything else, and he was not conscious of the presence of a man who

-had come out of the warehouse a moment before and who now stood gazing

-in stupefied silence at the sight that met his eyes.

-

-His period of inaction, however, did not last long. With a startled

-shout he sprang into action and dashed back into the building, calling

-at the top of his lungs.

-

-Jim was still less than half way down, and Joe gazed desperately about

-in the hope of assistance.

-

-There was none in sight. Jim had heard the man’s shout, and, knowing

-that his actions were discovered, slid down the rope at increased

-speed. But he was still thirty or forty feet from the sidewalk when the

-man who had raised the alarm dashed out, followed by three others. They

-made furiously for Joe, and he let go the rope and rushed to meet them.

-He knew that he would have to beat them off until Jim could join him.

-

-The fellows did not recognize Joe, and they were chiefly concerned

-lest Jim should escape them. They tried to get at the rope, but Joe

-would not have it so. Hot rage boiled up in him at the thought of the

-unprovoked attacks on him and his friend. He saw red, and the four

-ruffians were staggered by the force and fury of his onslaught. They

-gave back momentarily, then returned to the attack.

-

-One of them had a club in his hand. He edged behind Joe, waiting for a

-chance to use it. The weapon was poised in readiness for a blow when

-its owner was sent sprawling to the ground. Jim stood at his friend’s

-side.

-

-He also had the memory of recent wrongs and insults to avenge, and

-together the two friends charged into their assailants, striking right

-and left and feeling a fierce joy as their flailing fists smashed and

-battered at their shrinking opponents.

-

-But reënforcements were at hand for the ball players’ opponents. With a

-yell, three more fellows dashed out of the warehouse and charged into

-the fray.

-

-“Time for a getaway, Jim,” panted Joe, realizing that these odds were

-too great. As he spoke, he saw the club that one of the ruffians had

-dropped lying on the sidewalk. Like a flash he picked it up and laid

-about him like a madman. As his weapon landed with terrific force, the

-scoundrels momentarily gave ground.

-

-“Come on, Jim!” shouted Joe, and the two friends charged through the

-ring of assailants like a couple of maddened bulls.

-

-Then they took to their heels, with the rascals after them. But the

-latter were no match for fleet base runners like the two Giant ball

-players. Reaching the corner, the two boys raced up the avenue a block

-or so, but the ruffians appeared to have given up the pursuit, and they

-slowed down to a walk.

-

-They kept up a rapid pace, however, and did not feel secure until they

-were seated in a subway train and speeding uptown.

-

-Both of them bore signs of the struggle they had been through, but

-they little minded this nor the curious stares of the other passengers.

-They were both safe, after having gone through adventures that might

-well have ended in tragedy for one or both.

-

-Joe looked at his friend, and Jim looked at him. Then they both grinned.

-

-“I don’t blame people for looking at us as though we were a couple of

-freaks,” said Joe. “If I look as bunged up as you do, Jim, I must be a

-terrible sight.”

-

-“You are,” said Jim frankly. “I guess I am too, though. And make out my

-hands aren’t sore!” and he exhibited two blistered palms. “After that

-gang came swarming out of the house I slid down that rope so fast that

-it smoked.”

-

-“You didn’t get down a minute too soon,” answered Joe. “But your hands

-look pretty bad. I’m afraid you won’t be able to pitch for a week, at

-the least.”

-

-“Well, if I hadn’t slid down fast, I’d probably never have pitched

-again at any time,” said Jim. “A few blisters are a cheap price to pay

-to get away from that gang.”

-

-“Don’t forget the rope that I contributed,” Joe reminded him. “Not to

-mention the baseball.”

-

-“That was some rock,” said Jim. “When it landed in the room I thought

-it would go through the floor. I’ve got to hand it to you for thinking

-up that scheme, Joe. Likewise, that was a wonderful throw you made, up

-to the window. When I saw you winding up for it, I never thought you’d

-make it.”

-

-“It was a case of where I had to make it,” said Joe. “Anyway, I think I

-could have hoisted it a little higher if I’d had to. You can never tell

-what you can do till you try. But now tell me how you happened to get

-in that place. I’ll bet they had a scrimmage before they persuaded you

-to make them a visit.”

-

-“Well, I can’t claim much of a battle, at that,” confessed Jim. “I

-trailed you to that house on the West Side, and I was trying to think

-up a plan to get inside when a big automobile came along and stopped

-right near me. I didn’t think much of it, but the next thing I knew

-a crowd of six or seven rascals landed on my devoted head and I went

-down for the count. They carried me over to that joint near the East

-River, and locked me in a little room on the top floor. I’d have had to

-be a human fly to get out, and I guess they thought they had me safely

-cooped up.”

-

-“Did they want you to sign a framed-up paper that would have run you

-out of the game?” asked Joe. “That’s what they handed me.”

-

-“That was the idea, all right,” replied his friend. “Of course I

-refused, and then they told me I could starve until I came around to

-their terms. I haven’t had anything to eat in twenty-four hours, and,

-believe me, a nice beefsteak would be mighty easy to take.”

-

-“Good night!” exclaimed Joe. “Why didn’t you get something before we

-got on the sub train? They don’t run dining cars on this line.”

-

-“I guess I was too excited to think about it,” said Jim. “I’m getting

-more starved every second, though. Let’s get off at the next station

-and hunt up a restaurant.”

-

-“Fine! I could take a little nourishment myself,” said Joe, and at the

-next station they proceeded to put this plan into effect.

-

-While Jim was ordering a meal that made the waiter gasp, Joe slipped

-out to a telephone and got McRae on the wire. The delight and

-excitement of the manager was manifest over the wire, and Joe promised

-to report with Jim as soon as they had eaten.

-

-When he got back to the table Jim, unable to await his coming, had

-already started, and Joe was treated to an unusual exhibition of

-eating. His friend finished one large steak and called for another. The

-waiter looked scandalized, but he filled the order nevertheless.

-

-When Jim at last finished and leaned back to drink a cup of black

-coffee, Joe solemnly extended his hand across the table.

-

-“Shake, old man,” he said, with feeling. “I never knew any man could

-pack away food like that and live to tell the story. I used to think I

-was fairly good myself, but now I’ve got to admit that I’m not even in

-your class.”

-

-“I always knew that, but I never thought you’d come around to my way

-of thinking,” answered Jim with a grin. “I feel now as though I could

-lick my weight in wildcats. Let’s go back and clean out that joint on

-Seventeenth Street.”

-

-“You can go if you’re looking for a quick death,” said Joe.

-“Personally, I’d just as soon live a little longer. Besides, I’ve

-promised McRae that we’ll report to him as soon as possible. Those

-hands of yours need a doctor’s attention, too.”

-

-“They can still handle a knife and fork,” said Jim complacently.

-

-Joe and Jim found McRae at his hotel, but he would not listen to a word

-until he had taken Jim to a doctor and his hands were swathed in white

-bandages. Then they went back to the hotel, and the manager listened to

-Jim’s story, with many grunts and interjections and angry mutterings.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXVII

-

-LARRY HAS HIS SAY

-

-

-“I’m so glad to have both of you back, safe and sound, that I can’t sit

-down right now and figure out the best way to punish those scoundrels,”

-McRae said, when the recital was ended. “You’ve both shown wonderful

-pluck and nerve, and I’m proud of you. I’d have given quite a few

-dollars to have been around when that scrap down by the East River

-started. I haven’t been in a real good fracas for a long time, and it

-would surely have been a pleasure to have landed on one or two of those

-rascals. You must have put up a peach of a scrap to get away from them

-as neatly as you did.”

-

-“It’s a wonder they didn’t start some gun play,” remarked Joe. “We’d

-have been out of luck for fair if they had.”

-

-“I imagine they wanted to capture you both, rather than settle your

-hash for good,” observed the manager.

-

-“If you don’t mind, Mac,” said Joe, getting to his feet, “I think we’d

-better go to our hotel and get cleaned up. Jim says I look as bad as he

-does, but I’d hate to believe it.”

-

-“Go on!” exclaimed his friend. “You look worse. I guess it won’t hurt

-either of us to have a bath, though, and get some decent clothes on.

-I’ve got to admit that we both look a little mussed up.”

-

-“Well, beat it along, and look out for those hands of yours, Jim,” said

-McRae. “I want to get you back into the box just as soon as I can. That

-last game you pitched is still being talked about by the fans, and I

-want you to repeat the performance.”

-

-“I’ll do the best I can,” promised Jim. “I don’t see where there was

-anything so wonderful about that game, though. I was just trying to

-pitch as well as I knew Joe would have done if he had been there.”

-

-“Thanks for the compliment,” laughed Joe. “But I haven’t heard about

-that game yet, Jim. On the way home you’ve got to tell me about it.”

-

-“All right, I will. But let’s beat it now,” said his friend, and the

-two said good-by to McRae and headed for their hotel. Joe insisted on

-Jim’s telling him the details of the last game when Jim had pitched to

-victory, and he chuckled with satisfaction when his friend told him

-about the way he had bowled McCarney over.

-

-“You had the right dope, all right,” declared Joe. “I’ll bet that shady

-ball player was all set to muff that fly and then blame it on the sun

-getting in his eyes. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s pulled that

-excuse, but it’s beginning to wear pretty thin.”

-

-“Yes, that’s what I figured,” agreed Jim. “I couldn’t afford to take a

-chance right then. We needed that game too badly. It’s a wonder to me,

-though, that I pitched as well as I did, I was worrying so about you

-all the time.”

-

-“Well, I might have had an off day and gotten knocked out of the box,

-so maybe it was a lucky thing for the team that I wasn’t there,” said

-Joe.

-

-“I’ll take a chance on you any time, old scout,” declared Jim. “But

-here we are at the old hangout, and make out our lady clerk won’t be

-surprised to see us come walking in together.”

-

-The interested woman was surprised, indeed, and delighted as well. She

-fairly deluged them with questions, which they answered as well as they

-could. McRae had warned them to keep their experiences to themselves,

-for a while, at least, but they told the clerk as much as they could

-and evaded the other questions. At last they succeeded in satisfying

-her curiosity to some extent, and went on upstairs to their rooms.

-Their bathroom was equipped with a shower bath, and they fairly reveled

-in this. Then, when each had donned a complete set of fresh clothing,

-they felt almost “one hundred per cent efficient,” as Jim put it,

-although his hands still bothered him a good deal.

-

-“You’ll have to take my turn at pitching as well as your own, Joe,”

-he said ruefully. “I’m afraid I shan’t be able to handle a ball for a

-week, at least.”

-

-“Well, I’m the boy that can do it,” said his friend confidently. “I

-feel as though I could pitch a double header right now and never be any

-the worse for it. It’s one of my ambitions to do it some day, too.”

-

-“It looks as though you might have the chance, all right,” remarked

-Jim. “But there’s somebody at the door. Let him in, Joe; you’re nearest

-to it.”

-

-Joe did so, and they were both delighted to see Larry Barrett standing

-on the threshold. He rushed in, delighted at seeing them, and they all

-shook hands joyously.

-

-“Glory be, but it’s glad Oi am to see you both again!” he exclaimed.

-“Shure, an’ we thought you’d both been bumped off, fur good, when ye

-neither one showed up for practice. Phwat in the name of all that’s

-good have ye been doin’ wid yerselves?”

-

-“Oh, just off on a little vacation,” said Jim, airily. “It looked at

-one time as though it might turn into a permanent one, but they say

-‘only the good die young,’ and that probably explains why we’re still

-decorating the landscape.”

-

-“It’s happy Oi am that ye’re both back,” said the jovial Irishman.

-“Shure, an’ the Giants would soon have been in the cellar position if

-ye hadn’t got back pretty soon.”

-

-“Oh, we’re not as important as all that,” protested Joe. “There was a

-Giant team before we were ever heard of, and chances are there will be

-one after we’re buried and forgotten. The team is right up among the

-leaders, and they ought to be able to cop the pennant, anyway.”

-

-“Up wid the leaders is right, me bye, but stayin’ there is another

-matter,” said Larry. “Why is ut that when we’re wid the leaders, as

-you so truly remarked but a short time ago, that everybody’s bettin’

-against us? It looks as though some of the baseball sharps wuz bankin’

-pretty heavy on the Giants losin’ the pennant. Am Oi right or am Oi

-not?”

-

-“The gamblers don’t know everything, not by a long shot,” observed Jim.

-“Often their plans slip up on a banana peel. Don’t they, Joe?”

-

-“Yes, once in a while,” replied his friend, grinning. “But, anyway,

-Larry, here we are back in the game, so what do you suppose the

-gamblers will do now?”

-

-“Faith, an’ Oi think if it’s wise they are, they’ll bet on the Giants,

-instid of aginst thim,” said Larry. “We’ll wipe up the diamond wid thim

-other teams now. That is,” he added, “if we don’t git double crossed by

-some of the fellers on our own team. That’s the thing that’s worryin’

-me now, an’ Oi don’t care who knows it.”

-

-Joe and Jim exchanged glances.

-

-“Whom do you mean?” asked the former.

-

-“An’ who should Oi mean but thim two, McCarney an’ Hupft?” demanded

-Larry, in a belligerent tone. “You fellers know who Oi mean, well

-enough. For phwat did ye take that pop fly away from McCarney the other

-day, Jim, if ut wasn’t because you had a hunch that he wouldn’t field

-ut? Some of the other fellers didn’t get on to what wuz in back o’ that

-play, but you can’t fool yer Uncle Larry so easy.”

-

-“Well, there’s no use denying that we are suspicious of those two

-birds, to say the least,” admitted Joe. “But just keep that under your

-hat, Larry, and don’t talk to the other fellows about it. We want to

-get the goods on McCarney and Hupft before we make any move to get them

-off the team.”

-

-“That sounds raysonable,” admitted Larry. “But I gave one o’ thim birds

-a piece o’ me mind yesterday, and I wish now Oi’d taken a swing at his

-left ear for luck.”

-

-“It wouldn’t have been much luck for the fellow on the receiving end,

-though,” laughed Jim. “What did you tell him, Larry?”

-

-“Oi told him if he couldn’t hold on to the ball better, he ought to be

-playin’ checkers instid o’ baseball. ‘Ye’ve got no man’s grip in yer

-hands, or the ball wouldn’t slip through thim so easy,’ I told him.”

-

-“Who was that, McCarney or Hupft?” asked Joe.

-

-“’Twas the spalpeen of a third baseman,” replied Larry. “If he’d been

-half a man he’d have answered me back, and maybe started a little

-scrap, which Oi’d have been thankful for that same. But he only gives

-me an ugly, sideways look an’ says somethin’ under his breath that Oi

-cuddn’t hear. Oi should have swung at him, an’ me conscience has been

-botherin’ me ever since fur not doin’ ut.”

-

-“I never knew you had a conscience,” laughed Joe. “Doesn’t it ever

-bother you when you argue with the umpire over calling a strike against

-you, when you know all the time it was a strike?”

-

-“Oh, that’s different,” answered the good-natured Irishman, grinning.

-“That’s a matter of principle wid me, an’ me conscience would bother

-me if I didn’t do ut. You’re both ball players yerselves, an’ should

-realize that widout me havin’ to tell ye.”

-

-“I guess we know how you feel about it,” returned Jim, chuckling. “An

-umpire has to be kept in his place, or a ball player’s life would be

-harder than it is.”

-

-Larry stayed with them for some time before taking his departure.

-Joe and Jim then decided to go back to the manager’s hotel and find

-out what he intended to do in the matter of the gamblers and their

-high-handed proceedings.

-

-They found McRae in no very pleasant temper. He was pacing up and down

-the room, and his face wore the look that members of his team knew

-boded trouble for some one. He waved them to chairs, and then gave vent

-to his anger against the crooks who he believed were ruining baseball.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXVIII

-

-A COUNCIL OF WAR

-

-

-“This sort of thing has gone far enough!” exclaimed the Giants’

-manager, pounding on a table with his fist. “No bunch of tin-horn

-gamblers can play ducks and drakes with my ball team and get away with

-it. If their dirty plans had gone through, both Joe and Jim would have

-been out of the game for good, branded as crooks, and the Giant team

-would be so shot to pieces you’d need a vacuum cleaner to clear up the

-remains. I’m going to turn this thing over to the police right here and

-now,” and he started for a telephone in the corner of the room.

-

-“Easy there, Mac, easy,” warned Robson, who was also one of the party.

-“Take a little time to think this thing over before you go to making

-any bad breaks.”

-

-“What do you mean――bad breaks?” queried the fiery manager. “If somebody

-lifts your watch, is it a bad break to go to the police about it? What

-are the cops for, anyway?”

-

-“That’s all right, as far as the crooked gamblers are concerned,” said

-Robson. “But how about the crooked ball players we’ve got on the team

-right now? That’s a matter for organized baseball, more than for the

-police.”

-

-“The crooked ball players will get theirs to-morrow, don’t doubt that

-for a minute!” growled McRae. “I’ll settle their hash for good, but

-I don’t see yet why we can’t put the police on the track of the gang

-that captured my two pitchers. We know their hangouts now, and the cops

-ought to be able to round them up easily enough.”

-

-“Not a chance in the world,” said Robson, shaking his head. “You don’t

-suppose those birds will sit around in their nests and wait for the

-patrol wagon to come and get them, do you? I’ll bet any money that if

-you went to either of their hangouts right now you’d find them first

-cousins to the deserted village.”

-

-McRae thought a moment.

-

-“Well, I suppose you’re right,” he growled at last. “You always are,

-confound you! But if we don’t get the police in on this, what are we

-going to do? We can’t let this business go on unchecked, and not raise

-a finger to stop it, can we?”

-

-“Not by a long shot!” exclaimed Robson. “But it would be better to

-worry along almost any way to the end of the season than it would

-to get this scandal in the newspapers. It would leave a stain on

-organized baseball that it would be almost impossible to wipe out.

-Let’s keep what we know to ourselves for the time being, and see if we

-can’t find some better way of handling the problem.”

-

-“I’ll agree with you in that,” said McRae. “You’ll have to admit,

-though, that we can’t leave McCarney and Hupft to throw games for us

-at will. I’ll follow your advice as far as not publicly throwing them

-off the team goes, but I’m not going to have them play those important

-positions any more. The race is getting closer every day, and we can’t

-afford to take chances.”

-

-“Yes, you’re right there,” admitted Robson. “The trouble of it is, that

-we haven’t any good substitutes to put in their places.”

-

-“Even a rookie that’s honestly trying to do his best is better than

-the finest ball player in the world that’s trying to make mistakes,”

-McRae pointed out. “I’ll let them stay until they make some other bone

-play accidentally on purpose, and then I’ll have a good excuse to

-retire them to the bench. Maybe our rookies will do more than we hope

-for. I’ll leave it to your judgment which ones to put in when the time

-comes.”

-

-“But what are you going to do about that meeting at Bill Davendorp’s

-to-night, Mac?” asked Jim. “There will be a choice assortment of

-crooks there, including the ringleader of the crowd. I’d say, capture

-the whole bunch red-handed, if possible, even if we have to get the

-police in on it. I know that a public scandal will be a bad thing for

-baseball, but if this sort of thing keeps on there’s bound to be a big

-blow-up some time, anyway, and when it comes it may be a lot worse than

-at the present time.”

-

-“You told it, Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Round up the whole bunch and get it

-over with right away, is what I say. And nothing will please me more

-than to be in at the finish. I owe that crowd a thing or two, and I’m

-anxious to pay them off.”

-

-“They’re right, at that, Robson,” said McRae. “This looks like a golden

-opportunity, and we’d be foolish to miss it, it seems to me.”

-

-“Well, yes and no,” said Robson slowly. “As you say, it looks like the

-opportunity of a lifetime to round up the gang and put them out of

-business. But don’t you think we could do it quietly, without letting

-the police and newspapers in on the show? I want to see those fellows

-get their deserts, all right, but if there’s some way to do it without

-hurting the game I want to do it that way.”

-

-“Yes, yes,” said McRae, a trifle impatiently. “But what way is there?

-These men are desperate characters, and won’t submit tamely to be

-captured. If you’ve got a plan, tell us the details.”

-

-“There’s another thing we’ve got to consider,” pointed out Joe. “If

-we go easy we can probably find out what the plans of the fellows are.

-If we can find some way to listen in on them and learn what they’re up

-to, we’d have evidence that would put them out of harm’s way for a few

-years.”

-

-“That’s the idea, exactly,” said Robson approvingly. “That’s just

-about what I was going to say when you beat me to it, Matson. Get the

-evidence first, and then it will do some good to round them up. How

-does that sound to you, Mac?”

-

-“Why, all right, I suppose,” said the manager irascibly. “As long as

-we get that bunch of crooks behind bars, it doesn’t matter much to me

-what methods we use. But if we don’t let the police in on the game, how

-do you propose to capture the bunch? There’s apt to be a pretty lively

-scrap, and if anybody gets hurt, you and I will get the blame for it.”

-

-“Oh, well, we’re used to getting blamed for things that aren’t our

-fault,” said the genial trainer, with a touch of his usually cheerful

-philosophy. “You ought to be used to having the can tied to you by this

-time, Mac.”

-

-“You’re right enough there,” admitted the manager. “Let’s get down

-to brass tacks on this proposition, though. We haven’t got much time

-to make our plans, so we’d better get busy right away. Who’s got

-something to suggest?” and he looked inquiringly from one to the other.

-

-They were all silent for a few moments, as they thought of and rejected

-various plans. Of the four, Joe was the first to break the meditative

-silence.

-

-“I don’t imagine there will be very many in the gang at Davendorp’s

-to-night,” he said, speaking slowly. “Probably not more than fifteen

-altogether, if there’s that many. The rascals will know that they are

-in a bad position, due to having let Jim and me get away from them,

-and there won’t be any one but the ringleaders at the conference, it’s

-likely. It seems to me that if we got all the men on our team together

-and put the thing up to them, they’d all volunteer for the job. They’re

-as anxious as we are to clean up the game and throw out the crooked

-ones.”

-

-“It’s probably true, as you say, Matson, that only the leaders will

-be in at conference,” said Robson. “We know, though, that Davendorp’s

-place has a pretty shady reputation, and probably a lot of the

-gamblers’ hangers-on will be loafing about the place. I should say we’d

-need more men than the team can muster, to be on the safe side. We’ve

-got to count out McCarney and Hupft, and even with the rookies we would

-have only about fifteen men.”

-

-“Yes, but they all know how to handle themselves in a scrap,” said Jim.

-

-“That’s true enough. But we can’t afford to take chances,” said Robson,

-with the caution for which he was noted. “We ought to have five or six

-more, and the question is, where to get them.”

-

-“Before we go any further I’m going to get Hughson here, and we’ll have

-the benefit of his advice,” said McRae. “He’s in the city on business

-connected with his team. I still think this is a matter for the police,

-but if he sides with you fellows, I won’t put up any more opposition.

-This is a serious thing, and we don’t want to go rushing into it before

-we know we’re right.”

-

-“It won’t take long to get him here, I think,” said Robson. “He told

-me he was going to stay in this evening, so I think we can get hold of

-him right away. I think I know where I can find him, so I’ll give him a

-ring.”

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXIX

-

-WEAVING THE WEB

-

-

-Robson took the telephone and called a number. In a few seconds he

-heard the familiar voice of the veteran baseball man over the wire,

-and he explained that he and the manager wanted his advice. Hughson

-promised to join the council as soon as possible, and it was not

-fifteen minutes later that he was shown up to the room.

-

-“What’s going on here, anyway?” he asked, when he had exchanged

-greetings with the little group. “You all look as serious as the

-mourners at a funeral.”

-

-“It may end in a funeral for some one,” said McRae pessimistically.

-“Sit down, Hughson, and I’ll give you the facts in as few words as

-possible.”

-

-The manager sketched a brief outline of the happenings of the last

-few days and the project that they were considering for that evening.

-Hughson listened attentively, throwing in a terse question here and

-there, and when McRae finished he sat silent awhile, digesting the

-information that had been given him. McRae had not told him which plan

-he himself favored, so that the veteran baseball man could make his own

-decision.

-

-“I think that if we can keep this matter to ourselves, it will be a

-better thing for the game,” he said, at length. “If it gets out that

-McCarney and Hupft have been in league with the gamblers and have been

-trying to throw games, the fans will suspect every one of you, and if

-you should lose the pennant, you’d never make them believe in a hundred

-years that you hadn’t done it purposely. It seems to me, though, that

-it will be a difficult thing for us to get into Davendorp’s without

-being recognized and arousing suspicion.”

-

-“We’ll have to chance that,” said McRae. “If some of us are recognized,

-the gang will just think that we’re crooks too, and in the plot. But

-Robson thinks that we should have more men than the team can furnish,

-and we are up against it to know who to get.”

-

-“That shouldn’t be so hard,” said Hughson. “There are plenty of fans

-who think as highly of the game as we do, and want its good name

-preserved. There ought to be plenty of volunteers for a job like this.

-I have one or two friends who would go into it at the drop of a hat, if

-I asked them to.”

-

-“I could muster a few myself,” said McRae. “Probably the rest of us

-could too, for that matter.”

-

-“There are five of us here,” said Hughson. “Suppose each of us gets

-hold of two men that he knows can be relied upon, and explains the

-situation to them. If we can each get two, that will make ten extra

-men, and with all the fellows on the team, it will be enough, I should

-say. I don’t think any of them will try to back out.”

-

-“That plan sounds all right to me,” said McRae, and looked questioningly

-at the others.

-

-As it appealed to them in the same way, there was no further argument

-on that score, and after a little more discussion they had planned out

-the matter in every detail. Each of them was to get two volunteers, and

-bring them to McRae’s rooms as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the manager

-was to get hold of the players by telephone or messenger, arranging for

-them to meet him at a designated spot.

-

-They had to act quickly, for already the late summer dusk was closing

-in, and there was much to do in a short time. Of course, there was a

-chance that the rascals, frightened off by the escape of Jim and Joe,

-would not meet at all, but this was not very likely. They would have

-no reason to suspect that their trysting place was known, and in view

-of the mishaps of the day, might be even more desirous than before of

-getting together and concocting schemes for the future. Anyway, this

-was a chance that the Giants had to take, and even if the conspirators

-did not meet, the ball players would be out nothing but their time and

-trouble.

-

-Joe and Jim, of course, had hosts of friends and admirers, but they

-considered some time before picking out those that they intended to

-enlist in the cause of clean baseball. Finally they made their choice,

-and were fortunate in getting the consent of all of them without

-hesitation. They were young fellows, enthusiastic followers of the

-game, and hailed the chance of aiding it and at the same time entering

-into what promised to be an exciting adventure.

-

-Joe and Jim hired a taxicab, and in company with their friends rushed

-back to McRae’s hotel. They had not taken long, but Hughson was there

-before them, with two stalwart citizens who looked as though they could

-give a good account of themselves in a scrimmage. Robson and McRae had

-experienced no difficulty in getting their recruits, and the latter

-had also found time to get in touch with most of his players on the

-telephone.

-

-Such a summons naturally came as a big surprise to all of them, but

-they obeyed the call without hesitation and were all gathered at a

-northern entrance to Central Park when the manager arrived with Joe,

-Jim, Robson, Hughson, and their ten volunteers. Fortunately, they had

-all evaded reporters so far, and to the best of their knowledge no hint

-of their enterprise had leaked out.

-

-“Shure, an’ phwat’s the big idea, boss?” inquired Larry. “Is ut a ball

-game by moonlight you’re plannin’?”

-

-“No, nothing like that,” said McRae. “This is more serious,” and he was

-starting to explain the situation when the team caught sight of Jim.

-Every man tried to shake hands with him and question him at once, and

-it was a wonder that some policeman was not attracted by the noise.

-

-“I’ll tell you all about it, boys, some time when we’re not so rushed,”

-laughed Jim. “I’m here, and ready for anything, even if my hands are

-a little sore. But never mind me now, just listen to what the boss is

-trying to tell us.”

-

-They quieted down at this, and McRae told them briefly how matters

-stood and what he wanted them to do.

-

-“But there’s nothing compulsory about this, you know,” he finished.

-“Any man that doesn’t feel like going is at liberty to say so, and it

-won’t make any difference with me.”

-

-He looked inquiringly at the team, but there was not one who did not

-seem eager to undertake the adventure. McRae then proceeded to outline

-their plan of campaign.

-

-“We’ll drift into Davendorp’s place in twos and threes,” he said.

-“After we get there we’ll have to make our plans as we go along. But

-everybody keep his eyes and ears open, and I’ll pass the word around

-when it comes time for action. If any of you are recognized, as you’re

-practically certain to be, just say you dropped in to shoot a little

-pool, or some excuse that will sound plausible.

-

-“And one more thing. Before we start, I want every man here to pledge

-absolute secrecy about this business. We’re doing this to avoid a

-black mark against organized baseball, but if just one of us gets to

-whispering about it, all our trouble will be wasted.”

-

-All promised silence, and then they broke up into small groups and

-headed for Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors.

-

-

-

-

-CHAPTER XXX

-

-SAVING THE LEAGUE

-

-

-By twos and threes the party drifted toward Davendorp’s resort. It had

-at various times been a dance hall, a hotel, a police headquarters, and

-at all times a resort for crooked gamblers. It had an evil notoriety,

-but though it had been frequently raided in the attempt to put it out

-of business, it had always bobbed up again under a new proprietor but

-with the same old shady clientele.

-

-It was a rambling sort of structure, to which wings had been added

-at various times. The main floor was devoted to pool and billiards,

-and there were a large number of tables, for the place did a thriving

-business. There were few of the underworld who did not at some time or

-other frequent it.

-

-The second floor was a shabby restaurant and saloon, with scores of

-tables for drinkers and card-players. On the third floor was a dance

-hall, and the fourth was reserved for the use of the proprietor and the

-inner ring of the gambling clique where they could lay their plots in

-comparative seclusion.

-

-In the corner of this floor the largest room was located. There were

-several other rooms strung out in shambling fashion and more or less

-connected with each other, so as to afford facility for flight on the

-occasion of a raid.

-

-On the night in question the large room held an assortment of men of

-hard faces that would have graced any Rogues’ Gallery. Many of them in

-fact had already achieved that undesirable fame, and there were others

-whose admission had only been deferred.

-

-Joe and Jim were too well known to almost everybody in New York to

-venture into the place in their ordinary clothing and with their faces

-in full view. They would have been noticed at once, and their plans

-would have failed right then and there. They had secured, therefore,

-through one of the party who was an actor, some rough clothing and had

-had their faces touched up by his hand, so that, as he proudly said

-when he stood off and viewed his handiwork, their own mothers wouldn’t

-know them.

-

-The rest of the party were not so likely to attract attention among the

-large crowd with which they mingled, most of the members of which were

-so intent on their own amusements that they gave but fleeting attention

-to anything or any one else.

-

-For an hour or so the members of the volunteer posse mingled with

-the company, taking at times a part in the various activities of the

-resort, but always keeping within reach and sight of each other.

-Gradually they moved to the second floor and then to the third. Joe

-kept a sharp lookout to see if he could recognize any of the fellows

-who had held him in captivity.

-

-For some time his search was fruitless, but at last he caught a glimpse

-of one of the rascals slipping up to the fourth floor. He watched his

-opportunity, and as silently as a ghost made his way to the same floor.

-

-A hum of voices, rising so high at times that it seemed as if an

-altercation were going on, came from the corner room. On tiptoe Joe

-moved to the room adjoining. There was no light or sound coming from

-it, and after a moment Joe ventured to try the door. It opened, and,

-slipping in, he found that it had another door communicating with that

-in which the excited discussion was going on.

-

-In a moment Joe slipped down the stairs again. Going from one to

-the other of his party, he gave them the information he had gained

-and arranged for them to follow him as soon as possible and without

-attracting attention. Then he again moved up the stairs and took his

-post in the adjoining room, where he was soon joined by the others.

-

-Luck had favored them, for if there had been any lookout originally

-posted by the baseball gamblers he had been drawn into the room again

-to take part in the excited discussion.

-

-Scarcely daring to draw their breaths, the invaders listened to the

-debate.

-

-“You spilled the beans when you let Matson get away from you,” an angry

-voice was saying. “Why didn’t you make sure of him when you had him?”

-

-“Aw, cut out the beefing,” growled a sulky voice that Joe recognized

-as that of the fat leader of the gang. “I thought he might cave in and

-sign that paper and save us all further trouble.”

-

-“You thought!” sneered the other. “You might have known he wouldn’t.

-Now the two hundred thousand our gang have bet against the Giants is

-as good as lost. How about you other fellows?” he snarled. “You ought

-to have had a raft of chances to put him out of the game. What do you

-suppose we’re paying you for?”

-

-“We’ve done the best we could,” came a sullen voice that caused McRae

-and Robson to give a violent start, as they recognized it as belonging

-to McCarney. “We got Lemblow to come on and help us. He was only too

-glad to do it, for he thought it would give him a chance of breaking

-into the big league. He nearly got Matson when he pushed that pile of

-lumber over.”

-

-“And I nearly got his number with a lump of iron on the last Western

-trip,” came the voice of Reddy Hupft. “It came within an inch of

-cracking his skull.”

-

-“Excuses! Excuses!” snapped the angry boss. “I didn’t give you fellers

-ten thousand dollars apiece with a promise of more simply to listen to

-excuses. You’re a couple of false alarms, and if you don’t get busy

-it’ll be the worse for you. You can’t double cross me and get away with

-it.”

-

-“That’s enough,” whispered McRae to the group about him. “We’ve got the

-goods on them at last. Half of you go to the outside door, and when you

-hear us break through this door do the same to that.”

-

-They did as directed.

-

-There was a moment of tense expectation, and then with a rush McRae’s

-party dashed through the inner door. At the same instant the other half

-of the attacking party burst into the room from the hall.

-

-There were eight men in the room and they leaped to their feet in wild

-alarm at the sudden interruption. But before they could form any plan

-for defense the husky young invaders were upon them slugging them

-without mercy.

-

-The rascals fought back as best they could, but from the first they

-never had a chance. As Joe had surmised, most of them were the heads

-of the baseball gambling ring, bloated, overfed, corpulent rascals

-who could not stand for a moment before trained athletes. Had they

-anticipated trouble and had their hirelings with them, there might have

-been a semblance of a fight. But in their physical condition and with

-the odds two to one against them, they were simply a joke.

-

-Hupft and McCarney were the only ones capable of putting up a real

-fight, and they did their best. But Joe had singled out McCarney and

-Jim had tackled Hupft, and they joyously gave them the beating of their

-lives.

-

-It was a very battered group of rascals that in less than three minutes

-were huddled into a corner, while their captors crowded so closely

-about them that escape was impossible.

-

-“Now,” said McRae, whose own knuckles had done valiant work in the

-scrap, “we’ve got you fellows exactly where we want you. All of you

-ought to be sent up the river and put behind bars where the dogs can’t

-bite you. But I’m not going to turn you over to the police.”

-

-There was a stir of relief among the prisoners at this.

-

-“I’m going to stop your dirty schemes for once and for all where

-baseball is concerned,” went on McRae, producing a paper. “I got this

-ready this afternoon on the chance of copping you scoundrels to-night.

-And every one of you is going to sign it, or I’ll have you beaten to a

-frazzle on the spot.”

-

-While the rascals glared at him sullenly he read the paper. It

-acknowledged that the signers had kidnaped Joe and Jim; that they had

-hired thugs to do them great harm; that they had paid ball players to

-throw games; and that they had done these things to win large sums of

-money that they had bet against the Giants.

-

-The fat man who had been Joe’s captor started forward with a yell

-to protest, but Larry smashed him straight between the eyes and he

-staggered back, cowed and wilted.

-

-The object lesson was effective, and all of the rascals signed, except

-Hupft and McCarney, who were not required to affix their names.

-

-“Now,” said McRae, as he folded the signed document and put it in his

-pocket, “that puts a brand on the whole lot of you. The least move

-on your part and I’ll make this public and you’ll be in jail within

-twenty-four hours.

-

-“As for you traitors,” he added, turning to Hupft and McCarney, a look

-of utter contempt in his eyes, “there’s no need of telling you you’re

-fired. Your names are a stench in the nostrils of decent ball players,

-and I’ll see that you never play in the ranks of organized baseball

-again. You’re on the blacklist forever. And I’ll see that Lemblow gets

-the same medicine. Now go while the going’s good.”

-

-They slunk out, and none of the Giants ever saw their faces again.

-

-“Now we’ve done our work and we’re going,” concluded McRae, as he

-turned to the crooked baseball gamblers. “Remember, one word from you,

-one dirty trick, and it will be curtains for you.”

-

-They left the debased and discomfited rascals and filed out into the

-night.

-

-“A good night’s work, boys,” were McRae’s last words, as he bade

-good-night to the party. “We’ve saved the league!”

-

-       *       *       *       *       *

-

-It was a jubilant, rejuvenated Joe that occupied the box the next day

-and pitched the Giants to victory over the Brooklyns. Not only did he

-shut out the boys from over the bridge, but clouted two of the longest

-homers that had ever come from his bat. The rest of the Giant team,

-with two rookies in place of Hupft and McCarney, played behind him

-like the stars they were, and the newcomers more than held their own.

-Altogether it was a great day for the Giants and started them anew on

-the road to the championship which they were destined to win that year

-as they had the year before.

-

-But it was a still greater day for Joe, for in a box as witness of his

-glorious victory was Mabel――Mabel who had come on with Reggie that

-morning to surprise him. The applause of the crowds was dear to him;

-the congratulations of his team mates were dearer still. But none of

-these compared with the joy that thrilled him at the words that fell

-from the lips of Mabel as he approached the box where she sat, flushed

-and sweet as a rose, looking at him with all her soul in her eyes.

-

-“I am _so_ proud of you, Joe,” she said. “So proud!”

-

-

-THE END

-

-

-

-

- Transcriber’s Notes:

-

- ――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in

-   bold by “equal” signs (=bold=).

-

- ――Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.

-

- ――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.

-

- ――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-End of Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick

-

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+Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world 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.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: Baseball Joe Saving the League
+       or, Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy
+
+Author: Lester Chadwick
+
+Release Date: March 31, 2019 [EBook #59169]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: HE ROUNDED THE BAG ON HIS WAY TO SECOND]
+
+
+
+
+                             Baseball Joe
+                           Saving the League
+
+                                  OR
+
+                    Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy
+
+
+                         _By_ LESTER CHADWICK
+
+                               Author of
+           “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE
+               AROUND THE WORLD,” “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
+  BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE
+
+
+=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, 1923, by
+                        CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY
+
+                   =Baseball Joe Saving the League=
+
+                          Printed in U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+ CHAPTER                           PAGE
+      I A SUDDEN CRASH                1
+     II CROOKED WORK                 14
+    III UNDER COVER                  25
+     IV LINING IT OUT                35
+      V PLAYING THE GAME             48
+     VI A HILARIOUS WELCOME          54
+    VII GROWING BEWILDERMENT         61
+   VIII A BLACK CONSPIRACY           66
+     IX THE TELLTALE PHOTOGRAPH      75
+      X WONDERFUL WORK               84
+     XI ON THE TRAIL                 90
+    XII THE POLICE RAID              96
+   XIII KEEPING IT CLOSE            105
+    XIV A NO-HIT GAME               112
+     XV THE STARTLING TELEGRAM      124
+    XVI REGGIE TO THE RESCUE        132
+   XVII SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE      140
+  XVIII THICKENING CLOUDS           148
+    XIX A FURIOUS FIGHT             156
+     XX TAKEN CAPTIVE               164
+    XXI AIR-TIGHT PITCHING          173
+   XXII JIM PUTS ONE OVER           180
+  XXIII A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE      189
+   XXIV THE ESCAPE                  198
+    XXV DOWN THE ROPE               205
+   XXVI SCATTERING THE RASCALS      212
+  XXVII LARRY HAS HIS SAY           219
+ XXVIII A COUNCIL OF WAR            227
+   XXIX WEAVING THE WEB             234
+    XXX SAVING THE LEAGUE           240
+
+
+
+
+BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A SUDDEN CRASH
+
+
+“How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of
+the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the
+same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in
+either league.
+
+“Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American
+fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm
+and swung it around and around as though he were winding up. “Feels
+as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box
+yesterday.”
+
+“It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time
+yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim
+admiringly.
+
+“It was a hard game, sure enough,” admitted Joe. “Those fellows are
+tough birds, anyway, and always dangerous, especially when they stack
+up against the Giants. They had their batting clothes on yesterday,
+too, and were out for blood from the ring of the bell. Two or three
+times they had me in the hole, and it was only luck that we turned them
+back without a run.”
+
+“Luck, nothing!” exclaimed Jim warmly. “It was because you tightened up
+at the critical moments and stood them on their heads. You gave them a
+sample of the kind of pitching that won the last World Series for us
+against the Yanks.”
+
+“Put it down to the kind of support I got from the rest of the team,”
+said Joe modestly. “Some of the catches that Wheeler and Curry made
+were nothing less than highway robberies. That swipe by Zach Treat in
+the third inning had all the labels of a home run, and it was one of
+the niftiest bits of playing I’ve ever seen when Curry picked it off
+the fence.”
+
+“It was a whale of a catch all right,” Jim conceded. “But to offset
+that there was some rotten playing in the infield. McCarney at third
+acted as though his fingers were all thumbs. Twice he fell down on easy
+ones, and that high throw over Burkett’s head in the seventh let Ryan
+leg it all the way to third. It was only that snappy double play that
+Iredell engineered that kept us from being scored on in that inning.”
+
+“McCarney did have a bad day,” admitted Joe. “Hupft, too, let a ball
+get by him that went for two bases when he ran in to make a catch of
+Milton’s hit that he ought to have waited for on the bound. He might
+have seen that he couldn’t make it.”
+
+“I can’t quite make out those fellows,” said Jim thoughtfully. “When we
+got them on that trade with St. Louis, I thought they were going to be
+towers of strength to the team. They had a good record last year both
+in fielding and batting, and they certainly played like fiends in the
+spring-training practice. But since the regular season opened I haven’t
+known what to make of them. One day they’ll play like stars and the
+next you’d think they were a couple of bushers.”
+
+“You’re right about that,” agreed Joe. “But it isn’t that which gives
+me food for thought, Jim. Ball players are like race horses. One day
+they race like stake winners and the next they’re simply selling
+platers. There isn’t one of us that doesn’t sometimes have an off day.
+But the off days of Hupft and McCarney are different, somehow. There
+seems to be a kind of method in their offness.”
+
+“What do you mean by that?” asked Jim, with quickened interest. “Do you
+think they’re not loyal to the team?”
+
+“Why, I shouldn’t want to think that about anybody unless I had the
+goods on him,” answered Joe evasively. “Let’s hurry up now and get
+back. We’ve walked further than we intended to, and I want to get in a
+little practice this morning to keep my wing in condition.”
+
+The two chums had been strolling along in the parklike section of upper
+New York, at no great distance from the Polo Grounds. The time was a
+day in late spring, and there was just enough coolness in the air to
+make a walk delightful.
+
+Both of them were trained athletes, tall, muscular, and in the pink
+of condition. Perfect health and abounding vitality showed in the
+springiness of their steps and the easy swing of their shoulders as
+they walked along at a rapid pace.
+
+They had reported for duty at the appointed time that season in the
+training camp at San Antonio, Texas. During the winter they had kept
+themselves fit and hard, and even at the beginning of practice had
+shown that they were fit to fight for a man’s life. In both pitching
+and fielding they had been doing wonders, and when at last the bell
+rang for the beginning of the regular championship season they had
+never been in better form. Joe showed that his arm was the same mighty
+weapon that had struck fear into opposing batsmen the preceding year.
+In batting, too, he was knocking out homers with gratifying regularity.
+Jim, too, who now stood next to Joe as the most reliable flinger on
+the Giants’ staff, was playing the game of his life in the box. It was
+largely owing to the work of these two that the Giants stood up in the
+front rank of the competing clubs. The prophecy was, already, that they
+would win the championship, as they had won it the preceding year.
+
+“Come now, Joe,” coaxed Jim, as they drew near the family hotel where
+they were staying at the time, and which they had chosen for its
+proximity to the Polo Grounds. “Don’t go so far as you have without
+coming across with whatever’s on your chest. I’ve noticed for some time
+past that you were acting as though you had something on your mind.”
+
+“Nothing much except my hat, I guess,” remarked Joe, with a laugh that,
+however, did not sound very genuine.
+
+“Yes, you have,” Jim pressed him. “Something’s worrying you. I haven’t
+been with you so long, old boy, without being able to read your moods.
+A few weeks ago you were kicking up your heels like a colt let out to
+pasture. Lately you seem at times to be brooding over something. More
+than once when I’ve spoken to you you haven’t seemed to hear me. What’s
+bothering you? Out with it!”
+
+“Well,” said Joe, after a moment’s thought, “I suppose I might as well
+tell you. You’re the best friend I have on earth and there isn’t
+anybody else that I’d breathe a word to about it.”
+
+“Count on me, old boy, to be as silent as the grave,” asseverated Jim.
+
+“You were speaking about McCarney and Hupft and the off days they
+seemed to have in their playing,” said Joe slowly. “Well, have you ever
+happened to notice that most of those off days have been when I was
+pitching?”
+
+“By Jove, I hadn’t!” replied Jim, as his mind ran rapidly over some of
+the more recent games. “But now you speak of it, I can remember several
+times when they fell down badly when you were in the box. Yesterday
+was a case in point. I remember, too, that game with the Bostons when
+McCarney made three errors. And then there was that Philly game when
+you had them eating out of your hand and yet came within an ace of
+losing because of two boob plays by Hupft in center.”
+
+“Yes, that’s what you can remember offhand,” replied Joe. “But I’ve
+made a study of it and I could point out three or four other games
+when their work seemed queer. On the other hand, when the rest of the
+staff are pitching you couldn’t ask for much better support than they
+give. Now, once or twice wouldn’t mean anything. One swallow, or even
+two, doesn’t make a summer. But when it occurs so often, with me chosen
+as the goat, don’t you think there’s something more in it than mere
+coincidence?”
+
+“I certainly do,” agreed Jim. “Gee, Joe, you’ve knocked me all in a
+heap! What do you think it means? Have you had any words with them?”
+
+“None at all,” replied Joe. “In fact, I’ve tried to be especially nice
+to them, chiefly because they came from St. Louis, which, as you know,
+was my old team. I’ve gone out of my way to be friendly. But they’ve
+never thawed out, and lots of times when I’ve been going past them
+they’ve shut up as if they’d been talking about me and only resumed
+again after I got out of earshot. But there’s something more than that.
+
+“Do you remember the game we played with Pittsburgh when I came near
+to having my head knocked off by that throw from short center to the
+plate? The ball whizzed past my ear with the force of a bullet. If it
+had hit me, it would have been good night for yours truly.”
+
+“I remember,” replied Jim. “I was sitting near McRae on the bench in
+the dugout, and the old boy went white as he saw what a narrow escape
+you had.”
+
+“Well, then, do you remember who it was that threw that ball?”
+
+“Reddy Hupft!” exclaimed Jim. “He came in from center and got the ball
+only a little way back of second base. Then he threw to the plate to
+get Reilly, who was coming in from third.”
+
+“Yes,” said Joe. “And you know that throwing to the plate is his long
+suit. But that day it didn’t go to the plate. I had run out of the way
+so that he could have a clear field, and the ball followed me. It was
+altogether out of Mylert’s reach, and the runner scored. It was marked
+up against Hupft as an error.”
+
+“Great Scott!” cried Jim aghast. “Do you mean that he tried to injure
+you?”
+
+“I’m not saying anything,” replied Joe. “I’m just stating the cold
+facts. One thing more. In that game with Cincinnati last week you
+remember that I knocked out a homer in the ninth. At least I thought
+it was a homer. It had gone down to the fence, and I was nearly at
+third when Gallagher got his hands on the ball. I knew I could make the
+plate, but just as I was rounding third, McCarney, who was coaching at
+that corner, got in my way and I went down, heels over head. It was
+just by an eyelash that I was able to get to my feet and scramble back
+to third before the ball got there.”
+
+“I remember that Robbie gave him a good ragging for his clumsiness,”
+remarked Jim.
+
+“Clumsiness!” repeated Joe, dwelling significantly on the word. “If
+ever a man was deliberately tripped, I was that man. I felt his spikes
+as I went down. Going at the pace I was, I might have broken my leg or
+my neck. As it was, my ankle was sore for days.”
+
+“The skunks!” cried Jim, seething with rage that had been steadily
+growing as one after another of these facts was brought to his
+attention. “They ought to be blacklisted and put out of the league
+forever. You ought to expose them.”
+
+“No, that’s just what I don’t want to do,” objected Joe slowly. “Give
+a rascal rope enough and he’ll hang himself. In the first place, while
+I’m pretty well convinced in my own mind that all these things were
+done deliberately, I might not be able to convince others beyond a
+reasonable doubt. Of course they would be explained away by the men
+themselves as accidents, and there would be many who would believe them.
+
+“Then, too, I’m thinking of the good of the game. You know what a black
+eye baseball got when that White Sox conspiracy to throw games came to
+light. For a time it looked as though it might mean the death of the
+game. Luckily, it didn’t have that result, for the bulk of the public
+know what you and I know, that as a general thing baseball is as clean
+as a hound’s tooth――the whitest game of all American sports, except
+perhaps football. For forty years there hadn’t been a breath against
+it. But at last that sickening White Sox scandal showed that once in
+a blue moon certain ball players were weak enough or foul enough to
+betray their teams, their employers and the public.
+
+“That one lapse, that one black spot on the splendid record of the
+game, the public has forgiven in justice to the thousands of players
+that would cut off their right hands rather than not play the game
+fairly and squarely for all that is in them. The fans have wiped that
+off the slate. But don’t you see that if anything else of the kind
+should break out now it might kill the game beyond recovery?”
+
+“Sure thing,” assented Jim. “But at the same time I don’t see why you
+should let those fellows get away with it when perhaps your life might
+pay the penalty. It’s all right to think of the good of the game,
+but there’s a duty you owe to yourself and to others――to Mabel for
+instance.”
+
+“Yes, I’ve thought of all that,” said Joe, a look coming into his eyes
+at the mention of Mabel’s name that she would have been glad to see.
+“Don’t think for a minute that I’m going to be a martyr or anything
+like that. I’m not built that way. If those fellows are really out to
+do me, they’ll find before long that they have met their match. You
+know how many times rascals have tried to get the best of me and what’s
+happened to them. They’ve doped my coffee, they’ve tried to kidnap me,
+to smirch my reputation, and more than once they’ve tried to cripple
+or kill me. But they’ve never been able to put it over, and I’ve come
+out on top every time. And I’ve got a hunch that this present plot, if
+it really is a plot, is going to be knocked out like the others.
+
+“But it’s going to be done on the quiet. They’ll get all that’s coming
+to them, but if I can help it the public won’t get wise to just what it
+is that’s put them down and out. Understand?”
+
+“I get you, old boy,” returned Jim. “If they succeed in their dirty
+work, they’ll be the first that ever turned the trick on Baseball Joe.
+Count on me to stand right by you.”
+
+“I can always do that,” replied Joe warmly. “You’re always there when
+it comes to the showdown. But let’s put the matter out of our mind for
+the present. Here we are at the hotel. Let’s go out into the lot at the
+back and have a little pitching practice. I want to try out the hop on
+the ball that I’ve been developing this last week or two.”
+
+“I saw you used it two or three times yesterday,” said Jim. “It’s a
+winner, all right. The boys from over the bridge didn’t know what to
+make of it. They were hitting inches under it.”
+
+“I shan’t be satisfied until they are hitting a foot under it,” laughed
+Joe, as they went into the house.
+
+It was the work of only a moment to throw off their coats and don
+sweaters. Then they picked a ball from their collection and adjourned
+to the large open space back of the hotel that gave them abundant room
+for practice.
+
+Their temporary home was in a rapidly growing section, and all about
+them were buildings in various stages of construction. One of these was
+on the adjoining plot of ground. The work on this building had been
+temporarily stopped because of some business trouble of the builder,
+but there were large piles of building material heaped on the second
+floor and on the scaffolding that ran along the side of the building.
+
+For some time Joe and Jim pitched back and forth to each other,
+starting slowly, but gradually working out their arms until they were
+going under a full head of steam.
+
+Jim uncorked a wild one that Joe leaped for but was unable to reach.
+The ball was going with such momentum that it rolled a considerable
+distance before Joe finally retrieved it.
+
+“What do you think I am, an outfielder?” queried Joe, in mock reproach.
+
+“Too bad, old man,” laughed Jim. “But I’ve got it out of my system now
+and I won’t do it again.”
+
+“That’s what they all say,” remarked Joe, with a grin. “But ‘once
+bitten, twice shy,’ and I guess I’ll hunt up a backstop.”
+
+He looked around and found what he wanted in the side of the house that
+was being built next door.
+
+“Now you can be as wild as a hawk if you want to,” he laughed. “This
+house must be of pretty punk material if it lets the ball go through
+it.”
+
+There was no chance to prove whether it would or not, for Jim steadied
+down and kept the ball within his comrade’s reach. For perhaps ten
+minutes more they tried out their assortment of curves and slants.
+Suddenly a look of alarm came into Jim’s face.
+
+“Look out, Joe!” he yelled. “Look out! Jump! Quick!”
+
+The words had barely left his lips when, with a terrific crash a pile
+of lumber came tumbling down from the scaffold directly on the spot
+where Joe had been standing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+CROOKED WORK
+
+
+Quick as a panther, Joe had leaped at his friend’s shout of warning.
+
+Not so quickly, however, as wholly to escape injury. Two of the falling
+boards struck him a glancing blow on legs and arms and threw him to the
+ground.
+
+Jim was at his side in a second and pulled him to his feet.
+
+“Are you hurt, Joe?” he cried, frantic with alarm.
+
+“Nothing to speak of, I guess,” replied Joe, as he steadied himself and
+found to his infinite relief that his legs held firm under him. “A few
+bruises and scratches, but nothing worse. It was a close shave though.
+I’d have been a dead man if that pile had caught me full and square.”
+
+The sleeve of his left arm was torn, and there was a slight cut near
+the shoulder from which the blood was oozing. This, however, apart from
+bruises, was the extent of his injuries.
+
+“Lucky it wasn’t my pitching arm,” he remarked. “That would have been
+hard luck. Hello, Jim, where are you going?”
+
+This last ejaculation was caused by Jim’s action in leaving his side
+and rushing round to the front of the half-built house from the
+scaffold of which the lumber had fallen.
+
+Jim did not stop to make reply, but scurried as fast as he could to the
+street in front of the house. It was deserted, except for a solitary
+figure that had already covered a large part of the distance to the
+next corner. The man was not in overalls and did not look like a
+workman.
+
+Jim hallooed to him and the man looked back. But instead of stopping he
+broke into a run.
+
+In a moment Jim was after him like a hare. But the man was now near the
+corner, and by the speed he put on showed that he was no mean runner
+himself. He reached the corner just as a trolley car, going at a rapid
+rate, came dashing down the side street.
+
+With a recklessness that might have cost him his life, the man made a
+jump for the rear platform, clutching the rail with his extended hand.
+The shock seemed as though it might have wrenched his arm from its
+socket. But he held on desperately, and finally drew himself up on the
+platform and entered the car.
+
+By the time Jim reached the corner the car was a block away.
+Jim shouted and waved his hands, but the conductor was inside,
+expostulating with his passenger for the risk he had taken, and did not
+see or hear him.
+
+The case was hopeless, and Jim, inwardly raging, gave up the chase and
+retraced his steps. Joe, who had come to the front of the house to see
+what had caused Jim’s sudden departure, came forward to meet him.
+
+“What’s the big idea?” Joe asked, in some wonderment.
+
+“The idea,” panted Jim wrathfully, “is that I came near getting my
+hands on a big rascal and just missed doing it.”
+
+“A rascal?” exclaimed Joe.
+
+“That’s what I said,” replied Jim. “Come to the back of the house and
+I’ll show you what I mean.”
+
+“All right, Jim.”
+
+“You thought,” said Jim, “that when that pile of lumber came down it
+was an accident. So did I at first. I thought the scaffold had given
+way under the weight. But when I glanced at it I saw, as you can see
+now, that the scaffold hadn’t broken.”
+
+Joe looked and saw that Jim was right.
+
+“You mean――” he began slowly.
+
+“I mean,” said Jim, “that somebody pushed that lumber over the edge of
+the scaffold. And whoever that somebody was, he meant that the falling
+lumber should cripple you.”
+
+Joe looked at his chum with rage and horror dawning in his eyes. And
+while the full meaning of the dastardly act was sinking into his mind,
+it may be well for the benefit of those who have not read the preceding
+volumes of this series to leave him and his chum for a moment and tell
+who Joe was and by what steps he had reached his present position as
+the greatest pitcher that baseball had ever known.
+
+Joe Matson’s first experience on the diamond was gained in the little
+town of Riverside in a Middle Western State, where he had been born
+and brought up. From early boyhood he had loved the game and displayed
+a natural aptitude for pitching. His success in this restricted field
+soon made him known as one of the best amateur boxmen of his own and
+surrounding towns. His early exploits and the difficulties he had to
+overcome are narrated in the first volume of this series, entitled:
+“Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars; Or, the Rivals of Riverside.”
+
+In the second volume, “Baseball Joe on the School Nine,” can be noted
+the steady progress he was making in pitching skill. The bully of the
+school did all he could to throw obstacles in his way. But Joe throve
+on opposition and his grit first won and then increased his reputation.
+
+When, a little later, he went to Yale, he found a larger field for his
+prowess in the box. It is a hard thing for a newcomer to break into
+the ranks of the veteran upper classmen who have gained glory in the
+athletic field. But by a singular chance Joe found his opportunity
+when the “Princeton Tiger came down to put some kinks in the Bulldog’s
+tail.” It was a sadly bedraggled Tiger, however, that went back to his
+lair when Joe had got through with him and had chalked up a glorious
+victory for Yale.
+
+But Joe, although he stood well in his studies, was not altogether
+happy at the great university. His mother wanted him to study for the
+ministry, but Joe, although he respected that noble profession, felt
+too strongly the call to the outdoor life. He felt that he had it in
+him to make good in the ranks of professional baseball, and finally
+gained his mother’s reluctant consent to make the venture. His chance
+came when a minor league manager, who had been struck with his work in
+the game with Princeton, made him an offer. Joe promptly accepted, and
+it was not long before his manager learned that he had drawn a prize in
+getting a man on his team who had all the earmarks of a star. How Joe
+began to climb in professional baseball is told in the fourth volume of
+the series, entitled: “Baseball Joe in the Central League.”
+
+In these days of keen-eyed scouts no player can long hide his light
+under a bushel, and before long Joe, to his great delight, was
+drafted by the St. Louis team of the National League and ceased to be
+a “busher.” Here he was brought into competition with the greatest
+players of the game, and it soon became apparent that he could hold his
+own with any of them.
+
+No one realized this sooner than McRae, the famous manager of the New
+York Giants. Several books of this series are devoted to his exciting
+experiences with this great team, of which he was still the mainstay
+when this volume opens. It was his magnificent work in the box that won
+for the Giants the championship of the National League and carried them
+to victory in several World Series with the champions of the American
+League. After one of his greatest years he went with the team on a
+tour about the world, in the course of which he had many hazardous and
+thrilling adventures.
+
+During this time he was not only showing phenomenal skill as a pitcher,
+but was rapidly growing in repute as a batsman. He was a natural
+hitter, timing and meeting the ball perfectly and landing on it so
+hard that it sought the farthest corner of the field. Before long the
+fans began to crowd the grounds not only to see a ball game but to
+“see Matson knock out another homer.” How his batting and pitching
+combined made him a national baseball idol is narrated in the preceding
+volume of this series, entitled: “Baseball Joe, Home Run King; Or, the
+Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record.”
+
+But Joe had also won another victory that he prized above all his
+baseball triumphs. He had met and fallen in love with Mabel Varley, a
+charming girl whom he had met under romantic circumstances near her
+home at Goldsboro, North Carolina. The course of true love did not run
+altogether smoothly in his case more than in others, but all attempts
+to part them had been triumphantly overcome and at the close of the
+previous season on the diamond, Joe and Mabel had been married. Joe
+esteemed himself the happiest and luckiest of men.
+
+Joe had as his closest friend, Jim Barclay, a Princeton graduate who
+had entered the ranks of organized baseball and joined the Giants as a
+“rookie.” Joe had taken to him at once and they were speedily on the
+best of terms. Jim had a great deal of pitching ability, and under the
+careful tutelage of Joe he had blossomed out into a regular member of
+the pitching staff. At the present time he stood only second to Joe
+himself as a twirler, and bade fair to become one of the great stars of
+the game.
+
+Jim had met Joe’s sister Clara when the latter had come on to see her
+brother pitch in one of the World Series games and had lost his heart
+at once. She, for her part, had at once conceived a marked admiration
+for the stalwart, handsome friend of her brother, and this had soon
+ripened into a deeper feeling. So that when Jim the year before had
+asked her the momentous question he had got the answer he craved, and
+their marriage was to take place as soon as the playing season was over.
+
+Now to return to the two chums as they stood beside the pile of lumber
+that a few minutes before had so nearly caused the death of one of them.
+
+“You see then, Jim, that my hunch was right and that what I said to you
+a little while ago wasn’t imagination,” said Joe.
+
+“Some one is out to do you, for a fact,” assented Jim soberly. “And all
+I ask is that I may get my hands on him for five minutes. Just five
+little minutes! I’d make him wish he’d never been born!”
+
+“That fellow you were chasing must have been the one who did it,”
+ruminated Joe. “Did you get a good glimpse of him? Had you ever seen
+him before?”
+
+“Not that I know of,” replied Jim. “It certainly wasn’t either Hupft
+or McCarney, or I should have recognized him at a glance. But that
+doesn’t say that he mightn’t have been a tool of theirs. At any rate,
+you can be sure that he was the man that actually pushed over that pile
+of boards. His very running was a confession of guilt. And, by the way
+he ran, I shouldn’t wonder if he were a ball player himself. I’m not so
+slow myself, but he almost held his own. What a bit of bad luck it was
+that that trolley came along just at that minute.”
+
+“What did he look like?” asked Joe. “Was there anything you could
+identify him by if you should happen to meet him again?”
+
+“Well,” said Jim, cudgeling his memory, “I could see that his hair
+was light and that his ears stuck out more than most men’s. But I
+suppose there are ten thousand men in New York that would answer that
+description. He didn’t look like a workman and he didn’t have overalls
+on.”
+
+“How did he happen to be Johnny on the spot, I wonder,” mused Joe. “Do
+you suppose he’s been following us this morning?”
+
+“Hardly likely,” conjectured Jim. “What is more probable is that he
+knew that we were in the habit of practicing in this particular spot.
+It hasn’t been any secret, and more than once in the clubhouse I’ve
+mentioned what a dandy place we had for morning pitching practice. That
+probably led the plotters to reconnoiter about this neighborhood and
+get the lay of the land. The scaffold and the pile of lumber carried
+their own suggestion. Work on the building has stopped, and there’s
+nothing to prevent anybody lurking in the place ready to take advantage
+of any chance that might offer itself. Perhaps that fellow has been
+hiding in there every day for a week, figuring that some time in the
+natural order of things you’d be standing near that scaffold. And that
+he didn’t calculate wrongly is shown by what happened this morning.”
+
+“It was an infernal scheme all right,” said Joe. “A cunning one, too.
+If that stuff had really landed on me, it would have been put down as
+an accident, and no one would ever have been the wiser.”
+
+“Well,” remarked Jim, “a miss is as good as a mile and some good
+Providence must have been watching over you this morning. But it gives
+you a desperate feeling to realize that enemies are working against you
+in the dark and that you have no way of forcing them into the open.”
+
+“They’ll overreach themselves yet,” declared Joe confidently. “There
+never yet was a crook that didn’t give himself away at some time or
+other. In one way I’m glad this happened. It makes a certainty of what
+before had been only a probability. Now we know that somebody is trying
+to down me, and it will put us doubly on our guard. But of course I
+needn’t tell you, Jim, that Mabel and Clara must never hear a word of
+this. It would simply drive them crazy with worry.”
+
+“Trust me,” replied Jim. “We’ll keep this up our sleeves and tell them
+nothing about it until we’ve squelched the rascals who have been trying
+to get your number. And even then I guess we’d better keep mum. What
+they don’t know won’t hurt them.”
+
+“Righto,” assented Joe. “But now I guess we’d better have our lunch and
+get ready for the game. We won’t have any more time than we need to
+reach the grounds.”
+
+“I’m just as glad that it isn’t the turn of either of us to pitch
+to-day,” commented Jim. “I guess we’re both a bit too shaken up to be
+in our best form. But if my arm is idle to-day my eyes won’t be, and
+you can bet that from this time on I’ll watch Hupft and McCarney like a
+hawk.”
+
+“Same here,” responded Joe grimly. “And if I get the goods on them, may
+heaven have mercy on them――for I won’t!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+UNDER COVER
+
+
+Joe and Jim ate their lunch that day in a little more thoughtful mood
+than usual, and that mood still persisted as they prepared to go to the
+grounds.
+
+But the ten minutes of brisk walking in the bracing air soon dissipated
+the somber shadow that had tried to settle down upon them. They were
+young and vital, the blood coursed strongly through their veins, and
+they were soon feeling the sheer joy of living that was natural to them.
+
+And this feeling grew stronger as they drew near the Polo Grounds.
+That famous park held a strong place in their affections. It was the
+visible symbol of their profession, the place where they had won their
+spurs, where they had gained glorious victories that thrilled them
+to the marrow as they recalled them, where they had fought memorable
+battles in which every particle of their strength and manhood had been
+called into play, where they had listened to the plaudits of cheering
+thousands who had lauded them to the skies when they had pulled some
+hotly contested game out of the fire.
+
+Soon they were in the midst of the procession that even at that early
+hour was wending its way towards the gates. It was not long before
+they were recognized, and admiring comments began to pass from one to
+another of the crowd.
+
+“That’s Baseball Joe, the king of them all.”
+
+“Did you see the game he pitched against the Brooklyns yesterday? It
+was a corker, all right.”
+
+“Trust him to show those bimbos from over the bridge where they get
+off.”
+
+“And that fellow with him is Barclay. There’s nothing slow about him,
+either. Has been going great guns all the season.”
+
+“If they only had two more like them the pennant would be cinched
+already. The Giants would win in a walk.”
+
+Joe and Jim would not have been human if such comments had not pleased
+them. But they were used to hero worship, and, as the crowd began to
+close in upon them and hinder their progress, they were glad enough
+when they reached the players’ gate and could slip into the grounds.
+
+Some of the players had preceded them to the clubhouse and were already
+getting into their uniforms, and the newcomers speedily followed their
+example.
+
+“What’s the matter with your arm, Joe?” asked Larry Barrett, the second
+baseman, “Laughing Larry,” as he was called because of his jolly
+disposition. “It’s all cut and bruised. Been in a fight?”
+
+“Nothing like that,” replied Joe, making haste to cover the injured
+member. “Had a tumble this morning and that arm got the brunt of it.
+Little bit sore yet, but it will be all right by to-morrow.”
+
+“Well, for the love of Pete, don’t have any more such tumbles,”
+implored Larry. “It might catch your pitching arm next time. And if
+anything happened to that wing of yours the Giants would be in the
+soup.”
+
+“They’d get out of it again,” countered Joe. “The Giants are too great
+a team to be dependent on one man. McRae would simply have to look
+around for another pitcher.”
+
+“Sure!” said Larry sarcastically. “Just as simple as that! Look around
+for another pitcher! There are plenty of pitchers such as they are, but
+there’s only one Matson.”
+
+“And that’s no lie,” broke in Curry, the star left fielder of the team.
+“Many’s the time, old boy, that you’ve carried the whole team on your
+back. And now that Hughson’s gone we’ll have to rely on you more than
+ever if we’re to have a look in for the flag.”
+
+“Good old Hughson,” murmured Joe regretfully. “It won’t seem like the
+old team without him. I only hope he’ll prove as great a manager as he
+was a pitcher.”
+
+There were murmurs of assent to this from all about him, for Hughson
+had been a favorite with every member of the team, as indeed he had
+been with players and fans all over the United States.
+
+For many years before Joe had broken into baseball, Hughson had stood
+for all that was best and greatest in the game. For more than ten
+years he had been recognized as the finest pitcher on the diamond.
+Again and again he had led the Giants to the championship. He had
+everything that a pitcher should have――speed, curves, slants, drops, in
+bewildering variety and profusion. The very fact that he was slated to
+pitch against a team was almost enough for that team to count the day
+lost. It was not merely the skill and strength of his pitching arm that
+inspired terror in his opponents. Still more formidable was the head
+set on his sturdy shoulders. He could outguess the batsman in a way
+that seemed almost uncanny. He mixed brains with his work, saving his
+strength when he could, letting the eight men behind him do their share
+of the work. But when the pinch came, he tightened up, and usually it
+was all over but the shouting.
+
+Add to this phenomenal skill that he was a gentleman, on and off the
+diamond, genial, kindly, always playing fair, an honor and an ornament
+to the national game, and it was not hard to understand his wonderful
+popularity.
+
+Joe had especial reason for the warm feeling with which he regarded
+Hughson. The latter had greeted him cordially when he first came to
+the Giant team. He had realized the marvelous skill with which Joe was
+endowed and he knew that the time might come when he would take his own
+crown as the greatest pitcher of the game. Yet there was no trace of
+jealousy or apprehension in his treatment of the newcomer. He coached
+him, corrected his faults, brought out his strong points and taught him
+all that he knew himself, not omitting the secret of the “fadeaway”
+ball that had made him famous. He and Joe had become and always
+remained the warmest of friends.
+
+An automobile crash in which Hughson had been caught had injured his
+pitching arm, and despite an extended course of treatment its magic had
+gone forever. Even after that misfortune, however, he had remained with
+the Giants for two seasons. But he was not the Hughson of old. He was
+able to get by in many games by favoring his arm and depending chiefly
+on headwork.
+
+Now he had left the team with which he had been identified for so many
+years and accepted the position of manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The
+best wishes of all the Giant team had gone with him. Already under his
+management the Reds were improving and seemed to be facing the best
+season they had had in years.
+
+Only the week before the Cincinnatis had played the Giants on the
+occasion of the first invasion of the Western clubs――played, too, with
+such vim and spirit that the best the Giants could do was to break even
+on the series.
+
+“Yes, the loss of Hughson has put a dent in our chances for the
+pennant,” put in Wheeler, the big center fielder. “Even with that lame
+wing of his he won more games for us than any others, except you and
+Jim. And you two, good as you are, can’t pitch every other day. McRae
+ought to have his lines out for a couple more prospects in the pitching
+line. The rookies we got this year haven’t made good in the box. Young
+Bradley shows promise, but he needs a year or so yet before he’ll be
+ready to take his regular turn.”
+
+“You bet the old man isn’t asleep,” said Burkett, the burly first
+baseman of the team. “He’s got his scouts out combing the minor leagues
+with a fine tooth comb. I hear he has a line on Merton of the San
+Francisco Seals. They say he shows all the signs of a top-notcher. But
+even if he gets him, he won’t be able to report till the end of the
+season, and by that time the pennant will be either lost or won.”
+
+“How about that Lemblow out in the Middle Western League?” chimed in
+Mylert, the Giant catcher. “They say he’s got speed to burn and a
+cross-fire delivery that reminds one of Hays of the Yankees. He’s crazy
+to break into the big league, and if the old man comes across with the
+‘mazuma’ I’ve no doubt he could get him.”
+
+“He may be a good pitcher,” remarked Iredell, the shortstop of the
+team. “But I’ve heard that he has a rather shady past. Not that they’ve
+ever been able to hang anything on him. Perhaps he’s too cunning for
+that. But there have been all sorts of rumors about him not being on
+the level, and where there’s so much smoke there may be some fire.”
+
+“I heard that he’s been resting up for a couple of weeks lately,”
+volunteered Willis, the Giants’ third baseman. “Hurt one of his fingers
+or something like that. I saw him pitch once in a barn-storming tour at
+the end of last season. He sure can put some smoke on the ball. Queer
+looking duck he is, too. Looks like a rube with his straw-colored hair
+and big ears sticking out from his head.”
+
+“What’s that you said?” put in Jim quickly.
+
+“I said that he put smoke on the ball,” replied Willis, in some
+surprise. “He just burned it over the plate.”
+
+“Yes, yes,” returned Jim impatiently. “But I was talking about his
+looks!”
+
+“I was just telling you he wouldn’t take any beauty prize,” replied
+Willis. “Big lob ears standing almost at right angles to his head
+and a headful of hair that looks like a stack of hay. Tall and thin,
+too, a regular beanpole. But what makes you so interested in the
+fellow’s looks? He doesn’t have to be an Apollo Cuticura――or is it
+Belvedere?――does he, to take his turn in the box?”
+
+“Not a bit of it,” agreed Jim, with a laugh. “That would rule a good
+many of us fellows off the diamond. But come along, Joe,” he added to
+his friend. “If we stay in here chinning very much longer, McRae will
+be after us with a big stick.”
+
+They went out of the clubhouse and made their way across the field. The
+bleachers were already full and there were only a few vacant spots in
+the grandstand. As Joe and Jim were recognized a vigorous handclapping
+rose from the spectators that told of the place they had in the
+affections of the fans.
+
+“Did you catch what Willis was saying about Lemblow?” Jim asked of Joe,
+as they got out of earshot of the others.
+
+“I got it all right,” replied Joe. “And I tumbled to your question
+about his looks. You thought that the description fitted the fellow
+that pushed that pile of lumber down on us.”
+
+“Fits him to a dot,” affirmed Jim emphatically. “The same hair and the
+same ears. And this fellow, too, was tall and thin. And what did I tell
+you about the way he ran? Only a trained athlete could have legged it
+that way.”
+
+“It certainly looks as though you’d hit it right,” admitted Joe
+thoughtfully. “Under ordinary circumstances it wouldn’t be possible,
+for he’d be playing with his team out West. But there’s the fact that
+he’s been laying off for a couple of weeks on account of his injured
+finger. That would make it possible for him to come on East. And if
+he’s so crazy to break into the big league, what would give him a
+better chance than to have one of us, or possibly both of us, disabled?
+It may all be a coincidence, but if it is, it’s one of the queerest
+things that ever happened.”
+
+“Then, too, there’s his reputation,” rejoined Jim. “What Iredell said
+about his not being on the level only fits in with what I’ve heard from
+others. He got into trouble near the end of last season about one or
+two games that looked crooked, and it took a good deal of hushing up to
+smooth the thing over. Now, putting all these things together, doesn’t
+it look just as clear as that two and two make four?”
+
+“Not quite so certain as that, perhaps,” replied Joe. “But it certainly
+looks as though we were getting a line on what happened to us this
+morning. Now if we can only find that there’s some connection between
+Lemblow and Hupft and McCarney, a good many puzzling things will be
+explained. But there’s McRae beckoning to us to get up to the plate and
+knock flies out to the fields in practice. Just keep your eye peeled,
+old boy, and I’ll do the same. There never yet was a skein so tangled
+that it couldn’t be unraveled if you only get your hand on the end of
+the thread. And I think we’ve got the end in our hands right now.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+LINING IT OUT
+
+
+The Giants’ opponents that day were the St. Louis Cardinals, the last
+of the Western clubs to visit the Polo Grounds on the first round of
+the inter-sectional games.
+
+Cincinnati, as has been said, had been able to make an even break of it
+with the Giants. The Pittsburghs had done even better, for the Smoky
+City boys had left the big town with three scalps hanging to their
+belts. The Giants had taken sweet revenge on the Chicagos, however,
+having made a clean sweep of the whole four games.
+
+For several seasons, the best the Cardinals could do was to finish
+at the tail of the first division or the head of the second. They
+had an excellent pitching staff and some of the heaviest batters in
+either league. Their fielding was good and their shortstop was such
+a phenomenon that the St. Louis owners had refused an offer of two
+hundred and fifty thousand dollars for him.
+
+But despite these advantages the team had not been able to win the
+championship. They did not work with the smoothness and perfection
+necessary for a champion team. Perhaps it was the failure of efficient
+management or a case of individual stars playing for their own records
+instead of for the good of the team. But whatever the reason, the
+record showed that while they had started out each season like a house
+afire they had failed at the end to take the coveted flag.
+
+This year, however, things were different. A new manager had seemed to
+be able to put some of his own vim and determination into the team and
+they were playing like a machine. The first four men in the batting
+order had been dubbed the “Murderers’ Row” because of the way they were
+“killing” the ball, and the rest of the team were not very far behind.
+It was perfectly clear that this year the Cardinals were a team to be
+reckoned with.
+
+Under ordinary circumstances, Joe would have pitched the first game of
+the St. Louis series so that the Giants might have a good chance to get
+the jump on their opponents by grabbing off the opening contest. But
+the day before had originally been an open date, and the Giants and
+Brooklyns had taken advantage of it to play off a postponed game; and
+as the Brooklyns had usually been a “Jonah” for the Giants, McRae had
+thought it advisable to put Joe in the box. The result had justified
+his judgment.
+
+Markwith, the portside flinger of the Giants, had been chosen,
+therefore, to open the St. Louis series. He was one of the star
+pitchers of the league, and during the season could be counted on to
+turn in his fair share of victories. His speed was dazzling and he
+had a good assortment of curves and slants. The only trouble with him
+was that he was an “in and outer.” When he was good he was very good
+indeed, practically unbeatable. But if his support were bad or the
+opposing batters began to get to him, he was liable to lose his nerve
+and be batted out of the box.
+
+This day, however, he showed up well in practice and seemed to be in
+fine fettle, so that it was with less misgiving than usual that McRae
+put on him the pitcher’s burden.
+
+“Get right after them, Red,” the manager counseled, as the bell rang
+for the Giants to take the field. “I want you to show that Murderers’
+Row that you’re some little murderer yourself.”
+
+“I’ll do my best, Mac,” said Markwith, with a grin, as he slipped on
+his glove and went to the box.
+
+The first inning was short and sweet. Remley, the lead-off man of
+the Cardinals, tried to wait Red out. This was justified perhaps by
+the fact that Markwith was a trifle unsteady at the opening and had
+difficulty in finding the plate. His first two offerings were balls.
+He whipped the third over, however, for a strike and followed it with
+another. With two strikes on him, Remley lashed out savagely at the
+next ball and missed it.
+
+“You’re out,” called the umpire, as the ball settled in Mylert’s glove.
+
+Remley threw down his bat in vexation and went grumbling to the dugout.
+
+McCarthy came next, swinging three bats of which he flung away two as
+he toed the line.
+
+“Put it over, kid, and see me kill it,” he called to Markwith, shaking
+his bat at him.
+
+Red grinned and floated up a slow one that looked as big as a balloon
+as it approached the plate but small as a pea when it reached it.
+McCarthy nearly broke his back reaching for it.
+
+“Strike one,” called the umpire.
+
+“Not so much of a killer after all, are you?” taunted Markwith, as the
+catcher returned the ball to him.
+
+McCarthy glowered and gritted his teeth as he waited for the next one.
+
+It came waist high over the plate, and McCarthy caught it on the end
+of his bat. It seemed for a moment that he had made his boast good,
+for the ball shot on a line toward center. Iredell, however, who was
+playing close to second, leaped into the air and speared it with his
+gloved hand, while the stands rocked with applause.
+
+Mornsby, the famous shortstop of the Cardinals, was next at bat.
+
+“Oh, see who’s here!” remarked Markwith, with affected surprise.
+
+“Play ball, you clown,” growled Mornsby. “You’re not on the vaudeville
+stage now.”
+
+This was a fling at a theatrical venture that Markwith had gone into
+the preceding winter.
+
+“So you’re the quarter of a million dollar beauty!” retorted Markwith,
+referring to the price that had been offered for Mornsby. “Just watch
+me make you look like thirty cents.”
+
+He put over a ball at which Mornsby refused to bite. The next one he
+fouled off. The third he struck at too high and the ball dribbled down
+to the pitcher’s box. Markwith picked it up with a tantalizing grin and
+tossed to Burkett for an easy out at first.
+
+“Thirty cents was too big an offer,” he called to Mornsby, as he drew
+off his glove and came into the bench. “I ought to have made it a dime.”
+
+“We’ll get you yet, you false alarm,” snapped Mornsby. “You’ll curl up
+before the game’s half over.”
+
+The Giants in their half made a bid for a run but were unable to score.
+Curry poled one out between right and center that Cooper gathered in
+after a long run. Iredell raised a twisting Texas leaguer over second
+that McCarthy and Weston both tried for but failed to reach, narrowly
+missing colliding with each other.
+
+In the mixup, Iredell, by fast running, reached second. Burkett came
+next, and with two balls and two strikes called on him lined out a
+grasser that Mornsby found too hot to handle. He knocked it down,
+however, but recovered it too late to get Burkett at first. Iredell,
+who had taken a good lead, had no difficulty in making third.
+
+On the first ball pitched to Wheeler, the next batter, Burkett made
+a break for second. His aim was not so much to reach the base as to
+draw a throw from the catcher which would enable Iredell to make for
+home. The catcher threw the ball, not to second but to the pitcher, and
+Iredell, who had started for the plate, was caught and run down between
+third and home. Burkett in the meantime had reached second and was half
+way down the base line between second and third, ready to dash for the
+latter if Iredell should be put out. A snap throw to Weston, however,
+the moment that Iredell had been tagged, caught Burkett between the
+bags and he was also run down, making three out. It was a bit of
+stupidity, or at least carelessness, on the part of the Giants and of
+smart playing by the visitors.
+
+The next four innings produced no tally for either side. Leadows, the
+bespectacled pitcher for the Cardinals, was having one of his best
+days, and he set the Giants down almost as fast as they came to the
+bat. Markwith, too, was pitching well. He was hit harder and oftener
+than Leadows, but so far the breaks of the game had been with him,
+and he had had spectacular support on the part of the Giant fielders.
+Hupft especially made some almost miraculous catches in the field that
+shut off sure home runs and McCarney was guarding third in a way that
+recalled the days of Jerry Denny.
+
+“Do you see that?” Joe asked in a low tone of Jim, as McCarney made a
+superb stop of a hot grounder and relayed it like a bullet to first.
+“You didn’t see him doing that kind of playing yesterday when I was in
+the box.”
+
+“Right you are,” replied Jim. “And I noted, too, the one that Hupft
+picked off the fence in the last inning. Both of them are playing like
+fiends.”
+
+In the sixth inning the Giants broke the ice. Burkett laced out a dandy
+two-bagger to right. Wheeler laid down a perfect sacrifice between the
+pitcher’s box and first that enabled Burkett to get to third. Willis
+sent out a long fly to right center that was caught, but on the throw
+in Burkett scored by a long slide to the plate. Larry went out on an
+assist from Mornsby to Blair and the inning was over. But the Giants
+were a run to the good, and at that stage of the game a single run
+might prove the winning tally.
+
+In the seventh the Cardinals went them one better. Blair led off with a
+sharp single to left. Atkins followed with a grounder that just touched
+the end of Iredell’s glove and went for a hit, Blair reaching third.
+Munson was set down on strikes and Bixby sent up a high twisting foul
+that Mylert caught at the very edge of the dugout. Remley, however,
+whaled out a mighty three-bagger to right that scored both of his
+mates. Markwith put on extra steam and struck out McCarthy, leaving
+Remley on third.
+
+The Giants’ half of the seventh was fruitless and the eighth opened
+with St. Louis one run to the good.
+
+It was not any too good a lead, and they started out to put the game
+“on ice.” Mornsby offered at the first ball pitched, and sent the ball
+crashing into the bleachers for the first home run of the game. This
+mighty hit seemed to rattle Markwith and he passed Nealon to first on
+four consecutive balls. Ralston rapped out a two-bagger on which Nealon
+went all the way to the plate. Leadows struck out, but Blair made a
+pretty single on which Nealon reached third. Markwith passed Atkins and
+the bases were full. The score now stood 4 to 1 in favor of St. Louis
+with three men on bases and one out.
+
+McRae, the Giants’ manager, beckoned to Markwith, and the latter,
+drawing off his glove, came in to the bench.
+
+“Wouldn’t give a dime for me, eh?” jeered Mornsby. “I wouldn’t give a
+plugged nickel for you. That home run broke your heart, didn’t it? I
+told you you were a false alarm.”
+
+Markwith, usually ready with a retort, was too discomfited to make
+reply.
+
+“It’s up to you, Joe,” said McRae. “I know you pitched yesterday, but
+I’ll have to call on you to save this game if it isn’t already past
+saving.”
+
+Joe was not altogether unprepared for the call, for in the previous
+inning McRae, seeing that Markwith was faltering, had sent him out to
+do a little warming up.
+
+“All right, Mac,” he responded, and walked out to the box.
+
+His coming was the signal for a storm of cheers from stands and
+bleachers. It seemed almost hopeless, but they had seen him so often
+lead a forlorn hope to victory.
+
+As was his right, Joe tossed up a few balls to Mylert to get the
+location of the plate. Then he took his stand in the box as Munson came
+to the plate, eager to send his comrades home. Even a single would
+probably bring in two of them. A long sacrifice to the outfield would
+account for one run. And a sharp two-bagger would clear the bases.
+
+Joe wound up and shot a fast high one over the plate. Munson missed it
+by inches.
+
+“Strike one!” called the umpire, and the crowd cheered boisterously.
+
+Mylert returned the ball to Joe on the bound. Joe muffed it and it
+dropped at his feet.
+
+He stooped carelessly to pick it up. Then like lightning he shot it to
+Larry at second, catching Blair flat-footed off the bag.
+
+Nealon on third made a dash for the plate. Larry tagged Blair and
+returned the ball in a flash to Joe, who had run over to the third base
+line. Joe put the ball on Nealon and the side was out.
+
+It had all happened in the twinkling of an eye. For an instant the
+crowd was paralyzed. Then it woke up and a perfect tempest of cheers
+swept over the field.
+
+Robson, the rotund assistant manager, fairly shouted with glee as he
+brought his hand down with a resounding smack on McRae’s knee.
+
+“Did you see that, John?” he roared. “Did you see that fake muff? Did
+you see that lightning throw? Did you ever see any foxier playing in
+all your life?”
+
+“No, I didn’t,” grinned McRae. “But for the love of Mike, Robbie, keep
+that ham of a hand off my knee. Yes, that was some playing. I don’t
+know which is the greater, that boy’s arm or his head. They’re both
+wonders. Joe hasn’t his match in the baseball world.”
+
+Joe came in smiling, to be mauled and pounded by his rejoicing comrades.
+
+McRae and Robson beamed upon him.
+
+“Great work, Joe,” said McRae. “Now if you hold them down in the next
+inning and our boys get busy with their bats we still have a chance to
+cop the game.”
+
+But the Giants, although they got two men on bases in their half of the
+eighth, were unable to score, and the ninth opened with St. Louis still
+three runs ahead.
+
+They made no more, however, for in their half of the ninth Joe mowed
+them down in order, and the Giants came in to make their last stand
+with three runs to tie and four to win.
+
+Burkett led off with a nicely placed single in short right. Wheeler
+followed with a clean hit over second, on which Burkett tried to reach
+third. The ball came back too quickly, however, and he had to turn back
+to second, which he reached safely only through a muff by Weston,
+who was covering the bag. It was a close call and the Giant rooters
+breathed a sigh of relief. McCarney, who had already made two hits and
+seemed to have his batting clothes on, fell an easy victim on strikes.
+Larry came to the rescue with a neat bunt that got him to first and
+advanced his comrades each a base.
+
+The bases were now full, and Hupft, who came next to bat, was implored
+to give the ball a ride and bring his mates in. But a groan went up
+when he raised an easy pop fly to the box that Leadows caught without
+moving from his tracks.
+
+Two men were now out and many of the spectators were beginning to rise
+from their seats. They sat down suddenly, however, at the mighty roar
+that went up when Joe came to the plate.
+
+Leadows looked him over carefully. He had a wholesome respect for Joe’s
+prowess, not only as a pitcher, but as a batter. Here was a foeman
+worthy of his best.
+
+Leadows took an unusually long time winding up. Then he sent in a
+swift incurve that just missed the corner of the plate. Joe remained
+motionless.
+
+An outcurve followed, and again Joe let it go by.
+
+The third was a fast one with a hop to it, and came over the plate half
+way between knee and waist. Joe met it full on the seam.
+
+There was a resounding crash and the ball started on its journey to the
+bleachers.
+
+It started almost on a line, rising steadily as it soared toward
+right field. On and on it went as though it had wings. The Cardinal
+outfielders started for it and then stopped and threw up their hands in
+despair. The ball cleared the field, cleared the bleachers, cleared the
+wall. Where it finally landed no one knew, no one cared.
+
+Joe had dropped the bat and started like a deer for first. But as he
+rounded the bag on his way to second, a glance at the ball told him
+there was no need for hurry. So he jogged around the bases at his
+leisure following the three comrades who romped joyously to the plate,
+while in his ears were the thunderous cheers of the spectators like the
+roaring of the sea.
+
+He had made a homer with the bases full. He had pulled the game out of
+the fire. At the very last moment he had snatched victory from defeat!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+PLAYING THE GAME
+
+
+If a visitor from Mars had seen the crowd at the Polo Grounds when Joe
+knocked out that homer, he would promptly have set down the people of
+this planet as madmen. The people in the stands and bleachers simply
+went crazy with delight. Cheer after cheer went up. Hats were thrown
+into the air and on the diamond by the hundreds. Then the throng swept
+down on the field in the frantic desire to surround the hero of the
+game and carry him in triumph on their shoulders.
+
+But Joe had seen them coming and was off at top speed for the
+clubhouse. The crowd thickened about him as he fled, and for the last
+hundred feet he had fairly to fight his way through to get away from
+the embarrassing attentions of his admirers.
+
+Even in the clubhouse his troubles were not over, for his comrades were
+almost as delirious as the outside throng. They wrung his hand and
+slapped his back until he was sore.
+
+McRae was all smiles, while Robbie, as Robson was usually called,
+fairly hugged him in his delight.
+
+“Man, you’re a wizard in the box and at the bat!” Robbie cried. “Sure,
+it’s magic that you use. You’ve put a come-hither on the ball. You’ve
+got it bewitched. You go into the box and you put two men out with only
+one ball pitched. You whack the ball and it starts for Kingdom Come.”
+
+McRae, though less exuberant, was none the less delighted.
+
+“Once more you’ve pulled me out of a hole, Joe,” he said earnestly.
+“Many’s the time I’ve had to call on you in a tight pinch, and I’ve
+never been disappointed yet. You’re my standby and the standby of the
+team. You’ve only proved to me again, what needed no proving, that when
+the test comes you’re there.”
+
+“I’m glad you feel that way, Mac,” returned Joe. “Although I think you
+make too much of what I’ve done. The team’s the biggest thing on earth
+to me outside of my home and folks, and it’s always a pleasure to give
+it my best efforts.”
+
+There were two notable exceptions to the praise that was heaped on Joe
+by his mates. Hupft and McCarney stood aloof, not saying a single word,
+and their brows were so black that one might have thought that St.
+Louis had won instead of the Giants.
+
+“How sore those spalpeens look,” remarked Larry to Wheeler, as he
+finished his dressing. “They’re like corpses at a wedding.”
+
+“I’ve noticed that,” replied Wheeler. “I suppose they’re a little bit
+crabbed because they failed to come through in the ninth inning. They
+had their chances to send the boys in, but both fell down. I’ve felt
+that way myself more than once. They’ll be all over that by to-morrow.”
+
+The grumpiness of the pair had not escaped Joe and Jim, although they
+gave no sign until they were clear of the clubhouse and on their way
+home.
+
+“I’ll bet a nickel I know what you’re thinking of,” bantered Jim.
+
+“Too easy,” laughed Joe. “Of course, we’re both thinking of the same
+thing and that is the sour looks of that precious pair of highbinders
+at the end of the game. Even the other fellows, who haven’t the reason
+we have to suspect them, were struck by it. You heard what Larry said
+to Wheeler.”
+
+“If they were really foxy they’d have made a bluff at feeling good, no
+matter how they felt,” remarked Jim. “There were all the other fellows
+fairly out of their heads with delight, and they were as black as
+thunderclouds. If they don’t look out, other people will tumble to the
+fact that there’s something crooked going on.”
+
+“What took place in the game itself showed that our previous suspicion
+was right,” observed Joe. “All the time Markwith was pitching they were
+fairly eating up every chance that came to them. See the way McCarney
+guarded third. Nothing was too hot for him and he tried for everything
+at right and left of him. And Hupft played like a miracle-man out in
+the field. Compare that with the way they played yesterday when I was
+in the box.”
+
+“And the way their batting fell off in the ninth inning,” added Jim.
+“They had been clouting the ball for keeps in the early part of the
+game. But McCarney stood there like a wooden man when Leadows set him
+down on strikes, and that pop fly that Hupft lifted to the box was
+just peaches and cream for St. Louis. It’s lucky they didn’t have any
+fielding chances in the ninth or they’d probably have fallen down on
+those, too.”
+
+“It wasn’t merely luck,” explained Joe. “I had that in mind when I toed
+the mound. I made up my mind that I’d work for strikeouts and nothing
+else. I was actually afraid to let the ball go to the infield because I
+believed that McCarney, if he had the chance, would deliberately fumble
+it. Nice, isn’t it, when a pitcher has to feel that way about any of
+the men behind him?”
+
+“It’s an awful shame!” exclaimed Jim hotly.
+
+“And here’s one other thing,” continued Joe. “You noticed that when I
+caught Blair napping at second, I ran over to the base line and shouted
+to Larry to throw the ball to me. Ordinarily I would have left it to
+McCarney to make that play and he and Mylert together could have run
+Nealon down. But I didn’t dare let McCarney take the throw for fear he
+would let it slip through his fingers on purpose. So I tagged Nealon
+myself and made sure of it.”
+
+“Gee, but you’ve got a wonderful head on you, Joe!” was the admiring
+ejaculation wrung from Jim. “You think of everything.”
+
+“One has to think of a lot of things when his reputation and perhaps
+his life is at stake,” replied Joe soberly. “I tell you, Jim, we’re
+up against a serious problem, and every day it seems to get more
+complicated. Even when we sleep, from now on we’ll have to do it with
+one eye open.”
+
+“That’s true,” agreed Jim. “Still, what has happened to-day isn’t
+altogether without its bright side. Up to now you’ve been largely in
+the dark. You’ve had an uneasy feeling that a web was being woven about
+you, and you’ve had certain suspicions about Hupft and McCarney. But
+their actions in to-day’s game and their grouchiness after the game
+have transformed those suspicions almost into certainties. Now you can
+plan to fight them and force them into the open without the fear that
+you might be doing them an injustice.
+
+“Then, too, that Lemblow matter has thrown a little more light on
+things. It indicates that he’s in cahoots with the other two rascals.
+The more there are in any conspiracy, the more likely it is that there
+will be a leak somewhere. To-day’s happenings have given you three
+sides of a triangle――Hupft, McCarney and Lemblow. Somewhere within that
+triangle is the plot that is being hatched. At least we know where to
+look, and that is something.”
+
+“And whatever that something is we’ll meet it and we’ll beat it,” cried
+Joe, throwing care to the winds. “Let’s think of something pleasant.
+The girls will be on for that promised visit soon. In less than a week
+now I’ll see the dearest girl in all the world――Mabel.”
+
+“Clara,” corrected Jim.
+
+And both laughed happily.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A HILARIOUS WELCOME
+
+
+Although naturally burdened by the recent run of events, mystified
+as they were concerning the motives of McCarney and Hupft and of
+the lob-eared man whom Jim had seen hurrying from the half-finished
+structure the day the building material had been pushed from the
+scaffold, the chums stuck to their decisions to keep worry and
+conjecture as far as possible from their minds. Their job was to play
+ball, and to play ball with the best that was in them was what they
+intended to do.
+
+And on one particular bright morning it was easier than usual to banish
+dull care. Only the day before Joe and Jim had received word that Mabel
+and Clara and Mabel’s brother, Reggie, would arrive in New York by noon
+of the following day. To say that the boys were joyful would be to
+describe too tamely their emotions. They acted like a couple of wild
+Indians, brandishing the letters aloft and executing a war dance about
+the room. Even now, as they jumped into the car, preparatory to making
+a mad dash for the station to meet the twelve o’clock train, they had
+not recovered their sanity.
+
+To Joe it seemed as though he had been separated from his young
+wife for years instead of weeks, and he drove the machine through
+the traffic with a speed and recklessness that caused many a burly
+policeman to frown disapprovingly.
+
+“It’s them young speeders that makes all the trouble,” muttered one of
+them as Joe, barely waiting for the wave of his hand, rushed by with
+a warning roar of the exhaust. “It’s long been a mystery to me why
+they must always be in such a terrible hurry.” How could he know, poor
+man, that Joe was on his way to meet the most adorable girl in all the
+world? Who wouldn’t break all the speed laws, and then some, for a girl
+like Mabel?
+
+It had been the purpose of the young folks to settle down in a little
+home of their own after the honeymoon, but as Mrs. Matson, who had
+never been very strong, missed Mabel and declared she needed her,
+the young bride had decided to make her home temporarily with Joe’s
+mother――at least until such time as she should be in better health.
+
+Clara, Joe’s pretty sister and Jim’s fiancée, had also delayed her
+wedding with Jim because of her mother’s ill-health. Jim did not favor
+this arrangement very highly, but he was willing to agree to almost
+anything that would make Clara happy.
+
+“It won’t be so very long now,” she had said the last time Jim had seen
+her. “I really think mother is getting stronger, and pretty soon――we’ll
+be together always,” she had added shyly.
+
+So now, not having seen either Mabel or Clara for what seemed to them a
+never-ending period of time, it was no wonder the boys were willing to
+break all the traffic laws that had ever been made.
+
+“Do you know,” said Joe, with a chuckle, as he slowed down at the curb
+opposite the station, “I’ve scarcely given dear old Reggie a thought? I
+wonder how the old duffer is, anyway.”
+
+“Probably identically the same old chappie,” laughed Jim. “Monocle,
+cane, spats, and all complete. I’d give a lot to know how he makes that
+knife-sharp crease in his trousers always stay put.”
+
+“It is a mystery,” agreed Joe, as they made their way through the
+crowds that thronged the great station. “I’d like to try him out on the
+diamond some time. I’ve a notion that after a slide or two to the home
+plate the crease would be no longer there.”
+
+“Might spoil some of his immaculateness,” laughed Jim.
+
+Despite all this joking at his expense, the boys entertained, not only
+a warm affection, but a very real respect for Mabel’s brother, Reggie.
+Although, as the chums had already laughingly mentioned, Reggie never
+appeared anywhere without his monocle, his cane, his spats, and his
+English air and accent, he was at heart a fine fellow, always ready
+to help where help was needed, truthful and honorable, and an ardent
+baseball fan. These qualities helped the boys overlook his many foibles
+and affectations. As a matter of fact, once one got used to them, one
+rather liked them, as being a part of Reggie’s lovable personality.
+
+The guard at the head of the stairs that led to the station platform
+seemed at first inclined to deny the boys admittance. But a neighboring
+guard, having recognized Joe and Jim, whispered in his friend’s ear,
+with the result that the latter looked away, having first favored the
+boys with a wink.
+
+The next moment they had clattered down the stairs and had reached the
+station platform, just as the train pulled in.
+
+Eagerly they watched the crowd of passengers pour forth, scanning each
+face for those they sought. No sight of Mabel, no Clara, no immaculate
+and be-spatted Reggie!
+
+At first they feared that the girls had missed their train and their
+faces grew long and anxious. Then, just when they were beginning to
+lose hope, Joe saw them.
+
+With a whoop of joy and a rush that nearly bowled over an indignant and
+grip-laden porter, he was speeding down the platform with Jim hard at
+his heels.
+
+The next moment Mabel found herself in the grip of two bearlike arms,
+her smart little hat was pushed far over one ear, while into the other
+a voice was saying, over and over again:
+
+“Say, girl, you look good to me――you look good to me.”
+
+“Joe, dear, you’re mussing my hair, and my hat――――”
+
+“Hats!” cried Joe, exuberantly. “What do we care about hats! I’ll buy
+you another one, honey, a dozen, if you want them.”
+
+“Be careful, Joe,” Clara broke in, looking flushed and delightfully
+pretty herself. “She may take you up. Think of it――a dozen new hats!
+Such joy!”
+
+“Speakin’ of hats, don’t you know,” broke in a well-known voice, “I
+jolly well need a new one myself. The bally old thing did a double flip
+out of the hat rack on our trip up heah in the train. Turned an entire
+circle, don’t you know――――”
+
+“Tell them where it landed, Reggie,” chuckled Mabel, flashing a
+mischievous glance at Clara. “Be sure you don’t forget any of the
+details.”
+
+“By Jove! Do you know,” said Reggie, ruefully, “you would never guess
+the truth, not in a thousand years, unless I were to tell it to you
+myself! For this mistaken headpiece, don’t you know, instead of falling
+to the floor, where at the most it would have gathered a little dust,
+must choose a seat whereon a burly gentleman was just in the act of
+seating himself. A perfectly harmless and natural thing, don’t you
+know, on the part of the old gentleman――――”
+
+“But hard on the hat,” finished Joe, with a grin, adding as he slipped
+his arm through Mabel’s and drew her toward the stairs: “Never mind,
+old man, there are a dozen places in town where they have hats that
+will satisfy even you. Say,” he added happily, looking down into the
+smiling eyes of his young wife, “this is my lucky day.”
+
+“You’re not the only one, old son,” said Jim, adding, as he proudly
+piloted Clara through the throng: “I tell you, we’ve picked a couple of
+girls that will make these bored Manhattanites turn round and stare,
+all right.”
+
+“Bah Jove,” sighed Reggie, replacing the tiresome monocle that never
+would stay put, “you chappies are enough to make a poor old bachelor
+like me homesick, you are, truly. I feel quite out of it, don’t you
+know, _de trop_, a gooseberry, as you might say. An Antony without his
+Cleopatra, a Romeo without his Juliet. I say, it’s downright pathetic.”
+
+“Poor old Reggie,” chuckled Mabel, snuggling her free hand within his
+arm. “It is a sad, sad story, isn’t it? But then, it’s really your own
+fault. There are lots of girls in the world, you know.”
+
+“But no more Mabels,” said Joe.
+
+“And no more Claras,” added Jim.
+
+“There you go again,” said poor Reggie, swinging his cane
+disconsolately. “Bah Jove, this is no place for a bachelor. It isn’t,
+truly!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+GROWING BEWILDERMENT
+
+
+The boys, in their joy at having the girls with them once more, wanted
+to go to one of the big hotels for luncheon, but the girls themselves
+protested.
+
+They wanted, they said, to go to some quiet place “where they could
+talk,” and, besides, they weren’t “presentable” after the long train
+journey.
+
+Although the boys disagreed vehemently with this last statement, they
+finally yielded the point and found a quiet little restaurant just
+around the corner from Fifth Avenue.
+
+Eagerly Joe plied them with questions about home. “Had the girls been
+well?” “How was mother and dear old dad?” and so on until the girls
+rebelled, saying that they had come to hear about Joe and Jim, not to
+talk about themselves.
+
+“I say, how is the old game coming?” queried Reggie, taking the monocle
+from his eye and tapping it gently on the table. “Yesterday’s game was
+perfectly ripping, what? Hear you did yourself proud, Joe, old top.”
+
+“He always does,” murmured Mabel proudly, and somehow Joe’s hand
+managed to find hers under the table.
+
+“It was a great game,” he said, smiling at recollection of it. “Luck
+was with me.”
+
+“Do you boys play to-day?” asked Clara, adding with a little bounce of
+delight: “Oh, I’m crazy to see the game!”
+
+“Jim’s the lucky one,” said Joe. “He’s scheduled to pitch. And I tell
+you, you girls are going to see some classy work. Jim has the little
+ball trained so it comes to his whistle.”
+
+“Spare my blushes,” begged Jim, adding, with a grin: “Anyway, listen
+who’s talking!”
+
+“’Spose everything’s goin’ smoothly, is it?” queried Reggie, with a
+lift of his eyebrow that sent the monocle sliding down the front of his
+waistcoat. “No trouble with the good old teammates? Everything jolly
+and happy?”
+
+Both Jim and Joe looked at him quizzically. Was it possible that Reggie
+knew something of their suspicions of Reddy Hupft or McCarney? It
+seemed hardly possible. Probably the question was merely an idle one.
+
+“Everything’s in tip-top shape,” answered Joe, after the barest
+perceptible pause. “The boys are going at top speed and if we keep on
+the way we’ve started we ought to beat last year’s record.”
+
+Clara opened her lips as though to speak, then evidently changed her
+mind. But as Jim’s eyes met hers it seemed to him they were the least
+bit anxious.
+
+As for Mabel, she had reached out and laid a little hand on Joe’s arm.
+
+“Everything is all right, isn’t it, Joe?” she asked.
+
+“Perfectly,” he replied, hoping his tone had sounded as confident as he
+wanted it to. “What could be wrong, little girl?”
+
+“Oh, I don’t know,” Mabel replied hesitantly. “Perhaps it’s that
+trouble you had last year――――”
+
+“Here, here!” interrupted Joe, with mock severity. “I thought you
+promised to forget all about that!”
+
+“I am trying,” said Mabel gamely. “But it’s pretty hard when I’m not
+with you, Joe.”
+
+Though the boys could have lingered forever at that pleasant little
+meal, it was not long before they were reminded that time was flying
+and that if they meant to get to the ball grounds in time they must
+hurry.
+
+They took the girls to the hotel where they had accommodations ready
+for them. There they regretfully left them in Reggie’s care and hurried
+off for the field.
+
+“I wonder if Reggie has got wind of something brewing,” said Jim, as,
+a few minutes later, they struggled into their uniforms. “He certainly
+has a talent for smelling out trouble.”
+
+“Let’s hope there won’t be any serious trouble to smell out and let
+the matter go at that,” answered Joe carelessly. Then everything but
+baseball and the game on hand was forgotten.
+
+That game was a triumph for the Giants, but it was even a greater one
+for Jim. Perhaps the fact that two bright eyes were watching his work
+from the grandstand spurred Jim on to greater effort. At any rate it
+was certain that he had never done more brilliant work.
+
+Joe, who was resting from his triumphs of the day before, spent most of
+his time with the two girls and Reggie. Although ordinarily he would
+have been wild to take his place on the diamond, to-day, with McRae’s
+consent, he was content just to sit beside Mabel and watch her interest
+and enthusiasm in the game.
+
+It was good to have his pretty sister with him too, even though he knew
+her interest for the time being was entirely with Jim. And it was good
+to have old Reggie with the troublesome monocle and the hat which the
+burly old gentleman had inadvertently used as a seat!
+
+Suddenly Clara, who, with the rest of the crowd had been wildly
+cheering Jim, straightened in her seat, her eyes widening as they
+rested upon one of the Giant team.
+
+She turned and laid a hand on Joe’s arm.
+
+“Joe,” she said excitedly, “who is that man out there? That man on
+third base?”
+
+“That’s McCarney,” replied Joe, wondering at her excitement. “Want an
+introduction?” he added jokingly. “I could get you one in a jiffy, but
+I wouldn’t because he’s no good.”
+
+“Goodness, no!” said Clara, with a motion of the shoulders that was
+almost like a shudder. “I know him already.”
+
+“Know him?” repeated Joe, bewildered. “What’s the great idea?”
+
+“Well,” Clara corrected, “I don’t really mean that I know him. But I’ve
+seen him at pretty close range.”
+
+Mabel leaned forward suddenly, her troubled eyes on Clara.
+
+“What do you mean?” she asked, but a roar from the crowd drowned
+Clara’s answer.
+
+“I’ll tell you later,” she shouted above the tumult of cheers and
+whistles and turned once more to watch the game.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A BLACK CONSPIRACY
+
+
+During the game Joe wondered once or twice what Clara’s sudden interest
+in McCarney meant. His pretty sister was so deeply in love with Jim
+that it seemed almost impossible for her even to see another man. Yet
+here she was, calling attention to McCarney――――
+
+At this point a spectacular play elicited a mighty roar from the
+grandstand, and Joe forgot everything but his interest in the game.
+
+He had been back and forth several times from the bleachers to the
+grandstand and now, with a murmured word to Mabel, he slipped away
+again.
+
+He wanted to get closer to the field where he could watch the work of
+Reddy Hupft, and of McCarney, too. The two men were apparently playing
+good ball, and yet, to his experienced eye, there was something queer
+about their game. Even while he reproached himself for letting his
+imagination run away with him, his eyes narrowed and his mouth grew
+grim.
+
+If those fellows were trying to pull anything――――
+
+So it happened that when the game ended in a smashing victory for the
+Giants Joe found himself near the clubhouse and allowed himself to be
+swept along by the rush of his team mates.
+
+He made his way through to Jim, who was surrounded by a group of
+enthusiastic players, and thumped his chum heartily on the back.
+
+“Pretty work, Jim,” he said. “Didn’t I tell the girls you had that
+little ball trained?”
+
+“It did come right to papa, didn’t it?” Jim answered, with a grin,
+submitting to the rub-down gratefully. “But wait till the girls see
+your work,” he added. “That will be the whole show.”
+
+“Maybe it will be an anticlimax,” protested Joe, at which Jim grunted
+disdainfully.
+
+“Baseball Joe, an anticlimax!” he jeered, and Joe, smiling
+good-naturedly, passed on.
+
+Robson and McRae promptly collared him and engaged him in earnest
+conversation and Jim, being unable to disentangle Joe from the society
+of the two older men, shouted an “I’ll see you later” to his chum and
+started across the field to the grandstand where the two girls and
+Reggie were waiting for him.
+
+As he neared the trio he saw that they were talking excitedly and
+wondered idly what it was all about. The real thing that engaged his
+attention, though, was the fact that Clara looked amazingly sweet and
+animated and that the flush in her cheeks was the prettiest thing he
+had ever seen.
+
+“Hello, everybody,” he called to them. “Get tired of waiting?”
+
+“Oh, Jim! you were simply wonderful,” said Clara, turning sparkling
+eyes upon him. “You ought to have heard what people were saying all
+around us.”
+
+“Perhaps it’s jolly good he didn’t,” broke in Reggie, with a twinkle in
+the eye behind the monocle. “Might have swelled the old bean, you know,
+completely ruined him, what?”
+
+“He’s frightfully spoiled already,” said Clara, with a distracting,
+sidewise glance at Jim. “You’ve no idea how conceited he is.”
+
+“On the contrary,” replied Jim, stretching his long length contentedly
+in one of the hard-backed seats, “the only time I’m tempted to be
+conceited, my dear, is when I realize that I have you.”
+
+“Don’t mind us, Jim,” chuckled Mabel delightedly, and Reggie added
+benevolently:
+
+“Bless you, my children. Mabel and I are looking steadily in the
+opposite direction. But perhaps, on further reflection, you would enjoy
+our absence greater than our presence? What say, Mabel, shall we stroll
+on?”
+
+“You’re all so silly!” Clara protested, her face flaming. “I wish you
+wouldn’t talk such nonsense, Jim――in public, anyway.”
+
+“I won’t until next time,” promised Jim, then, thinking it about time
+he changed the subject, he asked what they had been talking about
+so animatedly when he approached. “You seemed all heated up about
+something,” he added.
+
+“Jim, where’s Joe?” asked Mabel, her eyes, suddenly anxious, sweeping
+the field.
+
+“Talking to McRae and Robbie,” answered Jim. “He’ll be along in a
+minute. But say,” he added, with more interest than he had hitherto
+shown, “aren’t you going to answer my question?”
+
+“Hold your horses, old chappie,” murmured Reggie. “Patience is a
+virtue, what?”
+
+Seeing that, even if patience were a virtue, Jim was at the end of it,
+Clara hastened to explain.
+
+“I don’t suppose you will think it very important, Jim,” she said. “But
+it seemed rather important to me. I’ll tell you what I know and then
+you can judge.”
+
+“Sounds like a mystery,” said Jim, sitting up straight and beginning to
+look interested.
+
+Mabel shuddered.
+
+“I hope it isn’t,” she said, adding plaintively: “I don’t like
+mysteries.”
+
+“It’s about that man, McCarney, your third baseman,” Clara hastened
+on, lacing and unlacing her fingers in an agitation she could no longer
+conceal. “I’ve seen him before, Jim. I saw him just before the season
+opened.”
+
+“Well, what about it?” asked Jim, interested, but not showing any
+especial excitement. “It’s a coincidence, of course.”
+
+“It’s a good deal more than a coincidence,” Clara declared impatiently.
+“Wait till you hear what he said――――”
+
+“Yes,” Jim prompted sharply, as she hesitated. “What did he say?”
+
+“It was at the railroad station at Liberty――the second station from
+Riverside, you know. I had gone over there to take some things to Aunt
+Lydia――――”
+
+“Yes, but what about McCarney?” It was Jim’s turn to be impatient.
+
+“McCarney was there on the station platform,” Clara hurried on. “He was
+talking to another man. I couldn’t see them at first――I was around a
+corner of the station, but I could hear their voices.”
+
+“Yes?” Jim said again, as once more Clara hesitated, her glance roving
+uneasily about the almost-emptied grandstand as though she were afraid
+of being overheard.
+
+“They were talking in whispers,” she said then, leaning closer to Jim
+while Mabel and Reggie also came a little nearer. “I didn’t hear what
+they were saying till suddenly one of them, McCarney, it was, raised
+his voice and said, quite distinctly, ‘We ought to be able to make
+fifty thousand out of this, maybe more.’”
+
+“Great Scott!” cried Jim, his startled glance fixing the girl’s. “Are
+you sure it was McCarney who said that, Clara?”
+
+“Yes,” said the latter, a little frightened at the effect of her
+revelation. Jim looked suddenly fierce. “When he said that about the
+fifty thousand dollars I was curious and strolled around the corner to
+see who it was who expected to make a fortune so easily.”
+
+“Who was the man with him?” Jim’s question came like a pistol shot.
+“Did you get a good look at him, too?”
+
+“Yes,” answered the girl. “He was a tall, thin man and something about
+him made me think he was a ball player. Of course I was interested, but
+that was all. I didn’t think of it again until I saw one of the men,
+McCarney, on the field to-day.”
+
+“Did you hear anything else?” asked Jim, alert.
+
+Clara shook her head.
+
+“When the two men saw me they strolled off to a more deserted part of
+the station. They started talking in whispers again, but of course I
+didn’t follow them. At the time I didn’t see any reason why I should.
+Only, I had a feeling that neither of the men was straight.”
+
+“Um-m,” said Jim grimly. His forehead was wrinkled and his fingers
+beat a nervous tattoo on the arm of the seat. “You didn’t happen to
+recognize the other fellow――the one McCarney was talking to――on the
+field to-day, did you?”
+
+Clara shook her head. She looked worried.
+
+“No, I looked for him after I recognized the other man,” she said. “But
+I’m sure he wasn’t on the field to-day.”
+
+“Do you think,” asked Jim, in the same grim tone, “that you could
+recognize this fellow if I were to show you his picture?”
+
+“Yes, I’m sure of that,” answered Clara quickly. “I was so curious
+because of what McCarney had said, that I took a good look at both of
+them. And I’m sure I could easily recognize the other man if I should
+see him or a picture of him. He was the kind of person,” she added,
+thoughtfully, “that one doesn’t very easily forget.”
+
+“What do you think of it, old chappie?” asked Reggie. His monocle had
+fallen from his eye and, in his agitation, he had not even bothered to
+replace it. “Looks rather like some sort of plot, what? A conspiracy,
+you might say.”
+
+“I don’t know, I don’t know,” answered Jim thoughtfully. Then, seeing
+how agitated the girls were growing, he decided to make as light of the
+matter as was possible.
+
+“Sounds rather mysterious,” he said, with a reassuring smile; “but the
+sound is probably the only mysterious thing about it. These things
+often clear up of themselves and you wonder afterward why you were such
+a fool as to wonder about them. However, I’ll keep my eyes and ears
+open, and if McCarney and his tall friend are cooking up anything, I’ll
+soon find it out.”
+
+“I wonder where Joe is?” said Mabel plaintively. “It isn’t like him to
+stay away so long.”
+
+“I’ll go and look him up,” Jim volunteered, unwinding his great length
+from the seat. “I’ll make Robbie and McRae loosen their grip on him.”
+
+As Jim started across the field the girls looked after his tall figure
+thoughtfully.
+
+“I hope,” said Mabel, putting back a lock of hair that the wind had
+whipped about her face, “that this doesn’t mean more trouble for the
+boys. Perhaps it’s foolish of me, but I’m always just a wee bit worried
+about them. And now this McCarney――――”
+
+“Stop your crabbin’,” said Reggie, laying an affectionate hand over
+his sister’s little one. “I’m not particularly impressed with this
+McCarney chap myself, but from personal observation I have learned
+that both Joe and Jim can jolly well take care of themselves. Bah Jove,
+it would take a pretty keen chap to put one over on them! It jolly well
+can’t be done, you know!”
+
+Meanwhile Jim, not completely sharing Reggie’s optimism, reached the
+clubhouse just as Joe emerged from it.
+
+“Hello!” said the latter, his eyes brightening at sight of Jim.
+“Thought I’d never be able to give McRae and Robbie the slip? Did the
+girls get tired of waiting?”
+
+“Mabel sent me in search of you,” answered Jim, with a grin, then, his
+face sobering, he swiftly told Joe the main facts about McCarney and
+his mention of the fifty thousand dollar clean-up.
+
+“What do you think of it?” he asked.
+
+“Great Scott!” said Joe, raising a hand to his troubled forehead. “I
+don’t know yet. Give me a chance to think!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE TELLTALE PHOTOGRAPH
+
+
+“Clara’s sure the fellow was really McCarney, is she?” Joe asked, as
+they hurried across the field toward the grandstand. “She may have made
+a mistake in that. A great many fellows look like McCarney, you know.
+He isn’t an unusual type.”
+
+“Ask her and see,” returned Jim. “She can answer for herself.”
+
+Clara seemed quite willing to answer for herself. In reply to Joe’s
+sober questions she told him just what she had already told the others.
+When she came to the part about the tall, thin man who was with
+McCarney, Joe and Jim exchanged significant glances.
+
+Mabel caught the interchange and put a beseeching hand on Joe’s arm.
+
+“Joe,” she said, “if you are going to be in danger again――――” but Joe
+interrupted with his flashing smile.
+
+“Don’t go to worrying, honey,” he said reassuringly. “Clara’s story
+sounds a little queer, but there’s not a thing in the world to worry
+about. Let’s get on back to the hotel where we can finish our little
+powwow in quiet.”
+
+On the way home the chums tried to keep the conversation on a lighter
+plane, but they were, nevertheless, deeply troubled.
+
+Clara seemed strangely sure that the man she had seen on the station
+platform at Liberty had been none other than the Giants’ third baseman.
+Granted that she was not mistaken in this, then who was his companion?
+
+Lemblow, perhaps. The imaginations of Joe and Jim traveled even
+further, connecting McCarney’s companion with the strange man who had
+hurried from the half-completed building the day the lumber had fallen
+from the scaffold.
+
+When they reached the hotel, the same at which Joe and Jim had been
+staying and where the girls were to stay as long as they were in the
+city, Joe was all for making plans as to how they should spend their
+first evening together.
+
+But it did not take them long to discover that the girls were not
+yet in a party mood. They made it quite clear that they wanted this
+“mystery business” cleared up first. Clara, especially, seemed fidgety
+and nervous, and she had hardly taken off her wraps before she turned
+to Joe.
+
+“Joe, dear,” she said, “Jim says you have pictures of every ball player
+and near ball player in the world.”
+
+“Not quite,” said Joe modestly. “But, at that, I’ve got quite a scrap
+book. What do you want of my rogues’ gallery?”
+
+He knew quite well what she wanted of it, but he had made up his mind,
+for the sake of the girls, to treat the whole matter as lightly as
+possible.
+
+“I want to see every last picture you have,” said Clara, with pretty
+impetuousness. “I want to see if I can’t find some one.”
+
+“Look out, Jim,” said Joe, with a heavy frown. “You have a rival!”
+
+“Oh, dear!” groaned Jim, and Clara heartlessly made a face at him.
+
+“How do you know he has only one?” she asked, evidently referring to
+“rivals,” and poor Jim groaned again.
+
+While Joe went off for his “rogues’ gallery,” Reggie stood by the
+mantel, idly twirling his monocle, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
+However, when he found Mabel’s gaze upon him he smiled brightly and
+came over to sit beside her.
+
+“You know, I really should be going,” he said. “But, you know, I have
+the oddest desire to see this ‘rogues’ gallery’ for myself. I shouldn’t
+linger for a bally second longer, I shouldn’t really. There’s a fellow
+I must look up for the gov’nor without delay. I know jolly well I
+should be upon my way.”
+
+“Listen here, old boy,” said Joe, returning at that moment with a huge
+album which looked as if it might in all truth contain the picture of
+every ball player on the globe. “Whether you know it or not, you’re
+going to attend to no business to-night. You’re going to help paint
+this little town red along with the rest of our merry party. Don’t let
+’em tell you different.”
+
+“But I say, old chap, business is business, you know,” protested
+Reggie, but this time it was Jim who put down the protest.
+
+“Business!” he snorted. “And you can talk about business on your first
+night in the greatest little town in the world? Stow it, Reggie, before
+we make you!”
+
+“But, you know”――it came feebly, but it was still a protest――“I’m
+afraid I’ll be intruding, you know――the fly in the ointment――the odd
+member――all that sort of thing.”
+
+“Oh, Reggie, you ridiculous old dear,” cried Mabel, flinging an arm
+about his neck and effectually choking off the last part of his
+sentence. “Don’t be so absurd, honey. Don’t you know we couldn’t have
+any fun at all without you?”
+
+If Joe thought this was stretching the truth a bit, he did not say
+anything. It made Reggie happy, and of course it was fine to have the
+fellow along. However, he would not have been quite human if he had not
+wanted Mabel all to himself.
+
+As for Reggie, he was fairly beaming with pleasure.
+
+“I didn’t know you felt quite so strongly!” he cried. “Bah Jove I
+didn’t, you know.”
+
+“But now you do, and so it’s all settled,” broke in Clara, giving him
+an affectionate hug in her turn which brought a laughing remonstrance
+from Jim.
+
+“Look here!” he said. “Seems to me Reggie’s getting altogether too
+popular around here. If you’re passing that sort of thing around, why
+neglect me?”
+
+“I shan’t,” said Clara so softly that nobody heard but Jim, and before
+he could do anything about it she had turned swiftly and was holding
+out her hand for Joe’s album. “Let me have it, Joe,” she said. She was
+adorably flushed and no one――except Jim――understood the reason why.
+
+The two girls enthroned themselves on the couch with the album between
+them while the boys grouped themselves back of it. Over Mabel’s
+shoulder Joe turned the pages, pointing out the different players as he
+did so with a word of explanation for each.
+
+“But I want to see the Giant players, Joe,” said Clara.
+
+“You won’t find Lemblow on the Giants,” said Joe, and instantly could
+have bitten his tongue out for the slip. Both girls glanced up at him
+quickly.
+
+“Lemblow?” repeated Mabel breathlessly. “Then you know――you suspect――――”
+
+“I don’t know anything,” retorted Joe, almost brusquely, then added,
+with an immediate softening of his tone: “I didn’t mean to speak that
+way, dear, but I want to get this thing over with. Guess I’m hungry,”
+he ended, with a laugh.
+
+“Feed the brute,” added Jim. “I’m just about starved myself.”
+
+But the girls were not to be put off. They deluged them with questions
+as to who Lemblow was until in desperation the boys carried the attack
+into the enemy’s camp.
+
+“See here!” said Joe. “We refuse to answer any more questions. If we
+didn’t, you’d be sitting with that fool album in your laps for the
+rest of the night. Altogether, boys: ‘We want dinner!’ Again: ‘We want
+dinner!’”
+
+The three gave the cry with a gusto that made the girls laugh in spite
+of themselves.
+
+“Oh, well, if you want to be so mean!” said Clara, and again turned her
+attention to the album. Almost immediately she cried out, touching one
+of the pictures with her finger.
+
+“Look,” she said. “Here’s the one I’ve been looking for all the time!”
+
+“Which one?” asked Jim, as the boys leaned forward to get a better look.
+
+“The man who was talking to McCarney on the station platform,”
+explained Clara, so excited that she stammered. Mabel’s earnest eyes
+were fixed upon her. “I’d know that face, anywhere. He’s horrid
+looking, isn’t he? Like a snake or something scaly. Look at those lob
+ears of his.”
+
+She glanced up at the boys just in time to catch the look that flashed
+between them.
+
+“Then you do know him!” she exclaimed triumphantly. “Now maybe you’ll
+tell me his name.”
+
+“His name,” said Joe slowly, all fun temporarily gone from his eyes,
+“is Lemblow.”
+
+“And his reputation,” added Jim, with a faint grin, “is conspicuous by
+its absence.”
+
+“Oh, I knew it!” cried Clara, triumph giving place to real anxiety. “I
+knew he was a wretch from the first. Oh, Jim, what does it mean?”
+
+Jim looked at Joe and slowly shook his head.
+
+“It’s hard to tell what it means,” he said gravely.
+
+“I’ll jolly well say it is!” burst from Reggie, and at his vehemence
+the monocle, as though shocked by such an improper display of feeling,
+toppled from his eye. Reggie picked it up and nervously replaced it,
+squinting his eye as he did so till he looked like a scheming old
+magpie. “But one thing I do know, old chappie,” he added, more mildly,
+“these two men are a menace to the Giant team. You might even go so far
+as to say they are a menace to the Game itself――you really might, you
+know!”
+
+“Reggie, old chap,” said Joe dryly, “I could see that myself, without
+the aid of a monocle.”
+
+“But what do you think it means?” asked Mabel, her pretty forehead
+puckered in a troubled frown. “How could anybody make fifty thousand
+dollars out of baseball all at once?”
+
+“They couldn’t, if they made it straight,” returned Joe. “Of course
+there are various ways known to crooks by which a nifty little fortune
+may be made――――”
+
+“Such as throwing games and all that sort of thing?” queried Reggie.
+
+Joe nodded.
+
+“There are plenty of other ways too, I reckon, once you get wise
+to them,” he said. “The worst of it is,” he added, with a sudden
+clenching of his hands and a fierce look in his eyes, “that rascals
+like this Lemblow and McCarney not only plot against a special team
+or a certain group of men, but go further than that, as you yourself
+said, Reggie, and attempt to put a stain on the name of all baseball.
+The scoundrels!” he added, throwing back his head with a fierce gesture
+that made Mabel proud of him, even while she was half afraid. “Whatever
+rotten thing they’re working up, they’ll find they have me to reckon
+with.”
+
+“Me too, Joe,” said Jim grimly. “Don’t forget me.”
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The happy week that the boys spent with the girls flew by as
+though on wings. Every moment they could spare from the duties of
+their profession was spent in visiting with them the sights of the
+metropolis, and they did things in royal style. In the afternoons the
+girls were in a box at the Polo Grounds, and their hearts swelled with
+pride as they saw the splendid work of Joe and Jim and realized how
+high they stood in the affections of the followers of the game.
+
+But at last the time of parting came, and they faced it with sinking
+hearts but with brave smiles that showed what sports they were.
+
+“And remember, Joe,” were Mabel’s last words to Joe, as she leaned from
+the window of the train, “to keep on your guard against those wicked
+men.”
+
+“Don’t worry, honey,” replied Joe. “I still wear your glove against my
+heart. That’s my mascot.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+WONDERFUL WORK
+
+
+The Western clubs had come and gone and now the Giants were engaged in
+a short series with the rest of the Eastern teams before themselves
+starting on an invasion of the West.
+
+The Western clubs were decidedly the stronger half of the National
+League, and it was practically certain that one or the other of these
+would be the one that the Giants would have to beat if they again won
+the pennant.
+
+And there was not one of them that did not have a “look in” for the
+flag. St. Louis, as has been said, was especially strong with the bat,
+and her sluggers were feared by every pitcher in the league. She had a
+strong pitching staff, too, none of them bright particular stars with
+the exception of Leadows, but well up to major-league standards.
+
+Pittsburgh, too, was a team to be treated with respect. The boys from
+the Smoky City had been the runners-up in the previous season and
+during the winter they had secured some very promising material from
+the minor leagues. Their infield was a stone wall, and very little got
+by it. Their outfielders were batting well over the .300 mark, and one
+of them, Morey, the fleet-footed center fielder, was the leading base
+stealer of the league.
+
+Cincinnati had been going strong since Hughson had taken the reins of
+management and was maintaining a respectable standing compared with
+what it had held at the close of the last season. There were some
+disorganizing elements in the team, however, that would have to be
+rooted out before the nine could be recognized as a serious contender.
+Hughson had already spotted these and was casting about for available
+talent to take the place of those he intended to oust, but this
+promised to take some time.
+
+Chicago was really the club that the Giants were watching most
+carefully. Their pitching staff had been greatly strengthened and they
+were well provided for in every department of the game. They had got
+off on the wrong foot at the beginning of the season, but were now
+climbing steadily, and the way the Cubs had clawed their way through
+the Giant defense in the series lately concluded showed that they had
+to be reckoned with seriously.
+
+If the pennant were to stay in the East at all that season, the Giants
+must be depended on for the victory. Brooklyn had flashes of form in
+which they were simply unbeatable, especially when their opponents
+happened to be the Giants, against whom they always put forth their
+best efforts. But the very day after they had decorated their opponents
+with a row of goose eggs they were as likely as not to play like a
+lot of “bushers.” It seemed impossible for them to maintain a winning
+streak, and it was this in and out playing that militated against their
+chances for the flag.
+
+Boston had a good team, and when that was said it about “let them out.”
+It was not a great team, although there were two or three real stars on
+it that helped keep them in the running. At the present time they were
+sixth in the race, with very little chance of climbing much higher.
+
+The Phillies were going none too well, although better than the year
+before. Their outfield was as good as any in the league, and some
+weak spots in the pitching department had been strengthened by the
+substitution of new blood. Two or three of their rookies seemed to have
+in them the making of stars. With a stronger infield they might well
+be pennant contenders. But even as it was, they were always dangerous,
+and could stage a rally at the most unexpected moment. Any club that
+counted on them as “easy” was likely to have a rude awakening.
+
+But all clubs looked alike to Joe, who this season was showing the best
+form of his life. Never had he whipped the ball over the plate with
+more terrific speed. Many times the ball was in Mylert’s glove while
+the batsman was making a vain swing for it. The “hop” ball that he
+was making a specialty of this season had an uncanny jump just before
+it reached the plate that completely fooled the opposing batters.
+His fadeaway, too, had all the deceptive qualities that had made it
+a terror, and his other curves and slants were working with magical
+efficiency.
+
+Many elements combined to make him by far the finest pitcher in either
+league. One was the fact that he kept himself in perfect condition.
+He had no bad habits to sap his strength, no surreptitious drinking,
+no “jazzing it up” at all night dancing and card parties, such as too
+often have proved the ruin of promising players. He started every day
+with a clear head, a rested body, and with strength and vigor pulsing
+through his veins.
+
+Moreover, he had gained the knowledge and experience that gave him
+confidence when he faced the batters. He knew the strength and weakness
+of every player in the league, what kind of balls they liked, what kind
+they found hard to hit, and he served them up to them accordingly. And
+his control was so perfect that he could split the plate or cut the
+corners at will.
+
+With many clubs it is the custom of the catcher to signal the pitcher
+just what kind of ball to throw next. It was a tribute to Joe that
+Mylert had long since given this up, as he had learned to trust Joe’s
+judgment rather than his own.
+
+But apart from his natural pitching ability, there was a special reason
+for the wonderful record that Joe was making this season. The very fact
+that he felt himself the object of a conspiracy to discredit him roused
+all the resistance in his nature and made him determine that he would
+not be discredited. Every time he went into the box he put all that he
+had on the ball, and pitched as though that special game was one of the
+World Series. Of course he lost games once in a while, but they were so
+infrequent as to provoke surprise when it happened.
+
+McRae was delighted, and yet at the same time a little anxious for fear
+Joe would break down under the tremendous strain.
+
+“You’re doing wonderful work, boy,” he said one day in Philadelphia,
+when Joe had pitched a superb game, shutting out the Quaker City boys
+and allowing them only two hits, one of them a scratch. “But you want
+to be careful not to throw your arm out. If anything happened to that
+arm of yours, our chances for the pennant would glimmer away.”
+
+“Nothing to worry about, Mac,” laughed Joe. “It feels as fine as silk.
+If I had nothing more than that to worry over I’d be happy.”
+
+The last words had slipped from him before he thought, and the alert
+manager pounced upon them like a hawk.
+
+“What do you mean by that?” he asked, in some alarm. “What’s troubling
+you? Anything happened at home?”
+
+“Nothing like that,” answered Joe. “I couldn’t possibly be happier than
+I am in my home life.”
+
+“Then what is the matter?” persisted McRae. “You’ve as much as admitted
+that there is something. Come, out with it! Maybe I can help you in
+some way.”
+
+Joe reflected for a moment. He had said too much not to say more. He
+liked McRae, not only as a manager but as a man, and he had confidence
+in his discretion. Besides, it was something that in a certain sense
+McRae had a right to know. But he resolved not to mention names as yet.
+
+“I’ll tell you, Mac,” he said slowly. “I know you’ll keep it under your
+hat――for the present, anyway.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+ON THE TRAIL
+
+
+“You know, Mac, that I’m not easily fussed,” Joe went on, while the
+manager listened with strained attention. “I’ve been up against a lot
+of things since I’ve been in baseball, but so far have always managed
+to come out ahead.”
+
+“I know,” put in McRae. “They say that death loves a shining mark, and
+I’ve noticed that crooks do too. Once let a man come into the limelight
+as you have, and there’s always a bunch of rascals that begin figuring
+how they can make something out of him. I know how they’ve tried to
+dope you, cripple you, and even worse. For the love of Pete, don’t tell
+me they’ve been at it again.”
+
+“That’s just what has happened,” replied Joe, and then he went on to
+tell of the building material that had been pushed off the scaffold and
+from which he had so narrowly escaped with his life.
+
+“The scoundrels!” exclaimed McRae, worked up to a white heat. “If I
+could only get my hands on one of them there’d be one less rascal out
+of prison. Have you any idea who it is that’s trying to put it over on
+you? Give me a hint, and I’ll get the police after them in a hurry.”
+
+“That’s just what we’d better be careful about doing, don’t you think?”
+suggested Joe. “You know that baseball is on trial now with the public,
+and if anything of this kind should come out it might queer the game
+beyond recovery. It was a case of touch and go after that White Sox
+scandal broke, and anything else just now might prove the straw too
+much.”
+
+McRae pondered for a moment, wrinkling his brows.
+
+“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed reluctantly. “But does that mean
+that we’re going to lie down and let those rascals carry out their
+plans?”
+
+“Not by a jugful!” answered Joe. “We’re going to have those fellows
+tripped and hog-tied before they know where they’re at. But we’re going
+to do it so quietly that the outside world won’t get on to it. Trust
+me, Mac, to handle this matter myself.”
+
+“There’s no one that could do it better; I’m sure of that,” admitted
+the manager. “But you haven’t answered my question yet. Have you any
+idea who’s doing this?”
+
+“I have an idea,” affirmed Joe. “But I don’t want to do any one an
+injustice, and I’m not going to mention names until I’m sure I have the
+goods on them. Just leave them to my tender mercies, Mac, and trust
+in my lucky star. You know I’m lucky,” he added, with a grin, “or I
+wouldn’t be alive and whole to-day.”
+
+“It isn’t luck. It’s brains and pluck,” corrected the manager. “You
+weren’t behind the door when those things were handed out. I’ll leave
+it to you, then, Joe. But, for the love of goodness, be careful. You
+bet I’ll keep my own eyes peeled, too, from now on.”
+
+Robson and some of the other players came along just then and the
+conversation turned into other channels. But several times on the train
+ride back to New York Joe caught McRae’s eyes turned on him with a
+worried expression, and he knew what his manager was thinking about.
+
+The next morning Joe was on his way downtown on a business errand when
+he saw McCarney and Hupft get on the platform of a subway train as it
+stopped at a station. For a moment they seemed about to enter the car
+in which he was sitting, but they changed their minds and went into the
+car ahead.
+
+Joe was quite sure they had not seen him, and it occurred to him that
+here was an opportunity to follow his renegade team mates and perhaps
+discover something of the plot in which they were engaged.
+
+He kept a sharp eye on them, moving up to the front of his own car to
+note their movements better, and when he saw them rise as the train was
+slowing up at a station he followed suit, taking care to keep in the
+rear of the mass of passengers as they hurried out.
+
+The two plotters turned westward and pursued their way, talking
+earnestly, toward a disreputable section of the city near the river
+front. At the door of a saloon they halted and looked around. Joe had
+slipped behind an elevated road pillar and they did not see him.
+
+Apparently satisfied that they were not observed they went into the
+saloon.
+
+Joe sauntered along slowly and reached a point abreast of the saloon
+just as a rough looking character pushed open the swinging doors. As
+they swung back Joe got a glimpse of the interior. There were two or
+three men lounging in front of the bar, but McCarney and Hupft were not
+in sight.
+
+Joe had seen also that there was a row of stalls along a balcony at the
+side of the saloon with dingy curtains over them to insure a certain
+amount of privacy. He conjectured that the men he had been following
+were probably in one of these. His resolution was taken on the instant.
+
+He entered the place, which in addition to being a saloon was also
+run as a cheap hotel and restaurant, and went up to the bar. There he
+bought a cigar. While he lighted it, which he did deliberately, he
+noted from the sound of voices that one of the stalls was occupied.
+He ordered a meal to be brought to him and went up the stairs to the
+balcony and into the adjoining stall.
+
+There was a murmur of conversation from the stall next to him,
+and although the voices were pitched low he had no difficulty in
+identifying them as those of Hupft and McCarney. Hupft seemed to be in
+a despondent mood, and McCarney was evidently trying to brace him up.
+
+“I tell you, it’s no use,” Joe heard Hupft say. “That fellow has the
+Indian sign on us. No matter how we try to down him, he wins.”
+
+“He’ll break down soon,” McCarney said confidently. “His luck can’t
+last forever. You can see he’s throwing his arm out. The harder we make
+it for him to win games the sooner he’ll have to quit. And think of the
+melon we’ll split between us when he does.”
+
+“We’ll have to floor him before he quits,” muttered Hupft. “And that’s
+no easy job either. The fellow has as many lives as a cat. Lemblow
+thought he had him dead to rights in that timber tumble, but he got
+away with scarcely a scratch.”
+
+Joe was listening with all his ears when the curtain was pushed aside
+and a waiter entered with a tray. He set it down on the table and as he
+glanced at Joe let out an exclamation.
+
+“Ain’t you Baseball Joe?” he asked. “Sure you are! I’ve seen your
+picture many a time!”
+
+Joe motioned him to be silent, but it was too late. There were muttered
+exclamations and the scraping of chairs in the adjoining stall, and the
+next moment Hupft and McCarney were blocking the door.
+
+“So you were spying on us, were you?” snarled Reddy, whose flushed face
+showed he had been drinking.
+
+He lunged forward as he spoke, while McCarney also rushed at Joe.
+
+The latter’s right fist shot out and caught Hupft a terrific blow
+straight between the eyes, sending him staggering back against the
+partition. The next moment Joe’s left had landed on McCarney’s jaw.
+
+They were back at him a moment later, and they went at it hammer and
+tongs. Joe could have handled either one of them easily, but the two
+made a formidable combination. Still he was getting the better of it
+when his foot slipped in the débris of the meal that had been dashed to
+the floor and he went down heavily, striking the back of his head. He
+was stunned, and the next instant McCarney and Hupft were both on top
+of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE POLICE RAID
+
+
+What might have happened to Joe at that critical minute is a matter for
+conjecture had not fate――or the police――decided to take a hand in the
+matter.
+
+Lying there half unconscious, his hands pinioned by McCarney, Reddy’s
+bulk on his chest and Reddy’s liquor-laden breath in his face, Joe did
+not at first understand the cause of the sudden noise and confusion
+below stairs.
+
+All he knew was that his head hurt him unbearably and that in his heart
+was a rage that dulled even the pain in his head. Then gradually he
+realized that the situation was changed.
+
+The sound of running feet, the sound of raised voices, some bullying,
+some fearful, became louder and louder until they penetrated even
+Joe’s fading consciousness. He was aware that McCarney had left off
+brandishing his fist in his face and that Reddy had suddenly removed
+his weight from off his chest.
+
+He stopped not to argue about the cause of this good fortune but
+weakly and dizzily raised himself to his knees. When he had, by dint of
+all the will power he possessed plus a grip on the rickety table beside
+him, managed to raise himself to his feet, he found that Reddy and
+McCarney had miraculously disappeared.
+
+He looked toward the window and found that it was open. He pressed his
+hand to his aching forehead impatiently and fought to be able to think
+clearly.
+
+Then he caught a phrase from among the shouts and cries that filled the
+rooms beneath him, and that phrase roused him immediately to the need
+for action.
+
+“Get the whisky, boys!” a husky voice ordered. “We’ve got the men――now
+what we need is evidence. We’ll wipe this joint off the map!”
+
+“A raid! A prohibition-agents’ raid!” thought Joe, his brain now
+functioning quickly enough. That was the reason Reddy and McCarney had
+left him so suddenly just when they had him where they wanted him.
+Well, it was up to him to leave suddenly, too. If he were caught here!
+
+Swift feet were running up the stairs. No possibility of escape in that
+direction. The back stairs? No, that was hopeless too. To reach the
+back stairs he must first enter the corridor, and to do that would be
+to invite disaster. The window! That was his only chance. In a moment
+more police would be entering the room. How could he explain?
+
+He rushed to the window, taking a quick survey. He had but a minute
+to think. Eagerly he looked out, but only a blank brick wall met his
+anxious gaze. No window underneath this one, no shed to break his fall.
+
+He must take his chance, anyway. It was his only chance. Voices were
+even then on the balcony. Quick as a cat, he lifted himself over the
+sill, lowering his length along the side of the blank brick wall until
+he was hanging by his hands, only the tips of his fingers showing over
+the window sill.
+
+Allowing himself no time to think, he dropped, at the same time
+flinging his body outward so that it might not strike against the wall.
+
+The ground seemed to come up to meet him and he landed with a jar that
+seemed to shake loose every tooth in his head. Lucky for him that the
+patch of ground beside the disreputable little hotel had never been
+filled in with cement. It was hard enough and lumpy enough, but it was
+not as hard as cement.
+
+Satisfied that no bones were broken and that his legs were still in
+good working order, Joe wasted no time before making use of them.
+
+Luckily there were no policemen guarding that side of the hotel. There
+were few windows, and those high, and no doors and evidently the
+prohibition agents had discounted the possibility of any one escaping
+from that quarter. Also they had come after “evidence” more than
+prisoners, a fact which also worked in Joe’s favor.
+
+After skirting the rear of the building next to the hotel, Joe,
+straightening his clothing as well as he could, ventured out on the
+sidewalk. It was at that moment that he realized he had left his hat
+inside.
+
+Probably no one, except the poor wretch who is unfortunate enough to
+have been in a similar predicament at one time or another, can possibly
+imagine what Joe felt at that moment. Also he had never before realized
+what an important part of a man’s attire a hat really is.
+
+“You sort of get to take your head gear for granted, I guess,” he mused
+unhappily, as he walked along as nonchalantly as he could, trying to
+look as if it were his regular custom to appear hatless in the street.
+
+But in spite of his valiant attempt to seem unconcerned he soon
+realized that, even in that rather disreputable quarter of the town, he
+was attracting unwelcome attention.
+
+“Maybe I’ve got a black eye or a cut lip,” he mused miserably as he
+hurried along, trying not to notice the stares that followed him and
+the occasional laugh and gibe of some humorously inclined passer-by.
+“Shouldn’t wonder if I were a fit candidate for a circus side show.
+Some mess that was to get mixed up in!”
+
+But when an impertinent “newsie,” grinning from ear to ear, held out
+a disreputable and tattered cap for his inspection, inviting him
+gleefully to “help yourself――it ain’t much, but it’s the best I got,
+Mister,” Joe lost what little aplomb he had left.
+
+A passing taxicab caught his eye and he made a running jump for it, saw
+that it was empty, opened the door and got in before the surprised and
+outraged driver could do more than open his mouth and shut it again.
+
+A minute later the car slowed down and the chauffeur glared in at the
+occupant of his cab.
+
+“Say, what d’you think you’re doin’?” he growled, but he got no
+further. All the pent-up irritation and wrath that had been simmering
+in Joe for the past hour was poured forth on that unfortunate
+chauffeur’s head.
+
+This had the effect of ending the discussion right there as far as the
+chauffeur was concerned. Having firmly come to the conclusion in his
+own mind that a lunatic had taken possession of his cab he decided to
+take his passenger to his destination and there to drop him at the
+first possible minute.
+
+So it happened that a short time later, having paid the taxicab
+driver, Joe entered the rear of his hotel and made a break for the
+stairs.
+
+He was not going to trust himself even to the mercies of the elevator
+boy, who knew and revered him as an idol. As a matter of fact, Joe was
+not particularly eager to meet anybody until he had had a chance to
+look at himself in the mirror and discover to what extent――if any――his
+features had been damaged. Also, he wanted a hat! Oh, he very badly
+wanted a hat!
+
+In the corridor Baseball Joe met Jim, evidently sallying forth to
+practice, and the latter stood and stared――at least, that is what he
+would have done had the exasperated Joe given him a chance.
+
+In another moment they were both within Joe’s room with the door closed
+against unwelcome intrusion.
+
+“Now out with it!” Joe said. “Do your worst. Am I a total wreck?”
+
+“I think you’re a total loss as far as appearances are concerned,” Jim
+retorted. “Where’s your hat?”
+
+Joe groaned and made a rush for the bathroom beyond. There he could
+examine his countenance for himself. To his intense relief he found
+that Reddy and McCarney had left no signs of their attack other than a
+rather large bump on the back of the head.
+
+He was fingering this gingerly when Jim entered the room. In the
+mirror Joe caught sight of the worried expression his chum wore and
+grinned broadly. He was beginning at last to see the funny side of his
+adventure.
+
+“I say, Joe,” Jim said, not returning his chum’s grin, “what’s up,
+anyway? You’ve run into something. Stop grinning and give me the story.”
+
+“If you’ll wait till I get a bath and jump into some clean things, I’ll
+tell you the fool I made of myself――and more besides,” answered Joe,
+with a longing glance at the tub.
+
+So, after he had splashed around in hot water that took the ache out
+of his bones and then splashed his face with cold water that assuaged
+the ache in his head, Joe told Jim the startling events that had taken
+place since his determination to follow Hupft and McCarney and find out
+what they were up to.
+
+“Whew!” whistled Jim, as, a few minutes later, he watched Joe put
+on a clean collar. “You certainly did stage some little show all by
+yourself, didn’t you? Pity you couldn’t let a fellow in on it.”
+
+“You ought to be glad I didn’t,” retorted Joe. “It was no nice party,
+I’m telling you.”
+
+“But, say!” Jim went on excitedly. “This thing about Reddy and McCarney
+being in cahoots, joining hands in the great conspiracy stuff――what are
+you going to do about that?”
+
+“What is there to do about it?” asked Joe, with a shrug of his
+shoulders as he turned from the mirror and caught up a hat. “We don’t
+really know any more than we did before, only that our suspicions have
+been to some extent verified. If that fool waiter hadn’t come around
+just as he did I might have listened to some purpose. I haven’t learned
+yet what ring is backing them up. We’d better be on our way,” he added.
+“We’ll be late for practice as it is. Plenty of time to finish our talk
+on the way down.”
+
+“I can’t get this thing straight in my mind yet,” Jim complained, as
+they hurried along toward the field. “It begins to look as if McRae
+were right――as if this gang of crooks were really out for blood. But,
+Joe, I’m glad the cops chose that time to raid the hotel.”
+
+“What’s the idea?” asked Joe, as he skillfully wriggled and darted
+through the traffic. “I don’t get you.”
+
+“You poor old simpleton!” retorted Jim affectionately. “Do you know
+where you would be now if that raid hadn’t scared off McCarney and
+Hupft?”
+
+“I don’t know,” returned Joe, with a grin. “But I have a strong
+suspicion it would be somewhere far away from here.”
+
+“Just so,” returned Jim, adding with more than a little anxiety in his
+tone: “You’ve got to stop jumping in where angels fear to tread. Or,
+if you must do it, at least seek company in your jumpings. You’ve more
+than yourself to think of, you know. There’s Mabel.”
+
+“I know,” said Joe steadily. “Don’t suppose I’m not always thinking of
+her, old man. But I’ve got my duty to the league and the great game
+too. Not even Mabel would want me to forget that.”
+
+“Just the same,” retorted Jim stubbornly, “it won’t help the game any
+if you get injured!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+KEEPING IT CLOSE
+
+
+“What are you going to do about telling McRae and Robbie?” queried Jim,
+as the two players neared the baseball park. “Don’t you suppose they
+ought to know?”
+
+“I’ve thought about that,” said Joe. “But I haven’t found out very
+much――――”
+
+“Except that two of the Giants’ players frequent disreputable hotels
+and partake of contraband liquor while they hatch up their evil
+schemes,” Jim reminded him dryly. “That information ought to go a long
+way toward discrediting McCarney and Reddy Hupft for life.”
+
+“But it wouldn’t stop their plotting,” Joe retorted. “They’d go on
+hatching their rotten schemes just the same, only in such a way that
+we’d have hard work bringing the guilt home to them. No, I’d rather
+have them where I can watch them until some time when I have the chance
+to get the real goods on them.”
+
+“Perhaps you’re right,” said Jim doubtfully, adding suddenly: “How do
+you know they didn’t get pinched in the raid?”
+
+“I don’t,” answered Joe. “Only they beat it at the first sign of
+trouble and probably had a chance to get away. It would be some joke,”
+he added, as they walked together toward the entrance of the field, “if
+they had been caught.”
+
+“Some joke on them――but one also on the team,” added Jim.
+
+“Yes, there it is again. You can’t punish one member of a nine without
+reflecting more or less on the whole team.” Joe stopped short and
+stared out to the field where several of the players were already in
+practice. “Say, Jim, do you see what I see, or am I dreaming again?”
+
+“It’s Reddy and his pal McCarney all right,” said Jim grimly. “They
+gave the police the slip that time, and I suppose they’ll do it many
+times more before they’re caught.”
+
+“But when they’re caught, oh, boy!” said Joe, with relish.
+
+They were still standing, staring out toward the diamond, when Robbie
+hurried up to them.
+
+“What do you boys think this is, a star-gazing contest?” he demanded.
+
+“You’ve got your time wrong, Robbie,” said Joe, grinning. “There are no
+stars.”
+
+“You bet there ain’t!” retorted Robbie, with heavy sarcasm. “Not on
+this team, anyway!”
+
+The boys chuckled and, still chuckling, entered the clubhouse.
+
+“Well, if Robbie hasn’t any stars on the team he certainly has a couple
+of crooks,” commented Jim.
+
+“Wonder how long it will be before he tumbles to it,” conjectured Joe.
+
+“What do you suppose those two will do, Hupft and McCarney, I mean, when
+they see you back safe and sound and in your normal state?” asked Jim,
+in a carefully lowered voice.
+
+“That’s what I intend to find out,” said Joe, with a chuckle of
+amusement. “I bet they’ll be surprised to see me.”
+
+Jim stared at him for a minute, then chuckled in his turn.
+
+“Never thought of that,” he said. “I suppose they’ve had it all fixed
+up in their own minds that you were caught in the raid.”
+
+Joe nodded.
+
+“And it’s just due to the barest chance in the world,” he added
+seriously, “that I wasn’t.”
+
+Jim considered this new angle of the case for a moment.
+
+“Just what would you have done, Joe, if the police had found you in
+that place?” he asked.
+
+“I’d have told them the truth, of course. What else could I have done?”
+
+“Do you think they would have believed you?” asked Jim.
+
+Joe shrugged his shoulders.
+
+“No telling,” he answered. “I had no proof, you know. No witnesses,
+only my word. They would have let me off, probably, but it would have
+made an ugly story――something for Hupft and McCarney to chuckle over.
+No, sir, it’s lucky for me I found a means of exit.”
+
+“Even if you did nearly break your neck,” added Jim.
+
+“You notice I didn’t,” laughed Joe.
+
+As the two were leaving the clubhouse Joe grasped his friend’s arm and
+reiterated what he had said more than once:
+
+“Not a word of this to Mabel, you know, old man, or Clara either. It
+would only worry them, and they’ve had enough to worry over since Clara
+overheard McCarney and Lemblow in their scheming. Not a word!”
+
+“Not a word!” returned Jim emphatically.
+
+As the chums approached the diamond they looked at Hupft and McCarney,
+who were tossing the ball to each other――looked at them with a more
+than ordinary degree of interest.
+
+Aside from the suspicion of a black rim around Reddy’s left eye and a
+slight swelling of McCarney’s naturally thick and heavy upper lip, no
+sign could be seen of the hearty fight in which they two and Joe had
+participated.
+
+“That’s tough luck,” Joe murmured, in a crestfallen aside to Jim. “I
+surely thought I landed at least a couple of good rights. It seems as
+though, someway or other, I’d missed doing my duty.”
+
+“At that, they got more out of it than you did,” returned Jim, in the
+same modulated voice. “Your face has the smoothness of a babe, as it
+were.”
+
+“Yes, but you ought to feel the back of my head,” said Joe ruefully.
+“I’ve got a bump there the size of a hen’s egg.”
+
+“That’s probably where you hit the floor,” said Jim, and then it was
+necessary to discontinue the _sub rosa_ conversation, as they had come
+within earshot of the two players.
+
+If Joe was curious as to just the manner in which his erstwhile
+assailants meant to greet him, he was not long kept in doubt.
+
+As his glance crossed that of Reddy Hupft the latter merely scowled
+faintly and looked away, shouting something to Larry, who had just come
+up.
+
+“Snubbed, by Jiminy!” murmured Joe, and Jim replied with a grin as he
+turned and loped off toward the pitcher’s box.
+
+Later, when Joe and McCarney came face to face, the experience was
+repeated, only that there was a little more ferocity in the latter’s
+stony glance.
+
+“That fellow McCarney surely does hate me like poison,” Joe communed,
+as he played with the ball in practice, sending little teasers over the
+plate that kept the unfortunate batters in a state somewhere between
+apoplexy and nervous prostration. “I’d like to meet him again some time
+when the odds aren’t two to one.”
+
+It was hard for him to make up his mind in the hour or two that
+followed whether to tell McRae of his experience or whether to let the
+matter go by, for the time at least.
+
+One minute he was not sure but what it was McRae’s right to know the
+story and the next moment he was telling himself that, since he had
+really learned nothing from the overheard conversation between McCarney
+and Hupft, there was no vital reason why he should say anything about
+it.
+
+He was in the latter frame of mind when, after practice, McRae led him
+to a secluded corner of the field. The manager looked about him to make
+sure that no one was within earshot, and then turned to Joe, saying
+abruptly:
+
+“See here, Joe, I’m worried. There’s something wrong with this
+team――all-fired wrong. And that something is Reddy Hupft and McCarney.
+They’re not working right. They’re going stale and they’re having an
+effect on the rest of the team. Did you notice them to-day?”
+
+“What about them?” Joe asked evasively.
+
+“They’ve been drinking,” said McRae, pounding a big fist in the palm of
+his hand by way of emphasis. “I talked to Reddy, and his breath nearly
+knocked me over. And when a ball player begins to drink, you know as
+well as I do that that’s the end of him. I tell you, something’s got to
+be done or we’ll be getting new men for third base and center-field.”
+
+For several minutes longer the manager aired his grievances with Joe as
+a sympathetic and equally worried listener and several times it was on
+the point of Joe’s tongue to tell McRae what had happened that day. But
+always something held him back.
+
+“Wait,” said a voice within his brain. “Wait till you have some real
+evidence. Then you can not only talk, but act!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+A NO-HIT GAME
+
+
+The time had now come for the Giants’ invasion of the West, and they
+started out in fine fettle, although they knew they had hard work ahead
+of them.
+
+This year there was to be no runaway race for the pennant. All the
+Western teams were up on their toes to bring the flag to their own
+section. Since Joe had come to the Giants that team had won the
+championship for several years in succession, and from the Western
+point of view that would never do. Each team, of course, wanted it for
+themselves, but at any rate if they could not win it they wanted it to
+go to some other Western team. So the slogan was: “Anything to beat the
+Giants.”
+
+Their best pitchers were carefully groomed and kept in reserve for the
+games with the conquering New Yorkers, while the other pitchers did
+the bulk of the twirling in the less important games. In each series
+of four games the various managers maneuvered so that their king-pin
+pitcher worked in the first and fourth games, so that they could hurl
+their pitching star twice at least against the invaders. This was
+perfectly legitimate from the standpoint of shrewd management, but it
+can easily be seen that it made the Giants’ task a good deal harder
+than that of any other club.
+
+But the Giants were a fighting club, made up for the most part of
+veterans of many a hard-fought campaign, and the stiffer the opposition
+the more their battling spirit rose to meet it. The very bitterness
+of the opposition was a compliment in itself, and with Joe and Jim
+pitching the game of their lives they faced the foe with confidence.
+
+That confidence, to be sure, would have been still greater had it not
+been for the indifferent playing of Hupft and McCarney that was now
+becoming a matter of comment among all the players. McRae had his lines
+out for likely material to supplant those two, but he had not yet been
+able to land what seemed like major league material and so was forced
+to keep them on a little longer.
+
+But the demon pitching done by Joe and Jim had thus far made up for the
+deficiencies at third and center, and the Giants started their swing
+around the Western circle at the head of the league and two games to
+the good. That, of course, was only a slender margin, and might be
+wiped out in a few days of hard luck, but it at least gave them an
+“edge” on their rivals. McRae was figuring on taking at least ten of
+the sixteen games to be played on the present trip, and if he could do
+that there was every prospect that the Giants would return home in the
+lead. Then, with a long series on their home grounds in prospect, there
+was a good chance that the Giants could get so far out in the lead that
+they would never be headed.
+
+Their first series was with Cincinnati, and here they struck a snag in
+Hughson’s rejuvenated team. The Reds were playing championship ball
+and ran away with three games out of four. This was a setback, but
+the Giants evened the score when they made a similar killing with the
+Pittsburghs as the victims. At St. Louis the team met with rain on one
+of the days scheduled, and were able to play only three games. But as
+they annexed two of these, McRae, to use his own phrase, “had no kick
+coming.”
+
+It was at Chicago that the real test came. The Windy City boys had
+their fighting togs on and neither gave nor asked for quarter. The
+games were for blood from the tap of the bell. Joe won the first by a
+shut out――won in a double sense by hitting a homer for the only run
+scored by his side. Jim was next and pitched superbly in a game that
+went for thirteen innings, and was only won by Chicago in the last by
+an error of McCarney. The Cubs repeated the dose on the following day,
+when a perfect deluge of hits came from their bats that drove Markwith
+to the showers and gave Chicago the game by a score of 11 to 5.
+
+Chicago players, fans and newspapers were jubilant and implored the
+Cubs to put on the finishing touch by winning the last game of the
+series.
+
+The Giants had now won seven and lost seven of their Western trip and
+the result of the final game would decide whether they should go back
+to New York with the tally on the right or wrong side of the ledger.
+
+“Those fellows are calling themselves Giant-killers, Joe,” said McRae,
+as the teams were warming up in practice before a tremendous crowd
+that packed every inch of the stands and bleachers on the day of the
+final game. “I want you to go out and show them that you’re some little
+Cub-killer yourself.”
+
+“I’ll try to bring their pelt back to the clubhouse,” responded Joe,
+with a grin.
+
+The Cubs were relying on their great pitcher Axander, who was regarded
+as being only second to Joe himself in the National League, and the
+fans settled down to witness a battle royal.
+
+The Giants, as the visiting club, were first at bat, and Axander
+made short work of them. Curry fouled out on the second ball pitched.
+Iredell sent up a twisting fly to short that Harker gathered in. The
+redoubtable Burkett was completely buffaloed and struck out.
+
+Axander was received with a tempest of cheers as he went to the bench
+and was compelled to doff his cap in acknowledgment.
+
+But Joe went him one better by setting down the Cubs on strikes in
+their half. The ball whizzed over the plate with the whine of a bullet.
+He had speed to burn and the Cub batsmen never had a chance.
+
+It was evident that a pitching duel was impending, and this was what
+McRae was praying for. Let it come to a matter of twirling, and he was
+willing to bet on Joe against the world.
+
+The second, third and fourth innings were also scoreless for either
+side. Wheeler had found Axander for a single and Joe had poled out a
+crashing triple, but their comrades were unable to bring them in.
+
+Not a hit as yet had been scored on Joe. When the Cubs connected
+with the ball at all, they hit it on the under side for a fly to the
+outfielders or dribbled easy ones that were gobbled up by the infield.
+But his chief reliance was on strike-outs, as he wanted to give
+McCarney and Hupft as few chances as possible.
+
+In the fifth, two singles in succession got Giants on bases, but
+Axander tightened up and they got no farther. Still they were finding
+that Axander could be hit, and that it itself was something.
+
+But no such encouragement came to the Cubs. Try as they might, they
+could not solve Joe’s delivery. He mixed up his fast ones with an
+occasional slow one that they broke their backs reaching for, while Joe
+grinned at them tantalizingly. His hop ball was working to perfection
+and his fadeaway stood the Chicagos on their heads.
+
+“You’re a lot of old women,” stormed the Chicago manager, Evans, as one
+after the other of his men came discomfited to the bench. “Why don’t
+you go in and knock his head off, you bunch of sand-lot boobs?”
+
+“Aw, that feller ain’t a pitcher, he’s a wizard,” growled Burton, the
+Cub’s heaviest slugger. “He’s got the ball bewitched.”
+
+“Here, let’s see that ball,” shouted Evans, walking out toward the box
+as Joe was winding up. “Come here, umps,” he added, motioning to the
+umpire. “I want you to examine this ball and make sure there’s nothing
+phony about it.”
+
+Joe surrendered it with a laugh. He had never resorted to the tricks
+used by some pitchers of “roughening” or “shining” or putting resin on
+the ball so as to give it a peculiar motion. His arm and his head had
+been his only reliance.
+
+The umpire and manager examined the ball with the utmost care but could
+find no fault with it. A huge guffaw came from the Giants, as Evans
+reluctantly handed back the ball, and even the Chicago fans gave him
+the laugh.
+
+“Satisfied, Mr. Evans?” grinned Joe with elaborate politeness. “Now,
+just to show you that there are no hard feelings, trot out your
+rough-necks and I’ll strike them out in order――one, two, three, just
+like that.”
+
+This he did in jig time and in such a masterly fashion that the Chicago
+rooters, eager as they were to see the home team win, could not refrain
+from applauding him. They were beginning to realize that they were
+watching the performance of the greatest pitcher that had ever walked
+into the box.
+
+In the very next inning they realized also that they were watching the
+mightiest slugger that had ever swung a bat, when Joe, with one man on
+base, caught one of Axander’s fast ones on the end of his bat and sent
+it screaming over the center-field wall for the longest homer that had
+ever been clouted on the Chicago grounds. The ice was broken, and the
+score stood 2 to 0 in favor of the Giants.
+
+“You’re a miracle man to-day, Joe!” exclaimed McRae, beaming on him.
+“You’re winning your own game with a vengeance. Now all you have to do
+is to hold those birds down and we’ll have bagged the game.”
+
+One other thing was being borne in on the Chicago fans, and that was
+that they were possibly to see that rarest of things on the diamond――a
+no-hit game. Here it was the seventh inning, and not even the semblance
+of a hit had been scored on Joe. Axander had yielded five in all, of
+which Joe had gathered two. But Joe had an absolutely clean score.
+Could he keep it up?
+
+The Chicago manager growled and raged and implored his men to do
+something. They tried desperately, but it was Joe’s day and he would
+not be denied. They resorted to all the tricks of the trade, tried to
+bunt, tried to get hit with the ball, anything to get on first. Their
+coachers roared from the side lines in an attempt to rattle Joe. But he
+was as cold as ice, as hard as steel.
+
+He had never felt more sure of himself. He had thrown aside his cap and
+looked like a young Viking as he stood in the box, hurling the ball
+over with such tremendous speed that it defied the eye to follow it,
+or sending it in with such deceptive slants that he had the batsman
+striking wildly at the air. His control was perfect. The ball seemed
+inspired with almost human intelligence. It whizzed, it dodged, it
+jumped, it dropped, as though guided by a spring.
+
+The seventh inning passed. Not a hit.
+
+The eighth inning passed. Still no hit. Joe was simply toying with the
+batsmen. He held his enemies in the hollow of his hand.
+
+Axander had also kept the Giants from scoring any more runs, and was
+pitching a brand of ball that would have won nine games out of ten.
+
+In the last half of the ninth, the Chicagos came in for their final
+stand with the head of their batting order at the bat. Yells of
+encouragement came from the rooters as they implored them to stage a
+last-inning rally.
+
+Burton came to the plate. “One strike.” “One ball.” “Foul strike.”
+“Three strikes.” “Out!”
+
+Next came Gallagher. “One ball.” “Two balls.”
+
+“Wait him out,” yelled Evans. “He’s getting wild. He’s weakening. We’ll
+get him yet.”
+
+“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three strikes.” “Out!”
+
+Weston, the Chicago’s last hope, came third.
+
+“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three strikes.” “Out!”
+
+The greatest game that Chicago had seen for years was over, and the
+Giants had won by a score of 2 to 0.
+
+Not a run had been scored by Chicago. Not a Cub had touched a base. Not
+a man had been passed to first on balls. Not a Cub had made a hit!
+
+It was a no-hit game without a blemish, the greatest that Joe had
+pitched in his whole great career. And to cap it all, his own homer had
+brought the Giants out at the big end of the score.
+
+The jubilation of McRae and Robson and the rest of the Giants, with the
+exception of Hupft and McCarney, was beyond description. Their most
+formidable foe had been humbled, and the Giants could go back to New
+York in a blaze of glory.
+
+Joe had been so pounded and knocked about by his hilarious comrades
+that he was later in dressing than most of his mates, many of whom had
+finished and drifted away from the clubhouse to get ready for the train
+ride home. By the time Joe had completed his bath, the only occupants
+besides himself and Jim were Hupft and McCarney.
+
+Just as Joe stepped from under the shower Hupft came past him hurriedly
+and stepped on Joe’s bare foot with his own heavily shod foot. The pain
+was excruciating and Joe gave vent to an exclamation.
+
+“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.
+
+“Aw, what are you grouching about?” growled Hupft. “Do you think I did
+it on purpose?”
+
+But Joe had caught a triumphant gleam in his eyes that belied his words.
+
+“I know you did!” he cried. “Now, Reddy Hupft, I’m going to pay you
+something of what I owe you.”
+
+His fist shot out with a terrific impact against Reddy’s jaw. The
+latter staggered and almost fell, but, recovering himself, rushed
+furiously at Joe.
+
+The latter met him with a straight left that shook him from head to
+heels. Two others followed, delivered with such force that Hupft
+measured his length on the floor.
+
+McCarney had made a move to rush to Hupft’s assistance, but Jim barred
+the way with blazing eyes.
+
+“No, you don’t!” he cried. “One move, and I’ll smash you to bits!”
+
+McCarney “curled up” promptly, while Jim with clenched fists kept guard
+over him.
+
+“Come,” cried Joe, as he stood over his fallen antagonist. “Stand up so
+that I can knock you down again. I’m just getting warmed up.”
+
+“I’ve had enough,” growled Reddy, spitting out a tooth. “But you can
+bet McRae will hear of this.”
+
+“Tell him and welcome,” returned Joe, as he started to resume his
+dressing. “But pick yourself up now and get out of this clubhouse. If
+you’re here when I get my shoes on, I’ll kick you out.”
+
+The precious pair slouched out of the house, their eyes burning with
+rage and malice.
+
+“They’re bad medicine, Joe,” remarked Jim, as he watched them depart.
+“Be on the watch, for they’ll try to get even for this. But, gee, it
+warmed my heart to see the trimming you gave Hupft! Those smashes you
+handed him were beauties.”
+
+Jim’s prophecy was quickly realized, for that night, as the chums were
+hurrying for the train that was to carry them to New York, a jagged
+piece of railroad iron came whizzing past Joe’s head, missing him by no
+more than a couple of inches. They looked about, but could see nobody,
+and as their time was limited they had no chance to hunt for their
+unknown assailant. But in their hearts they had no doubt as to the
+source of the attack.
+
+“One more debt I owe to Hupft and McCarney,” commented Joe, as they
+settled into their train seats. “The account is getting pretty long,
+but heaven help them when the time comes for settling!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE STARTLING TELEGRAM
+
+
+“Want to do the biggest work of your young life to-day, Joe?”
+
+It was McRae speaking shortly after the team’s return to New York, and
+Joe grinned at him cheerfully.
+
+“Surest thing you know,” he said. “Before I get through with them
+to-day that Boston gang are going to wish they’d never been born. Maybe
+it’s the air, but I never felt more fit than I do at this minute.”
+
+It was the truth. At that moment Baseball Joe had never felt more
+confident, never felt more utterly sure that he could make the ball
+dance to his whistle.
+
+It was the early afternoon of the day when they were to play the big
+game with Boston. The boys had turned out early, hoping to get in a
+little extra practice before the game began. They were working out in
+fine shape and things looked extremely hopeful for the Giants.
+
+It was the kind of day just made for a game; cool for the time of year
+but clear as a bell. The air itself was a tonic, and as Joe tossed the
+ball with a speed and brilliance that delighted his mates it seemed
+indeed as though the spirit of the day had entered that good right arm
+of his. He was invincible.
+
+“Going to give it to them right where they live to-day all right, old
+boy,” said Jim gleefully, as they paused for a breathing space. “Boston
+hasn’t a pitcher that’s in the same class with you. But say,” he added
+seriously, with a quick lowering of his voice, “have you noticed
+anything queer about Reddy and McCarney?”
+
+“Nothing more than usual,” said Joe absently. His mind was on the
+beating they were going to give Boston and in his eyes was the light
+of battle. At that moment he had no thoughts to waste on anything as
+insignificant as Hupft and McCarney.
+
+But as Jim seemed to want to talk about them Joe listened absently, his
+eager eyes still on the diamond.
+
+“They’ve been watching you all morning when you didn’t know it,” Jim
+said, and there was no mistaking the worried note in his voice. “Once
+I caught them whispering together, and Reddy looked toward you and
+laughed. I tell you, Joe, I’ll bet anything I own those two are cooking
+up mischief for this afternoon.”
+
+“That seems to be their favorite outdoor sport,” returned Joe,
+with a grin. Then, seeing that his chum was still grave, he added,
+reassuringly, “Don’t worry, old man. There isn’t a thing in the world
+can stop me to-day.”
+
+Some say it is bad luck to boast, and in this particular instance it
+certainly looked as though there was some truth in the saying. For the
+words were scarcely out of Joe’s mouth when McRae appeared with a small
+uniformed boy in tow.
+
+“Here’s your man, Johnnie,” he said to the lad, indicating Joe, and the
+boy, with a look of utter adoration on his freckled face, handed Joe a
+yellow envelope.
+
+“You’re Baseball Joe, ain’t you?” he queried eagerly, and when Joe
+nodded an amused assent he rattled on excitedly: “I knowed you wuz
+’cause I’ve seen your pitchers in de paper. An’ onct in a while I have
+a grandstand seat. Gee, it’s swell! See dat hole in de fence?” He
+pointed with one small, grubby finger. “Dat’s him.”
+
+“Sure,” said Joe, gravely. “You have the right idea, old man. Why,
+that’s where I began my first education in baseball――through a hole in
+the fence!”
+
+“Didjou?” breathed the small fan devoutly. “Gee!”
+
+“Got a pencil and a bit of paper?” asked Joe, and still as though in a
+trance the boy handed over the stump of a pencil and a scrap of paper
+that had once been white.
+
+On this scrap of paper Joe scribbled something and handed it to the boy.
+
+“There, son,” he said, with a smile, “this will let you in at the gate
+if you can get the afternoon off.”
+
+The boy looked first at the scrap of paper, then at Joe, and over his
+freckled face spread a grin of sheer joy.
+
+“Say, Mister, you’re sure de berries!” he said, adding with scorn, as
+he moved away: “You said, could I get de afternoon off! What you don’t
+git give to you, you takes. Dat’s me.”
+
+“There,” said Joe, with a grin, as his eyes followed the lad, “goes a
+future baseball star, or I’ll miss my guess.”
+
+“And you’ve made a friend for life,” added Jim.
+
+“But, Joe, how about that telegram?” McRae was patently anxious. “No
+bad news, I hope.”
+
+Joe looked at the almost-forgotten yellow envelope in his hand and
+frowned.
+
+“I’m not expecting bad news,” he said, as he hastily tore open the
+envelope. “Mabel often sends me telegrams on the eve of a great game,
+wishing me luck, you know. Hello!” There was a sudden vibrant quality
+in his voice that made the two men stare at him.
+
+“What’s up, old boy?” Jim asked. But, without answering, Joe crumpled
+the paper in his hand and started on a run for the clubhouse.
+
+“Now what’s up?” groaned McRae. “If anything happens to put Joe out
+of his stride now, we’re gone coons. Go after him, Jim, and find out
+what’s wrong. Club the information out of him, if necessary.”
+
+Without replying, Jim departed on his mission of force while McRae
+followed more slowly, dismally shaking his head.
+
+“We’re sure up against a jinx,” he muttered. “If anything else happens
+to this team, it’ll have to look around for a new manager, that’s all.
+I can’t stand the pace.”
+
+Jim found Joe in the act of changing into his street clothes. His face
+was drawn and white and when Jim spoke to him he looked at his chum as
+though he hardly saw him.
+
+“Matter enough,” he said, in answer to Jim’s twice-repeated query.
+“Mabel’s sick, Jim, and she wants me. Get out of my way, old boy. This
+is no time to argue.”
+
+“Where’s the telegram?” asked Jim. “Will you let me see it?”
+
+“Good gracious, how do I know where it is?” Joe roared at him. “Get out
+of my way, will you, Jim? I tell you, Mabel’s sick!”
+
+At that moment Jim saw the crumpled bit of yellow paper where Joe, in
+his frantic haste, had dropped it. Jim picked it up and hurried to the
+light with it. When he returned, his face was grim.
+
+“See here, Joe,” he said, slowly, “you can’t go off half-cocked like
+this. We’ve got to talk this matter over a bit.”
+
+Joe turned a haggard, impatient face to him.
+
+“Talk it over! Are you crazy, Jim?” he cried. “And while we’re talking
+it over, Mabel may be――dying! For the love of Pete, Jim, get out of my
+way.”
+
+“Not till you calm down and use your head a bit,” retorted Jim
+determinedly. “Three minutes won’t make any difference one way or
+another, and that’s all it will take me to say――――”
+
+“Oh, for the love of Pete, say it then and have it over!” exploded Joe,
+taking out his watch. Jim saw that his hand was shaking as he opened
+it. “I’ll give you just three minutes.”
+
+“Listen,” cried Jim, an imperative hand on Joe’s arm. “There’s
+something phony about that telegram, Joe. Of course I can’t prove it,
+but I’d be willing to stake my reputation on it just the same.”
+
+“Phony!” repeated Joe softly. He put the watch back in his pocket and
+stared at Jim as though he were seeing him for the first time. “What
+makes you think that?”
+
+“From the fact that it isn’t signed,” Jim explained hurriedly, fearful
+of losing Joe’s attention. “And from the fact, also, that it comes at
+a time when your absence would be a horrible handicap to the team. Get
+me, old boy?”
+
+“Yes, I get you,” admitted Joe. “But, good gracious, man, don’t you
+see, I can’t afford to take a chance? This may be all as you say. I
+admit that this may be a clever, sure-fire scheme to lure me away at
+the pinch.”
+
+“It is, Joe. It must be,” insisted Jim earnestly. “The whole thing is
+too opportune to be merely coincidence. That grin that passed between
+Hupft and McCarney this morning――――”
+
+“And all the time we’re talking here,” groaned Joe, “Mabel may be――――
+Great Scott, Jim, we’ve got to act!”
+
+“Now what?” asked Jim anxiously, as he followed his chum toward McRae’s
+office.
+
+“I’m going to find a ’phone and see if I can call Riverside,” said Joe
+tersely, over his shoulder.
+
+“Now you’re talking turkey,” said Jim, to which commendation Joe merely
+grunted.
+
+They had the office to themselves for the time being and they made
+good use of it. At the telephone, his face still drawn, a look of keen
+anxiety in his eyes, Joe put in his call for Riverside.
+
+Then came the long sickening wait. Moments, hours, it seemed to Joe,
+went by. Finally came back the answer that it was impossible to get
+the number wanted in Riverside. Half an hour had gone by! A valuable
+half hour wasted!
+
+“I can’t stand this, Jim,” Joe cried, an agony of apprehension in his
+voice. “What is the losing of a game compared with Mabel? Good-by. I’m
+gone.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+REGGIE TO THE RESCUE
+
+
+“Not yet!” snapped Jim, resolutely. “You’re going to give me a moment
+more, or I’ll know the reason why.”
+
+Just then McRae entered the room. He gazed upon the tableau in
+surprise, then his eyes rested on Joe’s street clothes.
+
+“Why the glad rags, Joe?” he asked, trying to mask his growing concern
+by an air of easy good nature. “Not going to beat up the Bostons in
+that rig, are you?”
+
+“McRae,” said Joe in the tone of one whose patience is being pushed too
+far, “I’m sorry this has happened. I can’t even stop to explain now. My
+wife’s sick and I’ve got to go. Jim will give you all the details you
+want. Good-by.”
+
+“Just a minute, Joe,” Jim’s voice broke in crisply. “I think you owe
+it to yourself――to say nothing of McRae and the team――to make one more
+attempt to get in touch with Mabel.”
+
+“How?” Joe demanded. “The ’phone――――”
+
+“We can get Reggie. He’s staying within a short distance of Riverside
+just now, you know.”
+
+“All right, we’ll try to get Reggie,” Joe broke in impatiently. “Though
+what he can tell us I’m sure I don’t know,” he added, as he picked up
+the telephone again and called long distance.
+
+Luckily the chums happened to know that Reggie was staying with some
+friends in Ridersville, a little town not far from Riverside, while he
+looked after some business for his father. Reggie had given them not
+only the address of his friends but the telephone number as well, and
+the latter had stuck in Joe’s head.
+
+So now, more with the idea of pacifying McRae and Jim than from any
+hope of help from Reggie, Joe called the number, raging inwardly at
+the delay. Mabel, his little Mabel, was ill, perhaps seriously ill,
+and these two stood in the way of his going to her! What was a game,
+anyway, compared to the fact that his bride needed him? At that, it did
+not follow that the game would be lost even if he, Joe, were unable to
+pitch. What was the matter with Jim, with Bradley, with Markwith? But
+in his heart he knew that it was his, Joe’s, mighty batting arm as much
+as his prowess in the box that McRae was counting on to turn the tide
+against the Bostons.
+
+“It isn’t so much what Reggie can tell us as what he can find out for
+us,” he heard Jim saying. “He’s only a stone’s throw from Riverside.”
+
+Just then the telephone rang.
+
+“Here’s your party,” came from the operator.
+
+Joe’s tall form straightened and his expression became more tense. It
+was not long before he had Reggie on the line.
+
+“This you, Reggie? Joe speaking. Joe Matson――Joe――J-O-E――Baseball Joe,
+get me? Yes, that’s right. Say, Reggie, how is Mabel? Have you heard
+anything of her lately? What’s that? Speak a little louder, will you? I
+can’t hear you.”
+
+Both McRae and Jim leaned closer as Joe tried to make meaning of the
+sentences that floated so faintly over the wire, yet unmistakably
+uttered in Reggie’s familiar drawl.
+
+“What’s that?” Joe cried. “Say that over again, Reggie, and say it
+slow. You saw her? When? A week ago? Was she well then, perfectly
+well?... Yes, I got a telegram saying she’s very ill, calling me to
+Riverside.... Yes, it’s the big game with Boston to-day.... I can’t
+help it. Mabel needs me.... What’s that you say?”
+
+Reggie’s drawl was hardly noticeable. The urbane, bland Reggie was very
+much agitated. He spoke so quickly that Joe had hard work to follow
+him. McRae and Jim, of course, had to guess at the conversation from
+Joe’s part in it.
+
+“You’ll go right out there?” asked Joe in a relief that was mixed with
+uncertainty. “That’s fine of you, Reggie, but I think I ought to come
+back anyway.... What say?... Speak more slowly, old man.... You’ll let
+us know as soon as you find out?... What’s that?... Provided I stay
+around and play ball?... Say, what is this anyway, blackmail?... All
+right, all right, I promise.... All right, I’ll stick around till I
+hear from you, but make it swift, will you, old man? You know how I
+feel.... All right.... Thanks.... So long.”
+
+Joe hung up, took out his handkerchief, and wiped beads of perspiration
+from his face.
+
+“Well?” demanded Jim and McRae together.
+
+“I don’t know that it is well,” groaned Joe. “Here I’ve promised Reggie
+I’ll wait here till he calls up――a thing I’ll probably spend the rest
+of my life regretting.”
+
+“He said he would go right up there, didn’t he?” asked Jim, adding, as
+Joe nodded miserably: “Well, you see, he’ll be there hours before you
+could hope to. The chances are he’ll find Mabel as fit as a fiddle.”
+
+“But if he doesn’t――――”
+
+“Well, then,” said Jim reassuringly, “it will only mean the delay of an
+hour or so, anyway. Or no delay at all. Through express trains don’t
+run like trolleys. You can’t get away before to-night at best.”
+
+“And meanwhile I might suggest,” said McRae dryly, “that the hour of
+battle draws near and that Baseball Joe had better get into something
+more nearly resembling a uniform. Buck up, Joe,” he added, giving the
+latter a hearty thump on the shoulder. “You’re not going to turn the
+Giants down now, are you, when the team needs the best that’s in you?”
+
+Joe made no answer in words but rose and turned toward the locker room.
+
+“Great Scott!” he said to himself, passing a shaking hand through his
+hair. “How am I going to play ball?”
+
+Now he was out on the field once more with the sun beating down
+blindingly upon the newly marked diamond and the tremendous crowds in
+the grandstand and bleachers voicing approval of the husky home team.
+The bell had rung and McRae had been compelled to start the game with
+Markwith in the box.
+
+Joe wondered what had become of the confident mood he had felt so short
+a time before when he had proclaimed that no one could beat him. As
+he thought of the telegram which had so completely changed everything
+for him, he spared a fleeting thought to the small messenger boy. He
+was probably squeezed in somewhere among that tight-packed mass of
+humanity, the freckles standing out on his snub nose and his shrill
+voice joyfully murdering the English language in an attempt to make his
+enthusiasm audible.
+
+Joe smiled fleetingly, but instantly his face was grave again.
+
+Mabel――Mabel lying sick and lonely, wanting him, and he was failing
+her! He had been a fool to say that he would wait for Reggie to find
+out what was wrong. He was the one who should be investigating, not
+Reggie.
+
+Of course there was the chance――his reason told him it was a good
+chance――that the whole thing was a scheme to get him out of the way. At
+the thought his fists clenched and his mouth shut in a straight line.
+If it was a trick and he could find the identity of the player of it,
+that trick would be the last that fellow would play!
+
+Now as he sat on the bench, he remembered certain small signs and
+tokens that up to that time had almost entirely escaped his memory.
+
+He remembered having discovered a sort of triumphant hostility in
+McCarney’s gaze as it was fixed upon him, a look which had surprised
+and annoyed him only momentarily. He was used to the enmity of
+McCarney, but it was only at this moment that he remembered that
+triumph had outweighed hostility in the eyes of the man.
+
+Was that triumph caused by the certainty in McCarney’s mind that he,
+Joe, would not play in that day’s game? At the thought Joe experienced
+a sharp thrill of gladness that he had not permitted himself to be
+tricked into abandoning his team.
+
+Then came back the tormenting uncertainty again. Was it a trick? How
+could he be sure of that? What was wrong with Reggie? Why didn’t he let
+him know? Fool that he had been to trust to Reggie! Then he awoke to
+the unpleasant realization that the Bostons’ half of the first inning
+was ended and that the visitors had scored two runs.
+
+Markwith had started well by striking out the first man up. The
+second, however, he had passed to first. The next man laid down a neat
+sacrifice on which the man on first had got to second. Still there were
+two out and the chances were against scoring.
+
+But Bradbury, batting in the clean-up position, had caught a low ball
+that came singing over the plate just where he wanted it and sent it
+whistling into the bleachers for the prettiest kind of a homer.
+
+The clout rather unnerved Markwith, and he sent the next one to first
+on a free pass. But the next man hit a sharp grasser to Iredell that
+the latter handled cleanly and got to first in plenty of time for the
+out.
+
+“Fine pitching――I don’t think,” grumbled McRae, as Markwith came
+in rather sheepishly. “You poor boob,” he added to the discomfited
+pitcher, “don’t you know better than to give Bradbury a low one in the
+groove? Haven’t you seen often enough that he just eats up that kind?”
+
+Markwith merely grunted.
+
+“I’ll let you start the second in the hope you’ll settle down,”
+continued McRae. “But at the least sign of faltering, it’s you for the
+showers.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE
+
+
+Although his heart was with Mabel, Joe’s mind was once more thoroughly
+alert. Two runs at the very beginning of a game is not much, to be
+sure, under ordinary circumstances. But it did not take him long to see
+that the team was not running right. Something was decidedly wrong even
+though he could not put his finger on just what that something was.
+
+From the way the second inning began it looked as though the Giants
+were going to have their work cut out for them simply to keep the
+opposing team from scoring further, let alone the making up of those
+two runs.
+
+Joe felt something of the old fighting spirit rising within him again
+and then, at thought of Mabel, his heart sank. He wondered, as he had
+wondered before, how, with every moment a torment of apprehension to
+him, he was going to play ball.
+
+“Go to it, Joe,” McRae ordered brusquely. “Get out there and see if
+you can’t pull this team together. Looks as if this game was lost
+before it began. Go in and give ’em a sample of pitching that’ll open
+their eyes.”
+
+Joe tried his best to smile his old joyful smile as he started for the
+box, but it was hard work. His muscles felt drawn and tight and the
+best he could manage was a rather sickly grin.
+
+Then his gaze met Reddy Hupft’s and he was suddenly conscious of a wave
+of dislike and disgust that made his former resentment of the fellow
+seem a lukewarm emotion. There was more than malice in Reddy’s eyes
+too――this time Joe was sure of it. Instinctively he threw back his
+shoulders and his head went up.
+
+“If Hupft and McCarney think they can put one over on me they’ll soon
+find out their mistake.”
+
+He wound up deliberately, then sent over a ball so swift that it seemed
+but the barest second from the time it left his hand till it dropped
+with a thud in the catcher’s glove. Three men he struck out in swift
+succession and the crowd was in an uproar.
+
+“At a boy, Joe, don’t let ’em sass you!” shrilled a voice Joe thought
+he recognized, and he grinned in the direction of the grandstand.
+
+Thereafter followed some of the most brilliant work Joe had ever given
+the fans to marvel at, and though the Giants failed to score, he at
+least kept the opposing team from scoring.
+
+But that was not enough. Joe knew it, and every member of the team, as
+well as the clamoring crowd in grandstand and bleachers, knew it too.
+
+Three, four, five innings passed without changing the score. Then in
+the first part of the sixth Neale of the Bostons knocked a homer that
+made wild men of their little band of supporters.
+
+Three to nothing the score stood now, in the first half of the sixth,
+and the Giants were in the throes of what promised to be a first-class
+slump.
+
+“Looks as if you had to carry the whole team on your shoulders, Joe,”
+said Robbie, adding, with a comprehensive glance: “They look broad
+enough to stand it, at that. Listen, Joe, pretty soon you’re going
+behind that bat and you’re going to smash that score into little bits
+and make a brand new one, understand?”
+
+And Joe did. He waited till he was sure of his ball, and then with all
+the weight of his shoulders behind it he caught the ball squarely on
+the end of his bat, sent it winging skyward as though its ambition were
+to see just how far up in the clouds it could go and manage to get back
+to earth at all.
+
+At the crack of the bat Joe started and reached home without sliding
+just as the ball connected with the catcher’s glove.
+
+The crowd went mad. There was a storm of cheering and stamping and
+frantic yells, but Joe took no notice of them. He was thinking of
+Mabel. Was his little wife waiting for him, wondering why he did not
+come, perhaps reproaching him?
+
+At the end of the sixth the score stood as Joe had made it: 3 to 1 in
+favor of Boston. In various innings there had been men on first and
+second and, at one time, on all three, but, somehow, they fell just
+short of scoring.
+
+“It’s just what I tell you, Joe,” growled Robbie. “You have to carry
+the whole team. You give them an opening and they don’t even see it.”
+
+“That was great work, Joe,” Jim told him a few moments later. “I’d give
+anything to be able to bat as you do. It sure is a privilege to see you
+knock out one of those home runs.”
+
+“Say, Jim,” Joe broke in with an abruptness that showed he had not
+heard one word of Jim’s tribute, “what do you suppose is the matter
+with Reggie? Why don’t we hear from him?”
+
+“I wish you’d give me an easy one,” answered Jim anxiously. “I’ve been
+wondering that same thing myself. However,” he added, “I suppose no
+news is good news.”
+
+“That’s pretty thin comfort for me,” growled Joe, adding quickly, the
+feverish light in his eyes showing plainly the strain he had been
+under: “I tell you I can’t stand this any longer, Jim. I’m going up
+there and try to get in touch with Riverside again, and if I can’t get
+them, I’ll try Reggie. Then, if that fails, I’m going to Mabel!”
+
+“You can’t do that, Joe,” Jim protested. “Why, you’re the only one who
+has a ghost of a show to pull this game out of the fire. Look at the
+score!”
+
+“Hang the score!” cried Joe explosively, as he got up. “I can’t stand
+this any longer, I tell you! I’ve got to find out!”
+
+As he started toward the clubhouse he found himself face to face with
+McRae. The game had evidently fretted the manager, and he was in a bad
+temper.
+
+“’Phone call for you, Joe,” he snapped. “And say, hurry back, will you?
+Something tells me I’m going to need you.”
+
+But the last words failed entirely to reach Joe. He was already half
+way to the clubhouse.
+
+At last he was going to know! He was eager, yet fearful. He did not
+know what awful news awaited him at the other end of that wire.
+
+Somehow he found his way to McRae’s office, and with shaking fingers
+lifted the receiver to his ear. He did not notice Jim, who had followed
+him in and now stood close beside him.
+
+“Hello,” said Joe, surprised that his voice sounded so nearly normal.
+“This you, Reggie? Confound it, why didn’t you ’phone long ago? How is
+she?”
+
+“Joe!” came the voice that was the sweetest music in the world to his
+ears. Just now it was eager and a little breathless. “Is this you, Joe
+dear? What in the world is the matter?”
+
+“Mabel――――” for a minute Joe could not go on. Then he cleared his
+throat noisily and demanded to know, in a voice from which all anxiety
+had not yet disappeared, if she was all right. “You’re sure you’re not
+sick?” he insisted, and Mabel’s reassuring little laugh floated back to
+him.
+
+“Of course I’m not sick, silly boy,” she said, adding with a sudden
+swift realization of what he must have suffered: “I’m so sorry you have
+been worried, honey. Who do you suppose could have done such a wicked
+thing as to send you that telegram? What do you think it means?”
+
+“I don’t know,” said Joe, feeling as though a thousand-ton weight had
+been lifted from his heart. “We’ll find out about that later. The
+important thing to me just now is that you’re well. But tell me,” he
+added, “why didn’t Reggie call me as soon as he found you were all
+right?”
+
+“He did,” said Mabel. “You see, a neighbor of Mother Matson’s bought
+himself a new car and he insisted on our going out riding with him.
+Poor Reggie had nearly collapsed with worry when we finally got back.
+Thought we had been abducted or something, I suppose.” Then followed
+a bit of conversation that would not have been a bit interesting to
+any one but Joe and Mabel but which they seemed to find eminently
+satisfactory.
+
+When Joe finally hung up the receiver and faced about to find Jim
+there, his face was beaming.
+
+“Hello, Jim, you old shadow!” he cried. “Have you been here long?”
+
+“Long enough to learn the glad news,” returned Jim, and he could not
+quite resist adding: “Didn’t I tell you not to go off half-cocked,
+especially when Reddy Hupft and McCarney are on the same lot with you?”
+
+“You did,” admitted Joe, adding with a frown as they turned to leave
+the place together: “You think the responsibility for this contemptible
+trick can be traced to Hupft or McCarney then?”
+
+“Who else?” returned Jim. “It was somebody else who actually sent the
+telegram, of course, but I’d be willing to stake my hat that the scheme
+originated with one or the other of them.”
+
+“Well,” drawled Joe, with a glint in his eye that boded no good for
+either McCarney or Hupft or any of their gang, “it seems to me it’s
+time there was some housecleaning done on this lot.
+
+“And now,” he added, as his gaze traveled joyfully out to the field,
+“we’re going to show those Bostonians how ball should be played!”
+
+To say that Joe made good his boast would be to understate the facts in
+the case.
+
+From that time on he set the side down with the ease and precision of a
+machine. The Bostons came up to the bat like so many automatons, made
+futile swings at the ball, and went back growling to the bench. And
+in the eighth, when, the score still stood 3 to 1 in favor of Boston,
+Joe lammed out a mighty three-bagger that brought home three of his
+comrades who had filled the bases. That made the score 4 to 3 in the
+Giants’ favor, and so it remained when Joe struck out the last Boston
+batsman in the ninth.
+
+It was a glorious triumph for Joe――two triumphs in fact, for he had
+not only beaten the Bostons, he had thwarted the dastardly plot of his
+enemies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THICKENING CLOUDS
+
+
+If up to this time Joe had entertained any lingering doubts that an
+attempt was afoot to put him out of the game for good, the receipt of
+the false telegram at a critical moment served effectually to dispel
+them. In addition, it was now evident that his enemies were willing to
+stoop to any means to achieve their ends.
+
+Joe was one not to be easily alarmed, but he realized the gravity of
+the situation and knew that it could not be solved by hiding his head
+in the sand like an ostrich and ignoring it.
+
+“The matter is getting worse and worse, Jim,” he remarked, when they
+were discussing the affair in their room on the evening of the last
+game. “It is not simply a personal matter against me that may be the
+thing that they are aiming at. I have noticed lately that they are
+playing bad ball not only when I am in the box, but when the other
+fellows are, too. It is a matter that involves not only our personal
+fortunes, but those of the Giant team and possibly of the whole
+league. They may have confederates elsewhere in the league, and I guess
+it’s up to you and me to see what we can do toward putting a spoke in
+their wheel. It’s bad enough when they confine their attentions to us,
+but when they go to mixing up our families in it they’re going a bit
+too far.”
+
+“A whole lot too far,” agreed Jim grimly. “It’s a shame that there
+should be such players in the game. But in they are, and the only
+thing for us to do is show them up and get them thrown out as soon as
+possible.”
+
+“I only hope that I have a hand in the throwing,” remarked his friend.
+“Baseball is such a fine, naturally clean game that I hate to see a
+crooked bunch like that horning in. It wouldn’t take many of them to
+queer the whole outfit with the fans. There are always a lot of them
+that try to argue that baseball is crooked, even when it’s absolutely
+on the level.”
+
+“Yes, I’ve heard plenty of that breed, too,” agreed Jim. “I imagine
+they know in their hearts that they’d take dirty money if they got the
+chance, and it’s hard for them to believe that everybody else wouldn’t.
+But this bunch we’ve got on the team now are sure to make big trouble
+for us and for the whole league if we don’t manage to show them up in
+some way.”
+
+“Give them enough rope, and they’ll hang themselves,” quoted Joe. “It’s
+plain enough to me what they’re up to, but we’ve got to have proof.
+They and the gamblers who are backing them bet against our team, and
+then they do their level best to lose the game for us.”
+
+“There’s not much encouragement in playing under those conditions.”
+
+“We’ll get to the bottom of their game, never fear,” declared Joe.
+“In the meantime, Jim, it’s up to the rest of the team to play such a
+high-grade brand of baseball that we’ll win in spite of the crooks.”
+
+“That’s right,” agreed his friend, a grin lighting up his erstwhile
+gloomy countenance. “The other teams can’t win unless they make runs,
+no matter what McCarney, Hupft, Lemblow and Company does. And you and I
+are in a position to see that they don’t make the runs.”
+
+“Shake on that, old pal!” exclaimed Joe, and the two friends clasped
+hands. “We’re out after the pennant, and it’s going to take a powerful
+aggregation to stop us.”
+
+“It looks as though you and I would have to turn detectives for a
+while, and get to the root of this mystery,” said Jim. “I know we don’t
+have much time for that sort of thing, but some day when we’re neither
+of us slated to pitch, we can try our hands at the sleuth game, if you
+think it would do any good.”
+
+“Sure thing,” grinned Joe. “But the way things are going now, we won’t
+have many days when one or the other of us isn’t going to pitch. The
+boss is up against it for twirlers, and no mistake.”
+
+McRae was “up against it” in more ways than one. He knew well enough
+that there was something wrong with his new players. Any man might make
+a mistake at times, and fumble a ball or muff an easy fly, but when a
+man is good enough to get into a big league team he is not supposed to
+do these things often. And Hupft and McCarney had developed a trick of
+making such blunders at the most crucial periods of the game――at times
+when an error meant a run or two for the opposing team. He had many
+anxious conferences with Robson, but no substitutes were available, and
+while they suspected the center-fielder and third baseman of underhand
+work, they could not be quite sure.
+
+Had it not been for the sterling work of the other members of the
+team, the Giants would have been slipping steadily downward instead of
+holding their place among the leaders. They all played like demons,
+backing up their pitchers in a manner that brought joy and applause
+from the fans. In spite of costly mistakes on the part of the new
+players, the team climbed steadily toward the coveted first position.
+
+As the weather settled down to steady summer heat, Markwith rounded
+into better form and pitched several steady games, winning three out of
+five. He was really entitled to that fifth game, but was robbed of it
+by a bad misplay on the part of McCarney. In the ninth inning the score
+was 1 to 0 in favor of the Giants, with the opposing team at bat for
+the last half of the ninth inning. Markwith struck out the first man to
+face him, but the second one singled between first and second base, and
+on the next pitched ball stole second.
+
+Markwith watched the runner out of the corner of his eye and saw that
+he was getting ready to make a dash for third base. Accordingly,
+instead of throwing the ball to the batter, he suddenly whirled and
+threw to McCarney at third. By this time the runner was well on his
+way to third and McCarney should have had an easy put-out. But as the
+ball smacked into his glove he fumbled it and it dropped to the ground
+several feet from the base. He made a dash for it, but as he leaned
+down to lift it he struck the ball with the toe of his shoe, kicking it
+fifteen feet away.
+
+It looked like an accident, but whether or no, the runner instantly
+seized his chance and raced for home. Even then McCarney by quick work
+might have thrown him out at the plate, but his recovery of the sphere
+was slow, and when he finally did get it and threw it to the bag, the
+runner had arrived well ahead of it.
+
+This tied the score, and while Markwith held the opposing team down for
+the rest of the inning without any further runs, the game had to go
+into extra innings. Finally, in the eleventh, the other team manged to
+score one more run, which lost the game to the Giants when it should
+have been won.
+
+Joe and Jim had narrowly watched every move of this game, especially
+the actions of the players whom they suspected of crooked dealing. When
+McCarney fumbled the ball in that crucial ninth inning, Joe clenched
+his fists and muttered various uncomplimentary things about the baseman.
+
+“That settles it!” he exploded at last, when the opposing player
+crossed the plate with the tying run. “McCarney’s a good actor, Jim,
+but he was just a bit too clumsy in that play to be natural. He can
+play good enough ball when he wants to, and it isn’t easy for him to be
+quite as clumsy as all that. I could see him purposely drop that ball
+after he had really caught it. Didn’t it look the same way to you, Jim?”
+
+His friend nodded.
+
+“No doubt of it,” he agreed. “I’d like to keep track of McCarney
+after he leaves the clubhouse and see where he goes, but I’ve got an
+appointment with Curry and I don’t see how I can. Why don’t you shadow
+him, Joe, and see if you can find out anything? I’ll take my turn at it
+to-morrow.”
+
+“All right, I will!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll beat it for the clubhouse
+right after the game is over, and I’ll be ready to leave as soon as
+he is. I may not find out a thing, but it will be worth the chance,
+anyway.”
+
+In accordance with this plan, Joe was one of the first under the
+showers and was in his street clothes before McCarney had finished
+dressing.
+
+The latter was surly and resentful of the criticism directed at him by
+his team mates. They were not sparing of this, and did not hesitate to
+tell him what they thought of such bungling. Every big league player
+knows that mistakes are unavoidable at times, but McCarney and Hupft
+had begun to get on their nerves. In almost every game lately it seemed
+that one or the other was sure to make a bad play at a crucial time.
+
+“We could pick half a dozen fans out of the bleachers who could hold
+on to a baseball tighter than you can, Mac,” growled Mylert, the burly
+catcher. “You must have grease on your fingers, the way that ball
+slides through them. Why don’t you see if you can hold on to it once in
+a while?”
+
+“Shure, and I’ll bet if the ball wuz a twinty dollar gold piece he’d
+kape holt of it, all right, all right,” chirped up Larry Barrett.
+
+A shout of appreciative laughter followed this sally, and McCarney
+glared around at the circle of derisive faces.
+
+“I suppose you fellows are too blamed good to ever make a mistake,
+ain’t you?” he growled. “If Markwith hadn’t shot the pill at me so
+doggone fast I wouldn’t have dropped it. There wasn’t any need of
+putting so much smoke on it.”
+
+“Aw, get out of here before we throw you out,” snapped Mylert
+disgustedly. “Be a man and admit you made a punk play without trying to
+blame it on some one else.”
+
+McCarney seemed tempted to throw himself at the big catcher, but then
+thought better of it and flung out of the clubhouse, slamming the door
+behind him. A minute later Joe slipped quietly out and glanced quickly
+about to locate the renegade ball player. McCarney was only half a
+block away, and Joe set out to follow him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+A FURIOUS FIGHT
+
+
+It was no easy matter to trail McCarney without himself being
+discovered, especially as the third baseman had a trick of glancing
+back over his shoulder from time to time. More than once Joe felt
+sure that he had been discovered, but fortune favored him, and he
+successfully evaded detection.
+
+At the first car track that McCarney reached he hesitated, in doubt,
+apparently, whether to take a car or walk to the subway. Joe slipped
+into a convenient doorway, where he could see without being seen, and
+waited for the other to make the next move.
+
+McCarney was still hesitating when a trolley car came into view. This
+evidently settled the third baseman’s doubts. As the car drew near he
+signaled it to stop, and then swung to the back platform.
+
+This left Joe in a quandary. He realized that it would be practically
+impossible to board the car himself without being discovered, and yet
+if he did not it meant that his first attempt at “shadowing” would end
+almost as soon as it had begun.
+
+The trolley started on, and Joe was revolving the possibility of
+keeping up with it on foot when a taxicab came careering out of a side
+street not a block away. With a heartfelt prayer of gratitude Joe
+dashed to the corner and hailed the vehicle just in the nick of time.
+
+“Keep that trolley car in sight until I tell you to stop, and I’ll
+double your fare,” Joe promised the driver.
+
+“That’s easy,” replied the other. “Them cars don’t go so fast but what
+this boiler can keep up with ’em without half tryin’. Just leave it to
+me.”
+
+Joe kept an anxious eye on the trolley car, fearful that McCarney might
+alight with some other passengers and escape him. But nothing of the
+kind happened. The chase continued for a long distance before Joe saw
+the familiar figure of the third baseman come out to the back platform
+and hang on to the lowest step, evidently preparing to drop off at the
+next corner.
+
+“Pull up, driver,” called Joe, and the man swung into the curb. Joe
+hastily paid him double the amount that the meter registered, together
+with a generous tip, and hastened after the retreating form of his
+quarry.
+
+The neighborhood in this section was of a poor description, the houses
+being ramshackle affairs with a run-down and neglected appearance.
+McCarney was evidently on familiar ground, however, for he hurried
+along at a fast pace, apparently in such a hurry that he even forgot to
+glance behind him as was his usual custom.
+
+This was a fortunate thing for Joe, as the street offered few places of
+concealment. He kept close to the houses on the opposite side of the
+street, keeping a wary eye on the suspected ball player. The latter
+had gone about two blocks when he suddenly stopped at the door of a
+house that looked even a little more dirty and out of repair than its
+neighbors, and rang the bell.
+
+Joe was about half a block away at this time, and he glanced about for
+a place in which to conceal himself until McCarney should be safely
+inside. In the basement of a house near him there was a dirty looking
+little candy store, and Joe turned into this. He bought a bar of
+chocolate and made shift to talk with the storekeeper until he judged
+that McCarney must be inside the house.
+
+When he ventured into the street again, the third baseman had
+disappeared, and Joe set himself to formulate some scheme that would
+get him inside the house. This project might well have daunted one less
+courageous than the star pitcher of the Giants. The neighborhood was
+close to the lower West Side waterfront of New York, and Joe knew that
+if he did manage to get inside the house he would probably find himself
+in the abiding place of a desperate set of men. However, he hesitated
+only long enough to decide on a plan of action, and then set boldly
+about its execution.
+
+He felt that there was a chance that whoever had opened the door to
+admit McCarney had failed to fasten it securely. At any rate, he
+decided to try this first. Accordingly, he walked boldly over to the
+house and ascended the steps. If discovered, he could simply ask for a
+“fake” name, like one who has gotten the wrong house by mistake.
+
+He reached the front door unchallenged, and gently tried the knob. As
+he suspected, the latch had not quite caught, and as he pressed against
+the door it swung open before him. Noiselessly he entered the dark
+hallway and closed the door gently behind him.
+
+Within the house it was so dark that at first Joe could see nothing at
+all. As his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, however, objects in
+the dark hallway became apparent to him.
+
+To right and left were closed doors, while directly ahead a long narrow
+staircase wound upward to the floor above. Joe listened intently
+for some sound to guide him, but at first he could hear nothing. He
+tiptoed cautiously over to one of the closed doors and listened there,
+and then at the other, but could hear no sound. Suddenly, he heard a
+subdued murmur of voices on the floor above, and he decided that in all
+probability McCarney was up there. He was about to start the ascent
+of the stairs when he was startled by the ringing of an electric bell
+almost over his head, and at the same time some one tried the handle of
+the front door by which Joe had entered.
+
+A chair was pushed back in the room upstairs, and Joe surmised that in
+another moment one or more of the inhabitants would descend the stairs
+in answer to the ring of the newcomer. There was not a second to lose
+if he were to escape detection, and Joe’s mind acted with lightning
+rapidity. Escape to the street was barred, he knew, and it would be
+hopeless to try to get to the upper landing in time to avoid whoever it
+was who was coming to open the door.
+
+His only chance was to get through one of the doors that flanked the
+hall on either side, and as this thought flashed through his mind he
+stepped swiftly to the one to his right and turned the knob. The door
+held fast, and he knew that it must be locked from the inside.
+
+A door opened upstairs, and Joe could hear heavy footsteps starting
+down the stairs. Fortunately, the staircase made a sharp turn near
+the top, so that as yet Joe was concealed from the sight of the man
+descending.
+
+Again the bell rang, as the ringer grew impatient of waiting. Another
+instant, and Joe’s last chance of escaping detection would be gone.
+Swiftly he stepped to the other door, his one remaining chance, and
+breathed a heartfelt prayer of gratitude when he found that the door
+opened to his touch.
+
+In a second he was within the room, with the door closed behind him. He
+glanced swiftly about, taking stock of his surroundings. Luckily there
+was nobody in the place, which was sparsely furnished with a table and
+a few shabby chairs.
+
+With his ear close to the door, Joe could hear the newcomer enter and
+then he heard two persons ascending the stairs. There came the bang of
+a closing door from the upper floor, and Joe judged that it would be
+safe enough to venture out again.
+
+A less courageous fellow might have been glad to take this opportunity
+to get out the front door and so to safety. But this idea did not
+enter Joe’s head. He had come here to get information about the
+gambling ring, and to abandon the quest was the thing furthest from his
+thoughts.
+
+From the floor above he could still hear the murmur of voices, growing
+louder at times in a manner that suggested a quarrel. Impatient to
+learn what was going on, Joe made for the stairs and ascended them
+cautiously, treading warily to avoid making a noise on the creaking
+boards. At length he reached the upper landing and paused to take stock
+of his surroundings.
+
+He found himself on a small square landing, from which doors gave into
+adjoining rooms. The sound of excited voices came from a room to the
+left of the stairs, and Joe edged close to this until he could make out
+what was being said within.
+
+But he was just a few minutes too late. Whatever subject had been under
+discussion had apparently been settled, for there came a scraping of
+chairs, and before Joe could move the door was thrown open, leaving him
+in plain sight of those in the room.
+
+There was a chorus of startled exclamations, and then those in the room
+made a concerted rush for Joe. He turned to make for the stairs, but
+found that avenue of escape cut off by two rough looking men dressed in
+sweaters and caps, who had ascended so quietly that Joe had no inkling
+of their approach until he saw them stepping on to the landing.
+
+Fairly cornered, Joe realized that his only chance lay in fighting
+his way out, and he had faith in the theory that the attacker has an
+advantage. With a shout he hurled himself at the two men who had just
+come up the stairs, and who had stopped at the landing, uncertain as
+to what was going on. His rush had the power and speed of a stampeding
+buffalo, and in spite of their bulk the two newcomers could not bar his
+path. One reeled back from a stunning blow on the jaw, while the other
+staggered aside as Joe’s elbow caught him in the pit of the stomach.
+Before him the path to the front door lay clear, and he would have made
+it but for an unlucky accident.
+
+As the second man reeled and fell, his foot projected out over the top
+step, and as Joe started to leap downward he tripped over the sprawling
+leg, staggered wildly for a brief moment, and then crashed head first
+down the steep stairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+TAKEN CAPTIVE
+
+
+So great was the force of the fall that when Joe brought up at the
+foot of the stairs the breath was knocked out of him, and before he
+could get to his feet the crowd of rough men were on him like dogs
+on a wounded wolf. Stunned though he was, Joe would not submit to
+overpowering numbers without a struggle, and more than one of the crowd
+bore marks of the fight for many a day afterward. Joe was in the very
+finest physical condition, and as he fought the effects of the fall
+wore off somewhat, and he struck out with a force and power that sent
+his opponents reeling back. At one time Joe actually had his hand on
+the knob of the street door, but he was dragged back, fighting like a
+madman. His adversaries were hampered by their own numbers, and in the
+narrow hall only one or two could get at Joe at once. He was engaged
+with two of the fellows, when suddenly some heavy object landed on his
+head with paralyzing force, and he crumpled to the floor.
+
+“Guess that fixes that guy,” remarked one of the fellows, as he
+returned a “blackjack” to his pocket.
+
+“I hope you haven’t fixed him too well,” said the leader of the gang, a
+corpulent, flashily dressed man. “It’s all right to put him to sleep,
+but we don’t want any killings, you know.”
+
+“Leave that to me, boss,” said the other. “He’ll soon come back from
+the land o’ nod, an’ when he does, we’d better have his hands an’ feet
+tied. He’s got a punch in each mitt that’s fit to knock a mule out.”
+
+The others seemed to agree heartily with this statement, and they
+lost no time in following their companion’s advice. When Joe regained
+consciousness, some ten minutes later, he found himself securely tied
+in a chair, while the members of the gang sat about at their ease,
+planning what disposition to make of their captive.
+
+The first thing Joe did was to look for McCarney, but he was nowhere
+to be seen. During the fight he had kept in the background, and as
+soon as it was over he had slipped out of the house. He had little
+doubt that the gang would overcome Joe, but he had a great respect
+for the capabilities of the young pitcher, and he thought that in
+case Joe ever got away from them he would accuse him, McCarney, of
+being an accomplice of the gang. In that case, the less he was seen
+in their company the better. Besides this, he was anxious to bet some
+money against the Giants on the coming games, as he knew that Joe’s
+disappearance would be very likely to demoralize the whole team.
+
+Up to this time the Giants had been considered the favorites in the
+pennant race, and among the gamblers they had been better than even
+money. But when McCarney, in sporting circles familiar enough to him,
+tried to place some cash, he found that already the odds were against
+the Giants to win, and he was at no loss to guess the reason for this.
+Some of the gang that held Joe prisoner had begun to plunge heavily
+against the Giants, and the gamblers who did not know were suspicious
+and not over-anxious to back the team that was apparently the best in
+the league by a fair margin. Gamblers as a class are quick to take
+fright, and those manipulating the “baseball ring” as it was already
+called in the underworld, were no exceptions to the rule.
+
+When Joe did not put in an appearance at their hotel that night Jim
+was very uneasy, but he comforted himself with the reflection that Joe
+might have found it necessary in the course of his sleuthing expedition
+to keep close to the trail. He fully expected to see Joe at the
+baseball field the following afternoon, especially as he was slated to
+pitch that day. But there was no sign of the missing star, and when it
+was almost time for the game to start McRae sought out Jim where he was
+warming up with Mylert back of the clubhouse.
+
+“Where’s Joe, Jim?” he asked anxiously. “It isn’t like him to be late.
+Did he tell you he wouldn’t show up to-day?”
+
+“I don’t know much more about him than you do, Mac,” replied Jim, a
+worried look in his eyes. “He didn’t show up at the hotel last night,
+and I thought he was probably with one of the other fellows. But now
+that he isn’t here for the game I’m getting worried for fair. I know
+that if he isn’t here it’s because he couldn’t get here.”
+
+“Couldn’t get here!” echoed McRae. “What in thunder would stop him from
+getting here if he wanted to come?”
+
+“You know well enough that both Joe and I have had trouble with the
+gambling ring before now,” said Jim. “They’ve been after both of us,
+and it looks as though they’d landed on Joe this time. If they have――”
+Jim did not finish the sentence, but his flashing eyes and the grim set
+of his mouth supplied the rest.
+
+“That goes for the whole team,” said McRae. “Anybody that tampers with
+any member of this team is going to have trouble. I’ll get a couple of
+detectives on the job right away, and we’ll see if we can’t locate Joe
+in a hurry. In the meantime, you’ll have to pitch to-day’s game, Jim.
+I was counting on Joe for this afternoon, but I guess you can turn the
+trick, too.”
+
+“I’m here to try,” said Jim. “But after the game is over, I’m going to
+look for Joe on my own hook. And what’s more, I’m willing to bet that
+there’s at least one member of this team that could tell you right now,
+if he wanted to, where he is.”
+
+“Who?” demanded McRae quickly. “Give me his name.”
+
+“You’d better keep this quiet for the time, Mac,” said Robson who came
+up just at this juncture. “We don’t want any of this to get into the
+papers, if we can help it.”
+
+“That’s right,” admitted McRae. “Come with us, Barclay, and we’ll talk
+this over in private.”
+
+In the manager’s office under the grandstand Jim told of Joe’s resolve
+to follow McCarney the previous afternoon. McRae and Robson listened
+with worried frowns on their faces. Robson was the first to speak.
+
+“This is a thing we won’t be able to hush up, Mac,” he said. “The
+newspaper men know that we intend to pitch Matson to-day, and they’ll
+want to know the reason why he isn’t in the box. They’d soon find out
+the reason why, and if we tell them what we know, they may be able to
+help us find him.”
+
+“That’s true, in a way,” said McRae slowly. “But we won’t tell them
+about our suspicions of McCarney――not yet. Remember, we haven’t any
+proof against him, and we don’t want to make any false moves.”
+
+By the time this decision was reached it was almost time for the game
+to start, and the three hurried out on to the field, where the rest
+of the team had already congregated. They were warming up, one or two
+knocking flies to the others while a few were pitching balls back
+and forth to each other with that long, effortless swing of the arm
+characteristic of a good ball player. Jim started pitching to Mylert,
+taking it easy on the first few balls and gradually warming up to his
+regular speed and control. But it was hard for him to keep his mind on
+the work in hand, as his thoughts kept wandering to his missing friend
+while his heart was filled with gloomy forebodings. He knew that Joe
+would never have been absent from the ball field that afternoon unless
+he were actually in captivity, or perhaps worse yet, actually injured
+by his enemies to keep him from playing. The only thing that kept Jim
+from throwing down his glove and starting to search for his chum then
+and there was the knowledge that Joe would want him to pitch the game
+for the sake of the team and to frustrate the gamblers. Jim made up
+his mind that he would pitch such a game in the absence of his chum
+that the opposing team would not have even a look-in. His arm had never
+felt better, and he had an uncanny control over the ball that made him
+confident of winning.
+
+There was little time for practice before the umpire called “Play ball”
+and the game was on.
+
+The Giant fans were expecting a great battle that day, and they were
+not disappointed. The team was playing the Pittsburghs, and the latter
+were no mean adversaries. In addition to an all-around good team, they
+had a young pitcher who was one of the sensations of the season. He
+had been taken right from a high school team, where his phenomenal
+ability had earned him the attention of a big league scout. He had a
+big variety of curves, although a little erratic on control, a defect
+that time would probably remedy. He was considered the best pitcher
+the Pittsburghs had, and their manager had decided to work him that
+afternoon before he heard of Joe’s non-appearance. After learning of
+this, he decided to pitch him anyway, in order to “put the game on
+ice.” The Pittsburghs were close on the trail of the Giants; so close,
+that every game was important.
+
+However, Jim was nothing daunted by this, and was confident that he
+could pitch his team to victory. He had never played in a game against
+Miles, the Pittsburghs’ star, but from the bench he had studied him
+closely and had a pretty good line on his offerings. In addition, he
+and Joe knew the weak points of every batter in the league, and just
+what kind of delivery was least to his liking. This counted for a
+tremendous lot in a tight place, and the two chums had worked it out to
+a science.
+
+The Pittsburghs were disposed of in the first inning in quick order.
+Then the Giants came in for their turn with Curry as the first man
+in the batting order. He was a dependable batter as a rule, but he
+found himself helpless against the puzzling shoots dished up to him
+by the star pitcher of the Pittsburghs. He knew that Miles was short
+on control, and tried to wait him out, but after the pitcher had
+had three balls chalked against him, he sent over three strikes in
+succession, and Curry threw down his bat disgustedly and went over to
+the players’ bench to meet the gibes of his team mates. But Iredell,
+who followed him, was little more successful, popping up a high fly
+that Miles caught without moving from the mound. Burkett struck out
+in one-two-three order, and the Pittsburghs came trotting in from the
+field for their second turn at bat.
+
+“Guess our kid has got you fellows eating out of his hand,” gibed
+O’Connor, the Pittsburgh captain, as he passed the Giants on their way
+out to the field positions. “You fellows haven’t a chance in the world
+of winning this game.”
+
+“‘He who laugh last, irritates,’” retorted Mylert. “We’ve got as many
+runs as you so far.”
+
+O’Connor grunted and went to the dugout to get his favorite bat. In a
+few seconds he was back at the plate with it, swinging it slowly back
+and forth as he waited for Jim’s delivery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+AIR-TIGHT PITCHING
+
+
+O’Connor had a big reputation throughout the league as a heavy batter,
+and he was. But Joe and Jim had noticed that he invariably swung at
+comparatively low balls. High ones he did not like, so, of course, Jim
+was careful to give him nothing but high balls. O’Connor waited grimly
+for one to come across that was to his liking, but he waited in vain.
+Two strikes had been called on him, with no balls, and he realized that
+the time for waiting had gone by. The next one that Jim pitched was a
+high fast one that just clipped the corner of the plate. “Str-r-rike
+three,” chanted the umpire, and O’Connor threw his bat to the ground
+and walked over to the dugout.
+
+“What’s the matter?” inquired Mylert, as the discomfited batsman passed
+him. “It looked as though you were standing there waiting for next
+Christmas to come. I thought you said you were going to win this game.”
+
+O’Connor glared at him, but could not think of a fitting reply. The
+next man to face Jim was Jenkins. Jenkins was not a heavy batter, but
+when he did connect with the ball he was so fast on the bases that he
+often stretched an ordinary one base hit into a two-bagger. But his
+speed availed him little to-day, for he never got away from the home
+plate. Three times he swung wildly at the whispering breezes, and then
+retired sheepishly to the bench. The next man up fouled to Mylert for
+an easy out, and the Pittsburghs’ half of the inning was over, with no
+runs scored by either side.
+
+“Good work, Jim,” chortled Robson. “Hold ’em down tight, and in a
+little while we’ll blow their pitcher out of the box. The kid’s good,
+all right, but he lacks steadiness. If we can once get a man or two
+on the sacks, he’ll blow up with a bang that they can hear over in
+Hoboken.”
+
+But it was not an easy thing to “get a man or two on the sacks.” Miles
+seemed to get better and better as the innings began to mount up, and
+the game settled down into a spectacular pitchers’ duel. As the end of
+the fourth inning the score still stood nothing to nothing, and bade
+fair to stay that way. The mightiest batsmen on both sides were mowed
+down one after the other.
+
+In spite of the gnawing anxiety that bit at his heart whenever he
+thought of his missing chum, Jim was pitching the game of his life.
+
+At first he had hoped against hope that Joe had only been delayed,
+and would show up at the ball field after all, but as inning followed
+inning this hope faded out. But Jim was determined to win that game,
+for he considered that he stood in Joe’s place and that he owed it to
+his absent friend to chalk up a victory, as he was sure Joe would have
+done had he been there.
+
+Moreover, the thrill and tingle of the game were in his blood, his
+brain, his pitching arm. No matter what emergency of the game might
+arise, he had supreme confidence that he would be equal to it.
+
+In the first half of the fifth inning O’Connor, the captain of the
+Pittsburgh team, drove a vicious twisting grounder directly at Jim,
+a ball that fairly smoked as it traveled. But Jim picked it off the
+ground with a movement so swift that the eye could hardly follow
+it and tossed the runner out at first with a big margin of safety.
+When Burkett, the Giants’ first baseman, was forced far off from his
+position by a high fly between first and second base, Jim covered first
+base on the chance that Burkett might drop the ball. It was a difficult
+ball to handle, and while the first baseman managed to knock it down
+with his glove, he was unable to hold on to it. He made a snappy
+recovery, however, and tossed to Jim, putting the runner out. Had the
+Giant pitcher not been right where he was, the runner would have been
+safe.
+
+But the big test came in the eighth inning. Up to this time, so perfect
+had been Jim’s pitching, that neither McCarney nor Hupft had had
+anything to do. Jim knew that if any break came in the Giant defense,
+it would in all probability be because of some error, intentional or
+otherwise, on the part of one of the two men.
+
+This break came in the first half of the eighth inning. Ralston, of
+the Pittsburghs, swung wildly at a fast, straight ball, after two
+strikes had been called on him, and more by luck than good management
+connected squarely with it. The ball whistled straight over Jim’s head
+and almost into the hands of Hupft, who was playing center-field. But
+Hupft, instead of waiting for the ball, which was all he had to do, ran
+in on it instead, and the ball passed over his head. At the last second
+he made an ineffectual leap for it, but to no avail. The ball bounded
+along the grass until it was finally retrieved by Curry. But by this
+time the runner had reached third base and would probably have made the
+home sack had not Curry made a wonderful long throw to Jim, which made
+the runner think better of the attempt.
+
+Still the Pittsburghs had not scored, but they had a man on third base,
+with only one out. Baskerville was the next man at bat, and he made a
+sacrifice bunt in the direction of third base. It was McCarney’s ball,
+and he picked it up in snappy style, and threw to Mylert to keep the
+runner at third from reaching home. It was an easy play, but McCarney
+threw wild, so wild that Mylert, in spite of a back-breaking reach for
+it, was unable to connect. Throwing aside his mask he dashed after the
+ball, recovered it, and seeing that it was too late to nail Ralston at
+home, he made a superb toss to Larry Barrett, who nailed Baskerville at
+second. Jim struck out the next batter with three pitched balls, which
+shot over the plate so fast that the batter seemed dazed when he walked
+back to the dugout.
+
+But the Pittsburghs had scored, and that lone run looked pretty big
+at this stage of the game. The Giants had only two chances left to
+overcome it, and Miles seemed to be pitching better at this time than
+when he started.
+
+Larry was the first Giant batter to face the Pittsburgh pitcher, and
+the grim look on his usually jovial face showed that he appreciated the
+gravity of the situation.
+
+“Knock the cover off that pill, Barrett, and I’ll buy you a new one
+covered with ten dollar bills,” said McRae, as Larry started for the
+plate.
+
+“Shure, an’ I’ll do ut, thin,” promised Larry, with a flash of his
+usual happy grin. “This’ll be an expensive wallop for you, Mac.”
+
+Larry did his best, but luck was against him. He poled a hot grounder
+between first and second base, but the Pittsburgh shortstop smothered
+it and pitched Larry out at first.
+
+“Good night!” he exclaimed, as he reached the bench. “Thim
+Pittsburghers has more luck than brains. Shure, it wuz a lovely hit,
+and I had your money spint already, Mac, whin that spalpeen tuck it
+away from me.”
+
+“Well, it’s the safe ones that count,” remarked the manager. “Anybody
+can hit them at the fielders.”
+
+Allen was next at bat, and his team mates sat tense, waiting to see
+what he would do. The chances of the Giants winning the game were
+getting poor, and already many of the more pessimistic rooters were
+leaving the stands. Allen was not noted as a slugger, and Jim followed
+him. Many thought that McRae would substitute a pinch hitter for Jim,
+as a pitcher is not supposed to be a very heavy slugger, and Jim had
+not the reputation in that line that Joe possessed.
+
+Two strikes were called on Allen, when the Pittsburgh pitcher loosed a
+wild throw that struck the batter on the arm. This sent Allen to first
+base and put the next move up to Jim. To many of the fans it seemed as
+though McRae should put in his heaviest slugger at this point, but the
+manager, with that knowledge of men’s hearts and minds that had made
+him famous in the game, thought otherwise. He understood Jim’s desire
+to win this game above all others, and he believed that Jim, backed by
+that desire, would be more apt to slam out a hit than any other man on
+the team.
+
+“Go in and win your own game, Jim,” he admonished his young pitcher.
+“Make the crooks wish that they’d let Joe pitch this game. Show them
+that dirty work doesn’t pay.”
+
+“That’s exactly what I hope to do,” said Jim, with a grim set to his
+square jaw. “I’d be willing to give my next year’s pay to win this
+game.”
+
+Miles seemed a trifle rattled by hitting Allen, and the first two balls
+he pitched were wide of the plate. The next was a low, fast one, and
+Jim scooped it up, sending it whistling straight at Miles. The ball
+came so fast that the pitcher was unable to hang on to it, but he
+succeeded in stopping it, and it rolled along a few feet toward first
+base.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+JIM PUTS ONE OVER
+
+
+As soon as Jim felt the bat connect with the ball he started down the
+base line at top speed, and top speed with Jim meant covering ground
+fast. Every bit of energy in him was concentrated on beating that
+ball to first base, and no sprinter could have made the distance more
+quickly. He was two-thirds of the way to first when Miles recovered the
+ball and straightened up for the throw. Fifteen feet from the bag Jim
+leaped through the air in a headlong dive for the sack, reaching it in
+a cloud of dust. A fraction of a second later he heard the smack of the
+ball in the first baseman’s glove, but it came too late. The umpire
+declared Jim safe, and he got to his feet, slapping clouds of dust from
+his uniform.
+
+Miles really should have thrown the ball to second and tried to cut off
+Allen; but, as it was, the latter reached the second hassock safely,
+and a moment later stole third. Things now began to look brighter
+for the home team, especially as Mylert, who was always a dependable
+slugger, was next at bat.
+
+Miles wound up and delivered a slow, elusive curve that would have
+fooled most batters. But Mylert judged it to a nicety and poled a safe
+one-base hit into right field. Allen and Jim sprinted around, the
+former crossing home plate with the tying run.
+
+By this time the Pittsburgh fielder had recovered the ball. He shot it
+to third base, in the hope of catching Jim there. But the Giant pitcher
+had already reached this base and was making for home, covering ground
+like a frightened jack-rabbit. The grandstand and bleachers rose to
+their feet _en masse_ and a roar of excited shouting swept over the
+field.
+
+It looked as though Jim had ventured too much and would surely be
+thrown out at the home plate. But he ran as he had never run before,
+and slid for the bag like a human catapult. The ball actually reached
+the catcher ahead of him, but such was the force of the slide that when
+the catcher tried to touch him out, the ball was knocked from his hand
+and bounded over the grass several feet away. Jim was safe, and the
+score stood 2 to 1 in favor of the Giants!
+
+At that the rooters went wild, and for five minutes the racket startled
+even the hardened residents of that neighborhood. Jim was surrounded
+by his team mates and pounded and thumped enthusiastically. But there
+was little time for this now as the game was not yet finished, and was
+far from being a certainty, as the Pittsburghs still had an inning at
+bat.
+
+Mylert was still at first base, and Curry came to the bat next. He did
+his best, but hit into a fast double play, which cut short the Giant
+rally.
+
+Now it was up to Jim to retain the one-run lead that he and his team
+mates had acquired. The Pittsburghs were wild at having the game
+snatched from their grasp so near the end, and went to the bat with
+determination writ large on their features.
+
+Now everything depended on Jim. His support could not be relied on.
+He knew that if the ball were once delivered into the hands of either
+Hupft or McCarney they would manage in some way to mishandle it and
+let in a run or two. He realized that the only sure thing was to keep
+the opposing batsmen from even hitting the ball, and to this end he
+summoned all his resource and skill.
+
+His arm still felt strong, and his control was little short of
+marvelous. The first man to face him was struck out on three pitched
+balls, the second fouled weakly to Mylert and was put out easily.
+The third man lifted a high fly toward third base. This ball really
+belonged to McCarney, but in an instant Jim resolved to take no
+chances. He started running for the ball at the same instant as
+McCarney.
+
+“It’s my ball! Keep away!” shouted McCarney.
+
+Jim paid no heed. He grabbed the ball as it descended and at the same
+instant collided with McCarney. The third baseman was hurled sprawling
+several feet away, but Jim kept his feet, although he was badly shaken.
+But the batter was out, and the Giants had won the game.
+
+“Confound you!” growled McCarney, as he struggled to his feet. “What do
+you mean by taking that play out of my hands? I’ll get you for this,
+you see if I don’t!”
+
+“You know blamed well why I took it,” retorted Jim. “I took it because
+I couldn’t trust you to make a straight play on it. And if you want to
+make a fuss about it I’ll tell the whole world the same thing.”
+
+“Aw, you’ve got me wrong,” protested McCarney, his threat changing to a
+whine. “I’ve just been running in a streak of bad luck lately, and here
+you and your pal try to hang it on me that I’m throwing the games. Lay
+off, can’t you?”
+
+Jim did not even take the trouble to answer this, but made the best of
+his way to the clubhouse. A mob of cheering fans was pouring down on
+to the field by this time, and he had to hurry his pace in order to
+escape their attentions.
+
+In the clubhouse there was a hot discussion going on over the merits of
+Jim’s play. The general attitude was that “all’s well that ends well,”
+though some thought that Jim should have left the play to McCarney.
+However, the wiser ones had been suspicious of the new players of late,
+and could guess pretty accurately the motives that had impelled Jim to
+act as he did. But above all else was rejoicing that they had won the
+game, and Jim was the hero of the hour.
+
+The one thought uppermost in the pitcher’s mind was to be off in search
+of his missing friend, and he was impatient of delay. As soon as
+possible he slipped out of the clubhouse and set off on his difficult
+quest.
+
+In this he had little to guide him, and he had no other plan save to
+watch for McCarney and shadow him, as Joe had done the day before. But
+this was not so simple a matter now, for the recreant third baseman had
+been rendered wary by Joe’s discovery of the gamblers’ house, and when
+he came out of the clubhouse he glanced cautiously in every direction
+before he started off at a brisk walk in the direction of the nearest
+subway station.
+
+The streets were so crowded, however, that Jim managed to escape
+detection, and in the subway boarded the same train as McCarney. The
+latter took a seat inside and Jim stuck to the platform, where he could
+keep an eye on his quarry without much likelihood of being seen himself.
+
+At Ninety-sixth Street McCarney changed to an express, and Jim did
+likewise. They were whisked rapidly downtown. McCarney got off at
+Fourteenth Street, with Jim still on his trail.
+
+From that point McCarney strode rapidly westward, and more than once
+Jim escaped detection by a miracle, as McCarney continually cast
+suspicious glances behind him. Eventually he reached the street where
+the gamblers’ house was located, and turned down it. Jim waited at the
+corner, as the street was deserted and McCarney would be almost certain
+to see him if he turned the corner.
+
+From his post of vantage he saw McCarney ascend the steps of the house
+and ring the bell. The door was opened a few inches and the ball player
+held a short conversation with some unseen person inside, after which
+he descended the steps and walked rapidly toward the corner where Jim
+was observing his actions.
+
+The latter had only time to dodge into a convenient hallway when
+McCarney passed the corner, apparently on his way back to the subway
+station. Jim gave him plenty of time to get well out of the way before
+he stepped into the street again. He had no definite plan in mind as
+yet, except to get inside the house someway and aid his friend to
+escape, provided he was there. But how to get in was the knotty problem.
+
+He sauntered down the street and past the house, examining it from the
+corners of his eyes without seeming to take undue interest in it, as
+he did not know who might be on the lookout. He walked on to the next
+corner and stood there a few minutes, trying to think of a feasible
+plan. He then started back to have another look at the place, and had
+reached a point about opposite when a big automobile came sweeping
+around the corner and drew up at the curb only a few feet from where he
+was standing.
+
+The car was filled with a crowd of rough looking men. Almost before
+he could realize what was happening, Jim was surrounded and attacked
+by these fellows. He fought desperately, but the odds were too great,
+and he was carried, still struggling, to the waiting automobile. Here
+he was pinned to the floor, a gag was stuffed into his mouth, and his
+hands and feet were securely tied.
+
+It was hardly two minutes from the time that the car drew up before it
+was again on its way, and the dexterity of Jim’s captors spoke of much
+practice in similar episodes. The gamblers, finding that the removal
+of Joe from the team was not sufficient to cause its defeat, had not
+hesitated to go further and abduct the only other pitching ace the team
+possessed, thus making it practically impossible for it to win the
+pennant.
+
+Meanwhile McRae, not knowing of this fresh disaster, was hiring
+detectives to find Joe and trying to plan a series of games in which he
+might employ Jim to the best advantage in the event that Joe was not
+found.
+
+He called at Jim’s hotel that evening to talk over matters with him,
+and when told that Jim had not been there since leaving for the ball
+field, he became wildly excited. He hunted up Robson, and together
+they held a conference. In the end McRae called up the head of the
+most famous detective agency in the country and, after swearing him to
+secrecy, commissioned him to hunt for the missing ball players.
+
+“Well, we’ve done all that we can do just now, and we might as well
+get a night’s sleep,” said Robson. “Don’t forget that both Matson and
+Barclay are resourceful lads and know how to handle themselves. I
+wouldn’t be surprised to see them both turn up in time for to-morrow’s
+game.”
+
+“If they don’t we’ll lose,” predicted McRae gloomily. “The team can’t
+pull together when things like this are going on. It’s getting so
+that nobody trusts anybody else on the team, and I never yet saw an
+aggregation of ball players win a pennant under those conditions.”
+
+The game next day proved the truth of this assertion. Both Joe and
+Jim were still missing, and while Bradley pitched a game that would
+ordinarily have been good enough to win, his team mates failed to
+support him in their usual masterly style, and the game was a walkover
+for their opponents, the score being 7 to 0 against them. Suspicion was
+rife on the team and the outlook for winning the pennant seemed gloomy
+indeed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE
+
+
+The interest and speculation caused by the disappearance of the two
+crack pitchers of the Giants was at fever pitch. The sporting pages of
+all the papers were filled with special articles and the story in many
+was featured on the first page. Fans collected on every street corner
+and discussed the many strange features of the occurrence. Many were
+the ingenious solutions proposed, and McRae’s mail in the morning was
+flooded with advice from amateur sportsmen and detectives.
+
+All this, however, was of little service to either Joe or Jim. After
+the former had been finally overborne by sheer weight of numbers in the
+dark hallway of the gamblers’ house, he was conveyed to a dark room in
+the basement of the old building. The place was as dark as pitch, and
+was infested with rats and other vermin. For several hours they were
+his only company, and he had ample leisure for some bitter reflections
+on the hard fate that had brought him to this pass. Too late he wished
+that he had summoned aid before entering the house. He thought of the
+team waiting for him and counting on him for the game the following
+day, and a feeling of hot resentment and rage against his captors
+welled up in him. Following this came a resolve to outwit his enemies
+and escape, and with this idea in mind he made a careful exploration of
+the place in which he was confined.
+
+The walls were of stone or cement, and were clammy and dripping with
+water. The air was cold and damp, and although in the world outside it
+was a lovely summer evening, Joe shivered in the dark atmosphere of his
+prison.
+
+The hours dragged slowly by, for what seemed an interminable time, and
+Joe was preparing to make a bed on the floor and get what sleep he
+could under the circumstances, when he heard the sound of a key being
+turned in a lock. The door of the place opened on complaining hinges,
+and the big, flashily dressed man who had directed his capture in the
+hallway entered, carrying a lantern. At his back came two rough looking
+men, each carrying a club.
+
+“Well, young feller, you seem to have got yourself into a nice mess
+now, haven’t you?” inquired the fat man.
+
+“You mean you’ve got me into it,” retorted Joe. “I’m not here because I
+want to be here.”
+
+“Well, don’t get gay, now, or maybe we can make you wish you hadn’t,”
+threatened the other. “All you’ve got to do is to follow the directions
+we give you, and you won’t get hurt.”
+
+“If you didn’t have those ruffians with you, you might get hurt
+yourself,” said Joe.
+
+“I brought them along on purpose so that wouldn’t happen, young
+feller,” said the other. “After watching you in action upstairs a while
+back, I’m ready to admit that you know how to handle yourself, but I
+don’t propose to have you make a punching bag of me.”
+
+“What is it you want me to do?” asked Joe curtly. “I can probably tell
+you in advance that I won’t do it, but it won’t hurt to listen to you.”
+
+“I don’t see that you have much choice,” said his captor. “But I don’t
+think I’ll tell you what I want you to do――not yet. Maybe a night in
+this hole will make you readier to listen to reason. The rats are
+rather thick down here, and I imagine by to-morrow you’ll be glad to
+get out on any terms. I wouldn’t like it much here myself.”
+
+The two fellows behind the speaker laughed hoarsely at this attempt at
+humor.
+
+“Better let us tap him a few wid de persuaders, boss,” said one. “The
+feller is too fresh. I kin see that with half an eye. Let’s rough ’im
+up a bit.”
+
+The leader seemed undetermined, but finally decided against this.
+
+“A night in this place will fix him, all right,” he said. “If it don’t,
+there are lots of other ways to make him act nice. When my bunch wants
+a man to do something, he does it, or he’s mighty sorry, that’s all.”
+
+With this the fellow turned, followed by the two with him. For
+an instant Joe had a mad impulse to attack the trio, but he was
+weaponless, and he told himself that better opportunities of escape
+were sure to offer. The door creaked on its rusty hinges, a lock
+snapped, and he was left alone with his thoughts.
+
+Needless to say, these were not of the pleasantest description. What
+was it that the fellow wanted of him? Whatever it was, Joe felt sure
+that it would be something with which he could not honorably comply,
+and he was ready to face any hardship before doing a dishonorable thing.
+
+That night stood out in his memory ever after like some horrible
+nightmare. He was badly bruised from the effects of his fall and the
+struggle that followed, and besides was cold and hungry. He craved
+sleep, but sleep in that rat-ridden den was impossible. He could hear
+the rats scurrying about in the darkness, and more than once he felt
+the nip of small but sharp teeth as he flung some rodent away from
+him. As the night wore on the rats became bolder in their attacks, and
+it was all Joe could do to ward them off. Every hour seemed like an
+eternity, and it was with boundless relief that he at last heard the
+key turn in the lock.
+
+This time there were three different men from those he had seen the
+night before, but he recognized two of them as having been among his
+assailants the previous day. The third man he had never seen before.
+
+“The boss wants to see you upstairs,” said this individual. “He sent us
+to take you up.”
+
+“Lead the way,” said Joe. “Any place is better than this filthy den.”
+
+The man eyed him curiously.
+
+“Say, you’re Matson, the pitcher of the Giants, ain’t you?” he asked,
+with a note of surprise in his voice.
+
+“You’re right the first time,” Joe assured him. “Anything I can do for
+you?”
+
+The other made no reply to this, but merely motioned to Joe to follow
+him. They passed through a long cellar and then up a flight of stairs
+that let them into the rear of the hall where Joe had had the battle
+the previous day. Then they climbed the main staircase, and Joe was
+conducted into the room where the rascals had been congregated.
+
+The leader of the gang was there, in company with another man whose
+face seemed familiar to Joe from the first. He could not place the man,
+however, and had little time to think of this before the ringleader
+spoke.
+
+“Well, young feller, how did you enjoy the night?” he asked, and there
+was a cruel leer on his big, flabby face.
+
+“You know well enough what that place is like without my telling you,”
+said Joe. “Tell me what your game is and let’s get it over with. You
+won’t gain anything by putting it off.”
+
+The other regarded him searchingly for a few moments.
+
+“Well, in your case, perhaps not,” he said at last. “What you have got
+to do is to sign a paper saying that you won’t play baseball again this
+season. You sign the paper, and you walk out the door a free man.”
+
+“And what if I refuse?” asked Joe.
+
+“Then you’re going toward the river. There’s too much of our money sunk
+in this game now to let us hesitate about what happens to one baseball
+player more or less.”
+
+“You must have a lot of confidence in me,” said Joe. “Suppose I sign
+this paper and then go right ahead and play ball anyway? What’s to
+stop me from doing that?”
+
+“Say, son, you must think we’re easy!” he said. “When you sign this
+paper it will tie the can to your career as a ball player. In it
+you’ll admit that you threw several games last season, and this
+for pay. You’ll name the dates and the games, and we’ll have other
+framed evidence to back it up. Oh, you won’t play any more games this
+season――nor any other season, I guess. But if you _don’t_ sign this
+paper, you won’t play any more games, either,” he added significantly.
+
+For the first time the full measure of his extremity dawned on Joe.
+On the one hand he was asked to sign a paper that would disgrace him
+and make him an outcast in the eyes of the world――such a paper as no
+decent man would care to sign and live after signing it. And if he did
+not sign, there might be even death waiting for him, without the chance
+of saying good-by to his young wife and to his parents and friends,
+certainly such an injury as would forever put him out of baseball. Of
+the two hard alternatives he quickly made his choice.
+
+“I guess it will have to be the river for mine, then,” he said, in a
+steady voice. “You can rest assured I won’t sign any such blackguard
+paper as that.”
+
+The ringleader gave an exclamation.
+
+“Take him back to the cellar, men,” he ordered. “You can have until
+to-night to change your mind, young feller. If you don’t do what I want
+you to then, you――well, you’ll take the consequences, that’s all.”
+
+The others closed in on Joe to take him away, but Joe wrenched himself
+free and with a movement like that of a leaping panther he was at the
+scoundrel. His fist shot out and caught the fellow squarely between the
+eyes. A look of vacant surprise spread over the flabby features and the
+man crumpled to the floor.
+
+Before Joe could strike another blow his hands were pinned to
+his sides, and he was hustled out of the room on the way to the
+subterranean cell.
+
+“You couldn’t have done a worse thing than that, Matson,” said the man
+who had recognized him as being the Giants’ pitcher. “The boss will
+have it in for you worse than ever now. It’ll be personal hate, as well
+as money.”
+
+“He’d probably do his worst, anyway, and that will give him something
+to remember me by,” said Joe grimly.
+
+“You’ve got nerve, kid. I’ve got to hand it to you,” said the other.
+“I’m sorry they’ve got you slated for the river. I used to be a ball
+player myself once, and I guess I’ve got some idea of how you feel
+about it.”
+
+Joe paid little attention to the man’s words, for his mind was busy
+trying to place the man whom he had seen when he first entered the room
+upstairs. He was sure he had seen him somewhere.
+
+His captors conducted him to the room in the cellar, thrust him in, and
+locked the door. Joe felt that he might perhaps go to his death when
+that door opened in the evening. The men were desperate. They planned
+injury, and a step too far―― A crowd of thoughts and memories came
+thronging through his mind. A bitter end, this, to his work for fame
+and fortune.
+
+But was there, in fact, no chance of escape from that dark pit? He
+paced to the wall and started to examine every square inch of it with
+his fingers. Nothing but hard, smooth cement met his search, and after
+an hour of fruitless effort he was about to give over the attempt when
+he heard a stealthy, scratching sound from the direction of the door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE ESCAPE
+
+
+The scratching sound continued, and then Joe could hear the sound
+of the lock being stealthily shot back. But why should his captors
+exercise such caution? There was dead silence for a few seconds, and
+then the door swung slowly open, letting in a dim, sickly light from
+the cellar beyond.
+
+This slow approach of some unseen person was beginning to get on Joe’s
+nerves, and he was about to utter a challenge when a sibilant whisper
+warned him to be quiet.
+
+The door was now open a foot or so, and a dark figure edged itself into
+the room. Joe stood tense, waiting for the attack that he thought was
+coming.
+
+But no attack came. Instead, a tiny shaft of light, reflected from a
+flashlight in the newcomer’s hand, lit the place dimly. By its rays Joe
+recognized the man who had said that he used to be a ball player and
+who had seemed to take an interest in him.
+
+“Don’t make a sound, Matson,” he warned. “If they catch me, there’ll be
+two of us in a desperate plight to-night, instead of one. The big chief
+has sworn to get you to-night, and he’d just as soon knock me out at
+the same time.”
+
+“What has he got against you?” asked Joe curiously.
+
+“Nothing yet. But he would have if he knew I was helping you escape.”
+
+“Escape!” echoed Joe, hardly willing to believe his ears. “Do you
+really mean that you’re going to help me get away from this place?”
+
+“That’s what,” averred the other. “I’m taking my life in my hands to do
+it, but I couldn’t stand by and let them injure――or worse――a game ball
+player like you. I’ve seen you pitch more than once, and you’re too
+good to have a fate like that. I told you I used to be a ball player
+myself, before drink put me down and out. But we can’t waste time
+talking here. Follow me, and I’ll see if I can get you out.”
+
+He led Joe through the cellar until they reached the stairs leading to
+the first floor. They had started to ascend when the guide stopped,
+and Joe could hear voices from above. Joe recognized the voice of the
+leader, raised in angry protest.
+
+“I’m not going to argue with you any more now,” he shouted. “The bunch
+will be at Bill Davendorp’s to-night, and we’ll hash out the whole
+thing then and make our plans. If that doesn’t suit you, I can’t help
+it.”
+
+Joe could not hear what the other man said, but he apparently spoke
+soothingly, and their voices dropped to an indistinguishable monotone.
+
+“I’ll have to get you out another way,” whispered Joe’s guide.
+
+He noiselessly descended the steps to the cellar, with Joe at his
+heels. They had not gone far when Joe’s guide stopped at a stout door
+set in the cellar wall and fitted a key into the lock. Cautiously he
+swung the door open and then for a full minute stood listening intently.
+
+In the silence Joe could hear the wash and lap of water at no great
+distance, and the thought flashed across his mind that perhaps this man
+was leading him into some death trap. But he was totally in the power
+of the man, who had only to shout to bring members of the gang to his
+assistance. Joe resolved to follow him unhesitatingly, since, after
+all, it seemed his only chance.
+
+After listening for some time, the ex-ball player apparently decided
+that the way was clear, for he motioned to Joe to follow him. They
+entered the black tunnel, for such it seemed to be, and went slowly
+forward, the path being dimly lighted by the little flashlight. The
+walls were wet and moldy, and there was hardly room for one man to
+pass along. Ever as they walked the splash and gurgle of running water
+came nearer, until, after rounding a corner, Joe saw the cause.
+
+The tunnel ended at the river, only a foot or two above the high water
+mark. The tide was at flow, and the waters of the mighty Hudson raced
+and swirled past, moaning and gurgling about the piles of an old dock
+under which the tunnel had its exit. Joe could not repress a shudder as
+he gazed at the green water lapping past almost under his feet, for he
+reflected that possibly he had been close to an ignominious death in
+its cold depths.
+
+“There are spikes driven into the far side of that pile,” said Joe’s
+rescuer, indicating a slippery green post to the right of the tunnel.
+“When you get to the top you’ll find a trap door that will let you out
+on the dock. From there you can easily enough reach the street. Then
+see how fast you can get away from this neighborhood. And one more
+thing: Take a little advice and don’t go around alone much for the rest
+of the baseball season.”
+
+Joe extended his hand.
+
+“I don’t even know your name,” he said, “but I know you’re a real man
+in spite of the set you’re running with. Why don’t you shake them and
+play the game on the level? If I can ever help you with cash or in
+any other way, all you’ll ever have to do is to say so. I owe my whole
+future to you.”
+
+The other took the extended hand.
+
+“Your dope sounds good, kid, and maybe I’ll do it,” he said. “But don’t
+think about me any more. Go in and bring your team out at the top of
+the heap, and I’ll be paid for my trouble. I used to belong to the
+Giants once.”
+
+Joe wanted to ask him more, but the man only waved his hand and
+disappeared in the black mouth of the tunnel. Joe felt for the spikes
+in the slippery pile and found them just as his rescuer had said.
+Three minutes later he was standing on the hot planks of the dock, the
+glorious summer sun beating down on him, deep joy and thanksgiving in
+his heart.
+
+The dock was deserted, and Joe started for the landward end, on his
+guard for any sign of his enemies. But nothing occurred to hinder him,
+and in a few minutes he had reached West Street. Here he turned south
+for a few blocks and then east until he reached a subway station. Here
+he boarded a subway train that would take him to the Polo Grounds.
+
+As the train whizzed uptown it almost seemed to Joe as though he had
+been through a terrible dream, from which he had just awakened. In his
+ears was still the voice of the man, saying:
+
+“The gang will meet at Bill Davendorp’s to-night and we’ll make our
+plans then.”
+
+Joe had heard of this Davendorp before. He was a shady character, known
+to the police but never actually convicted of any crime. He was the
+proprietor of “Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors,” a resort much frequented
+by people who led an evil life.
+
+Already Joe was beginning to revolve plans in his mind for discovering
+the schemes of the plotters, but, warned by his recent terrible
+experience, he had no intention of going into the venture single-handed.
+He planned to tell the whole story to McRae and leave the matter to the
+greater experience and resources of the manager.
+
+When Joe entered the clubhouse a shout went up that brought McRae and
+Robson on the run, under the impression that a riot had broken out. Joe
+was bombarded with questions from every side, and the delight of his
+team mates passed all bounds. It was some time before McRae and Robson
+could drag him away to the former’s office, where Joe gave a complete
+account of his harrowing experiences.
+
+“But how about Jim?” asked McRae, when Joe had finished. “Wasn’t he
+with you?”
+
+“Jim?” exclaimed Joe. “Don’t tell me that the gang has got him, too!”
+
+“It looks that way,” said the manager grimly. “He went in search of
+you the day following your disappearance, and nobody’s seen nor heard
+from him since.”
+
+This news came as a terrible blow to Joe and put a damper on his
+happiness at his own escape. But he resolved to hunt for his missing
+friend right away.
+
+This was not so easy, however, as news of his arrival had gone out on
+to the field and spread to grandstand and bleachers, where the greatest
+excitement prevailed. Joe had to go out and show himself, whereupon the
+fans rose and gave him a greeting that any one might have been proud
+to receive as a tribute. They all wanted Joe to pitch the game that
+afternoon, but McRae would not hear of it.
+
+“After what you’ve been through, Matson, you need a good rest before
+you’ll be ready to pitch again. Take the afternoon off, and forget
+about baseball for that length of time.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+DOWN THE ROPE
+
+
+It was not easy for Joe to “forget about baseball,” but the thought of
+his chum in captivity, perhaps as bad as that from which he himself had
+just escaped, did much to take his mind from the game that he loved so
+well.
+
+How was he to find out where Jim was held captive? New York is a
+tremendously big city, and Joe had not the faintest clue on which to
+work. McCarney would be likely to know something about it, Joe thought,
+but if he did there was little hope of getting the information out of
+him.
+
+Joe decided that the first step would be to go to his hotel, get a bath
+and put on some respectable clothes before starting the hunt for Jim.
+The clothes he had on were torn and bedraggled, and when he caught a
+glimpse of himself in a mirror he realized that he looked more like a
+tramp than the spruce star pitcher of the New York Giants.
+
+When he arrived at the family hotel the clerk, a young woman, threw up
+her hands in mingled wonder at his unkempt appearance and delight at
+his return. She had a keen interest in both Joe and Jim, and had been
+sorely grieved at their disappearance.
+
+Joe gave her a brief sketch of his experience and told her that Jim was
+still missing.
+
+“Oh, that reminds me!” exclaimed the clerk. “A note came from Mr.
+Barclay not an hour ago, and as you weren’t here I was going to call up
+Mr. McRae and tell him about it.”
+
+“A note from Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Who brought it? Let’s have a look at
+it.”
+
+The clerk turned to her desk, and finally produced a crumpled scrap of
+paper.
+
+“There it is,” she said, handing it to Joe. “It was brought by the
+dirtiest boy I ever saw. He said that he saw it thrown out of a window,
+and when he saw that it was addressed to Joe Matson he pretty near
+killed himself to bring it here. He seemed awfully disappointed when I
+told him you weren’t here. He talked to me the longest while about what
+a wonderful pitcher you were, and it was all I could do to get rid of
+him. I never could understand why people think it’s such a wonderful
+thing to be able to throw a baseball around,” and she smiled.
+
+But Joe did not hear a word that she was saying. He was engrossed in
+the note, which had been scribbled on a torn piece of brown wrapping
+paper.
+
+    “The crooks have got me in a house opposite to number 821
+    East 17th St. Am taking a chance that you’ve got clear and
+    can help me. Come if you can.                        JIM.”
+
+“Will I!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll tell the world!” and he bounded up the
+stairs to his room.
+
+“Tell the world what?” called the clerk after him, but she got no
+answer. Joe scrubbed the worst of the dirt off his hands and face,
+jumped into another suit of clothes, and was out the door like a shot,
+much to the disappointment of the young woman clerk, who was consumed
+with curiosity to know his plans.
+
+As a matter of fact, Joe did not have any definite plan, but his
+friend had called on him for aid and his one thought was to fly to his
+assistance. The idea uppermost in his mind was to locate the building,
+reconnoiter it, and then see what he could do. It seemed hours before
+he finally got out of the subway at East Eighteenth Street, although
+really the trip was a short one. He walked rapidly in the direction of
+the East River, scanning the house numbers as he went.
+
+It did not take him long to find the address that Jim had scribbled in
+his note. Opposite this house was a big building that looked as though
+it had once been used as a warehouse. There seemed to be no sign of
+life about it now, however. There were few windows, and most of these
+were tightly boarded up.
+
+Joe scanned the front anxiously, wondering if the note had been a fake
+after all. Even if Jim were in the place, how could he let Joe know it?
+
+These and many other doubts passed through Joe’s mind as he stood
+looking at the high, drab wall of the place. But suddenly, from a small
+window close to the roof, a hand was waved and a moment later Joe saw
+the face of his friend framed in the opening.
+
+Joe waved back to him, and a few minutes later he saw a bit of paper
+come fluttering down. Joe picked it up almost before it had touched the
+roadway and scanned its contents.
+
+“Be careful, Joe, and whatever you do, don’t call the police,” read the
+note. “If this place is raided, the first thing they’ll do is get me
+out of the way. Try and get a rope up to me some way. If you can’t, it
+will be bad for me.”
+
+Joe measured the height of the window with his eye. It was at least one
+hundred feet from the ground, but suddenly Joe had an inspiration.
+
+He waved his hand to let Jim know that he had gotten the note and
+understood, and then walked at top speed toward Second Avenue. After a
+further walk of a few short blocks, he saw a small hardware store. He
+purchased a long coil of stout hemp rope and a ball of light but strong
+twine. Then in a small stationery store he bought a baseball, and with
+his newly acquired property he hurried back to the place where his
+friend was held prisoner.
+
+Fortunately for Joe’s project, that part of the city, close to the
+East River, is a quiet neighborhood, far removed from the roaring
+tides of traffic that go surging up and down the main avenues. The
+inhabitants of that neighborhood are prone to mind their own business,
+and while several people whom he passed looked curiously at his unusual
+equipment, no embarrassing questions were asked. The old warehouse was
+the last building between the street and the river, and when Joe got to
+it the street seemed deserted, for which he was duly grateful.
+
+Taking the baseball from his pocket, he wound it firmly about with
+twine and then attached a long string of that material to it. While he
+was making these preparations, he could see Jim peering from the little
+window, and he knew that his friend would quickly understand his plan.
+
+Joe carefully measured the distance with his eye, wound up, and pitched
+the ball with all his strength toward the small opening high in the
+wall. It struck within a few inches of the window, but bounded off and
+bounced down into the street. Joe picked it up, untangled the twine,
+and tried again. This time the ball went right through the center of
+the open window. The throw must have been all of a hundred feet from
+the sidewalk to the window, and in addition the ball was weighted with
+the trailing twine. It is doubtful if any other pitcher in the big
+leagues could have equaled the wonderful throw. Joe, however, never
+gave the matter a thought. Jim had one end of the twine, and Joe was
+elated that his scheme had been successful so far.
+
+He glanced cautiously about, but as far as he could tell his actions
+had not attracted any attention. Half way up the block a few people
+were going in and out of the shabby tenement houses, but they took no
+notice of him. However, he judged it wise to wait a few minutes before
+proceeding farther, and so sat down on his coil of rope and whittled
+nonchalantly at a sliver of wood. The thin string hanging down the
+front of the old warehouse would never be noticed from the street, and
+Joe felt reasonably secure so far.
+
+After about ten minutes of waiting there came a time when the street
+was again almost deserted, and Joe was not slow in taking advantage
+of this. Crossing swiftly over, he attached the end of the one-inch
+hemp line to the twine, and gave a gentle pull to let Jim know that
+everything was all right.
+
+The latter had grasped Joe’s idea as soon as the baseball with the
+twine attached came bounding into the room. Now, when he felt the tug
+on the cord, he pulled the rope up hand over hand, and soon had the end
+in the room. There were several big hooks in the room, and he quickly
+fastened the cord to one of these. This done, he prepared to essay the
+perilous descent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+SCATTERING THE RASCALS
+
+
+It required nerve to climb out on the narrow window sill and trust his
+life to that swaying rope, but Jim was plentifully equipped with that
+article, and he hesitated not a second. He twisted the rope several
+times about one leg, so as to take some of the strain off his arms, and
+then started sliding slowly down.
+
+Down on the sidewalk, Joe held the lower end of the rope, to prevent
+its swinging, and gazed anxiously up at his friend. One false move or a
+moment of dizziness, and Jim would be dashed to death on the paving.
+
+So engrossed was Joe in watching his chum that he forgot to watch for
+anything else, and he was not conscious of the presence of a man who
+had come out of the warehouse a moment before and who now stood gazing
+in stupefied silence at the sight that met his eyes.
+
+His period of inaction, however, did not last long. With a startled
+shout he sprang into action and dashed back into the building, calling
+at the top of his lungs.
+
+Jim was still less than half way down, and Joe gazed desperately about
+in the hope of assistance.
+
+There was none in sight. Jim had heard the man’s shout, and, knowing
+that his actions were discovered, slid down the rope at increased
+speed. But he was still thirty or forty feet from the sidewalk when the
+man who had raised the alarm dashed out, followed by three others. They
+made furiously for Joe, and he let go the rope and rushed to meet them.
+He knew that he would have to beat them off until Jim could join him.
+
+The fellows did not recognize Joe, and they were chiefly concerned
+lest Jim should escape them. They tried to get at the rope, but Joe
+would not have it so. Hot rage boiled up in him at the thought of the
+unprovoked attacks on him and his friend. He saw red, and the four
+ruffians were staggered by the force and fury of his onslaught. They
+gave back momentarily, then returned to the attack.
+
+One of them had a club in his hand. He edged behind Joe, waiting for a
+chance to use it. The weapon was poised in readiness for a blow when
+its owner was sent sprawling to the ground. Jim stood at his friend’s
+side.
+
+He also had the memory of recent wrongs and insults to avenge, and
+together the two friends charged into their assailants, striking right
+and left and feeling a fierce joy as their flailing fists smashed and
+battered at their shrinking opponents.
+
+But reënforcements were at hand for the ball players’ opponents. With a
+yell, three more fellows dashed out of the warehouse and charged into
+the fray.
+
+“Time for a getaway, Jim,” panted Joe, realizing that these odds were
+too great. As he spoke, he saw the club that one of the ruffians had
+dropped lying on the sidewalk. Like a flash he picked it up and laid
+about him like a madman. As his weapon landed with terrific force, the
+scoundrels momentarily gave ground.
+
+“Come on, Jim!” shouted Joe, and the two friends charged through the
+ring of assailants like a couple of maddened bulls.
+
+Then they took to their heels, with the rascals after them. But the
+latter were no match for fleet base runners like the two Giant ball
+players. Reaching the corner, the two boys raced up the avenue a block
+or so, but the ruffians appeared to have given up the pursuit, and they
+slowed down to a walk.
+
+They kept up a rapid pace, however, and did not feel secure until they
+were seated in a subway train and speeding uptown.
+
+Both of them bore signs of the struggle they had been through, but
+they little minded this nor the curious stares of the other passengers.
+They were both safe, after having gone through adventures that might
+well have ended in tragedy for one or both.
+
+Joe looked at his friend, and Jim looked at him. Then they both grinned.
+
+“I don’t blame people for looking at us as though we were a couple of
+freaks,” said Joe. “If I look as bunged up as you do, Jim, I must be a
+terrible sight.”
+
+“You are,” said Jim frankly. “I guess I am too, though. And make out my
+hands aren’t sore!” and he exhibited two blistered palms. “After that
+gang came swarming out of the house I slid down that rope so fast that
+it smoked.”
+
+“You didn’t get down a minute too soon,” answered Joe. “But your hands
+look pretty bad. I’m afraid you won’t be able to pitch for a week, at
+the least.”
+
+“Well, if I hadn’t slid down fast, I’d probably never have pitched
+again at any time,” said Jim. “A few blisters are a cheap price to pay
+to get away from that gang.”
+
+“Don’t forget the rope that I contributed,” Joe reminded him. “Not to
+mention the baseball.”
+
+“That was some rock,” said Jim. “When it landed in the room I thought
+it would go through the floor. I’ve got to hand it to you for thinking
+up that scheme, Joe. Likewise, that was a wonderful throw you made, up
+to the window. When I saw you winding up for it, I never thought you’d
+make it.”
+
+“It was a case of where I had to make it,” said Joe. “Anyway, I think I
+could have hoisted it a little higher if I’d had to. You can never tell
+what you can do till you try. But now tell me how you happened to get
+in that place. I’ll bet they had a scrimmage before they persuaded you
+to make them a visit.”
+
+“Well, I can’t claim much of a battle, at that,” confessed Jim. “I
+trailed you to that house on the West Side, and I was trying to think
+up a plan to get inside when a big automobile came along and stopped
+right near me. I didn’t think much of it, but the next thing I knew
+a crowd of six or seven rascals landed on my devoted head and I went
+down for the count. They carried me over to that joint near the East
+River, and locked me in a little room on the top floor. I’d have had to
+be a human fly to get out, and I guess they thought they had me safely
+cooped up.”
+
+“Did they want you to sign a framed-up paper that would have run you
+out of the game?” asked Joe. “That’s what they handed me.”
+
+“That was the idea, all right,” replied his friend. “Of course I
+refused, and then they told me I could starve until I came around to
+their terms. I haven’t had anything to eat in twenty-four hours, and,
+believe me, a nice beefsteak would be mighty easy to take.”
+
+“Good night!” exclaimed Joe. “Why didn’t you get something before we
+got on the sub train? They don’t run dining cars on this line.”
+
+“I guess I was too excited to think about it,” said Jim. “I’m getting
+more starved every second, though. Let’s get off at the next station
+and hunt up a restaurant.”
+
+“Fine! I could take a little nourishment myself,” said Joe, and at the
+next station they proceeded to put this plan into effect.
+
+While Jim was ordering a meal that made the waiter gasp, Joe slipped
+out to a telephone and got McRae on the wire. The delight and
+excitement of the manager was manifest over the wire, and Joe promised
+to report with Jim as soon as they had eaten.
+
+When he got back to the table Jim, unable to await his coming, had
+already started, and Joe was treated to an unusual exhibition of
+eating. His friend finished one large steak and called for another. The
+waiter looked scandalized, but he filled the order nevertheless.
+
+When Jim at last finished and leaned back to drink a cup of black
+coffee, Joe solemnly extended his hand across the table.
+
+“Shake, old man,” he said, with feeling. “I never knew any man could
+pack away food like that and live to tell the story. I used to think I
+was fairly good myself, but now I’ve got to admit that I’m not even in
+your class.”
+
+“I always knew that, but I never thought you’d come around to my way
+of thinking,” answered Jim with a grin. “I feel now as though I could
+lick my weight in wildcats. Let’s go back and clean out that joint on
+Seventeenth Street.”
+
+“You can go if you’re looking for a quick death,” said Joe.
+“Personally, I’d just as soon live a little longer. Besides, I’ve
+promised McRae that we’ll report to him as soon as possible. Those
+hands of yours need a doctor’s attention, too.”
+
+“They can still handle a knife and fork,” said Jim complacently.
+
+Joe and Jim found McRae at his hotel, but he would not listen to a word
+until he had taken Jim to a doctor and his hands were swathed in white
+bandages. Then they went back to the hotel, and the manager listened to
+Jim’s story, with many grunts and interjections and angry mutterings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+LARRY HAS HIS SAY
+
+
+“I’m so glad to have both of you back, safe and sound, that I can’t sit
+down right now and figure out the best way to punish those scoundrels,”
+McRae said, when the recital was ended. “You’ve both shown wonderful
+pluck and nerve, and I’m proud of you. I’d have given quite a few
+dollars to have been around when that scrap down by the East River
+started. I haven’t been in a real good fracas for a long time, and it
+would surely have been a pleasure to have landed on one or two of those
+rascals. You must have put up a peach of a scrap to get away from them
+as neatly as you did.”
+
+“It’s a wonder they didn’t start some gun play,” remarked Joe. “We’d
+have been out of luck for fair if they had.”
+
+“I imagine they wanted to capture you both, rather than settle your
+hash for good,” observed the manager.
+
+“If you don’t mind, Mac,” said Joe, getting to his feet, “I think we’d
+better go to our hotel and get cleaned up. Jim says I look as bad as he
+does, but I’d hate to believe it.”
+
+“Go on!” exclaimed his friend. “You look worse. I guess it won’t hurt
+either of us to have a bath, though, and get some decent clothes on.
+I’ve got to admit that we both look a little mussed up.”
+
+“Well, beat it along, and look out for those hands of yours, Jim,” said
+McRae. “I want to get you back into the box just as soon as I can. That
+last game you pitched is still being talked about by the fans, and I
+want you to repeat the performance.”
+
+“I’ll do the best I can,” promised Jim. “I don’t see where there was
+anything so wonderful about that game, though. I was just trying to
+pitch as well as I knew Joe would have done if he had been there.”
+
+“Thanks for the compliment,” laughed Joe. “But I haven’t heard about
+that game yet, Jim. On the way home you’ve got to tell me about it.”
+
+“All right, I will. But let’s beat it now,” said his friend, and the
+two said good-by to McRae and headed for their hotel. Joe insisted on
+Jim’s telling him the details of the last game when Jim had pitched to
+victory, and he chuckled with satisfaction when his friend told him
+about the way he had bowled McCarney over.
+
+“You had the right dope, all right,” declared Joe. “I’ll bet that shady
+ball player was all set to muff that fly and then blame it on the sun
+getting in his eyes. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s pulled that
+excuse, but it’s beginning to wear pretty thin.”
+
+“Yes, that’s what I figured,” agreed Jim. “I couldn’t afford to take a
+chance right then. We needed that game too badly. It’s a wonder to me,
+though, that I pitched as well as I did, I was worrying so about you
+all the time.”
+
+“Well, I might have had an off day and gotten knocked out of the box,
+so maybe it was a lucky thing for the team that I wasn’t there,” said
+Joe.
+
+“I’ll take a chance on you any time, old scout,” declared Jim. “But
+here we are at the old hangout, and make out our lady clerk won’t be
+surprised to see us come walking in together.”
+
+The interested woman was surprised, indeed, and delighted as well. She
+fairly deluged them with questions, which they answered as well as they
+could. McRae had warned them to keep their experiences to themselves,
+for a while, at least, but they told the clerk as much as they could
+and evaded the other questions. At last they succeeded in satisfying
+her curiosity to some extent, and went on upstairs to their rooms.
+Their bathroom was equipped with a shower bath, and they fairly reveled
+in this. Then, when each had donned a complete set of fresh clothing,
+they felt almost “one hundred per cent efficient,” as Jim put it,
+although his hands still bothered him a good deal.
+
+“You’ll have to take my turn at pitching as well as your own, Joe,”
+he said ruefully. “I’m afraid I shan’t be able to handle a ball for a
+week, at least.”
+
+“Well, I’m the boy that can do it,” said his friend confidently. “I
+feel as though I could pitch a double header right now and never be any
+the worse for it. It’s one of my ambitions to do it some day, too.”
+
+“It looks as though you might have the chance, all right,” remarked
+Jim. “But there’s somebody at the door. Let him in, Joe; you’re nearest
+to it.”
+
+Joe did so, and they were both delighted to see Larry Barrett standing
+on the threshold. He rushed in, delighted at seeing them, and they all
+shook hands joyously.
+
+“Glory be, but it’s glad Oi am to see you both again!” he exclaimed.
+“Shure, an’ we thought you’d both been bumped off, fur good, when ye
+neither one showed up for practice. Phwat in the name of all that’s
+good have ye been doin’ wid yerselves?”
+
+“Oh, just off on a little vacation,” said Jim, airily. “It looked at
+one time as though it might turn into a permanent one, but they say
+‘only the good die young,’ and that probably explains why we’re still
+decorating the landscape.”
+
+“It’s happy Oi am that ye’re both back,” said the jovial Irishman.
+“Shure, an’ the Giants would soon have been in the cellar position if
+ye hadn’t got back pretty soon.”
+
+“Oh, we’re not as important as all that,” protested Joe. “There was a
+Giant team before we were ever heard of, and chances are there will be
+one after we’re buried and forgotten. The team is right up among the
+leaders, and they ought to be able to cop the pennant, anyway.”
+
+“Up wid the leaders is right, me bye, but stayin’ there is another
+matter,” said Larry. “Why is ut that when we’re wid the leaders, as
+you so truly remarked but a short time ago, that everybody’s bettin’
+against us? It looks as though some of the baseball sharps wuz bankin’
+pretty heavy on the Giants losin’ the pennant. Am Oi right or am Oi
+not?”
+
+“The gamblers don’t know everything, not by a long shot,” observed Jim.
+“Often their plans slip up on a banana peel. Don’t they, Joe?”
+
+“Yes, once in a while,” replied his friend, grinning. “But, anyway,
+Larry, here we are back in the game, so what do you suppose the
+gamblers will do now?”
+
+“Faith, an’ Oi think if it’s wise they are, they’ll bet on the Giants,
+instid of aginst thim,” said Larry. “We’ll wipe up the diamond wid thim
+other teams now. That is,” he added, “if we don’t git double crossed by
+some of the fellers on our own team. That’s the thing that’s worryin’
+me now, an’ Oi don’t care who knows it.”
+
+Joe and Jim exchanged glances.
+
+“Whom do you mean?” asked the former.
+
+“An’ who should Oi mean but thim two, McCarney an’ Hupft?” demanded
+Larry, in a belligerent tone. “You fellers know who Oi mean, well
+enough. For phwat did ye take that pop fly away from McCarney the other
+day, Jim, if ut wasn’t because you had a hunch that he wouldn’t field
+ut? Some of the other fellers didn’t get on to what wuz in back o’ that
+play, but you can’t fool yer Uncle Larry so easy.”
+
+“Well, there’s no use denying that we are suspicious of those two
+birds, to say the least,” admitted Joe. “But just keep that under your
+hat, Larry, and don’t talk to the other fellows about it. We want to
+get the goods on McCarney and Hupft before we make any move to get them
+off the team.”
+
+“That sounds raysonable,” admitted Larry. “But I gave one o’ thim birds
+a piece o’ me mind yesterday, and I wish now Oi’d taken a swing at his
+left ear for luck.”
+
+“It wouldn’t have been much luck for the fellow on the receiving end,
+though,” laughed Jim. “What did you tell him, Larry?”
+
+“Oi told him if he couldn’t hold on to the ball better, he ought to be
+playin’ checkers instid o’ baseball. ‘Ye’ve got no man’s grip in yer
+hands, or the ball wouldn’t slip through thim so easy,’ I told him.”
+
+“Who was that, McCarney or Hupft?” asked Joe.
+
+“’Twas the spalpeen of a third baseman,” replied Larry. “If he’d been
+half a man he’d have answered me back, and maybe started a little
+scrap, which Oi’d have been thankful for that same. But he only gives
+me an ugly, sideways look an’ says somethin’ under his breath that Oi
+cuddn’t hear. Oi should have swung at him, an’ me conscience has been
+botherin’ me ever since fur not doin’ ut.”
+
+“I never knew you had a conscience,” laughed Joe. “Doesn’t it ever
+bother you when you argue with the umpire over calling a strike against
+you, when you know all the time it was a strike?”
+
+“Oh, that’s different,” answered the good-natured Irishman, grinning.
+“That’s a matter of principle wid me, an’ me conscience would bother
+me if I didn’t do ut. You’re both ball players yerselves, an’ should
+realize that widout me havin’ to tell ye.”
+
+“I guess we know how you feel about it,” returned Jim, chuckling. “An
+umpire has to be kept in his place, or a ball player’s life would be
+harder than it is.”
+
+Larry stayed with them for some time before taking his departure.
+Joe and Jim then decided to go back to the manager’s hotel and find
+out what he intended to do in the matter of the gamblers and their
+high-handed proceedings.
+
+They found McRae in no very pleasant temper. He was pacing up and down
+the room, and his face wore the look that members of his team knew
+boded trouble for some one. He waved them to chairs, and then gave vent
+to his anger against the crooks who he believed were ruining baseball.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+A COUNCIL OF WAR
+
+
+“This sort of thing has gone far enough!” exclaimed the Giants’
+manager, pounding on a table with his fist. “No bunch of tin-horn
+gamblers can play ducks and drakes with my ball team and get away with
+it. If their dirty plans had gone through, both Joe and Jim would have
+been out of the game for good, branded as crooks, and the Giant team
+would be so shot to pieces you’d need a vacuum cleaner to clear up the
+remains. I’m going to turn this thing over to the police right here and
+now,” and he started for a telephone in the corner of the room.
+
+“Easy there, Mac, easy,” warned Robson, who was also one of the party.
+“Take a little time to think this thing over before you go to making
+any bad breaks.”
+
+“What do you mean――bad breaks?” queried the fiery manager. “If somebody
+lifts your watch, is it a bad break to go to the police about it? What
+are the cops for, anyway?”
+
+“That’s all right, as far as the crooked gamblers are concerned,” said
+Robson. “But how about the crooked ball players we’ve got on the team
+right now? That’s a matter for organized baseball, more than for the
+police.”
+
+“The crooked ball players will get theirs to-morrow, don’t doubt that
+for a minute!” growled McRae. “I’ll settle their hash for good, but
+I don’t see yet why we can’t put the police on the track of the gang
+that captured my two pitchers. We know their hangouts now, and the cops
+ought to be able to round them up easily enough.”
+
+“Not a chance in the world,” said Robson, shaking his head. “You don’t
+suppose those birds will sit around in their nests and wait for the
+patrol wagon to come and get them, do you? I’ll bet any money that if
+you went to either of their hangouts right now you’d find them first
+cousins to the deserted village.”
+
+McRae thought a moment.
+
+“Well, I suppose you’re right,” he growled at last. “You always are,
+confound you! But if we don’t get the police in on this, what are we
+going to do? We can’t let this business go on unchecked, and not raise
+a finger to stop it, can we?”
+
+“Not by a long shot!” exclaimed Robson. “But it would be better to
+worry along almost any way to the end of the season than it would
+to get this scandal in the newspapers. It would leave a stain on
+organized baseball that it would be almost impossible to wipe out.
+Let’s keep what we know to ourselves for the time being, and see if we
+can’t find some better way of handling the problem.”
+
+“I’ll agree with you in that,” said McRae. “You’ll have to admit,
+though, that we can’t leave McCarney and Hupft to throw games for us
+at will. I’ll follow your advice as far as not publicly throwing them
+off the team goes, but I’m not going to have them play those important
+positions any more. The race is getting closer every day, and we can’t
+afford to take chances.”
+
+“Yes, you’re right there,” admitted Robson. “The trouble of it is, that
+we haven’t any good substitutes to put in their places.”
+
+“Even a rookie that’s honestly trying to do his best is better than
+the finest ball player in the world that’s trying to make mistakes,”
+McRae pointed out. “I’ll let them stay until they make some other bone
+play accidentally on purpose, and then I’ll have a good excuse to
+retire them to the bench. Maybe our rookies will do more than we hope
+for. I’ll leave it to your judgment which ones to put in when the time
+comes.”
+
+“But what are you going to do about that meeting at Bill Davendorp’s
+to-night, Mac?” asked Jim. “There will be a choice assortment of
+crooks there, including the ringleader of the crowd. I’d say, capture
+the whole bunch red-handed, if possible, even if we have to get the
+police in on it. I know that a public scandal will be a bad thing for
+baseball, but if this sort of thing keeps on there’s bound to be a big
+blow-up some time, anyway, and when it comes it may be a lot worse than
+at the present time.”
+
+“You told it, Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Round up the whole bunch and get it
+over with right away, is what I say. And nothing will please me more
+than to be in at the finish. I owe that crowd a thing or two, and I’m
+anxious to pay them off.”
+
+“They’re right, at that, Robson,” said McRae. “This looks like a golden
+opportunity, and we’d be foolish to miss it, it seems to me.”
+
+“Well, yes and no,” said Robson slowly. “As you say, it looks like the
+opportunity of a lifetime to round up the gang and put them out of
+business. But don’t you think we could do it quietly, without letting
+the police and newspapers in on the show? I want to see those fellows
+get their deserts, all right, but if there’s some way to do it without
+hurting the game I want to do it that way.”
+
+“Yes, yes,” said McRae, a trifle impatiently. “But what way is there?
+These men are desperate characters, and won’t submit tamely to be
+captured. If you’ve got a plan, tell us the details.”
+
+“There’s another thing we’ve got to consider,” pointed out Joe. “If
+we go easy we can probably find out what the plans of the fellows are.
+If we can find some way to listen in on them and learn what they’re up
+to, we’d have evidence that would put them out of harm’s way for a few
+years.”
+
+“That’s the idea, exactly,” said Robson approvingly. “That’s just
+about what I was going to say when you beat me to it, Matson. Get the
+evidence first, and then it will do some good to round them up. How
+does that sound to you, Mac?”
+
+“Why, all right, I suppose,” said the manager irascibly. “As long as
+we get that bunch of crooks behind bars, it doesn’t matter much to me
+what methods we use. But if we don’t let the police in on the game, how
+do you propose to capture the bunch? There’s apt to be a pretty lively
+scrap, and if anybody gets hurt, you and I will get the blame for it.”
+
+“Oh, well, we’re used to getting blamed for things that aren’t our
+fault,” said the genial trainer, with a touch of his usually cheerful
+philosophy. “You ought to be used to having the can tied to you by this
+time, Mac.”
+
+“You’re right enough there,” admitted the manager. “Let’s get down
+to brass tacks on this proposition, though. We haven’t got much time
+to make our plans, so we’d better get busy right away. Who’s got
+something to suggest?” and he looked inquiringly from one to the other.
+
+They were all silent for a few moments, as they thought of and rejected
+various plans. Of the four, Joe was the first to break the meditative
+silence.
+
+“I don’t imagine there will be very many in the gang at Davendorp’s
+to-night,” he said, speaking slowly. “Probably not more than fifteen
+altogether, if there’s that many. The rascals will know that they are
+in a bad position, due to having let Jim and me get away from them,
+and there won’t be any one but the ringleaders at the conference, it’s
+likely. It seems to me that if we got all the men on our team together
+and put the thing up to them, they’d all volunteer for the job. They’re
+as anxious as we are to clean up the game and throw out the crooked
+ones.”
+
+“It’s probably true, as you say, Matson, that only the leaders will
+be in at conference,” said Robson. “We know, though, that Davendorp’s
+place has a pretty shady reputation, and probably a lot of the
+gamblers’ hangers-on will be loafing about the place. I should say we’d
+need more men than the team can muster, to be on the safe side. We’ve
+got to count out McCarney and Hupft, and even with the rookies we would
+have only about fifteen men.”
+
+“Yes, but they all know how to handle themselves in a scrap,” said Jim.
+
+“That’s true enough. But we can’t afford to take chances,” said Robson,
+with the caution for which he was noted. “We ought to have five or six
+more, and the question is, where to get them.”
+
+“Before we go any further I’m going to get Hughson here, and we’ll have
+the benefit of his advice,” said McRae. “He’s in the city on business
+connected with his team. I still think this is a matter for the police,
+but if he sides with you fellows, I won’t put up any more opposition.
+This is a serious thing, and we don’t want to go rushing into it before
+we know we’re right.”
+
+“It won’t take long to get him here, I think,” said Robson. “He told
+me he was going to stay in this evening, so I think we can get hold of
+him right away. I think I know where I can find him, so I’ll give him a
+ring.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+WEAVING THE WEB
+
+
+Robson took the telephone and called a number. In a few seconds he
+heard the familiar voice of the veteran baseball man over the wire,
+and he explained that he and the manager wanted his advice. Hughson
+promised to join the council as soon as possible, and it was not
+fifteen minutes later that he was shown up to the room.
+
+“What’s going on here, anyway?” he asked, when he had exchanged
+greetings with the little group. “You all look as serious as the
+mourners at a funeral.”
+
+“It may end in a funeral for some one,” said McRae pessimistically.
+“Sit down, Hughson, and I’ll give you the facts in as few words as
+possible.”
+
+The manager sketched a brief outline of the happenings of the last
+few days and the project that they were considering for that evening.
+Hughson listened attentively, throwing in a terse question here and
+there, and when McRae finished he sat silent awhile, digesting the
+information that had been given him. McRae had not told him which plan
+he himself favored, so that the veteran baseball man could make his own
+decision.
+
+“I think that if we can keep this matter to ourselves, it will be a
+better thing for the game,” he said, at length. “If it gets out that
+McCarney and Hupft have been in league with the gamblers and have been
+trying to throw games, the fans will suspect every one of you, and if
+you should lose the pennant, you’d never make them believe in a hundred
+years that you hadn’t done it purposely. It seems to me, though, that
+it will be a difficult thing for us to get into Davendorp’s without
+being recognized and arousing suspicion.”
+
+“We’ll have to chance that,” said McRae. “If some of us are recognized,
+the gang will just think that we’re crooks too, and in the plot. But
+Robson thinks that we should have more men than the team can furnish,
+and we are up against it to know who to get.”
+
+“That shouldn’t be so hard,” said Hughson. “There are plenty of fans
+who think as highly of the game as we do, and want its good name
+preserved. There ought to be plenty of volunteers for a job like this.
+I have one or two friends who would go into it at the drop of a hat, if
+I asked them to.”
+
+“I could muster a few myself,” said McRae. “Probably the rest of us
+could too, for that matter.”
+
+“There are five of us here,” said Hughson. “Suppose each of us gets
+hold of two men that he knows can be relied upon, and explains the
+situation to them. If we can each get two, that will make ten extra
+men, and with all the fellows on the team, it will be enough, I should
+say. I don’t think any of them will try to back out.”
+
+“That plan sounds all right to me,” said McRae, and looked questioningly
+at the others.
+
+As it appealed to them in the same way, there was no further argument
+on that score, and after a little more discussion they had planned out
+the matter in every detail. Each of them was to get two volunteers, and
+bring them to McRae’s rooms as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the manager
+was to get hold of the players by telephone or messenger, arranging for
+them to meet him at a designated spot.
+
+They had to act quickly, for already the late summer dusk was closing
+in, and there was much to do in a short time. Of course, there was a
+chance that the rascals, frightened off by the escape of Jim and Joe,
+would not meet at all, but this was not very likely. They would have
+no reason to suspect that their trysting place was known, and in view
+of the mishaps of the day, might be even more desirous than before of
+getting together and concocting schemes for the future. Anyway, this
+was a chance that the Giants had to take, and even if the conspirators
+did not meet, the ball players would be out nothing but their time and
+trouble.
+
+Joe and Jim, of course, had hosts of friends and admirers, but they
+considered some time before picking out those that they intended to
+enlist in the cause of clean baseball. Finally they made their choice,
+and were fortunate in getting the consent of all of them without
+hesitation. They were young fellows, enthusiastic followers of the
+game, and hailed the chance of aiding it and at the same time entering
+into what promised to be an exciting adventure.
+
+Joe and Jim hired a taxicab, and in company with their friends rushed
+back to McRae’s hotel. They had not taken long, but Hughson was there
+before them, with two stalwart citizens who looked as though they could
+give a good account of themselves in a scrimmage. Robson and McRae had
+experienced no difficulty in getting their recruits, and the latter
+had also found time to get in touch with most of his players on the
+telephone.
+
+Such a summons naturally came as a big surprise to all of them, but
+they obeyed the call without hesitation and were all gathered at a
+northern entrance to Central Park when the manager arrived with Joe,
+Jim, Robson, Hughson, and their ten volunteers. Fortunately, they had
+all evaded reporters so far, and to the best of their knowledge no hint
+of their enterprise had leaked out.
+
+“Shure, an’ phwat’s the big idea, boss?” inquired Larry. “Is ut a ball
+game by moonlight you’re plannin’?”
+
+“No, nothing like that,” said McRae. “This is more serious,” and he was
+starting to explain the situation when the team caught sight of Jim.
+Every man tried to shake hands with him and question him at once, and
+it was a wonder that some policeman was not attracted by the noise.
+
+“I’ll tell you all about it, boys, some time when we’re not so rushed,”
+laughed Jim. “I’m here, and ready for anything, even if my hands are
+a little sore. But never mind me now, just listen to what the boss is
+trying to tell us.”
+
+They quieted down at this, and McRae told them briefly how matters
+stood and what he wanted them to do.
+
+“But there’s nothing compulsory about this, you know,” he finished.
+“Any man that doesn’t feel like going is at liberty to say so, and it
+won’t make any difference with me.”
+
+He looked inquiringly at the team, but there was not one who did not
+seem eager to undertake the adventure. McRae then proceeded to outline
+their plan of campaign.
+
+“We’ll drift into Davendorp’s place in twos and threes,” he said.
+“After we get there we’ll have to make our plans as we go along. But
+everybody keep his eyes and ears open, and I’ll pass the word around
+when it comes time for action. If any of you are recognized, as you’re
+practically certain to be, just say you dropped in to shoot a little
+pool, or some excuse that will sound plausible.
+
+“And one more thing. Before we start, I want every man here to pledge
+absolute secrecy about this business. We’re doing this to avoid a
+black mark against organized baseball, but if just one of us gets to
+whispering about it, all our trouble will be wasted.”
+
+All promised silence, and then they broke up into small groups and
+headed for Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+SAVING THE LEAGUE
+
+
+By twos and threes the party drifted toward Davendorp’s resort. It had
+at various times been a dance hall, a hotel, a police headquarters, and
+at all times a resort for crooked gamblers. It had an evil notoriety,
+but though it had been frequently raided in the attempt to put it out
+of business, it had always bobbed up again under a new proprietor but
+with the same old shady clientele.
+
+It was a rambling sort of structure, to which wings had been added
+at various times. The main floor was devoted to pool and billiards,
+and there were a large number of tables, for the place did a thriving
+business. There were few of the underworld who did not at some time or
+other frequent it.
+
+The second floor was a shabby restaurant and saloon, with scores of
+tables for drinkers and card-players. On the third floor was a dance
+hall, and the fourth was reserved for the use of the proprietor and the
+inner ring of the gambling clique where they could lay their plots in
+comparative seclusion.
+
+In the corner of this floor the largest room was located. There were
+several other rooms strung out in shambling fashion and more or less
+connected with each other, so as to afford facility for flight on the
+occasion of a raid.
+
+On the night in question the large room held an assortment of men of
+hard faces that would have graced any Rogues’ Gallery. Many of them in
+fact had already achieved that undesirable fame, and there were others
+whose admission had only been deferred.
+
+Joe and Jim were too well known to almost everybody in New York to
+venture into the place in their ordinary clothing and with their faces
+in full view. They would have been noticed at once, and their plans
+would have failed right then and there. They had secured, therefore,
+through one of the party who was an actor, some rough clothing and had
+had their faces touched up by his hand, so that, as he proudly said
+when he stood off and viewed his handiwork, their own mothers wouldn’t
+know them.
+
+The rest of the party were not so likely to attract attention among the
+large crowd with which they mingled, most of the members of which were
+so intent on their own amusements that they gave but fleeting attention
+to anything or any one else.
+
+For an hour or so the members of the volunteer posse mingled with
+the company, taking at times a part in the various activities of the
+resort, but always keeping within reach and sight of each other.
+Gradually they moved to the second floor and then to the third. Joe
+kept a sharp lookout to see if he could recognize any of the fellows
+who had held him in captivity.
+
+For some time his search was fruitless, but at last he caught a glimpse
+of one of the rascals slipping up to the fourth floor. He watched his
+opportunity, and as silently as a ghost made his way to the same floor.
+
+A hum of voices, rising so high at times that it seemed as if an
+altercation were going on, came from the corner room. On tiptoe Joe
+moved to the room adjoining. There was no light or sound coming from
+it, and after a moment Joe ventured to try the door. It opened, and,
+slipping in, he found that it had another door communicating with that
+in which the excited discussion was going on.
+
+In a moment Joe slipped down the stairs again. Going from one to
+the other of his party, he gave them the information he had gained
+and arranged for them to follow him as soon as possible and without
+attracting attention. Then he again moved up the stairs and took his
+post in the adjoining room, where he was soon joined by the others.
+
+Luck had favored them, for if there had been any lookout originally
+posted by the baseball gamblers he had been drawn into the room again
+to take part in the excited discussion.
+
+Scarcely daring to draw their breaths, the invaders listened to the
+debate.
+
+“You spilled the beans when you let Matson get away from you,” an angry
+voice was saying. “Why didn’t you make sure of him when you had him?”
+
+“Aw, cut out the beefing,” growled a sulky voice that Joe recognized
+as that of the fat leader of the gang. “I thought he might cave in and
+sign that paper and save us all further trouble.”
+
+“You thought!” sneered the other. “You might have known he wouldn’t.
+Now the two hundred thousand our gang have bet against the Giants is
+as good as lost. How about you other fellows?” he snarled. “You ought
+to have had a raft of chances to put him out of the game. What do you
+suppose we’re paying you for?”
+
+“We’ve done the best we could,” came a sullen voice that caused McRae
+and Robson to give a violent start, as they recognized it as belonging
+to McCarney. “We got Lemblow to come on and help us. He was only too
+glad to do it, for he thought it would give him a chance of breaking
+into the big league. He nearly got Matson when he pushed that pile of
+lumber over.”
+
+“And I nearly got his number with a lump of iron on the last Western
+trip,” came the voice of Reddy Hupft. “It came within an inch of
+cracking his skull.”
+
+“Excuses! Excuses!” snapped the angry boss. “I didn’t give you fellers
+ten thousand dollars apiece with a promise of more simply to listen to
+excuses. You’re a couple of false alarms, and if you don’t get busy
+it’ll be the worse for you. You can’t double cross me and get away with
+it.”
+
+“That’s enough,” whispered McRae to the group about him. “We’ve got the
+goods on them at last. Half of you go to the outside door, and when you
+hear us break through this door do the same to that.”
+
+They did as directed.
+
+There was a moment of tense expectation, and then with a rush McRae’s
+party dashed through the inner door. At the same instant the other half
+of the attacking party burst into the room from the hall.
+
+There were eight men in the room and they leaped to their feet in wild
+alarm at the sudden interruption. But before they could form any plan
+for defense the husky young invaders were upon them slugging them
+without mercy.
+
+The rascals fought back as best they could, but from the first they
+never had a chance. As Joe had surmised, most of them were the heads
+of the baseball gambling ring, bloated, overfed, corpulent rascals
+who could not stand for a moment before trained athletes. Had they
+anticipated trouble and had their hirelings with them, there might have
+been a semblance of a fight. But in their physical condition and with
+the odds two to one against them, they were simply a joke.
+
+Hupft and McCarney were the only ones capable of putting up a real
+fight, and they did their best. But Joe had singled out McCarney and
+Jim had tackled Hupft, and they joyously gave them the beating of their
+lives.
+
+It was a very battered group of rascals that in less than three minutes
+were huddled into a corner, while their captors crowded so closely
+about them that escape was impossible.
+
+“Now,” said McRae, whose own knuckles had done valiant work in the
+scrap, “we’ve got you fellows exactly where we want you. All of you
+ought to be sent up the river and put behind bars where the dogs can’t
+bite you. But I’m not going to turn you over to the police.”
+
+There was a stir of relief among the prisoners at this.
+
+“I’m going to stop your dirty schemes for once and for all where
+baseball is concerned,” went on McRae, producing a paper. “I got this
+ready this afternoon on the chance of copping you scoundrels to-night.
+And every one of you is going to sign it, or I’ll have you beaten to a
+frazzle on the spot.”
+
+While the rascals glared at him sullenly he read the paper. It
+acknowledged that the signers had kidnaped Joe and Jim; that they had
+hired thugs to do them great harm; that they had paid ball players to
+throw games; and that they had done these things to win large sums of
+money that they had bet against the Giants.
+
+The fat man who had been Joe’s captor started forward with a yell
+to protest, but Larry smashed him straight between the eyes and he
+staggered back, cowed and wilted.
+
+The object lesson was effective, and all of the rascals signed, except
+Hupft and McCarney, who were not required to affix their names.
+
+“Now,” said McRae, as he folded the signed document and put it in his
+pocket, “that puts a brand on the whole lot of you. The least move
+on your part and I’ll make this public and you’ll be in jail within
+twenty-four hours.
+
+“As for you traitors,” he added, turning to Hupft and McCarney, a look
+of utter contempt in his eyes, “there’s no need of telling you you’re
+fired. Your names are a stench in the nostrils of decent ball players,
+and I’ll see that you never play in the ranks of organized baseball
+again. You’re on the blacklist forever. And I’ll see that Lemblow gets
+the same medicine. Now go while the going’s good.”
+
+They slunk out, and none of the Giants ever saw their faces again.
+
+“Now we’ve done our work and we’re going,” concluded McRae, as he
+turned to the crooked baseball gamblers. “Remember, one word from you,
+one dirty trick, and it will be curtains for you.”
+
+They left the debased and discomfited rascals and filed out into the
+night.
+
+“A good night’s work, boys,” were McRae’s last words, as he bade
+good-night to the party. “We’ve saved the league!”
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was a jubilant, rejuvenated Joe that occupied the box the next day
+and pitched the Giants to victory over the Brooklyns. Not only did he
+shut out the boys from over the bridge, but clouted two of the longest
+homers that had ever come from his bat. The rest of the Giant team,
+with two rookies in place of Hupft and McCarney, played behind him
+like the stars they were, and the newcomers more than held their own.
+Altogether it was a great day for the Giants and started them anew on
+the road to the championship which they were destined to win that year
+as they had the year before.
+
+But it was a still greater day for Joe, for in a box as witness of his
+glorious victory was Mabel――Mabel who had come on with Reggie that
+morning to surprise him. The applause of the crowds was dear to him;
+the congratulations of his team mates were dearer still. But none of
+these compared with the joy that thrilled him at the words that fell
+from the lips of Mabel as he approached the box where she sat, flushed
+and sweet as a rose, looking at him with all her soul in her eyes.
+
+“I am _so_ proud of you, Joe,” she said. “So proud!”
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+ Transcriber’s Notes:
+
+ ――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
+   bold by “equal” signs (=bold=).
+
+ ――Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
+
+ ――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
+
+ ――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick
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-Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick

-

-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most

-other parts of the world 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.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have

-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.

-

-Title: Baseball Joe Saving the League

-       or, Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy

-

-Author: Lester Chadwick

-

-Release Date: March 31, 2019 [EBook #59169]

-

-Language: English

-

-Character set encoding: UTF-8

-

-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE ***

-

-

-

-

-Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed

-Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

-

-

-

-

-

-

-</pre>

-

-

-

-<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">

-<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="600" height="699" alt="cover" title="cover" />

-</div>

-

-

-

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-<div class="figcenter" style="width: 380px;">

-<a id="i_frontis">

-  <img src="images/i_frontis.jpg" width="380" height="600" alt="" title="" />

-</a><br />

-<div class="caption"><a href="#Page_47">HE ROUNDED THE BAG ON HIS WAY TO SECOND</a></div>

-</div>

-

-

-

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-<div class="tp1">

-<div class="tp2">

-<h1>Baseball Joe<br />

-Saving the League</h1>

-

-<p class="noic">OR</p>

-

-<p class="noi subtitle">Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy</p>

-

-<p class="p2 noi author"><i>By</i> LESTER CHADWICK</p>

-

-<p class="noi works"><span class="smcap">Author of</span><br />

-<span class="smcap">“Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars,” “Baseball Joe<br />

-Around the World,” “The Rival Pitchers,”<br />

-“The Eight-Oared Victors,” etc.</span></p>

-

-<p class="p4 noic"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p>

-

-<p class="p6 noic">NEW YORK<br />

-<span class="adauthor">CUPPLES &amp; LEON COMPANY</span></p>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-

-

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-<div class="adbox">

-<p class="noic"><b>BOOKS BY LESTER CHADWICK</b></p>

-

-<hr class="r95" />

-<p class="noic"><b>THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES</b></p>

-

-<p class="noic"><b>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</b></p>

-

-<p class="noi">BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS<br />

-BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE<br />

-BASEBALL JOE AT YALE<br />

-BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE<br />

-BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE<br />

-BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS<br />

-BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES<br />

-BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD<br />

-BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING<br />

-BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE</p>

-

-<hr class="r10" />

-<p class="noic"><b>THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES</b></p>

-

-<p class="noic"><b>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</b></p>

-

-<p class="noi">THE RIVAL PITCHERS<br />

-A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK<br />

-BATTING TO WIN<br />

-THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN<br />

-FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL<br />

-THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS</p>

-

-<hr class="r95" />

-<p class="noic">CUPPLES &amp; LEON COMPANY, New York</p>

-</div>

-

-<p class="p2 noic">Copyright, 1923, by<br />

-<span class="smcap">Cupples &amp; Leon Company</span></p>

-

-<hr class="r10" />

-<p class="noic"><b>Baseball Joe Saving the League</b></p>

-

-<p class="p2 noic">Printed in U. S. A.</p>

-

-

-

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-<h2>CONTENTS</h2>

-

-

-<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">

-<col style="width: 20%;" />

-<col style="width: 70%;" />

-<col style="width: 10%;" />

-<tr>

-  <th class="tdrt smfontr">CHAPTER</th>

-  <th class="tdl"></th>

-  <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">I</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">A Sudden Crash</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">1</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">II</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Crooked Work</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">14</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">III</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Under Cover</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">25</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">IV</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Lining It Out</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">35</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">V</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Playing the Game</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">48</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">VI</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A Hilarious Welcome</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">54</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">VII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Growing Bewilderment</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">61</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">VIII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A Black Conspiracy</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">66</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">IX</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">The Telltale Photograph</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">75</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">X</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Wonderful Work</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">84</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XI</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">On the Trail</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">90</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">The Police Raid</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">96</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XIII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Keeping It Close</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">105</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XIV</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">A No-Hit Game</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">112</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XV</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">The Startling Telegram</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">124</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XVI</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Reggie to the Rescue</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">132</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XVII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Snatched from the Fire</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">140</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XVIII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Thickening Clouds</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">148</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XIX</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">A Furious Fight</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">156</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XX</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Taken Captive</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">164</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXI</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Air-tight Pitching</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">173</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Jim Puts One Over</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">180</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXIII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">A Terrible Alternative</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">189</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXIV</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">The Escape</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">198</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXV</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Down the Rope</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">205</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXVI</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">Scattering the Rascals</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">212</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXVII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">Larry Has His Say</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">219</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXVIII</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">A Council of War</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">227</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXIX</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">Weaving the Web</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">234</td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-  <td class="tdrt">XXX</td>

-  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">Saving the League</a></td>

-  <td class="tdrb">240</td>

-</tr>

-</table>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p class="noi title">BASEBALL JOE<br />

-SAVING THE LEAGUE</p>

-

-

-<h2 class="nobreak"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br />

-<small>A SUDDEN CRASH</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked

-Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special

-chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same

-team and known all over the country as the greatest

-twirler in either league.</p>

-

-<p>“Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better

-known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,”

-as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm

-and swung it around and around as though he

-were winding up. “Feels as though I could pitch

-to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”</p>

-

-<p>“It must be made of iron then, for you certainly

-had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the

-whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.</p>

-

-<p>“It was a hard game, sure enough,” admitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>

-Joe. “Those fellows are tough birds, anyway,

-and always dangerous, especially when they stack

-up against the Giants. They had their batting

-clothes on yesterday, too, and were out for blood

-from the ring of the bell. Two or three times

-they had me in the hole, and it was only luck that

-we turned them back without a run.”</p>

-

-<p>“Luck, nothing!” exclaimed Jim warmly. “It

-was because you tightened up at the critical moments

-and stood them on their heads. You gave

-them a sample of the kind of pitching that won

-the last World Series for us against the Yanks.”</p>

-

-<p>“Put it down to the kind of support I got from

-the rest of the team,” said Joe modestly. “Some

-of the catches that Wheeler and Curry made were

-nothing less than highway robberies. That swipe

-by Zach Treat in the third inning had all the labels

-of a home run, and it was one of the niftiest

-bits of playing I’ve ever seen when Curry picked

-it off the fence.”</p>

-

-<p>“It was a whale of a catch all right,” Jim conceded.

-“But to offset that there was some rotten

-playing in the infield. McCarney at third acted

-as though his fingers were all thumbs. Twice he

-fell down on easy ones, and that high throw over

-Burkett’s head in the seventh let Ryan leg it all

-the way to third. It was only that snappy double

-play that Iredell engineered that kept us from

-being scored on in that inning.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“McCarney did have a bad day,” admitted Joe.

-“Hupft, too, let a ball get by him that went for

-two bases when he ran in to make a catch of Milton’s

-hit that he ought to have waited for on the

-bound. He might have seen that he couldn’t

-make it.”</p>

-

-<p>“I can’t quite make out those fellows,” said Jim

-thoughtfully. “When we got them on that trade

-with St. Louis, I thought they were going to be

-towers of strength to the team. They had a good

-record last year both in fielding and batting, and

-they certainly played like fiends in the spring-training

-practice. But since the regular season

-opened I haven’t known what to make of them.

-One day they’ll play like stars and the next you’d

-think they were a couple of bushers.”</p>

-

-<p>“You’re right about that,” agreed Joe. “But

-it isn’t that which gives me food for thought, Jim.

-Ball players are like race horses. One day they

-race like stake winners and the next they’re simply

-selling platers. There isn’t one of us that

-doesn’t sometimes have an off day. But the off

-days of Hupft and McCarney are different, somehow.

-There seems to be a kind of method in

-their offness.”</p>

-

-<p>“What do you mean by that?” asked Jim, with

-quickened interest. “Do you think they’re not

-loyal to the team?”</p>

-

-<p>“Why, I shouldn’t want to think that about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>

-anybody unless I had the goods on him,” answered

-Joe evasively. “Let’s hurry up now and get back.

-We’ve walked further than we intended to, and I

-want to get in a little practice this morning to keep

-my wing in condition.”</p>

-

-<p>The two chums had been strolling along in the

-parklike section of upper New York, at no great

-distance from the Polo Grounds. The time was

-a day in late spring, and there was just enough

-coolness in the air to make a walk delightful.</p>

-

-<p>Both of them were trained athletes, tall, muscular,

-and in the pink of condition. Perfect health

-and abounding vitality showed in the springiness

-of their steps and the easy swing of their shoulders

-as they walked along at a rapid pace.</p>

-

-<p>They had reported for duty at the appointed

-time that season in the training camp at San Antonio,

-Texas. During the winter they had kept

-themselves fit and hard, and even at the beginning

-of practice had shown that they were fit to fight

-for a man’s life. In both pitching and fielding

-they had been doing wonders, and when at last the

-bell rang for the beginning of the regular championship

-season they had never been in better

-form. Joe showed that his arm was the same

-mighty weapon that had struck fear into opposing

-batsmen the preceding year. In batting, too,

-he was knocking out homers with gratifying regularity.

-Jim, too, who now stood next to Joe as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>

-the most reliable flinger on the Giants’ staff, was

-playing the game of his life in the box. It was

-largely owing to the work of these two that the

-Giants stood up in the front rank of the competing

-clubs. The prophecy was, already, that they

-would win the championship, as they had won it

-the preceding year.</p>

-

-<p>“Come now, Joe,” coaxed Jim, as they drew

-near the family hotel where they were staying at

-the time, and which they had chosen for its proximity

-to the Polo Grounds. “Don’t go so far as

-you have without coming across with whatever’s

-on your chest. I’ve noticed for some time past

-that you were acting as though you had something

-on your mind.”</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing much except my hat, I guess,” remarked

-Joe, with a laugh that, however, did not

-sound very genuine.</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, you have,” Jim pressed him. “Something’s

-worrying you. I haven’t been with you so

-long, old boy, without being able to read your

-moods. A few weeks ago you were kicking up

-your heels like a colt let out to pasture. Lately

-you seem at times to be brooding over something.

-More than once when I’ve spoken to you you

-haven’t seemed to hear me. What’s bothering

-you? Out with it!”</p>

-

-<p>“Well,” said Joe, after a moment’s thought,

-“I suppose I might as well tell you. You’re the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>

-best friend I have on earth and there isn’t anybody

-else that I’d breathe a word to about it.”</p>

-

-<p>“Count on me, old boy, to be as silent as the

-grave,” asseverated Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“You were speaking about McCarney and

-Hupft and the off days they seemed to have in

-their playing,” said Joe slowly. “Well, have you

-ever happened to notice that most of those off

-days have been when I was pitching?”</p>

-

-<p>“By Jove, I hadn’t!” replied Jim, as his mind

-ran rapidly over some of the more recent games.

-“But now you speak of it, I can remember several

-times when they fell down badly when you were

-in the box. Yesterday was a case in point. I

-remember, too, that game with the Bostons when

-McCarney made three errors. And then there

-was that Philly game when you had them eating

-out of your hand and yet came within an ace of

-losing because of two boob plays by Hupft in

-center.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, that’s what you can remember offhand,”

-replied Joe. “But I’ve made a study of it and I

-could point out three or four other games when

-their work seemed queer. On the other hand,

-when the rest of the staff are pitching you couldn’t

-ask for much better support than they give. Now,

-once or twice wouldn’t mean anything. One swallow,

-or even two, doesn’t make a summer. But

-when it occurs so often, with me chosen as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>

-goat, don’t you think there’s something more in it

-than mere coincidence?”</p>

-

-<p>“I certainly do,” agreed Jim. “Gee, Joe,

-you’ve knocked me all in a heap! What do you

-think it means? Have you had any words with

-them?”</p>

-

-<p>“None at all,” replied Joe. “In fact, I’ve tried

-to be especially nice to them, chiefly because they

-came from St. Louis, which, as you know, was my

-old team. I’ve gone out of my way to be friendly.

-But they’ve never thawed out, and lots of times

-when I’ve been going past them they’ve shut up

-as if they’d been talking about me and only resumed

-again after I got out of earshot. But

-there’s something more than that.</p>

-

-<p>“Do you remember the game we played with

-Pittsburgh when I came near to having my head

-knocked off by that throw from short center to the

-plate? The ball whizzed past my ear with the

-force of a bullet. If it had hit me, it would have

-been good night for yours truly.”</p>

-

-<p>“I remember,” replied Jim. “I was sitting

-near McRae on the bench in the dugout, and the

-old boy went white as he saw what a narrow escape

-you had.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, then, do you remember who it was that

-threw that ball?”</p>

-

-<p>“Reddy Hupft!” exclaimed Jim. “He came in

-from center and got the ball only a little way back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>

-of second base. Then he threw to the plate to get

-Reilly, who was coming in from third.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes,” said Joe. “And you know that throwing

-to the plate is his long suit. But that day it

-didn’t go to the plate. I had run out of the way

-so that he could have a clear field, and the ball

-followed me. It was altogether out of Mylert’s

-reach, and the runner scored. It was marked up

-against Hupft as an error.”</p>

-

-<p>“Great Scott!” cried Jim aghast. “Do you

-mean that he tried to injure you?”</p>

-

-<p>“I’m not saying anything,” replied Joe. “I’m

-just stating the cold facts. One thing more. In

-that game with Cincinnati last week you remember

-that I knocked out a homer in the ninth. At

-least I thought it was a homer. It had gone down

-to the fence, and I was nearly at third when Gallagher

-got his hands on the ball. I knew I could

-make the plate, but just as I was rounding third,

-McCarney, who was coaching at that corner, got

-in my way and I went down, heels over head. It

-was just by an eyelash that I was able to get to

-my feet and scramble back to third before the ball

-got there.”</p>

-

-<p>“I remember that Robbie gave him a good ragging

-for his clumsiness,” remarked Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“Clumsiness!” repeated Joe, dwelling significantly

-on the word. “If ever a man was deliberately

-tripped, I was that man. I felt his spikes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>

-as I went down. Going at the pace I was, I might

-have broken my leg or my neck. As it was, my

-ankle was sore for days.”</p>

-

-<p>“The skunks!” cried Jim, seething with rage

-that had been steadily growing as one after another

-of these facts was brought to his attention.

-“They ought to be blacklisted and put out of the

-league forever. You ought to expose them.”</p>

-

-<p>“No, that’s just what I don’t want to do,” objected

-Joe slowly. “Give a rascal rope enough

-and he’ll hang himself. In the first place, while

-I’m pretty well convinced in my own mind that all

-these things were done deliberately, I might not

-be able to convince others beyond a reasonable

-doubt. Of course they would be explained away

-by the men themselves as accidents, and there

-would be many who would believe them.</p>

-

-<p>“Then, too, I’m thinking of the good of the

-game. You know what a black eye baseball got

-when that White Sox conspiracy to throw games

-came to light. For a time it looked as though it

-might mean the death of the game. Luckily, it

-didn’t have that result, for the bulk of the public

-know what you and I know, that as a general

-thing baseball is as clean as a hound’s tooth—the

-whitest game of all American sports, except perhaps

-football. For forty years there hadn’t been

-a breath against it. But at last that sickening

-White Sox scandal showed that once in a blue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>

-moon certain ball players were weak enough or

-foul enough to betray their teams, their employers

-and the public.</p>

-

-<p>“That one lapse, that one black spot on the

-splendid record of the game, the public has forgiven

-in justice to the thousands of players that

-would cut off their right hands rather than not

-play the game fairly and squarely for all that is

-in them. The fans have wiped that off the slate.

-But don’t you see that if anything else of the kind

-should break out now it might kill the game beyond

-recovery?”</p>

-

-<p>“Sure thing,” assented Jim. “But at the same

-time I don’t see why you should let those fellows

-get away with it when perhaps your life might

-pay the penalty. It’s all right to think of the good

-of the game, but there’s a duty you owe to yourself

-and to others—to Mabel for instance.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, I’ve thought of all that,” said Joe, a look

-coming into his eyes at the mention of Mabel’s

-name that she would have been glad to see.

-“Don’t think for a minute that I’m going to be a

-martyr or anything like that. I’m not built that

-way. If those fellows are really out to do me,

-they’ll find before long that they have met their

-match. You know how many times rascals have

-tried to get the best of me and what’s happened

-to them. They’ve doped my coffee, they’ve tried

-to kidnap me, to smirch my reputation, and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>

-than once they’ve tried to cripple or kill me. But

-they’ve never been able to put it over, and I’ve

-come out on top every time. And I’ve got a

-hunch that this present plot, if it really is a plot,

-is going to be knocked out like the others.</p>

-

-<p>“But it’s going to be done on the quiet. They’ll

-get all that’s coming to them, but if I can help it

-the public won’t get wise to just what it is that’s

-put them down and out. Understand?”</p>

-

-<p>“I get you, old boy,” returned Jim. “If they

-succeed in their dirty work, they’ll be the first that

-ever turned the trick on Baseball Joe. Count on

-me to stand right by you.”</p>

-

-<p>“I can always do that,” replied Joe warmly.

-“You’re always there when it comes to the showdown.

-But let’s put the matter out of our mind

-for the present. Here we are at the hotel. Let’s

-go out into the lot at the back and have a little

-pitching practice. I want to try out the hop on

-the ball that I’ve been developing this last week

-or two.”</p>

-

-<p>“I saw you used it two or three times yesterday,”

-said Jim. “It’s a winner, all right. The

-boys from over the bridge didn’t know what to

-make of it. They were hitting inches under it.”</p>

-

-<p>“I shan’t be satisfied until they are hitting a

-foot under it,” laughed Joe, as they went into the

-house.</p>

-

-<p>It was the work of only a moment to throw off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>

-their coats and don sweaters. Then they picked

-a ball from their collection and adjourned to the

-large open space back of the hotel that gave them

-abundant room for practice.</p>

-

-<p>Their temporary home was in a rapidly growing

-section, and all about them were buildings in

-various stages of construction. One of these was

-on the adjoining plot of ground. The work on

-this building had been temporarily stopped because

-of some business trouble of the builder, but

-there were large piles of building material heaped

-on the second floor and on the scaffolding that ran

-along the side of the building.</p>

-

-<p>For some time Joe and Jim pitched back and

-forth to each other, starting slowly, but gradually

-working out their arms until they were

-going under a full head of steam.</p>

-

-<p>Jim uncorked a wild one that Joe leaped for

-but was unable to reach. The ball was going with

-such momentum that it rolled a considerable distance

-before Joe finally retrieved it.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you think I am, an outfielder?”

-queried Joe, in mock reproach.</p>

-

-<p>“Too bad, old man,” laughed Jim. “But I’ve

-got it out of my system now and I won’t do it

-again.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s what they all say,” remarked Joe, with

-a grin. “But ‘once bitten, twice shy,’ and I guess

-I’ll hunt up a backstop.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>He looked around and found what he wanted

-in the side of the house that was being built next

-door.</p>

-

-<p>“Now you can be as wild as a hawk if you want

-to,” he laughed. “This house must be of pretty

-punk material if it lets the ball go through it.”</p>

-

-<p>There was no chance to prove whether it would

-or not, for Jim steadied down and kept the ball

-within his comrade’s reach. For perhaps ten minutes

-more they tried out their assortment of

-curves and slants. Suddenly a look of alarm came

-into Jim’s face.</p>

-

-<p>“Look out, Joe!” he yelled. “Look out!

-Jump! Quick!”</p>

-

-<p>The words had barely left his lips when, with a

-terrific crash a pile of lumber came tumbling down

-from the scaffold directly on the spot where Joe

-had been standing.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br />

-<small>CROOKED WORK</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Quick as a panther, Joe had leaped at his

-friend’s shout of warning.</p>

-

-<p>Not so quickly, however, as wholly to escape

-injury. Two of the falling boards struck him a

-glancing blow on legs and arms and threw him to

-the ground.</p>

-

-<p>Jim was at his side in a second and pulled him

-to his feet.</p>

-

-<p>“Are you hurt, Joe?” he cried, frantic with

-alarm.</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing to speak of, I guess,” replied Joe, as

-he steadied himself and found to his infinite relief

-that his legs held firm under him. “A few bruises

-and scratches, but nothing worse. It was a close

-shave though. I’d have been a dead man if that

-pile had caught me full and square.”</p>

-

-<p>The sleeve of his left arm was torn, and there

-was a slight cut near the shoulder from which the

-blood was oozing. This, however, apart from

-bruises, was the extent of his injuries.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Lucky it wasn’t my pitching arm,” he remarked.

-“That would have been hard luck.

-Hello, Jim, where are you going?”</p>

-

-<p>This last ejaculation was caused by Jim’s action

-in leaving his side and rushing round to the

-front of the half-built house from the scaffold of

-which the lumber had fallen.</p>

-

-<p>Jim did not stop to make reply, but scurried as

-fast as he could to the street in front of the house.

-It was deserted, except for a solitary figure that

-had already covered a large part of the distance

-to the next corner. The man was not in overalls

-and did not look like a workman.</p>

-

-<p>Jim hallooed to him and the man looked back.

-But instead of stopping he broke into a run.</p>

-

-<p>In a moment Jim was after him like a hare.

-But the man was now near the corner, and by the

-speed he put on showed that he was no mean runner

-himself. He reached the corner just as a

-trolley car, going at a rapid rate, came dashing

-down the side street.</p>

-

-<p>With a recklessness that might have cost him

-his life, the man made a jump for the rear platform,

-clutching the rail with his extended hand.

-The shock seemed as though it might have

-wrenched his arm from its socket. But he held on

-desperately, and finally drew himself up on the

-platform and entered the car.</p>

-

-<p>By the time Jim reached the corner the car was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>

-a block away. Jim shouted and waved his hands,

-but the conductor was inside, expostulating with

-his passenger for the risk he had taken, and did

-not see or hear him.</p>

-

-<p>The case was hopeless, and Jim, inwardly raging,

-gave up the chase and retraced his steps.

-Joe, who had come to the front of the house to

-see what had caused Jim’s sudden departure, came

-forward to meet him.</p>

-

-<p>“What’s the big idea?” Joe asked, in some

-wonderment.</p>

-

-<p>“The idea,” panted Jim wrathfully, “is that I

-came near getting my hands on a big rascal and

-just missed doing it.”</p>

-

-<p>“A rascal?” exclaimed Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“That’s what I said,” replied Jim. “Come to

-the back of the house and I’ll show you what I

-mean.”</p>

-

-<p>“All right, Jim.”</p>

-

-<p>“You thought,” said Jim, “that when that pile

-of lumber came down it was an accident. So did

-I at first. I thought the scaffold had given way

-under the weight. But when I glanced at it I

-saw, as you can see now, that the scaffold hadn’t

-broken.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe looked and saw that Jim was right.</p>

-

-<p>“You mean—” he began slowly.</p>

-

-<p>“I mean,” said Jim, “that somebody pushed

-that lumber over the edge of the scaffold. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>

-whoever that somebody was, he meant that the

-falling lumber should cripple you.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe looked at his chum with rage and horror

-dawning in his eyes. And while the full meaning

-of the dastardly act was sinking into his mind, it

-may be well for the benefit of those who have not

-read the preceding volumes of this series to leave

-him and his chum for a moment and tell who Joe

-was and by what steps he had reached his present

-position as the greatest pitcher that baseball had

-ever known.</p>

-

-<p>Joe Matson’s first experience on the diamond

-was gained in the little town of Riverside in a

-Middle Western State, where he had been born

-and brought up. From early boyhood he had

-loved the game and displayed a natural aptitude

-for pitching. His success in this restricted field

-soon made him known as one of the best amateur

-boxmen of his own and surrounding towns. His

-early exploits and the difficulties he had to overcome

-are narrated in the first volume of this

-series, entitled: “Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars;

-Or, the Rivals of Riverside.”</p>

-

-<p>In the second volume, “Baseball Joe on the

-School Nine,” can be noted the steady progress he

-was making in pitching skill. The bully of the

-school did all he could to throw obstacles in his

-way. But Joe throve on opposition and his grit

-first won and then increased his reputation.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>When, a little later, he went to Yale, he found

-a larger field for his prowess in the box. It is a

-hard thing for a newcomer to break into the ranks

-of the veteran upper classmen who have gained

-glory in the athletic field. But by a singular chance

-Joe found his opportunity when the “Princeton

-Tiger came down to put some kinks in the Bulldog’s

-tail.” It was a sadly bedraggled Tiger,

-however, that went back to his lair when Joe had

-got through with him and had chalked up a glorious

-victory for Yale.</p>

-

-<p>But Joe, although he stood well in his studies,

-was not altogether happy at the great university.

-His mother wanted him to study for the ministry,

-but Joe, although he respected that noble profession,

-felt too strongly the call to the outdoor life.

-He felt that he had it in him to make good in the

-ranks of professional baseball, and finally gained

-his mother’s reluctant consent to make the venture.

-His chance came when a minor league manager,

-who had been struck with his work in the

-game with Princeton, made him an offer. Joe

-promptly accepted, and it was not long before his

-manager learned that he had drawn a prize in

-getting a man on his team who had all the earmarks

-of a star. How Joe began to climb in professional

-baseball is told in the fourth volume of

-the series, entitled: “Baseball Joe in the Central

-League.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>In these days of keen-eyed scouts no player can

-long hide his light under a bushel, and before long

-Joe, to his great delight, was drafted by the St.

-Louis team of the National League and ceased to

-be a “busher.” Here he was brought into competition

-with the greatest players of the game,

-and it soon became apparent that he could hold

-his own with any of them.</p>

-

-<p>No one realized this sooner than McRae, the

-famous manager of the New York Giants. Several

-books of this series are devoted to his exciting

-experiences with this great team, of which he

-was still the mainstay when this volume opens. It

-was his magnificent work in the box that won for

-the Giants the championship of the National

-League and carried them to victory in several

-World Series with the champions of the American

-League. After one of his greatest years he went

-with the team on a tour about the world, in the

-course of which he had many hazardous and

-thrilling adventures.</p>

-

-<p>During this time he was not only showing phenomenal

-skill as a pitcher, but was rapidly growing

-in repute as a batsman. He was a natural

-hitter, timing and meeting the ball perfectly and

-landing on it so hard that it sought the farthest

-corner of the field. Before long the fans began

-to crowd the grounds not only to see a ball game

-but to “see Matson knock out another homer.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>

-How his batting and pitching combined made him

-a national baseball idol is narrated in the preceding

-volume of this series, entitled: “Baseball Joe,

-Home Run King; Or, the Greatest Pitcher and

-Batter on Record.”</p>

-

-<p>But Joe had also won another victory that he

-prized above all his baseball triumphs. He had

-met and fallen in love with Mabel Varley, a

-charming girl whom he had met under romantic

-circumstances near her home at Goldsboro, North

-Carolina. The course of true love did not run

-altogether smoothly in his case more than in

-others, but all attempts to part them had been

-triumphantly overcome and at the close of the

-previous season on the diamond, Joe and Mabel

-had been married. Joe esteemed himself the

-happiest and luckiest of men.</p>

-

-<p>Joe had as his closest friend, Jim Barclay, a

-Princeton graduate who had entered the ranks of

-organized baseball and joined the Giants as a

-“rookie.” Joe had taken to him at once and they

-were speedily on the best of terms. Jim had a

-great deal of pitching ability, and under the careful

-tutelage of Joe he had blossomed out into a

-regular member of the pitching staff. At the

-present time he stood only second to Joe himself

-as a twirler, and bade fair to become one of the

-great stars of the game.</p>

-

-<p>Jim had met Joe’s sister Clara when the latter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>

-had come on to see her brother pitch in one of

-the World Series games and had lost his heart

-at once. She, for her part, had at once conceived

-a marked admiration for the stalwart, handsome

-friend of her brother, and this had soon ripened

-into a deeper feeling. So that when Jim the year

-before had asked her the momentous question he

-had got the answer he craved, and their marriage

-was to take place as soon as the playing season

-was over.</p>

-

-<p>Now to return to the two chums as they stood

-beside the pile of lumber that a few minutes before

-had so nearly caused the death of one of

-them.</p>

-

-<p>“You see then, Jim, that my hunch was right

-and that what I said to you a little while ago

-wasn’t imagination,” said Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“Some one is out to do you, for a fact,” assented

-Jim soberly. “And all I ask is that I may

-get my hands on him for five minutes. Just five

-little minutes! I’d make him wish he’d never

-been born!”</p>

-

-<p>“That fellow you were chasing must have been

-the one who did it,” ruminated Joe. “Did you

-get a good glimpse of him? Had you ever seen

-him before?”</p>

-

-<p>“Not that I know of,” replied Jim. “It certainly

-wasn’t either Hupft or McCarney, or I

-should have recognized him at a glance. But that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>

-doesn’t say that he mightn’t have been a tool of

-theirs. At any rate, you can be sure that he was

-the man that actually pushed over that pile of

-boards. His very running was a confession of

-guilt. And, by the way he ran, I shouldn’t wonder

-if he were a ball player himself. I’m not so

-slow myself, but he almost held his own. What a

-bit of bad luck it was that that trolley came along

-just at that minute.”</p>

-

-<p>“What did he look like?” asked Joe. “Was

-there anything you could identify him by if you

-should happen to meet him again?”</p>

-

-<p>“Well,” said Jim, cudgeling his memory, “I

-could see that his hair was light and that his ears

-stuck out more than most men’s. But I suppose

-there are ten thousand men in New York that

-would answer that description. He didn’t look

-like a workman and he didn’t have overalls on.”</p>

-

-<p>“How did he happen to be Johnny on the spot,

-I wonder,” mused Joe. “Do you suppose he’s

-been following us this morning?”</p>

-

-<p>“Hardly likely,” conjectured Jim. “What is

-more probable is that he knew that we were in

-the habit of practicing in this particular spot. It

-hasn’t been any secret, and more than once in the

-clubhouse I’ve mentioned what a dandy place we

-had for morning pitching practice. That probably

-led the plotters to reconnoiter about this

-neighborhood and get the lay of the land. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>

-scaffold and the pile of lumber carried their own

-suggestion. Work on the building has stopped,

-and there’s nothing to prevent anybody lurking

-in the place ready to take advantage of any chance

-that might offer itself. Perhaps that fellow has

-been hiding in there every day for a week, figuring

-that some time in the natural order of things

-you’d be standing near that scaffold. And that

-he didn’t calculate wrongly is shown by what

-happened this morning.”</p>

-

-<p>“It was an infernal scheme all right,” said Joe.

-“A cunning one, too. If that stuff had really

-landed on me, it would have been put down as

-an accident, and no one would ever have been

-the wiser.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well,” remarked Jim, “a miss is as good as

-a mile and some good Providence must have been

-watching over you this morning. But it gives you

-a desperate feeling to realize that enemies are

-working against you in the dark and that you have

-no way of forcing them into the open.”</p>

-

-<p>“They’ll overreach themselves yet,” declared

-Joe confidently. “There never yet was a crook

-that didn’t give himself away at some time or

-other. In one way I’m glad this happened. It

-makes a certainty of what before had been only

-a probability. Now we know that somebody is

-trying to down me, and it will put us doubly on

-our guard. But of course I needn’t tell you, Jim,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>

-that Mabel and Clara must never hear a word

-of this. It would simply drive them crazy with

-worry.”</p>

-

-<p>“Trust me,” replied Jim. “We’ll keep this up

-our sleeves and tell them nothing about it until

-we’ve squelched the rascals who have been trying

-to get your number. And even then I guess we’d

-better keep mum. What they don’t know won’t

-hurt them.”</p>

-

-<p>“Righto,” assented Joe. “But now I guess

-we’d better have our lunch and get ready for the

-game. We won’t have any more time than we

-need to reach the grounds.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’m just as glad that it isn’t the turn of either

-of us to pitch to-day,” commented Jim. “I guess

-we’re both a bit too shaken up to be in our best

-form. But if my arm is idle to-day my eyes won’t

-be, and you can bet that from this time on I’ll

-watch Hupft and McCarney like a hawk.”</p>

-

-<p>“Same here,” responded Joe grimly. “And if

-I get the goods on them, may heaven have mercy

-on them—for I won’t!”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br />

-<small>UNDER COVER</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Joe and Jim ate their lunch that day in a little

-more thoughtful mood than usual, and that mood

-still persisted as they prepared to go to the

-grounds.</p>

-

-<p>But the ten minutes of brisk walking in the

-bracing air soon dissipated the somber shadow

-that had tried to settle down upon them. They

-were young and vital, the blood coursed strongly

-through their veins, and they were soon feeling

-the sheer joy of living that was natural to them.</p>

-

-<p>And this feeling grew stronger as they drew

-near the Polo Grounds. That famous park held

-a strong place in their affections. It was the

-visible symbol of their profession, the place where

-they had won their spurs, where they had gained

-glorious victories that thrilled them to the marrow

-as they recalled them, where they had fought

-memorable battles in which every particle of their

-strength and manhood had been called into play,

-where they had listened to the plaudits of cheering

-thousands who had lauded them to the skies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>

-when they had pulled some hotly contested game

-out of the fire.</p>

-

-<p>Soon they were in the midst of the procession

-that even at that early hour was wending its way

-towards the gates. It was not long before they

-were recognized, and admiring comments began

-to pass from one to another of the crowd.</p>

-

-<p>“That’s Baseball Joe, the king of them all.”</p>

-

-<p>“Did you see the game he pitched against the

-Brooklyns yesterday? It was a corker, all right.”</p>

-

-<p>“Trust him to show those bimbos from over

-the bridge where they get off.”</p>

-

-<p>“And that fellow with him is Barclay. There’s

-nothing slow about him, either. Has been going

-great guns all the season.”</p>

-

-<p>“If they only had two more like them the pennant

-would be cinched already. The Giants

-would win in a walk.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim would not have been human if

-such comments had not pleased them. But they

-were used to hero worship, and, as the crowd

-began to close in upon them and hinder their

-progress, they were glad enough when they

-reached the players’ gate and could slip into the

-grounds.</p>

-

-<p>Some of the players had preceded them to the

-clubhouse and were already getting into their

-uniforms, and the newcomers speedily followed

-their example.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“What’s the matter with your arm, Joe?”

-asked Larry Barrett, the second baseman,

-“Laughing Larry,” as he was called because of

-his jolly disposition. “It’s all cut and bruised.

-Been in a fight?”</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing like that,” replied Joe, making haste

-to cover the injured member. “Had a tumble this

-morning and that arm got the brunt of it. Little

-bit sore yet, but it will be all right by to-morrow.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, for the love of Pete, don’t have any

-more such tumbles,” implored Larry. “It might

-catch your pitching arm next time. And if anything

-happened to that wing of yours the Giants

-would be in the soup.”</p>

-

-<p>“They’d get out of it again,” countered Joe.

-“The Giants are too great a team to be dependent

-on one man. McRae would simply have to look

-around for another pitcher.”</p>

-

-<p>“Sure!” said Larry sarcastically. “Just as

-simple as that! Look around for another

-pitcher! There are plenty of pitchers such as

-they are, but there’s only one Matson.”</p>

-

-<p>“And that’s no lie,” broke in Curry, the star

-left fielder of the team. “Many’s the time, old

-boy, that you’ve carried the whole team on your

-back. And now that Hughson’s gone we’ll have

-to rely on you more than ever if we’re to have

-a look in for the flag.”</p>

-

-<p>“Good old Hughson,” murmured Joe regretfully.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>

-“It won’t seem like the old team without

-him. I only hope he’ll prove as great a manager

-as he was a pitcher.”</p>

-

-<p>There were murmurs of assent to this from

-all about him, for Hughson had been a favorite

-with every member of the team, as indeed he had

-been with players and fans all over the United

-States.</p>

-

-<p>For many years before Joe had broken into

-baseball, Hughson had stood for all that was

-best and greatest in the game. For more than

-ten years he had been recognized as the finest

-pitcher on the diamond. Again and again he

-had led the Giants to the championship. He

-had everything that a pitcher should have—speed,

-curves, slants, drops, in bewildering variety

-and profusion. The very fact that he was

-slated to pitch against a team was almost enough

-for that team to count the day lost. It was not

-merely the skill and strength of his pitching arm

-that inspired terror in his opponents. Still more

-formidable was the head set on his sturdy

-shoulders. He could outguess the batsman in a

-way that seemed almost uncanny. He mixed

-brains with his work, saving his strength when

-he could, letting the eight men behind him do

-their share of the work. But when the pinch

-came, he tightened up, and usually it was all over

-but the shouting.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>Add to this phenomenal skill that he was a

-gentleman, on and off the diamond, genial, kindly,

-always playing fair, an honor and an ornament

-to the national game, and it was not hard to

-understand his wonderful popularity.</p>

-

-<p>Joe had especial reason for the warm feeling

-with which he regarded Hughson. The latter

-had greeted him cordially when he first came to

-the Giant team. He had realized the marvelous

-skill with which Joe was endowed and he knew

-that the time might come when he would take his

-own crown as the greatest pitcher of the game.

-Yet there was no trace of jealousy or apprehension

-in his treatment of the newcomer. He

-coached him, corrected his faults, brought out

-his strong points and taught him all that he knew

-himself, not omitting the secret of the “fadeaway”

-ball that had made him famous. He and

-Joe had become and always remained the warmest

-of friends.</p>

-

-<p>An automobile crash in which Hughson had

-been caught had injured his pitching arm, and

-despite an extended course of treatment its magic

-had gone forever. Even after that misfortune,

-however, he had remained with the Giants for

-two seasons. But he was not the Hughson of

-old. He was able to get by in many games by

-favoring his arm and depending chiefly on headwork.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>Now he had left the team with which he had

-been identified for so many years and accepted the

-position of manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The

-best wishes of all the Giant team had gone with

-him. Already under his management the Reds

-were improving and seemed to be facing the best

-season they had had in years.</p>

-

-<p>Only the week before the Cincinnatis had

-played the Giants on the occasion of the first

-invasion of the Western clubs—played, too, with

-such vim and spirit that the best the Giants could

-do was to break even on the series.</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, the loss of Hughson has put a dent in

-our chances for the pennant,” put in Wheeler, the

-big center fielder. “Even with that lame wing

-of his he won more games for us than any others,

-except you and Jim. And you two, good as you

-are, can’t pitch every other day. McRae ought

-to have his lines out for a couple more prospects

-in the pitching line. The rookies we got this year

-haven’t made good in the box. Young Bradley

-shows promise, but he needs a year or so yet

-before he’ll be ready to take his regular turn.”</p>

-

-<p>“You bet the old man isn’t asleep,” said

-Burkett, the burly first baseman of the team.

-“He’s got his scouts out combing the minor

-leagues with a fine tooth comb. I hear he has

-a line on Merton of the San Francisco Seals.

-They say he shows all the signs of a top-notcher.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>

-But even if he gets him, he won’t be able to report

-till the end of the season, and by that time

-the pennant will be either lost or won.”</p>

-

-<p>“How about that Lemblow out in the Middle

-Western League?” chimed in Mylert, the Giant

-catcher. “They say he’s got speed to burn and

-a cross-fire delivery that reminds one of Hays

-of the Yankees. He’s crazy to break into the

-big league, and if the old man comes across with

-the ‘mazuma’ I’ve no doubt he could get him.”</p>

-

-<p>“He may be a good pitcher,” remarked Iredell,

-the shortstop of the team. “But I’ve heard

-that he has a rather shady past. Not that they’ve

-ever been able to hang anything on him. Perhaps

-he’s too cunning for that. But there have

-been all sorts of rumors about him not being on

-the level, and where there’s so much smoke there

-may be some fire.”</p>

-

-<p>“I heard that he’s been resting up for a couple

-of weeks lately,” volunteered Willis, the Giants’

-third baseman. “Hurt one of his fingers or something

-like that. I saw him pitch once in a barn-storming

-tour at the end of last season. He sure

-can put some smoke on the ball. Queer looking

-duck he is, too. Looks like a rube with his straw-colored

-hair and big ears sticking out from his

-head.”</p>

-

-<p>“What’s that you said?” put in Jim quickly.</p>

-

-<p>“I said that he put smoke on the ball,” replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>

-Willis, in some surprise. “He just burned it over

-the plate.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, yes,” returned Jim impatiently. “But

-I was talking about his looks!”</p>

-

-<p>“I was just telling you he wouldn’t take any

-beauty prize,” replied Willis. “Big lob ears

-standing almost at right angles to his head and

-a headful of hair that looks like a stack of hay.

-Tall and thin, too, a regular beanpole. But what

-makes you so interested in the fellow’s looks?

-He doesn’t have to be an Apollo Cuticura—or is

-it Belvedere?—does he, to take his turn in the

-box?”</p>

-

-<p>“Not a bit of it,” agreed Jim, with a laugh.

-“That would rule a good many of us fellows off

-the diamond. But come along, Joe,” he added

-to his friend. “If we stay in here chinning very

-much longer, McRae will be after us with a big

-stick.”</p>

-

-<p>They went out of the clubhouse and made their

-way across the field. The bleachers were already

-full and there were only a few vacant spots in

-the grandstand. As Joe and Jim were recognized

-a vigorous handclapping rose from the spectators

-that told of the place they had in the affections

-of the fans.</p>

-

-<p>“Did you catch what Willis was saying about

-Lemblow?” Jim asked of Joe, as they got out

-of earshot of the others.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“I got it all right,” replied Joe. “And I

-tumbled to your question about his looks. You

-thought that the description fitted the fellow that

-pushed that pile of lumber down on us.”</p>

-

-<p>“Fits him to a dot,” affirmed Jim emphatically.

-“The same hair and the same ears. And this

-fellow, too, was tall and thin. And what did I

-tell you about the way he ran? Only a trained

-athlete could have legged it that way.”</p>

-

-<p>“It certainly looks as though you’d hit it right,”

-admitted Joe thoughtfully. “Under ordinary

-circumstances it wouldn’t be possible, for he’d be

-playing with his team out West. But there’s the

-fact that he’s been laying off for a couple of weeks

-on account of his injured finger. That would

-make it possible for him to come on East. And

-if he’s so crazy to break into the big league, what

-would give him a better chance than to have one

-of us, or possibly both of us, disabled? It may

-all be a coincidence, but if it is, it’s one of the

-queerest things that ever happened.”</p>

-

-<p>“Then, too, there’s his reputation,” rejoined

-Jim. “What Iredell said about his not being on

-the level only fits in with what I’ve heard from

-others. He got into trouble near the end of last

-season about one or two games that looked

-crooked, and it took a good deal of hushing up to

-smooth the thing over. Now, putting all these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>

-things together, doesn’t it look just as clear as

-that two and two make four?”</p>

-

-<p>“Not quite so certain as that, perhaps,” replied

-Joe. “But it certainly looks as though we were

-getting a line on what happened to us this morning.

-Now if we can only find that there’s some

-connection between Lemblow and Hupft and

-McCarney, a good many puzzling things will be

-explained. But there’s McRae beckoning to us

-to get up to the plate and knock flies out to the

-fields in practice. Just keep your eye peeled, old

-boy, and I’ll do the same. There never yet was

-a skein so tangled that it couldn’t be unraveled if

-you only get your hand on the end of the thread.

-And I think we’ve got the end in our hands right

-now.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br />

-<small>LINING IT OUT</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>The Giants’ opponents that day were the St.

-Louis Cardinals, the last of the Western clubs to

-visit the Polo Grounds on the first round of the

-inter-sectional games.</p>

-

-<p>Cincinnati, as has been said, had been able to

-make an even break of it with the Giants. The

-Pittsburghs had done even better, for the Smoky

-City boys had left the big town with three scalps

-hanging to their belts. The Giants had taken

-sweet revenge on the Chicagos, however, having

-made a clean sweep of the whole four games.</p>

-

-<p>For several seasons, the best the Cardinals

-could do was to finish at the tail of the first division

-or the head of the second. They had an

-excellent pitching staff and some of the heaviest

-batters in either league. Their fielding was good

-and their shortstop was such a phenomenon that

-the St. Louis owners had refused an offer of two

-hundred and fifty thousand dollars for him.</p>

-

-<p>But despite these advantages the team had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>

-been able to win the championship. They did not

-work with the smoothness and perfection necessary

-for a champion team. Perhaps it was

-the failure of efficient management or a case of

-individual stars playing for their own records

-instead of for the good of the team. But whatever

-the reason, the record showed that while

-they had started out each season like a house afire

-they had failed at the end to take the coveted

-flag.</p>

-

-<p>This year, however, things were different. A

-new manager had seemed to be able to put some

-of his own vim and determination into the team

-and they were playing like a machine. The first

-four men in the batting order had been dubbed

-the “Murderers’ Row” because of the way they

-were “killing” the ball, and the rest of the team

-were not very far behind. It was perfectly clear

-that this year the Cardinals were a team to be

-reckoned with.</p>

-

-<p>Under ordinary circumstances, Joe would have

-pitched the first game of the St. Louis series so

-that the Giants might have a good chance to get

-the jump on their opponents by grabbing off the

-opening contest. But the day before had originally

-been an open date, and the Giants and

-Brooklyns had taken advantage of it to play off

-a postponed game; and as the Brooklyns had

-usually been a “Jonah” for the Giants, McRae<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>

-had thought it advisable to put Joe in the box.

-The result had justified his judgment.</p>

-

-<p>Markwith, the portside flinger of the Giants,

-had been chosen, therefore, to open the St. Louis

-series. He was one of the star pitchers of the

-league, and during the season could be counted on

-to turn in his fair share of victories. His speed

-was dazzling and he had a good assortment of

-curves and slants. The only trouble with him

-was that he was an “in and outer.” When he

-was good he was very good indeed, practically

-unbeatable. But if his support were bad or the

-opposing batters began to get to him, he was

-liable to lose his nerve and be batted out of the

-box.</p>

-

-<p>This day, however, he showed up well in practice

-and seemed to be in fine fettle, so that it was

-with less misgiving than usual that McRae put

-on him the pitcher’s burden.</p>

-

-<p>“Get right after them, Red,” the manager

-counseled, as the bell rang for the Giants to take

-the field. “I want you to show that Murderers’

-Row that you’re some little murderer yourself.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll do my best, Mac,” said Markwith, with

-a grin, as he slipped on his glove and went to the

-box.</p>

-

-<p>The first inning was short and sweet. Remley,

-the lead-off man of the Cardinals, tried to wait

-Red out. This was justified perhaps by the fact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>

-that Markwith was a trifle unsteady at the opening

-and had difficulty in finding the plate. His

-first two offerings were balls. He whipped the

-third over, however, for a strike and followed it

-with another. With two strikes on him, Remley

-lashed out savagely at the next ball and missed it.</p>

-

-<p>“You’re out,” called the umpire, as the ball

-settled in Mylert’s glove.</p>

-

-<p>Remley threw down his bat in vexation and

-went grumbling to the dugout.</p>

-

-<p>McCarthy came next, swinging three bats of

-which he flung away two as he toed the line.</p>

-

-<p>“Put it over, kid, and see me kill it,” he called

-to Markwith, shaking his bat at him.</p>

-

-<p>Red grinned and floated up a slow one that

-looked as big as a balloon as it approached the

-plate but small as a pea when it reached it.

-McCarthy nearly broke his back reaching for it.</p>

-

-<p>“Strike one,” called the umpire.</p>

-

-<p>“Not so much of a killer after all, are you?”

-taunted Markwith, as the catcher returned the

-ball to him.</p>

-

-<p>McCarthy glowered and gritted his teeth as he

-waited for the next one.</p>

-

-<p>It came waist high over the plate, and McCarthy

-caught it on the end of his bat. It seemed

-for a moment that he had made his boast good,

-for the ball shot on a line toward center. Iredell,

-however, who was playing close to second, leaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>

-into the air and speared it with his gloved hand,

-while the stands rocked with applause.</p>

-

-<p>Mornsby, the famous shortstop of the Cardinals,

-was next at bat.</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, see who’s here!” remarked Markwith,

-with affected surprise.</p>

-

-<p>“Play ball, you clown,” growled Mornsby.

-“You’re not on the vaudeville stage now.”</p>

-

-<p>This was a fling at a theatrical venture that

-Markwith had gone into the preceding winter.</p>

-

-<p>“So you’re the quarter of a million dollar

-beauty!” retorted Markwith, referring to the

-price that had been offered for Mornsby. “Just

-watch me make you look like thirty cents.”</p>

-

-<p>He put over a ball at which Mornsby refused

-to bite. The next one he fouled off. The third

-he struck at too high and the ball dribbled down

-to the pitcher’s box. Markwith picked it up with

-a tantalizing grin and tossed to Burkett for an

-easy out at first.</p>

-

-<p>“Thirty cents was too big an offer,” he called

-to Mornsby, as he drew off his glove and came

-into the bench. “I ought to have made it a

-dime.”</p>

-

-<p>“We’ll get you yet, you false alarm,” snapped

-Mornsby. “You’ll curl up before the game’s half

-over.”</p>

-

-<p>The Giants in their half made a bid for a run

-but were unable to score. Curry poled one out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>

-between right and center that Cooper gathered

-in after a long run. Iredell raised a twisting

-Texas leaguer over second that McCarthy and

-Weston both tried for but failed to reach, narrowly

-missing colliding with each other.</p>

-

-<p>In the mixup, Iredell, by fast running, reached

-second. Burkett came next, and with two balls

-and two strikes called on him lined out a grasser

-that Mornsby found too hot to handle. He

-knocked it down, however, but recovered it too

-late to get Burkett at first. Iredell, who had

-taken a good lead, had no difficulty in making

-third.</p>

-

-<p>On the first ball pitched to Wheeler, the next

-batter, Burkett made a break for second. His

-aim was not so much to reach the base as to draw

-a throw from the catcher which would enable

-Iredell to make for home. The catcher threw

-the ball, not to second but to the pitcher, and Iredell,

-who had started for the plate, was caught

-and run down between third and home. Burkett

-in the meantime had reached second and was

-half way down the base line between second and

-third, ready to dash for the latter if Iredell

-should be put out. A snap throw to Weston,

-however, the moment that Iredell had been

-tagged, caught Burkett between the bags and he

-was also run down, making three out. It was

-a bit of stupidity, or at least carelessness, on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>

-part of the Giants and of smart playing by the

-visitors.</p>

-

-<p>The next four innings produced no tally for

-either side. Leadows, the bespectacled pitcher

-for the Cardinals, was having one of his best

-days, and he set the Giants down almost as fast

-as they came to the bat. Markwith, too, was

-pitching well. He was hit harder and oftener

-than Leadows, but so far the breaks of the game

-had been with him, and he had had spectacular

-support on the part of the Giant fielders. Hupft

-especially made some almost miraculous catches

-in the field that shut off sure home runs and

-McCarney was guarding third in a way that recalled

-the days of Jerry Denny.</p>

-

-<p>“Do you see that?” Joe asked in a low tone

-of Jim, as McCarney made a superb stop of a

-hot grounder and relayed it like a bullet to first.

-“You didn’t see him doing that kind of playing

-yesterday when I was in the box.”</p>

-

-<p>“Right you are,” replied Jim. “And I noted,

-too, the one that Hupft picked off the fence in

-the last inning. Both of them are playing like

-fiends.”</p>

-

-<p>In the sixth inning the Giants broke the ice.

-Burkett laced out a dandy two-bagger to right.

-Wheeler laid down a perfect sacrifice between the

-pitcher’s box and first that enabled Burkett to get

-to third. Willis sent out a long fly to right center<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>

-that was caught, but on the throw in Burkett

-scored by a long slide to the plate. Larry went

-out on an assist from Mornsby to Blair and the

-inning was over. But the Giants were a run to

-the good, and at that stage of the game a single

-run might prove the winning tally.</p>

-

-<p>In the seventh the Cardinals went them one

-better. Blair led off with a sharp single to left.

-Atkins followed with a grounder that just touched

-the end of Iredell’s glove and went for a hit, Blair

-reaching third. Munson was set down on strikes

-and Bixby sent up a high twisting foul that Mylert

-caught at the very edge of the dugout. Remley,

-however, whaled out a mighty three-bagger to

-right that scored both of his mates. Markwith

-put on extra steam and struck out McCarthy,

-leaving Remley on third.</p>

-

-<p>The Giants’ half of the seventh was fruitless

-and the eighth opened with St. Louis one run to

-the good.</p>

-

-<p>It was not any too good a lead, and they

-started out to put the game “on ice.” Mornsby

-offered at the first ball pitched, and sent the ball

-crashing into the bleachers for the first home run

-of the game. This mighty hit seemed to rattle

-Markwith and he passed Nealon to first on four

-consecutive balls. Ralston rapped out a two-bagger

-on which Nealon went all the way to the

-plate. Leadows struck out, but Blair made a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>

-pretty single on which Nealon reached third.

-Markwith passed Atkins and the bases were full.

-The score now stood 4 to 1 in favor of St. Louis

-with three men on bases and one out.</p>

-

-<p>McRae, the Giants’ manager, beckoned to

-Markwith, and the latter, drawing off his glove,

-came in to the bench.</p>

-

-<p>“Wouldn’t give a dime for me, eh?” jeered

-Mornsby. “I wouldn’t give a plugged nickel for

-you. That home run broke your heart, didn’t

-it? I told you you were a false alarm.”</p>

-

-<p>Markwith, usually ready with a retort, was too

-discomfited to make reply.</p>

-

-<p>“It’s up to you, Joe,” said McRae. “I know

-you pitched yesterday, but I’ll have to call on you

-to save this game if it isn’t already past saving.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe was not altogether unprepared for the call,

-for in the previous inning McRae, seeing that

-Markwith was faltering, had sent him out to do

-a little warming up.</p>

-

-<p>“All right, Mac,” he responded, and walked

-out to the box.</p>

-

-<p>His coming was the signal for a storm of

-cheers from stands and bleachers. It seemed

-almost hopeless, but they had seen him so often

-lead a forlorn hope to victory.</p>

-

-<p>As was his right, Joe tossed up a few balls to

-Mylert to get the location of the plate. Then

-he took his stand in the box as Munson came to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>

-the plate, eager to send his comrades home.

-Even a single would probably bring in two of

-them. A long sacrifice to the outfield would account

-for one run. And a sharp two-bagger

-would clear the bases.</p>

-

-<p>Joe wound up and shot a fast high one over

-the plate. Munson missed it by inches.</p>

-

-<p>“Strike one!” called the umpire, and the crowd

-cheered boisterously.</p>

-

-<p>Mylert returned the ball to Joe on the bound.

-Joe muffed it and it dropped at his feet.</p>

-

-<p>He stooped carelessly to pick it up. Then like

-lightning he shot it to Larry at second, catching

-Blair flat-footed off the bag.</p>

-

-<p>Nealon on third made a dash for the plate.

-Larry tagged Blair and returned the ball in a

-flash to Joe, who had run over to the third base

-line. Joe put the ball on Nealon and the side

-was out.</p>

-

-<p>It had all happened in the twinkling of an eye.

-For an instant the crowd was paralyzed. Then

-it woke up and a perfect tempest of cheers swept

-over the field.</p>

-

-<p>Robson, the rotund assistant manager, fairly

-shouted with glee as he brought his hand down

-with a resounding smack on McRae’s knee.</p>

-

-<p>“Did you see that, John?” he roared. “Did

-you see that fake muff? Did you see that lightning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>

-throw? Did you ever see any foxier playing

-in all your life?”</p>

-

-<p>“No, I didn’t,” grinned McRae. “But for the

-love of Mike, Robbie, keep that ham of a hand off

-my knee. Yes, that was some playing. I don’t

-know which is the greater, that boy’s arm or his

-head. They’re both wonders. Joe hasn’t his

-match in the baseball world.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe came in smiling, to be mauled and pounded

-by his rejoicing comrades.</p>

-

-<p>McRae and Robson beamed upon him.</p>

-

-<p>“Great work, Joe,” said McRae. “Now if you

-hold them down in the next inning and our boys

-get busy with their bats we still have a chance to

-cop the game.”</p>

-

-<p>But the Giants, although they got two men on

-bases in their half of the eighth, were unable to

-score, and the ninth opened with St. Louis still

-three runs ahead.</p>

-

-<p>They made no more, however, for in their half

-of the ninth Joe mowed them down in order,

-and the Giants came in to make their last stand

-with three runs to tie and four to win.</p>

-

-<p>Burkett led off with a nicely placed single in

-short right. Wheeler followed with a clean hit

-over second, on which Burkett tried to reach

-third. The ball came back too quickly, however,

-and he had to turn back to second, which he

-reached safely only through a muff by Weston,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>

-who was covering the bag. It was a close call

-and the Giant rooters breathed a sigh of relief.

-McCarney, who had already made two hits and

-seemed to have his batting clothes on, fell an

-easy victim on strikes. Larry came to the rescue

-with a neat bunt that got him to first and advanced

-his comrades each a base.</p>

-

-<p>The bases were now full, and Hupft, who came

-next to bat, was implored to give the ball a ride

-and bring his mates in. But a groan went up

-when he raised an easy pop fly to the box that

-Leadows caught without moving from his tracks.</p>

-

-<p>Two men were now out and many of the spectators

-were beginning to rise from their seats.

-They sat down suddenly, however, at the mighty

-roar that went up when Joe came to the plate.</p>

-

-<p>Leadows looked him over carefully. He had

-a wholesome respect for Joe’s prowess, not only

-as a pitcher, but as a batter. Here was a foeman

-worthy of his best.</p>

-

-<p>Leadows took an unusually long time winding

-up. Then he sent in a swift incurve that just

-missed the corner of the plate. Joe remained

-motionless.</p>

-

-<p>An outcurve followed, and again Joe let it

-go by.</p>

-

-<p>The third was a fast one with a hop to it, and

-came over the plate half way between knee and

-waist. Joe met it full on the seam.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>There was a resounding crash and the ball

-started on its journey to the bleachers.</p>

-

-<p>It started almost on a line, rising steadily as

-it soared toward right field. On and on it went

-as though it had wings. The Cardinal outfielders

-started for it and then stopped and threw up their

-hands in despair. The ball cleared the field,

-cleared the bleachers, cleared the wall. Where

-it finally landed no one knew, no one cared.</p>

-

-<p>Joe had dropped the bat and started like a

-deer for first. But as <a href="#i_frontis">he rounded the bag on his

-way to second</a>, a glance at the ball told him there

-was no need for hurry. So he jogged around

-the bases at his leisure following the three comrades

-who romped joyously to the plate, while

-in his ears were the thunderous cheers of the

-spectators like the roaring of the sea.</p>

-

-<p>He had made a homer with the bases full.

-He had pulled the game out of the fire. At the

-very last moment he had snatched victory from

-defeat!</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br />

-<small>PLAYING THE GAME</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>If a visitor from Mars had seen the crowd at

-the Polo Grounds when Joe knocked out that

-homer, he would promptly have set down the

-people of this planet as madmen. The people in

-the stands and bleachers simply went crazy with

-delight. Cheer after cheer went up. Hats were

-thrown into the air and on the diamond by the

-hundreds. Then the throng swept down on the

-field in the frantic desire to surround the hero

-of the game and carry him in triumph on their

-shoulders.</p>

-

-<p>But Joe had seen them coming and was off

-at top speed for the clubhouse. The crowd thickened

-about him as he fled, and for the last hundred

-feet he had fairly to fight his way through

-to get away from the embarrassing attentions of

-his admirers.</p>

-

-<p>Even in the clubhouse his troubles were not

-over, for his comrades were almost as delirious

-as the outside throng. They wrung his hand and

-slapped his back until he was sore.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>McRae was all smiles, while Robbie, as Robson

-was usually called, fairly hugged him in his

-delight.</p>

-

-<p>“Man, you’re a wizard in the box and at the

-bat!” Robbie cried. “Sure, it’s magic that you

-use. You’ve put a come-hither on the ball.

-You’ve got it bewitched. You go into the box

-and you put two men out with only one ball

-pitched. You whack the ball and it starts for

-Kingdom Come.”</p>

-

-<p>McRae, though less exuberant, was none the

-less delighted.</p>

-

-<p>“Once more you’ve pulled me out of a hole,

-Joe,” he said earnestly. “Many’s the time I’ve

-had to call on you in a tight pinch, and I’ve never

-been disappointed yet. You’re my standby and

-the standby of the team. You’ve only proved to

-me again, what needed no proving, that when the

-test comes you’re there.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’m glad you feel that way, Mac,” returned

-Joe. “Although I think you make too much of

-what I’ve done. The team’s the biggest thing

-on earth to me outside of my home and folks,

-and it’s always a pleasure to give it my best

-efforts.”</p>

-

-<p>There were two notable exceptions to the praise

-that was heaped on Joe by his mates. Hupft and

-McCarney stood aloof, not saying a single word,

-and their brows were so black that one might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>

-thought that St. Louis had won instead of the

-Giants.</p>

-

-<p>“How sore those spalpeens look,” remarked

-Larry to Wheeler, as he finished his dressing.

-“They’re like corpses at a wedding.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ve noticed that,” replied Wheeler. “I suppose

-they’re a little bit crabbed because they

-failed to come through in the ninth inning. They

-had their chances to send the boys in, but both fell

-down. I’ve felt that way myself more than once.

-They’ll be all over that by to-morrow.”</p>

-

-<p>The grumpiness of the pair had not escaped

-Joe and Jim, although they gave no sign until

-they were clear of the clubhouse and on their way

-home.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll bet a nickel I know what you’re thinking

-of,” bantered Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“Too easy,” laughed Joe. “Of course, we’re

-both thinking of the same thing and that is the

-sour looks of that precious pair of highbinders at

-the end of the game. Even the other fellows,

-who haven’t the reason we have to suspect them,

-were struck by it. You heard what Larry said

-to Wheeler.”</p>

-

-<p>“If they were really foxy they’d have made a

-bluff at feeling good, no matter how they felt,”

-remarked Jim. “There were all the other fellows

-fairly out of their heads with delight, and they

-were as black as thunderclouds. If they don’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>

-look out, other people will tumble to the fact

-that there’s something crooked going on.”</p>

-

-<p>“What took place in the game itself showed

-that our previous suspicion was right,” observed

-Joe. “All the time Markwith was pitching they

-were fairly eating up every chance that came to

-them. See the way McCarney guarded third.

-Nothing was too hot for him and he tried for

-everything at right and left of him. And Hupft

-played like a miracle-man out in the field. Compare

-that with the way they played yesterday

-when I was in the box.”</p>

-

-<p>“And the way their batting fell off in the ninth

-inning,” added Jim. “They had been clouting the

-ball for keeps in the early part of the game. But

-McCarney stood there like a wooden man when

-Leadows set him down on strikes, and that pop

-fly that Hupft lifted to the box was just peaches

-and cream for St. Louis. It’s lucky they didn’t

-have any fielding chances in the ninth or they’d

-probably have fallen down on those, too.”</p>

-

-<p>“It wasn’t merely luck,” explained Joe. “I had

-that in mind when I toed the mound. I made up

-my mind that I’d work for strikeouts and nothing

-else. I was actually afraid to let the ball go to

-the infield because I believed that McCarney, if

-he had the chance, would deliberately fumble it.

-Nice, isn’t it, when a pitcher has to feel that way

-about any of the men behind him?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“It’s an awful shame!” exclaimed Jim hotly.</p>

-

-<p>“And here’s one other thing,” continued Joe.

-“You noticed that when I caught Blair napping

-at second, I ran over to the base line and shouted

-to Larry to throw the ball to me. Ordinarily I

-would have left it to McCarney to make that play

-and he and Mylert together could have run

-Nealon down. But I didn’t dare let McCarney

-take the throw for fear he would let it slip

-through his fingers on purpose. So I tagged

-Nealon myself and made sure of it.”</p>

-

-<p>“Gee, but you’ve got a wonderful head on you,

-Joe!” was the admiring ejaculation wrung from

-Jim. “You think of everything.”</p>

-

-<p>“One has to think of a lot of things when his

-reputation and perhaps his life is at stake,” replied

-Joe soberly. “I tell you, Jim, we’re up

-against a serious problem, and every day it seems

-to get more complicated. Even when we sleep,

-from now on we’ll have to do it with one eye

-open.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s true,” agreed Jim. “Still, what has

-happened to-day isn’t altogether without its

-bright side. Up to now you’ve been largely in the

-dark. You’ve had an uneasy feeling that a web

-was being woven about you, and you’ve had certain

-suspicions about Hupft and McCarney. But

-their actions in to-day’s game and their grouchiness

-after the game have transformed those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>

-suspicions almost into certainties. Now you can

-plan to fight them and force them into the open

-without the fear that you might be doing them

-an injustice.</p>

-

-<p>“Then, too, that Lemblow matter has thrown

-a little more light on things. It indicates that

-he’s in cahoots with the other two rascals. The

-more there are in any conspiracy, the more likely

-it is that there will be a leak somewhere. To-day’s

-happenings have given you three sides of

-a triangle—Hupft, McCarney and Lemblow.

-Somewhere within that triangle is the plot that

-is being hatched. At least we know where to

-look, and that is something.”</p>

-

-<p>“And whatever that something is we’ll meet it

-and we’ll beat it,” cried Joe, throwing care to the

-winds. “Let’s think of something pleasant. The

-girls will be on for that promised visit soon. In

-less than a week now I’ll see the dearest girl in

-all the world—Mabel.”</p>

-

-<p>“Clara,” corrected Jim.</p>

-

-<p>And both laughed happily.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br />

-<small>A HILARIOUS WELCOME</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Although naturally burdened by the recent

-run of events, mystified as they were concerning

-the motives of McCarney and Hupft and of the

-lob-eared man whom Jim had seen hurrying from

-the half-finished structure the day the building

-material had been pushed from the scaffold, the

-chums stuck to their decisions to keep worry and

-conjecture as far as possible from their minds.

-Their job was to play ball, and to play ball with

-the best that was in them was what they intended

-to do.</p>

-

-<p>And on one particular bright morning it was

-easier than usual to banish dull care. Only the

-day before Joe and Jim had received word that

-Mabel and Clara and Mabel’s brother, Reggie,

-would arrive in New York by noon of the following

-day. To say that the boys were joyful

-would be to describe too tamely their emotions.

-They acted like a couple of wild Indians, brandishing

-the letters aloft and executing a war dance

-about the room. Even now, as they jumped into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>

-the car, preparatory to making a mad dash for

-the station to meet the twelve o’clock train, they

-had not recovered their sanity.</p>

-

-<p>To Joe it seemed as though he had been separated

-from his young wife for years instead of

-weeks, and he drove the machine through the

-traffic with a speed and recklessness that caused

-many a burly policeman to frown disapprovingly.</p>

-

-<p>“It’s them young speeders that makes all the

-trouble,” muttered one of them as Joe, barely

-waiting for the wave of his hand, rushed by with

-a warning roar of the exhaust. “It’s long been

-a mystery to me why they must always be in such

-a terrible hurry.” How could he know, poor

-man, that Joe was on his way to meet the most

-adorable girl in all the world? Who wouldn’t

-break all the speed laws, and then some, for a

-girl like Mabel?</p>

-

-<p>It had been the purpose of the young folks to

-settle down in a little home of their own after the

-honeymoon, but as Mrs. Matson, who had never

-been very strong, missed Mabel and declared she

-needed her, the young bride had decided to make

-her home temporarily with Joe’s mother—at

-least until such time as she should be in better

-health.</p>

-

-<p>Clara, Joe’s pretty sister and Jim’s fiancée,

-had also delayed her wedding with Jim because

-of her mother’s ill-health. Jim did not favor this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>

-arrangement very highly, but he was willing to

-agree to almost anything that would make Clara

-happy.</p>

-

-<p>“It won’t be so very long now,” she had said

-the last time Jim had seen her. “I really think

-mother is getting stronger, and pretty soon—we’ll

-be together always,” she had added shyly.</p>

-

-<p>So now, not having seen either Mabel or Clara

-for what seemed to them a never-ending period

-of time, it was no wonder the boys were willing

-to break all the traffic laws that had ever been

-made.</p>

-

-<p>“Do you know,” said Joe, with a chuckle, as

-he slowed down at the curb opposite the station,

-“I’ve scarcely given dear old Reggie a thought?

-I wonder how the old duffer is, anyway.”</p>

-

-<p>“Probably identically the same old chappie,”

-laughed Jim. “Monocle, cane, spats, and all

-complete. I’d give a lot to know how he makes

-that knife-sharp crease in his trousers always

-stay put.”</p>

-

-<p>“It is a mystery,” agreed Joe, as they made

-their way through the crowds that thronged the

-great station. “I’d like to try him out on the

-diamond some time. I’ve a notion that after a

-slide or two to the home plate the crease would

-be no longer there.”</p>

-

-<p>“Might spoil some of his immaculateness,”

-laughed Jim.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>Despite all this joking at his expense, the boys

-entertained, not only a warm affection, but a very

-real respect for Mabel’s brother, Reggie. Although,

-as the chums had already laughingly mentioned,

-Reggie never appeared anywhere without

-his monocle, his cane, his spats, and his English

-air and accent, he was at heart a fine fellow,

-always ready to help where help was needed,

-truthful and honorable, and an ardent baseball

-fan. These qualities helped the boys overlook

-his many foibles and affectations. As a matter

-of fact, once one got used to them, one rather

-liked them, as being a part of Reggie’s lovable

-personality.</p>

-

-<p>The guard at the head of the stairs that led

-to the station platform seemed at first inclined

-to deny the boys admittance. But a neighboring

-guard, having recognized Joe and Jim, whispered

-in his friend’s ear, with the result that the latter

-looked away, having first favored the boys with

-a wink.</p>

-

-<p>The next moment they had clattered down the

-stairs and had reached the station platform, just

-as the train pulled in.</p>

-

-<p>Eagerly they watched the crowd of passengers

-pour forth, scanning each face for those they

-sought. No sight of Mabel, no Clara, no immaculate

-and be-spatted Reggie!</p>

-

-<p>At first they feared that the girls had missed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>

-their train and their faces grew long and anxious.

-Then, just when they were beginning to lose hope,

-Joe saw them.</p>

-

-<p>With a whoop of joy and a rush that nearly

-bowled over an indignant and grip-laden porter,

-he was speeding down the platform with Jim hard

-at his heels.</p>

-

-<p>The next moment Mabel found herself in the

-grip of two bearlike arms, her smart little hat

-was pushed far over one ear, while into the other

-a voice was saying, over and over again:</p>

-

-<p>“Say, girl, you look good to me—you look good

-to me.”</p>

-

-<p>“Joe, dear, you’re mussing my hair, and my

-hat——”</p>

-

-<p>“Hats!” cried Joe, exuberantly. “What do we

-care about hats! I’ll buy you another one, honey,

-a dozen, if you want them.”</p>

-

-<p>“Be careful, Joe,” Clara broke in, looking

-flushed and delightfully pretty herself. “She may

-take you up. Think of it—a dozen new hats!

-Such joy!”</p>

-

-<p>“Speakin’ of hats, don’t you know,” broke in

-a well-known voice, “I jolly well need a new one

-myself. The bally old thing did a double flip out

-of the hat rack on our trip up heah in the train.

-Turned an entire circle, don’t you know——”</p>

-

-<p>“Tell them where it landed, Reggie,” chuckled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>

-Mabel, flashing a mischievous glance at Clara.

-“Be sure you don’t forget any of the details.”</p>

-

-<p>“By Jove! Do you know,” said Reggie, ruefully,

-“you would never guess the truth, not in a

-thousand years, unless I were to tell it to you

-myself! For this mistaken headpiece, don’t you

-know, instead of falling to the floor, where at the

-most it would have gathered a little dust, must

-choose a seat whereon a burly gentleman was just

-in the act of seating himself. A perfectly harmless

-and natural thing, don’t you know, on the

-part of the old gentleman——”</p>

-

-<p>“But hard on the hat,” finished Joe, with a

-grin, adding as he slipped his arm through

-Mabel’s and drew her toward the stairs: “Never

-mind, old man, there are a dozen places in town

-where they have hats that will satisfy even you.

-Say,” he added happily, looking down into the

-smiling eyes of his young wife, “this is my lucky

-day.”</p>

-

-<p>“You’re not the only one, old son,” said Jim,

-adding, as he proudly piloted Clara through the

-throng: “I tell you, we’ve picked a couple of

-girls that will make these bored Manhattanites

-turn round and stare, all right.”</p>

-

-<p>“Bah Jove,” sighed Reggie, replacing the tiresome

-monocle that never would stay put, “you

-chappies are enough to make a poor old bachelor

-like me homesick, you are, truly. I feel quite out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>

-of it, don’t you know, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">de trop</i>, a gooseberry, as

-you might say. An Antony without his Cleopatra,

-a Romeo without his Juliet. I say, it’s

-downright pathetic.”</p>

-

-<p>“Poor old Reggie,” chuckled Mabel, snuggling

-her free hand within his arm. “It is a sad, sad

-story, isn’t it? But then, it’s really your own

-fault. There are lots of girls in the world, you

-know.”</p>

-

-<p>“But no more Mabels,” said Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“And no more Claras,” added Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“There you go again,” said poor Reggie,

-swinging his cane disconsolately. “Bah Jove, this

-is no place for a bachelor. It isn’t, truly!”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br />

-<small>GROWING BEWILDERMENT</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>The boys, in their joy at having the girls with

-them once more, wanted to go to one of the big

-hotels for luncheon, but the girls themselves protested.</p>

-

-<p>They wanted, they said, to go to some quiet

-place “where they could talk,” and, besides,

-they weren’t “presentable” after the long train

-journey.</p>

-

-<p>Although the boys disagreed vehemently with

-this last statement, they finally yielded the point

-and found a quiet little restaurant just around the

-corner from Fifth Avenue.</p>

-

-<p>Eagerly Joe plied them with questions about

-home. “Had the girls been well?” “How was

-mother and dear old dad?” and so on until the

-girls rebelled, saying that they had come to hear

-about Joe and Jim, not to talk about themselves.</p>

-

-<p>“I say, how is the old game coming?” queried

-Reggie, taking the monocle from his eye and tapping

-it gently on the table. “Yesterday’s game<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>

-was perfectly ripping, what? Hear you did yourself

-proud, Joe, old top.”</p>

-

-<p>“He always does,” murmured Mabel proudly,

-and somehow Joe’s hand managed to find hers

-under the table.</p>

-

-<p>“It was a great game,” he said, smiling at

-recollection of it. “Luck was with me.”</p>

-

-<p>“Do you boys play to-day?” asked Clara, adding

-with a little bounce of delight: “Oh, I’m

-crazy to see the game!”</p>

-

-<p>“Jim’s the lucky one,” said Joe. “He’s

-scheduled to pitch. And I tell you, you girls

-are going to see some classy work. Jim has the

-little ball trained so it comes to his whistle.”</p>

-

-<p>“Spare my blushes,” begged Jim, adding, with

-a grin: “Anyway, listen who’s talking!”</p>

-

-<p>“’Spose everything’s goin’ smoothly, is it?”

-queried Reggie, with a lift of his eyebrow that

-sent the monocle sliding down the front of his

-waistcoat. “No trouble with the good old teammates?

-Everything jolly and happy?”</p>

-

-<p>Both Jim and Joe looked at him quizzically.

-Was it possible that Reggie knew something of

-their suspicions of Reddy Hupft or McCarney?

-It seemed hardly possible. Probably the question

-was merely an idle one.</p>

-

-<p>“Everything’s in tip-top shape,” answered Joe,

-after the barest perceptible pause. “The boys

-are going at top speed and if we keep on the way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>

-we’ve started we ought to beat last year’s

-record.”</p>

-

-<p>Clara opened her lips as though to speak,

-then evidently changed her mind. But as Jim’s

-eyes met hers it seemed to him they were the

-least bit anxious.</p>

-

-<p>As for Mabel, she had reached out and laid

-a little hand on Joe’s arm.</p>

-

-<p>“Everything is all right, isn’t it, Joe?” she

-asked.</p>

-

-<p>“Perfectly,” he replied, hoping his tone had

-sounded as confident as he wanted it to. “What

-could be wrong, little girl?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” Mabel replied hesitantly.

-“Perhaps it’s that trouble you had last year——”</p>

-

-<p>“Here, here!” interrupted Joe, with mock

-severity. “I thought you promised to forget all

-about that!”</p>

-

-<p>“I am trying,” said Mabel gamely. “But it’s

-pretty hard when I’m not with you, Joe.”</p>

-

-<p>Though the boys could have lingered forever

-at that pleasant little meal, it was not long before

-they were reminded that time was flying

-and that if they meant to get to the ball grounds

-in time they must hurry.</p>

-

-<p>They took the girls to the hotel where they

-had accommodations ready for them. There

-they regretfully left them in Reggie’s care and

-hurried off for the field.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“I wonder if Reggie has got wind of something

-brewing,” said Jim, as, a few minutes later, they

-struggled into their uniforms. “He certainly has

-a talent for smelling out trouble.”</p>

-

-<p>“Let’s hope there won’t be any serious trouble

-to smell out and let the matter go at that,” answered

-Joe carelessly. Then everything but baseball

-and the game on hand was forgotten.</p>

-

-<p>That game was a triumph for the Giants, but

-it was even a greater one for Jim. Perhaps the

-fact that two bright eyes were watching his work

-from the grandstand spurred Jim on to greater

-effort. At any rate it was certain that he had

-never done more brilliant work.</p>

-

-<p>Joe, who was resting from his triumphs of the

-day before, spent most of his time with the two

-girls and Reggie. Although ordinarily he would

-have been wild to take his place on the diamond,

-to-day, with McRae’s consent, he was content just

-to sit beside Mabel and watch her interest and

-enthusiasm in the game.</p>

-

-<p>It was good to have his pretty sister with him

-too, even though he knew her interest for the time

-being was entirely with Jim. And it was good to

-have old Reggie with the troublesome monocle

-and the hat which the burly old gentleman had

-inadvertently used as a seat!</p>

-

-<p>Suddenly Clara, who, with the rest of the

-crowd had been wildly cheering Jim, straightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>

-in her seat, her eyes widening as they rested upon

-one of the Giant team.</p>

-

-<p>She turned and laid a hand on Joe’s arm.</p>

-

-<p>“Joe,” she said excitedly, “who is that man

-out there? That man on third base?”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s McCarney,” replied Joe, wondering

-at her excitement. “Want an introduction?” he

-added jokingly. “I could get you one in a jiffy,

-but I wouldn’t because he’s no good.”</p>

-

-<p>“Goodness, no!” said Clara, with a motion of

-the shoulders that was almost like a shudder.

-“I know him already.”</p>

-

-<p>“Know him?” repeated Joe, bewildered.

-“What’s the great idea?”</p>

-

-<p>“Well,” Clara corrected, “I don’t really mean

-that I know him. But I’ve seen him at pretty

-close range.”</p>

-

-<p>Mabel leaned forward suddenly, her troubled

-eyes on Clara.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you mean?” she asked, but a roar

-from the crowd drowned Clara’s answer.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll tell you later,” she shouted above the

-tumult of cheers and whistles and turned once

-more to watch the game.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br />

-<small>A BLACK CONSPIRACY</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>During the game Joe wondered once or twice

-what Clara’s sudden interest in McCarney meant.

-His pretty sister was so deeply in love with Jim

-that it seemed almost impossible for her even to

-see another man. Yet here she was, calling attention

-to McCarney——</p>

-

-<p>At this point a spectacular play elicited a

-mighty roar from the grandstand, and Joe forgot

-everything but his interest in the game.</p>

-

-<p>He had been back and forth several times from

-the bleachers to the grandstand and now, with a

-murmured word to Mabel, he slipped away again.</p>

-

-<p>He wanted to get closer to the field where he

-could watch the work of Reddy Hupft, and of

-McCarney, too. The two men were apparently

-playing good ball, and yet, to his experienced eye,

-there was something queer about their game.

-Even while he reproached himself for letting his

-imagination run away with him, his eyes narrowed

-and his mouth grew grim.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>If those fellows were trying to pull anything——</p>

-

-<p>So it happened that when the game ended in

-a smashing victory for the Giants Joe found

-himself near the clubhouse and allowed himself

-to be swept along by the rush of his team mates.</p>

-

-<p>He made his way through to Jim, who was

-surrounded by a group of enthusiastic players,

-and thumped his chum heartily on the back.</p>

-

-<p>“Pretty work, Jim,” he said. “Didn’t I tell

-the girls you had that little ball trained?”</p>

-

-<p>“It did come right to papa, didn’t it?” Jim

-answered, with a grin, submitting to the rub-down

-gratefully. “But wait till the girls see your

-work,” he added. “That will be the whole

-show.”</p>

-

-<p>“Maybe it will be an anticlimax,” protested

-Joe, at which Jim grunted disdainfully.</p>

-

-<p>“Baseball Joe, an anticlimax!” he jeered, and

-Joe, smiling good-naturedly, passed on.</p>

-

-<p>Robson and McRae promptly collared him and

-engaged him in earnest conversation and Jim,

-being unable to disentangle Joe from the society

-of the two older men, shouted an “I’ll see you

-later” to his chum and started across the field

-to the grandstand where the two girls and Reggie

-were waiting for him.</p>

-

-<p>As he neared the trio he saw that they were

-talking excitedly and wondered idly what it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>

-all about. The real thing that engaged his attention,

-though, was the fact that Clara looked

-amazingly sweet and animated and that the flush

-in her cheeks was the prettiest thing he had ever

-seen.</p>

-

-<p>“Hello, everybody,” he called to them. “Get

-tired of waiting?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, Jim! you were simply wonderful,” said

-Clara, turning sparkling eyes upon him. “You

-ought to have heard what people were saying all

-around us.”</p>

-

-<p>“Perhaps it’s jolly good he didn’t,” broke in

-Reggie, with a twinkle in the eye behind the

-monocle. “Might have swelled the old bean, you

-know, completely ruined him, what?”</p>

-

-<p>“He’s frightfully spoiled already,” said Clara,

-with a distracting, sidewise glance at Jim.

-“You’ve no idea how conceited he is.”</p>

-

-<p>“On the contrary,” replied Jim, stretching his

-long length contentedly in one of the hard-backed

-seats, “the only time I’m tempted to be conceited,

-my dear, is when I realize that I have you.”</p>

-

-<p>“Don’t mind us, Jim,” chuckled Mabel delightedly,

-and Reggie added benevolently:</p>

-

-<p>“Bless you, my children. Mabel and I are

-looking steadily in the opposite direction. But

-perhaps, on further reflection, you would enjoy

-our absence greater than our presence? What

-say, Mabel, shall we stroll on?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“You’re all so silly!” Clara protested, her face

-flaming. “I wish you wouldn’t talk such nonsense,

-Jim—in public, anyway.”</p>

-

-<p>“I won’t until next time,” promised Jim, then,

-thinking it about time he changed the subject, he

-asked what they had been talking about so animatedly

-when he approached. “You seemed all

-heated up about something,” he added.</p>

-

-<p>“Jim, where’s Joe?” asked Mabel, her eyes,

-suddenly anxious, sweeping the field.</p>

-

-<p>“Talking to McRae and Robbie,” answered

-Jim. “He’ll be along in a minute. But say,” he

-added, with more interest than he had hitherto

-shown, “aren’t you going to answer my question?”</p>

-

-<p>“Hold your horses, old chappie,” murmured

-Reggie. “Patience is a virtue, what?”</p>

-

-<p>Seeing that, even if patience were a virtue, Jim

-was at the end of it, Clara hastened to explain.</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t suppose you will think it very important,

-Jim,” she said. “But it seemed rather

-important to me. I’ll tell you what I know and

-then you can judge.”</p>

-

-<p>“Sounds like a mystery,” said Jim, sitting up

-straight and beginning to look interested.</p>

-

-<p>Mabel shuddered.</p>

-

-<p>“I hope it isn’t,” she said, adding plaintively:

-“I don’t like mysteries.”</p>

-

-<p>“It’s about that man, McCarney, your third<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>

-baseman,” Clara hastened on, lacing and unlacing

-her fingers in an agitation she could no longer conceal.

-“I’ve seen him before, Jim. I saw him just

-before the season opened.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, what about it?” asked Jim, interested,

-but not showing any especial excitement. “It’s a

-coincidence, of course.”</p>

-

-<p>“It’s a good deal more than a coincidence,”

-Clara declared impatiently. “Wait till you hear

-what he said——”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes,” Jim prompted sharply, as she hesitated.

-“What did he say?”</p>

-

-<p>“It was at the railroad station at Liberty—the

-second station from Riverside, you know. I

-had gone over there to take some things to Aunt

-Lydia——”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, but what about McCarney?” It was

-Jim’s turn to be impatient.</p>

-

-<p>“McCarney was there on the station platform,”

-Clara hurried on. “He was talking to

-another man. I couldn’t see them at first—I was

-around a corner of the station, but I could hear

-their voices.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes?” Jim said again, as once more Clara

-hesitated, her glance roving uneasily about the

-almost-emptied grandstand as though she were

-afraid of being overheard.</p>

-

-<p>“They were talking in whispers,” she said then,

-leaning closer to Jim while Mabel and Reggie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>

-also came a little nearer. “I didn’t hear what

-they were saying till suddenly one of them,

-McCarney, it was, raised his voice and said, quite

-distinctly, ‘We ought to be able to make fifty

-thousand out of this, maybe more.’”</p>

-

-<p>“Great Scott!” cried Jim, his startled glance

-fixing the girl’s. “Are you sure it was McCarney

-who said that, Clara?”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes,” said the latter, a little frightened at

-the effect of her revelation. Jim looked suddenly

-fierce. “When he said that about the fifty

-thousand dollars I was curious and strolled

-around the corner to see who it was who expected

-to make a fortune so easily.”</p>

-

-<p>“Who was the man with him?” Jim’s question

-came like a pistol shot. “Did you get a good

-look at him, too?”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes,” answered the girl. “He was a tall, thin

-man and something about him made me think he

-was a ball player. Of course I was interested,

-but that was all. I didn’t think of it again until

-I saw one of the men, McCarney, on the field

-to-day.”</p>

-

-<p>“Did you hear anything else?” asked Jim,

-alert.</p>

-

-<p>Clara shook her head.</p>

-

-<p>“When the two men saw me they strolled off

-to a more deserted part of the station. They

-started talking in whispers again, but of course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>

-I didn’t follow them. At the time I didn’t see

-any reason why I should. Only, I had a feeling

-that neither of the men was straight.”</p>

-

-<p>“Um-m,” said Jim grimly. His forehead was

-wrinkled and his fingers beat a nervous tattoo on

-the arm of the seat. “You didn’t happen to

-recognize the other fellow—the one McCarney

-was talking to—on the field to-day, did you?”</p>

-

-<p>Clara shook her head. She looked worried.</p>

-

-<p>“No, I looked for him after I recognized the

-other man,” she said. “But I’m sure he wasn’t

-on the field to-day.”</p>

-

-<p>“Do you think,” asked Jim, in the same grim

-tone, “that you could recognize this fellow if I

-were to show you his picture?”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, I’m sure of that,” answered Clara

-quickly. “I was so curious because of what

-McCarney had said, that I took a good look at

-both of them. And I’m sure I could easily

-recognize the other man if I should see him or

-a picture of him. He was the kind of person,”

-she added, thoughtfully, “that one doesn’t very

-easily forget.”</p>

-

-<p>“What do you think of it, old chappie?” asked

-Reggie. His monocle had fallen from his eye

-and, in his agitation, he had not even bothered

-to replace it. “Looks rather like some sort of

-plot, what? A conspiracy, you might say.”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t know, I don’t know,” answered Jim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>

-thoughtfully. Then, seeing how agitated the

-girls were growing, he decided to make as light

-of the matter as was possible.</p>

-

-<p>“Sounds rather mysterious,” he said, with a

-reassuring smile; “but the sound is probably the

-only mysterious thing about it. These things

-often clear up of themselves and you wonder

-afterward why you were such a fool as to wonder

-about them. However, I’ll keep my eyes

-and ears open, and if McCarney and his tall

-friend are cooking up anything, I’ll soon find

-it out.”</p>

-

-<p>“I wonder where Joe is?” said Mabel plaintively.

-“It isn’t like him to stay away so long.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll go and look him up,” Jim volunteered,

-unwinding his great length from the seat. “I’ll

-make Robbie and McRae loosen their grip on

-him.”</p>

-

-<p>As Jim started across the field the girls looked

-after his tall figure thoughtfully.</p>

-

-<p>“I hope,” said Mabel, putting back a lock of

-hair that the wind had whipped about her face,

-“that this doesn’t mean more trouble for the

-boys. Perhaps it’s foolish of me, but I’m always

-just a wee bit worried about them. And now

-this McCarney——”</p>

-

-<p>“Stop your crabbin’,” said Reggie, laying an

-affectionate hand over his sister’s little one. “I’m

-not particularly impressed with this McCarney<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>

-chap myself, but from personal observation I

-have learned that both Joe and Jim can jolly well

-take care of themselves. Bah Jove, it would

-take a pretty keen chap to put one over on them!

-It jolly well can’t be done, you know!”</p>

-

-<p>Meanwhile Jim, not completely sharing Reggie’s

-optimism, reached the clubhouse just as Joe

-emerged from it.</p>

-

-<p>“Hello!” said the latter, his eyes brightening

-at sight of Jim. “Thought I’d never be able to

-give McRae and Robbie the slip? Did the girls

-get tired of waiting?”</p>

-

-<p>“Mabel sent me in search of you,” answered

-Jim, with a grin, then, his face sobering, he

-swiftly told Joe the main facts about McCarney

-and his mention of the fifty thousand dollar

-clean-up.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you think of it?” he asked.</p>

-

-<p>“Great Scott!” said Joe, raising a hand to his

-troubled forehead. “I don’t know yet. Give

-me a chance to think!”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br />

-<small>THE TELLTALE PHOTOGRAPH</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“Clara’s sure the fellow was really McCarney,

-is she?” Joe asked, as they hurried across the field

-toward the grandstand. “She may have made a

-mistake in that. A great many fellows look like

-McCarney, you know. He isn’t an unusual type.”</p>

-

-<p>“Ask her and see,” returned Jim. “She can

-answer for herself.”</p>

-

-<p>Clara seemed quite willing to answer for herself.

-In reply to Joe’s sober questions she told

-him just what she had already told the others.

-When she came to the part about the tall, thin

-man who was with McCarney, Joe and Jim exchanged

-significant glances.</p>

-

-<p>Mabel caught the interchange and put a beseeching

-hand on Joe’s arm.</p>

-

-<p>“Joe,” she said, “if you are going to be in

-danger again——” but Joe interrupted with his

-flashing smile.</p>

-

-<p>“Don’t go to worrying, honey,” he said reassuringly.

-“Clara’s story sounds a little queer,

-but there’s not a thing in the world to worry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>

-about. Let’s get on back to the hotel where

-we can finish our little powwow in quiet.”</p>

-

-<p>On the way home the chums tried to keep the

-conversation on a lighter plane, but they were,

-nevertheless, deeply troubled.</p>

-

-<p>Clara seemed strangely sure that the man she

-had seen on the station platform at Liberty had

-been none other than the Giants’ third baseman.

-Granted that she was not mistaken in this, then

-who was his companion?</p>

-

-<p>Lemblow, perhaps. The imaginations of Joe

-and Jim traveled even further, connecting McCarney’s

-companion with the strange man who

-had hurried from the half-completed building the

-day the lumber had fallen from the scaffold.</p>

-

-<p>When they reached the hotel, the same at

-which Joe and Jim had been staying and where

-the girls were to stay as long as they were in the

-city, Joe was all for making plans as to how they

-should spend their first evening together.</p>

-

-<p>But it did not take them long to discover that

-the girls were not yet in a party mood. They

-made it quite clear that they wanted this “mystery

-business” cleared up first. Clara, especially,

-seemed fidgety and nervous, and she had hardly

-taken off her wraps before she turned to Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“Joe, dear,” she said, “Jim says you have pictures

-of every ball player and near ball player in

-the world.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Not quite,” said Joe modestly. “But, at that,

-I’ve got quite a scrap book. What do you want

-of my rogues’ gallery?”</p>

-

-<p>He knew quite well what she wanted of it, but

-he had made up his mind, for the sake of the girls,

-to treat the whole matter as lightly as possible.</p>

-

-<p>“I want to see every last picture you have,”

-said Clara, with pretty impetuousness. “I want

-to see if I can’t find some one.”</p>

-

-<p>“Look out, Jim,” said Joe, with a heavy frown.

-“You have a rival!”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, dear!” groaned Jim, and Clara heartlessly

-made a face at him.</p>

-

-<p>“How do you know he has only one?” she

-asked, evidently referring to “rivals,” and poor

-Jim groaned again.</p>

-

-<p>While Joe went off for his “rogues’ gallery,”

-Reggie stood by the mantel, idly twirling his monocle,

-a thoughtful look in his eyes. However,

-when he found Mabel’s gaze upon him he smiled

-brightly and came over to sit beside her.</p>

-

-<p>“You know, I really should be going,” he said.

-“But, you know, I have the oddest desire to see

-this ‘rogues’ gallery’ for myself. I shouldn’t linger

-for a bally second longer, I shouldn’t really.

-There’s a fellow I must look up for the gov’nor

-without delay. I know jolly well I should be upon

-my way.”</p>

-

-<p>“Listen here, old boy,” said Joe, returning at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>

-that moment with a huge album which looked as

-if it might in all truth contain the picture of every

-ball player on the globe. “Whether you know it

-or not, you’re going to attend to no business to-night.

-You’re going to help paint this little town

-red along with the rest of our merry party. Don’t

-let ’em tell you different.”</p>

-

-<p>“But I say, old chap, business is business, you

-know,” protested Reggie, but this time it was Jim

-who put down the protest.</p>

-

-<p>“Business!” he snorted. “And you can talk

-about business on your first night in the greatest

-little town in the world? Stow it, Reggie, before

-we make you!”</p>

-

-<p>“But, you know”—it came feebly, but it was

-still a protest—“I’m afraid I’ll be intruding, you

-know—the fly in the ointment—the odd member—all

-that sort of thing.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, Reggie, you ridiculous old dear,” cried

-Mabel, flinging an arm about his neck and effectually

-choking off the last part of his sentence.

-“Don’t be so absurd, honey. Don’t you know we

-couldn’t have any fun at all without you?”</p>

-

-<p>If Joe thought this was stretching the truth a

-bit, he did not say anything. It made Reggie

-happy, and of course it was fine to have the fellow

-along. However, he would not have been quite

-human if he had not wanted Mabel all to himself.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>As for Reggie, he was fairly beaming with

-pleasure.</p>

-

-<p>“I didn’t know you felt quite so strongly!” he

-cried. “Bah Jove I didn’t, you know.”</p>

-

-<p>“But now you do, and so it’s all settled,” broke

-in Clara, giving him an affectionate hug in her

-turn which brought a laughing remonstrance from

-Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“Look here!” he said. “Seems to me Reggie’s

-getting altogether too popular around here. If

-you’re passing that sort of thing around, why

-neglect me?”</p>

-

-<p>“I shan’t,” said Clara so softly that nobody

-heard but Jim, and before he could do anything

-about it she had turned swiftly and was holding

-out her hand for Joe’s album. “Let me have it,

-Joe,” she said. She was adorably flushed and no

-one—except Jim—understood the reason why.</p>

-

-<p>The two girls enthroned themselves on the

-couch with the album between them while the boys

-grouped themselves back of it. Over Mabel’s

-shoulder Joe turned the pages, pointing out the

-different players as he did so with a word of explanation

-for each.</p>

-

-<p>“But I want to see the Giant players, Joe,” said

-Clara.</p>

-

-<p>“You won’t find Lemblow on the Giants,” said

-Joe, and instantly could have bitten his tongue out

-for the slip. Both girls glanced up at him quickly.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Lemblow?” repeated Mabel breathlessly.

-“Then you know—you suspect——”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t know anything,” retorted Joe, almost

-brusquely, then added, with an immediate softening

-of his tone: “I didn’t mean to speak that way,

-dear, but I want to get this thing over with. Guess

-I’m hungry,” he ended, with a laugh.</p>

-

-<p>“Feed the brute,” added Jim. “I’m just about

-starved myself.”</p>

-

-<p>But the girls were not to be put off. They

-deluged them with questions as to who Lemblow

-was until in desperation the boys carried the attack

-into the enemy’s camp.</p>

-

-<p>“See here!” said Joe. “We refuse to answer

-any more questions. If we didn’t, you’d be sitting

-with that fool album in your laps for the rest of

-the night. Altogether, boys: ‘We want dinner!’

-Again: ‘We want dinner!’”</p>

-

-<p>The three gave the cry with a gusto that made

-the girls laugh in spite of themselves.</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, well, if you want to be so mean!” said

-Clara, and again turned her attention to the album.

-Almost immediately she cried out, touching

-one of the pictures with her finger.</p>

-

-<p>“Look,” she said. “Here’s the one I’ve been

-looking for all the time!”</p>

-

-<p>“Which one?” asked Jim, as the boys leaned

-forward to get a better look.</p>

-

-<p>“The man who was talking to McCarney on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>

-the station platform,” explained Clara, so excited

-that she stammered. Mabel’s earnest eyes were

-fixed upon her. “I’d know that face, anywhere.

-He’s horrid looking, isn’t he? Like a snake or

-something scaly. Look at those lob ears of his.”</p>

-

-<p>She glanced up at the boys just in time to catch

-the look that flashed between them.</p>

-

-<p>“Then you do know him!” she exclaimed triumphantly.

-“Now maybe you’ll tell me his

-name.”</p>

-

-<p>“His name,” said Joe slowly, all fun temporarily

-gone from his eyes, “is Lemblow.”</p>

-

-<p>“And his reputation,” added Jim, with a faint

-grin, “is conspicuous by its absence.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, I knew it!” cried Clara, triumph giving

-place to real anxiety. “I knew he was a wretch

-from the first. Oh, Jim, what does it mean?”</p>

-

-<p>Jim looked at Joe and slowly shook his head.</p>

-

-<p>“It’s hard to tell what it means,” he said

-gravely.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll jolly well say it is!” burst from Reggie,

-and at his vehemence the monocle, as though

-shocked by such an improper display of feeling,

-toppled from his eye. Reggie picked it up and

-nervously replaced it, squinting his eye as he did

-so till he looked like a scheming old magpie.

-“But one thing I do know, old chappie,” he added,

-more mildly, “these two men are a menace to the

-Giant team. You might even go so far as to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>

-they are a menace to the Game itself—you really

-might, you know!”</p>

-

-<p>“Reggie, old chap,” said Joe dryly, “I could see

-that myself, without the aid of a monocle.”</p>

-

-<p>“But what do you think it means?” asked

-Mabel, her pretty forehead puckered in a troubled

-frown. “How could anybody make fifty

-thousand dollars out of baseball all at once?”</p>

-

-<p>“They couldn’t, if they made it straight,” returned

-Joe. “Of course there are various ways

-known to crooks by which a nifty little fortune

-may be made——”</p>

-

-<p>“Such as throwing games and all that sort of

-thing?” queried Reggie.</p>

-

-<p>Joe nodded.</p>

-

-<p>“There are plenty of other ways too, I reckon,

-once you get wise to them,” he said. “The worst

-of it is,” he added, with a sudden clenching of his

-hands and a fierce look in his eyes, “that rascals

-like this Lemblow and McCarney not only plot

-against a special team or a certain group of men,

-but go further than that, as you yourself said,

-Reggie, and attempt to put a stain on the name of

-all baseball. The scoundrels!” he added, throwing

-back his head with a fierce gesture that made

-Mabel proud of him, even while she was half

-afraid. “Whatever rotten thing they’re working

-up, they’ll find they have me to reckon with.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Me too, Joe,” said Jim grimly. “Don’t forget

-me.”</p>

-

-<hr class="tb" />

-

-<p>The happy week that the boys spent with the

-girls flew by as though on wings. Every moment

-they could spare from the duties of their profession

-was spent in visiting with them the sights of

-the metropolis, and they did things in royal style.

-In the afternoons the girls were in a box at the

-Polo Grounds, and their hearts swelled with pride

-as they saw the splendid work of Joe and Jim and

-realized how high they stood in the affections of

-the followers of the game.</p>

-

-<p>But at last the time of parting came, and they

-faced it with sinking hearts but with brave smiles

-that showed what sports they were.</p>

-

-<p>“And remember, Joe,” were Mabel’s last words

-to Joe, as she leaned from the window of the

-train, “to keep on your guard against those

-wicked men.”</p>

-

-<p>“Don’t worry, honey,” replied Joe. “I still

-wear your glove against my heart. That’s my

-mascot.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br />

-<small>WONDERFUL WORK</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>The Western clubs had come and gone and

-now the Giants were engaged in a short series

-with the rest of the Eastern teams before themselves

-starting on an invasion of the West.</p>

-

-<p>The Western clubs were decidedly the stronger

-half of the National League, and it was practically

-certain that one or the other of these would

-be the one that the Giants would have to beat if

-they again won the pennant.</p>

-

-<p>And there was not one of them that did not

-have a “look in” for the flag. St. Louis, as has

-been said, was especially strong with the bat, and

-her sluggers were feared by every pitcher in the

-league. She had a strong pitching staff, too, none

-of them bright particular stars with the exception

-of Leadows, but well up to major-league standards.</p>

-

-<p>Pittsburgh, too, was a team to be treated with

-respect. The boys from the Smoky City had been

-the runners-up in the previous season and during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>

-the winter they had secured some very promising

-material from the minor leagues. Their infield

-was a stone wall, and very little got by it. Their

-outfielders were batting well over the .300 mark,

-and one of them, Morey, the fleet-footed center

-fielder, was the leading base stealer of the league.</p>

-

-<p>Cincinnati had been going strong since Hughson

-had taken the reins of management and was

-maintaining a respectable standing compared with

-what it had held at the close of the last season.

-There were some disorganizing elements in the

-team, however, that would have to be rooted out

-before the nine could be recognized as a serious

-contender. Hughson had already spotted these

-and was casting about for available talent to take

-the place of those he intended to oust, but this

-promised to take some time.</p>

-

-<p>Chicago was really the club that the Giants

-were watching most carefully. Their pitching

-staff had been greatly strengthened and they were

-well provided for in every department of the

-game. They had got off on the wrong foot at the

-beginning of the season, but were now climbing

-steadily, and the way the Cubs had clawed their

-way through the Giant defense in the series lately

-concluded showed that they had to be reckoned

-with seriously.</p>

-

-<p>If the pennant were to stay in the East at all

-that season, the Giants must be depended on for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>

-the victory. Brooklyn had flashes of form in

-which they were simply unbeatable, especially

-when their opponents happened to be the Giants,

-against whom they always put forth their best

-efforts. But the very day after they had decorated

-their opponents with a row of goose eggs

-they were as likely as not to play like a lot of

-“bushers.” It seemed impossible for them to

-maintain a winning streak, and it was this in and

-out playing that militated against their chances

-for the flag.</p>

-

-<p>Boston had a good team, and when that was

-said it about “let them out.” It was not a great

-team, although there were two or three real stars

-on it that helped keep them in the running. At

-the present time they were sixth in the race, with

-very little chance of climbing much higher.</p>

-

-<p>The Phillies were going none too well, although

-better than the year before. Their outfield was

-as good as any in the league, and some weak spots

-in the pitching department had been strengthened

-by the substitution of new blood. Two or three

-of their rookies seemed to have in them the making

-of stars. With a stronger infield they might

-well be pennant contenders. But even as it was,

-they were always dangerous, and could stage a

-rally at the most unexpected moment. Any club

-that counted on them as “easy” was likely to have

-a rude awakening.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>But all clubs looked alike to Joe, who this season

-was showing the best form of his life. Never

-had he whipped the ball over the plate with more

-terrific speed. Many times the ball was in Mylert’s

-glove while the batsman was making a vain

-swing for it. The “hop” ball that he was making

-a specialty of this season had an uncanny jump

-just before it reached the plate that completely

-fooled the opposing batters. His fadeaway, too,

-had all the deceptive qualities that had made it a

-terror, and his other curves and slants were working

-with magical efficiency.</p>

-

-<p>Many elements combined to make him by far

-the finest pitcher in either league. One was the

-fact that he kept himself in perfect condition. He

-had no bad habits to sap his strength, no surreptitious

-drinking, no “jazzing it up” at all night

-dancing and card parties, such as too often have

-proved the ruin of promising players. He started

-every day with a clear head, a rested body, and

-with strength and vigor pulsing through his veins.</p>

-

-<p>Moreover, he had gained the knowledge and

-experience that gave him confidence when he faced

-the batters. He knew the strength and weakness

-of every player in the league, what kind of balls

-they liked, what kind they found hard to hit, and

-he served them up to them accordingly. And his

-control was so perfect that he could split the plate

-or cut the corners at will.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>With many clubs it is the custom of the catcher

-to signal the pitcher just what kind of ball to

-throw next. It was a tribute to Joe that Mylert

-had long since given this up, as he had learned to

-trust Joe’s judgment rather than his own.</p>

-

-<p>But apart from his natural pitching ability,

-there was a special reason for the wonderful record

-that Joe was making this season. The very

-fact that he felt himself the object of a conspiracy

-to discredit him roused all the resistance in his

-nature and made him determine that he would not

-be discredited. Every time he went into the box

-he put all that he had on the ball, and pitched as

-though that special game was one of the World

-Series. Of course he lost games once in a while,

-but they were so infrequent as to provoke surprise

-when it happened.</p>

-

-<p>McRae was delighted, and yet at the same time

-a little anxious for fear Joe would break down

-under the tremendous strain.</p>

-

-<p>“You’re doing wonderful work, boy,” he said

-one day in Philadelphia, when Joe had pitched a

-superb game, shutting out the Quaker City boys

-and allowing them only two hits, one of them a

-scratch. “But you want to be careful not to throw

-your arm out. If anything happened to that arm

-of yours, our chances for the pennant would glimmer

-away.”</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing to worry about, Mac,” laughed Joe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>

-“It feels as fine as silk. If I had nothing more

-than that to worry over I’d be happy.”</p>

-

-<p>The last words had slipped from him before he

-thought, and the alert manager pounced upon

-them like a hawk.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you mean by that?” he asked, in

-some alarm. “What’s troubling you? Anything

-happened at home?”</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing like that,” answered Joe. “I couldn’t

-possibly be happier than I am in my home life.”</p>

-

-<p>“Then what is the matter?” persisted McRae.

-“You’ve as much as admitted that there is something.

-Come, out with it! Maybe I can help you

-in some way.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe reflected for a moment. He had said too

-much not to say more. He liked McRae, not only

-as a manager but as a man, and he had confidence

-in his discretion. Besides, it was something that

-in a certain sense McRae had a right to know.

-But he resolved not to mention names as yet.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll tell you, Mac,” he said slowly. “I know

-you’ll keep it under your hat—for the present,

-anyway.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br />

-<small>ON THE TRAIL</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“You know, Mac, that I’m not easily fussed,”

-Joe went on, while the manager listened with

-strained attention. “I’ve been up against a lot of

-things since I’ve been in baseball, but so far have

-always managed to come out ahead.”</p>

-

-<p>“I know,” put in McRae. “They say that death

-loves a shining mark, and I’ve noticed that crooks

-do too. Once let a man come into the limelight

-as you have, and there’s always a bunch of rascals

-that begin figuring how they can make something

-out of him. I know how they’ve tried to dope

-you, cripple you, and even worse. For the love of

-Pete, don’t tell me they’ve been at it again.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s just what has happened,” replied Joe,

-and then he went on to tell of the building material

-that had been pushed off the scaffold and from

-which he had so narrowly escaped with his life.</p>

-

-<p>“The scoundrels!” exclaimed McRae, worked

-up to a white heat. “If I could only get my hands

-on one of them there’d be one less rascal out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>

-prison. Have you any idea who it is that’s trying

-to put it over on you? Give me a hint, and I’ll

-get the police after them in a hurry.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s just what we’d better be careful about

-doing, don’t you think?” suggested Joe. “You

-know that baseball is on trial now with the public,

-and if anything of this kind should come out it

-might queer the game beyond recovery. It was a

-case of touch and go after that White Sox scandal

-broke, and anything else just now might prove the

-straw too much.”</p>

-

-<p>McRae pondered for a moment, wrinkling his

-brows.</p>

-

-<p>“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed reluctantly.

-“But does that mean that we’re going to lie down

-and let those rascals carry out their plans?”</p>

-

-<p>“Not by a jugful!” answered Joe. “We’re

-going to have those fellows tripped and hog-tied

-before they know where they’re at. But we’re

-going to do it so quietly that the outside world

-won’t get on to it. Trust me, Mac, to handle this

-matter myself.”</p>

-

-<p>“There’s no one that could do it better; I’m

-sure of that,” admitted the manager. “But you

-haven’t answered my question yet. Have you any

-idea who’s doing this?”</p>

-

-<p>“I have an idea,” affirmed Joe. “But I don’t

-want to do any one an injustice, and I’m not going

-to mention names until I’m sure I have the goods<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>

-on them. Just leave them to my tender mercies,

-Mac, and trust in my lucky star. You know I’m

-lucky,” he added, with a grin, “or I wouldn’t be

-alive and whole to-day.”</p>

-

-<p>“It isn’t luck. It’s brains and pluck,” corrected

-the manager. “You weren’t behind the door

-when those things were handed out. I’ll leave it

-to you, then, Joe. But, for the love of goodness,

-be careful. You bet I’ll keep my own eyes peeled,

-too, from now on.”</p>

-

-<p>Robson and some of the other players came

-along just then and the conversation turned into

-other channels. But several times on the train

-ride back to New York Joe caught McRae’s eyes

-turned on him with a worried expression, and he

-knew what his manager was thinking about.</p>

-

-<p>The next morning Joe was on his way downtown

-on a business errand when he saw McCarney

-and Hupft get on the platform of a subway train

-as it stopped at a station. For a moment they

-seemed about to enter the car in which he was sitting,

-but they changed their minds and went into

-the car ahead.</p>

-

-<p>Joe was quite sure they had not seen him, and

-it occurred to him that here was an opportunity to

-follow his renegade team mates and perhaps discover

-something of the plot in which they were

-engaged.</p>

-

-<p>He kept a sharp eye on them, moving up to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>

-front of his own car to note their movements better,

-and when he saw them rise as the train was

-slowing up at a station he followed suit, taking

-care to keep in the rear of the mass of passengers

-as they hurried out.</p>

-

-<p>The two plotters turned westward and pursued

-their way, talking earnestly, toward a disreputable

-section of the city near the river front. At

-the door of a saloon they halted and looked

-around. Joe had slipped behind an elevated road

-pillar and they did not see him.</p>

-

-<p>Apparently satisfied that they were not observed

-they went into the saloon.</p>

-

-<p>Joe sauntered along slowly and reached a point

-abreast of the saloon just as a rough looking character

-pushed open the swinging doors. As they

-swung back Joe got a glimpse of the interior.

-There were two or three men lounging in front of

-the bar, but McCarney and Hupft were not in

-sight.</p>

-

-<p>Joe had seen also that there was a row of stalls

-along a balcony at the side of the saloon with

-dingy curtains over them to insure a certain

-amount of privacy. He conjectured that the men

-he had been following were probably in one of

-these. His resolution was taken on the instant.</p>

-

-<p>He entered the place, which in addition to being

-a saloon was also run as a cheap hotel and restaurant,

-and went up to the bar. There he bought a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>

-cigar. While he lighted it, which he did deliberately,

-he noted from the sound of voices that

-one of the stalls was occupied. He ordered a

-meal to be brought to him and went up the stairs

-to the balcony and into the adjoining stall.</p>

-

-<p>There was a murmur of conversation from the

-stall next to him, and although the voices were

-pitched low he had no difficulty in identifying them

-as those of Hupft and McCarney. Hupft seemed

-to be in a despondent mood, and McCarney was

-evidently trying to brace him up.</p>

-

-<p>“I tell you, it’s no use,” Joe heard Hupft say.

-“That fellow has the Indian sign on us. No matter

-how we try to down him, he wins.”</p>

-

-<p>“He’ll break down soon,” McCarney said confidently.

-“His luck can’t last forever. You can

-see he’s throwing his arm out. The harder we

-make it for him to win games the sooner he’ll

-have to quit. And think of the melon we’ll split

-between us when he does.”</p>

-

-<p>“We’ll have to floor him before he quits,” muttered

-Hupft. “And that’s no easy job either.

-The fellow has as many lives as a cat. Lemblow

-thought he had him dead to rights in that timber

-tumble, but he got away with scarcely a scratch.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe was listening with all his ears when the curtain

-was pushed aside and a waiter entered with

-a tray. He set it down on the table and as he

-glanced at Joe let out an exclamation.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Ain’t you Baseball Joe?” he asked. “Sure

-you are! I’ve seen your picture many a time!”</p>

-

-<p>Joe motioned him to be silent, but it was too

-late. There were muttered exclamations and the

-scraping of chairs in the adjoining stall, and the

-next moment Hupft and McCarney were blocking

-the door.</p>

-

-<p>“So you were spying on us, were you?” snarled

-Reddy, whose flushed face showed he had been

-drinking.</p>

-

-<p>He lunged forward as he spoke, while McCarney

-also rushed at Joe.</p>

-

-<p>The latter’s right fist shot out and caught

-Hupft a terrific blow straight between the eyes,

-sending him staggering back against the partition.

-The next moment Joe’s left had landed on McCarney’s

-jaw.</p>

-

-<p>They were back at him a moment later, and

-they went at it hammer and tongs. Joe could

-have handled either one of them easily, but the

-two made a formidable combination. Still he was

-getting the better of it when his foot slipped in

-the débris of the meal that had been dashed to the

-floor and he went down heavily, striking the back

-of his head. He was stunned, and the next instant

-McCarney and Hupft were both on top of him.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br />

-<small>THE POLICE RAID</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>What might have happened to Joe at that

-critical minute is a matter for conjecture had not

-fate—or the police—decided to take a hand in the

-matter.</p>

-

-<p>Lying there half unconscious, his hands pinioned

-by McCarney, Reddy’s bulk on his chest and

-Reddy’s liquor-laden breath in his face, Joe did

-not at first understand the cause of the sudden

-noise and confusion below stairs.</p>

-

-<p>All he knew was that his head hurt him unbearably

-and that in his heart was a rage that

-dulled even the pain in his head. Then gradually

-he realized that the situation was changed.</p>

-

-<p>The sound of running feet, the sound of raised

-voices, some bullying, some fearful, became louder

-and louder until they penetrated even Joe’s fading

-consciousness. He was aware that McCarney

-had left off brandishing his fist in his face and

-that Reddy had suddenly removed his weight

-from off his chest.</p>

-

-<p>He stopped not to argue about the cause of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>

-good fortune but weakly and dizzily raised himself

-to his knees. When he had, by dint of all the

-will power he possessed plus a grip on the rickety

-table beside him, managed to raise himself to his

-feet, he found that Reddy and McCarney had

-miraculously disappeared.</p>

-

-<p>He looked toward the window and found that

-it was open. He pressed his hand to his aching

-forehead impatiently and fought to be able to

-think clearly.</p>

-

-<p>Then he caught a phrase from among the

-shouts and cries that filled the rooms beneath him,

-and that phrase roused him immediately to the

-need for action.</p>

-

-<p>“Get the whisky, boys!” a husky voice ordered.

-“We’ve got the men—now what we need is evidence.

-We’ll wipe this joint off the map!”</p>

-

-<p>“A raid! A prohibition-agents’ raid!” thought

-Joe, his brain now functioning quickly enough.

-That was the reason Reddy and McCarney had

-left him so suddenly just when they had him where

-they wanted him. Well, it was up to him to leave

-suddenly, too. If he were caught here!</p>

-

-<p>Swift feet were running up the stairs. No possibility

-of escape in that direction. The back

-stairs? No, that was hopeless too. To reach the

-back stairs he must first enter the corridor, and to

-do that would be to invite disaster. The window!

-That was his only chance. In a moment more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>

-police would be entering the room. How could

-he explain?</p>

-

-<p>He rushed to the window, taking a quick survey.

-He had but a minute to think. Eagerly he

-looked out, but only a blank brick wall met his

-anxious gaze. No window underneath this one,

-no shed to break his fall.</p>

-

-<p>He must take his chance, anyway. It was his

-only chance. Voices were even then on the balcony.

-Quick as a cat, he lifted himself over the

-sill, lowering his length along the side of the blank

-brick wall until he was hanging by his hands, only

-the tips of his fingers showing over the window

-sill.</p>

-

-<p>Allowing himself no time to think, he dropped,

-at the same time flinging his body outward so that

-it might not strike against the wall.</p>

-

-<p>The ground seemed to come up to meet him

-and he landed with a jar that seemed to shake

-loose every tooth in his head. Lucky for him that

-the patch of ground beside the disreputable little

-hotel had never been filled in with cement. It

-was hard enough and lumpy enough, but it was

-not as hard as cement.</p>

-

-<p>Satisfied that no bones were broken and that

-his legs were still in good working order, Joe

-wasted no time before making use of them.</p>

-

-<p>Luckily there were no policemen guarding that

-side of the hotel. There were few windows, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>

-those high, and no doors and evidently the prohibition

-agents had discounted the possibility of any

-one escaping from that quarter. Also they had

-come after “evidence” more than prisoners, a fact

-which also worked in Joe’s favor.</p>

-

-<p>After skirting the rear of the building next to

-the hotel, Joe, straightening his clothing as well

-as he could, ventured out on the sidewalk. It was

-at that moment that he realized he had left his

-hat inside.</p>

-

-<p>Probably no one, except the poor wretch who is

-unfortunate enough to have been in a similar

-predicament at one time or another, can possibly

-imagine what Joe felt at that moment. Also he

-had never before realized what an important part

-of a man’s attire a hat really is.</p>

-

-<p>“You sort of get to take your head gear for

-granted, I guess,” he mused unhappily, as he

-walked along as nonchalantly as he could, trying

-to look as if it were his regular custom to appear

-hatless in the street.</p>

-

-<p>But in spite of his valiant attempt to seem unconcerned

-he soon realized that, even in that

-rather disreputable quarter of the town, he was

-attracting unwelcome attention.</p>

-

-<p>“Maybe I’ve got a black eye or a cut lip,” he

-mused miserably as he hurried along, trying not

-to notice the stares that followed him and the occasional

-laugh and gibe of some humorously inclined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>

-passer-by. “Shouldn’t wonder if I were a

-fit candidate for a circus side show. Some mess

-that was to get mixed up in!”</p>

-

-<p>But when an impertinent “newsie,” grinning

-from ear to ear, held out a disreputable and tattered

-cap for his inspection, inviting him gleefully

-to “help yourself—it ain’t much, but it’s the best

-I got, Mister,” Joe lost what little aplomb he had

-left.</p>

-

-<p>A passing taxicab caught his eye and he made a

-running jump for it, saw that it was empty, opened

-the door and got in before the surprised and outraged

-driver could do more than open his mouth

-and shut it again.</p>

-

-<p>A minute later the car slowed down and the

-chauffeur glared in at the occupant of his cab.</p>

-

-<p>“Say, what d’you think you’re doin’?” he

-growled, but he got no further. All the pent-up

-irritation and wrath that had been simmering in

-Joe for the past hour was poured forth on that

-unfortunate chauffeur’s head.</p>

-

-<p>This had the effect of ending the discussion

-right there as far as the chauffeur was concerned.

-Having firmly come to the conclusion in his own

-mind that a lunatic had taken possession of his

-cab he decided to take his passenger to his destination

-and there to drop him at the first possible

-minute.</p>

-

-<p>So it happened that a short time later, having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>

-paid the taxicab driver, Joe entered the rear of

-his hotel and made a break for the stairs.</p>

-

-<p>He was not going to trust himself even to the

-mercies of the elevator boy, who knew and revered

-him as an idol. As a matter of fact, Joe was

-not particularly eager to meet anybody until he

-had had a chance to look at himself in the mirror

-and discover to what extent—if any—his features

-had been damaged. Also, he wanted a hat! Oh,

-he very badly wanted a hat!</p>

-

-<p>In the corridor Baseball Joe met Jim, evidently

-sallying forth to practice, and the latter stood and

-stared—at least, that is what he would have done

-had the exasperated Joe given him a chance.</p>

-

-<p>In another moment they were both within Joe’s

-room with the door closed against unwelcome intrusion.</p>

-

-<p>“Now out with it!” Joe said. “Do your worst.

-Am I a total wreck?”</p>

-

-<p>“I think you’re a total loss as far as appearances

-are concerned,” Jim retorted. “Where’s

-your hat?”</p>

-

-<p>Joe groaned and made a rush for the bathroom

-beyond. There he could examine his countenance

-for himself. To his intense relief he found that

-Reddy and McCarney had left no signs of their

-attack other than a rather large bump on the back

-of the head.</p>

-

-<p>He was fingering this gingerly when Jim entered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>

-the room. In the mirror Joe caught sight

-of the worried expression his chum wore and

-grinned broadly. He was beginning at last to see

-the funny side of his adventure.</p>

-

-<p>“I say, Joe,” Jim said, not returning his chum’s

-grin, “what’s up, anyway? You’ve run into something.

-Stop grinning and give me the story.”</p>

-

-<p>“If you’ll wait till I get a bath and jump into

-some clean things, I’ll tell you the fool I made of

-myself—and more besides,” answered Joe, with a

-longing glance at the tub.</p>

-

-<p>So, after he had splashed around in hot water

-that took the ache out of his bones and then

-splashed his face with cold water that assuaged

-the ache in his head, Joe told Jim the startling

-events that had taken place since his determination

-to follow Hupft and McCarney and find out

-what they were up to.</p>

-

-<p>“Whew!” whistled Jim, as, a few minutes later,

-he watched Joe put on a clean collar. “You certainly

-did stage some little show all by yourself,

-didn’t you? Pity you couldn’t let a fellow in

-on it.”</p>

-

-<p>“You ought to be glad I didn’t,” retorted Joe.

-“It was no nice party, I’m telling you.”</p>

-

-<p>“But, say!” Jim went on excitedly. “This thing

-about Reddy and McCarney being in cahoots,

-joining hands in the great conspiracy stuff—what

-are you going to do about that?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“What is there to do about it?” asked Joe, with

-a shrug of his shoulders as he turned from the

-mirror and caught up a hat. “We don’t really

-know any more than we did before, only that our

-suspicions have been to some extent verified. If

-that fool waiter hadn’t come around just as he did

-I might have listened to some purpose. I haven’t

-learned yet what ring is backing them up. We’d

-better be on our way,” he added. “We’ll be late

-for practice as it is. Plenty of time to finish our

-talk on the way down.”</p>

-

-<p>“I can’t get this thing straight in my mind yet,”

-Jim complained, as they hurried along toward the

-field. “It begins to look as if McRae were right—as

-if this gang of crooks were really out for

-blood. But, Joe, I’m glad the cops chose that time

-to raid the hotel.”</p>

-

-<p>“What’s the idea?” asked Joe, as he skillfully

-wriggled and darted through the traffic. “I don’t

-get you.”</p>

-

-<p>“You poor old simpleton!” retorted Jim affectionately.

-“Do you know where you would be

-now if that raid hadn’t scared off McCarney and

-Hupft?”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t know,” returned Joe, with a grin.

-“But I have a strong suspicion it would be somewhere

-far away from here.”</p>

-

-<p>“Just so,” returned Jim, adding with more than

-a little anxiety in his tone: “You’ve got to stop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>

-jumping in where angels fear to tread. Or, if

-you must do it, at least seek company in your

-jumpings. You’ve more than yourself to think

-of, you know. There’s Mabel.”</p>

-

-<p>“I know,” said Joe steadily. “Don’t suppose

-I’m not always thinking of her, old man. But

-I’ve got my duty to the league and the great game

-too. Not even Mabel would want me to forget

-that.”</p>

-

-<p>“Just the same,” retorted Jim stubbornly, “it

-won’t help the game any if you get injured!”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br />

-<small>KEEPING IT CLOSE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“What are you going to do about telling McRae

-and Robbie?” queried Jim, as the two players

-neared the baseball park. “Don’t you suppose

-they ought to know?”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ve thought about that,” said Joe. “But I

-haven’t found out very much——”</p>

-

-<p>“Except that two of the Giants’ players frequent

-disreputable hotels and partake of contraband

-liquor while they hatch up their evil

-schemes,” Jim reminded him dryly. “That information

-ought to go a long way toward discrediting

-McCarney and Reddy Hupft for life.”</p>

-

-<p>“But it wouldn’t stop their plotting,” Joe retorted.

-“They’d go on hatching their rotten

-schemes just the same, only in such a way that

-we’d have hard work bringing the guilt home to

-them. No, I’d rather have them where I can

-watch them until some time when I have the

-chance to get the real goods on them.”</p>

-

-<p>“Perhaps you’re right,” said Jim doubtfully,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>

-adding suddenly: “How do you know they didn’t

-get pinched in the raid?”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t,” answered Joe. “Only they beat it

-at the first sign of trouble and probably had a

-chance to get away. It would be some joke,” he

-added, as they walked together toward the entrance

-of the field, “if they had been caught.”</p>

-

-<p>“Some joke on them—but one also on the

-team,” added Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, there it is again. You can’t punish one

-member of a nine without reflecting more or less

-on the whole team.” Joe stopped short and stared

-out to the field where several of the players were

-already in practice. “Say, Jim, do you see what

-I see, or am I dreaming again?”</p>

-

-<p>“It’s Reddy and his pal McCarney all right,”

-said Jim grimly. “They gave the police the slip

-that time, and I suppose they’ll do it many times

-more before they’re caught.”</p>

-

-<p>“But when they’re caught, oh, boy!” said Joe,

-with relish.</p>

-

-<p>They were still standing, staring out toward

-the diamond, when Robbie hurried up to them.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you boys think this is, a star-gazing

-contest?” he demanded.</p>

-

-<p>“You’ve got your time wrong, Robbie,” said

-Joe, grinning. “There are no stars.”</p>

-

-<p>“You bet there ain’t!” retorted Robbie, with

-heavy sarcasm. “Not on this team, anyway!”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>The boys chuckled and, still chuckling, entered

-the clubhouse.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, if Robbie hasn’t any stars on the team

-he certainly has a couple of crooks,” commented

-Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“Wonder how long it will be before he tumbles

-to it,” conjectured Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you suppose those two will do,

-Hupft and McCarney, I mean, when they see you

-back safe and sound and in your normal state?”

-asked Jim, in a carefully lowered voice.</p>

-

-<p>“That’s what I intend to find out,” said Joe,

-with a chuckle of amusement. “I bet they’ll be

-surprised to see me.”</p>

-

-<p>Jim stared at him for a minute, then chuckled

-in his turn.</p>

-

-<p>“Never thought of that,” he said. “I suppose

-they’ve had it all fixed up in their own minds that

-you were caught in the raid.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe nodded.</p>

-

-<p>“And it’s just due to the barest chance in the

-world,” he added seriously, “that I wasn’t.”</p>

-

-<p>Jim considered this new angle of the case for a

-moment.</p>

-

-<p>“Just what would you have done, Joe, if the

-police had found you in that place?” he asked.</p>

-

-<p>“I’d have told them the truth, of course. What

-else could I have done?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Do you think they would have believed you?”

-asked Jim.</p>

-

-<p>Joe shrugged his shoulders.</p>

-

-<p>“No telling,” he answered. “I had no proof,

-you know. No witnesses, only my word. They

-would have let me off, probably, but it would have

-made an ugly story—something for Hupft and

-McCarney to chuckle over. No, sir, it’s lucky for

-me I found a means of exit.”</p>

-

-<p>“Even if you did nearly break your neck,”

-added Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“You notice I didn’t,” laughed Joe.</p>

-

-<p>As the two were leaving the clubhouse Joe

-grasped his friend’s arm and reiterated what he

-had said more than once:</p>

-

-<p>“Not a word of this to Mabel, you know, old

-man, or Clara either. It would only worry them,

-and they’ve had enough to worry over since Clara

-overheard McCarney and Lemblow in their

-scheming. Not a word!”</p>

-

-<p>“Not a word!” returned Jim emphatically.</p>

-

-<p>As the chums approached the diamond they

-looked at Hupft and McCarney, who were tossing

-the ball to each other—looked at them with

-a more than ordinary degree of interest.</p>

-

-<p>Aside from the suspicion of a black rim around

-Reddy’s left eye and a slight swelling of McCarney’s

-naturally thick and heavy upper lip, no sign<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>

-could be seen of the hearty fight in which they two

-and Joe had participated.</p>

-

-<p>“That’s tough luck,” Joe murmured, in a crestfallen

-aside to Jim. “I surely thought I landed

-at least a couple of good rights. It seems as

-though, someway or other, I’d missed doing my

-duty.”</p>

-

-<p>“At that, they got more out of it than you did,”

-returned Jim, in the same modulated voice. “Your

-face has the smoothness of a babe, as it were.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, but you ought to feel the back of my

-head,” said Joe ruefully. “I’ve got a bump there

-the size of a hen’s egg.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s probably where you hit the floor,” said

-Jim, and then it was necessary to discontinue the

-<em>sub rosa</em> conversation, as they had come within

-earshot of the two players.</p>

-

-<p>If Joe was curious as to just the manner in

-which his erstwhile assailants meant to greet him,

-he was not long kept in doubt.</p>

-

-<p>As his glance crossed that of Reddy Hupft the

-latter merely scowled faintly and looked away,

-shouting something to Larry, who had just come

-up.</p>

-

-<p>“Snubbed, by Jiminy!” murmured Joe, and Jim

-replied with a grin as he turned and loped off toward

-the pitcher’s box.</p>

-

-<p>Later, when Joe and McCarney came face to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>

-face, the experience was repeated, only that there

-was a little more ferocity in the latter’s stony

-glance.</p>

-

-<p>“That fellow McCarney surely does hate me

-like poison,” Joe communed, as he played with

-the ball in practice, sending little teasers over the

-plate that kept the unfortunate batters in a state

-somewhere between apoplexy and nervous prostration.

-“I’d like to meet him again some time

-when the odds aren’t two to one.”</p>

-

-<p>It was hard for him to make up his mind in the

-hour or two that followed whether to tell McRae

-of his experience or whether to let the matter go

-by, for the time at least.</p>

-

-<p>One minute he was not sure but what it was

-McRae’s right to know the story and the next

-moment he was telling himself that, since he had

-really learned nothing from the overheard conversation

-between McCarney and Hupft, there

-was no vital reason why he should say anything

-about it.</p>

-

-<p>He was in the latter frame of mind when, after

-practice, McRae led him to a secluded corner of

-the field. The manager looked about him to make

-sure that no one was within earshot, and then

-turned to Joe, saying abruptly:</p>

-

-<p>“See here, Joe, I’m worried. There’s something

-wrong with this team—all-fired wrong.

-And that something is Reddy Hupft and McCarney.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>

-They’re not working right. They’re going

-stale and they’re having an effect on the rest of

-the team. Did you notice them to-day?”</p>

-

-<p>“What about them?” Joe asked evasively.</p>

-

-<p>“They’ve been drinking,” said McRae, pounding

-a big fist in the palm of his hand by way of

-emphasis. “I talked to Reddy, and his breath

-nearly knocked me over. And when a ball player

-begins to drink, you know as well as I do that

-that’s the end of him. I tell you, something’s got

-to be done or we’ll be getting new men for third

-base and center-field.”</p>

-

-<p>For several minutes longer the manager aired

-his grievances with Joe as a sympathetic and

-equally worried listener and several times it was

-on the point of Joe’s tongue to tell McRae what

-had happened that day. But always something

-held him back.</p>

-

-<p>“Wait,” said a voice within his brain. “Wait

-till you have some real evidence. Then you can

-not only talk, but act!”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br />

-<small>A NO-HIT GAME</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>The time had now come for the Giants’ invasion

-of the West, and they started out in fine fettle,

-although they knew they had hard work ahead

-of them.</p>

-

-<p>This year there was to be no runaway race for

-the pennant. All the Western teams were up on

-their toes to bring the flag to their own section.

-Since Joe had come to the Giants that team had

-won the championship for several years in succession,

-and from the Western point of view that

-would never do. Each team, of course, wanted it

-for themselves, but at any rate if they could not

-win it they wanted it to go to some other Western

-team. So the slogan was: “Anything to beat the

-Giants.”</p>

-

-<p>Their best pitchers were carefully groomed

-and kept in reserve for the games with the conquering

-New Yorkers, while the other pitchers

-did the bulk of the twirling in the less important

-games. In each series of four games the various<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>

-managers maneuvered so that their king-pin

-pitcher worked in the first and fourth games, so

-that they could hurl their pitching star twice at

-least against the invaders. This was perfectly

-legitimate from the standpoint of shrewd management,

-but it can easily be seen that it made the

-Giants’ task a good deal harder than that of any

-other club.</p>

-

-<p>But the Giants were a fighting club, made up

-for the most part of veterans of many a hard-fought

-campaign, and the stiffer the opposition

-the more their battling spirit rose to meet it. The

-very bitterness of the opposition was a compliment

-in itself, and with Joe and Jim pitching the

-game of their lives they faced the foe with confidence.</p>

-

-<p>That confidence, to be sure, would have been

-still greater had it not been for the indifferent

-playing of Hupft and McCarney that was now

-becoming a matter of comment among all the

-players. McRae had his lines out for likely material

-to supplant those two, but he had not yet

-been able to land what seemed like major league

-material and so was forced to keep them on a

-little longer.</p>

-

-<p>But the demon pitching done by Joe and Jim

-had thus far made up for the deficiencies at third

-and center, and the Giants started their swing

-around the Western circle at the head of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>

-league and two games to the good. That, of

-course, was only a slender margin, and might be

-wiped out in a few days of hard luck, but it at

-least gave them an “edge” on their rivals. McRae

-was figuring on taking at least ten of the sixteen

-games to be played on the present trip, and

-if he could do that there was every prospect that

-the Giants would return home in the lead. Then,

-with a long series on their home grounds in prospect,

-there was a good chance that the Giants

-could get so far out in the lead that they would

-never be headed.</p>

-

-<p>Their first series was with Cincinnati, and here

-they struck a snag in Hughson’s rejuvenated team.

-The Reds were playing championship ball and ran

-away with three games out of four. This was a

-setback, but the Giants evened the score when

-they made a similar killing with the Pittsburghs

-as the victims. At St. Louis the team met with

-rain on one of the days scheduled, and were able

-to play only three games. But as they annexed

-two of these, McRae, to use his own phrase, “had

-no kick coming.”</p>

-

-<p>It was at Chicago that the real test came. The

-Windy City boys had their fighting togs on and

-neither gave nor asked for quarter. The games

-were for blood from the tap of the bell. Joe won

-the first by a shut out—won in a double sense by

-hitting a homer for the only run scored by his side.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>

-Jim was next and pitched superbly in a game that

-went for thirteen innings, and was only won by

-Chicago in the last by an error of McCarney.

-The Cubs repeated the dose on the following day,

-when a perfect deluge of hits came from their

-bats that drove Markwith to the showers and

-gave Chicago the game by a score of 11 to 5.</p>

-

-<p>Chicago players, fans and newspapers were

-jubilant and implored the Cubs to put on the finishing

-touch by winning the last game of the series.</p>

-

-<p>The Giants had now won seven and lost seven

-of their Western trip and the result of the final

-game would decide whether they should go back

-to New York with the tally on the right or wrong

-side of the ledger.</p>

-

-<p>“Those fellows are calling themselves Giant-killers,

-Joe,” said McRae, as the teams were

-warming up in practice before a tremendous crowd

-that packed every inch of the stands and bleachers

-on the day of the final game. “I want you to

-go out and show them that you’re some little Cub-killer

-yourself.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll try to bring their pelt back to the clubhouse,”

-responded Joe, with a grin.</p>

-

-<p>The Cubs were relying on their great pitcher

-Axander, who was regarded as being only second

-to Joe himself in the National League, and the

-fans settled down to witness a battle royal.</p>

-

-<p>The Giants, as the visiting club, were first at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>

-bat, and Axander made short work of them.

-Curry fouled out on the second ball pitched. Iredell

-sent up a twisting fly to short that Harker

-gathered in. The redoubtable Burkett was completely

-buffaloed and struck out.</p>

-

-<p>Axander was received with a tempest of cheers

-as he went to the bench and was compelled to doff

-his cap in acknowledgment.</p>

-

-<p>But Joe went him one better by setting down the

-Cubs on strikes in their half. The ball whizzed

-over the plate with the whine of a bullet. He had

-speed to burn and the Cub batsmen never had a

-chance.</p>

-

-<p>It was evident that a pitching duel was impending,

-and this was what McRae was praying

-for. Let it come to a matter of twirling, and he

-was willing to bet on Joe against the world.</p>

-

-<p>The second, third and fourth innings were also

-scoreless for either side. Wheeler had found

-Axander for a single and Joe had poled out a

-crashing triple, but their comrades were unable to

-bring them in.</p>

-

-<p>Not a hit as yet had been scored on Joe. When

-the Cubs connected with the ball at all, they hit it

-on the under side for a fly to the outfielders or

-dribbled easy ones that were gobbled up by the infield.

-But his chief reliance was on strike-outs, as

-he wanted to give McCarney and Hupft as few

-chances as possible.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>In the fifth, two singles in succession got Giants

-on bases, but Axander tightened up and they got

-no farther. Still they were finding that Axander

-could be hit, and that it itself was something.</p>

-

-<p>But no such encouragement came to the Cubs.

-Try as they might, they could not solve Joe’s delivery.

-He mixed up his fast ones with an occasional

-slow one that they broke their backs reaching

-for, while Joe grinned at them tantalizingly.

-His hop ball was working to perfection and his

-fadeaway stood the Chicagos on their heads.</p>

-

-<p>“You’re a lot of old women,” stormed the Chicago

-manager, Evans, as one after the other of

-his men came discomfited to the bench. “Why

-don’t you go in and knock his head off, you bunch

-of sand-lot boobs?”</p>

-

-<p>“Aw, that feller ain’t a pitcher, he’s a wizard,”

-growled Burton, the Cub’s heaviest slugger.

-“He’s got the ball bewitched.”</p>

-

-<p>“Here, let’s see that ball,” shouted Evans,

-walking out toward the box as Joe was winding

-up. “Come here, umps,” he added, motioning to

-the umpire. “I want you to examine this ball and

-make sure there’s nothing phony about it.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe surrendered it with a laugh. He had never

-resorted to the tricks used by some pitchers of

-“roughening” or “shining” or putting resin on the

-ball so as to give it a peculiar motion. His arm

-and his head had been his only reliance.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>The umpire and manager examined the ball

-with the utmost care but could find no fault with

-it. A huge guffaw came from the Giants, as

-Evans reluctantly handed back the ball, and even

-the Chicago fans gave him the laugh.</p>

-

-<p>“Satisfied, Mr. Evans?” grinned Joe with elaborate

-politeness. “Now, just to show you that

-there are no hard feelings, trot out your rough-necks

-and I’ll strike them out in order—one, two,

-three, just like that.”</p>

-

-<p>This he did in jig time and in such a masterly

-fashion that the Chicago rooters, eager as they

-were to see the home team win, could not refrain

-from applauding him. They were beginning to

-realize that they were watching the performance

-of the greatest pitcher that had ever walked into

-the box.</p>

-

-<p>In the very next inning they realized also that

-they were watching the mightiest slugger that had

-ever swung a bat, when Joe, with one man on base,

-caught one of Axander’s fast ones on the end of

-his bat and sent it screaming over the center-field

-wall for the longest homer that had ever been

-clouted on the Chicago grounds. The ice was

-broken, and the score stood 2 to 0 in favor of the

-Giants.</p>

-

-<p>“You’re a miracle man to-day, Joe!” exclaimed

-McRae, beaming on him. “You’re winning your

-own game with a vengeance. Now all you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>

-to do is to hold those birds down and we’ll have

-bagged the game.”</p>

-

-<p>One other thing was being borne in on the Chicago

-fans, and that was that they were possibly

-to see that rarest of things on the diamond—a no-hit

-game. Here it was the seventh inning, and

-not even the semblance of a hit had been scored

-on Joe. Axander had yielded five in all, of which

-Joe had gathered two. But Joe had an absolutely

-clean score. Could he keep it up?</p>

-

-<p>The Chicago manager growled and raged and

-implored his men to do something. They tried

-desperately, but it was Joe’s day and he would not

-be denied. They resorted to all the tricks of the

-trade, tried to bunt, tried to get hit with the ball,

-anything to get on first. Their coachers roared

-from the side lines in an attempt to rattle Joe.

-But he was as cold as ice, as hard as steel.</p>

-

-<p>He had never felt more sure of himself. He

-had thrown aside his cap and looked like a young

-Viking as he stood in the box, hurling the ball over

-with such tremendous speed that it defied the eye

-to follow it, or sending it in with such deceptive

-slants that he had the batsman striking wildly at

-the air. His control was perfect. The ball

-seemed inspired with almost human intelligence.

-It whizzed, it dodged, it jumped, it dropped, as

-though guided by a spring.</p>

-

-<p>The seventh inning passed. Not a hit.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>The eighth inning passed. Still no hit. Joe

-was simply toying with the batsmen. He held his

-enemies in the hollow of his hand.</p>

-

-<p>Axander had also kept the Giants from scoring

-any more runs, and was pitching a brand of ball

-that would have won nine games out of ten.</p>

-

-<p>In the last half of the ninth, the Chicagos came

-in for their final stand with the head of their batting

-order at the bat. Yells of encouragement

-came from the rooters as they implored them to

-stage a last-inning rally.</p>

-

-<p>Burton came to the plate. “One strike.” “One

-ball.” “Foul strike.” “Three strikes.” “Out!”</p>

-

-<p>Next came Gallagher. “One ball.” “Two

-balls.”</p>

-

-<p>“Wait him out,” yelled Evans. “He’s getting

-wild. He’s weakening. We’ll get him yet.”</p>

-

-<p>“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three

-strikes.” “Out!”</p>

-

-<p>Weston, the Chicago’s last hope, came third.</p>

-

-<p>“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three

-strikes.” “Out!”</p>

-

-<p>The greatest game that Chicago had seen for

-years was over, and the Giants had won by a

-score of 2 to 0.</p>

-

-<p>Not a run had been scored by Chicago. Not a

-Cub had touched a base. Not a man had been

-passed to first on balls. Not a Cub had made a

-hit!</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>It was a no-hit game without a blemish, the

-greatest that Joe had pitched in his whole great

-career. And to cap it all, his own homer had

-brought the Giants out at the big end of the score.</p>

-

-<p>The jubilation of McRae and Robson and the

-rest of the Giants, with the exception of Hupft

-and McCarney, was beyond description. Their

-most formidable foe had been humbled, and the

-Giants could go back to New York in a blaze of

-glory.</p>

-

-<p>Joe had been so pounded and knocked about by

-his hilarious comrades that he was later in dressing

-than most of his mates, many of whom had

-finished and drifted away from the clubhouse to

-get ready for the train ride home. By the time

-Joe had completed his bath, the only occupants

-besides himself and Jim were Hupft and McCarney.</p>

-

-<p>Just as Joe stepped from under the shower

-Hupft came past him hurriedly and stepped on

-Joe’s bare foot with his own heavily shod foot.

-The pain was excruciating and Joe gave vent to

-an exclamation.</p>

-

-<p>“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.</p>

-

-<p>“Aw, what are you grouching about?” growled

-Hupft. “Do you think I did it on purpose?”</p>

-

-<p>But Joe had caught a triumphant gleam in his

-eyes that belied his words.</p>

-

-<p>“I know you did!” he cried. “Now, Reddy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>

-Hupft, I’m going to pay you something of what

-I owe you.”</p>

-

-<p>His fist shot out with a terrific impact against

-Reddy’s jaw. The latter staggered and almost

-fell, but, recovering himself, rushed furiously at

-Joe.</p>

-

-<p>The latter met him with a straight left that

-shook him from head to heels. Two others followed,

-delivered with such force that Hupft measured

-his length on the floor.</p>

-

-<p>McCarney had made a move to rush to Hupft’s

-assistance, but Jim barred the way with blazing

-eyes.</p>

-

-<p>“No, you don’t!” he cried. “One move, and

-I’ll smash you to bits!”</p>

-

-<p>McCarney “curled up” promptly, while Jim

-with clenched fists kept guard over him.</p>

-

-<p>“Come,” cried Joe, as he stood over his fallen

-antagonist. “Stand up so that I can knock you

-down again. I’m just getting warmed up.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ve had enough,” growled Reddy, spitting

-out a tooth. “But you can bet McRae will hear

-of this.”</p>

-

-<p>“Tell him and welcome,” returned Joe, as he

-started to resume his dressing. “But pick yourself

-up now and get out of this clubhouse. If

-you’re here when I get my shoes on, I’ll kick you

-out.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>The precious pair slouched out of the house,

-their eyes burning with rage and malice.</p>

-

-<p>“They’re bad medicine, Joe,” remarked Jim, as

-he watched them depart. “Be on the watch, for

-they’ll try to get even for this. But, gee, it

-warmed my heart to see the trimming you gave

-Hupft! Those smashes you handed him were

-beauties.”</p>

-

-<p>Jim’s prophecy was quickly realized, for that

-night, as the chums were hurrying for the train

-that was to carry them to New York, a jagged

-piece of railroad iron came whizzing past Joe’s

-head, missing him by no more than a couple of

-inches. They looked about, but could see nobody,

-and as their time was limited they had no chance

-to hunt for their unknown assailant. But in their

-hearts they had no doubt as to the source of the

-attack.</p>

-

-<p>“One more debt I owe to Hupft and McCarney,”

-commented Joe, as they settled into their

-train seats. “The account is getting pretty long,

-but heaven help them when the time comes for

-settling!”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br />

-<small>THE STARTLING TELEGRAM</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“Want to do the biggest work of your young

-life to-day, Joe?”</p>

-

-<p>It was McRae speaking shortly after the team’s

-return to New York, and Joe grinned at him

-cheerfully.</p>

-

-<p>“Surest thing you know,” he said. “Before I

-get through with them to-day that Boston gang

-are going to wish they’d never been born. Maybe

-it’s the air, but I never felt more fit than I do at

-this minute.”</p>

-

-<p>It was the truth. At that moment Baseball Joe

-had never felt more confident, never felt more

-utterly sure that he could make the ball dance to

-his whistle.</p>

-

-<p>It was the early afternoon of the day when

-they were to play the big game with Boston. The

-boys had turned out early, hoping to get in a little

-extra practice before the game began. They

-were working out in fine shape and things looked

-extremely hopeful for the Giants.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>It was the kind of day just made for a game;

-cool for the time of year but clear as a bell. The

-air itself was a tonic, and as Joe tossed the ball

-with a speed and brilliance that delighted his

-mates it seemed indeed as though the spirit of

-the day had entered that good right arm of his.

-He was invincible.</p>

-

-<p>“Going to give it to them right where they live

-to-day all right, old boy,” said Jim gleefully, as

-they paused for a breathing space. “Boston

-hasn’t a pitcher that’s in the same class with you.

-But say,” he added seriously, with a quick lowering

-of his voice, “have you noticed anything queer

-about Reddy and McCarney?”</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing more than usual,” said Joe absently.

-His mind was on the beating they were going to

-give Boston and in his eyes was the light of battle.

-At that moment he had no thoughts to waste on

-anything as insignificant as Hupft and McCarney.</p>

-

-<p>But as Jim seemed to want to talk about them

-Joe listened absently, his eager eyes still on the

-diamond.</p>

-

-<p>“They’ve been watching you all morning when

-you didn’t know it,” Jim said, and there was no

-mistaking the worried note in his voice. “Once I

-caught them whispering together, and Reddy

-looked toward you and laughed. I tell you, Joe,

-I’ll bet anything I own those two are cooking up

-mischief for this afternoon.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“That seems to be their favorite outdoor

-sport,” returned Joe, with a grin. Then, seeing

-that his chum was still grave, he added, reassuringly,

-“Don’t worry, old man. There isn’t a

-thing in the world can stop me to-day.”</p>

-

-<p>Some say it is bad luck to boast, and in this

-particular instance it certainly looked as though

-there was some truth in the saying. For the

-words were scarcely out of Joe’s mouth when McRae

-appeared with a small uniformed boy in tow.</p>

-

-<p>“Here’s your man, Johnnie,” he said to the lad,

-indicating Joe, and the boy, with a look of utter

-adoration on his freckled face, handed Joe a yellow

-envelope.</p>

-

-<p>“You’re Baseball Joe, ain’t you?” he queried

-eagerly, and when Joe nodded an amused assent

-he rattled on excitedly: “I knowed you wuz ’cause

-I’ve seen your pitchers in de paper. An’ onct in

-a while I have a grandstand seat. Gee, it’s swell!

-See dat hole in de fence?” He pointed with one

-small, grubby finger. “Dat’s him.”</p>

-

-<p>“Sure,” said Joe, gravely. “You have the right

-idea, old man. Why, that’s where I began my

-first education in baseball—through a hole in the

-fence!”</p>

-

-<p>“Didjou?” breathed the small fan devoutly.

-“Gee!”</p>

-

-<p>“Got a pencil and a bit of paper?” asked Joe,

-and still as though in a trance the boy handed over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>

-the stump of a pencil and a scrap of paper that

-had once been white.</p>

-

-<p>On this scrap of paper Joe scribbled something

-and handed it to the boy.</p>

-

-<p>“There, son,” he said, with a smile, “this will

-let you in at the gate if you can get the afternoon

-off.”</p>

-

-<p>The boy looked first at the scrap of paper, then

-at Joe, and over his freckled face spread a grin

-of sheer joy.</p>

-

-<p>“Say, Mister, you’re sure de berries!” he said,

-adding with scorn, as he moved away: “You said,

-could I get de afternoon off! What you don’t git

-give to you, you takes. Dat’s me.”</p>

-

-<p>“There,” said Joe, with a grin, as his eyes followed

-the lad, “goes a future baseball star, or

-I’ll miss my guess.”</p>

-

-<p>“And you’ve made a friend for life,” added

-Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“But, Joe, how about that telegram?” McRae

-was patently anxious. “No bad news, I hope.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe looked at the almost-forgotten yellow envelope

-in his hand and frowned.</p>

-

-<p>“I’m not expecting bad news,” he said, as he

-hastily tore open the envelope. “Mabel often

-sends me telegrams on the eve of a great game,

-wishing me luck, you know. Hello!” There was

-a sudden vibrant quality in his voice that made the

-two men stare at him.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“What’s up, old boy?” Jim asked. But, without

-answering, Joe crumpled the paper in his hand

-and started on a run for the clubhouse.</p>

-

-<p>“Now what’s up?” groaned McRae. “If anything

-happens to put Joe out of his stride now,

-we’re gone coons. Go after him, Jim, and find

-out what’s wrong. Club the information out of

-him, if necessary.”</p>

-

-<p>Without replying, Jim departed on his mission

-of force while McRae followed more slowly, dismally

-shaking his head.</p>

-

-<p>“We’re sure up against a jinx,” he muttered.

-“If anything else happens to this team, it’ll have

-to look around for a new manager, that’s all. I

-can’t stand the pace.”</p>

-

-<p>Jim found Joe in the act of changing into his

-street clothes. His face was drawn and white and

-when Jim spoke to him he looked at his chum as

-though he hardly saw him.</p>

-

-<p>“Matter enough,” he said, in answer to Jim’s

-twice-repeated query. “Mabel’s sick, Jim, and

-she wants me. Get out of my way, old boy. This

-is no time to argue.”</p>

-

-<p>“Where’s the telegram?” asked Jim. “Will

-you let me see it?”</p>

-

-<p>“Good gracious, how do I know where it is?”

-Joe roared at him. “Get out of my way, will you,

-Jim? I tell you, Mabel’s sick!”</p>

-

-<p>At that moment Jim saw the crumpled bit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>

-yellow paper where Joe, in his frantic haste, had

-dropped it. Jim picked it up and hurried to the

-light with it. When he returned, his face was

-grim.</p>

-

-<p>“See here, Joe,” he said, slowly, “you can’t go

-off half-cocked like this. We’ve got to talk this

-matter over a bit.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe turned a haggard, impatient face to him.</p>

-

-<p>“Talk it over! Are you crazy, Jim?” he cried.

-“And while we’re talking it over, Mabel may be—dying!

-For the love of Pete, Jim, get out of

-my way.”</p>

-

-<p>“Not till you calm down and use your head a

-bit,” retorted Jim determinedly. “Three minutes

-won’t make any difference one way or another,

-and that’s all it will take me to say——”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, for the love of Pete, say it then and have

-it over!” exploded Joe, taking out his watch. Jim

-saw that his hand was shaking as he opened it.

-“I’ll give you just three minutes.”</p>

-

-<p>“Listen,” cried Jim, an imperative hand on

-Joe’s arm. “There’s something phony about that

-telegram, Joe. Of course I can’t prove it, but I’d

-be willing to stake my reputation on it just the

-same.”</p>

-

-<p>“Phony!” repeated Joe softly. He put the

-watch back in his pocket and stared at Jim as

-though he were seeing him for the first time.

-“What makes you think that?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“From the fact that it isn’t signed,” Jim explained

-hurriedly, fearful of losing Joe’s attention.

-“And from the fact, also, that it comes at

-a time when your absence would be a horrible

-handicap to the team. Get me, old boy?”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, I get you,” admitted Joe. “But, good

-gracious, man, don’t you see, I can’t afford to take

-a chance? This may be all as you say. I admit

-that this may be a clever, sure-fire scheme to lure

-me away at the pinch.”</p>

-

-<p>“It is, Joe. It must be,” insisted Jim earnestly.

-“The whole thing is too opportune to be merely

-coincidence. That grin that passed between

-Hupft and McCarney this morning——”</p>

-

-<p>“And all the time we’re talking here,” groaned

-Joe, “Mabel may be—— Great Scott, Jim, we’ve

-got to act!”</p>

-

-<p>“Now what?” asked Jim anxiously, as he followed

-his chum toward McRae’s office.</p>

-

-<p>“I’m going to find a ’phone and see if I can call

-Riverside,” said Joe tersely, over his shoulder.</p>

-

-<p>“Now you’re talking turkey,” said Jim, to

-which commendation Joe merely grunted.</p>

-

-<p>They had the office to themselves for the time

-being and they made good use of it. At the telephone,

-his face still drawn, a look of keen anxiety

-in his eyes, Joe put in his call for Riverside.</p>

-

-<p>Then came the long sickening wait. Moments,

-hours, it seemed to Joe, went by. Finally came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>

-back the answer that it was impossible to get the

-number wanted in Riverside. Half an hour had

-gone by! A valuable half hour wasted!</p>

-

-<p>“I can’t stand this, Jim,” Joe cried, an agony

-of apprehension in his voice. “What is the losing

-of a game compared with Mabel? Good-by. I’m

-gone.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br />

-<small>REGGIE TO THE RESCUE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“Not yet!” snapped Jim, resolutely. “You’re

-going to give me a moment more, or I’ll know the

-reason why.”</p>

-

-<p>Just then McRae entered the room. He gazed

-upon the tableau in surprise, then his eyes rested

-on Joe’s street clothes.</p>

-

-<p>“Why the glad rags, Joe?” he asked, trying to

-mask his growing concern by an air of easy good

-nature. “Not going to beat up the Bostons in

-that rig, are you?”</p>

-

-<p>“McRae,” said Joe in the tone of one whose

-patience is being pushed too far, “I’m sorry this

-has happened. I can’t even stop to explain now.

-My wife’s sick and I’ve got to go. Jim will give

-you all the details you want. Good-by.”</p>

-

-<p>“Just a minute, Joe,” Jim’s voice broke in

-crisply. “I think you owe it to yourself—to say

-nothing of McRae and the team—to make one

-more attempt to get in touch with Mabel.”</p>

-

-<p>“How?” Joe demanded. “The ’phone——”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“We can get Reggie. He’s staying within a

-short distance of Riverside just now, you know.”</p>

-

-<p>“All right, we’ll try to get Reggie,” Joe broke

-in impatiently. “Though what he can tell us I’m

-sure I don’t know,” he added, as he picked up the

-telephone again and called long distance.</p>

-

-<p>Luckily the chums happened to know that Reggie

-was staying with some friends in Ridersville,

-a little town not far from Riverside, while he

-looked after some business for his father. Reggie

-had given them not only the address of his

-friends but the telephone number as well, and the

-latter had stuck in Joe’s head.</p>

-

-<p>So now, more with the idea of pacifying McRae

-and Jim than from any hope of help from Reggie,

-Joe called the number, raging inwardly at the delay.

-Mabel, his little Mabel, was ill, perhaps

-seriously ill, and these two stood in the way of his

-going to her! What was a game, anyway, compared

-to the fact that his bride needed him? At

-that, it did not follow that the game would be lost

-even if he, Joe, were unable to pitch. What was

-the matter with Jim, with Bradley, with Markwith?

-But in his heart he knew that it was his,

-Joe’s, mighty batting arm as much as his prowess

-in the box that McRae was counting on to turn

-the tide against the Bostons.</p>

-

-<p>“It isn’t so much what Reggie can tell us as

-what he can find out for us,” he heard Jim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>

-saying. “He’s only a stone’s throw from Riverside.”</p>

-

-<p>Just then the telephone rang.</p>

-

-<p>“Here’s your party,” came from the operator.</p>

-

-<p>Joe’s tall form straightened and his expression

-became more tense. It was not long before he

-had Reggie on the line.</p>

-

-<p>“This you, Reggie? Joe speaking. Joe Matson—Joe—J-O-E—Baseball

-Joe, get me? Yes,

-that’s right. Say, Reggie, how is Mabel? Have

-you heard anything of her lately? What’s that?

-Speak a little louder, will you? I can’t hear you.”</p>

-

-<p>Both McRae and Jim leaned closer as Joe tried

-to make meaning of the sentences that floated so

-faintly over the wire, yet unmistakably uttered in

-Reggie’s familiar drawl.</p>

-

-<p>“What’s that?” Joe cried. “Say that over

-again, Reggie, and say it slow. You saw her?

-When? A week ago? Was she well then, perfectly

-well?... Yes, I got a telegram saying

-she’s very ill, calling me to Riverside.... Yes,

-it’s the big game with Boston to-day.... I can’t

-help it. Mabel needs me.... What’s that you

-say?”</p>

-

-<p>Reggie’s drawl was hardly noticeable. The

-urbane, bland Reggie was very much agitated.

-He spoke so quickly that Joe had hard work to

-follow him. McRae and Jim, of course, had to

-guess at the conversation from Joe’s part in it.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“You’ll go right out there?” asked Joe in a relief

-that was mixed with uncertainty. “That’s

-fine of you, Reggie, but I think I ought to come

-back anyway.... What say?... Speak more

-slowly, old man.... You’ll let us know as soon

-as you find out?... What’s that?... Provided

-I stay around and play ball?... Say,

-what is this anyway, blackmail?... All right,

-all right, I promise.... All right, I’ll stick

-around till I hear from you, but make it swift,

-will you, old man? You know how I feel....

-All right.... Thanks.... So long.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe hung up, took out his handkerchief, and

-wiped beads of perspiration from his face.</p>

-

-<p>“Well?” demanded Jim and McRae together.</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t know that it is well,” groaned Joe.

-“Here I’ve promised Reggie I’ll wait here till he

-calls up—a thing I’ll probably spend the rest of

-my life regretting.”</p>

-

-<p>“He said he would go right up there, didn’t

-he?” asked Jim, adding, as Joe nodded miserably:

-“Well, you see, he’ll be there hours before you

-could hope to. The chances are he’ll find Mabel

-as fit as a fiddle.”</p>

-

-<p>“But if he doesn’t——”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, then,” said Jim reassuringly, “it will

-only mean the delay of an hour or so, anyway.

-Or no delay at all. Through express trains don’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>

-run like trolleys. You can’t get away before to-night

-at best.”</p>

-

-<p>“And meanwhile I might suggest,” said McRae

-dryly, “that the hour of battle draws near

-and that Baseball Joe had better get into something

-more nearly resembling a uniform. Buck

-up, Joe,” he added, giving the latter a hearty

-thump on the shoulder. “You’re not going to

-turn the Giants down now, are you, when the team

-needs the best that’s in you?”</p>

-

-<p>Joe made no answer in words but rose and

-turned toward the locker room.</p>

-

-<p>“Great Scott!” he said to himself, passing a

-shaking hand through his hair. “How am I going

-to play ball?”</p>

-

-<p>Now he was out on the field once more with the

-sun beating down blindingly upon the newly

-marked diamond and the tremendous crowds in

-the grandstand and bleachers voicing approval of

-the husky home team. The bell had rung and

-McRae had been compelled to start the game with

-Markwith in the box.</p>

-

-<p>Joe wondered what had become of the confident

-mood he had felt so short a time before when

-he had proclaimed that no one could beat him.

-As he thought of the telegram which had so completely

-changed everything for him, he spared a

-fleeting thought to the small messenger boy. He

-was probably squeezed in somewhere among that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>

-tight-packed mass of humanity, the freckles standing

-out on his snub nose and his shrill voice joyfully

-murdering the English language in an attempt

-to make his enthusiasm audible.</p>

-

-<p>Joe smiled fleetingly, but instantly his face was

-grave again.</p>

-

-<p>Mabel—Mabel lying sick and lonely, wanting

-him, and he was failing her! He had been a

-fool to say that he would wait for Reggie to find

-out what was wrong. He was the one who should

-be investigating, not Reggie.</p>

-

-<p>Of course there was the chance—his reason

-told him it was a good chance—that the whole

-thing was a scheme to get him out of the way. At

-the thought his fists clenched and his mouth shut

-in a straight line. If it was a trick and he could

-find the identity of the player of it, that trick

-would be the last that fellow would play!</p>

-

-<p>Now as he sat on the bench, he remembered

-certain small signs and tokens that up to that time

-had almost entirely escaped his memory.</p>

-

-<p>He remembered having discovered a sort of

-triumphant hostility in McCarney’s gaze as it was

-fixed upon him, a look which had surprised and

-annoyed him only momentarily. He was used to

-the enmity of McCarney, but it was only at this

-moment that he remembered that triumph had

-outweighed hostility in the eyes of the man.</p>

-

-<p>Was that triumph caused by the certainty in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>

-McCarney’s mind that he, Joe, would not play in

-that day’s game? At the thought Joe experienced

-a sharp thrill of gladness that he had not permitted

-himself to be tricked into abandoning his

-team.</p>

-

-<p>Then came back the tormenting uncertainty

-again. Was it a trick? How could he be sure of

-that? What was wrong with Reggie? Why

-didn’t he let him know? Fool that he had been

-to trust to Reggie! Then he awoke to the unpleasant

-realization that the Bostons’ half of the

-first inning was ended and that the visitors had

-scored two runs.</p>

-

-<p>Markwith had started well by striking out the

-first man up. The second, however, he had passed

-to first. The next man laid down a neat sacrifice

-on which the man on first had got to second. Still

-there were two out and the chances were against

-scoring.</p>

-

-<p>But Bradbury, batting in the clean-up position,

-had caught a low ball that came singing over the

-plate just where he wanted it and sent it whistling

-into the bleachers for the prettiest kind of a

-homer.</p>

-

-<p>The clout rather unnerved Markwith, and he

-sent the next one to first on a free pass. But the

-next man hit a sharp grasser to Iredell that the

-latter handled cleanly and got to first in plenty of

-time for the out.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Fine pitching—I don’t think,” grumbled McRae,

-as Markwith came in rather sheepishly.

-“You poor boob,” he added to the discomfited

-pitcher, “don’t you know better than to give Bradbury

-a low one in the groove? Haven’t you seen

-often enough that he just eats up that kind?”</p>

-

-<p>Markwith merely grunted.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll let you start the second in the hope you’ll

-settle down,” continued McRae. “But at the

-least sign of faltering, it’s you for the showers.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br />

-<small>SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Although his heart was with Mabel, Joe’s

-mind was once more thoroughly alert. Two runs

-at the very beginning of a game is not much, to

-be sure, under ordinary circumstances. But it did

-not take him long to see that the team was not

-running right. Something was decidedly wrong

-even though he could not put his finger on just

-what that something was.</p>

-

-<p>From the way the second inning began it

-looked as though the Giants were going to have

-their work cut out for them simply to keep the

-opposing team from scoring further, let alone the

-making up of those two runs.</p>

-

-<p>Joe felt something of the old fighting spirit

-rising within him again and then, at thought of

-Mabel, his heart sank. He wondered, as he had

-wondered before, how, with every moment a torment

-of apprehension to him, he was going to play

-ball.</p>

-

-<p>“Go to it, Joe,” McRae ordered brusquely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>

-“Get out there and see if you can’t pull this team

-together. Looks as if this game was lost before

-it began. Go in and give ’em a sample of pitching

-that’ll open their eyes.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe tried his best to smile his old joyful smile

-as he started for the box, but it was hard work.

-His muscles felt drawn and tight and the best he

-could manage was a rather sickly grin.</p>

-

-<p>Then his gaze met Reddy Hupft’s and he was

-suddenly conscious of a wave of dislike and disgust

-that made his former resentment of the fellow

-seem a lukewarm emotion. There was more

-than malice in Reddy’s eyes too—this time Joe

-was sure of it. Instinctively he threw back his

-shoulders and his head went up.</p>

-

-<p>“If Hupft and McCarney think they can put

-one over on me they’ll soon find out their mistake.”</p>

-

-<p>He wound up deliberately, then sent over a

-ball so swift that it seemed but the barest second

-from the time it left his hand till it dropped with

-a thud in the catcher’s glove. Three men he

-struck out in swift succession and the crowd was

-in an uproar.</p>

-

-<p>“At a boy, Joe, don’t let ’em sass you!” shrilled

-a voice Joe thought he recognized, and he grinned

-in the direction of the grandstand.</p>

-

-<p>Thereafter followed some of the most brilliant

-work Joe had ever given the fans to marvel at,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>

-and though the Giants failed to score, he at least

-kept the opposing team from scoring.</p>

-

-<p>But that was not enough. Joe knew it, and

-every member of the team, as well as the clamoring

-crowd in grandstand and bleachers, knew it

-too.</p>

-

-<p>Three, four, five innings passed without changing

-the score. Then in the first part of the sixth

-Neale of the Bostons knocked a homer that made

-wild men of their little band of supporters.</p>

-

-<p>Three to nothing the score stood now, in the

-first half of the sixth, and the Giants were in the

-throes of what promised to be a first-class slump.</p>

-

-<p>“Looks as if you had to carry the whole team

-on your shoulders, Joe,” said Robbie, adding, with

-a comprehensive glance: “They look broad

-enough to stand it, at that. Listen, Joe, pretty

-soon you’re going behind that bat and you’re

-going to smash that score into little bits and make

-a brand new one, understand?”</p>

-

-<p>And Joe did. He waited till he was sure of his

-ball, and then with all the weight of his shoulders

-behind it he caught the ball squarely on the end of

-his bat, sent it winging skyward as though its ambition

-were to see just how far up in the clouds it

-could go and manage to get back to earth at all.</p>

-

-<p>At the crack of the bat Joe started and reached

-home without sliding just as the ball connected

-with the catcher’s glove.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>The crowd went mad. There was a storm of

-cheering and stamping and frantic yells, but Joe

-took no notice of them. He was thinking of

-Mabel. Was his little wife waiting for him, wondering

-why he did not come, perhaps reproaching

-him?</p>

-

-<p>At the end of the sixth the score stood as Joe

-had made it: 3 to 1 in favor of Boston. In various

-innings there had been men on first and second

-and, at one time, on all three, but, somehow, they

-fell just short of scoring.</p>

-

-<p>“It’s just what I tell you, Joe,” growled Robbie.

-“You have to carry the whole team. You

-give them an opening and they don’t even see it.”</p>

-

-<p>“That was great work, Joe,” Jim told him a

-few moments later. “I’d give anything to be able

-to bat as you do. It sure is a privilege to see you

-knock out one of those home runs.”</p>

-

-<p>“Say, Jim,” Joe broke in with an abruptness

-that showed he had not heard one word of Jim’s

-tribute, “what do you suppose is the matter with

-Reggie? Why don’t we hear from him?”</p>

-

-<p>“I wish you’d give me an easy one,” answered

-Jim anxiously. “I’ve been wondering that same

-thing myself. However,” he added, “I suppose

-no news is good news.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s pretty thin comfort for me,” growled

-Joe, adding quickly, the feverish light in his eyes

-showing plainly the strain he had been under: “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>

-tell you I can’t stand this any longer, Jim. I’m

-going up there and try to get in touch with Riverside

-again, and if I can’t get them, I’ll try Reggie.

-Then, if that fails, I’m going to Mabel!”</p>

-

-<p>“You can’t do that, Joe,” Jim protested.

-“Why, you’re the only one who has a ghost of a

-show to pull this game out of the fire. Look at

-the score!”</p>

-

-<p>“Hang the score!” cried Joe explosively, as he

-got up. “I can’t stand this any longer, I tell you!

-I’ve got to find out!”</p>

-

-<p>As he started toward the clubhouse he found

-himself face to face with McRae. The game had

-evidently fretted the manager, and he was in a

-bad temper.</p>

-

-<p>“’Phone call for you, Joe,” he snapped. “And

-say, hurry back, will you? Something tells me

-I’m going to need you.”</p>

-

-<p>But the last words failed entirely to reach Joe.

-He was already half way to the clubhouse.</p>

-

-<p>At last he was going to know! He was eager,

-yet fearful. He did not know what awful news

-awaited him at the other end of that wire.</p>

-

-<p>Somehow he found his way to McRae’s office,

-and with shaking fingers lifted the receiver to his

-ear. He did not notice Jim, who had followed

-him in and now stood close beside him.</p>

-

-<p>“Hello,” said Joe, surprised that his voice

-sounded so nearly normal. “This you, Reggie?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>

-Confound it, why didn’t you ’phone long ago?

-How is she?”</p>

-

-<p>“Joe!” came the voice that was the sweetest

-music in the world to his ears. Just now it was

-eager and a little breathless. “Is this you, Joe

-dear? What in the world is the matter?”</p>

-

-<p>“Mabel——” for a minute Joe could not go

-on. Then he cleared his throat noisily and demanded

-to know, in a voice from which all

-anxiety had not yet disappeared, if she was all

-right. “You’re sure you’re not sick?” he insisted,

-and Mabel’s reassuring little laugh floated back

-to him.</p>

-

-<p>“Of course I’m not sick, silly boy,” she said,

-adding with a sudden swift realization of what

-he must have suffered: “I’m so sorry you have

-been worried, honey. Who do you suppose could

-have done such a wicked thing as to send you that

-telegram? What do you think it means?”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t know,” said Joe, feeling as though a

-thousand-ton weight had been lifted from his

-heart. “We’ll find out about that later. The

-important thing to me just now is that you’re

-well. But tell me,” he added, “why didn’t

-Reggie call me as soon as he found you were all

-right?”</p>

-

-<p>“He did,” said Mabel. “You see, a neighbor

-of Mother Matson’s bought himself a new car

-and he insisted on our going out riding with him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>

-Poor Reggie had nearly collapsed with worry

-when we finally got back. Thought we had been

-abducted or something, I suppose.” Then followed

-a bit of conversation that would not have

-been a bit interesting to any one but Joe and

-Mabel but which they seemed to find eminently

-satisfactory.</p>

-

-<p>When Joe finally hung up the receiver and

-faced about to find Jim there, his face was beaming.</p>

-

-<p>“Hello, Jim, you old shadow!” he cried.

-“Have you been here long?”</p>

-

-<p>“Long enough to learn the glad news,” returned

-Jim, and he could not quite resist adding:

-“Didn’t I tell you not to go off half-cocked,

-especially when Reddy Hupft and McCarney are

-on the same lot with you?”</p>

-

-<p>“You did,” admitted Joe, adding with a frown

-as they turned to leave the place together: “You

-think the responsibility for this contemptible trick

-can be traced to Hupft or McCarney then?”</p>

-

-<p>“Who else?” returned Jim. “It was somebody

-else who actually sent the telegram, of

-course, but I’d be willing to stake my hat that

-the scheme originated with one or the other of

-them.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well,” drawled Joe, with a glint in his eye

-that boded no good for either McCarney or

-Hupft or any of their gang, “it seems to me it’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>

-time there was some housecleaning done on this

-lot.</p>

-

-<p>“And now,” he added, as his gaze traveled joyfully

-out to the field, “we’re going to show those

-Bostonians how ball should be played!”</p>

-

-<p>To say that Joe made good his boast would be

-to understate the facts in the case.</p>

-

-<p>From that time on he set the side down with

-the ease and precision of a machine. The Bostons

-came up to the bat like so many automatons,

-made futile swings at the ball, and went back

-growling to the bench. And in the eighth, when,

-the score still stood 3 to 1 in favor of Boston,

-Joe lammed out a mighty three-bagger that

-brought home three of his comrades who had

-filled the bases. That made the score 4 to 3

-in the Giants’ favor, and so it remained when

-Joe struck out the last Boston batsman in the

-ninth.</p>

-

-<p>It was a glorious triumph for Joe—two

-triumphs in fact, for he had not only beaten the

-Bostons, he had thwarted the dastardly plot

-of his enemies.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br />

-<small>THICKENING CLOUDS</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>If up to this time Joe had entertained any

-lingering doubts that an attempt was afoot to

-put him out of the game for good, the receipt

-of the false telegram at a critical moment served

-effectually to dispel them. In addition, it was

-now evident that his enemies were willing to stoop

-to any means to achieve their ends.</p>

-

-<p>Joe was one not to be easily alarmed, but he

-realized the gravity of the situation and knew

-that it could not be solved by hiding his head in

-the sand like an ostrich and ignoring it.</p>

-

-<p>“The matter is getting worse and worse,

-Jim,” he remarked, when they were discussing

-the affair in their room on the evening of the

-last game. “It is not simply a personal matter

-against me that may be the thing that they are

-aiming at. I have noticed lately that they are

-playing bad ball not only when I am in the box,

-but when the other fellows are, too. It is a

-matter that involves not only our personal fortunes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>

-but those of the Giant team and possibly of

-the whole league. They may have confederates

-elsewhere in the league, and I guess it’s up to you

-and me to see what we can do toward putting a

-spoke in their wheel. It’s bad enough when they

-confine their attentions to us, but when they go

-to mixing up our families in it they’re going a bit

-too far.”</p>

-

-<p>“A whole lot too far,” agreed Jim grimly.

-“It’s a shame that there should be such players

-in the game. But in they are, and the only thing

-for us to do is show them up and get them thrown

-out as soon as possible.”</p>

-

-<p>“I only hope that I have a hand in the throwing,”

-remarked his friend. “Baseball is such a

-fine, naturally clean game that I hate to see a

-crooked bunch like that horning in. It wouldn’t

-take many of them to queer the whole outfit with

-the fans. There are always a lot of them that

-try to argue that baseball is crooked, even when

-it’s absolutely on the level.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, I’ve heard plenty of that breed, too,”

-agreed Jim. “I imagine they know in their

-hearts that they’d take dirty money if they got

-the chance, and it’s hard for them to believe that

-everybody else wouldn’t. But this bunch we’ve

-got on the team now are sure to make big trouble

-for us and for the whole league if we don’t

-manage to show them up in some way.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Give them enough rope, and they’ll hang

-themselves,” quoted Joe. “It’s plain enough to

-me what they’re up to, but we’ve got to have

-proof. They and the gamblers who are backing

-them bet against our team, and then they do

-their level best to lose the game for us.”</p>

-

-<p>“There’s not much encouragement in playing

-under those conditions.”</p>

-

-<p>“We’ll get to the bottom of their game, never

-fear,” declared Joe. “In the meantime, Jim, it’s

-up to the rest of the team to play such a high-grade

-brand of baseball that we’ll win in spite

-of the crooks.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s right,” agreed his friend, a grin lighting

-up his erstwhile gloomy countenance. “The

-other teams can’t win unless they make runs, no

-matter what McCarney, Hupft, Lemblow and

-Company does. And you and I are in a position

-to see that they don’t make the runs.”</p>

-

-<p>“Shake on that, old pal!” exclaimed Joe, and

-the two friends clasped hands. “We’re out after

-the pennant, and it’s going to take a powerful

-aggregation to stop us.”</p>

-

-<p>“It looks as though you and I would have to

-turn detectives for a while, and get to the root

-of this mystery,” said Jim. “I know we don’t

-have much time for that sort of thing, but some

-day when we’re neither of us slated to pitch, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>

-can try our hands at the sleuth game, if you

-think it would do any good.”</p>

-

-<p>“Sure thing,” grinned Joe. “But the way

-things are going now, we won’t have many days

-when one or the other of us isn’t going to pitch.

-The boss is up against it for twirlers, and no

-mistake.”</p>

-

-<p>McRae was “up against it” in more ways than

-one. He knew well enough that there was something

-wrong with his new players. Any man

-might make a mistake at times, and fumble a

-ball or muff an easy fly, but when a man is good

-enough to get into a big league team he is not

-supposed to do these things often. And Hupft

-and McCarney had developed a trick of making

-such blunders at the most crucial periods of the

-game—at times when an error meant a run or two

-for the opposing team. He had many anxious

-conferences with Robson, but no substitutes were

-available, and while they suspected the center-fielder

-and third baseman of underhand work,

-they could not be quite sure.</p>

-

-<p>Had it not been for the sterling work of the

-other members of the team, the Giants would

-have been slipping steadily downward instead

-of holding their place among the leaders. They

-all played like demons, backing up their pitchers

-in a manner that brought joy and applause from

-the fans. In spite of costly mistakes on the part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>

-of the new players, the team climbed steadily

-toward the coveted first position.</p>

-

-<p>As the weather settled down to steady summer

-heat, Markwith rounded into better form and

-pitched several steady games, winning three out

-of five. He was really entitled to that fifth game,

-but was robbed of it by a bad misplay on the

-part of McCarney. In the ninth inning the score

-was 1 to 0 in favor of the Giants, with the

-opposing team at bat for the last half of the

-ninth inning. Markwith struck out the first man

-to face him, but the second one singled between

-first and second base, and on the next pitched

-ball stole second.</p>

-

-<p>Markwith watched the runner out of the corner

-of his eye and saw that he was getting ready to

-make a dash for third base. Accordingly, instead

-of throwing the ball to the batter, he suddenly

-whirled and threw to McCarney at third. By

-this time the runner was well on his way to third

-and McCarney should have had an easy put-out.

-But as the ball smacked into his glove he fumbled

-it and it dropped to the ground several feet from

-the base. He made a dash for it, but as he leaned

-down to lift it he struck the ball with the toe of

-his shoe, kicking it fifteen feet away.</p>

-

-<p>It looked like an accident, but whether or no,

-the runner instantly seized his chance and raced

-for home. Even then McCarney by quick work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>

-might have thrown him out at the plate, but his

-recovery of the sphere was slow, and when he

-finally did get it and threw it to the bag, the runner

-had arrived well ahead of it.</p>

-

-<p>This tied the score, and while Markwith held

-the opposing team down for the rest of the inning

-without any further runs, the game had to go into

-extra innings. Finally, in the eleventh, the other

-team manged to score one more run, which lost

-the game to the Giants when it should have been

-won.</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim had narrowly watched every move

-of this game, especially the actions of the players

-whom they suspected of crooked dealing. When

-McCarney fumbled the ball in that crucial ninth

-inning, Joe clenched his fists and muttered various

-uncomplimentary things about the baseman.</p>

-

-<p>“That settles it!” he exploded at last, when

-the opposing player crossed the plate with the

-tying run. “McCarney’s a good actor, Jim, but

-he was just a bit too clumsy in that play to be

-natural. He can play good enough ball when

-he wants to, and it isn’t easy for him to be quite

-as clumsy as all that. I could see him purposely

-drop that ball after he had really caught it.

-Didn’t it look the same way to you, Jim?”</p>

-

-<p>His friend nodded.</p>

-

-<p>“No doubt of it,” he agreed. “I’d like to keep

-track of McCarney after he leaves the clubhouse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>

-and see where he goes, but I’ve got an appointment

-with Curry and I don’t see how I can. Why

-don’t you shadow him, Joe, and see if you can

-find out anything? I’ll take my turn at it to-morrow.”</p>

-

-<p>“All right, I will!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll beat

-it for the clubhouse right after the game is over,

-and I’ll be ready to leave as soon as he is. I

-may not find out a thing, but it will be worth the

-chance, anyway.”</p>

-

-<p>In accordance with this plan, Joe was one of

-the first under the showers and was in his street

-clothes before McCarney had finished dressing.</p>

-

-<p>The latter was surly and resentful of the criticism

-directed at him by his team mates. They

-were not sparing of this, and did not hesitate to

-tell him what they thought of such bungling.

-Every big league player knows that mistakes are

-unavoidable at times, but McCarney and Hupft

-had begun to get on their nerves. In almost

-every game lately it seemed that one or the other

-was sure to make a bad play at a crucial time.</p>

-

-<p>“We could pick half a dozen fans out of the

-bleachers who could hold on to a baseball tighter

-than you can, Mac,” growled Mylert, the burly

-catcher. “You must have grease on your fingers,

-the way that ball slides through them. Why

-don’t you see if you can hold on to it once in a

-while?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Shure, and I’ll bet if the ball wuz a twinty

-dollar gold piece he’d kape holt of it, all right, all

-right,” chirped up Larry Barrett.</p>

-

-<p>A shout of appreciative laughter followed this

-sally, and McCarney glared around at the circle

-of derisive faces.</p>

-

-<p>“I suppose you fellows are too blamed good to

-ever make a mistake, ain’t you?” he growled.

-“If Markwith hadn’t shot the pill at me so doggone

-fast I wouldn’t have dropped it. There

-wasn’t any need of putting so much smoke on it.”</p>

-

-<p>“Aw, get out of here before we throw you

-out,” snapped Mylert disgustedly. “Be a man

-and admit you made a punk play without trying

-to blame it on some one else.”</p>

-

-<p>McCarney seemed tempted to throw himself

-at the big catcher, but then thought better of it

-and flung out of the clubhouse, slamming the door

-behind him. A minute later Joe slipped quietly

-out and glanced quickly about to locate the renegade

-ball player. McCarney was only half a

-block away, and Joe set out to follow him.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br />

-<small>A FURIOUS FIGHT</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>It was no easy matter to trail McCarney without

-himself being discovered, especially as the

-third baseman had a trick of glancing back over

-his shoulder from time to time. More than once

-Joe felt sure that he had been discovered, but

-fortune favored him, and he successfully evaded

-detection.</p>

-

-<p>At the first car track that McCarney reached

-he hesitated, in doubt, apparently, whether to

-take a car or walk to the subway. Joe slipped

-into a convenient doorway, where he could see

-without being seen, and waited for the other to

-make the next move.</p>

-

-<p>McCarney was still hesitating when a trolley

-car came into view. This evidently settled the

-third baseman’s doubts. As the car drew near

-he signaled it to stop, and then swung to the back

-platform.</p>

-

-<p>This left Joe in a quandary. He realized that

-it would be practically impossible to board the

-car himself without being discovered, and yet if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>

-he did not it meant that his first attempt at

-“shadowing” would end almost as soon as it had

-begun.</p>

-

-<p>The trolley started on, and Joe was revolving

-the possibility of keeping up with it on foot when

-a taxicab came careering out of a side street not

-a block away. With a heartfelt prayer of gratitude

-Joe dashed to the corner and hailed the

-vehicle just in the nick of time.</p>

-

-<p>“Keep that trolley car in sight until I tell you

-to stop, and I’ll double your fare,” Joe promised

-the driver.</p>

-

-<p>“That’s easy,” replied the other. “Them cars

-don’t go so fast but what this boiler can keep up

-with ’em without half tryin’. Just leave it to me.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe kept an anxious eye on the trolley car,

-fearful that McCarney might alight with some

-other passengers and escape him. But nothing of

-the kind happened. The chase continued for a

-long distance before Joe saw the familiar figure

-of the third baseman come out to the back platform

-and hang on to the lowest step, evidently

-preparing to drop off at the next corner.</p>

-

-<p>“Pull up, driver,” called Joe, and the man

-swung into the curb. Joe hastily paid him double

-the amount that the meter registered, together

-with a generous tip, and hastened after the retreating

-form of his quarry.</p>

-

-<p>The neighborhood in this section was of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>

-poor description, the houses being ramshackle

-affairs with a run-down and neglected appearance.

-McCarney was evidently on familiar ground,

-however, for he hurried along at a fast pace, apparently

-in such a hurry that he even forgot to

-glance behind him as was his usual custom.</p>

-

-<p>This was a fortunate thing for Joe, as the

-street offered few places of concealment. He

-kept close to the houses on the opposite side of

-the street, keeping a wary eye on the suspected

-ball player. The latter had gone about two

-blocks when he suddenly stopped at the door of

-a house that looked even a little more dirty and

-out of repair than its neighbors, and rang the

-bell.</p>

-

-<p>Joe was about half a block away at this time,

-and he glanced about for a place in which to

-conceal himself until McCarney should be safely

-inside. In the basement of a house near him

-there was a dirty looking little candy store, and

-Joe turned into this. He bought a bar of chocolate

-and made shift to talk with the storekeeper

-until he judged that McCarney must be inside

-the house.</p>

-

-<p>When he ventured into the street again, the

-third baseman had disappeared, and Joe set himself

-to formulate some scheme that would get him

-inside the house. This project might well have

-daunted one less courageous than the star pitcher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>

-of the Giants. The neighborhood was close to

-the lower West Side waterfront of New York,

-and Joe knew that if he did manage to get inside

-the house he would probably find himself in the

-abiding place of a desperate set of men. However,

-he hesitated only long enough to decide

-on a plan of action, and then set boldly about its

-execution.</p>

-

-<p>He felt that there was a chance that whoever

-had opened the door to admit McCarney had

-failed to fasten it securely. At any rate, he decided

-to try this first. Accordingly, he walked

-boldly over to the house and ascended the steps.

-If discovered, he could simply ask for a “fake”

-name, like one who has gotten the wrong house

-by mistake.</p>

-

-<p>He reached the front door unchallenged, and

-gently tried the knob. As he suspected, the latch

-had not quite caught, and as he pressed against

-the door it swung open before him. Noiselessly

-he entered the dark hallway and closed the door

-gently behind him.</p>

-

-<p>Within the house it was so dark that at first

-Joe could see nothing at all. As his eyes became

-accustomed to the gloom, however, objects in the

-dark hallway became apparent to him.</p>

-

-<p>To right and left were closed doors, while

-directly ahead a long narrow staircase wound upward

-to the floor above. Joe listened intently for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>

-some sound to guide him, but at first he could hear

-nothing. He tiptoed cautiously over to one of the

-closed doors and listened there, and then at the

-other, but could hear no sound. Suddenly, he

-heard a subdued murmur of voices on the floor

-above, and he decided that in all probability

-McCarney was up there. He was about to start

-the ascent of the stairs when he was startled by

-the ringing of an electric bell almost over his

-head, and at the same time some one tried the

-handle of the front door by which Joe had

-entered.</p>

-

-<p>A chair was pushed back in the room upstairs,

-and Joe surmised that in another moment one or

-more of the inhabitants would descend the stairs

-in answer to the ring of the newcomer. There

-was not a second to lose if he were to escape

-detection, and Joe’s mind acted with lightning

-rapidity. Escape to the street was barred, he

-knew, and it would be hopeless to try to get to

-the upper landing in time to avoid whoever it

-was who was coming to open the door.</p>

-

-<p>His only chance was to get through one of

-the doors that flanked the hall on either side,

-and as this thought flashed through his mind he

-stepped swiftly to the one to his right and turned

-the knob. The door held fast, and he knew

-that it must be locked from the inside.</p>

-

-<p>A door opened upstairs, and Joe could hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>

-heavy footsteps starting down the stairs. Fortunately,

-the staircase made a sharp turn near the

-top, so that as yet Joe was concealed from the

-sight of the man descending.</p>

-

-<p>Again the bell rang, as the ringer grew impatient

-of waiting. Another instant, and Joe’s

-last chance of escaping detection would be gone.

-Swiftly he stepped to the other door, his one

-remaining chance, and breathed a heartfelt prayer

-of gratitude when he found that the door opened

-to his touch.</p>

-

-<p>In a second he was within the room, with the

-door closed behind him. He glanced swiftly

-about, taking stock of his surroundings. Luckily

-there was nobody in the place, which was sparsely

-furnished with a table and a few shabby chairs.</p>

-

-<p>With his ear close to the door, Joe could hear

-the newcomer enter and then he heard two persons

-ascending the stairs. There came the bang

-of a closing door from the upper floor, and Joe

-judged that it would be safe enough to venture

-out again.</p>

-

-<p>A less courageous fellow might have been

-glad to take this opportunity to get out the

-front door and so to safety. But this idea did

-not enter Joe’s head. He had come here to get

-information about the gambling ring, and to

-abandon the quest was the thing furthest from

-his thoughts.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>From the floor above he could still hear the

-murmur of voices, growing louder at times in

-a manner that suggested a quarrel. Impatient

-to learn what was going on, Joe made for the

-stairs and ascended them cautiously, treading

-warily to avoid making a noise on the creaking

-boards. At length he reached the upper landing

-and paused to take stock of his surroundings.</p>

-

-<p>He found himself on a small square landing,

-from which doors gave into adjoining rooms.

-The sound of excited voices came from a room

-to the left of the stairs, and Joe edged close to

-this until he could make out what was being said

-within.</p>

-

-<p>But he was just a few minutes too late. Whatever

-subject had been under discussion had apparently

-been settled, for there came a scraping

-of chairs, and before Joe could move the door

-was thrown open, leaving him in plain sight of

-those in the room.</p>

-

-<p>There was a chorus of startled exclamations,

-and then those in the room made a concerted

-rush for Joe. He turned to make for the stairs,

-but found that avenue of escape cut off by two

-rough looking men dressed in sweaters and caps,

-who had ascended so quietly that Joe had no

-inkling of their approach until he saw them stepping

-on to the landing.</p>

-

-<p>Fairly cornered, Joe realized that his only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>

-chance lay in fighting his way out, and he had

-faith in the theory that the attacker has an advantage.

-With a shout he hurled himself at the

-two men who had just come up the stairs, and who

-had stopped at the landing, uncertain as to what

-was going on. His rush had the power and speed

-of a stampeding buffalo, and in spite of their bulk

-the two newcomers could not bar his path. One

-reeled back from a stunning blow on the jaw,

-while the other staggered aside as Joe’s elbow

-caught him in the pit of the stomach. Before

-him the path to the front door lay clear, and he

-would have made it but for an unlucky accident.</p>

-

-<p>As the second man reeled and fell, his foot

-projected out over the top step, and as Joe started

-to leap downward he tripped over the sprawling

-leg, staggered wildly for a brief moment, and

-then crashed head first down the steep stairs.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br />

-<small>TAKEN CAPTIVE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>So great was the force of the fall that when

-Joe brought up at the foot of the stairs the breath

-was knocked out of him, and before he could get

-to his feet the crowd of rough men were on him

-like dogs on a wounded wolf. Stunned though

-he was, Joe would not submit to overpowering

-numbers without a struggle, and more than one

-of the crowd bore marks of the fight for many

-a day afterward. Joe was in the very finest

-physical condition, and as he fought the effects

-of the fall wore off somewhat, and he struck out

-with a force and power that sent his opponents

-reeling back. At one time Joe actually had his

-hand on the knob of the street door, but he was

-dragged back, fighting like a madman. His adversaries

-were hampered by their own numbers,

-and in the narrow hall only one or two could get

-at Joe at once. He was engaged with two of

-the fellows, when suddenly some heavy object

-landed on his head with paralyzing force, and he

-crumpled to the floor.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Guess that fixes that guy,” remarked one of

-the fellows, as he returned a “blackjack” to his

-pocket.</p>

-

-<p>“I hope you haven’t fixed him too well,” said

-the leader of the gang, a corpulent, flashily

-dressed man. “It’s all right to put him to sleep,

-but we don’t want any killings, you know.”</p>

-

-<p>“Leave that to me, boss,” said the other.

-“He’ll soon come back from the land o’ nod, an’

-when he does, we’d better have his hands an’ feet

-tied. He’s got a punch in each mitt that’s fit to

-knock a mule out.”</p>

-

-<p>The others seemed to agree heartily with this

-statement, and they lost no time in following

-their companion’s advice. When Joe regained

-consciousness, some ten minutes later, he found

-himself securely tied in a chair, while the members

-of the gang sat about at their ease, planning

-what disposition to make of their captive.</p>

-

-<p>The first thing Joe did was to look for McCarney,

-but he was nowhere to be seen. During

-the fight he had kept in the background, and as

-soon as it was over he had slipped out of the

-house. He had little doubt that the gang would

-overcome Joe, but he had a great respect for the

-capabilities of the young pitcher, and he thought

-that in case Joe ever got away from them he

-would accuse him, McCarney, of being an accomplice

-of the gang. In that case, the less he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>

-seen in their company the better. Besides this, he

-was anxious to bet some money against the Giants

-on the coming games, as he knew that Joe’s disappearance

-would be very likely to demoralize the

-whole team.</p>

-

-<p>Up to this time the Giants had been considered

-the favorites in the pennant race, and

-among the gamblers they had been better than

-even money. But when McCarney, in sporting

-circles familiar enough to him, tried to place some

-cash, he found that already the odds were against

-the Giants to win, and he was at no loss to guess

-the reason for this. Some of the gang that held

-Joe prisoner had begun to plunge heavily against

-the Giants, and the gamblers who did not know

-were suspicious and not over-anxious to back the

-team that was apparently the best in the league

-by a fair margin. Gamblers as a class are quick

-to take fright, and those manipulating the “baseball

-ring” as it was already called in the underworld,

-were no exceptions to the rule.</p>

-

-<p>When Joe did not put in an appearance at

-their hotel that night Jim was very uneasy, but

-he comforted himself with the reflection that Joe

-might have found it necessary in the course of

-his sleuthing expedition to keep close to the

-trail. He fully expected to see Joe at the baseball

-field the following afternoon, especially as

-he was slated to pitch that day. But there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>

-no sign of the missing star, and when it was

-almost time for the game to start McRae sought

-out Jim where he was warming up with Mylert

-back of the clubhouse.</p>

-

-<p>“Where’s Joe, Jim?” he asked anxiously. “It

-isn’t like him to be late. Did he tell you he

-wouldn’t show up to-day?”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t know much more about him than you

-do, Mac,” replied Jim, a worried look in his eyes.

-“He didn’t show up at the hotel last night, and

-I thought he was probably with one of the other

-fellows. But now that he isn’t here for the game

-I’m getting worried for fair. I know that if

-he isn’t here it’s because he couldn’t get here.”</p>

-

-<p>“Couldn’t get here!” echoed McRae. “What

-in thunder would stop him from getting here if

-he wanted to come?”</p>

-

-<p>“You know well enough that both Joe and I

-have had trouble with the gambling ring before

-now,” said Jim. “They’ve been after both of

-us, and it looks as though they’d landed on Joe

-this time. If they have—” Jim did not finish

-the sentence, but his flashing eyes and the grim

-set of his mouth supplied the rest.</p>

-

-<p>“That goes for the whole team,” said McRae.

-“Anybody that tampers with any member of this

-team is going to have trouble. I’ll get a couple

-of detectives on the job right away, and we’ll see

-if we can’t locate Joe in a hurry. In the meantime,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>

-you’ll have to pitch to-day’s game, Jim. I

-was counting on Joe for this afternoon, but I

-guess you can turn the trick, too.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’m here to try,” said Jim. “But after the

-game is over, I’m going to look for Joe on my

-own hook. And what’s more, I’m willing to bet

-that there’s at least one member of this team that

-could tell you right now, if he wanted to, where

-he is.”</p>

-

-<p>“Who?” demanded McRae quickly. “Give me

-his name.”</p>

-

-<p>“You’d better keep this quiet for the time,

-Mac,” said Robson who came up just at this

-juncture. “We don’t want any of this to get

-into the papers, if we can help it.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s right,” admitted McRae. “Come

-with us, Barclay, and we’ll talk this over in

-private.”</p>

-

-<p>In the manager’s office under the grandstand

-Jim told of Joe’s resolve to follow McCarney

-the previous afternoon. McRae and Robson

-listened with worried frowns on their faces. Robson

-was the first to speak.</p>

-

-<p>“This is a thing we won’t be able to hush up,

-Mac,” he said. “The newspaper men know that

-we intend to pitch Matson to-day, and they’ll

-want to know the reason why he isn’t in the box.

-They’d soon find out the reason why, and if we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>

-tell them what we know, they may be able to

-help us find him.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s true, in a way,” said McRae slowly.

-“But we won’t tell them about our suspicions of

-McCarney—not yet. Remember, we haven’t any

-proof against him, and we don’t want to make

-any false moves.”</p>

-

-<p>By the time this decision was reached it was

-almost time for the game to start, and the three

-hurried out on to the field, where the rest of

-the team had already congregated. They were

-warming up, one or two knocking flies to the

-others while a few were pitching balls back and

-forth to each other with that long, effortless swing

-of the arm characteristic of a good ball player.

-Jim started pitching to Mylert, taking it easy

-on the first few balls and gradually warming up

-to his regular speed and control. But it was hard

-for him to keep his mind on the work in hand,

-as his thoughts kept wandering to his missing

-friend while his heart was filled with gloomy

-forebodings. He knew that Joe would never

-have been absent from the ball field that afternoon

-unless he were actually in captivity, or perhaps

-worse yet, actually injured by his enemies to

-keep him from playing. The only thing that kept

-Jim from throwing down his glove and starting

-to search for his chum then and there was the

-knowledge that Joe would want him to pitch the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>

-game for the sake of the team and to frustrate

-the gamblers. Jim made up his mind that he

-would pitch such a game in the absence of his

-chum that the opposing team would not have

-even a look-in. His arm had never felt better,

-and he had an uncanny control over the ball that

-made him confident of winning.</p>

-

-<p>There was little time for practice before the

-umpire called “Play ball” and the game was on.</p>

-

-<p>The Giant fans were expecting a great battle

-that day, and they were not disappointed. The

-team was playing the Pittsburghs, and the latter

-were no mean adversaries. In addition to an

-all-around good team, they had a young pitcher

-who was one of the sensations of the season. He

-had been taken right from a high school team,

-where his phenomenal ability had earned him

-the attention of a big league scout. He had a big

-variety of curves, although a little erratic on control,

-a defect that time would probably remedy.

-He was considered the best pitcher the Pittsburghs

-had, and their manager had decided to

-work him that afternoon before he heard of Joe’s

-non-appearance. After learning of this, he decided

-to pitch him anyway, in order to “put the

-game on ice.” The Pittsburghs were close on the

-trail of the Giants; so close, that every game was

-important.</p>

-

-<p>However, Jim was nothing daunted by this, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>

-was confident that he could pitch his team to victory.

-He had never played in a game against

-Miles, the Pittsburghs’ star, but from the bench

-he had studied him closely and had a pretty good

-line on his offerings. In addition, he and Joe

-knew the weak points of every batter in the

-league, and just what kind of delivery was least to

-his liking. This counted for a tremendous lot

-in a tight place, and the two chums had worked

-it out to a science.</p>

-

-<p>The Pittsburghs were disposed of in the first

-inning in quick order. Then the Giants came in

-for their turn with Curry as the first man in the

-batting order. He was a dependable batter as

-a rule, but he found himself helpless against the

-puzzling shoots dished up to him by the star

-pitcher of the Pittsburghs. He knew that Miles

-was short on control, and tried to wait him out,

-but after the pitcher had had three balls chalked

-against him, he sent over three strikes in succession,

-and Curry threw down his bat disgustedly

-and went over to the players’ bench to meet the

-gibes of his team mates. But Iredell, who followed

-him, was little more successful, popping

-up a high fly that Miles caught without moving

-from the mound. Burkett struck out in one-two-three

-order, and the Pittsburghs came trotting

-in from the field for their second turn at bat.</p>

-

-<p>“Guess our kid has got you fellows eating out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>

-of his hand,” gibed O’Connor, the Pittsburgh

-captain, as he passed the Giants on their way

-out to the field positions. “You fellows haven’t a

-chance in the world of winning this game.”</p>

-

-<p>“‘He who laugh last, irritates,’” retorted Mylert.

-“We’ve got as many runs as you so far.”</p>

-

-<p>O’Connor grunted and went to the dugout to

-get his favorite bat. In a few seconds he was

-back at the plate with it, swinging it slowly back

-and forth as he waited for Jim’s delivery.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br />

-<small>AIR-TIGHT PITCHING</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>O’Connor had a big reputation throughout

-the league as a heavy batter, and he was. But

-Joe and Jim had noticed that he invariably swung

-at comparatively low balls. High ones he did

-not like, so, of course, Jim was careful to give

-him nothing but high balls. O’Connor waited

-grimly for one to come across that was to his

-liking, but he waited in vain. Two strikes had

-been called on him, with no balls, and he realized

-that the time for waiting had gone by. The next

-one that Jim pitched was a high fast one that

-just clipped the corner of the plate. “Str-r-rike

-three,” chanted the umpire, and O’Connor threw

-his bat to the ground and walked over to the

-dugout.</p>

-

-<p>“What’s the matter?” inquired Mylert, as the

-discomfited batsman passed him. “It looked as

-though you were standing there waiting for next

-Christmas to come. I thought you said you were

-going to win this game.”</p>

-

-<p>O’Connor glared at him, but could not think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>

-of a fitting reply. The next man to face Jim was

-Jenkins. Jenkins was not a heavy batter, but

-when he did connect with the ball he was so fast

-on the bases that he often stretched an ordinary

-one base hit into a two-bagger. But his speed

-availed him little to-day, for he never got away

-from the home plate. Three times he swung

-wildly at the whispering breezes, and then retired

-sheepishly to the bench. The next man up fouled

-to Mylert for an easy out, and the Pittsburghs’

-half of the inning was over, with no runs scored

-by either side.</p>

-

-<p>“Good work, Jim,” chortled Robson. “Hold

-’em down tight, and in a little while we’ll blow

-their pitcher out of the box. The kid’s good, all

-right, but he lacks steadiness. If we can once

-get a man or two on the sacks, he’ll blow up with

-a bang that they can hear over in Hoboken.”</p>

-

-<p>But it was not an easy thing to “get a man or

-two on the sacks.” Miles seemed to get better

-and better as the innings began to mount up, and

-the game settled down into a spectacular pitchers’

-duel. As the end of the fourth inning the score

-still stood nothing to nothing, and bade fair to

-stay that way. The mightiest batsmen on both

-sides were mowed down one after the other.</p>

-

-<p>In spite of the gnawing anxiety that bit at his

-heart whenever he thought of his missing chum,

-Jim was pitching the game of his life.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>At first he had hoped against hope that Joe

-had only been delayed, and would show up at the

-ball field after all, but as inning followed inning

-this hope faded out. But Jim was determined

-to win that game, for he considered that he

-stood in Joe’s place and that he owed it to his

-absent friend to chalk up a victory, as he was

-sure Joe would have done had he been there.</p>

-

-<p>Moreover, the thrill and tingle of the game

-were in his blood, his brain, his pitching arm.

-No matter what emergency of the game might

-arise, he had supreme confidence that he would

-be equal to it.</p>

-

-<p>In the first half of the fifth inning O’Connor,

-the captain of the Pittsburgh team, drove a

-vicious twisting grounder directly at Jim, a ball

-that fairly smoked as it traveled. But Jim

-picked it off the ground with a movement so swift

-that the eye could hardly follow it and tossed

-the runner out at first with a big margin of

-safety. When Burkett, the Giants’ first baseman,

-was forced far off from his position by a high

-fly between first and second base, Jim covered

-first base on the chance that Burkett might drop

-the ball. It was a difficult ball to handle, and

-while the first baseman managed to knock it down

-with his glove, he was unable to hold on to it. He

-made a snappy recovery, however, and tossed to

-Jim, putting the runner out. Had the Giant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>

-pitcher not been right where he was, the runner

-would have been safe.</p>

-

-<p>But the big test came in the eighth inning. Up

-to this time, so perfect had been Jim’s pitching,

-that neither McCarney nor Hupft had had anything

-to do. Jim knew that if any break came

-in the Giant defense, it would in all probability

-be because of some error, intentional or otherwise,

-on the part of one of the two men.</p>

-

-<p>This break came in the first half of the eighth

-inning. Ralston, of the Pittsburghs, swung wildly

-at a fast, straight ball, after two strikes had been

-called on him, and more by luck than good management

-connected squarely with it. The ball

-whistled straight over Jim’s head and almost into

-the hands of Hupft, who was playing center-field.

-But Hupft, instead of waiting for the ball, which

-was all he had to do, ran in on it instead, and

-the ball passed over his head. At the last second

-he made an ineffectual leap for it, but to no avail.

-The ball bounded along the grass until it was

-finally retrieved by Curry. But by this time the

-runner had reached third base and would probably

-have made the home sack had not Curry

-made a wonderful long throw to Jim, which

-made the runner think better of the attempt.</p>

-

-<p>Still the Pittsburghs had not scored, but they

-had a man on third base, with only one out.

-Baskerville was the next man at bat, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>

-made a sacrifice bunt in the direction of third

-base. It was McCarney’s ball, and he picked it

-up in snappy style, and threw to Mylert to keep

-the runner at third from reaching home. It was

-an easy play, but McCarney threw wild, so wild

-that Mylert, in spite of a back-breaking reach for

-it, was unable to connect. Throwing aside his

-mask he dashed after the ball, recovered it, and

-seeing that it was too late to nail Ralston at home,

-he made a superb toss to Larry Barrett, who

-nailed Baskerville at second. Jim struck out the

-next batter with three pitched balls, which shot

-over the plate so fast that the batter seemed

-dazed when he walked back to the dugout.</p>

-

-<p>But the Pittsburghs had scored, and that lone

-run looked pretty big at this stage of the game.

-The Giants had only two chances left to overcome

-it, and Miles seemed to be pitching better

-at this time than when he started.</p>

-

-<p>Larry was the first Giant batter to face the

-Pittsburgh pitcher, and the grim look on his

-usually jovial face showed that he appreciated

-the gravity of the situation.</p>

-

-<p>“Knock the cover off that pill, Barrett, and

-I’ll buy you a new one covered with ten dollar

-bills,” said McRae, as Larry started for the

-plate.</p>

-

-<p>“Shure, an’ I’ll do ut, thin,” promised Larry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>

-with a flash of his usual happy grin. “This’ll

-be an expensive wallop for you, Mac.”</p>

-

-<p>Larry did his best, but luck was against him.

-He poled a hot grounder between first and second

-base, but the Pittsburgh shortstop smothered

-it and pitched Larry out at first.</p>

-

-<p>“Good night!” he exclaimed, as he reached the

-bench. “Thim Pittsburghers has more luck than

-brains. Shure, it wuz a lovely hit, and I had

-your money spint already, Mac, whin that spalpeen

-tuck it away from me.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, it’s the safe ones that count,” remarked

-the manager. “Anybody can hit them at the

-fielders.”</p>

-

-<p>Allen was next at bat, and his team mates sat

-tense, waiting to see what he would do. The

-chances of the Giants winning the game were

-getting poor, and already many of the more pessimistic

-rooters were leaving the stands. Allen

-was not noted as a slugger, and Jim followed him.

-Many thought that McRae would substitute a

-pinch hitter for Jim, as a pitcher is not supposed

-to be a very heavy slugger, and Jim had not the

-reputation in that line that Joe possessed.</p>

-

-<p>Two strikes were called on Allen, when the

-Pittsburgh pitcher loosed a wild throw that struck

-the batter on the arm. This sent Allen to first

-base and put the next move up to Jim. To many

-of the fans it seemed as though McRae should put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>

-in his heaviest slugger at this point, but the manager,

-with that knowledge of men’s hearts and

-minds that had made him famous in the game,

-thought otherwise. He understood Jim’s desire

-to win this game above all others, and he believed

-that Jim, backed by that desire, would be more

-apt to slam out a hit than any other man on the

-team.</p>

-

-<p>“Go in and win your own game, Jim,” he admonished

-his young pitcher. “Make the crooks

-wish that they’d let Joe pitch this game. Show

-them that dirty work doesn’t pay.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s exactly what I hope to do,” said Jim,

-with a grim set to his square jaw. “I’d be willing

-to give my next year’s pay to win this game.”</p>

-

-<p>Miles seemed a trifle rattled by hitting Allen,

-and the first two balls he pitched were wide of

-the plate. The next was a low, fast one, and

-Jim scooped it up, sending it whistling straight

-at Miles. The ball came so fast that the pitcher

-was unable to hang on to it, but he succeeded in

-stopping it, and it rolled along a few feet toward

-first base.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br />

-<small>JIM PUTS ONE OVER</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>As soon as Jim felt the bat connect with the

-ball he started down the base line at top speed,

-and top speed with Jim meant covering ground

-fast. Every bit of energy in him was concentrated

-on beating that ball to first base, and no

-sprinter could have made the distance more

-quickly. He was two-thirds of the way to first

-when Miles recovered the ball and straightened

-up for the throw. Fifteen feet from the bag

-Jim leaped through the air in a headlong dive for

-the sack, reaching it in a cloud of dust. A fraction

-of a second later he heard the smack of the

-ball in the first baseman’s glove, but it came too

-late. The umpire declared Jim safe, and he got

-to his feet, slapping clouds of dust from his

-uniform.</p>

-

-<p>Miles really should have thrown the ball to

-second and tried to cut off Allen; but, as it was,

-the latter reached the second hassock safely, and

-a moment later stole third. Things now began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>

-to look brighter for the home team, especially

-as Mylert, who was always a dependable slugger,

-was next at bat.</p>

-

-<p>Miles wound up and delivered a slow, elusive

-curve that would have fooled most batters. But

-Mylert judged it to a nicety and poled a safe one-base

-hit into right field. Allen and Jim sprinted

-around, the former crossing home plate with the

-tying run.</p>

-

-<p>By this time the Pittsburgh fielder had recovered

-the ball. He shot it to third base, in the

-hope of catching Jim there. But the Giant

-pitcher had already reached this base and was

-making for home, covering ground like a frightened

-jack-rabbit. The grandstand and bleachers

-rose to their feet <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en masse</i> and a roar of excited

-shouting swept over the field.</p>

-

-<p>It looked as though Jim had ventured too much

-and would surely be thrown out at the home plate.

-But he ran as he had never run before, and slid

-for the bag like a human catapult. The ball

-actually reached the catcher ahead of him, but

-such was the force of the slide that when the

-catcher tried to touch him out, the ball was

-knocked from his hand and bounded over the

-grass several feet away. Jim was safe, and the

-score stood 2 to 1 in favor of the Giants!</p>

-

-<p>At that the rooters went wild, and for five

-minutes the racket startled even the hardened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>

-residents of that neighborhood. Jim was surrounded

-by his team mates and pounded and

-thumped enthusiastically. But there was little

-time for this now as the game was not yet finished,

-and was far from being a certainty, as the Pittsburghs

-still had an inning at bat.</p>

-

-<p>Mylert was still at first base, and Curry came

-to the bat next. He did his best, but hit into a

-fast double play, which cut short the Giant rally.</p>

-

-<p>Now it was up to Jim to retain the one-run

-lead that he and his team mates had acquired.

-The Pittsburghs were wild at having the game

-snatched from their grasp so near the end, and

-went to the bat with determination writ large

-on their features.</p>

-

-<p>Now everything depended on Jim. His support

-could not be relied on. He knew that if the

-ball were once delivered into the hands of either

-Hupft or McCarney they would manage in some

-way to mishandle it and let in a run or two. He

-realized that the only sure thing was to keep

-the opposing batsmen from even hitting the ball,

-and to this end he summoned all his resource

-and skill.</p>

-

-<p>His arm still felt strong, and his control was

-little short of marvelous. The first man to face

-him was struck out on three pitched balls, the

-second fouled weakly to Mylert and was put

-out easily. The third man lifted a high fly toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>

-third base. This ball really belonged to

-McCarney, but in an instant Jim resolved to take

-no chances. He started running for the ball at

-the same instant as McCarney.</p>

-

-<p>“It’s my ball! Keep away!” shouted McCarney.</p>

-

-<p>Jim paid no heed. He grabbed the ball as

-it descended and at the same instant collided

-with McCarney. The third baseman was hurled

-sprawling several feet away, but Jim kept his

-feet, although he was badly shaken. But the

-batter was out, and the Giants had won the game.</p>

-

-<p>“Confound you!” growled McCarney, as he

-struggled to his feet. “What do you mean by

-taking that play out of my hands? I’ll get you

-for this, you see if I don’t!”</p>

-

-<p>“You know blamed well why I took it,” retorted

-Jim. “I took it because I couldn’t trust

-you to make a straight play on it. And if you

-want to make a fuss about it I’ll tell the whole

-world the same thing.”</p>

-

-<p>“Aw, you’ve got me wrong,” protested McCarney,

-his threat changing to a whine. “I’ve just

-been running in a streak of bad luck lately, and

-here you and your pal try to hang it on me that

-I’m throwing the games. Lay off, can’t you?”</p>

-

-<p>Jim did not even take the trouble to answer

-this, but made the best of his way to the clubhouse.

-A mob of cheering fans was pouring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>

-down on to the field by this time, and he had to

-hurry his pace in order to escape their attentions.</p>

-

-<p>In the clubhouse there was a hot discussion

-going on over the merits of Jim’s play. The general

-attitude was that “all’s well that ends well,”

-though some thought that Jim should have left

-the play to McCarney. However, the wiser ones

-had been suspicious of the new players of late,

-and could guess pretty accurately the motives that

-had impelled Jim to act as he did. But above all

-else was rejoicing that they had won the game,

-and Jim was the hero of the hour.</p>

-

-<p>The one thought uppermost in the pitcher’s

-mind was to be off in search of his missing friend,

-and he was impatient of delay. As soon as possible

-he slipped out of the clubhouse and set off on

-his difficult quest.</p>

-

-<p>In this he had little to guide him, and he had

-no other plan save to watch for McCarney and

-shadow him, as Joe had done the day before. But

-this was not so simple a matter now, for the recreant

-third baseman had been rendered wary by

-Joe’s discovery of the gamblers’ house, and when

-he came out of the clubhouse he glanced cautiously

-in every direction before he started off at a

-brisk walk in the direction of the nearest subway

-station.</p>

-

-<p>The streets were so crowded, however, that

-Jim managed to escape detection, and in the subway<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>

-boarded the same train as McCarney. The

-latter took a seat inside and Jim stuck to the

-platform, where he could keep an eye on his

-quarry without much likelihood of being seen

-himself.</p>

-

-<p>At Ninety-sixth Street McCarney changed to

-an express, and Jim did likewise. They were

-whisked rapidly downtown. McCarney got off

-at Fourteenth Street, with Jim still on his trail.</p>

-

-<p>From that point McCarney strode rapidly

-westward, and more than once Jim escaped detection

-by a miracle, as McCarney continually

-cast suspicious glances behind him. Eventually

-he reached the street where the gamblers’ house

-was located, and turned down it. Jim waited at

-the corner, as the street was deserted and McCarney

-would be almost certain to see him if he

-turned the corner.</p>

-

-<p>From his post of vantage he saw McCarney

-ascend the steps of the house and ring the bell.

-The door was opened a few inches and the ball

-player held a short conversation with some unseen

-person inside, after which he descended the

-steps and walked rapidly toward the corner where

-Jim was observing his actions.</p>

-

-<p>The latter had only time to dodge into a

-convenient hallway when McCarney passed the

-corner, apparently on his way back to the subway

-station. Jim gave him plenty of time to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>

-get well out of the way before he stepped into

-the street again. He had no definite plan in

-mind as yet, except to get inside the house someway

-and aid his friend to escape, provided he

-was there. But how to get in was the knotty

-problem.</p>

-

-<p>He sauntered down the street and past the

-house, examining it from the corners of his eyes

-without seeming to take undue interest in it, as

-he did not know who might be on the lookout.

-He walked on to the next corner and stood there

-a few minutes, trying to think of a feasible plan.

-He then started back to have another look at the

-place, and had reached a point about opposite

-when a big automobile came sweeping around

-the corner and drew up at the curb only a few

-feet from where he was standing.</p>

-

-<p>The car was filled with a crowd of rough looking

-men. Almost before he could realize what

-was happening, Jim was surrounded and attacked

-by these fellows. He fought desperately, but the

-odds were too great, and he was carried, still

-struggling, to the waiting automobile. Here he

-was pinned to the floor, a gag was stuffed into

-his mouth, and his hands and feet were securely

-tied.</p>

-

-<p>It was hardly two minutes from the time that

-the car drew up before it was again on its way,

-and the dexterity of Jim’s captors spoke of much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>

-practice in similar episodes. The gamblers, finding

-that the removal of Joe from the team was

-not sufficient to cause its defeat, had not hesitated

-to go further and abduct the only other pitching

-ace the team possessed, thus making it practically

-impossible for it to win the pennant.</p>

-

-<p>Meanwhile McRae, not knowing of this fresh

-disaster, was hiring detectives to find Joe and

-trying to plan a series of games in which he might

-employ Jim to the best advantage in the event

-that Joe was not found.</p>

-

-<p>He called at Jim’s hotel that evening to talk

-over matters with him, and when told that Jim

-had not been there since leaving for the ball

-field, he became wildly excited. He hunted up

-Robson, and together they held a conference. In

-the end McRae called up the head of the most

-famous detective agency in the country and, after

-swearing him to secrecy, commissioned him to

-hunt for the missing ball players.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, we’ve done all that we can do just now,

-and we might as well get a night’s sleep,” said

-Robson. “Don’t forget that both Matson and

-Barclay are resourceful lads and know how to

-handle themselves. I wouldn’t be surprised to

-see them both turn up in time for to-morrow’s

-game.”</p>

-

-<p>“If they don’t we’ll lose,” predicted McRae

-gloomily. “The team can’t pull together when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>

-things like this are going on. It’s getting so that

-nobody trusts anybody else on the team, and I

-never yet saw an aggregation of ball players

-win a pennant under those conditions.”</p>

-

-<p>The game next day proved the truth of this

-assertion. Both Joe and Jim were still missing,

-and while Bradley pitched a game that would

-ordinarily have been good enough to win, his

-team mates failed to support him in their usual

-masterly style, and the game was a walkover for

-their opponents, the score being 7 to 0 against

-them. Suspicion was rife on the team and the

-outlook for winning the pennant seemed gloomy

-indeed.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br />

-<small>A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>The interest and speculation caused by the

-disappearance of the two crack pitchers of the

-Giants was at fever pitch. The sporting pages

-of all the papers were filled with special articles

-and the story in many was featured on the first

-page. Fans collected on every street corner and

-discussed the many strange features of the occurrence.

-Many were the ingenious solutions proposed,

-and McRae’s mail in the morning was

-flooded with advice from amateur sportsmen and

-detectives.</p>

-

-<p>All this, however, was of little service to either

-Joe or Jim. After the former had been finally

-overborne by sheer weight of numbers in the

-dark hallway of the gamblers’ house, he was

-conveyed to a dark room in the basement of the

-old building. The place was as dark as pitch,

-and was infested with rats and other vermin.

-For several hours they were his only company,

-and he had ample leisure for some bitter reflections<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>

-on the hard fate that had brought him to

-this pass. Too late he wished that he had summoned

-aid before entering the house. He

-thought of the team waiting for him and counting

-on him for the game the following day, and

-a feeling of hot resentment and rage against his

-captors welled up in him. Following this came

-a resolve to outwit his enemies and escape, and

-with this idea in mind he made a careful exploration

-of the place in which he was confined.</p>

-

-<p>The walls were of stone or cement, and were

-clammy and dripping with water. The air was

-cold and damp, and although in the world outside

-it was a lovely summer evening, Joe shivered in

-the dark atmosphere of his prison.</p>

-

-<p>The hours dragged slowly by, for what seemed

-an interminable time, and Joe was preparing to

-make a bed on the floor and get what sleep he

-could under the circumstances, when he heard the

-sound of a key being turned in a lock. The door

-of the place opened on complaining hinges, and

-the big, flashily dressed man who had directed

-his capture in the hallway entered, carrying a

-lantern. At his back came two rough looking

-men, each carrying a club.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, young feller, you seem to have got

-yourself into a nice mess now, haven’t you?”

-inquired the fat man.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“You mean you’ve got me into it,” retorted

-Joe. “I’m not here because I want to be here.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, don’t get gay, now, or maybe we can

-make you wish you hadn’t,” threatened the other.

-“All you’ve got to do is to follow the directions

-we give you, and you won’t get hurt.”</p>

-

-<p>“If you didn’t have those ruffians with you,

-you might get hurt yourself,” said Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“I brought them along on purpose so that

-wouldn’t happen, young feller,” said the other.

-“After watching you in action upstairs a while

-back, I’m ready to admit that you know how

-to handle yourself, but I don’t propose to have

-you make a punching bag of me.”</p>

-

-<p>“What is it you want me to do?” asked Joe

-curtly. “I can probably tell you in advance that

-I won’t do it, but it won’t hurt to listen to you.”</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t see that you have much choice,” said

-his captor. “But I don’t think I’ll tell you what

-I want you to do—not yet. Maybe a night in

-this hole will make you readier to listen to reason.

-The rats are rather thick down here, and I

-imagine by to-morrow you’ll be glad to get out

-on any terms. I wouldn’t like it much here myself.”</p>

-

-<p>The two fellows behind the speaker laughed

-hoarsely at this attempt at humor.</p>

-

-<p>“Better let us tap him a few wid de persuaders,

-boss,” said one. “The feller is too fresh. I kin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>

-see that with half an eye. Let’s rough ’im up a

-bit.”</p>

-

-<p>The leader seemed undetermined, but finally

-decided against this.</p>

-

-<p>“A night in this place will fix him, all right,”

-he said. “If it don’t, there are lots of other

-ways to make him act nice. When my bunch

-wants a man to do something, he does it, or he’s

-mighty sorry, that’s all.”</p>

-

-<p>With this the fellow turned, followed by the

-two with him. For an instant Joe had a mad

-impulse to attack the trio, but he was weaponless,

-and he told himself that better opportunities of

-escape were sure to offer. The door creaked on

-its rusty hinges, a lock snapped, and he was left

-alone with his thoughts.</p>

-

-<p>Needless to say, these were not of the pleasantest

-description. What was it that the fellow

-wanted of him? Whatever it was, Joe felt sure

-that it would be something with which he could

-not honorably comply, and he was ready to face

-any hardship before doing a dishonorable thing.</p>

-

-<p>That night stood out in his memory ever

-after like some horrible nightmare. He was

-badly bruised from the effects of his fall and the

-struggle that followed, and besides was cold and

-hungry. He craved sleep, but sleep in that rat-ridden

-den was impossible. He could hear the

-rats scurrying about in the darkness, and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>

-than once he felt the nip of small but sharp teeth

-as he flung some rodent away from him. As the

-night wore on the rats became bolder in their

-attacks, and it was all Joe could do to ward them

-off. Every hour seemed like an eternity, and it

-was with boundless relief that he at last heard

-the key turn in the lock.</p>

-

-<p>This time there were three different men from

-those he had seen the night before, but he recognized

-two of them as having been among his

-assailants the previous day. The third man he

-had never seen before.</p>

-

-<p>“The boss wants to see you upstairs,” said

-this individual. “He sent us to take you up.”</p>

-

-<p>“Lead the way,” said Joe. “Any place is

-better than this filthy den.”</p>

-

-<p>The man eyed him curiously.</p>

-

-<p>“Say, you’re Matson, the pitcher of the Giants,

-ain’t you?” he asked, with a note of surprise in

-his voice.</p>

-

-<p>“You’re right the first time,” Joe assured him.

-“Anything I can do for you?”</p>

-

-<p>The other made no reply to this, but merely

-motioned to Joe to follow him. They passed

-through a long cellar and then up a flight of stairs

-that let them into the rear of the hall where

-Joe had had the battle the previous day. Then

-they climbed the main staircase, and Joe was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>

-conducted into the room where the rascals had

-been congregated.</p>

-

-<p>The leader of the gang was there, in company

-with another man whose face seemed

-familiar to Joe from the first. He could not

-place the man, however, and had little time to

-think of this before the ringleader spoke.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, young feller, how did you enjoy the

-night?” he asked, and there was a cruel leer

-on his big, flabby face.</p>

-

-<p>“You know well enough what that place is like

-without my telling you,” said Joe. “Tell me what

-your game is and let’s get it over with. You

-won’t gain anything by putting it off.”</p>

-

-<p>The other regarded him searchingly for a few

-moments.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, in your case, perhaps not,” he said at

-last. “What you have got to do is to sign a paper

-saying that you won’t play baseball again this

-season. You sign the paper, and you walk out

-the door a free man.”</p>

-

-<p>“And what if I refuse?” asked Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“Then you’re going toward the river. There’s

-too much of our money sunk in this game now

-to let us hesitate about what happens to one baseball

-player more or less.”</p>

-

-<p>“You must have a lot of confidence in me,”

-said Joe. “Suppose I sign this paper and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>

-go right ahead and play ball anyway? What’s

-to stop me from doing that?”</p>

-

-<p>“Say, son, you must think we’re easy!” he said.

-“When you sign this paper it will tie the can to

-your career as a ball player. In it you’ll admit

-that you threw several games last season, and this

-for pay. You’ll name the dates and the games,

-and we’ll have other framed evidence to back

-it up. Oh, you won’t play any more games this

-season—nor any other season, I guess. But if

-you <em>don’t</em> sign this paper, you won’t play any

-more games, either,” he added significantly.</p>

-

-<p>For the first time the full measure of his extremity

-dawned on Joe. On the one hand he

-was asked to sign a paper that would disgrace him

-and make him an outcast in the eyes of the world—such

-a paper as no decent man would care to

-sign and live after signing it. And if he did not

-sign, there might be even death waiting for him,

-without the chance of saying good-by to his young

-wife and to his parents and friends, certainly such

-an injury as would forever put him out of baseball.

-Of the two hard alternatives he quickly

-made his choice.</p>

-

-<p>“I guess it will have to be the river for mine,

-then,” he said, in a steady voice. “You can rest

-assured I won’t sign any such blackguard paper

-as that.”</p>

-

-<p>The ringleader gave an exclamation.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Take him back to the cellar, men,” he

-ordered. “You can have until to-night to change

-your mind, young feller. If you don’t do what

-I want you to then, you—well, you’ll take the

-consequences, that’s all.”</p>

-

-<p>The others closed in on Joe to take him away,

-but Joe wrenched himself free and with a movement

-like that of a leaping panther he was at

-the scoundrel. His fist shot out and caught the

-fellow squarely between the eyes. A look of

-vacant surprise spread over the flabby features

-and the man crumpled to the floor.</p>

-

-<p>Before Joe could strike another blow his hands

-were pinned to his sides, and he was hustled out

-of the room on the way to the subterranean cell.</p>

-

-<p>“You couldn’t have done a worse thing than

-that, Matson,” said the man who had recognized

-him as being the Giants’ pitcher. “The boss will

-have it in for you worse than ever now. It’ll be

-personal hate, as well as money.”</p>

-

-<p>“He’d probably do his worst, anyway, and

-that will give him something to remember me

-by,” said Joe grimly.</p>

-

-<p>“You’ve got nerve, kid. I’ve got to hand it

-to you,” said the other. “I’m sorry they’ve got

-you slated for the river. I used to be a ball

-player myself once, and I guess I’ve got some

-idea of how you feel about it.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe paid little attention to the man’s words,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>

-for his mind was busy trying to place the man

-whom he had seen when he first entered the room

-upstairs. He was sure he had seen him somewhere.</p>

-

-<p>His captors conducted him to the room in

-the cellar, thrust him in, and locked the door.

-Joe felt that he might perhaps go to his death

-when that door opened in the evening. The men

-were desperate. They planned injury, and a

-step too far— A crowd of thoughts and memories

-came thronging through his mind. A bitter

-end, this, to his work for fame and fortune.</p>

-

-<p>But was there, in fact, no chance of escape

-from that dark pit? He paced to the wall and

-started to examine every square inch of it with

-his fingers. Nothing but hard, smooth cement

-met his search, and after an hour of fruitless

-effort he was about to give over the attempt when

-he heard a stealthy, scratching sound from the

-direction of the door.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br />

-<small>THE ESCAPE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>The scratching sound continued, and then Joe

-could hear the sound of the lock being stealthily

-shot back. But why should his captors exercise

-such caution? There was dead silence for a

-few seconds, and then the door swung slowly

-open, letting in a dim, sickly light from the cellar

-beyond.</p>

-

-<p>This slow approach of some unseen person

-was beginning to get on Joe’s nerves, and he was

-about to utter a challenge when a sibilant whisper

-warned him to be quiet.</p>

-

-<p>The door was now open a foot or so, and a

-dark figure edged itself into the room. Joe stood

-tense, waiting for the attack that he thought was

-coming.</p>

-

-<p>But no attack came. Instead, a tiny shaft of

-light, reflected from a flashlight in the newcomer’s

-hand, lit the place dimly. By its rays

-Joe recognized the man who had said that he

-used to be a ball player and who had seemed to

-take an interest in him.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Don’t make a sound, Matson,” he warned.

-“If they catch me, there’ll be two of us in a

-desperate plight to-night, instead of one. The

-big chief has sworn to get you to-night, and he’d

-just as soon knock me out at the same time.”</p>

-

-<p>“What has he got against you?” asked Joe

-curiously.</p>

-

-<p>“Nothing yet. But he would have if he knew

-I was helping you escape.”</p>

-

-<p>“Escape!” echoed Joe, hardly willing to believe

-his ears. “Do you really mean that you’re

-going to help me get away from this place?”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s what,” averred the other. “I’m taking

-my life in my hands to do it, but I couldn’t

-stand by and let them injure—or worse—a game

-ball player like you. I’ve seen you pitch more

-than once, and you’re too good to have a fate

-like that. I told you I used to be a ball player

-myself, before drink put me down and out. But

-we can’t waste time talking here. Follow me, and

-I’ll see if I can get you out.”</p>

-

-<p>He led Joe through the cellar until they

-reached the stairs leading to the first floor. They

-had started to ascend when the guide stopped,

-and Joe could hear voices from above. Joe

-recognized the voice of the leader, raised in

-angry protest.</p>

-

-<p>“I’m not going to argue with you any more

-now,” he shouted. “The bunch will be at Bill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>

-Davendorp’s to-night, and we’ll hash out the

-whole thing then and make our plans. If that

-doesn’t suit you, I can’t help it.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe could not hear what the other man said,

-but he apparently spoke soothingly, and their

-voices dropped to an indistinguishable monotone.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll have to get you out another way,” whispered

-Joe’s guide.</p>

-

-<p>He noiselessly descended the steps to the cellar,

-with Joe at his heels. They had not gone far

-when Joe’s guide stopped at a stout door set in

-the cellar wall and fitted a key into the lock.

-Cautiously he swung the door open and then for

-a full minute stood listening intently.</p>

-

-<p>In the silence Joe could hear the wash and lap

-of water at no great distance, and the thought

-flashed across his mind that perhaps this man

-was leading him into some death trap. But he

-was totally in the power of the man, who had

-only to shout to bring members of the gang to

-his assistance. Joe resolved to follow him unhesitatingly,

-since, after all, it seemed his only

-chance.</p>

-

-<p>After listening for some time, the ex-ball

-player apparently decided that the way was clear,

-for he motioned to Joe to follow him. They

-entered the black tunnel, for such it seemed to be,

-and went slowly forward, the path being dimly

-lighted by the little flashlight. The walls were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>

-wet and moldy, and there was hardly room for

-one man to pass along. Ever as they walked the

-splash and gurgle of running water came nearer,

-until, after rounding a corner, Joe saw the cause.</p>

-

-<p>The tunnel ended at the river, only a foot or

-two above the high water mark. The tide was

-at flow, and the waters of the mighty Hudson

-raced and swirled past, moaning and gurgling

-about the piles of an old dock under which the

-tunnel had its exit. Joe could not repress a

-shudder as he gazed at the green water lapping

-past almost under his feet, for he reflected that

-possibly he had been close to an ignominious

-death in its cold depths.</p>

-

-<p>“There are spikes driven into the far side of

-that pile,” said Joe’s rescuer, indicating a slippery

-green post to the right of the tunnel. “When you

-get to the top you’ll find a trap door that will let

-you out on the dock. From there you can easily

-enough reach the street. Then see how fast you

-can get away from this neighborhood. And one

-more thing: Take a little advice and don’t go

-around alone much for the rest of the baseball

-season.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe extended his hand.</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t even know your name,” he said, “but

-I know you’re a real man in spite of the set you’re

-running with. Why don’t you shake them and

-play the game on the level? If I can ever help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>

-you with cash or in any other way, all you’ll ever

-have to do is to say so. I owe my whole future

-to you.”</p>

-

-<p>The other took the extended hand.</p>

-

-<p>“Your dope sounds good, kid, and maybe

-I’ll do it,” he said. “But don’t think about me

-any more. Go in and bring your team out at

-the top of the heap, and I’ll be paid for my

-trouble. I used to belong to the Giants once.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe wanted to ask him more, but the man only

-waved his hand and disappeared in the black

-mouth of the tunnel. Joe felt for the spikes in

-the slippery pile and found them just as his

-rescuer had said. Three minutes later he was

-standing on the hot planks of the dock, the

-glorious summer sun beating down on him, deep

-joy and thanksgiving in his heart.</p>

-

-<p>The dock was deserted, and Joe started for

-the landward end, on his guard for any sign of

-his enemies. But nothing occurred to hinder him,

-and in a few minutes he had reached West Street.

-Here he turned south for a few blocks and then

-east until he reached a subway station. Here he

-boarded a subway train that would take him to

-the Polo Grounds.</p>

-

-<p>As the train whizzed uptown it almost seemed

-to Joe as though he had been through a terrible

-dream, from which he had just awakened. In his

-ears was still the voice of the man, saying:</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“The gang will meet at Bill Davendorp’s to-night

-and we’ll make our plans then.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe had heard of this Davendorp before. He

-was a shady character, known to the police but

-never actually convicted of any crime. He was

-the proprietor of “Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors,”

-a resort much frequented by people who

-led an evil life.</p>

-

-<p>Already Joe was beginning to revolve plans in

-his mind for discovering the schemes of the plotters,

-but, warned by his recent terrible experience,

-he had no intention of going into the venture

-single-handed. He planned to tell the whole

-story to McRae and leave the matter to the

-greater experience and resources of the manager.</p>

-

-<p>When Joe entered the clubhouse a shout went

-up that brought McRae and Robson on the run,

-under the impression that a riot had broken out.

-Joe was bombarded with questions from every

-side, and the delight of his team mates passed all

-bounds. It was some time before McRae and

-Robson could drag him away to the former’s office,

-where Joe gave a complete account of his

-harrowing experiences.</p>

-

-<p>“But how about Jim?” asked McRae, when

-Joe had finished. “Wasn’t he with you?”</p>

-

-<p>“Jim?” exclaimed Joe. “Don’t tell me that

-the gang has got him, too!”</p>

-

-<p>“It looks that way,” said the manager grimly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>

-“He went in search of you the day following your

-disappearance, and nobody’s seen nor heard from

-him since.”</p>

-

-<p>This news came as a terrible blow to Joe and

-put a damper on his happiness at his own escape.

-But he resolved to hunt for his missing friend

-right away.</p>

-

-<p>This was not so easy, however, as news of his

-arrival had gone out on to the field and spread to

-grandstand and bleachers, where the greatest excitement

-prevailed. Joe had to go out and show

-himself, whereupon the fans rose and gave him a

-greeting that any one might have been proud to

-receive as a tribute. They all wanted Joe to pitch

-the game that afternoon, but McRae would not

-hear of it.</p>

-

-<p>“After what you’ve been through, Matson, you

-need a good rest before you’ll be ready to pitch

-again. Take the afternoon off, and forget about

-baseball for that length of time.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a><br />

-<small>DOWN THE ROPE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>It was not easy for Joe to “forget about baseball,”

-but the thought of his chum in captivity,

-perhaps as bad as that from which he himself had

-just escaped, did much to take his mind from the

-game that he loved so well.</p>

-

-<p>How was he to find out where Jim was held

-captive? New York is a tremendously big city,

-and Joe had not the faintest clue on which to

-work. McCarney would be likely to know something

-about it, Joe thought, but if he did there

-was little hope of getting the information out of

-him.</p>

-

-<p>Joe decided that the first step would be to go

-to his hotel, get a bath and put on some respectable

-clothes before starting the hunt for Jim. The

-clothes he had on were torn and bedraggled, and

-when he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror

-he realized that he looked more like a tramp than

-the spruce star pitcher of the New York Giants.</p>

-

-<p>When he arrived at the family hotel the clerk,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>

-a young woman, threw up her hands in mingled

-wonder at his unkempt appearance and delight at

-his return. She had a keen interest in both Joe

-and Jim, and had been sorely grieved at their disappearance.</p>

-

-<p>Joe gave her a brief sketch of his experience

-and told her that Jim was still missing.</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, that reminds me!” exclaimed the clerk.

-“A note came from Mr. Barclay not an hour ago,

-and as you weren’t here I was going to call up

-Mr. McRae and tell him about it.”</p>

-

-<p>“A note from Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Who

-brought it? Let’s have a look at it.”</p>

-

-<p>The clerk turned to her desk, and finally produced

-a crumpled scrap of paper.</p>

-

-<p>“There it is,” she said, handing it to Joe. “It

-was brought by the dirtiest boy I ever saw. He

-said that he saw it thrown out of a window, and

-when he saw that it was addressed to Joe Matson

-he pretty near killed himself to bring it here. He

-seemed awfully disappointed when I told him you

-weren’t here. He talked to me the longest while

-about what a wonderful pitcher you were, and it

-was all I could do to get rid of him. I never could

-understand why people think it’s such a wonderful

-thing to be able to throw a baseball around,”

-and she smiled.</p>

-

-<p>But Joe did not hear a word that she was saying.

-He was engrossed in the note, which had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>

-been scribbled on a torn piece of brown wrapping

-paper.</p>

-

-<div class="blockquot">

-

-<p>“The crooks have got me in a house opposite

-to number 821 East 17th St. Am taking a chance

-that you’ve got clear and can help me. Come if

-you can. <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Jim.</span>”</span></p>

-</div>

-

-<p>“Will I!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll tell the world!”

-and he bounded up the stairs to his room.</p>

-

-<p>“Tell the world what?” called the clerk after

-him, but she got no answer. Joe scrubbed the

-worst of the dirt off his hands and face, jumped

-into another suit of clothes, and was out the door

-like a shot, much to the disappointment of the

-young woman clerk, who was consumed with curiosity

-to know his plans.</p>

-

-<p>As a matter of fact, Joe did not have any definite

-plan, but his friend had called on him for aid

-and his one thought was to fly to his assistance.

-The idea uppermost in his mind was to locate the

-building, reconnoiter it, and then see what he

-could do. It seemed hours before he finally got

-out of the subway at East Eighteenth Street, although

-really the trip was a short one. He walked

-rapidly in the direction of the East River, scanning

-the house numbers as he went.</p>

-

-<p>It did not take him long to find the address that

-Jim had scribbled in his note. Opposite this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>

-house was a big building that looked as though it

-had once been used as a warehouse. There

-seemed to be no sign of life about it now, however.

-There were few windows, and most of these were

-tightly boarded up.</p>

-

-<p>Joe scanned the front anxiously, wondering if

-the note had been a fake after all. Even if Jim

-were in the place, how could he let Joe know it?</p>

-

-<p>These and many other doubts passed through

-Joe’s mind as he stood looking at the high, drab

-wall of the place. But suddenly, from a small

-window close to the roof, a hand was waved and

-a moment later Joe saw the face of his friend

-framed in the opening.</p>

-

-<p>Joe waved back to him, and a few minutes later

-he saw a bit of paper come fluttering down. Joe

-picked it up almost before it had touched the

-roadway and scanned its contents.</p>

-

-<p>“Be careful, Joe, and whatever you do, don’t

-call the police,” read the note. “If this place is

-raided, the first thing they’ll do is get me out of

-the way. Try and get a rope up to me some way.

-If you can’t, it will be bad for me.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe measured the height of the window with

-his eye. It was at least one hundred feet from

-the ground, but suddenly Joe had an inspiration.</p>

-

-<p>He waved his hand to let Jim know that he had

-gotten the note and understood, and then walked

-at top speed toward Second Avenue. After a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>

-further walk of a few short blocks, he saw a small

-hardware store. He purchased a long coil of

-stout hemp rope and a ball of light but strong

-twine. Then in a small stationery store he bought

-a baseball, and with his newly acquired property

-he hurried back to the place where his friend was

-held prisoner.</p>

-

-<p>Fortunately for Joe’s project, that part of the

-city, close to the East River, is a quiet neighborhood,

-far removed from the roaring tides of traffic

-that go surging up and down the main avenues.

-The inhabitants of that neighborhood are prone

-to mind their own business, and while several people

-whom he passed looked curiously at his unusual

-equipment, no embarrassing questions were

-asked. The old warehouse was the last building

-between the street and the river, and when Joe got

-to it the street seemed deserted, for which he was

-duly grateful.</p>

-

-<p>Taking the baseball from his pocket, he wound

-it firmly about with twine and then attached a

-long string of that material to it. While he was

-making these preparations, he could see Jim peering

-from the little window, and he knew that his

-friend would quickly understand his plan.</p>

-

-<p>Joe carefully measured the distance with his

-eye, wound up, and pitched the ball with all his

-strength toward the small opening high in the

-wall. It struck within a few inches of the window,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>

-but bounded off and bounced down into the street.

-Joe picked it up, untangled the twine, and tried

-again. This time the ball went right through the

-center of the open window. The throw must have

-been all of a hundred feet from the sidewalk to

-the window, and in addition the ball was weighted

-with the trailing twine. It is doubtful if any other

-pitcher in the big leagues could have equaled the

-wonderful throw. Joe, however, never gave the

-matter a thought. Jim had one end of the twine,

-and Joe was elated that his scheme had been successful

-so far.</p>

-

-<p>He glanced cautiously about, but as far as he

-could tell his actions had not attracted any attention.

-Half way up the block a few people were

-going in and out of the shabby tenement houses,

-but they took no notice of him. However, he

-judged it wise to wait a few minutes before proceeding

-farther, and so sat down on his coil of

-rope and whittled nonchalantly at a sliver of

-wood. The thin string hanging down the front

-of the old warehouse would never be noticed from

-the street, and Joe felt reasonably secure so far.</p>

-

-<p>After about ten minutes of waiting there came

-a time when the street was again almost deserted,

-and Joe was not slow in taking advantage of this.

-Crossing swiftly over, he attached the end of the

-one-inch hemp line to the twine, and gave a gentle

-pull to let Jim know that everything was all right.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>The latter had grasped Joe’s idea as soon as

-the baseball with the twine attached came bounding

-into the room. Now, when he felt the tug on

-the cord, he pulled the rope up hand over hand,

-and soon had the end in the room. There were

-several big hooks in the room, and he quickly

-fastened the cord to one of these. This done, he

-prepared to essay the perilous descent.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a><br />

-<small>SCATTERING THE RASCALS</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>It required nerve to climb out on the narrow

-window sill and trust his life to that swaying rope,

-but Jim was plentifully equipped with that article,

-and he hesitated not a second. He twisted the

-rope several times about one leg, so as to take

-some of the strain off his arms, and then started

-sliding slowly down.</p>

-

-<p>Down on the sidewalk, Joe held the lower end

-of the rope, to prevent its swinging, and gazed

-anxiously up at his friend. One false move or a

-moment of dizziness, and Jim would be dashed

-to death on the paving.</p>

-

-<p>So engrossed was Joe in watching his chum that

-he forgot to watch for anything else, and he was

-not conscious of the presence of a man who had

-come out of the warehouse a moment before and

-who now stood gazing in stupefied silence at the

-sight that met his eyes.</p>

-

-<p>His period of inaction, however, did not last

-long. With a startled shout he sprang into action<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>

-and dashed back into the building, calling at the

-top of his lungs.</p>

-

-<p>Jim was still less than half way down, and Joe

-gazed desperately about in the hope of assistance.</p>

-

-<p>There was none in sight. Jim had heard the

-man’s shout, and, knowing that his actions were

-discovered, slid down the rope at increased speed.

-But he was still thirty or forty feet from the sidewalk

-when the man who had raised the alarm

-dashed out, followed by three others. They made

-furiously for Joe, and he let go the rope and

-rushed to meet them. He knew that he would

-have to beat them off until Jim could join him.</p>

-

-<p>The fellows did not recognize Joe, and they

-were chiefly concerned lest Jim should escape

-them. They tried to get at the rope, but Joe

-would not have it so. Hot rage boiled up in him

-at the thought of the unprovoked attacks on him

-and his friend. He saw red, and the four ruffians

-were staggered by the force and fury of his onslaught.

-They gave back momentarily, then returned

-to the attack.</p>

-

-<p>One of them had a club in his hand. He edged

-behind Joe, waiting for a chance to use it. The

-weapon was poised in readiness for a blow when

-its owner was sent sprawling to the ground. Jim

-stood at his friend’s side.</p>

-

-<p>He also had the memory of recent wrongs and

-insults to avenge, and together the two friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>

-charged into their assailants, striking right and

-left and feeling a fierce joy as their flailing fists

-smashed and battered at their shrinking opponents.</p>

-

-<p>But reënforcements were at hand for the ball

-players’ opponents. With a yell, three more fellows

-dashed out of the warehouse and charged

-into the fray.</p>

-

-<p>“Time for a getaway, Jim,” panted Joe, realizing

-that these odds were too great. As he spoke,

-he saw the club that one of the ruffians had

-dropped lying on the sidewalk. Like a flash he

-picked it up and laid about him like a madman.

-As his weapon landed with terrific force, the

-scoundrels momentarily gave ground.</p>

-

-<p>“Come on, Jim!” shouted Joe, and the two

-friends charged through the ring of assailants like

-a couple of maddened bulls.</p>

-

-<p>Then they took to their heels, with the rascals

-after them. But the latter were no match for

-fleet base runners like the two Giant ball players.

-Reaching the corner, the two boys raced up the

-avenue a block or so, but the ruffians appeared to

-have given up the pursuit, and they slowed down

-to a walk.</p>

-

-<p>They kept up a rapid pace, however, and did

-not feel secure until they were seated in a subway

-train and speeding uptown.</p>

-

-<p>Both of them bore signs of the struggle they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>

-had been through, but they little minded this nor

-the curious stares of the other passengers. They

-were both safe, after having gone through adventures

-that might well have ended in tragedy for

-one or both.</p>

-

-<p>Joe looked at his friend, and Jim looked at him.

-Then they both grinned.</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t blame people for looking at us as

-though we were a couple of freaks,” said Joe. “If

-I look as bunged up as you do, Jim, I must be

-a terrible sight.”</p>

-

-<p>“You are,” said Jim frankly. “I guess I am

-too, though. And make out my hands aren’t

-sore!” and he exhibited two blistered palms.

-“After that gang came swarming out of the house

-I slid down that rope so fast that it smoked.”</p>

-

-<p>“You didn’t get down a minute too soon,” answered

-Joe. “But your hands look pretty bad.

-I’m afraid you won’t be able to pitch for a week,

-at the least.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, if I hadn’t slid down fast, I’d probably

-never have pitched again at any time,” said Jim.

-“A few blisters are a cheap price to pay to get

-away from that gang.”</p>

-

-<p>“Don’t forget the rope that I contributed,” Joe

-reminded him. “Not to mention the baseball.”</p>

-

-<p>“That was some rock,” said Jim. “When it

-landed in the room I thought it would go through

-the floor. I’ve got to hand it to you for thinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>

-up that scheme, Joe. Likewise, that was a wonderful

-throw you made, up to the window. When

-I saw you winding up for it, I never thought you’d

-make it.”</p>

-

-<p>“It was a case of where I had to make it,” said

-Joe. “Anyway, I think I could have hoisted it a

-little higher if I’d had to. You can never tell

-what you can do till you try. But now tell me

-how you happened to get in that place. I’ll bet

-they had a scrimmage before they persuaded you

-to make them a visit.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, I can’t claim much of a battle, at that,”

-confessed Jim. “I trailed you to that house on

-the West Side, and I was trying to think up a plan

-to get inside when a big automobile came along

-and stopped right near me. I didn’t think much

-of it, but the next thing I knew a crowd of six or

-seven rascals landed on my devoted head and I

-went down for the count. They carried me over

-to that joint near the East River, and locked me

-in a little room on the top floor. I’d have had to

-be a human fly to get out, and I guess they thought

-they had me safely cooped up.”</p>

-

-<p>“Did they want you to sign a framed-up paper

-that would have run you out of the game?” asked

-Joe. “That’s what they handed me.”</p>

-

-<p>“That was the idea, all right,” replied his

-friend. “Of course I refused, and then they told

-me I could starve until I came around to their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>

-terms. I haven’t had anything to eat in twenty-four

-hours, and, believe me, a nice beefsteak

-would be mighty easy to take.”</p>

-

-<p>“Good night!” exclaimed Joe. “Why didn’t

-you get something before we got on the sub train?

-They don’t run dining cars on this line.”</p>

-

-<p>“I guess I was too excited to think about it,”

-said Jim. “I’m getting more starved every second,

-though. Let’s get off at the next station and

-hunt up a restaurant.”</p>

-

-<p>“Fine! I could take a little nourishment myself,”

-said Joe, and at the next station they proceeded

-to put this plan into effect.</p>

-

-<p>While Jim was ordering a meal that made the

-waiter gasp, Joe slipped out to a telephone and

-got McRae on the wire. The delight and excitement

-of the manager was manifest over the wire,

-and Joe promised to report with Jim as soon as

-they had eaten.</p>

-

-<p>When he got back to the table Jim, unable to

-await his coming, had already started, and Joe

-was treated to an unusual exhibition of eating.

-His friend finished one large steak and called for

-another. The waiter looked scandalized, but he

-filled the order nevertheless.</p>

-

-<p>When Jim at last finished and leaned back to

-drink a cup of black coffee, Joe solemnly extended

-his hand across the table.</p>

-

-<p>“Shake, old man,” he said, with feeling. “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>

-never knew any man could pack away food like

-that and live to tell the story. I used to think I

-was fairly good myself, but now I’ve got to admit

-that I’m not even in your class.”</p>

-

-<p>“I always knew that, but I never thought you’d

-come around to my way of thinking,” answered

-Jim with a grin. “I feel now as though I could

-lick my weight in wildcats. Let’s go back and

-clean out that joint on Seventeenth Street.”</p>

-

-<p>“You can go if you’re looking for a quick

-death,” said Joe. “Personally, I’d just as soon

-live a little longer. Besides, I’ve promised McRae

-that we’ll report to him as soon as possible.

-Those hands of yours need a doctor’s attention,

-too.”</p>

-

-<p>“They can still handle a knife and fork,” said

-Jim complacently.</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim found McRae at his hotel, but he

-would not listen to a word until he had taken Jim

-to a doctor and his hands were swathed in white

-bandages. Then they went back to the hotel, and

-the manager listened to Jim’s story, with many

-grunts and interjections and angry mutterings.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a><br />

-<small>LARRY HAS HIS SAY</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“I’m so glad to have both of you back, safe and

-sound, that I can’t sit down right now and figure

-out the best way to punish those scoundrels,”

-McRae said, when the recital was ended. “You’ve

-both shown wonderful pluck and nerve, and I’m

-proud of you. I’d have given quite a few dollars

-to have been around when that scrap down by the

-East River started. I haven’t been in a real good

-fracas for a long time, and it would surely have

-been a pleasure to have landed on one or two of

-those rascals. You must have put up a peach of

-a scrap to get away from them as neatly as you

-did.”</p>

-

-<p>“It’s a wonder they didn’t start some gun play,”

-remarked Joe. “We’d have been out of luck for

-fair if they had.”</p>

-

-<p>“I imagine they wanted to capture you both,

-rather than settle your hash for good,” observed

-the manager.</p>

-

-<p>“If you don’t mind, Mac,” said Joe, getting to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>

-his feet, “I think we’d better go to our hotel and

-get cleaned up. Jim says I look as bad as he does,

-but I’d hate to believe it.”</p>

-

-<p>“Go on!” exclaimed his friend. “You look

-worse. I guess it won’t hurt either of us to have

-a bath, though, and get some decent clothes on.

-I’ve got to admit that we both look a little mussed

-up.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, beat it along, and look out for those

-hands of yours, Jim,” said McRae. “I want to

-get you back into the box just as soon as I can.

-That last game you pitched is still being talked

-about by the fans, and I want you to repeat the

-performance.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll do the best I can,” promised Jim. “I don’t

-see where there was anything so wonderful about

-that game, though. I was just trying to pitch as

-well as I knew Joe would have done if he had been

-there.”</p>

-

-<p>“Thanks for the compliment,” laughed Joe.

-“But I haven’t heard about that game yet, Jim.

-On the way home you’ve got to tell me about it.”</p>

-

-<p>“All right, I will. But let’s beat it now,” said

-his friend, and the two said good-by to McRae

-and headed for their hotel. Joe insisted on Jim’s

-telling him the details of the last game when Jim

-had pitched to victory, and he chuckled with satisfaction

-when his friend told him about the way

-he had bowled McCarney over.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“You had the right dope, all right,” declared

-Joe. “I’ll bet that shady ball player was all set

-to muff that fly and then blame it on the sun getting

-in his eyes. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s

-pulled that excuse, but it’s beginning to wear

-pretty thin.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, that’s what I figured,” agreed Jim. “I

-couldn’t afford to take a chance right then. We

-needed that game too badly. It’s a wonder to me,

-though, that I pitched as well as I did, I was

-worrying so about you all the time.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, I might have had an off day and gotten

-knocked out of the box, so maybe it was a lucky

-thing for the team that I wasn’t there,” said Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll take a chance on you any time, old scout,”

-declared Jim. “But here we are at the old hangout,

-and make out our lady clerk won’t be surprised

-to see us come walking in together.”</p>

-

-<p>The interested woman was surprised, indeed,

-and delighted as well. She fairly deluged them

-with questions, which they answered as well as

-they could. McRae had warned them to keep

-their experiences to themselves, for a while, at

-least, but they told the clerk as much as they could

-and evaded the other questions. At last they succeeded

-in satisfying her curiosity to some extent,

-and went on upstairs to their rooms. Their bathroom

-was equipped with a shower bath, and they

-fairly reveled in this. Then, when each had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>

-donned a complete set of fresh clothing, they felt

-almost “one hundred per cent efficient,” as Jim

-put it, although his hands still bothered him a

-good deal.</p>

-

-<p>“You’ll have to take my turn at pitching as well

-as your own, Joe,” he said ruefully. “I’m afraid

-I shan’t be able to handle a ball for a week, at

-least.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, I’m the boy that can do it,” said his

-friend confidently. “I feel as though I could pitch

-a double header right now and never be any the

-worse for it. It’s one of my ambitions to do it

-some day, too.”</p>

-

-<p>“It looks as though you might have the chance,

-all right,” remarked Jim. “But there’s somebody

-at the door. Let him in, Joe; you’re nearest

-to it.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe did so, and they were both delighted to see

-Larry Barrett standing on the threshold. He

-rushed in, delighted at seeing them, and they all

-shook hands joyously.</p>

-

-<p>“Glory be, but it’s glad Oi am to see you both

-again!” he exclaimed. “Shure, an’ we thought

-you’d both been bumped off, fur good, when ye

-neither one showed up for practice. Phwat in the

-name of all that’s good have ye been doin’ wid

-yerselves?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, just off on a little vacation,” said Jim,

-airily. “It looked at one time as though it might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>

-turn into a permanent one, but they say ‘only the

-good die young,’ and that probably explains why

-we’re still decorating the landscape.”</p>

-

-<p>“It’s happy Oi am that ye’re both back,” said

-the jovial Irishman. “Shure, an’ the Giants would

-soon have been in the cellar position if ye hadn’t

-got back pretty soon.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, we’re not as important as all that,” protested

-Joe. “There was a Giant team before we

-were ever heard of, and chances are there will be

-one after we’re buried and forgotten. The team

-is right up among the leaders, and they ought to

-be able to cop the pennant, anyway.”</p>

-

-<p>“Up wid the leaders is right, me bye, but stayin’

-there is another matter,” said Larry. “Why is

-ut that when we’re wid the leaders, as you so truly

-remarked but a short time ago, that everybody’s

-bettin’ against us? It looks as though some of

-the baseball sharps wuz bankin’ pretty heavy on

-the Giants losin’ the pennant. Am Oi right or

-am Oi not?”</p>

-

-<p>“The gamblers don’t know everything, not by

-a long shot,” observed Jim. “Often their plans

-slip up on a banana peel. Don’t they, Joe?”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, once in a while,” replied his friend, grinning.

-“But, anyway, Larry, here we are back in

-the game, so what do you suppose the gamblers

-will do now?”</p>

-

-<p>“Faith, an’ Oi think if it’s wise they are, they’ll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>

-bet on the Giants, instid of aginst thim,” said

-Larry. “We’ll wipe up the diamond wid thim

-other teams now. That is,” he added, “if we

-don’t git double crossed by some of the fellers on

-our own team. That’s the thing that’s worryin’

-me now, an’ Oi don’t care who knows it.”</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim exchanged glances.</p>

-

-<p>“Whom do you mean?” asked the former.</p>

-

-<p>“An’ who should Oi mean but thim two, McCarney

-an’ Hupft?” demanded Larry, in a belligerent

-tone. “You fellers know who Oi mean,

-well enough. For phwat did ye take that pop fly

-away from McCarney the other day, Jim, if ut

-wasn’t because you had a hunch that he wouldn’t

-field ut? Some of the other fellers didn’t get on

-to what wuz in back o’ that play, but you can’t

-fool yer Uncle Larry so easy.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, there’s no use denying that we are suspicious

-of those two birds, to say the least,” admitted

-Joe. “But just keep that under your hat,

-Larry, and don’t talk to the other fellows about

-it. We want to get the goods on McCarney and

-Hupft before we make any move to get them off

-the team.”</p>

-

-<p>“That sounds raysonable,” admitted Larry.

-“But I gave one o’ thim birds a piece o’ me mind

-yesterday, and I wish now Oi’d taken a swing at

-his left ear for luck.”</p>

-

-<p>“It wouldn’t have been much luck for the fellow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>

-on the receiving end, though,” laughed Jim.

-“What did you tell him, Larry?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oi told him if he couldn’t hold on to the ball

-better, he ought to be playin’ checkers instid o’

-baseball. ‘Ye’ve got no man’s grip in yer hands,

-or the ball wouldn’t slip through thim so easy,’

-I told him.”</p>

-

-<p>“Who was that, McCarney or Hupft?” asked

-Joe.</p>

-

-<p>“’Twas the spalpeen of a third baseman,” replied

-Larry. “If he’d been half a man he’d have

-answered me back, and maybe started a little

-scrap, which Oi’d have been thankful for that

-same. But he only gives me an ugly, sideways

-look an’ says somethin’ under his breath that Oi

-cuddn’t hear. Oi should have swung at him, an’

-me conscience has been botherin’ me ever since

-fur not doin’ ut.”</p>

-

-<p>“I never knew you had a conscience,” laughed

-Joe. “Doesn’t it ever bother you when you argue

-with the umpire over calling a strike against you,

-when you know all the time it was a strike?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, that’s different,” answered the good-natured

-Irishman, grinning. “That’s a matter of

-principle wid me, an’ me conscience would bother

-me if I didn’t do ut. You’re both ball players

-yerselves, an’ should realize that widout me havin’

-to tell ye.”</p>

-

-<p>“I guess we know how you feel about it,” returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>

-Jim, chuckling. “An umpire has to be kept

-in his place, or a ball player’s life would be harder

-than it is.”</p>

-

-<p>Larry stayed with them for some time before

-taking his departure. Joe and Jim then decided

-to go back to the manager’s hotel and find out

-what he intended to do in the matter of the gamblers

-and their high-handed proceedings.</p>

-

-<p>They found McRae in no very pleasant temper.

-He was pacing up and down the room, and his

-face wore the look that members of his team knew

-boded trouble for some one. He waved them to

-chairs, and then gave vent to his anger against the

-crooks who he believed were ruining baseball.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a><br />

-<small>A COUNCIL OF WAR</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>“This sort of thing has gone far enough!” exclaimed

-the Giants’ manager, pounding on a table

-with his fist. “No bunch of tin-horn gamblers

-can play ducks and drakes with my ball team and

-get away with it. If their dirty plans had gone

-through, both Joe and Jim would have been out

-of the game for good, branded as crooks, and the

-Giant team would be so shot to pieces you’d need

-a vacuum cleaner to clear up the remains. I’m

-going to turn this thing over to the police right

-here and now,” and he started for a telephone in

-the corner of the room.</p>

-

-<p>“Easy there, Mac, easy,” warned Robson, who

-was also one of the party. “Take a little time to

-think this thing over before you go to making any

-bad breaks.”</p>

-

-<p>“What do you mean—bad breaks?” queried the

-fiery manager. “If somebody lifts your watch, is

-it a bad break to go to the police about it? What

-are the cops for, anyway?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“That’s all right, as far as the crooked gamblers

-are concerned,” said Robson. “But how

-about the crooked ball players we’ve got on the

-team right now? That’s a matter for organized

-baseball, more than for the police.”</p>

-

-<p>“The crooked ball players will get theirs to-morrow,

-don’t doubt that for a minute!” growled

-McRae. “I’ll settle their hash for good, but I

-don’t see yet why we can’t put the police on the

-track of the gang that captured my two pitchers.

-We know their hangouts now, and the cops ought

-to be able to round them up easily enough.”</p>

-

-<p>“Not a chance in the world,” said Robson,

-shaking his head. “You don’t suppose those birds

-will sit around in their nests and wait for the

-patrol wagon to come and get them, do you? I’ll

-bet any money that if you went to either of their

-hangouts right now you’d find them first cousins

-to the deserted village.”</p>

-

-<p>McRae thought a moment.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, I suppose you’re right,” he growled at

-last. “You always are, confound you! But if we

-don’t get the police in on this, what are we going

-to do? We can’t let this business go on unchecked,

-and not raise a finger to stop it, can we?”</p>

-

-<p>“Not by a long shot!” exclaimed Robson. “But

-it would be better to worry along almost any way

-to the end of the season than it would to get this

-scandal in the newspapers. It would leave a stain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>

-on organized baseball that it would be almost impossible

-to wipe out. Let’s keep what we know

-to ourselves for the time being, and see if we can’t

-find some better way of handling the problem.”</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll agree with you in that,” said McRae.

-“You’ll have to admit, though, that we can’t leave

-McCarney and Hupft to throw games for us at

-will. I’ll follow your advice as far as not publicly

-throwing them off the team goes, but I’m not

-going to have them play those important positions

-any more. The race is getting closer every day,

-and we can’t afford to take chances.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, you’re right there,” admitted Robson.

-“The trouble of it is, that we haven’t any good

-substitutes to put in their places.”</p>

-

-<p>“Even a rookie that’s honestly trying to do his

-best is better than the finest ball player in the

-world that’s trying to make mistakes,” McRae

-pointed out. “I’ll let them stay until they make

-some other bone play accidentally on purpose, and

-then I’ll have a good excuse to retire them to the

-bench. Maybe our rookies will do more than we

-hope for. I’ll leave it to your judgment which

-ones to put in when the time comes.”</p>

-

-<p>“But what are you going to do about that meeting

-at Bill Davendorp’s to-night, Mac?” asked

-Jim. “There will be a choice assortment of

-crooks there, including the ringleader of the

-crowd. I’d say, capture the whole bunch red-handed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>

-if possible, even if we have to get the

-police in on it. I know that a public scandal will

-be a bad thing for baseball, but if this sort of

-thing keeps on there’s bound to be a big blow-up

-some time, anyway, and when it comes it may be

-a lot worse than at the present time.”</p>

-

-<p>“You told it, Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Round

-up the whole bunch and get it over with right

-away, is what I say. And nothing will please me

-more than to be in at the finish. I owe that crowd

-a thing or two, and I’m anxious to pay them off.”</p>

-

-<p>“They’re right, at that, Robson,” said McRae.

-“This looks like a golden opportunity, and we’d

-be foolish to miss it, it seems to me.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, yes and no,” said Robson slowly. “As

-you say, it looks like the opportunity of a lifetime

-to round up the gang and put them out of business.

-But don’t you think we could do it quietly,

-without letting the police and newspapers in on

-the show? I want to see those fellows get their

-deserts, all right, but if there’s some way to do it

-without hurting the game I want to do it that

-way.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, yes,” said McRae, a trifle impatiently.

-“But what way is there? These men are desperate

-characters, and won’t submit tamely to be

-captured. If you’ve got a plan, tell us the details.”</p>

-

-<p>“There’s another thing we’ve got to consider,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>

-pointed out Joe. “If we go easy we can probably

-find out what the plans of the fellows are. If we

-can find some way to listen in on them and learn

-what they’re up to, we’d have evidence that would

-put them out of harm’s way for a few years.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s the idea, exactly,” said Robson approvingly.

-“That’s just about what I was going

-to say when you beat me to it, Matson. Get the

-evidence first, and then it will do some good to

-round them up. How does that sound to you,

-Mac?”</p>

-

-<p>“Why, all right, I suppose,” said the manager

-irascibly. “As long as we get that bunch of

-crooks behind bars, it doesn’t matter much to me

-what methods we use. But if we don’t let the

-police in on the game, how do you propose to capture

-the bunch? There’s apt to be a pretty lively

-scrap, and if anybody gets hurt, you and I will get

-the blame for it.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, well, we’re used to getting blamed for

-things that aren’t our fault,” said the genial

-trainer, with a touch of his usually cheerful philosophy.

-“You ought to be used to having the can

-tied to you by this time, Mac.”</p>

-

-<p>“You’re right enough there,” admitted the

-manager. “Let’s get down to brass tacks on this

-proposition, though. We haven’t got much time

-to make our plans, so we’d better get busy right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>

-away. Who’s got something to suggest?” and he

-looked inquiringly from one to the other.</p>

-

-<p>They were all silent for a few moments, as they

-thought of and rejected various plans. Of the

-four, Joe was the first to break the meditative

-silence.</p>

-

-<p>“I don’t imagine there will be very many in the

-gang at Davendorp’s to-night,” he said, speaking

-slowly. “Probably not more than fifteen altogether,

-if there’s that many. The rascals will

-know that they are in a bad position, due to having

-let Jim and me get away from them, and there

-won’t be any one but the ringleaders at the conference,

-it’s likely. It seems to me that if we got

-all the men on our team together and put the

-thing up to them, they’d all volunteer for the job.

-They’re as anxious as we are to clean up the game

-and throw out the crooked ones.”</p>

-

-<p>“It’s probably true, as you say, Matson, that

-only the leaders will be in at conference,” said

-Robson. “We know, though, that Davendorp’s

-place has a pretty shady reputation, and probably

-a lot of the gamblers’ hangers-on will be loafing

-about the place. I should say we’d need more

-men than the team can muster, to be on the safe

-side. We’ve got to count out McCarney and

-Hupft, and even with the rookies we would have

-only about fifteen men.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>“Yes, but they all know how to handle themselves

-in a scrap,” said Jim.</p>

-

-<p>“That’s true enough. But we can’t afford to

-take chances,” said Robson, with the caution for

-which he was noted. “We ought to have five or

-six more, and the question is, where to get them.”</p>

-

-<p>“Before we go any further I’m going to get

-Hughson here, and we’ll have the benefit of his

-advice,” said McRae. “He’s in the city on business

-connected with his team. I still think this is

-a matter for the police, but if he sides with you

-fellows, I won’t put up any more opposition. This

-is a serious thing, and we don’t want to go rushing

-into it before we know we’re right.”</p>

-

-<p>“It won’t take long to get him here, I think,”

-said Robson. “He told me he was going to stay

-in this evening, so I think we can get hold of him

-right away. I think I know where I can find him,

-so I’ll give him a ring.”</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a><br />

-<small>WEAVING THE WEB</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Robson took the telephone and called a number.

-In a few seconds he heard the familiar voice

-of the veteran baseball man over the wire, and he

-explained that he and the manager wanted his

-advice. Hughson promised to join the council

-as soon as possible, and it was not fifteen minutes

-later that he was shown up to the room.</p>

-

-<p>“What’s going on here, anyway?” he asked,

-when he had exchanged greetings with the little

-group. “You all look as serious as the mourners

-at a funeral.”</p>

-

-<p>“It may end in a funeral for some one,” said

-McRae pessimistically. “Sit down, Hughson, and

-I’ll give you the facts in as few words as possible.”</p>

-

-<p>The manager sketched a brief outline of the

-happenings of the last few days and the project

-that they were considering for that evening.

-Hughson listened attentively, throwing in a terse

-question here and there, and when McRae finished

-he sat silent awhile, digesting the information<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>

-that had been given him. McRae had not

-told him which plan he himself favored, so that

-the veteran baseball man could make his own decision.</p>

-

-<p>“I think that if we can keep this matter to ourselves,

-it will be a better thing for the game,” he

-said, at length. “If it gets out that McCarney

-and Hupft have been in league with the gamblers

-and have been trying to throw games, the fans

-will suspect every one of you, and if you should

-lose the pennant, you’d never make them believe

-in a hundred years that you hadn’t done it purposely.

-It seems to me, though, that it will be a

-difficult thing for us to get into Davendorp’s without

-being recognized and arousing suspicion.”</p>

-

-<p>“We’ll have to chance that,” said McRae. “If

-some of us are recognized, the gang will just

-think that we’re crooks too, and in the plot. But

-Robson thinks that we should have more men than

-the team can furnish, and we are up against it to

-know who to get.”</p>

-

-<p>“That shouldn’t be so hard,” said Hughson.

-“There are plenty of fans who think as highly of

-the game as we do, and want its good name preserved.

-There ought to be plenty of volunteers

-for a job like this. I have one or two friends who

-would go into it at the drop of a hat, if I asked

-them to.”</p>

-

-<p>“I could muster a few myself,” said McRae.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>

-“Probably the rest of us could too, for that

-matter.”</p>

-

-<p>“There are five of us here,” said Hughson.

-“Suppose each of us gets hold of two men that he

-knows can be relied upon, and explains the situation

-to them. If we can each get two, that will

-make ten extra men, and with all the fellows on

-the team, it will be enough, I should say. I don’t

-think any of them will try to back out.”</p>

-

-<p>“That plan sounds all right to me,” said McRae,

-and looked questioningly at the others.</p>

-

-<p>As it appealed to them in the same way, there

-was no further argument on that score, and after

-a little more discussion they had planned out the

-matter in every detail. Each of them was to get

-two volunteers, and bring them to McRae’s rooms

-as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the manager was

-to get hold of the players by telephone or messenger,

-arranging for them to meet him at a designated

-spot.</p>

-

-<p>They had to act quickly, for already the late

-summer dusk was closing in, and there was much

-to do in a short time. Of course, there was a

-chance that the rascals, frightened off by the escape

-of Jim and Joe, would not meet at all, but

-this was not very likely. They would have no

-reason to suspect that their trysting place was

-known, and in view of the mishaps of the day,

-might be even more desirous than before of getting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>

-together and concocting schemes for the future.

-Anyway, this was a chance that the Giants

-had to take, and even if the conspirators did not

-meet, the ball players would be out nothing but

-their time and trouble.</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim, of course, had hosts of friends

-and admirers, but they considered some time before

-picking out those that they intended to enlist

-in the cause of clean baseball. Finally they

-made their choice, and were fortunate in getting

-the consent of all of them without hesitation.

-They were young fellows, enthusiastic followers

-of the game, and hailed the chance of aiding it

-and at the same time entering into what promised

-to be an exciting adventure.</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim hired a taxicab, and in company

-with their friends rushed back to McRae’s hotel.

-They had not taken long, but Hughson was there

-before them, with two stalwart citizens who

-looked as though they could give a good account

-of themselves in a scrimmage. Robson and McRae

-had experienced no difficulty in getting their

-recruits, and the latter had also found time to get

-in touch with most of his players on the telephone.</p>

-

-<p>Such a summons naturally came as a big surprise

-to all of them, but they obeyed the call without

-hesitation and were all gathered at a northern

-entrance to Central Park when the manager arrived

-with Joe, Jim, Robson, Hughson, and their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>

-ten volunteers. Fortunately, they had all evaded

-reporters so far, and to the best of their knowledge

-no hint of their enterprise had leaked out.</p>

-

-<p>“Shure, an’ phwat’s the big idea, boss?” inquired

-Larry. “Is ut a ball game by moonlight

-you’re plannin’?”</p>

-

-<p>“No, nothing like that,” said McRae. “This

-is more serious,” and he was starting to explain

-the situation when the team caught sight of Jim.

-Every man tried to shake hands with him and

-question him at once, and it was a wonder that

-some policeman was not attracted by the noise.</p>

-

-<p>“I’ll tell you all about it, boys, some time when

-we’re not so rushed,” laughed Jim. “I’m here,

-and ready for anything, even if my hands are a

-little sore. But never mind me now, just listen

-to what the boss is trying to tell us.”</p>

-

-<p>They quieted down at this, and McRae told

-them briefly how matters stood and what he

-wanted them to do.</p>

-

-<p>“But there’s nothing compulsory about this,

-you know,” he finished. “Any man that doesn’t

-feel like going is at liberty to say so, and it won’t

-make any difference with me.”</p>

-

-<p>He looked inquiringly at the team, but there

-was not one who did not seem eager to undertake

-the adventure. McRae then proceeded to outline

-their plan of campaign.</p>

-

-<p>“We’ll drift into Davendorp’s place in twos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>

-and threes,” he said. “After we get there we’ll

-have to make our plans as we go along. But

-everybody keep his eyes and ears open, and I’ll

-pass the word around when it comes time for action.

-If any of you are recognized, as you’re

-practically certain to be, just say you dropped in

-to shoot a little pool, or some excuse that will

-sound plausible.</p>

-

-<p>“And one more thing. Before we start, I want

-every man here to pledge absolute secrecy about

-this business. We’re doing this to avoid a black

-mark against organized baseball, but if just one

-of us gets to whispering about it, all our trouble

-will be wasted.”</p>

-

-<p>All promised silence, and then they broke up

-into small groups and headed for Davendorp’s

-Sporting Parlors.</p>

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a><br />

-<small>SAVING THE LEAGUE</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>By twos and threes the party drifted toward

-Davendorp’s resort. It had at various times been

-a dance hall, a hotel, a police headquarters, and

-at all times a resort for crooked gamblers. It had

-an evil notoriety, but though it had been frequently

-raided in the attempt to put it out of business,

-it had always bobbed up again under a new

-proprietor but with the same old shady clientele.</p>

-

-<p>It was a rambling sort of structure, to which

-wings had been added at various times. The main

-floor was devoted to pool and billiards, and there

-were a large number of tables, for the place did

-a thriving business. There were few of the underworld

-who did not at some time or other frequent

-it.</p>

-

-<p>The second floor was a shabby restaurant and

-saloon, with scores of tables for drinkers and

-card-players. On the third floor was a dance hall,

-and the fourth was reserved for the use of the

-proprietor and the inner ring of the gambling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>

-clique where they could lay their plots in comparative

-seclusion.</p>

-

-<p>In the corner of this floor the largest room was

-located. There were several other rooms strung

-out in shambling fashion and more or less connected

-with each other, so as to afford facility for

-flight on the occasion of a raid.</p>

-

-<p>On the night in question the large room held

-an assortment of men of hard faces that would

-have graced any Rogues’ Gallery. Many of them

-in fact had already achieved that undesirable

-fame, and there were others whose admission had

-only been deferred.</p>

-

-<p>Joe and Jim were too well known to almost

-everybody in New York to venture into the place

-in their ordinary clothing and with their faces in

-full view. They would have been noticed at once,

-and their plans would have failed right then and

-there. They had secured, therefore, through one

-of the party who was an actor, some rough clothing

-and had had their faces touched up by his

-hand, so that, as he proudly said when he stood

-off and viewed his handiwork, their own mothers

-wouldn’t know them.</p>

-

-<p>The rest of the party were not so likely to attract

-attention among the large crowd with which

-they mingled, most of the members of which were

-so intent on their own amusements that they gave

-but fleeting attention to anything or any one else.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>For an hour or so the members of the volunteer

-posse mingled with the company, taking at times

-a part in the various activities of the resort, but

-always keeping within reach and sight of each

-other. Gradually they moved to the second floor

-and then to the third. Joe kept a sharp lookout

-to see if he could recognize any of the fellows

-who had held him in captivity.</p>

-

-<p>For some time his search was fruitless, but at

-last he caught a glimpse of one of the rascals slipping

-up to the fourth floor. He watched his opportunity,

-and as silently as a ghost made his way

-to the same floor.</p>

-

-<p>A hum of voices, rising so high at times that it

-seemed as if an altercation were going on, came

-from the corner room. On tiptoe Joe moved to

-the room adjoining. There was no light or sound

-coming from it, and after a moment Joe ventured

-to try the door. It opened, and, slipping in, he

-found that it had another door communicating

-with that in which the excited discussion was

-going on.</p>

-

-<p>In a moment Joe slipped down the stairs again.

-Going from one to the other of his party, he gave

-them the information he had gained and arranged

-for them to follow him as soon as possible and

-without attracting attention. Then he again

-moved up the stairs and took his post in the adjoining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>

-room, where he was soon joined by the

-others.</p>

-

-<p>Luck had favored them, for if there had been

-any lookout originally posted by the baseball gamblers

-he had been drawn into the room again to

-take part in the excited discussion.</p>

-

-<p>Scarcely daring to draw their breaths, the invaders

-listened to the debate.</p>

-

-<p>“You spilled the beans when you let Matson

-get away from you,” an angry voice was saying.

-“Why didn’t you make sure of him when you had

-him?”</p>

-

-<p>“Aw, cut out the beefing,” growled a sulky

-voice that Joe recognized as that of the fat leader

-of the gang. “I thought he might cave in and

-sign that paper and save us all further trouble.”</p>

-

-<p>“You thought!” sneered the other. “You

-might have known he wouldn’t. Now the two

-hundred thousand our gang have bet against the

-Giants is as good as lost. How about you other

-fellows?” he snarled. “You ought to have had a

-raft of chances to put him out of the game. What

-do you suppose we’re paying you for?”</p>

-

-<p>“We’ve done the best we could,” came a sullen

-voice that caused McRae and Robson to give a

-violent start, as they recognized it as belonging to

-McCarney. “We got Lemblow to come on and

-help us. He was only too glad to do it, for he

-thought it would give him a chance of breaking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>

-into the big league. He nearly got Matson when

-he pushed that pile of lumber over.”</p>

-

-<p>“And I nearly got his number with a lump of

-iron on the last Western trip,” came the voice of

-Reddy Hupft. “It came within an inch of cracking

-his skull.”</p>

-

-<p>“Excuses! Excuses!” snapped the angry boss.

-“I didn’t give you fellers ten thousand dollars

-apiece with a promise of more simply to listen to

-excuses. You’re a couple of false alarms, and if

-you don’t get busy it’ll be the worse for you. You

-can’t double cross me and get away with it.”</p>

-

-<p>“That’s enough,” whispered McRae to the

-group about him. “We’ve got the goods on them

-at last. Half of you go to the outside door, and

-when you hear us break through this door do the

-same to that.”</p>

-

-<p>They did as directed.</p>

-

-<p>There was a moment of tense expectation, and

-then with a rush McRae’s party dashed through

-the inner door. At the same instant the other

-half of the attacking party burst into the room

-from the hall.</p>

-

-<p>There were eight men in the room and they

-leaped to their feet in wild alarm at the sudden

-interruption. But before they could form any

-plan for defense the husky young invaders were

-upon them slugging them without mercy.</p>

-

-<p>The rascals fought back as best they could, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>

-from the first they never had a chance. As Joe

-had surmised, most of them were the heads of the

-baseball gambling ring, bloated, overfed, corpulent

-rascals who could not stand for a moment before

-trained athletes. Had they anticipated

-trouble and had their hirelings with them, there

-might have been a semblance of a fight. But in

-their physical condition and with the odds two to

-one against them, they were simply a joke.</p>

-

-<p>Hupft and McCarney were the only ones capable

-of putting up a real fight, and they did their

-best. But Joe had singled out McCarney and

-Jim had tackled Hupft, and they joyously gave

-them the beating of their lives.</p>

-

-<p>It was a very battered group of rascals that in

-less than three minutes were huddled into a corner,

-while their captors crowded so closely about

-them that escape was impossible.</p>

-

-<p>“Now,” said McRae, whose own knuckles had

-done valiant work in the scrap, “we’ve got you

-fellows exactly where we want you. All of you

-ought to be sent up the river and put behind bars

-where the dogs can’t bite you. But I’m not going

-to turn you over to the police.”</p>

-

-<p>There was a stir of relief among the prisoners

-at this.</p>

-

-<p>“I’m going to stop your dirty schemes for once

-and for all where baseball is concerned,” went on

-McRae, producing a paper. “I got this ready<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>

-this afternoon on the chance of copping you

-scoundrels to-night. And every one of you is

-going to sign it, or I’ll have you beaten to a frazzle

-on the spot.”</p>

-

-<p>While the rascals glared at him sullenly he read

-the paper. It acknowledged that the signers had

-kidnaped Joe and Jim; that they had hired thugs

-to do them great harm; that they had paid ball

-players to throw games; and that they had done

-these things to win large sums of money that they

-had bet against the Giants.</p>

-

-<p>The fat man who had been Joe’s captor started

-forward with a yell to protest, but Larry smashed

-him straight between the eyes and he staggered

-back, cowed and wilted.</p>

-

-<p>The object lesson was effective, and all of the

-rascals signed, except Hupft and McCarney, who

-were not required to affix their names.</p>

-

-<p>“Now,” said McRae, as he folded the signed

-document and put it in his pocket, “that puts a

-brand on the whole lot of you. The least move

-on your part and I’ll make this public and you’ll

-be in jail within twenty-four hours.</p>

-

-<p>“As for you traitors,” he added, turning to

-Hupft and McCarney, a look of utter contempt

-in his eyes, “there’s no need of telling you you’re

-fired. Your names are a stench in the nostrils of

-decent ball players, and I’ll see that you never

-play in the ranks of organized baseball again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>

-You’re on the blacklist forever. And I’ll see that

-Lemblow gets the same medicine. Now go while

-the going’s good.”</p>

-

-<p>They slunk out, and none of the Giants ever

-saw their faces again.</p>

-

-<p>“Now we’ve done our work and we’re going,”

-concluded McRae, as he turned to the crooked

-baseball gamblers. “Remember, one word from

-you, one dirty trick, and it will be curtains for

-you.”</p>

-

-<p>They left the debased and discomfited rascals

-and filed out into the night.</p>

-

-<p>“A good night’s work, boys,” were McRae’s

-last words, as he bade good-night to the party.

-“We’ve saved the league!”</p>

-

-<hr class="tb" />

-

-<p>It was a jubilant, rejuvenated Joe that occupied

-the box the next day and pitched the Giants

-to victory over the Brooklyns. Not only did he

-shut out the boys from over the bridge, but

-clouted two of the longest homers that had ever

-come from his bat. The rest of the Giant team,

-with two rookies in place of Hupft and McCarney,

-played behind him like the stars they were,

-and the newcomers more than held their own.

-Altogether it was a great day for the Giants and

-started them anew on the road to the championship

-which they were destined to win that year as

-they had the year before.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p>

-

-<p>But it was a still greater day for Joe, for in a

-box as witness of his glorious victory was Mabel—Mabel

-who had come on with Reggie that

-morning to surprise him. The applause of the

-crowds was dear to him; the congratulations of

-his team mates were dearer still. But none of

-these compared with the joy that thrilled him at

-the words that fell from the lips of Mabel as he

-approached the box where she sat, flushed and

-sweet as a rose, looking at him with all her soul

-in her eyes.</p>

-

-<p>“I am <em>so</em> proud of you, Joe,” she said. “So

-proud!”</p>

-

-

-<p class="p4 noic">THE END</p>

-

-

-

-

-<hr class="chap" />

-<div class="tnote">

-<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p>

-

-<p class="smfont">Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p>

-

-<p class="smfont">Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p>

-

-<p class="smfont">Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p>

-</div>

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-<pre>

-

-

-

-

-

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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world 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.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+Title: Baseball Joe Saving the League
+       or, Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy
+
+Author: Lester Chadwick
+
+Release Date: March 31, 2019 [EBook #59169]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="600" height="699" alt="cover" title="cover" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 380px;">
+<a id="i_frontis">
+  <img src="images/i_frontis.jpg" width="380" height="600" alt="" title="" />
+</a><br />
+<div class="caption"><a href="#Page_47">HE ROUNDED THE BAG ON HIS WAY TO SECOND</a></div>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="tp1">
+<div class="tp2">
+<h1>Baseball Joe<br />
+Saving the League</h1>
+
+<p class="noic">OR</p>
+
+<p class="noi subtitle">Breaking Up a Great Conspiracy</p>
+
+<p class="p2 noi author"><i>By</i> LESTER CHADWICK</p>
+
+<p class="noi works"><span class="smcap">Author of</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">“Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars,” “Baseball Joe<br />
+Around the World,” “The Rival Pitchers,”<br />
+“The Eight-Oared Victors,” etc.</span></p>
+
+<p class="p4 noic"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p>
+
+<p class="p6 noic">NEW YORK<br />
+<span class="adauthor">CUPPLES &amp; LEON COMPANY</span></p>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="adbox">
+<p class="noic"><b>BOOKS BY LESTER CHADWICK</b></p>
+
+<hr class="r95" />
+<p class="noic"><b>THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES</b></p>
+
+<p class="noic"><b>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</b></p>
+
+<p class="noi">BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS<br />
+BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE<br />
+BASEBALL JOE AT YALE<br />
+BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE<br />
+BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE<br />
+BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS<br />
+BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES<br />
+BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD<br />
+BASEBALL JOE, HOME RUN KING<br />
+BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE</p>
+
+<hr class="r10" />
+<p class="noic"><b>THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES</b></p>
+
+<p class="noic"><b>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</b></p>
+
+<p class="noi">THE RIVAL PITCHERS<br />
+A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK<br />
+BATTING TO WIN<br />
+THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN<br />
+FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL<br />
+THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS</p>
+
+<hr class="r95" />
+<p class="noic">CUPPLES &amp; LEON COMPANY, New York</p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="p2 noic">Copyright, 1923, by<br />
+<span class="smcap">Cupples &amp; Leon Company</span></p>
+
+<hr class="r10" />
+<p class="noic"><b>Baseball Joe Saving the League</b></p>
+
+<p class="p2 noic">Printed in U. S. A.</p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<col style="width: 20%;" />
+<col style="width: 70%;" />
+<col style="width: 10%;" />
+<tr>
+  <th class="tdrt smfontr">CHAPTER</th>
+  <th class="tdl"></th>
+  <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">I</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">A Sudden Crash</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">1</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">II</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Crooked Work</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">14</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">III</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Under Cover</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">25</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">IV</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Lining It Out</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">35</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">V</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Playing the Game</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">48</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">VI</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A Hilarious Welcome</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">54</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">VII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Growing Bewilderment</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">61</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">VIII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A Black Conspiracy</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">66</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">IX</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">The Telltale Photograph</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">75</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">X</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Wonderful Work</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">84</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XI</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">On the Trail</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">90</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">The Police Raid</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">96</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XIII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Keeping It Close</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">105</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XIV</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">A No-Hit Game</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">112</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XV</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">The Startling Telegram</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">124</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XVI</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Reggie to the Rescue</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">132</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XVII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Snatched from the Fire</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">140</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XVIII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">Thickening Clouds</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">148</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XIX</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">A Furious Fight</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">156</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XX</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">Taken Captive</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">164</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXI</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Air-tight Pitching</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">173</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">Jim Puts One Over</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">180</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXIII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">A Terrible Alternative</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">189</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXIV</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">The Escape</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">198</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXV</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Down the Rope</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">205</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXVI</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">Scattering the Rascals</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">212</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXVII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">Larry Has His Say</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">219</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXVIII</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">A Council of War</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">227</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXIX</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">Weaving the Web</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">234</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdrt">XXX</td>
+  <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">Saving the League</a></td>
+  <td class="tdrb">240</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="noi title">BASEBALL JOE<br />
+SAVING THE LEAGUE</p>
+
+
+<h2 class="nobreak"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br />
+<small>A SUDDEN CRASH</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked
+Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special
+chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same
+team and known all over the country as the greatest
+twirler in either league.</p>
+
+<p>“Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better
+known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,”
+as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm
+and swung it around and around as though he
+were winding up. “Feels as though I could pitch
+to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”</p>
+
+<p>“It must be made of iron then, for you certainly
+had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the
+whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.</p>
+
+<p>“It was a hard game, sure enough,” admitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>
+Joe. “Those fellows are tough birds, anyway,
+and always dangerous, especially when they stack
+up against the Giants. They had their batting
+clothes on yesterday, too, and were out for blood
+from the ring of the bell. Two or three times
+they had me in the hole, and it was only luck that
+we turned them back without a run.”</p>
+
+<p>“Luck, nothing!” exclaimed Jim warmly. “It
+was because you tightened up at the critical moments
+and stood them on their heads. You gave
+them a sample of the kind of pitching that won
+the last World Series for us against the Yanks.”</p>
+
+<p>“Put it down to the kind of support I got from
+the rest of the team,” said Joe modestly. “Some
+of the catches that Wheeler and Curry made were
+nothing less than highway robberies. That swipe
+by Zach Treat in the third inning had all the labels
+of a home run, and it was one of the niftiest
+bits of playing I’ve ever seen when Curry picked
+it off the fence.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was a whale of a catch all right,” Jim conceded.
+“But to offset that there was some rotten
+playing in the infield. McCarney at third acted
+as though his fingers were all thumbs. Twice he
+fell down on easy ones, and that high throw over
+Burkett’s head in the seventh let Ryan leg it all
+the way to third. It was only that snappy double
+play that Iredell engineered that kept us from
+being scored on in that inning.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“McCarney did have a bad day,” admitted Joe.
+“Hupft, too, let a ball get by him that went for
+two bases when he ran in to make a catch of Milton’s
+hit that he ought to have waited for on the
+bound. He might have seen that he couldn’t
+make it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t quite make out those fellows,” said Jim
+thoughtfully. “When we got them on that trade
+with St. Louis, I thought they were going to be
+towers of strength to the team. They had a good
+record last year both in fielding and batting, and
+they certainly played like fiends in the spring-training
+practice. But since the regular season
+opened I haven’t known what to make of them.
+One day they’ll play like stars and the next you’d
+think they were a couple of bushers.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’re right about that,” agreed Joe. “But
+it isn’t that which gives me food for thought, Jim.
+Ball players are like race horses. One day they
+race like stake winners and the next they’re simply
+selling platers. There isn’t one of us that
+doesn’t sometimes have an off day. But the off
+days of Hupft and McCarney are different, somehow.
+There seems to be a kind of method in
+their offness.”</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean by that?” asked Jim, with
+quickened interest. “Do you think they’re not
+loyal to the team?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, I shouldn’t want to think that about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>
+anybody unless I had the goods on him,” answered
+Joe evasively. “Let’s hurry up now and get back.
+We’ve walked further than we intended to, and I
+want to get in a little practice this morning to keep
+my wing in condition.”</p>
+
+<p>The two chums had been strolling along in the
+parklike section of upper New York, at no great
+distance from the Polo Grounds. The time was
+a day in late spring, and there was just enough
+coolness in the air to make a walk delightful.</p>
+
+<p>Both of them were trained athletes, tall, muscular,
+and in the pink of condition. Perfect health
+and abounding vitality showed in the springiness
+of their steps and the easy swing of their shoulders
+as they walked along at a rapid pace.</p>
+
+<p>They had reported for duty at the appointed
+time that season in the training camp at San Antonio,
+Texas. During the winter they had kept
+themselves fit and hard, and even at the beginning
+of practice had shown that they were fit to fight
+for a man’s life. In both pitching and fielding
+they had been doing wonders, and when at last the
+bell rang for the beginning of the regular championship
+season they had never been in better
+form. Joe showed that his arm was the same
+mighty weapon that had struck fear into opposing
+batsmen the preceding year. In batting, too,
+he was knocking out homers with gratifying regularity.
+Jim, too, who now stood next to Joe as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>
+the most reliable flinger on the Giants’ staff, was
+playing the game of his life in the box. It was
+largely owing to the work of these two that the
+Giants stood up in the front rank of the competing
+clubs. The prophecy was, already, that they
+would win the championship, as they had won it
+the preceding year.</p>
+
+<p>“Come now, Joe,” coaxed Jim, as they drew
+near the family hotel where they were staying at
+the time, and which they had chosen for its proximity
+to the Polo Grounds. “Don’t go so far as
+you have without coming across with whatever’s
+on your chest. I’ve noticed for some time past
+that you were acting as though you had something
+on your mind.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing much except my hat, I guess,” remarked
+Joe, with a laugh that, however, did not
+sound very genuine.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, you have,” Jim pressed him. “Something’s
+worrying you. I haven’t been with you so
+long, old boy, without being able to read your
+moods. A few weeks ago you were kicking up
+your heels like a colt let out to pasture. Lately
+you seem at times to be brooding over something.
+More than once when I’ve spoken to you you
+haven’t seemed to hear me. What’s bothering
+you? Out with it!”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” said Joe, after a moment’s thought,
+“I suppose I might as well tell you. You’re the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>
+best friend I have on earth and there isn’t anybody
+else that I’d breathe a word to about it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Count on me, old boy, to be as silent as the
+grave,” asseverated Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“You were speaking about McCarney and
+Hupft and the off days they seemed to have in
+their playing,” said Joe slowly. “Well, have you
+ever happened to notice that most of those off
+days have been when I was pitching?”</p>
+
+<p>“By Jove, I hadn’t!” replied Jim, as his mind
+ran rapidly over some of the more recent games.
+“But now you speak of it, I can remember several
+times when they fell down badly when you were
+in the box. Yesterday was a case in point. I
+remember, too, that game with the Bostons when
+McCarney made three errors. And then there
+was that Philly game when you had them eating
+out of your hand and yet came within an ace of
+losing because of two boob plays by Hupft in
+center.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, that’s what you can remember offhand,”
+replied Joe. “But I’ve made a study of it and I
+could point out three or four other games when
+their work seemed queer. On the other hand,
+when the rest of the staff are pitching you couldn’t
+ask for much better support than they give. Now,
+once or twice wouldn’t mean anything. One swallow,
+or even two, doesn’t make a summer. But
+when it occurs so often, with me chosen as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>
+goat, don’t you think there’s something more in it
+than mere coincidence?”</p>
+
+<p>“I certainly do,” agreed Jim. “Gee, Joe,
+you’ve knocked me all in a heap! What do you
+think it means? Have you had any words with
+them?”</p>
+
+<p>“None at all,” replied Joe. “In fact, I’ve tried
+to be especially nice to them, chiefly because they
+came from St. Louis, which, as you know, was my
+old team. I’ve gone out of my way to be friendly.
+But they’ve never thawed out, and lots of times
+when I’ve been going past them they’ve shut up
+as if they’d been talking about me and only resumed
+again after I got out of earshot. But
+there’s something more than that.</p>
+
+<p>“Do you remember the game we played with
+Pittsburgh when I came near to having my head
+knocked off by that throw from short center to the
+plate? The ball whizzed past my ear with the
+force of a bullet. If it had hit me, it would have
+been good night for yours truly.”</p>
+
+<p>“I remember,” replied Jim. “I was sitting
+near McRae on the bench in the dugout, and the
+old boy went white as he saw what a narrow escape
+you had.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, then, do you remember who it was that
+threw that ball?”</p>
+
+<p>“Reddy Hupft!” exclaimed Jim. “He came in
+from center and got the ball only a little way back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>
+of second base. Then he threw to the plate to get
+Reilly, who was coming in from third.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” said Joe. “And you know that throwing
+to the plate is his long suit. But that day it
+didn’t go to the plate. I had run out of the way
+so that he could have a clear field, and the ball
+followed me. It was altogether out of Mylert’s
+reach, and the runner scored. It was marked up
+against Hupft as an error.”</p>
+
+<p>“Great Scott!” cried Jim aghast. “Do you
+mean that he tried to injure you?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not saying anything,” replied Joe. “I’m
+just stating the cold facts. One thing more. In
+that game with Cincinnati last week you remember
+that I knocked out a homer in the ninth. At
+least I thought it was a homer. It had gone down
+to the fence, and I was nearly at third when Gallagher
+got his hands on the ball. I knew I could
+make the plate, but just as I was rounding third,
+McCarney, who was coaching at that corner, got
+in my way and I went down, heels over head. It
+was just by an eyelash that I was able to get to
+my feet and scramble back to third before the ball
+got there.”</p>
+
+<p>“I remember that Robbie gave him a good ragging
+for his clumsiness,” remarked Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“Clumsiness!” repeated Joe, dwelling significantly
+on the word. “If ever a man was deliberately
+tripped, I was that man. I felt his spikes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>
+as I went down. Going at the pace I was, I might
+have broken my leg or my neck. As it was, my
+ankle was sore for days.”</p>
+
+<p>“The skunks!” cried Jim, seething with rage
+that had been steadily growing as one after another
+of these facts was brought to his attention.
+“They ought to be blacklisted and put out of the
+league forever. You ought to expose them.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, that’s just what I don’t want to do,” objected
+Joe slowly. “Give a rascal rope enough
+and he’ll hang himself. In the first place, while
+I’m pretty well convinced in my own mind that all
+these things were done deliberately, I might not
+be able to convince others beyond a reasonable
+doubt. Of course they would be explained away
+by the men themselves as accidents, and there
+would be many who would believe them.</p>
+
+<p>“Then, too, I’m thinking of the good of the
+game. You know what a black eye baseball got
+when that White Sox conspiracy to throw games
+came to light. For a time it looked as though it
+might mean the death of the game. Luckily, it
+didn’t have that result, for the bulk of the public
+know what you and I know, that as a general
+thing baseball is as clean as a hound’s tooth—the
+whitest game of all American sports, except perhaps
+football. For forty years there hadn’t been
+a breath against it. But at last that sickening
+White Sox scandal showed that once in a blue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>
+moon certain ball players were weak enough or
+foul enough to betray their teams, their employers
+and the public.</p>
+
+<p>“That one lapse, that one black spot on the
+splendid record of the game, the public has forgiven
+in justice to the thousands of players that
+would cut off their right hands rather than not
+play the game fairly and squarely for all that is
+in them. The fans have wiped that off the slate.
+But don’t you see that if anything else of the kind
+should break out now it might kill the game beyond
+recovery?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure thing,” assented Jim. “But at the same
+time I don’t see why you should let those fellows
+get away with it when perhaps your life might
+pay the penalty. It’s all right to think of the good
+of the game, but there’s a duty you owe to yourself
+and to others—to Mabel for instance.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I’ve thought of all that,” said Joe, a look
+coming into his eyes at the mention of Mabel’s
+name that she would have been glad to see.
+“Don’t think for a minute that I’m going to be a
+martyr or anything like that. I’m not built that
+way. If those fellows are really out to do me,
+they’ll find before long that they have met their
+match. You know how many times rascals have
+tried to get the best of me and what’s happened
+to them. They’ve doped my coffee, they’ve tried
+to kidnap me, to smirch my reputation, and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+than once they’ve tried to cripple or kill me. But
+they’ve never been able to put it over, and I’ve
+come out on top every time. And I’ve got a
+hunch that this present plot, if it really is a plot,
+is going to be knocked out like the others.</p>
+
+<p>“But it’s going to be done on the quiet. They’ll
+get all that’s coming to them, but if I can help it
+the public won’t get wise to just what it is that’s
+put them down and out. Understand?”</p>
+
+<p>“I get you, old boy,” returned Jim. “If they
+succeed in their dirty work, they’ll be the first that
+ever turned the trick on Baseball Joe. Count on
+me to stand right by you.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can always do that,” replied Joe warmly.
+“You’re always there when it comes to the showdown.
+But let’s put the matter out of our mind
+for the present. Here we are at the hotel. Let’s
+go out into the lot at the back and have a little
+pitching practice. I want to try out the hop on
+the ball that I’ve been developing this last week
+or two.”</p>
+
+<p>“I saw you used it two or three times yesterday,”
+said Jim. “It’s a winner, all right. The
+boys from over the bridge didn’t know what to
+make of it. They were hitting inches under it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I shan’t be satisfied until they are hitting a
+foot under it,” laughed Joe, as they went into the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>It was the work of only a moment to throw off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+their coats and don sweaters. Then they picked
+a ball from their collection and adjourned to the
+large open space back of the hotel that gave them
+abundant room for practice.</p>
+
+<p>Their temporary home was in a rapidly growing
+section, and all about them were buildings in
+various stages of construction. One of these was
+on the adjoining plot of ground. The work on
+this building had been temporarily stopped because
+of some business trouble of the builder, but
+there were large piles of building material heaped
+on the second floor and on the scaffolding that ran
+along the side of the building.</p>
+
+<p>For some time Joe and Jim pitched back and
+forth to each other, starting slowly, but gradually
+working out their arms until they were
+going under a full head of steam.</p>
+
+<p>Jim uncorked a wild one that Joe leaped for
+but was unable to reach. The ball was going with
+such momentum that it rolled a considerable distance
+before Joe finally retrieved it.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you think I am, an outfielder?”
+queried Joe, in mock reproach.</p>
+
+<p>“Too bad, old man,” laughed Jim. “But I’ve
+got it out of my system now and I won’t do it
+again.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s what they all say,” remarked Joe, with
+a grin. “But ‘once bitten, twice shy,’ and I guess
+I’ll hunt up a backstop.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He looked around and found what he wanted
+in the side of the house that was being built next
+door.</p>
+
+<p>“Now you can be as wild as a hawk if you want
+to,” he laughed. “This house must be of pretty
+punk material if it lets the ball go through it.”</p>
+
+<p>There was no chance to prove whether it would
+or not, for Jim steadied down and kept the ball
+within his comrade’s reach. For perhaps ten minutes
+more they tried out their assortment of
+curves and slants. Suddenly a look of alarm came
+into Jim’s face.</p>
+
+<p>“Look out, Joe!” he yelled. “Look out!
+Jump! Quick!”</p>
+
+<p>The words had barely left his lips when, with a
+terrific crash a pile of lumber came tumbling down
+from the scaffold directly on the spot where Joe
+had been standing.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br />
+<small>CROOKED WORK</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Quick as a panther, Joe had leaped at his
+friend’s shout of warning.</p>
+
+<p>Not so quickly, however, as wholly to escape
+injury. Two of the falling boards struck him a
+glancing blow on legs and arms and threw him to
+the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Jim was at his side in a second and pulled him
+to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you hurt, Joe?” he cried, frantic with
+alarm.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing to speak of, I guess,” replied Joe, as
+he steadied himself and found to his infinite relief
+that his legs held firm under him. “A few bruises
+and scratches, but nothing worse. It was a close
+shave though. I’d have been a dead man if that
+pile had caught me full and square.”</p>
+
+<p>The sleeve of his left arm was torn, and there
+was a slight cut near the shoulder from which the
+blood was oozing. This, however, apart from
+bruises, was the extent of his injuries.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Lucky it wasn’t my pitching arm,” he remarked.
+“That would have been hard luck.
+Hello, Jim, where are you going?”</p>
+
+<p>This last ejaculation was caused by Jim’s action
+in leaving his side and rushing round to the
+front of the half-built house from the scaffold of
+which the lumber had fallen.</p>
+
+<p>Jim did not stop to make reply, but scurried as
+fast as he could to the street in front of the house.
+It was deserted, except for a solitary figure that
+had already covered a large part of the distance
+to the next corner. The man was not in overalls
+and did not look like a workman.</p>
+
+<p>Jim hallooed to him and the man looked back.
+But instead of stopping he broke into a run.</p>
+
+<p>In a moment Jim was after him like a hare.
+But the man was now near the corner, and by the
+speed he put on showed that he was no mean runner
+himself. He reached the corner just as a
+trolley car, going at a rapid rate, came dashing
+down the side street.</p>
+
+<p>With a recklessness that might have cost him
+his life, the man made a jump for the rear platform,
+clutching the rail with his extended hand.
+The shock seemed as though it might have
+wrenched his arm from its socket. But he held on
+desperately, and finally drew himself up on the
+platform and entered the car.</p>
+
+<p>By the time Jim reached the corner the car was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>
+a block away. Jim shouted and waved his hands,
+but the conductor was inside, expostulating with
+his passenger for the risk he had taken, and did
+not see or hear him.</p>
+
+<p>The case was hopeless, and Jim, inwardly raging,
+gave up the chase and retraced his steps.
+Joe, who had come to the front of the house to
+see what had caused Jim’s sudden departure, came
+forward to meet him.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the big idea?” Joe asked, in some
+wonderment.</p>
+
+<p>“The idea,” panted Jim wrathfully, “is that I
+came near getting my hands on a big rascal and
+just missed doing it.”</p>
+
+<p>“A rascal?” exclaimed Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s what I said,” replied Jim. “Come to
+the back of the house and I’ll show you what I
+mean.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, Jim.”</p>
+
+<p>“You thought,” said Jim, “that when that pile
+of lumber came down it was an accident. So did
+I at first. I thought the scaffold had given way
+under the weight. But when I glanced at it I
+saw, as you can see now, that the scaffold hadn’t
+broken.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked and saw that Jim was right.</p>
+
+<p>“You mean—” he began slowly.</p>
+
+<p>“I mean,” said Jim, “that somebody pushed
+that lumber over the edge of the scaffold. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+whoever that somebody was, he meant that the
+falling lumber should cripple you.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked at his chum with rage and horror
+dawning in his eyes. And while the full meaning
+of the dastardly act was sinking into his mind, it
+may be well for the benefit of those who have not
+read the preceding volumes of this series to leave
+him and his chum for a moment and tell who Joe
+was and by what steps he had reached his present
+position as the greatest pitcher that baseball had
+ever known.</p>
+
+<p>Joe Matson’s first experience on the diamond
+was gained in the little town of Riverside in a
+Middle Western State, where he had been born
+and brought up. From early boyhood he had
+loved the game and displayed a natural aptitude
+for pitching. His success in this restricted field
+soon made him known as one of the best amateur
+boxmen of his own and surrounding towns. His
+early exploits and the difficulties he had to overcome
+are narrated in the first volume of this
+series, entitled: “Baseball Joe of the Silver Stars;
+Or, the Rivals of Riverside.”</p>
+
+<p>In the second volume, “Baseball Joe on the
+School Nine,” can be noted the steady progress he
+was making in pitching skill. The bully of the
+school did all he could to throw obstacles in his
+way. But Joe throve on opposition and his grit
+first won and then increased his reputation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When, a little later, he went to Yale, he found
+a larger field for his prowess in the box. It is a
+hard thing for a newcomer to break into the ranks
+of the veteran upper classmen who have gained
+glory in the athletic field. But by a singular chance
+Joe found his opportunity when the “Princeton
+Tiger came down to put some kinks in the Bulldog’s
+tail.” It was a sadly bedraggled Tiger,
+however, that went back to his lair when Joe had
+got through with him and had chalked up a glorious
+victory for Yale.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe, although he stood well in his studies,
+was not altogether happy at the great university.
+His mother wanted him to study for the ministry,
+but Joe, although he respected that noble profession,
+felt too strongly the call to the outdoor life.
+He felt that he had it in him to make good in the
+ranks of professional baseball, and finally gained
+his mother’s reluctant consent to make the venture.
+His chance came when a minor league manager,
+who had been struck with his work in the
+game with Princeton, made him an offer. Joe
+promptly accepted, and it was not long before his
+manager learned that he had drawn a prize in
+getting a man on his team who had all the earmarks
+of a star. How Joe began to climb in professional
+baseball is told in the fourth volume of
+the series, entitled: “Baseball Joe in the Central
+League.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In these days of keen-eyed scouts no player can
+long hide his light under a bushel, and before long
+Joe, to his great delight, was drafted by the St.
+Louis team of the National League and ceased to
+be a “busher.” Here he was brought into competition
+with the greatest players of the game,
+and it soon became apparent that he could hold
+his own with any of them.</p>
+
+<p>No one realized this sooner than McRae, the
+famous manager of the New York Giants. Several
+books of this series are devoted to his exciting
+experiences with this great team, of which he
+was still the mainstay when this volume opens. It
+was his magnificent work in the box that won for
+the Giants the championship of the National
+League and carried them to victory in several
+World Series with the champions of the American
+League. After one of his greatest years he went
+with the team on a tour about the world, in the
+course of which he had many hazardous and
+thrilling adventures.</p>
+
+<p>During this time he was not only showing phenomenal
+skill as a pitcher, but was rapidly growing
+in repute as a batsman. He was a natural
+hitter, timing and meeting the ball perfectly and
+landing on it so hard that it sought the farthest
+corner of the field. Before long the fans began
+to crowd the grounds not only to see a ball game
+but to “see Matson knock out another homer.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+How his batting and pitching combined made him
+a national baseball idol is narrated in the preceding
+volume of this series, entitled: “Baseball Joe,
+Home Run King; Or, the Greatest Pitcher and
+Batter on Record.”</p>
+
+<p>But Joe had also won another victory that he
+prized above all his baseball triumphs. He had
+met and fallen in love with Mabel Varley, a
+charming girl whom he had met under romantic
+circumstances near her home at Goldsboro, North
+Carolina. The course of true love did not run
+altogether smoothly in his case more than in
+others, but all attempts to part them had been
+triumphantly overcome and at the close of the
+previous season on the diamond, Joe and Mabel
+had been married. Joe esteemed himself the
+happiest and luckiest of men.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had as his closest friend, Jim Barclay, a
+Princeton graduate who had entered the ranks of
+organized baseball and joined the Giants as a
+“rookie.” Joe had taken to him at once and they
+were speedily on the best of terms. Jim had a
+great deal of pitching ability, and under the careful
+tutelage of Joe he had blossomed out into a
+regular member of the pitching staff. At the
+present time he stood only second to Joe himself
+as a twirler, and bade fair to become one of the
+great stars of the game.</p>
+
+<p>Jim had met Joe’s sister Clara when the latter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>
+had come on to see her brother pitch in one of
+the World Series games and had lost his heart
+at once. She, for her part, had at once conceived
+a marked admiration for the stalwart, handsome
+friend of her brother, and this had soon ripened
+into a deeper feeling. So that when Jim the year
+before had asked her the momentous question he
+had got the answer he craved, and their marriage
+was to take place as soon as the playing season
+was over.</p>
+
+<p>Now to return to the two chums as they stood
+beside the pile of lumber that a few minutes before
+had so nearly caused the death of one of
+them.</p>
+
+<p>“You see then, Jim, that my hunch was right
+and that what I said to you a little while ago
+wasn’t imagination,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Some one is out to do you, for a fact,” assented
+Jim soberly. “And all I ask is that I may
+get my hands on him for five minutes. Just five
+little minutes! I’d make him wish he’d never
+been born!”</p>
+
+<p>“That fellow you were chasing must have been
+the one who did it,” ruminated Joe. “Did you
+get a good glimpse of him? Had you ever seen
+him before?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not that I know of,” replied Jim. “It certainly
+wasn’t either Hupft or McCarney, or I
+should have recognized him at a glance. But that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+doesn’t say that he mightn’t have been a tool of
+theirs. At any rate, you can be sure that he was
+the man that actually pushed over that pile of
+boards. His very running was a confession of
+guilt. And, by the way he ran, I shouldn’t wonder
+if he were a ball player himself. I’m not so
+slow myself, but he almost held his own. What a
+bit of bad luck it was that that trolley came along
+just at that minute.”</p>
+
+<p>“What did he look like?” asked Joe. “Was
+there anything you could identify him by if you
+should happen to meet him again?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” said Jim, cudgeling his memory, “I
+could see that his hair was light and that his ears
+stuck out more than most men’s. But I suppose
+there are ten thousand men in New York that
+would answer that description. He didn’t look
+like a workman and he didn’t have overalls on.”</p>
+
+<p>“How did he happen to be Johnny on the spot,
+I wonder,” mused Joe. “Do you suppose he’s
+been following us this morning?”</p>
+
+<p>“Hardly likely,” conjectured Jim. “What is
+more probable is that he knew that we were in
+the habit of practicing in this particular spot. It
+hasn’t been any secret, and more than once in the
+clubhouse I’ve mentioned what a dandy place we
+had for morning pitching practice. That probably
+led the plotters to reconnoiter about this
+neighborhood and get the lay of the land. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+scaffold and the pile of lumber carried their own
+suggestion. Work on the building has stopped,
+and there’s nothing to prevent anybody lurking
+in the place ready to take advantage of any chance
+that might offer itself. Perhaps that fellow has
+been hiding in there every day for a week, figuring
+that some time in the natural order of things
+you’d be standing near that scaffold. And that
+he didn’t calculate wrongly is shown by what
+happened this morning.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was an infernal scheme all right,” said Joe.
+“A cunning one, too. If that stuff had really
+landed on me, it would have been put down as
+an accident, and no one would ever have been
+the wiser.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” remarked Jim, “a miss is as good as
+a mile and some good Providence must have been
+watching over you this morning. But it gives you
+a desperate feeling to realize that enemies are
+working against you in the dark and that you have
+no way of forcing them into the open.”</p>
+
+<p>“They’ll overreach themselves yet,” declared
+Joe confidently. “There never yet was a crook
+that didn’t give himself away at some time or
+other. In one way I’m glad this happened. It
+makes a certainty of what before had been only
+a probability. Now we know that somebody is
+trying to down me, and it will put us doubly on
+our guard. But of course I needn’t tell you, Jim,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>
+that Mabel and Clara must never hear a word
+of this. It would simply drive them crazy with
+worry.”</p>
+
+<p>“Trust me,” replied Jim. “We’ll keep this up
+our sleeves and tell them nothing about it until
+we’ve squelched the rascals who have been trying
+to get your number. And even then I guess we’d
+better keep mum. What they don’t know won’t
+hurt them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Righto,” assented Joe. “But now I guess
+we’d better have our lunch and get ready for the
+game. We won’t have any more time than we
+need to reach the grounds.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m just as glad that it isn’t the turn of either
+of us to pitch to-day,” commented Jim. “I guess
+we’re both a bit too shaken up to be in our best
+form. But if my arm is idle to-day my eyes won’t
+be, and you can bet that from this time on I’ll
+watch Hupft and McCarney like a hawk.”</p>
+
+<p>“Same here,” responded Joe grimly. “And if
+I get the goods on them, may heaven have mercy
+on them—for I won’t!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br />
+<small>UNDER COVER</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Joe and Jim ate their lunch that day in a little
+more thoughtful mood than usual, and that mood
+still persisted as they prepared to go to the
+grounds.</p>
+
+<p>But the ten minutes of brisk walking in the
+bracing air soon dissipated the somber shadow
+that had tried to settle down upon them. They
+were young and vital, the blood coursed strongly
+through their veins, and they were soon feeling
+the sheer joy of living that was natural to them.</p>
+
+<p>And this feeling grew stronger as they drew
+near the Polo Grounds. That famous park held
+a strong place in their affections. It was the
+visible symbol of their profession, the place where
+they had won their spurs, where they had gained
+glorious victories that thrilled them to the marrow
+as they recalled them, where they had fought
+memorable battles in which every particle of their
+strength and manhood had been called into play,
+where they had listened to the plaudits of cheering
+thousands who had lauded them to the skies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+when they had pulled some hotly contested game
+out of the fire.</p>
+
+<p>Soon they were in the midst of the procession
+that even at that early hour was wending its way
+towards the gates. It was not long before they
+were recognized, and admiring comments began
+to pass from one to another of the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s Baseball Joe, the king of them all.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did you see the game he pitched against the
+Brooklyns yesterday? It was a corker, all right.”</p>
+
+<p>“Trust him to show those bimbos from over
+the bridge where they get off.”</p>
+
+<p>“And that fellow with him is Barclay. There’s
+nothing slow about him, either. Has been going
+great guns all the season.”</p>
+
+<p>“If they only had two more like them the pennant
+would be cinched already. The Giants
+would win in a walk.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim would not have been human if
+such comments had not pleased them. But they
+were used to hero worship, and, as the crowd
+began to close in upon them and hinder their
+progress, they were glad enough when they
+reached the players’ gate and could slip into the
+grounds.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the players had preceded them to the
+clubhouse and were already getting into their
+uniforms, and the newcomers speedily followed
+their example.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter with your arm, Joe?”
+asked Larry Barrett, the second baseman,
+“Laughing Larry,” as he was called because of
+his jolly disposition. “It’s all cut and bruised.
+Been in a fight?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing like that,” replied Joe, making haste
+to cover the injured member. “Had a tumble this
+morning and that arm got the brunt of it. Little
+bit sore yet, but it will be all right by to-morrow.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, for the love of Pete, don’t have any
+more such tumbles,” implored Larry. “It might
+catch your pitching arm next time. And if anything
+happened to that wing of yours the Giants
+would be in the soup.”</p>
+
+<p>“They’d get out of it again,” countered Joe.
+“The Giants are too great a team to be dependent
+on one man. McRae would simply have to look
+around for another pitcher.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure!” said Larry sarcastically. “Just as
+simple as that! Look around for another
+pitcher! There are plenty of pitchers such as
+they are, but there’s only one Matson.”</p>
+
+<p>“And that’s no lie,” broke in Curry, the star
+left fielder of the team. “Many’s the time, old
+boy, that you’ve carried the whole team on your
+back. And now that Hughson’s gone we’ll have
+to rely on you more than ever if we’re to have
+a look in for the flag.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good old Hughson,” murmured Joe regretfully.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+“It won’t seem like the old team without
+him. I only hope he’ll prove as great a manager
+as he was a pitcher.”</p>
+
+<p>There were murmurs of assent to this from
+all about him, for Hughson had been a favorite
+with every member of the team, as indeed he had
+been with players and fans all over the United
+States.</p>
+
+<p>For many years before Joe had broken into
+baseball, Hughson had stood for all that was
+best and greatest in the game. For more than
+ten years he had been recognized as the finest
+pitcher on the diamond. Again and again he
+had led the Giants to the championship. He
+had everything that a pitcher should have—speed,
+curves, slants, drops, in bewildering variety
+and profusion. The very fact that he was
+slated to pitch against a team was almost enough
+for that team to count the day lost. It was not
+merely the skill and strength of his pitching arm
+that inspired terror in his opponents. Still more
+formidable was the head set on his sturdy
+shoulders. He could outguess the batsman in a
+way that seemed almost uncanny. He mixed
+brains with his work, saving his strength when
+he could, letting the eight men behind him do
+their share of the work. But when the pinch
+came, he tightened up, and usually it was all over
+but the shouting.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Add to this phenomenal skill that he was a
+gentleman, on and off the diamond, genial, kindly,
+always playing fair, an honor and an ornament
+to the national game, and it was not hard to
+understand his wonderful popularity.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had especial reason for the warm feeling
+with which he regarded Hughson. The latter
+had greeted him cordially when he first came to
+the Giant team. He had realized the marvelous
+skill with which Joe was endowed and he knew
+that the time might come when he would take his
+own crown as the greatest pitcher of the game.
+Yet there was no trace of jealousy or apprehension
+in his treatment of the newcomer. He
+coached him, corrected his faults, brought out
+his strong points and taught him all that he knew
+himself, not omitting the secret of the “fadeaway”
+ball that had made him famous. He and
+Joe had become and always remained the warmest
+of friends.</p>
+
+<p>An automobile crash in which Hughson had
+been caught had injured his pitching arm, and
+despite an extended course of treatment its magic
+had gone forever. Even after that misfortune,
+however, he had remained with the Giants for
+two seasons. But he was not the Hughson of
+old. He was able to get by in many games by
+favoring his arm and depending chiefly on headwork.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Now he had left the team with which he had
+been identified for so many years and accepted the
+position of manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The
+best wishes of all the Giant team had gone with
+him. Already under his management the Reds
+were improving and seemed to be facing the best
+season they had had in years.</p>
+
+<p>Only the week before the Cincinnatis had
+played the Giants on the occasion of the first
+invasion of the Western clubs—played, too, with
+such vim and spirit that the best the Giants could
+do was to break even on the series.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, the loss of Hughson has put a dent in
+our chances for the pennant,” put in Wheeler, the
+big center fielder. “Even with that lame wing
+of his he won more games for us than any others,
+except you and Jim. And you two, good as you
+are, can’t pitch every other day. McRae ought
+to have his lines out for a couple more prospects
+in the pitching line. The rookies we got this year
+haven’t made good in the box. Young Bradley
+shows promise, but he needs a year or so yet
+before he’ll be ready to take his regular turn.”</p>
+
+<p>“You bet the old man isn’t asleep,” said
+Burkett, the burly first baseman of the team.
+“He’s got his scouts out combing the minor
+leagues with a fine tooth comb. I hear he has
+a line on Merton of the San Francisco Seals.
+They say he shows all the signs of a top-notcher.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+But even if he gets him, he won’t be able to report
+till the end of the season, and by that time
+the pennant will be either lost or won.”</p>
+
+<p>“How about that Lemblow out in the Middle
+Western League?” chimed in Mylert, the Giant
+catcher. “They say he’s got speed to burn and
+a cross-fire delivery that reminds one of Hays
+of the Yankees. He’s crazy to break into the
+big league, and if the old man comes across with
+the ‘mazuma’ I’ve no doubt he could get him.”</p>
+
+<p>“He may be a good pitcher,” remarked Iredell,
+the shortstop of the team. “But I’ve heard
+that he has a rather shady past. Not that they’ve
+ever been able to hang anything on him. Perhaps
+he’s too cunning for that. But there have
+been all sorts of rumors about him not being on
+the level, and where there’s so much smoke there
+may be some fire.”</p>
+
+<p>“I heard that he’s been resting up for a couple
+of weeks lately,” volunteered Willis, the Giants’
+third baseman. “Hurt one of his fingers or something
+like that. I saw him pitch once in a barn-storming
+tour at the end of last season. He sure
+can put some smoke on the ball. Queer looking
+duck he is, too. Looks like a rube with his straw-colored
+hair and big ears sticking out from his
+head.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that you said?” put in Jim quickly.</p>
+
+<p>“I said that he put smoke on the ball,” replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>
+Willis, in some surprise. “He just burned it over
+the plate.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, yes,” returned Jim impatiently. “But
+I was talking about his looks!”</p>
+
+<p>“I was just telling you he wouldn’t take any
+beauty prize,” replied Willis. “Big lob ears
+standing almost at right angles to his head and
+a headful of hair that looks like a stack of hay.
+Tall and thin, too, a regular beanpole. But what
+makes you so interested in the fellow’s looks?
+He doesn’t have to be an Apollo Cuticura—or is
+it Belvedere?—does he, to take his turn in the
+box?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not a bit of it,” agreed Jim, with a laugh.
+“That would rule a good many of us fellows off
+the diamond. But come along, Joe,” he added
+to his friend. “If we stay in here chinning very
+much longer, McRae will be after us with a big
+stick.”</p>
+
+<p>They went out of the clubhouse and made their
+way across the field. The bleachers were already
+full and there were only a few vacant spots in
+the grandstand. As Joe and Jim were recognized
+a vigorous handclapping rose from the spectators
+that told of the place they had in the affections
+of the fans.</p>
+
+<p>“Did you catch what Willis was saying about
+Lemblow?” Jim asked of Joe, as they got out
+of earshot of the others.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“I got it all right,” replied Joe. “And I
+tumbled to your question about his looks. You
+thought that the description fitted the fellow that
+pushed that pile of lumber down on us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Fits him to a dot,” affirmed Jim emphatically.
+“The same hair and the same ears. And this
+fellow, too, was tall and thin. And what did I
+tell you about the way he ran? Only a trained
+athlete could have legged it that way.”</p>
+
+<p>“It certainly looks as though you’d hit it right,”
+admitted Joe thoughtfully. “Under ordinary
+circumstances it wouldn’t be possible, for he’d be
+playing with his team out West. But there’s the
+fact that he’s been laying off for a couple of weeks
+on account of his injured finger. That would
+make it possible for him to come on East. And
+if he’s so crazy to break into the big league, what
+would give him a better chance than to have one
+of us, or possibly both of us, disabled? It may
+all be a coincidence, but if it is, it’s one of the
+queerest things that ever happened.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then, too, there’s his reputation,” rejoined
+Jim. “What Iredell said about his not being on
+the level only fits in with what I’ve heard from
+others. He got into trouble near the end of last
+season about one or two games that looked
+crooked, and it took a good deal of hushing up to
+smooth the thing over. Now, putting all these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+things together, doesn’t it look just as clear as
+that two and two make four?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not quite so certain as that, perhaps,” replied
+Joe. “But it certainly looks as though we were
+getting a line on what happened to us this morning.
+Now if we can only find that there’s some
+connection between Lemblow and Hupft and
+McCarney, a good many puzzling things will be
+explained. But there’s McRae beckoning to us
+to get up to the plate and knock flies out to the
+fields in practice. Just keep your eye peeled, old
+boy, and I’ll do the same. There never yet was
+a skein so tangled that it couldn’t be unraveled if
+you only get your hand on the end of the thread.
+And I think we’ve got the end in our hands right
+now.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br />
+<small>LINING IT OUT</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The Giants’ opponents that day were the St.
+Louis Cardinals, the last of the Western clubs to
+visit the Polo Grounds on the first round of the
+inter-sectional games.</p>
+
+<p>Cincinnati, as has been said, had been able to
+make an even break of it with the Giants. The
+Pittsburghs had done even better, for the Smoky
+City boys had left the big town with three scalps
+hanging to their belts. The Giants had taken
+sweet revenge on the Chicagos, however, having
+made a clean sweep of the whole four games.</p>
+
+<p>For several seasons, the best the Cardinals
+could do was to finish at the tail of the first division
+or the head of the second. They had an
+excellent pitching staff and some of the heaviest
+batters in either league. Their fielding was good
+and their shortstop was such a phenomenon that
+the St. Louis owners had refused an offer of two
+hundred and fifty thousand dollars for him.</p>
+
+<p>But despite these advantages the team had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+been able to win the championship. They did not
+work with the smoothness and perfection necessary
+for a champion team. Perhaps it was
+the failure of efficient management or a case of
+individual stars playing for their own records
+instead of for the good of the team. But whatever
+the reason, the record showed that while
+they had started out each season like a house afire
+they had failed at the end to take the coveted
+flag.</p>
+
+<p>This year, however, things were different. A
+new manager had seemed to be able to put some
+of his own vim and determination into the team
+and they were playing like a machine. The first
+four men in the batting order had been dubbed
+the “Murderers’ Row” because of the way they
+were “killing” the ball, and the rest of the team
+were not very far behind. It was perfectly clear
+that this year the Cardinals were a team to be
+reckoned with.</p>
+
+<p>Under ordinary circumstances, Joe would have
+pitched the first game of the St. Louis series so
+that the Giants might have a good chance to get
+the jump on their opponents by grabbing off the
+opening contest. But the day before had originally
+been an open date, and the Giants and
+Brooklyns had taken advantage of it to play off
+a postponed game; and as the Brooklyns had
+usually been a “Jonah” for the Giants, McRae<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+had thought it advisable to put Joe in the box.
+The result had justified his judgment.</p>
+
+<p>Markwith, the portside flinger of the Giants,
+had been chosen, therefore, to open the St. Louis
+series. He was one of the star pitchers of the
+league, and during the season could be counted on
+to turn in his fair share of victories. His speed
+was dazzling and he had a good assortment of
+curves and slants. The only trouble with him
+was that he was an “in and outer.” When he
+was good he was very good indeed, practically
+unbeatable. But if his support were bad or the
+opposing batters began to get to him, he was
+liable to lose his nerve and be batted out of the
+box.</p>
+
+<p>This day, however, he showed up well in practice
+and seemed to be in fine fettle, so that it was
+with less misgiving than usual that McRae put
+on him the pitcher’s burden.</p>
+
+<p>“Get right after them, Red,” the manager
+counseled, as the bell rang for the Giants to take
+the field. “I want you to show that Murderers’
+Row that you’re some little murderer yourself.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll do my best, Mac,” said Markwith, with
+a grin, as he slipped on his glove and went to the
+box.</p>
+
+<p>The first inning was short and sweet. Remley,
+the lead-off man of the Cardinals, tried to wait
+Red out. This was justified perhaps by the fact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>
+that Markwith was a trifle unsteady at the opening
+and had difficulty in finding the plate. His
+first two offerings were balls. He whipped the
+third over, however, for a strike and followed it
+with another. With two strikes on him, Remley
+lashed out savagely at the next ball and missed it.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re out,” called the umpire, as the ball
+settled in Mylert’s glove.</p>
+
+<p>Remley threw down his bat in vexation and
+went grumbling to the dugout.</p>
+
+<p>McCarthy came next, swinging three bats of
+which he flung away two as he toed the line.</p>
+
+<p>“Put it over, kid, and see me kill it,” he called
+to Markwith, shaking his bat at him.</p>
+
+<p>Red grinned and floated up a slow one that
+looked as big as a balloon as it approached the
+plate but small as a pea when it reached it.
+McCarthy nearly broke his back reaching for it.</p>
+
+<p>“Strike one,” called the umpire.</p>
+
+<p>“Not so much of a killer after all, are you?”
+taunted Markwith, as the catcher returned the
+ball to him.</p>
+
+<p>McCarthy glowered and gritted his teeth as he
+waited for the next one.</p>
+
+<p>It came waist high over the plate, and McCarthy
+caught it on the end of his bat. It seemed
+for a moment that he had made his boast good,
+for the ball shot on a line toward center. Iredell,
+however, who was playing close to second, leaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+into the air and speared it with his gloved hand,
+while the stands rocked with applause.</p>
+
+<p>Mornsby, the famous shortstop of the Cardinals,
+was next at bat.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, see who’s here!” remarked Markwith,
+with affected surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“Play ball, you clown,” growled Mornsby.
+“You’re not on the vaudeville stage now.”</p>
+
+<p>This was a fling at a theatrical venture that
+Markwith had gone into the preceding winter.</p>
+
+<p>“So you’re the quarter of a million dollar
+beauty!” retorted Markwith, referring to the
+price that had been offered for Mornsby. “Just
+watch me make you look like thirty cents.”</p>
+
+<p>He put over a ball at which Mornsby refused
+to bite. The next one he fouled off. The third
+he struck at too high and the ball dribbled down
+to the pitcher’s box. Markwith picked it up with
+a tantalizing grin and tossed to Burkett for an
+easy out at first.</p>
+
+<p>“Thirty cents was too big an offer,” he called
+to Mornsby, as he drew off his glove and came
+into the bench. “I ought to have made it a
+dime.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll get you yet, you false alarm,” snapped
+Mornsby. “You’ll curl up before the game’s half
+over.”</p>
+
+<p>The Giants in their half made a bid for a run
+but were unable to score. Curry poled one out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+between right and center that Cooper gathered
+in after a long run. Iredell raised a twisting
+Texas leaguer over second that McCarthy and
+Weston both tried for but failed to reach, narrowly
+missing colliding with each other.</p>
+
+<p>In the mixup, Iredell, by fast running, reached
+second. Burkett came next, and with two balls
+and two strikes called on him lined out a grasser
+that Mornsby found too hot to handle. He
+knocked it down, however, but recovered it too
+late to get Burkett at first. Iredell, who had
+taken a good lead, had no difficulty in making
+third.</p>
+
+<p>On the first ball pitched to Wheeler, the next
+batter, Burkett made a break for second. His
+aim was not so much to reach the base as to draw
+a throw from the catcher which would enable
+Iredell to make for home. The catcher threw
+the ball, not to second but to the pitcher, and Iredell,
+who had started for the plate, was caught
+and run down between third and home. Burkett
+in the meantime had reached second and was
+half way down the base line between second and
+third, ready to dash for the latter if Iredell
+should be put out. A snap throw to Weston,
+however, the moment that Iredell had been
+tagged, caught Burkett between the bags and he
+was also run down, making three out. It was
+a bit of stupidity, or at least carelessness, on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>
+part of the Giants and of smart playing by the
+visitors.</p>
+
+<p>The next four innings produced no tally for
+either side. Leadows, the bespectacled pitcher
+for the Cardinals, was having one of his best
+days, and he set the Giants down almost as fast
+as they came to the bat. Markwith, too, was
+pitching well. He was hit harder and oftener
+than Leadows, but so far the breaks of the game
+had been with him, and he had had spectacular
+support on the part of the Giant fielders. Hupft
+especially made some almost miraculous catches
+in the field that shut off sure home runs and
+McCarney was guarding third in a way that recalled
+the days of Jerry Denny.</p>
+
+<p>“Do you see that?” Joe asked in a low tone
+of Jim, as McCarney made a superb stop of a
+hot grounder and relayed it like a bullet to first.
+“You didn’t see him doing that kind of playing
+yesterday when I was in the box.”</p>
+
+<p>“Right you are,” replied Jim. “And I noted,
+too, the one that Hupft picked off the fence in
+the last inning. Both of them are playing like
+fiends.”</p>
+
+<p>In the sixth inning the Giants broke the ice.
+Burkett laced out a dandy two-bagger to right.
+Wheeler laid down a perfect sacrifice between the
+pitcher’s box and first that enabled Burkett to get
+to third. Willis sent out a long fly to right center<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>
+that was caught, but on the throw in Burkett
+scored by a long slide to the plate. Larry went
+out on an assist from Mornsby to Blair and the
+inning was over. But the Giants were a run to
+the good, and at that stage of the game a single
+run might prove the winning tally.</p>
+
+<p>In the seventh the Cardinals went them one
+better. Blair led off with a sharp single to left.
+Atkins followed with a grounder that just touched
+the end of Iredell’s glove and went for a hit, Blair
+reaching third. Munson was set down on strikes
+and Bixby sent up a high twisting foul that Mylert
+caught at the very edge of the dugout. Remley,
+however, whaled out a mighty three-bagger to
+right that scored both of his mates. Markwith
+put on extra steam and struck out McCarthy,
+leaving Remley on third.</p>
+
+<p>The Giants’ half of the seventh was fruitless
+and the eighth opened with St. Louis one run to
+the good.</p>
+
+<p>It was not any too good a lead, and they
+started out to put the game “on ice.” Mornsby
+offered at the first ball pitched, and sent the ball
+crashing into the bleachers for the first home run
+of the game. This mighty hit seemed to rattle
+Markwith and he passed Nealon to first on four
+consecutive balls. Ralston rapped out a two-bagger
+on which Nealon went all the way to the
+plate. Leadows struck out, but Blair made a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+pretty single on which Nealon reached third.
+Markwith passed Atkins and the bases were full.
+The score now stood 4 to 1 in favor of St. Louis
+with three men on bases and one out.</p>
+
+<p>McRae, the Giants’ manager, beckoned to
+Markwith, and the latter, drawing off his glove,
+came in to the bench.</p>
+
+<p>“Wouldn’t give a dime for me, eh?” jeered
+Mornsby. “I wouldn’t give a plugged nickel for
+you. That home run broke your heart, didn’t
+it? I told you you were a false alarm.”</p>
+
+<p>Markwith, usually ready with a retort, was too
+discomfited to make reply.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s up to you, Joe,” said McRae. “I know
+you pitched yesterday, but I’ll have to call on you
+to save this game if it isn’t already past saving.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe was not altogether unprepared for the call,
+for in the previous inning McRae, seeing that
+Markwith was faltering, had sent him out to do
+a little warming up.</p>
+
+<p>“All right, Mac,” he responded, and walked
+out to the box.</p>
+
+<p>His coming was the signal for a storm of
+cheers from stands and bleachers. It seemed
+almost hopeless, but they had seen him so often
+lead a forlorn hope to victory.</p>
+
+<p>As was his right, Joe tossed up a few balls to
+Mylert to get the location of the plate. Then
+he took his stand in the box as Munson came to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>
+the plate, eager to send his comrades home.
+Even a single would probably bring in two of
+them. A long sacrifice to the outfield would account
+for one run. And a sharp two-bagger
+would clear the bases.</p>
+
+<p>Joe wound up and shot a fast high one over
+the plate. Munson missed it by inches.</p>
+
+<p>“Strike one!” called the umpire, and the crowd
+cheered boisterously.</p>
+
+<p>Mylert returned the ball to Joe on the bound.
+Joe muffed it and it dropped at his feet.</p>
+
+<p>He stooped carelessly to pick it up. Then like
+lightning he shot it to Larry at second, catching
+Blair flat-footed off the bag.</p>
+
+<p>Nealon on third made a dash for the plate.
+Larry tagged Blair and returned the ball in a
+flash to Joe, who had run over to the third base
+line. Joe put the ball on Nealon and the side
+was out.</p>
+
+<p>It had all happened in the twinkling of an eye.
+For an instant the crowd was paralyzed. Then
+it woke up and a perfect tempest of cheers swept
+over the field.</p>
+
+<p>Robson, the rotund assistant manager, fairly
+shouted with glee as he brought his hand down
+with a resounding smack on McRae’s knee.</p>
+
+<p>“Did you see that, John?” he roared. “Did
+you see that fake muff? Did you see that lightning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>
+throw? Did you ever see any foxier playing
+in all your life?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I didn’t,” grinned McRae. “But for the
+love of Mike, Robbie, keep that ham of a hand off
+my knee. Yes, that was some playing. I don’t
+know which is the greater, that boy’s arm or his
+head. They’re both wonders. Joe hasn’t his
+match in the baseball world.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe came in smiling, to be mauled and pounded
+by his rejoicing comrades.</p>
+
+<p>McRae and Robson beamed upon him.</p>
+
+<p>“Great work, Joe,” said McRae. “Now if you
+hold them down in the next inning and our boys
+get busy with their bats we still have a chance to
+cop the game.”</p>
+
+<p>But the Giants, although they got two men on
+bases in their half of the eighth, were unable to
+score, and the ninth opened with St. Louis still
+three runs ahead.</p>
+
+<p>They made no more, however, for in their half
+of the ninth Joe mowed them down in order,
+and the Giants came in to make their last stand
+with three runs to tie and four to win.</p>
+
+<p>Burkett led off with a nicely placed single in
+short right. Wheeler followed with a clean hit
+over second, on which Burkett tried to reach
+third. The ball came back too quickly, however,
+and he had to turn back to second, which he
+reached safely only through a muff by Weston,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>
+who was covering the bag. It was a close call
+and the Giant rooters breathed a sigh of relief.
+McCarney, who had already made two hits and
+seemed to have his batting clothes on, fell an
+easy victim on strikes. Larry came to the rescue
+with a neat bunt that got him to first and advanced
+his comrades each a base.</p>
+
+<p>The bases were now full, and Hupft, who came
+next to bat, was implored to give the ball a ride
+and bring his mates in. But a groan went up
+when he raised an easy pop fly to the box that
+Leadows caught without moving from his tracks.</p>
+
+<p>Two men were now out and many of the spectators
+were beginning to rise from their seats.
+They sat down suddenly, however, at the mighty
+roar that went up when Joe came to the plate.</p>
+
+<p>Leadows looked him over carefully. He had
+a wholesome respect for Joe’s prowess, not only
+as a pitcher, but as a batter. Here was a foeman
+worthy of his best.</p>
+
+<p>Leadows took an unusually long time winding
+up. Then he sent in a swift incurve that just
+missed the corner of the plate. Joe remained
+motionless.</p>
+
+<p>An outcurve followed, and again Joe let it
+go by.</p>
+
+<p>The third was a fast one with a hop to it, and
+came over the plate half way between knee and
+waist. Joe met it full on the seam.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There was a resounding crash and the ball
+started on its journey to the bleachers.</p>
+
+<p>It started almost on a line, rising steadily as
+it soared toward right field. On and on it went
+as though it had wings. The Cardinal outfielders
+started for it and then stopped and threw up their
+hands in despair. The ball cleared the field,
+cleared the bleachers, cleared the wall. Where
+it finally landed no one knew, no one cared.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had dropped the bat and started like a
+deer for first. But as <a href="#i_frontis">he rounded the bag on his
+way to second</a>, a glance at the ball told him there
+was no need for hurry. So he jogged around
+the bases at his leisure following the three comrades
+who romped joyously to the plate, while
+in his ears were the thunderous cheers of the
+spectators like the roaring of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>He had made a homer with the bases full.
+He had pulled the game out of the fire. At the
+very last moment he had snatched victory from
+defeat!</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br />
+<small>PLAYING THE GAME</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>If a visitor from Mars had seen the crowd at
+the Polo Grounds when Joe knocked out that
+homer, he would promptly have set down the
+people of this planet as madmen. The people in
+the stands and bleachers simply went crazy with
+delight. Cheer after cheer went up. Hats were
+thrown into the air and on the diamond by the
+hundreds. Then the throng swept down on the
+field in the frantic desire to surround the hero
+of the game and carry him in triumph on their
+shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe had seen them coming and was off
+at top speed for the clubhouse. The crowd thickened
+about him as he fled, and for the last hundred
+feet he had fairly to fight his way through
+to get away from the embarrassing attentions of
+his admirers.</p>
+
+<p>Even in the clubhouse his troubles were not
+over, for his comrades were almost as delirious
+as the outside throng. They wrung his hand and
+slapped his back until he was sore.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>McRae was all smiles, while Robbie, as Robson
+was usually called, fairly hugged him in his
+delight.</p>
+
+<p>“Man, you’re a wizard in the box and at the
+bat!” Robbie cried. “Sure, it’s magic that you
+use. You’ve put a come-hither on the ball.
+You’ve got it bewitched. You go into the box
+and you put two men out with only one ball
+pitched. You whack the ball and it starts for
+Kingdom Come.”</p>
+
+<p>McRae, though less exuberant, was none the
+less delighted.</p>
+
+<p>“Once more you’ve pulled me out of a hole,
+Joe,” he said earnestly. “Many’s the time I’ve
+had to call on you in a tight pinch, and I’ve never
+been disappointed yet. You’re my standby and
+the standby of the team. You’ve only proved to
+me again, what needed no proving, that when the
+test comes you’re there.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m glad you feel that way, Mac,” returned
+Joe. “Although I think you make too much of
+what I’ve done. The team’s the biggest thing
+on earth to me outside of my home and folks,
+and it’s always a pleasure to give it my best
+efforts.”</p>
+
+<p>There were two notable exceptions to the praise
+that was heaped on Joe by his mates. Hupft and
+McCarney stood aloof, not saying a single word,
+and their brows were so black that one might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+thought that St. Louis had won instead of the
+Giants.</p>
+
+<p>“How sore those spalpeens look,” remarked
+Larry to Wheeler, as he finished his dressing.
+“They’re like corpses at a wedding.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve noticed that,” replied Wheeler. “I suppose
+they’re a little bit crabbed because they
+failed to come through in the ninth inning. They
+had their chances to send the boys in, but both fell
+down. I’ve felt that way myself more than once.
+They’ll be all over that by to-morrow.”</p>
+
+<p>The grumpiness of the pair had not escaped
+Joe and Jim, although they gave no sign until
+they were clear of the clubhouse and on their way
+home.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll bet a nickel I know what you’re thinking
+of,” bantered Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“Too easy,” laughed Joe. “Of course, we’re
+both thinking of the same thing and that is the
+sour looks of that precious pair of highbinders at
+the end of the game. Even the other fellows,
+who haven’t the reason we have to suspect them,
+were struck by it. You heard what Larry said
+to Wheeler.”</p>
+
+<p>“If they were really foxy they’d have made a
+bluff at feeling good, no matter how they felt,”
+remarked Jim. “There were all the other fellows
+fairly out of their heads with delight, and they
+were as black as thunderclouds. If they don’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>
+look out, other people will tumble to the fact
+that there’s something crooked going on.”</p>
+
+<p>“What took place in the game itself showed
+that our previous suspicion was right,” observed
+Joe. “All the time Markwith was pitching they
+were fairly eating up every chance that came to
+them. See the way McCarney guarded third.
+Nothing was too hot for him and he tried for
+everything at right and left of him. And Hupft
+played like a miracle-man out in the field. Compare
+that with the way they played yesterday
+when I was in the box.”</p>
+
+<p>“And the way their batting fell off in the ninth
+inning,” added Jim. “They had been clouting the
+ball for keeps in the early part of the game. But
+McCarney stood there like a wooden man when
+Leadows set him down on strikes, and that pop
+fly that Hupft lifted to the box was just peaches
+and cream for St. Louis. It’s lucky they didn’t
+have any fielding chances in the ninth or they’d
+probably have fallen down on those, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“It wasn’t merely luck,” explained Joe. “I had
+that in mind when I toed the mound. I made up
+my mind that I’d work for strikeouts and nothing
+else. I was actually afraid to let the ball go to
+the infield because I believed that McCarney, if
+he had the chance, would deliberately fumble it.
+Nice, isn’t it, when a pitcher has to feel that way
+about any of the men behind him?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“It’s an awful shame!” exclaimed Jim hotly.</p>
+
+<p>“And here’s one other thing,” continued Joe.
+“You noticed that when I caught Blair napping
+at second, I ran over to the base line and shouted
+to Larry to throw the ball to me. Ordinarily I
+would have left it to McCarney to make that play
+and he and Mylert together could have run
+Nealon down. But I didn’t dare let McCarney
+take the throw for fear he would let it slip
+through his fingers on purpose. So I tagged
+Nealon myself and made sure of it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Gee, but you’ve got a wonderful head on you,
+Joe!” was the admiring ejaculation wrung from
+Jim. “You think of everything.”</p>
+
+<p>“One has to think of a lot of things when his
+reputation and perhaps his life is at stake,” replied
+Joe soberly. “I tell you, Jim, we’re up
+against a serious problem, and every day it seems
+to get more complicated. Even when we sleep,
+from now on we’ll have to do it with one eye
+open.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s true,” agreed Jim. “Still, what has
+happened to-day isn’t altogether without its
+bright side. Up to now you’ve been largely in the
+dark. You’ve had an uneasy feeling that a web
+was being woven about you, and you’ve had certain
+suspicions about Hupft and McCarney. But
+their actions in to-day’s game and their grouchiness
+after the game have transformed those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+suspicions almost into certainties. Now you can
+plan to fight them and force them into the open
+without the fear that you might be doing them
+an injustice.</p>
+
+<p>“Then, too, that Lemblow matter has thrown
+a little more light on things. It indicates that
+he’s in cahoots with the other two rascals. The
+more there are in any conspiracy, the more likely
+it is that there will be a leak somewhere. To-day’s
+happenings have given you three sides of
+a triangle—Hupft, McCarney and Lemblow.
+Somewhere within that triangle is the plot that
+is being hatched. At least we know where to
+look, and that is something.”</p>
+
+<p>“And whatever that something is we’ll meet it
+and we’ll beat it,” cried Joe, throwing care to the
+winds. “Let’s think of something pleasant. The
+girls will be on for that promised visit soon. In
+less than a week now I’ll see the dearest girl in
+all the world—Mabel.”</p>
+
+<p>“Clara,” corrected Jim.</p>
+
+<p>And both laughed happily.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br />
+<small>A HILARIOUS WELCOME</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Although naturally burdened by the recent
+run of events, mystified as they were concerning
+the motives of McCarney and Hupft and of the
+lob-eared man whom Jim had seen hurrying from
+the half-finished structure the day the building
+material had been pushed from the scaffold, the
+chums stuck to their decisions to keep worry and
+conjecture as far as possible from their minds.
+Their job was to play ball, and to play ball with
+the best that was in them was what they intended
+to do.</p>
+
+<p>And on one particular bright morning it was
+easier than usual to banish dull care. Only the
+day before Joe and Jim had received word that
+Mabel and Clara and Mabel’s brother, Reggie,
+would arrive in New York by noon of the following
+day. To say that the boys were joyful
+would be to describe too tamely their emotions.
+They acted like a couple of wild Indians, brandishing
+the letters aloft and executing a war dance
+about the room. Even now, as they jumped into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+the car, preparatory to making a mad dash for
+the station to meet the twelve o’clock train, they
+had not recovered their sanity.</p>
+
+<p>To Joe it seemed as though he had been separated
+from his young wife for years instead of
+weeks, and he drove the machine through the
+traffic with a speed and recklessness that caused
+many a burly policeman to frown disapprovingly.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s them young speeders that makes all the
+trouble,” muttered one of them as Joe, barely
+waiting for the wave of his hand, rushed by with
+a warning roar of the exhaust. “It’s long been
+a mystery to me why they must always be in such
+a terrible hurry.” How could he know, poor
+man, that Joe was on his way to meet the most
+adorable girl in all the world? Who wouldn’t
+break all the speed laws, and then some, for a
+girl like Mabel?</p>
+
+<p>It had been the purpose of the young folks to
+settle down in a little home of their own after the
+honeymoon, but as Mrs. Matson, who had never
+been very strong, missed Mabel and declared she
+needed her, the young bride had decided to make
+her home temporarily with Joe’s mother—at
+least until such time as she should be in better
+health.</p>
+
+<p>Clara, Joe’s pretty sister and Jim’s fiancée,
+had also delayed her wedding with Jim because
+of her mother’s ill-health. Jim did not favor this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+arrangement very highly, but he was willing to
+agree to almost anything that would make Clara
+happy.</p>
+
+<p>“It won’t be so very long now,” she had said
+the last time Jim had seen her. “I really think
+mother is getting stronger, and pretty soon—we’ll
+be together always,” she had added shyly.</p>
+
+<p>So now, not having seen either Mabel or Clara
+for what seemed to them a never-ending period
+of time, it was no wonder the boys were willing
+to break all the traffic laws that had ever been
+made.</p>
+
+<p>“Do you know,” said Joe, with a chuckle, as
+he slowed down at the curb opposite the station,
+“I’ve scarcely given dear old Reggie a thought?
+I wonder how the old duffer is, anyway.”</p>
+
+<p>“Probably identically the same old chappie,”
+laughed Jim. “Monocle, cane, spats, and all
+complete. I’d give a lot to know how he makes
+that knife-sharp crease in his trousers always
+stay put.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is a mystery,” agreed Joe, as they made
+their way through the crowds that thronged the
+great station. “I’d like to try him out on the
+diamond some time. I’ve a notion that after a
+slide or two to the home plate the crease would
+be no longer there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Might spoil some of his immaculateness,”
+laughed Jim.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Despite all this joking at his expense, the boys
+entertained, not only a warm affection, but a very
+real respect for Mabel’s brother, Reggie. Although,
+as the chums had already laughingly mentioned,
+Reggie never appeared anywhere without
+his monocle, his cane, his spats, and his English
+air and accent, he was at heart a fine fellow,
+always ready to help where help was needed,
+truthful and honorable, and an ardent baseball
+fan. These qualities helped the boys overlook
+his many foibles and affectations. As a matter
+of fact, once one got used to them, one rather
+liked them, as being a part of Reggie’s lovable
+personality.</p>
+
+<p>The guard at the head of the stairs that led
+to the station platform seemed at first inclined
+to deny the boys admittance. But a neighboring
+guard, having recognized Joe and Jim, whispered
+in his friend’s ear, with the result that the latter
+looked away, having first favored the boys with
+a wink.</p>
+
+<p>The next moment they had clattered down the
+stairs and had reached the station platform, just
+as the train pulled in.</p>
+
+<p>Eagerly they watched the crowd of passengers
+pour forth, scanning each face for those they
+sought. No sight of Mabel, no Clara, no immaculate
+and be-spatted Reggie!</p>
+
+<p>At first they feared that the girls had missed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+their train and their faces grew long and anxious.
+Then, just when they were beginning to lose hope,
+Joe saw them.</p>
+
+<p>With a whoop of joy and a rush that nearly
+bowled over an indignant and grip-laden porter,
+he was speeding down the platform with Jim hard
+at his heels.</p>
+
+<p>The next moment Mabel found herself in the
+grip of two bearlike arms, her smart little hat
+was pushed far over one ear, while into the other
+a voice was saying, over and over again:</p>
+
+<p>“Say, girl, you look good to me—you look good
+to me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Joe, dear, you’re mussing my hair, and my
+hat——”</p>
+
+<p>“Hats!” cried Joe, exuberantly. “What do we
+care about hats! I’ll buy you another one, honey,
+a dozen, if you want them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Be careful, Joe,” Clara broke in, looking
+flushed and delightfully pretty herself. “She may
+take you up. Think of it—a dozen new hats!
+Such joy!”</p>
+
+<p>“Speakin’ of hats, don’t you know,” broke in
+a well-known voice, “I jolly well need a new one
+myself. The bally old thing did a double flip out
+of the hat rack on our trip up heah in the train.
+Turned an entire circle, don’t you know——”</p>
+
+<p>“Tell them where it landed, Reggie,” chuckled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>
+Mabel, flashing a mischievous glance at Clara.
+“Be sure you don’t forget any of the details.”</p>
+
+<p>“By Jove! Do you know,” said Reggie, ruefully,
+“you would never guess the truth, not in a
+thousand years, unless I were to tell it to you
+myself! For this mistaken headpiece, don’t you
+know, instead of falling to the floor, where at the
+most it would have gathered a little dust, must
+choose a seat whereon a burly gentleman was just
+in the act of seating himself. A perfectly harmless
+and natural thing, don’t you know, on the
+part of the old gentleman——”</p>
+
+<p>“But hard on the hat,” finished Joe, with a
+grin, adding as he slipped his arm through
+Mabel’s and drew her toward the stairs: “Never
+mind, old man, there are a dozen places in town
+where they have hats that will satisfy even you.
+Say,” he added happily, looking down into the
+smiling eyes of his young wife, “this is my lucky
+day.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’re not the only one, old son,” said Jim,
+adding, as he proudly piloted Clara through the
+throng: “I tell you, we’ve picked a couple of
+girls that will make these bored Manhattanites
+turn round and stare, all right.”</p>
+
+<p>“Bah Jove,” sighed Reggie, replacing the tiresome
+monocle that never would stay put, “you
+chappies are enough to make a poor old bachelor
+like me homesick, you are, truly. I feel quite out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>
+of it, don’t you know, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">de trop</i>, a gooseberry, as
+you might say. An Antony without his Cleopatra,
+a Romeo without his Juliet. I say, it’s
+downright pathetic.”</p>
+
+<p>“Poor old Reggie,” chuckled Mabel, snuggling
+her free hand within his arm. “It is a sad, sad
+story, isn’t it? But then, it’s really your own
+fault. There are lots of girls in the world, you
+know.”</p>
+
+<p>“But no more Mabels,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“And no more Claras,” added Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“There you go again,” said poor Reggie,
+swinging his cane disconsolately. “Bah Jove, this
+is no place for a bachelor. It isn’t, truly!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br />
+<small>GROWING BEWILDERMENT</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The boys, in their joy at having the girls with
+them once more, wanted to go to one of the big
+hotels for luncheon, but the girls themselves protested.</p>
+
+<p>They wanted, they said, to go to some quiet
+place “where they could talk,” and, besides,
+they weren’t “presentable” after the long train
+journey.</p>
+
+<p>Although the boys disagreed vehemently with
+this last statement, they finally yielded the point
+and found a quiet little restaurant just around the
+corner from Fifth Avenue.</p>
+
+<p>Eagerly Joe plied them with questions about
+home. “Had the girls been well?” “How was
+mother and dear old dad?” and so on until the
+girls rebelled, saying that they had come to hear
+about Joe and Jim, not to talk about themselves.</p>
+
+<p>“I say, how is the old game coming?” queried
+Reggie, taking the monocle from his eye and tapping
+it gently on the table. “Yesterday’s game<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+was perfectly ripping, what? Hear you did yourself
+proud, Joe, old top.”</p>
+
+<p>“He always does,” murmured Mabel proudly,
+and somehow Joe’s hand managed to find hers
+under the table.</p>
+
+<p>“It was a great game,” he said, smiling at
+recollection of it. “Luck was with me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you boys play to-day?” asked Clara, adding
+with a little bounce of delight: “Oh, I’m
+crazy to see the game!”</p>
+
+<p>“Jim’s the lucky one,” said Joe. “He’s
+scheduled to pitch. And I tell you, you girls
+are going to see some classy work. Jim has the
+little ball trained so it comes to his whistle.”</p>
+
+<p>“Spare my blushes,” begged Jim, adding, with
+a grin: “Anyway, listen who’s talking!”</p>
+
+<p>“’Spose everything’s goin’ smoothly, is it?”
+queried Reggie, with a lift of his eyebrow that
+sent the monocle sliding down the front of his
+waistcoat. “No trouble with the good old teammates?
+Everything jolly and happy?”</p>
+
+<p>Both Jim and Joe looked at him quizzically.
+Was it possible that Reggie knew something of
+their suspicions of Reddy Hupft or McCarney?
+It seemed hardly possible. Probably the question
+was merely an idle one.</p>
+
+<p>“Everything’s in tip-top shape,” answered Joe,
+after the barest perceptible pause. “The boys
+are going at top speed and if we keep on the way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>
+we’ve started we ought to beat last year’s
+record.”</p>
+
+<p>Clara opened her lips as though to speak,
+then evidently changed her mind. But as Jim’s
+eyes met hers it seemed to him they were the
+least bit anxious.</p>
+
+<p>As for Mabel, she had reached out and laid
+a little hand on Joe’s arm.</p>
+
+<p>“Everything is all right, isn’t it, Joe?” she
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>“Perfectly,” he replied, hoping his tone had
+sounded as confident as he wanted it to. “What
+could be wrong, little girl?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” Mabel replied hesitantly.
+“Perhaps it’s that trouble you had last year——”</p>
+
+<p>“Here, here!” interrupted Joe, with mock
+severity. “I thought you promised to forget all
+about that!”</p>
+
+<p>“I am trying,” said Mabel gamely. “But it’s
+pretty hard when I’m not with you, Joe.”</p>
+
+<p>Though the boys could have lingered forever
+at that pleasant little meal, it was not long before
+they were reminded that time was flying
+and that if they meant to get to the ball grounds
+in time they must hurry.</p>
+
+<p>They took the girls to the hotel where they
+had accommodations ready for them. There
+they regretfully left them in Reggie’s care and
+hurried off for the field.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“I wonder if Reggie has got wind of something
+brewing,” said Jim, as, a few minutes later, they
+struggled into their uniforms. “He certainly has
+a talent for smelling out trouble.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s hope there won’t be any serious trouble
+to smell out and let the matter go at that,” answered
+Joe carelessly. Then everything but baseball
+and the game on hand was forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>That game was a triumph for the Giants, but
+it was even a greater one for Jim. Perhaps the
+fact that two bright eyes were watching his work
+from the grandstand spurred Jim on to greater
+effort. At any rate it was certain that he had
+never done more brilliant work.</p>
+
+<p>Joe, who was resting from his triumphs of the
+day before, spent most of his time with the two
+girls and Reggie. Although ordinarily he would
+have been wild to take his place on the diamond,
+to-day, with McRae’s consent, he was content just
+to sit beside Mabel and watch her interest and
+enthusiasm in the game.</p>
+
+<p>It was good to have his pretty sister with him
+too, even though he knew her interest for the time
+being was entirely with Jim. And it was good to
+have old Reggie with the troublesome monocle
+and the hat which the burly old gentleman had
+inadvertently used as a seat!</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Clara, who, with the rest of the
+crowd had been wildly cheering Jim, straightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+in her seat, her eyes widening as they rested upon
+one of the Giant team.</p>
+
+<p>She turned and laid a hand on Joe’s arm.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe,” she said excitedly, “who is that man
+out there? That man on third base?”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s McCarney,” replied Joe, wondering
+at her excitement. “Want an introduction?” he
+added jokingly. “I could get you one in a jiffy,
+but I wouldn’t because he’s no good.”</p>
+
+<p>“Goodness, no!” said Clara, with a motion of
+the shoulders that was almost like a shudder.
+“I know him already.”</p>
+
+<p>“Know him?” repeated Joe, bewildered.
+“What’s the great idea?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” Clara corrected, “I don’t really mean
+that I know him. But I’ve seen him at pretty
+close range.”</p>
+
+<p>Mabel leaned forward suddenly, her troubled
+eyes on Clara.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean?” she asked, but a roar
+from the crowd drowned Clara’s answer.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell you later,” she shouted above the
+tumult of cheers and whistles and turned once
+more to watch the game.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br />
+<small>A BLACK CONSPIRACY</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>During the game Joe wondered once or twice
+what Clara’s sudden interest in McCarney meant.
+His pretty sister was so deeply in love with Jim
+that it seemed almost impossible for her even to
+see another man. Yet here she was, calling attention
+to McCarney——</p>
+
+<p>At this point a spectacular play elicited a
+mighty roar from the grandstand, and Joe forgot
+everything but his interest in the game.</p>
+
+<p>He had been back and forth several times from
+the bleachers to the grandstand and now, with a
+murmured word to Mabel, he slipped away again.</p>
+
+<p>He wanted to get closer to the field where he
+could watch the work of Reddy Hupft, and of
+McCarney, too. The two men were apparently
+playing good ball, and yet, to his experienced eye,
+there was something queer about their game.
+Even while he reproached himself for letting his
+imagination run away with him, his eyes narrowed
+and his mouth grew grim.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>If those fellows were trying to pull anything——</p>
+
+<p>So it happened that when the game ended in
+a smashing victory for the Giants Joe found
+himself near the clubhouse and allowed himself
+to be swept along by the rush of his team mates.</p>
+
+<p>He made his way through to Jim, who was
+surrounded by a group of enthusiastic players,
+and thumped his chum heartily on the back.</p>
+
+<p>“Pretty work, Jim,” he said. “Didn’t I tell
+the girls you had that little ball trained?”</p>
+
+<p>“It did come right to papa, didn’t it?” Jim
+answered, with a grin, submitting to the rub-down
+gratefully. “But wait till the girls see your
+work,” he added. “That will be the whole
+show.”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe it will be an anticlimax,” protested
+Joe, at which Jim grunted disdainfully.</p>
+
+<p>“Baseball Joe, an anticlimax!” he jeered, and
+Joe, smiling good-naturedly, passed on.</p>
+
+<p>Robson and McRae promptly collared him and
+engaged him in earnest conversation and Jim,
+being unable to disentangle Joe from the society
+of the two older men, shouted an “I’ll see you
+later” to his chum and started across the field
+to the grandstand where the two girls and Reggie
+were waiting for him.</p>
+
+<p>As he neared the trio he saw that they were
+talking excitedly and wondered idly what it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>
+all about. The real thing that engaged his attention,
+though, was the fact that Clara looked
+amazingly sweet and animated and that the flush
+in her cheeks was the prettiest thing he had ever
+seen.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello, everybody,” he called to them. “Get
+tired of waiting?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Jim! you were simply wonderful,” said
+Clara, turning sparkling eyes upon him. “You
+ought to have heard what people were saying all
+around us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps it’s jolly good he didn’t,” broke in
+Reggie, with a twinkle in the eye behind the
+monocle. “Might have swelled the old bean, you
+know, completely ruined him, what?”</p>
+
+<p>“He’s frightfully spoiled already,” said Clara,
+with a distracting, sidewise glance at Jim.
+“You’ve no idea how conceited he is.”</p>
+
+<p>“On the contrary,” replied Jim, stretching his
+long length contentedly in one of the hard-backed
+seats, “the only time I’m tempted to be conceited,
+my dear, is when I realize that I have you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t mind us, Jim,” chuckled Mabel delightedly,
+and Reggie added benevolently:</p>
+
+<p>“Bless you, my children. Mabel and I are
+looking steadily in the opposite direction. But
+perhaps, on further reflection, you would enjoy
+our absence greater than our presence? What
+say, Mabel, shall we stroll on?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“You’re all so silly!” Clara protested, her face
+flaming. “I wish you wouldn’t talk such nonsense,
+Jim—in public, anyway.”</p>
+
+<p>“I won’t until next time,” promised Jim, then,
+thinking it about time he changed the subject, he
+asked what they had been talking about so animatedly
+when he approached. “You seemed all
+heated up about something,” he added.</p>
+
+<p>“Jim, where’s Joe?” asked Mabel, her eyes,
+suddenly anxious, sweeping the field.</p>
+
+<p>“Talking to McRae and Robbie,” answered
+Jim. “He’ll be along in a minute. But say,” he
+added, with more interest than he had hitherto
+shown, “aren’t you going to answer my question?”</p>
+
+<p>“Hold your horses, old chappie,” murmured
+Reggie. “Patience is a virtue, what?”</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that, even if patience were a virtue, Jim
+was at the end of it, Clara hastened to explain.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t suppose you will think it very important,
+Jim,” she said. “But it seemed rather
+important to me. I’ll tell you what I know and
+then you can judge.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sounds like a mystery,” said Jim, sitting up
+straight and beginning to look interested.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel shuddered.</p>
+
+<p>“I hope it isn’t,” she said, adding plaintively:
+“I don’t like mysteries.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s about that man, McCarney, your third<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>
+baseman,” Clara hastened on, lacing and unlacing
+her fingers in an agitation she could no longer conceal.
+“I’ve seen him before, Jim. I saw him just
+before the season opened.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, what about it?” asked Jim, interested,
+but not showing any especial excitement. “It’s a
+coincidence, of course.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a good deal more than a coincidence,”
+Clara declared impatiently. “Wait till you hear
+what he said——”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” Jim prompted sharply, as she hesitated.
+“What did he say?”</p>
+
+<p>“It was at the railroad station at Liberty—the
+second station from Riverside, you know. I
+had gone over there to take some things to Aunt
+Lydia——”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, but what about McCarney?” It was
+Jim’s turn to be impatient.</p>
+
+<p>“McCarney was there on the station platform,”
+Clara hurried on. “He was talking to
+another man. I couldn’t see them at first—I was
+around a corner of the station, but I could hear
+their voices.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes?” Jim said again, as once more Clara
+hesitated, her glance roving uneasily about the
+almost-emptied grandstand as though she were
+afraid of being overheard.</p>
+
+<p>“They were talking in whispers,” she said then,
+leaning closer to Jim while Mabel and Reggie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+also came a little nearer. “I didn’t hear what
+they were saying till suddenly one of them,
+McCarney, it was, raised his voice and said, quite
+distinctly, ‘We ought to be able to make fifty
+thousand out of this, maybe more.’”</p>
+
+<p>“Great Scott!” cried Jim, his startled glance
+fixing the girl’s. “Are you sure it was McCarney
+who said that, Clara?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” said the latter, a little frightened at
+the effect of her revelation. Jim looked suddenly
+fierce. “When he said that about the fifty
+thousand dollars I was curious and strolled
+around the corner to see who it was who expected
+to make a fortune so easily.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who was the man with him?” Jim’s question
+came like a pistol shot. “Did you get a good
+look at him, too?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” answered the girl. “He was a tall, thin
+man and something about him made me think he
+was a ball player. Of course I was interested,
+but that was all. I didn’t think of it again until
+I saw one of the men, McCarney, on the field
+to-day.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did you hear anything else?” asked Jim,
+alert.</p>
+
+<p>Clara shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>“When the two men saw me they strolled off
+to a more deserted part of the station. They
+started talking in whispers again, but of course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>
+I didn’t follow them. At the time I didn’t see
+any reason why I should. Only, I had a feeling
+that neither of the men was straight.”</p>
+
+<p>“Um-m,” said Jim grimly. His forehead was
+wrinkled and his fingers beat a nervous tattoo on
+the arm of the seat. “You didn’t happen to
+recognize the other fellow—the one McCarney
+was talking to—on the field to-day, did you?”</p>
+
+<p>Clara shook her head. She looked worried.</p>
+
+<p>“No, I looked for him after I recognized the
+other man,” she said. “But I’m sure he wasn’t
+on the field to-day.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you think,” asked Jim, in the same grim
+tone, “that you could recognize this fellow if I
+were to show you his picture?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I’m sure of that,” answered Clara
+quickly. “I was so curious because of what
+McCarney had said, that I took a good look at
+both of them. And I’m sure I could easily
+recognize the other man if I should see him or
+a picture of him. He was the kind of person,”
+she added, thoughtfully, “that one doesn’t very
+easily forget.”</p>
+
+<p>“What do you think of it, old chappie?” asked
+Reggie. His monocle had fallen from his eye
+and, in his agitation, he had not even bothered
+to replace it. “Looks rather like some sort of
+plot, what? A conspiracy, you might say.”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know, I don’t know,” answered Jim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>
+thoughtfully. Then, seeing how agitated the
+girls were growing, he decided to make as light
+of the matter as was possible.</p>
+
+<p>“Sounds rather mysterious,” he said, with a
+reassuring smile; “but the sound is probably the
+only mysterious thing about it. These things
+often clear up of themselves and you wonder
+afterward why you were such a fool as to wonder
+about them. However, I’ll keep my eyes
+and ears open, and if McCarney and his tall
+friend are cooking up anything, I’ll soon find
+it out.”</p>
+
+<p>“I wonder where Joe is?” said Mabel plaintively.
+“It isn’t like him to stay away so long.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll go and look him up,” Jim volunteered,
+unwinding his great length from the seat. “I’ll
+make Robbie and McRae loosen their grip on
+him.”</p>
+
+<p>As Jim started across the field the girls looked
+after his tall figure thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>“I hope,” said Mabel, putting back a lock of
+hair that the wind had whipped about her face,
+“that this doesn’t mean more trouble for the
+boys. Perhaps it’s foolish of me, but I’m always
+just a wee bit worried about them. And now
+this McCarney——”</p>
+
+<p>“Stop your crabbin’,” said Reggie, laying an
+affectionate hand over his sister’s little one. “I’m
+not particularly impressed with this McCarney<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>
+chap myself, but from personal observation I
+have learned that both Joe and Jim can jolly well
+take care of themselves. Bah Jove, it would
+take a pretty keen chap to put one over on them!
+It jolly well can’t be done, you know!”</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Jim, not completely sharing Reggie’s
+optimism, reached the clubhouse just as Joe
+emerged from it.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello!” said the latter, his eyes brightening
+at sight of Jim. “Thought I’d never be able to
+give McRae and Robbie the slip? Did the girls
+get tired of waiting?”</p>
+
+<p>“Mabel sent me in search of you,” answered
+Jim, with a grin, then, his face sobering, he
+swiftly told Joe the main facts about McCarney
+and his mention of the fifty thousand dollar
+clean-up.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you think of it?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“Great Scott!” said Joe, raising a hand to his
+troubled forehead. “I don’t know yet. Give
+me a chance to think!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br />
+<small>THE TELLTALE PHOTOGRAPH</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“Clara’s sure the fellow was really McCarney,
+is she?” Joe asked, as they hurried across the field
+toward the grandstand. “She may have made a
+mistake in that. A great many fellows look like
+McCarney, you know. He isn’t an unusual type.”</p>
+
+<p>“Ask her and see,” returned Jim. “She can
+answer for herself.”</p>
+
+<p>Clara seemed quite willing to answer for herself.
+In reply to Joe’s sober questions she told
+him just what she had already told the others.
+When she came to the part about the tall, thin
+man who was with McCarney, Joe and Jim exchanged
+significant glances.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel caught the interchange and put a beseeching
+hand on Joe’s arm.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe,” she said, “if you are going to be in
+danger again——” but Joe interrupted with his
+flashing smile.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t go to worrying, honey,” he said reassuringly.
+“Clara’s story sounds a little queer,
+but there’s not a thing in the world to worry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>
+about. Let’s get on back to the hotel where
+we can finish our little powwow in quiet.”</p>
+
+<p>On the way home the chums tried to keep the
+conversation on a lighter plane, but they were,
+nevertheless, deeply troubled.</p>
+
+<p>Clara seemed strangely sure that the man she
+had seen on the station platform at Liberty had
+been none other than the Giants’ third baseman.
+Granted that she was not mistaken in this, then
+who was his companion?</p>
+
+<p>Lemblow, perhaps. The imaginations of Joe
+and Jim traveled even further, connecting McCarney’s
+companion with the strange man who
+had hurried from the half-completed building the
+day the lumber had fallen from the scaffold.</p>
+
+<p>When they reached the hotel, the same at
+which Joe and Jim had been staying and where
+the girls were to stay as long as they were in the
+city, Joe was all for making plans as to how they
+should spend their first evening together.</p>
+
+<p>But it did not take them long to discover that
+the girls were not yet in a party mood. They
+made it quite clear that they wanted this “mystery
+business” cleared up first. Clara, especially,
+seemed fidgety and nervous, and she had hardly
+taken off her wraps before she turned to Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Joe, dear,” she said, “Jim says you have pictures
+of every ball player and near ball player in
+the world.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Not quite,” said Joe modestly. “But, at that,
+I’ve got quite a scrap book. What do you want
+of my rogues’ gallery?”</p>
+
+<p>He knew quite well what she wanted of it, but
+he had made up his mind, for the sake of the girls,
+to treat the whole matter as lightly as possible.</p>
+
+<p>“I want to see every last picture you have,”
+said Clara, with pretty impetuousness. “I want
+to see if I can’t find some one.”</p>
+
+<p>“Look out, Jim,” said Joe, with a heavy frown.
+“You have a rival!”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, dear!” groaned Jim, and Clara heartlessly
+made a face at him.</p>
+
+<p>“How do you know he has only one?” she
+asked, evidently referring to “rivals,” and poor
+Jim groaned again.</p>
+
+<p>While Joe went off for his “rogues’ gallery,”
+Reggie stood by the mantel, idly twirling his monocle,
+a thoughtful look in his eyes. However,
+when he found Mabel’s gaze upon him he smiled
+brightly and came over to sit beside her.</p>
+
+<p>“You know, I really should be going,” he said.
+“But, you know, I have the oddest desire to see
+this ‘rogues’ gallery’ for myself. I shouldn’t linger
+for a bally second longer, I shouldn’t really.
+There’s a fellow I must look up for the gov’nor
+without delay. I know jolly well I should be upon
+my way.”</p>
+
+<p>“Listen here, old boy,” said Joe, returning at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>
+that moment with a huge album which looked as
+if it might in all truth contain the picture of every
+ball player on the globe. “Whether you know it
+or not, you’re going to attend to no business to-night.
+You’re going to help paint this little town
+red along with the rest of our merry party. Don’t
+let ’em tell you different.”</p>
+
+<p>“But I say, old chap, business is business, you
+know,” protested Reggie, but this time it was Jim
+who put down the protest.</p>
+
+<p>“Business!” he snorted. “And you can talk
+about business on your first night in the greatest
+little town in the world? Stow it, Reggie, before
+we make you!”</p>
+
+<p>“But, you know”—it came feebly, but it was
+still a protest—“I’m afraid I’ll be intruding, you
+know—the fly in the ointment—the odd member—all
+that sort of thing.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Reggie, you ridiculous old dear,” cried
+Mabel, flinging an arm about his neck and effectually
+choking off the last part of his sentence.
+“Don’t be so absurd, honey. Don’t you know we
+couldn’t have any fun at all without you?”</p>
+
+<p>If Joe thought this was stretching the truth a
+bit, he did not say anything. It made Reggie
+happy, and of course it was fine to have the fellow
+along. However, he would not have been quite
+human if he had not wanted Mabel all to himself.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As for Reggie, he was fairly beaming with
+pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t know you felt quite so strongly!” he
+cried. “Bah Jove I didn’t, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“But now you do, and so it’s all settled,” broke
+in Clara, giving him an affectionate hug in her
+turn which brought a laughing remonstrance from
+Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“Look here!” he said. “Seems to me Reggie’s
+getting altogether too popular around here. If
+you’re passing that sort of thing around, why
+neglect me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I shan’t,” said Clara so softly that nobody
+heard but Jim, and before he could do anything
+about it she had turned swiftly and was holding
+out her hand for Joe’s album. “Let me have it,
+Joe,” she said. She was adorably flushed and no
+one—except Jim—understood the reason why.</p>
+
+<p>The two girls enthroned themselves on the
+couch with the album between them while the boys
+grouped themselves back of it. Over Mabel’s
+shoulder Joe turned the pages, pointing out the
+different players as he did so with a word of explanation
+for each.</p>
+
+<p>“But I want to see the Giant players, Joe,” said
+Clara.</p>
+
+<p>“You won’t find Lemblow on the Giants,” said
+Joe, and instantly could have bitten his tongue out
+for the slip. Both girls glanced up at him quickly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Lemblow?” repeated Mabel breathlessly.
+“Then you know—you suspect——”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know anything,” retorted Joe, almost
+brusquely, then added, with an immediate softening
+of his tone: “I didn’t mean to speak that way,
+dear, but I want to get this thing over with. Guess
+I’m hungry,” he ended, with a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>“Feed the brute,” added Jim. “I’m just about
+starved myself.”</p>
+
+<p>But the girls were not to be put off. They
+deluged them with questions as to who Lemblow
+was until in desperation the boys carried the attack
+into the enemy’s camp.</p>
+
+<p>“See here!” said Joe. “We refuse to answer
+any more questions. If we didn’t, you’d be sitting
+with that fool album in your laps for the rest of
+the night. Altogether, boys: ‘We want dinner!’
+Again: ‘We want dinner!’”</p>
+
+<p>The three gave the cry with a gusto that made
+the girls laugh in spite of themselves.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, well, if you want to be so mean!” said
+Clara, and again turned her attention to the album.
+Almost immediately she cried out, touching
+one of the pictures with her finger.</p>
+
+<p>“Look,” she said. “Here’s the one I’ve been
+looking for all the time!”</p>
+
+<p>“Which one?” asked Jim, as the boys leaned
+forward to get a better look.</p>
+
+<p>“The man who was talking to McCarney on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>
+the station platform,” explained Clara, so excited
+that she stammered. Mabel’s earnest eyes were
+fixed upon her. “I’d know that face, anywhere.
+He’s horrid looking, isn’t he? Like a snake or
+something scaly. Look at those lob ears of his.”</p>
+
+<p>She glanced up at the boys just in time to catch
+the look that flashed between them.</p>
+
+<p>“Then you do know him!” she exclaimed triumphantly.
+“Now maybe you’ll tell me his
+name.”</p>
+
+<p>“His name,” said Joe slowly, all fun temporarily
+gone from his eyes, “is Lemblow.”</p>
+
+<p>“And his reputation,” added Jim, with a faint
+grin, “is conspicuous by its absence.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I knew it!” cried Clara, triumph giving
+place to real anxiety. “I knew he was a wretch
+from the first. Oh, Jim, what does it mean?”</p>
+
+<p>Jim looked at Joe and slowly shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s hard to tell what it means,” he said
+gravely.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll jolly well say it is!” burst from Reggie,
+and at his vehemence the monocle, as though
+shocked by such an improper display of feeling,
+toppled from his eye. Reggie picked it up and
+nervously replaced it, squinting his eye as he did
+so till he looked like a scheming old magpie.
+“But one thing I do know, old chappie,” he added,
+more mildly, “these two men are a menace to the
+Giant team. You might even go so far as to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>
+they are a menace to the Game itself—you really
+might, you know!”</p>
+
+<p>“Reggie, old chap,” said Joe dryly, “I could see
+that myself, without the aid of a monocle.”</p>
+
+<p>“But what do you think it means?” asked
+Mabel, her pretty forehead puckered in a troubled
+frown. “How could anybody make fifty
+thousand dollars out of baseball all at once?”</p>
+
+<p>“They couldn’t, if they made it straight,” returned
+Joe. “Of course there are various ways
+known to crooks by which a nifty little fortune
+may be made——”</p>
+
+<p>“Such as throwing games and all that sort of
+thing?” queried Reggie.</p>
+
+<p>Joe nodded.</p>
+
+<p>“There are plenty of other ways too, I reckon,
+once you get wise to them,” he said. “The worst
+of it is,” he added, with a sudden clenching of his
+hands and a fierce look in his eyes, “that rascals
+like this Lemblow and McCarney not only plot
+against a special team or a certain group of men,
+but go further than that, as you yourself said,
+Reggie, and attempt to put a stain on the name of
+all baseball. The scoundrels!” he added, throwing
+back his head with a fierce gesture that made
+Mabel proud of him, even while she was half
+afraid. “Whatever rotten thing they’re working
+up, they’ll find they have me to reckon with.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Me too, Joe,” said Jim grimly. “Don’t forget
+me.”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>The happy week that the boys spent with the
+girls flew by as though on wings. Every moment
+they could spare from the duties of their profession
+was spent in visiting with them the sights of
+the metropolis, and they did things in royal style.
+In the afternoons the girls were in a box at the
+Polo Grounds, and their hearts swelled with pride
+as they saw the splendid work of Joe and Jim and
+realized how high they stood in the affections of
+the followers of the game.</p>
+
+<p>But at last the time of parting came, and they
+faced it with sinking hearts but with brave smiles
+that showed what sports they were.</p>
+
+<p>“And remember, Joe,” were Mabel’s last words
+to Joe, as she leaned from the window of the
+train, “to keep on your guard against those
+wicked men.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t worry, honey,” replied Joe. “I still
+wear your glove against my heart. That’s my
+mascot.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br />
+<small>WONDERFUL WORK</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The Western clubs had come and gone and
+now the Giants were engaged in a short series
+with the rest of the Eastern teams before themselves
+starting on an invasion of the West.</p>
+
+<p>The Western clubs were decidedly the stronger
+half of the National League, and it was practically
+certain that one or the other of these would
+be the one that the Giants would have to beat if
+they again won the pennant.</p>
+
+<p>And there was not one of them that did not
+have a “look in” for the flag. St. Louis, as has
+been said, was especially strong with the bat, and
+her sluggers were feared by every pitcher in the
+league. She had a strong pitching staff, too, none
+of them bright particular stars with the exception
+of Leadows, but well up to major-league standards.</p>
+
+<p>Pittsburgh, too, was a team to be treated with
+respect. The boys from the Smoky City had been
+the runners-up in the previous season and during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>
+the winter they had secured some very promising
+material from the minor leagues. Their infield
+was a stone wall, and very little got by it. Their
+outfielders were batting well over the .300 mark,
+and one of them, Morey, the fleet-footed center
+fielder, was the leading base stealer of the league.</p>
+
+<p>Cincinnati had been going strong since Hughson
+had taken the reins of management and was
+maintaining a respectable standing compared with
+what it had held at the close of the last season.
+There were some disorganizing elements in the
+team, however, that would have to be rooted out
+before the nine could be recognized as a serious
+contender. Hughson had already spotted these
+and was casting about for available talent to take
+the place of those he intended to oust, but this
+promised to take some time.</p>
+
+<p>Chicago was really the club that the Giants
+were watching most carefully. Their pitching
+staff had been greatly strengthened and they were
+well provided for in every department of the
+game. They had got off on the wrong foot at the
+beginning of the season, but were now climbing
+steadily, and the way the Cubs had clawed their
+way through the Giant defense in the series lately
+concluded showed that they had to be reckoned
+with seriously.</p>
+
+<p>If the pennant were to stay in the East at all
+that season, the Giants must be depended on for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>
+the victory. Brooklyn had flashes of form in
+which they were simply unbeatable, especially
+when their opponents happened to be the Giants,
+against whom they always put forth their best
+efforts. But the very day after they had decorated
+their opponents with a row of goose eggs
+they were as likely as not to play like a lot of
+“bushers.” It seemed impossible for them to
+maintain a winning streak, and it was this in and
+out playing that militated against their chances
+for the flag.</p>
+
+<p>Boston had a good team, and when that was
+said it about “let them out.” It was not a great
+team, although there were two or three real stars
+on it that helped keep them in the running. At
+the present time they were sixth in the race, with
+very little chance of climbing much higher.</p>
+
+<p>The Phillies were going none too well, although
+better than the year before. Their outfield was
+as good as any in the league, and some weak spots
+in the pitching department had been strengthened
+by the substitution of new blood. Two or three
+of their rookies seemed to have in them the making
+of stars. With a stronger infield they might
+well be pennant contenders. But even as it was,
+they were always dangerous, and could stage a
+rally at the most unexpected moment. Any club
+that counted on them as “easy” was likely to have
+a rude awakening.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But all clubs looked alike to Joe, who this season
+was showing the best form of his life. Never
+had he whipped the ball over the plate with more
+terrific speed. Many times the ball was in Mylert’s
+glove while the batsman was making a vain
+swing for it. The “hop” ball that he was making
+a specialty of this season had an uncanny jump
+just before it reached the plate that completely
+fooled the opposing batters. His fadeaway, too,
+had all the deceptive qualities that had made it a
+terror, and his other curves and slants were working
+with magical efficiency.</p>
+
+<p>Many elements combined to make him by far
+the finest pitcher in either league. One was the
+fact that he kept himself in perfect condition. He
+had no bad habits to sap his strength, no surreptitious
+drinking, no “jazzing it up” at all night
+dancing and card parties, such as too often have
+proved the ruin of promising players. He started
+every day with a clear head, a rested body, and
+with strength and vigor pulsing through his veins.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, he had gained the knowledge and
+experience that gave him confidence when he faced
+the batters. He knew the strength and weakness
+of every player in the league, what kind of balls
+they liked, what kind they found hard to hit, and
+he served them up to them accordingly. And his
+control was so perfect that he could split the plate
+or cut the corners at will.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>With many clubs it is the custom of the catcher
+to signal the pitcher just what kind of ball to
+throw next. It was a tribute to Joe that Mylert
+had long since given this up, as he had learned to
+trust Joe’s judgment rather than his own.</p>
+
+<p>But apart from his natural pitching ability,
+there was a special reason for the wonderful record
+that Joe was making this season. The very
+fact that he felt himself the object of a conspiracy
+to discredit him roused all the resistance in his
+nature and made him determine that he would not
+be discredited. Every time he went into the box
+he put all that he had on the ball, and pitched as
+though that special game was one of the World
+Series. Of course he lost games once in a while,
+but they were so infrequent as to provoke surprise
+when it happened.</p>
+
+<p>McRae was delighted, and yet at the same time
+a little anxious for fear Joe would break down
+under the tremendous strain.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re doing wonderful work, boy,” he said
+one day in Philadelphia, when Joe had pitched a
+superb game, shutting out the Quaker City boys
+and allowing them only two hits, one of them a
+scratch. “But you want to be careful not to throw
+your arm out. If anything happened to that arm
+of yours, our chances for the pennant would glimmer
+away.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing to worry about, Mac,” laughed Joe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>
+“It feels as fine as silk. If I had nothing more
+than that to worry over I’d be happy.”</p>
+
+<p>The last words had slipped from him before he
+thought, and the alert manager pounced upon
+them like a hawk.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean by that?” he asked, in
+some alarm. “What’s troubling you? Anything
+happened at home?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing like that,” answered Joe. “I couldn’t
+possibly be happier than I am in my home life.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then what is the matter?” persisted McRae.
+“You’ve as much as admitted that there is something.
+Come, out with it! Maybe I can help you
+in some way.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe reflected for a moment. He had said too
+much not to say more. He liked McRae, not only
+as a manager but as a man, and he had confidence
+in his discretion. Besides, it was something that
+in a certain sense McRae had a right to know.
+But he resolved not to mention names as yet.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell you, Mac,” he said slowly. “I know
+you’ll keep it under your hat—for the present,
+anyway.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br />
+<small>ON THE TRAIL</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“You know, Mac, that I’m not easily fussed,”
+Joe went on, while the manager listened with
+strained attention. “I’ve been up against a lot of
+things since I’ve been in baseball, but so far have
+always managed to come out ahead.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know,” put in McRae. “They say that death
+loves a shining mark, and I’ve noticed that crooks
+do too. Once let a man come into the limelight
+as you have, and there’s always a bunch of rascals
+that begin figuring how they can make something
+out of him. I know how they’ve tried to dope
+you, cripple you, and even worse. For the love of
+Pete, don’t tell me they’ve been at it again.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s just what has happened,” replied Joe,
+and then he went on to tell of the building material
+that had been pushed off the scaffold and from
+which he had so narrowly escaped with his life.</p>
+
+<p>“The scoundrels!” exclaimed McRae, worked
+up to a white heat. “If I could only get my hands
+on one of them there’d be one less rascal out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>
+prison. Have you any idea who it is that’s trying
+to put it over on you? Give me a hint, and I’ll
+get the police after them in a hurry.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s just what we’d better be careful about
+doing, don’t you think?” suggested Joe. “You
+know that baseball is on trial now with the public,
+and if anything of this kind should come out it
+might queer the game beyond recovery. It was a
+case of touch and go after that White Sox scandal
+broke, and anything else just now might prove the
+straw too much.”</p>
+
+<p>McRae pondered for a moment, wrinkling his
+brows.</p>
+
+<p>“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed reluctantly.
+“But does that mean that we’re going to lie down
+and let those rascals carry out their plans?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not by a jugful!” answered Joe. “We’re
+going to have those fellows tripped and hog-tied
+before they know where they’re at. But we’re
+going to do it so quietly that the outside world
+won’t get on to it. Trust me, Mac, to handle this
+matter myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“There’s no one that could do it better; I’m
+sure of that,” admitted the manager. “But you
+haven’t answered my question yet. Have you any
+idea who’s doing this?”</p>
+
+<p>“I have an idea,” affirmed Joe. “But I don’t
+want to do any one an injustice, and I’m not going
+to mention names until I’m sure I have the goods<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+on them. Just leave them to my tender mercies,
+Mac, and trust in my lucky star. You know I’m
+lucky,” he added, with a grin, “or I wouldn’t be
+alive and whole to-day.”</p>
+
+<p>“It isn’t luck. It’s brains and pluck,” corrected
+the manager. “You weren’t behind the door
+when those things were handed out. I’ll leave it
+to you, then, Joe. But, for the love of goodness,
+be careful. You bet I’ll keep my own eyes peeled,
+too, from now on.”</p>
+
+<p>Robson and some of the other players came
+along just then and the conversation turned into
+other channels. But several times on the train
+ride back to New York Joe caught McRae’s eyes
+turned on him with a worried expression, and he
+knew what his manager was thinking about.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning Joe was on his way downtown
+on a business errand when he saw McCarney
+and Hupft get on the platform of a subway train
+as it stopped at a station. For a moment they
+seemed about to enter the car in which he was sitting,
+but they changed their minds and went into
+the car ahead.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was quite sure they had not seen him, and
+it occurred to him that here was an opportunity to
+follow his renegade team mates and perhaps discover
+something of the plot in which they were
+engaged.</p>
+
+<p>He kept a sharp eye on them, moving up to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+front of his own car to note their movements better,
+and when he saw them rise as the train was
+slowing up at a station he followed suit, taking
+care to keep in the rear of the mass of passengers
+as they hurried out.</p>
+
+<p>The two plotters turned westward and pursued
+their way, talking earnestly, toward a disreputable
+section of the city near the river front. At
+the door of a saloon they halted and looked
+around. Joe had slipped behind an elevated road
+pillar and they did not see him.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently satisfied that they were not observed
+they went into the saloon.</p>
+
+<p>Joe sauntered along slowly and reached a point
+abreast of the saloon just as a rough looking character
+pushed open the swinging doors. As they
+swung back Joe got a glimpse of the interior.
+There were two or three men lounging in front of
+the bar, but McCarney and Hupft were not in
+sight.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had seen also that there was a row of stalls
+along a balcony at the side of the saloon with
+dingy curtains over them to insure a certain
+amount of privacy. He conjectured that the men
+he had been following were probably in one of
+these. His resolution was taken on the instant.</p>
+
+<p>He entered the place, which in addition to being
+a saloon was also run as a cheap hotel and restaurant,
+and went up to the bar. There he bought a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>
+cigar. While he lighted it, which he did deliberately,
+he noted from the sound of voices that
+one of the stalls was occupied. He ordered a
+meal to be brought to him and went up the stairs
+to the balcony and into the adjoining stall.</p>
+
+<p>There was a murmur of conversation from the
+stall next to him, and although the voices were
+pitched low he had no difficulty in identifying them
+as those of Hupft and McCarney. Hupft seemed
+to be in a despondent mood, and McCarney was
+evidently trying to brace him up.</p>
+
+<p>“I tell you, it’s no use,” Joe heard Hupft say.
+“That fellow has the Indian sign on us. No matter
+how we try to down him, he wins.”</p>
+
+<p>“He’ll break down soon,” McCarney said confidently.
+“His luck can’t last forever. You can
+see he’s throwing his arm out. The harder we
+make it for him to win games the sooner he’ll
+have to quit. And think of the melon we’ll split
+between us when he does.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll have to floor him before he quits,” muttered
+Hupft. “And that’s no easy job either.
+The fellow has as many lives as a cat. Lemblow
+thought he had him dead to rights in that timber
+tumble, but he got away with scarcely a scratch.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe was listening with all his ears when the curtain
+was pushed aside and a waiter entered with
+a tray. He set it down on the table and as he
+glanced at Joe let out an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Ain’t you Baseball Joe?” he asked. “Sure
+you are! I’ve seen your picture many a time!”</p>
+
+<p>Joe motioned him to be silent, but it was too
+late. There were muttered exclamations and the
+scraping of chairs in the adjoining stall, and the
+next moment Hupft and McCarney were blocking
+the door.</p>
+
+<p>“So you were spying on us, were you?” snarled
+Reddy, whose flushed face showed he had been
+drinking.</p>
+
+<p>He lunged forward as he spoke, while McCarney
+also rushed at Joe.</p>
+
+<p>The latter’s right fist shot out and caught
+Hupft a terrific blow straight between the eyes,
+sending him staggering back against the partition.
+The next moment Joe’s left had landed on McCarney’s
+jaw.</p>
+
+<p>They were back at him a moment later, and
+they went at it hammer and tongs. Joe could
+have handled either one of them easily, but the
+two made a formidable combination. Still he was
+getting the better of it when his foot slipped in
+the débris of the meal that had been dashed to the
+floor and he went down heavily, striking the back
+of his head. He was stunned, and the next instant
+McCarney and Hupft were both on top of him.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br />
+<small>THE POLICE RAID</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>What might have happened to Joe at that
+critical minute is a matter for conjecture had not
+fate—or the police—decided to take a hand in the
+matter.</p>
+
+<p>Lying there half unconscious, his hands pinioned
+by McCarney, Reddy’s bulk on his chest and
+Reddy’s liquor-laden breath in his face, Joe did
+not at first understand the cause of the sudden
+noise and confusion below stairs.</p>
+
+<p>All he knew was that his head hurt him unbearably
+and that in his heart was a rage that
+dulled even the pain in his head. Then gradually
+he realized that the situation was changed.</p>
+
+<p>The sound of running feet, the sound of raised
+voices, some bullying, some fearful, became louder
+and louder until they penetrated even Joe’s fading
+consciousness. He was aware that McCarney
+had left off brandishing his fist in his face and
+that Reddy had suddenly removed his weight
+from off his chest.</p>
+
+<p>He stopped not to argue about the cause of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+good fortune but weakly and dizzily raised himself
+to his knees. When he had, by dint of all the
+will power he possessed plus a grip on the rickety
+table beside him, managed to raise himself to his
+feet, he found that Reddy and McCarney had
+miraculously disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>He looked toward the window and found that
+it was open. He pressed his hand to his aching
+forehead impatiently and fought to be able to
+think clearly.</p>
+
+<p>Then he caught a phrase from among the
+shouts and cries that filled the rooms beneath him,
+and that phrase roused him immediately to the
+need for action.</p>
+
+<p>“Get the whisky, boys!” a husky voice ordered.
+“We’ve got the men—now what we need is evidence.
+We’ll wipe this joint off the map!”</p>
+
+<p>“A raid! A prohibition-agents’ raid!” thought
+Joe, his brain now functioning quickly enough.
+That was the reason Reddy and McCarney had
+left him so suddenly just when they had him where
+they wanted him. Well, it was up to him to leave
+suddenly, too. If he were caught here!</p>
+
+<p>Swift feet were running up the stairs. No possibility
+of escape in that direction. The back
+stairs? No, that was hopeless too. To reach the
+back stairs he must first enter the corridor, and to
+do that would be to invite disaster. The window!
+That was his only chance. In a moment more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+police would be entering the room. How could
+he explain?</p>
+
+<p>He rushed to the window, taking a quick survey.
+He had but a minute to think. Eagerly he
+looked out, but only a blank brick wall met his
+anxious gaze. No window underneath this one,
+no shed to break his fall.</p>
+
+<p>He must take his chance, anyway. It was his
+only chance. Voices were even then on the balcony.
+Quick as a cat, he lifted himself over the
+sill, lowering his length along the side of the blank
+brick wall until he was hanging by his hands, only
+the tips of his fingers showing over the window
+sill.</p>
+
+<p>Allowing himself no time to think, he dropped,
+at the same time flinging his body outward so that
+it might not strike against the wall.</p>
+
+<p>The ground seemed to come up to meet him
+and he landed with a jar that seemed to shake
+loose every tooth in his head. Lucky for him that
+the patch of ground beside the disreputable little
+hotel had never been filled in with cement. It
+was hard enough and lumpy enough, but it was
+not as hard as cement.</p>
+
+<p>Satisfied that no bones were broken and that
+his legs were still in good working order, Joe
+wasted no time before making use of them.</p>
+
+<p>Luckily there were no policemen guarding that
+side of the hotel. There were few windows, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+those high, and no doors and evidently the prohibition
+agents had discounted the possibility of any
+one escaping from that quarter. Also they had
+come after “evidence” more than prisoners, a fact
+which also worked in Joe’s favor.</p>
+
+<p>After skirting the rear of the building next to
+the hotel, Joe, straightening his clothing as well
+as he could, ventured out on the sidewalk. It was
+at that moment that he realized he had left his
+hat inside.</p>
+
+<p>Probably no one, except the poor wretch who is
+unfortunate enough to have been in a similar
+predicament at one time or another, can possibly
+imagine what Joe felt at that moment. Also he
+had never before realized what an important part
+of a man’s attire a hat really is.</p>
+
+<p>“You sort of get to take your head gear for
+granted, I guess,” he mused unhappily, as he
+walked along as nonchalantly as he could, trying
+to look as if it were his regular custom to appear
+hatless in the street.</p>
+
+<p>But in spite of his valiant attempt to seem unconcerned
+he soon realized that, even in that
+rather disreputable quarter of the town, he was
+attracting unwelcome attention.</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe I’ve got a black eye or a cut lip,” he
+mused miserably as he hurried along, trying not
+to notice the stares that followed him and the occasional
+laugh and gibe of some humorously inclined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+passer-by. “Shouldn’t wonder if I were a
+fit candidate for a circus side show. Some mess
+that was to get mixed up in!”</p>
+
+<p>But when an impertinent “newsie,” grinning
+from ear to ear, held out a disreputable and tattered
+cap for his inspection, inviting him gleefully
+to “help yourself—it ain’t much, but it’s the best
+I got, Mister,” Joe lost what little aplomb he had
+left.</p>
+
+<p>A passing taxicab caught his eye and he made a
+running jump for it, saw that it was empty, opened
+the door and got in before the surprised and outraged
+driver could do more than open his mouth
+and shut it again.</p>
+
+<p>A minute later the car slowed down and the
+chauffeur glared in at the occupant of his cab.</p>
+
+<p>“Say, what d’you think you’re doin’?” he
+growled, but he got no further. All the pent-up
+irritation and wrath that had been simmering in
+Joe for the past hour was poured forth on that
+unfortunate chauffeur’s head.</p>
+
+<p>This had the effect of ending the discussion
+right there as far as the chauffeur was concerned.
+Having firmly come to the conclusion in his own
+mind that a lunatic had taken possession of his
+cab he decided to take his passenger to his destination
+and there to drop him at the first possible
+minute.</p>
+
+<p>So it happened that a short time later, having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>
+paid the taxicab driver, Joe entered the rear of
+his hotel and made a break for the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>He was not going to trust himself even to the
+mercies of the elevator boy, who knew and revered
+him as an idol. As a matter of fact, Joe was
+not particularly eager to meet anybody until he
+had had a chance to look at himself in the mirror
+and discover to what extent—if any—his features
+had been damaged. Also, he wanted a hat! Oh,
+he very badly wanted a hat!</p>
+
+<p>In the corridor Baseball Joe met Jim, evidently
+sallying forth to practice, and the latter stood and
+stared—at least, that is what he would have done
+had the exasperated Joe given him a chance.</p>
+
+<p>In another moment they were both within Joe’s
+room with the door closed against unwelcome intrusion.</p>
+
+<p>“Now out with it!” Joe said. “Do your worst.
+Am I a total wreck?”</p>
+
+<p>“I think you’re a total loss as far as appearances
+are concerned,” Jim retorted. “Where’s
+your hat?”</p>
+
+<p>Joe groaned and made a rush for the bathroom
+beyond. There he could examine his countenance
+for himself. To his intense relief he found that
+Reddy and McCarney had left no signs of their
+attack other than a rather large bump on the back
+of the head.</p>
+
+<p>He was fingering this gingerly when Jim entered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+the room. In the mirror Joe caught sight
+of the worried expression his chum wore and
+grinned broadly. He was beginning at last to see
+the funny side of his adventure.</p>
+
+<p>“I say, Joe,” Jim said, not returning his chum’s
+grin, “what’s up, anyway? You’ve run into something.
+Stop grinning and give me the story.”</p>
+
+<p>“If you’ll wait till I get a bath and jump into
+some clean things, I’ll tell you the fool I made of
+myself—and more besides,” answered Joe, with a
+longing glance at the tub.</p>
+
+<p>So, after he had splashed around in hot water
+that took the ache out of his bones and then
+splashed his face with cold water that assuaged
+the ache in his head, Joe told Jim the startling
+events that had taken place since his determination
+to follow Hupft and McCarney and find out
+what they were up to.</p>
+
+<p>“Whew!” whistled Jim, as, a few minutes later,
+he watched Joe put on a clean collar. “You certainly
+did stage some little show all by yourself,
+didn’t you? Pity you couldn’t let a fellow in
+on it.”</p>
+
+<p>“You ought to be glad I didn’t,” retorted Joe.
+“It was no nice party, I’m telling you.”</p>
+
+<p>“But, say!” Jim went on excitedly. “This thing
+about Reddy and McCarney being in cahoots,
+joining hands in the great conspiracy stuff—what
+are you going to do about that?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“What is there to do about it?” asked Joe, with
+a shrug of his shoulders as he turned from the
+mirror and caught up a hat. “We don’t really
+know any more than we did before, only that our
+suspicions have been to some extent verified. If
+that fool waiter hadn’t come around just as he did
+I might have listened to some purpose. I haven’t
+learned yet what ring is backing them up. We’d
+better be on our way,” he added. “We’ll be late
+for practice as it is. Plenty of time to finish our
+talk on the way down.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t get this thing straight in my mind yet,”
+Jim complained, as they hurried along toward the
+field. “It begins to look as if McRae were right—as
+if this gang of crooks were really out for
+blood. But, Joe, I’m glad the cops chose that time
+to raid the hotel.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the idea?” asked Joe, as he skillfully
+wriggled and darted through the traffic. “I don’t
+get you.”</p>
+
+<p>“You poor old simpleton!” retorted Jim affectionately.
+“Do you know where you would be
+now if that raid hadn’t scared off McCarney and
+Hupft?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know,” returned Joe, with a grin.
+“But I have a strong suspicion it would be somewhere
+far away from here.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just so,” returned Jim, adding with more than
+a little anxiety in his tone: “You’ve got to stop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>
+jumping in where angels fear to tread. Or, if
+you must do it, at least seek company in your
+jumpings. You’ve more than yourself to think
+of, you know. There’s Mabel.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know,” said Joe steadily. “Don’t suppose
+I’m not always thinking of her, old man. But
+I’ve got my duty to the league and the great game
+too. Not even Mabel would want me to forget
+that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just the same,” retorted Jim stubbornly, “it
+won’t help the game any if you get injured!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br />
+<small>KEEPING IT CLOSE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“What are you going to do about telling McRae
+and Robbie?” queried Jim, as the two players
+neared the baseball park. “Don’t you suppose
+they ought to know?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve thought about that,” said Joe. “But I
+haven’t found out very much——”</p>
+
+<p>“Except that two of the Giants’ players frequent
+disreputable hotels and partake of contraband
+liquor while they hatch up their evil
+schemes,” Jim reminded him dryly. “That information
+ought to go a long way toward discrediting
+McCarney and Reddy Hupft for life.”</p>
+
+<p>“But it wouldn’t stop their plotting,” Joe retorted.
+“They’d go on hatching their rotten
+schemes just the same, only in such a way that
+we’d have hard work bringing the guilt home to
+them. No, I’d rather have them where I can
+watch them until some time when I have the
+chance to get the real goods on them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps you’re right,” said Jim doubtfully,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>
+adding suddenly: “How do you know they didn’t
+get pinched in the raid?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t,” answered Joe. “Only they beat it
+at the first sign of trouble and probably had a
+chance to get away. It would be some joke,” he
+added, as they walked together toward the entrance
+of the field, “if they had been caught.”</p>
+
+<p>“Some joke on them—but one also on the
+team,” added Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, there it is again. You can’t punish one
+member of a nine without reflecting more or less
+on the whole team.” Joe stopped short and stared
+out to the field where several of the players were
+already in practice. “Say, Jim, do you see what
+I see, or am I dreaming again?”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s Reddy and his pal McCarney all right,”
+said Jim grimly. “They gave the police the slip
+that time, and I suppose they’ll do it many times
+more before they’re caught.”</p>
+
+<p>“But when they’re caught, oh, boy!” said Joe,
+with relish.</p>
+
+<p>They were still standing, staring out toward
+the diamond, when Robbie hurried up to them.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you boys think this is, a star-gazing
+contest?” he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ve got your time wrong, Robbie,” said
+Joe, grinning. “There are no stars.”</p>
+
+<p>“You bet there ain’t!” retorted Robbie, with
+heavy sarcasm. “Not on this team, anyway!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The boys chuckled and, still chuckling, entered
+the clubhouse.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, if Robbie hasn’t any stars on the team
+he certainly has a couple of crooks,” commented
+Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“Wonder how long it will be before he tumbles
+to it,” conjectured Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you suppose those two will do,
+Hupft and McCarney, I mean, when they see you
+back safe and sound and in your normal state?”
+asked Jim, in a carefully lowered voice.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s what I intend to find out,” said Joe,
+with a chuckle of amusement. “I bet they’ll be
+surprised to see me.”</p>
+
+<p>Jim stared at him for a minute, then chuckled
+in his turn.</p>
+
+<p>“Never thought of that,” he said. “I suppose
+they’ve had it all fixed up in their own minds that
+you were caught in the raid.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe nodded.</p>
+
+<p>“And it’s just due to the barest chance in the
+world,” he added seriously, “that I wasn’t.”</p>
+
+<p>Jim considered this new angle of the case for a
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>“Just what would you have done, Joe, if the
+police had found you in that place?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“I’d have told them the truth, of course. What
+else could I have done?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Do you think they would have believed you?”
+asked Jim.</p>
+
+<p>Joe shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>“No telling,” he answered. “I had no proof,
+you know. No witnesses, only my word. They
+would have let me off, probably, but it would have
+made an ugly story—something for Hupft and
+McCarney to chuckle over. No, sir, it’s lucky for
+me I found a means of exit.”</p>
+
+<p>“Even if you did nearly break your neck,”
+added Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“You notice I didn’t,” laughed Joe.</p>
+
+<p>As the two were leaving the clubhouse Joe
+grasped his friend’s arm and reiterated what he
+had said more than once:</p>
+
+<p>“Not a word of this to Mabel, you know, old
+man, or Clara either. It would only worry them,
+and they’ve had enough to worry over since Clara
+overheard McCarney and Lemblow in their
+scheming. Not a word!”</p>
+
+<p>“Not a word!” returned Jim emphatically.</p>
+
+<p>As the chums approached the diamond they
+looked at Hupft and McCarney, who were tossing
+the ball to each other—looked at them with
+a more than ordinary degree of interest.</p>
+
+<p>Aside from the suspicion of a black rim around
+Reddy’s left eye and a slight swelling of McCarney’s
+naturally thick and heavy upper lip, no sign<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>
+could be seen of the hearty fight in which they two
+and Joe had participated.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s tough luck,” Joe murmured, in a crestfallen
+aside to Jim. “I surely thought I landed
+at least a couple of good rights. It seems as
+though, someway or other, I’d missed doing my
+duty.”</p>
+
+<p>“At that, they got more out of it than you did,”
+returned Jim, in the same modulated voice. “Your
+face has the smoothness of a babe, as it were.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, but you ought to feel the back of my
+head,” said Joe ruefully. “I’ve got a bump there
+the size of a hen’s egg.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s probably where you hit the floor,” said
+Jim, and then it was necessary to discontinue the
+<em>sub rosa</em> conversation, as they had come within
+earshot of the two players.</p>
+
+<p>If Joe was curious as to just the manner in
+which his erstwhile assailants meant to greet him,
+he was not long kept in doubt.</p>
+
+<p>As his glance crossed that of Reddy Hupft the
+latter merely scowled faintly and looked away,
+shouting something to Larry, who had just come
+up.</p>
+
+<p>“Snubbed, by Jiminy!” murmured Joe, and Jim
+replied with a grin as he turned and loped off toward
+the pitcher’s box.</p>
+
+<p>Later, when Joe and McCarney came face to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>
+face, the experience was repeated, only that there
+was a little more ferocity in the latter’s stony
+glance.</p>
+
+<p>“That fellow McCarney surely does hate me
+like poison,” Joe communed, as he played with
+the ball in practice, sending little teasers over the
+plate that kept the unfortunate batters in a state
+somewhere between apoplexy and nervous prostration.
+“I’d like to meet him again some time
+when the odds aren’t two to one.”</p>
+
+<p>It was hard for him to make up his mind in the
+hour or two that followed whether to tell McRae
+of his experience or whether to let the matter go
+by, for the time at least.</p>
+
+<p>One minute he was not sure but what it was
+McRae’s right to know the story and the next
+moment he was telling himself that, since he had
+really learned nothing from the overheard conversation
+between McCarney and Hupft, there
+was no vital reason why he should say anything
+about it.</p>
+
+<p>He was in the latter frame of mind when, after
+practice, McRae led him to a secluded corner of
+the field. The manager looked about him to make
+sure that no one was within earshot, and then
+turned to Joe, saying abruptly:</p>
+
+<p>“See here, Joe, I’m worried. There’s something
+wrong with this team—all-fired wrong.
+And that something is Reddy Hupft and McCarney.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+They’re not working right. They’re going
+stale and they’re having an effect on the rest of
+the team. Did you notice them to-day?”</p>
+
+<p>“What about them?” Joe asked evasively.</p>
+
+<p>“They’ve been drinking,” said McRae, pounding
+a big fist in the palm of his hand by way of
+emphasis. “I talked to Reddy, and his breath
+nearly knocked me over. And when a ball player
+begins to drink, you know as well as I do that
+that’s the end of him. I tell you, something’s got
+to be done or we’ll be getting new men for third
+base and center-field.”</p>
+
+<p>For several minutes longer the manager aired
+his grievances with Joe as a sympathetic and
+equally worried listener and several times it was
+on the point of Joe’s tongue to tell McRae what
+had happened that day. But always something
+held him back.</p>
+
+<p>“Wait,” said a voice within his brain. “Wait
+till you have some real evidence. Then you can
+not only talk, but act!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br />
+<small>A NO-HIT GAME</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The time had now come for the Giants’ invasion
+of the West, and they started out in fine fettle,
+although they knew they had hard work ahead
+of them.</p>
+
+<p>This year there was to be no runaway race for
+the pennant. All the Western teams were up on
+their toes to bring the flag to their own section.
+Since Joe had come to the Giants that team had
+won the championship for several years in succession,
+and from the Western point of view that
+would never do. Each team, of course, wanted it
+for themselves, but at any rate if they could not
+win it they wanted it to go to some other Western
+team. So the slogan was: “Anything to beat the
+Giants.”</p>
+
+<p>Their best pitchers were carefully groomed
+and kept in reserve for the games with the conquering
+New Yorkers, while the other pitchers
+did the bulk of the twirling in the less important
+games. In each series of four games the various<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+managers maneuvered so that their king-pin
+pitcher worked in the first and fourth games, so
+that they could hurl their pitching star twice at
+least against the invaders. This was perfectly
+legitimate from the standpoint of shrewd management,
+but it can easily be seen that it made the
+Giants’ task a good deal harder than that of any
+other club.</p>
+
+<p>But the Giants were a fighting club, made up
+for the most part of veterans of many a hard-fought
+campaign, and the stiffer the opposition
+the more their battling spirit rose to meet it. The
+very bitterness of the opposition was a compliment
+in itself, and with Joe and Jim pitching the
+game of their lives they faced the foe with confidence.</p>
+
+<p>That confidence, to be sure, would have been
+still greater had it not been for the indifferent
+playing of Hupft and McCarney that was now
+becoming a matter of comment among all the
+players. McRae had his lines out for likely material
+to supplant those two, but he had not yet
+been able to land what seemed like major league
+material and so was forced to keep them on a
+little longer.</p>
+
+<p>But the demon pitching done by Joe and Jim
+had thus far made up for the deficiencies at third
+and center, and the Giants started their swing
+around the Western circle at the head of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+league and two games to the good. That, of
+course, was only a slender margin, and might be
+wiped out in a few days of hard luck, but it at
+least gave them an “edge” on their rivals. McRae
+was figuring on taking at least ten of the sixteen
+games to be played on the present trip, and
+if he could do that there was every prospect that
+the Giants would return home in the lead. Then,
+with a long series on their home grounds in prospect,
+there was a good chance that the Giants
+could get so far out in the lead that they would
+never be headed.</p>
+
+<p>Their first series was with Cincinnati, and here
+they struck a snag in Hughson’s rejuvenated team.
+The Reds were playing championship ball and ran
+away with three games out of four. This was a
+setback, but the Giants evened the score when
+they made a similar killing with the Pittsburghs
+as the victims. At St. Louis the team met with
+rain on one of the days scheduled, and were able
+to play only three games. But as they annexed
+two of these, McRae, to use his own phrase, “had
+no kick coming.”</p>
+
+<p>It was at Chicago that the real test came. The
+Windy City boys had their fighting togs on and
+neither gave nor asked for quarter. The games
+were for blood from the tap of the bell. Joe won
+the first by a shut out—won in a double sense by
+hitting a homer for the only run scored by his side.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+Jim was next and pitched superbly in a game that
+went for thirteen innings, and was only won by
+Chicago in the last by an error of McCarney.
+The Cubs repeated the dose on the following day,
+when a perfect deluge of hits came from their
+bats that drove Markwith to the showers and
+gave Chicago the game by a score of 11 to 5.</p>
+
+<p>Chicago players, fans and newspapers were
+jubilant and implored the Cubs to put on the finishing
+touch by winning the last game of the series.</p>
+
+<p>The Giants had now won seven and lost seven
+of their Western trip and the result of the final
+game would decide whether they should go back
+to New York with the tally on the right or wrong
+side of the ledger.</p>
+
+<p>“Those fellows are calling themselves Giant-killers,
+Joe,” said McRae, as the teams were
+warming up in practice before a tremendous crowd
+that packed every inch of the stands and bleachers
+on the day of the final game. “I want you to
+go out and show them that you’re some little Cub-killer
+yourself.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll try to bring their pelt back to the clubhouse,”
+responded Joe, with a grin.</p>
+
+<p>The Cubs were relying on their great pitcher
+Axander, who was regarded as being only second
+to Joe himself in the National League, and the
+fans settled down to witness a battle royal.</p>
+
+<p>The Giants, as the visiting club, were first at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+bat, and Axander made short work of them.
+Curry fouled out on the second ball pitched. Iredell
+sent up a twisting fly to short that Harker
+gathered in. The redoubtable Burkett was completely
+buffaloed and struck out.</p>
+
+<p>Axander was received with a tempest of cheers
+as he went to the bench and was compelled to doff
+his cap in acknowledgment.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe went him one better by setting down the
+Cubs on strikes in their half. The ball whizzed
+over the plate with the whine of a bullet. He had
+speed to burn and the Cub batsmen never had a
+chance.</p>
+
+<p>It was evident that a pitching duel was impending,
+and this was what McRae was praying
+for. Let it come to a matter of twirling, and he
+was willing to bet on Joe against the world.</p>
+
+<p>The second, third and fourth innings were also
+scoreless for either side. Wheeler had found
+Axander for a single and Joe had poled out a
+crashing triple, but their comrades were unable to
+bring them in.</p>
+
+<p>Not a hit as yet had been scored on Joe. When
+the Cubs connected with the ball at all, they hit it
+on the under side for a fly to the outfielders or
+dribbled easy ones that were gobbled up by the infield.
+But his chief reliance was on strike-outs, as
+he wanted to give McCarney and Hupft as few
+chances as possible.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In the fifth, two singles in succession got Giants
+on bases, but Axander tightened up and they got
+no farther. Still they were finding that Axander
+could be hit, and that it itself was something.</p>
+
+<p>But no such encouragement came to the Cubs.
+Try as they might, they could not solve Joe’s delivery.
+He mixed up his fast ones with an occasional
+slow one that they broke their backs reaching
+for, while Joe grinned at them tantalizingly.
+His hop ball was working to perfection and his
+fadeaway stood the Chicagos on their heads.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re a lot of old women,” stormed the Chicago
+manager, Evans, as one after the other of
+his men came discomfited to the bench. “Why
+don’t you go in and knock his head off, you bunch
+of sand-lot boobs?”</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, that feller ain’t a pitcher, he’s a wizard,”
+growled Burton, the Cub’s heaviest slugger.
+“He’s got the ball bewitched.”</p>
+
+<p>“Here, let’s see that ball,” shouted Evans,
+walking out toward the box as Joe was winding
+up. “Come here, umps,” he added, motioning to
+the umpire. “I want you to examine this ball and
+make sure there’s nothing phony about it.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe surrendered it with a laugh. He had never
+resorted to the tricks used by some pitchers of
+“roughening” or “shining” or putting resin on the
+ball so as to give it a peculiar motion. His arm
+and his head had been his only reliance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The umpire and manager examined the ball
+with the utmost care but could find no fault with
+it. A huge guffaw came from the Giants, as
+Evans reluctantly handed back the ball, and even
+the Chicago fans gave him the laugh.</p>
+
+<p>“Satisfied, Mr. Evans?” grinned Joe with elaborate
+politeness. “Now, just to show you that
+there are no hard feelings, trot out your rough-necks
+and I’ll strike them out in order—one, two,
+three, just like that.”</p>
+
+<p>This he did in jig time and in such a masterly
+fashion that the Chicago rooters, eager as they
+were to see the home team win, could not refrain
+from applauding him. They were beginning to
+realize that they were watching the performance
+of the greatest pitcher that had ever walked into
+the box.</p>
+
+<p>In the very next inning they realized also that
+they were watching the mightiest slugger that had
+ever swung a bat, when Joe, with one man on base,
+caught one of Axander’s fast ones on the end of
+his bat and sent it screaming over the center-field
+wall for the longest homer that had ever been
+clouted on the Chicago grounds. The ice was
+broken, and the score stood 2 to 0 in favor of the
+Giants.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re a miracle man to-day, Joe!” exclaimed
+McRae, beaming on him. “You’re winning your
+own game with a vengeance. Now all you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>
+to do is to hold those birds down and we’ll have
+bagged the game.”</p>
+
+<p>One other thing was being borne in on the Chicago
+fans, and that was that they were possibly
+to see that rarest of things on the diamond—a no-hit
+game. Here it was the seventh inning, and
+not even the semblance of a hit had been scored
+on Joe. Axander had yielded five in all, of which
+Joe had gathered two. But Joe had an absolutely
+clean score. Could he keep it up?</p>
+
+<p>The Chicago manager growled and raged and
+implored his men to do something. They tried
+desperately, but it was Joe’s day and he would not
+be denied. They resorted to all the tricks of the
+trade, tried to bunt, tried to get hit with the ball,
+anything to get on first. Their coachers roared
+from the side lines in an attempt to rattle Joe.
+But he was as cold as ice, as hard as steel.</p>
+
+<p>He had never felt more sure of himself. He
+had thrown aside his cap and looked like a young
+Viking as he stood in the box, hurling the ball over
+with such tremendous speed that it defied the eye
+to follow it, or sending it in with such deceptive
+slants that he had the batsman striking wildly at
+the air. His control was perfect. The ball
+seemed inspired with almost human intelligence.
+It whizzed, it dodged, it jumped, it dropped, as
+though guided by a spring.</p>
+
+<p>The seventh inning passed. Not a hit.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The eighth inning passed. Still no hit. Joe
+was simply toying with the batsmen. He held his
+enemies in the hollow of his hand.</p>
+
+<p>Axander had also kept the Giants from scoring
+any more runs, and was pitching a brand of ball
+that would have won nine games out of ten.</p>
+
+<p>In the last half of the ninth, the Chicagos came
+in for their final stand with the head of their batting
+order at the bat. Yells of encouragement
+came from the rooters as they implored them to
+stage a last-inning rally.</p>
+
+<p>Burton came to the plate. “One strike.” “One
+ball.” “Foul strike.” “Three strikes.” “Out!”</p>
+
+<p>Next came Gallagher. “One ball.” “Two
+balls.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait him out,” yelled Evans. “He’s getting
+wild. He’s weakening. We’ll get him yet.”</p>
+
+<p>“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three
+strikes.” “Out!”</p>
+
+<p>Weston, the Chicago’s last hope, came third.</p>
+
+<p>“One strike.” “Two strikes.” “Three
+strikes.” “Out!”</p>
+
+<p>The greatest game that Chicago had seen for
+years was over, and the Giants had won by a
+score of 2 to 0.</p>
+
+<p>Not a run had been scored by Chicago. Not a
+Cub had touched a base. Not a man had been
+passed to first on balls. Not a Cub had made a
+hit!</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was a no-hit game without a blemish, the
+greatest that Joe had pitched in his whole great
+career. And to cap it all, his own homer had
+brought the Giants out at the big end of the score.</p>
+
+<p>The jubilation of McRae and Robson and the
+rest of the Giants, with the exception of Hupft
+and McCarney, was beyond description. Their
+most formidable foe had been humbled, and the
+Giants could go back to New York in a blaze of
+glory.</p>
+
+<p>Joe had been so pounded and knocked about by
+his hilarious comrades that he was later in dressing
+than most of his mates, many of whom had
+finished and drifted away from the clubhouse to
+get ready for the train ride home. By the time
+Joe had completed his bath, the only occupants
+besides himself and Jim were Hupft and McCarney.</p>
+
+<p>Just as Joe stepped from under the shower
+Hupft came past him hurriedly and stepped on
+Joe’s bare foot with his own heavily shod foot.
+The pain was excruciating and Joe gave vent to
+an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, what are you grouching about?” growled
+Hupft. “Do you think I did it on purpose?”</p>
+
+<p>But Joe had caught a triumphant gleam in his
+eyes that belied his words.</p>
+
+<p>“I know you did!” he cried. “Now, Reddy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+Hupft, I’m going to pay you something of what
+I owe you.”</p>
+
+<p>His fist shot out with a terrific impact against
+Reddy’s jaw. The latter staggered and almost
+fell, but, recovering himself, rushed furiously at
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p>The latter met him with a straight left that
+shook him from head to heels. Two others followed,
+delivered with such force that Hupft measured
+his length on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>McCarney had made a move to rush to Hupft’s
+assistance, but Jim barred the way with blazing
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>“No, you don’t!” he cried. “One move, and
+I’ll smash you to bits!”</p>
+
+<p>McCarney “curled up” promptly, while Jim
+with clenched fists kept guard over him.</p>
+
+<p>“Come,” cried Joe, as he stood over his fallen
+antagonist. “Stand up so that I can knock you
+down again. I’m just getting warmed up.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve had enough,” growled Reddy, spitting
+out a tooth. “But you can bet McRae will hear
+of this.”</p>
+
+<p>“Tell him and welcome,” returned Joe, as he
+started to resume his dressing. “But pick yourself
+up now and get out of this clubhouse. If
+you’re here when I get my shoes on, I’ll kick you
+out.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The precious pair slouched out of the house,
+their eyes burning with rage and malice.</p>
+
+<p>“They’re bad medicine, Joe,” remarked Jim, as
+he watched them depart. “Be on the watch, for
+they’ll try to get even for this. But, gee, it
+warmed my heart to see the trimming you gave
+Hupft! Those smashes you handed him were
+beauties.”</p>
+
+<p>Jim’s prophecy was quickly realized, for that
+night, as the chums were hurrying for the train
+that was to carry them to New York, a jagged
+piece of railroad iron came whizzing past Joe’s
+head, missing him by no more than a couple of
+inches. They looked about, but could see nobody,
+and as their time was limited they had no chance
+to hunt for their unknown assailant. But in their
+hearts they had no doubt as to the source of the
+attack.</p>
+
+<p>“One more debt I owe to Hupft and McCarney,”
+commented Joe, as they settled into their
+train seats. “The account is getting pretty long,
+but heaven help them when the time comes for
+settling!”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br />
+<small>THE STARTLING TELEGRAM</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“Want to do the biggest work of your young
+life to-day, Joe?”</p>
+
+<p>It was McRae speaking shortly after the team’s
+return to New York, and Joe grinned at him
+cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>“Surest thing you know,” he said. “Before I
+get through with them to-day that Boston gang
+are going to wish they’d never been born. Maybe
+it’s the air, but I never felt more fit than I do at
+this minute.”</p>
+
+<p>It was the truth. At that moment Baseball Joe
+had never felt more confident, never felt more
+utterly sure that he could make the ball dance to
+his whistle.</p>
+
+<p>It was the early afternoon of the day when
+they were to play the big game with Boston. The
+boys had turned out early, hoping to get in a little
+extra practice before the game began. They
+were working out in fine shape and things looked
+extremely hopeful for the Giants.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was the kind of day just made for a game;
+cool for the time of year but clear as a bell. The
+air itself was a tonic, and as Joe tossed the ball
+with a speed and brilliance that delighted his
+mates it seemed indeed as though the spirit of
+the day had entered that good right arm of his.
+He was invincible.</p>
+
+<p>“Going to give it to them right where they live
+to-day all right, old boy,” said Jim gleefully, as
+they paused for a breathing space. “Boston
+hasn’t a pitcher that’s in the same class with you.
+But say,” he added seriously, with a quick lowering
+of his voice, “have you noticed anything queer
+about Reddy and McCarney?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing more than usual,” said Joe absently.
+His mind was on the beating they were going to
+give Boston and in his eyes was the light of battle.
+At that moment he had no thoughts to waste on
+anything as insignificant as Hupft and McCarney.</p>
+
+<p>But as Jim seemed to want to talk about them
+Joe listened absently, his eager eyes still on the
+diamond.</p>
+
+<p>“They’ve been watching you all morning when
+you didn’t know it,” Jim said, and there was no
+mistaking the worried note in his voice. “Once I
+caught them whispering together, and Reddy
+looked toward you and laughed. I tell you, Joe,
+I’ll bet anything I own those two are cooking up
+mischief for this afternoon.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“That seems to be their favorite outdoor
+sport,” returned Joe, with a grin. Then, seeing
+that his chum was still grave, he added, reassuringly,
+“Don’t worry, old man. There isn’t a
+thing in the world can stop me to-day.”</p>
+
+<p>Some say it is bad luck to boast, and in this
+particular instance it certainly looked as though
+there was some truth in the saying. For the
+words were scarcely out of Joe’s mouth when McRae
+appeared with a small uniformed boy in tow.</p>
+
+<p>“Here’s your man, Johnnie,” he said to the lad,
+indicating Joe, and the boy, with a look of utter
+adoration on his freckled face, handed Joe a yellow
+envelope.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re Baseball Joe, ain’t you?” he queried
+eagerly, and when Joe nodded an amused assent
+he rattled on excitedly: “I knowed you wuz ’cause
+I’ve seen your pitchers in de paper. An’ onct in
+a while I have a grandstand seat. Gee, it’s swell!
+See dat hole in de fence?” He pointed with one
+small, grubby finger. “Dat’s him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure,” said Joe, gravely. “You have the right
+idea, old man. Why, that’s where I began my
+first education in baseball—through a hole in the
+fence!”</p>
+
+<p>“Didjou?” breathed the small fan devoutly.
+“Gee!”</p>
+
+<p>“Got a pencil and a bit of paper?” asked Joe,
+and still as though in a trance the boy handed over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>
+the stump of a pencil and a scrap of paper that
+had once been white.</p>
+
+<p>On this scrap of paper Joe scribbled something
+and handed it to the boy.</p>
+
+<p>“There, son,” he said, with a smile, “this will
+let you in at the gate if you can get the afternoon
+off.”</p>
+
+<p>The boy looked first at the scrap of paper, then
+at Joe, and over his freckled face spread a grin
+of sheer joy.</p>
+
+<p>“Say, Mister, you’re sure de berries!” he said,
+adding with scorn, as he moved away: “You said,
+could I get de afternoon off! What you don’t git
+give to you, you takes. Dat’s me.”</p>
+
+<p>“There,” said Joe, with a grin, as his eyes followed
+the lad, “goes a future baseball star, or
+I’ll miss my guess.”</p>
+
+<p>“And you’ve made a friend for life,” added
+Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“But, Joe, how about that telegram?” McRae
+was patently anxious. “No bad news, I hope.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked at the almost-forgotten yellow envelope
+in his hand and frowned.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not expecting bad news,” he said, as he
+hastily tore open the envelope. “Mabel often
+sends me telegrams on the eve of a great game,
+wishing me luck, you know. Hello!” There was
+a sudden vibrant quality in his voice that made the
+two men stare at him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“What’s up, old boy?” Jim asked. But, without
+answering, Joe crumpled the paper in his hand
+and started on a run for the clubhouse.</p>
+
+<p>“Now what’s up?” groaned McRae. “If anything
+happens to put Joe out of his stride now,
+we’re gone coons. Go after him, Jim, and find
+out what’s wrong. Club the information out of
+him, if necessary.”</p>
+
+<p>Without replying, Jim departed on his mission
+of force while McRae followed more slowly, dismally
+shaking his head.</p>
+
+<p>“We’re sure up against a jinx,” he muttered.
+“If anything else happens to this team, it’ll have
+to look around for a new manager, that’s all. I
+can’t stand the pace.”</p>
+
+<p>Jim found Joe in the act of changing into his
+street clothes. His face was drawn and white and
+when Jim spoke to him he looked at his chum as
+though he hardly saw him.</p>
+
+<p>“Matter enough,” he said, in answer to Jim’s
+twice-repeated query. “Mabel’s sick, Jim, and
+she wants me. Get out of my way, old boy. This
+is no time to argue.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where’s the telegram?” asked Jim. “Will
+you let me see it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Good gracious, how do I know where it is?”
+Joe roared at him. “Get out of my way, will you,
+Jim? I tell you, Mabel’s sick!”</p>
+
+<p>At that moment Jim saw the crumpled bit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>
+yellow paper where Joe, in his frantic haste, had
+dropped it. Jim picked it up and hurried to the
+light with it. When he returned, his face was
+grim.</p>
+
+<p>“See here, Joe,” he said, slowly, “you can’t go
+off half-cocked like this. We’ve got to talk this
+matter over a bit.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe turned a haggard, impatient face to him.</p>
+
+<p>“Talk it over! Are you crazy, Jim?” he cried.
+“And while we’re talking it over, Mabel may be—dying!
+For the love of Pete, Jim, get out of
+my way.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not till you calm down and use your head a
+bit,” retorted Jim determinedly. “Three minutes
+won’t make any difference one way or another,
+and that’s all it will take me to say——”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, for the love of Pete, say it then and have
+it over!” exploded Joe, taking out his watch. Jim
+saw that his hand was shaking as he opened it.
+“I’ll give you just three minutes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Listen,” cried Jim, an imperative hand on
+Joe’s arm. “There’s something phony about that
+telegram, Joe. Of course I can’t prove it, but I’d
+be willing to stake my reputation on it just the
+same.”</p>
+
+<p>“Phony!” repeated Joe softly. He put the
+watch back in his pocket and stared at Jim as
+though he were seeing him for the first time.
+“What makes you think that?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“From the fact that it isn’t signed,” Jim explained
+hurriedly, fearful of losing Joe’s attention.
+“And from the fact, also, that it comes at
+a time when your absence would be a horrible
+handicap to the team. Get me, old boy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I get you,” admitted Joe. “But, good
+gracious, man, don’t you see, I can’t afford to take
+a chance? This may be all as you say. I admit
+that this may be a clever, sure-fire scheme to lure
+me away at the pinch.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is, Joe. It must be,” insisted Jim earnestly.
+“The whole thing is too opportune to be merely
+coincidence. That grin that passed between
+Hupft and McCarney this morning——”</p>
+
+<p>“And all the time we’re talking here,” groaned
+Joe, “Mabel may be—— Great Scott, Jim, we’ve
+got to act!”</p>
+
+<p>“Now what?” asked Jim anxiously, as he followed
+his chum toward McRae’s office.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m going to find a ’phone and see if I can call
+Riverside,” said Joe tersely, over his shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>“Now you’re talking turkey,” said Jim, to
+which commendation Joe merely grunted.</p>
+
+<p>They had the office to themselves for the time
+being and they made good use of it. At the telephone,
+his face still drawn, a look of keen anxiety
+in his eyes, Joe put in his call for Riverside.</p>
+
+<p>Then came the long sickening wait. Moments,
+hours, it seemed to Joe, went by. Finally came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+back the answer that it was impossible to get the
+number wanted in Riverside. Half an hour had
+gone by! A valuable half hour wasted!</p>
+
+<p>“I can’t stand this, Jim,” Joe cried, an agony
+of apprehension in his voice. “What is the losing
+of a game compared with Mabel? Good-by. I’m
+gone.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br />
+<small>REGGIE TO THE RESCUE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“Not yet!” snapped Jim, resolutely. “You’re
+going to give me a moment more, or I’ll know the
+reason why.”</p>
+
+<p>Just then McRae entered the room. He gazed
+upon the tableau in surprise, then his eyes rested
+on Joe’s street clothes.</p>
+
+<p>“Why the glad rags, Joe?” he asked, trying to
+mask his growing concern by an air of easy good
+nature. “Not going to beat up the Bostons in
+that rig, are you?”</p>
+
+<p>“McRae,” said Joe in the tone of one whose
+patience is being pushed too far, “I’m sorry this
+has happened. I can’t even stop to explain now.
+My wife’s sick and I’ve got to go. Jim will give
+you all the details you want. Good-by.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just a minute, Joe,” Jim’s voice broke in
+crisply. “I think you owe it to yourself—to say
+nothing of McRae and the team—to make one
+more attempt to get in touch with Mabel.”</p>
+
+<p>“How?” Joe demanded. “The ’phone——”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“We can get Reggie. He’s staying within a
+short distance of Riverside just now, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, we’ll try to get Reggie,” Joe broke
+in impatiently. “Though what he can tell us I’m
+sure I don’t know,” he added, as he picked up the
+telephone again and called long distance.</p>
+
+<p>Luckily the chums happened to know that Reggie
+was staying with some friends in Ridersville,
+a little town not far from Riverside, while he
+looked after some business for his father. Reggie
+had given them not only the address of his
+friends but the telephone number as well, and the
+latter had stuck in Joe’s head.</p>
+
+<p>So now, more with the idea of pacifying McRae
+and Jim than from any hope of help from Reggie,
+Joe called the number, raging inwardly at the delay.
+Mabel, his little Mabel, was ill, perhaps
+seriously ill, and these two stood in the way of his
+going to her! What was a game, anyway, compared
+to the fact that his bride needed him? At
+that, it did not follow that the game would be lost
+even if he, Joe, were unable to pitch. What was
+the matter with Jim, with Bradley, with Markwith?
+But in his heart he knew that it was his,
+Joe’s, mighty batting arm as much as his prowess
+in the box that McRae was counting on to turn
+the tide against the Bostons.</p>
+
+<p>“It isn’t so much what Reggie can tell us as
+what he can find out for us,” he heard Jim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>
+saying. “He’s only a stone’s throw from Riverside.”</p>
+
+<p>Just then the telephone rang.</p>
+
+<p>“Here’s your party,” came from the operator.</p>
+
+<p>Joe’s tall form straightened and his expression
+became more tense. It was not long before he
+had Reggie on the line.</p>
+
+<p>“This you, Reggie? Joe speaking. Joe Matson—Joe—J-O-E—Baseball
+Joe, get me? Yes,
+that’s right. Say, Reggie, how is Mabel? Have
+you heard anything of her lately? What’s that?
+Speak a little louder, will you? I can’t hear you.”</p>
+
+<p>Both McRae and Jim leaned closer as Joe tried
+to make meaning of the sentences that floated so
+faintly over the wire, yet unmistakably uttered in
+Reggie’s familiar drawl.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that?” Joe cried. “Say that over
+again, Reggie, and say it slow. You saw her?
+When? A week ago? Was she well then, perfectly
+well?... Yes, I got a telegram saying
+she’s very ill, calling me to Riverside.... Yes,
+it’s the big game with Boston to-day.... I can’t
+help it. Mabel needs me.... What’s that you
+say?”</p>
+
+<p>Reggie’s drawl was hardly noticeable. The
+urbane, bland Reggie was very much agitated.
+He spoke so quickly that Joe had hard work to
+follow him. McRae and Jim, of course, had to
+guess at the conversation from Joe’s part in it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“You’ll go right out there?” asked Joe in a relief
+that was mixed with uncertainty. “That’s
+fine of you, Reggie, but I think I ought to come
+back anyway.... What say?... Speak more
+slowly, old man.... You’ll let us know as soon
+as you find out?... What’s that?... Provided
+I stay around and play ball?... Say,
+what is this anyway, blackmail?... All right,
+all right, I promise.... All right, I’ll stick
+around till I hear from you, but make it swift,
+will you, old man? You know how I feel....
+All right.... Thanks.... So long.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe hung up, took out his handkerchief, and
+wiped beads of perspiration from his face.</p>
+
+<p>“Well?” demanded Jim and McRae together.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know that it is well,” groaned Joe.
+“Here I’ve promised Reggie I’ll wait here till he
+calls up—a thing I’ll probably spend the rest of
+my life regretting.”</p>
+
+<p>“He said he would go right up there, didn’t
+he?” asked Jim, adding, as Joe nodded miserably:
+“Well, you see, he’ll be there hours before you
+could hope to. The chances are he’ll find Mabel
+as fit as a fiddle.”</p>
+
+<p>“But if he doesn’t——”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, then,” said Jim reassuringly, “it will
+only mean the delay of an hour or so, anyway.
+Or no delay at all. Through express trains don’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>
+run like trolleys. You can’t get away before to-night
+at best.”</p>
+
+<p>“And meanwhile I might suggest,” said McRae
+dryly, “that the hour of battle draws near
+and that Baseball Joe had better get into something
+more nearly resembling a uniform. Buck
+up, Joe,” he added, giving the latter a hearty
+thump on the shoulder. “You’re not going to
+turn the Giants down now, are you, when the team
+needs the best that’s in you?”</p>
+
+<p>Joe made no answer in words but rose and
+turned toward the locker room.</p>
+
+<p>“Great Scott!” he said to himself, passing a
+shaking hand through his hair. “How am I going
+to play ball?”</p>
+
+<p>Now he was out on the field once more with the
+sun beating down blindingly upon the newly
+marked diamond and the tremendous crowds in
+the grandstand and bleachers voicing approval of
+the husky home team. The bell had rung and
+McRae had been compelled to start the game with
+Markwith in the box.</p>
+
+<p>Joe wondered what had become of the confident
+mood he had felt so short a time before when
+he had proclaimed that no one could beat him.
+As he thought of the telegram which had so completely
+changed everything for him, he spared a
+fleeting thought to the small messenger boy. He
+was probably squeezed in somewhere among that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+tight-packed mass of humanity, the freckles standing
+out on his snub nose and his shrill voice joyfully
+murdering the English language in an attempt
+to make his enthusiasm audible.</p>
+
+<p>Joe smiled fleetingly, but instantly his face was
+grave again.</p>
+
+<p>Mabel—Mabel lying sick and lonely, wanting
+him, and he was failing her! He had been a
+fool to say that he would wait for Reggie to find
+out what was wrong. He was the one who should
+be investigating, not Reggie.</p>
+
+<p>Of course there was the chance—his reason
+told him it was a good chance—that the whole
+thing was a scheme to get him out of the way. At
+the thought his fists clenched and his mouth shut
+in a straight line. If it was a trick and he could
+find the identity of the player of it, that trick
+would be the last that fellow would play!</p>
+
+<p>Now as he sat on the bench, he remembered
+certain small signs and tokens that up to that time
+had almost entirely escaped his memory.</p>
+
+<p>He remembered having discovered a sort of
+triumphant hostility in McCarney’s gaze as it was
+fixed upon him, a look which had surprised and
+annoyed him only momentarily. He was used to
+the enmity of McCarney, but it was only at this
+moment that he remembered that triumph had
+outweighed hostility in the eyes of the man.</p>
+
+<p>Was that triumph caused by the certainty in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+McCarney’s mind that he, Joe, would not play in
+that day’s game? At the thought Joe experienced
+a sharp thrill of gladness that he had not permitted
+himself to be tricked into abandoning his
+team.</p>
+
+<p>Then came back the tormenting uncertainty
+again. Was it a trick? How could he be sure of
+that? What was wrong with Reggie? Why
+didn’t he let him know? Fool that he had been
+to trust to Reggie! Then he awoke to the unpleasant
+realization that the Bostons’ half of the
+first inning was ended and that the visitors had
+scored two runs.</p>
+
+<p>Markwith had started well by striking out the
+first man up. The second, however, he had passed
+to first. The next man laid down a neat sacrifice
+on which the man on first had got to second. Still
+there were two out and the chances were against
+scoring.</p>
+
+<p>But Bradbury, batting in the clean-up position,
+had caught a low ball that came singing over the
+plate just where he wanted it and sent it whistling
+into the bleachers for the prettiest kind of a
+homer.</p>
+
+<p>The clout rather unnerved Markwith, and he
+sent the next one to first on a free pass. But the
+next man hit a sharp grasser to Iredell that the
+latter handled cleanly and got to first in plenty of
+time for the out.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Fine pitching—I don’t think,” grumbled McRae,
+as Markwith came in rather sheepishly.
+“You poor boob,” he added to the discomfited
+pitcher, “don’t you know better than to give Bradbury
+a low one in the groove? Haven’t you seen
+often enough that he just eats up that kind?”</p>
+
+<p>Markwith merely grunted.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll let you start the second in the hope you’ll
+settle down,” continued McRae. “But at the
+least sign of faltering, it’s you for the showers.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br />
+<small>SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Although his heart was with Mabel, Joe’s
+mind was once more thoroughly alert. Two runs
+at the very beginning of a game is not much, to
+be sure, under ordinary circumstances. But it did
+not take him long to see that the team was not
+running right. Something was decidedly wrong
+even though he could not put his finger on just
+what that something was.</p>
+
+<p>From the way the second inning began it
+looked as though the Giants were going to have
+their work cut out for them simply to keep the
+opposing team from scoring further, let alone the
+making up of those two runs.</p>
+
+<p>Joe felt something of the old fighting spirit
+rising within him again and then, at thought of
+Mabel, his heart sank. He wondered, as he had
+wondered before, how, with every moment a torment
+of apprehension to him, he was going to play
+ball.</p>
+
+<p>“Go to it, Joe,” McRae ordered brusquely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+“Get out there and see if you can’t pull this team
+together. Looks as if this game was lost before
+it began. Go in and give ’em a sample of pitching
+that’ll open their eyes.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe tried his best to smile his old joyful smile
+as he started for the box, but it was hard work.
+His muscles felt drawn and tight and the best he
+could manage was a rather sickly grin.</p>
+
+<p>Then his gaze met Reddy Hupft’s and he was
+suddenly conscious of a wave of dislike and disgust
+that made his former resentment of the fellow
+seem a lukewarm emotion. There was more
+than malice in Reddy’s eyes too—this time Joe
+was sure of it. Instinctively he threw back his
+shoulders and his head went up.</p>
+
+<p>“If Hupft and McCarney think they can put
+one over on me they’ll soon find out their mistake.”</p>
+
+<p>He wound up deliberately, then sent over a
+ball so swift that it seemed but the barest second
+from the time it left his hand till it dropped with
+a thud in the catcher’s glove. Three men he
+struck out in swift succession and the crowd was
+in an uproar.</p>
+
+<p>“At a boy, Joe, don’t let ’em sass you!” shrilled
+a voice Joe thought he recognized, and he grinned
+in the direction of the grandstand.</p>
+
+<p>Thereafter followed some of the most brilliant
+work Joe had ever given the fans to marvel at,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>
+and though the Giants failed to score, he at least
+kept the opposing team from scoring.</p>
+
+<p>But that was not enough. Joe knew it, and
+every member of the team, as well as the clamoring
+crowd in grandstand and bleachers, knew it
+too.</p>
+
+<p>Three, four, five innings passed without changing
+the score. Then in the first part of the sixth
+Neale of the Bostons knocked a homer that made
+wild men of their little band of supporters.</p>
+
+<p>Three to nothing the score stood now, in the
+first half of the sixth, and the Giants were in the
+throes of what promised to be a first-class slump.</p>
+
+<p>“Looks as if you had to carry the whole team
+on your shoulders, Joe,” said Robbie, adding, with
+a comprehensive glance: “They look broad
+enough to stand it, at that. Listen, Joe, pretty
+soon you’re going behind that bat and you’re
+going to smash that score into little bits and make
+a brand new one, understand?”</p>
+
+<p>And Joe did. He waited till he was sure of his
+ball, and then with all the weight of his shoulders
+behind it he caught the ball squarely on the end of
+his bat, sent it winging skyward as though its ambition
+were to see just how far up in the clouds it
+could go and manage to get back to earth at all.</p>
+
+<p>At the crack of the bat Joe started and reached
+home without sliding just as the ball connected
+with the catcher’s glove.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The crowd went mad. There was a storm of
+cheering and stamping and frantic yells, but Joe
+took no notice of them. He was thinking of
+Mabel. Was his little wife waiting for him, wondering
+why he did not come, perhaps reproaching
+him?</p>
+
+<p>At the end of the sixth the score stood as Joe
+had made it: 3 to 1 in favor of Boston. In various
+innings there had been men on first and second
+and, at one time, on all three, but, somehow, they
+fell just short of scoring.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s just what I tell you, Joe,” growled Robbie.
+“You have to carry the whole team. You
+give them an opening and they don’t even see it.”</p>
+
+<p>“That was great work, Joe,” Jim told him a
+few moments later. “I’d give anything to be able
+to bat as you do. It sure is a privilege to see you
+knock out one of those home runs.”</p>
+
+<p>“Say, Jim,” Joe broke in with an abruptness
+that showed he had not heard one word of Jim’s
+tribute, “what do you suppose is the matter with
+Reggie? Why don’t we hear from him?”</p>
+
+<p>“I wish you’d give me an easy one,” answered
+Jim anxiously. “I’ve been wondering that same
+thing myself. However,” he added, “I suppose
+no news is good news.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s pretty thin comfort for me,” growled
+Joe, adding quickly, the feverish light in his eyes
+showing plainly the strain he had been under: “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>
+tell you I can’t stand this any longer, Jim. I’m
+going up there and try to get in touch with Riverside
+again, and if I can’t get them, I’ll try Reggie.
+Then, if that fails, I’m going to Mabel!”</p>
+
+<p>“You can’t do that, Joe,” Jim protested.
+“Why, you’re the only one who has a ghost of a
+show to pull this game out of the fire. Look at
+the score!”</p>
+
+<p>“Hang the score!” cried Joe explosively, as he
+got up. “I can’t stand this any longer, I tell you!
+I’ve got to find out!”</p>
+
+<p>As he started toward the clubhouse he found
+himself face to face with McRae. The game had
+evidently fretted the manager, and he was in a
+bad temper.</p>
+
+<p>“’Phone call for you, Joe,” he snapped. “And
+say, hurry back, will you? Something tells me
+I’m going to need you.”</p>
+
+<p>But the last words failed entirely to reach Joe.
+He was already half way to the clubhouse.</p>
+
+<p>At last he was going to know! He was eager,
+yet fearful. He did not know what awful news
+awaited him at the other end of that wire.</p>
+
+<p>Somehow he found his way to McRae’s office,
+and with shaking fingers lifted the receiver to his
+ear. He did not notice Jim, who had followed
+him in and now stood close beside him.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello,” said Joe, surprised that his voice
+sounded so nearly normal. “This you, Reggie?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>
+Confound it, why didn’t you ’phone long ago?
+How is she?”</p>
+
+<p>“Joe!” came the voice that was the sweetest
+music in the world to his ears. Just now it was
+eager and a little breathless. “Is this you, Joe
+dear? What in the world is the matter?”</p>
+
+<p>“Mabel——” for a minute Joe could not go
+on. Then he cleared his throat noisily and demanded
+to know, in a voice from which all
+anxiety had not yet disappeared, if she was all
+right. “You’re sure you’re not sick?” he insisted,
+and Mabel’s reassuring little laugh floated back
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course I’m not sick, silly boy,” she said,
+adding with a sudden swift realization of what
+he must have suffered: “I’m so sorry you have
+been worried, honey. Who do you suppose could
+have done such a wicked thing as to send you that
+telegram? What do you think it means?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know,” said Joe, feeling as though a
+thousand-ton weight had been lifted from his
+heart. “We’ll find out about that later. The
+important thing to me just now is that you’re
+well. But tell me,” he added, “why didn’t
+Reggie call me as soon as he found you were all
+right?”</p>
+
+<p>“He did,” said Mabel. “You see, a neighbor
+of Mother Matson’s bought himself a new car
+and he insisted on our going out riding with him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>
+Poor Reggie had nearly collapsed with worry
+when we finally got back. Thought we had been
+abducted or something, I suppose.” Then followed
+a bit of conversation that would not have
+been a bit interesting to any one but Joe and
+Mabel but which they seemed to find eminently
+satisfactory.</p>
+
+<p>When Joe finally hung up the receiver and
+faced about to find Jim there, his face was beaming.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello, Jim, you old shadow!” he cried.
+“Have you been here long?”</p>
+
+<p>“Long enough to learn the glad news,” returned
+Jim, and he could not quite resist adding:
+“Didn’t I tell you not to go off half-cocked,
+especially when Reddy Hupft and McCarney are
+on the same lot with you?”</p>
+
+<p>“You did,” admitted Joe, adding with a frown
+as they turned to leave the place together: “You
+think the responsibility for this contemptible trick
+can be traced to Hupft or McCarney then?”</p>
+
+<p>“Who else?” returned Jim. “It was somebody
+else who actually sent the telegram, of
+course, but I’d be willing to stake my hat that
+the scheme originated with one or the other of
+them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” drawled Joe, with a glint in his eye
+that boded no good for either McCarney or
+Hupft or any of their gang, “it seems to me it’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>
+time there was some housecleaning done on this
+lot.</p>
+
+<p>“And now,” he added, as his gaze traveled joyfully
+out to the field, “we’re going to show those
+Bostonians how ball should be played!”</p>
+
+<p>To say that Joe made good his boast would be
+to understate the facts in the case.</p>
+
+<p>From that time on he set the side down with
+the ease and precision of a machine. The Bostons
+came up to the bat like so many automatons,
+made futile swings at the ball, and went back
+growling to the bench. And in the eighth, when,
+the score still stood 3 to 1 in favor of Boston,
+Joe lammed out a mighty three-bagger that
+brought home three of his comrades who had
+filled the bases. That made the score 4 to 3
+in the Giants’ favor, and so it remained when
+Joe struck out the last Boston batsman in the
+ninth.</p>
+
+<p>It was a glorious triumph for Joe—two
+triumphs in fact, for he had not only beaten the
+Bostons, he had thwarted the dastardly plot
+of his enemies.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br />
+<small>THICKENING CLOUDS</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>If up to this time Joe had entertained any
+lingering doubts that an attempt was afoot to
+put him out of the game for good, the receipt
+of the false telegram at a critical moment served
+effectually to dispel them. In addition, it was
+now evident that his enemies were willing to stoop
+to any means to achieve their ends.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was one not to be easily alarmed, but he
+realized the gravity of the situation and knew
+that it could not be solved by hiding his head in
+the sand like an ostrich and ignoring it.</p>
+
+<p>“The matter is getting worse and worse,
+Jim,” he remarked, when they were discussing
+the affair in their room on the evening of the
+last game. “It is not simply a personal matter
+against me that may be the thing that they are
+aiming at. I have noticed lately that they are
+playing bad ball not only when I am in the box,
+but when the other fellows are, too. It is a
+matter that involves not only our personal fortunes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+but those of the Giant team and possibly of
+the whole league. They may have confederates
+elsewhere in the league, and I guess it’s up to you
+and me to see what we can do toward putting a
+spoke in their wheel. It’s bad enough when they
+confine their attentions to us, but when they go
+to mixing up our families in it they’re going a bit
+too far.”</p>
+
+<p>“A whole lot too far,” agreed Jim grimly.
+“It’s a shame that there should be such players
+in the game. But in they are, and the only thing
+for us to do is show them up and get them thrown
+out as soon as possible.”</p>
+
+<p>“I only hope that I have a hand in the throwing,”
+remarked his friend. “Baseball is such a
+fine, naturally clean game that I hate to see a
+crooked bunch like that horning in. It wouldn’t
+take many of them to queer the whole outfit with
+the fans. There are always a lot of them that
+try to argue that baseball is crooked, even when
+it’s absolutely on the level.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I’ve heard plenty of that breed, too,”
+agreed Jim. “I imagine they know in their
+hearts that they’d take dirty money if they got
+the chance, and it’s hard for them to believe that
+everybody else wouldn’t. But this bunch we’ve
+got on the team now are sure to make big trouble
+for us and for the whole league if we don’t
+manage to show them up in some way.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Give them enough rope, and they’ll hang
+themselves,” quoted Joe. “It’s plain enough to
+me what they’re up to, but we’ve got to have
+proof. They and the gamblers who are backing
+them bet against our team, and then they do
+their level best to lose the game for us.”</p>
+
+<p>“There’s not much encouragement in playing
+under those conditions.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll get to the bottom of their game, never
+fear,” declared Joe. “In the meantime, Jim, it’s
+up to the rest of the team to play such a high-grade
+brand of baseball that we’ll win in spite
+of the crooks.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” agreed his friend, a grin lighting
+up his erstwhile gloomy countenance. “The
+other teams can’t win unless they make runs, no
+matter what McCarney, Hupft, Lemblow and
+Company does. And you and I are in a position
+to see that they don’t make the runs.”</p>
+
+<p>“Shake on that, old pal!” exclaimed Joe, and
+the two friends clasped hands. “We’re out after
+the pennant, and it’s going to take a powerful
+aggregation to stop us.”</p>
+
+<p>“It looks as though you and I would have to
+turn detectives for a while, and get to the root
+of this mystery,” said Jim. “I know we don’t
+have much time for that sort of thing, but some
+day when we’re neither of us slated to pitch, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>
+can try our hands at the sleuth game, if you
+think it would do any good.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure thing,” grinned Joe. “But the way
+things are going now, we won’t have many days
+when one or the other of us isn’t going to pitch.
+The boss is up against it for twirlers, and no
+mistake.”</p>
+
+<p>McRae was “up against it” in more ways than
+one. He knew well enough that there was something
+wrong with his new players. Any man
+might make a mistake at times, and fumble a
+ball or muff an easy fly, but when a man is good
+enough to get into a big league team he is not
+supposed to do these things often. And Hupft
+and McCarney had developed a trick of making
+such blunders at the most crucial periods of the
+game—at times when an error meant a run or two
+for the opposing team. He had many anxious
+conferences with Robson, but no substitutes were
+available, and while they suspected the center-fielder
+and third baseman of underhand work,
+they could not be quite sure.</p>
+
+<p>Had it not been for the sterling work of the
+other members of the team, the Giants would
+have been slipping steadily downward instead
+of holding their place among the leaders. They
+all played like demons, backing up their pitchers
+in a manner that brought joy and applause from
+the fans. In spite of costly mistakes on the part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>
+of the new players, the team climbed steadily
+toward the coveted first position.</p>
+
+<p>As the weather settled down to steady summer
+heat, Markwith rounded into better form and
+pitched several steady games, winning three out
+of five. He was really entitled to that fifth game,
+but was robbed of it by a bad misplay on the
+part of McCarney. In the ninth inning the score
+was 1 to 0 in favor of the Giants, with the
+opposing team at bat for the last half of the
+ninth inning. Markwith struck out the first man
+to face him, but the second one singled between
+first and second base, and on the next pitched
+ball stole second.</p>
+
+<p>Markwith watched the runner out of the corner
+of his eye and saw that he was getting ready to
+make a dash for third base. Accordingly, instead
+of throwing the ball to the batter, he suddenly
+whirled and threw to McCarney at third. By
+this time the runner was well on his way to third
+and McCarney should have had an easy put-out.
+But as the ball smacked into his glove he fumbled
+it and it dropped to the ground several feet from
+the base. He made a dash for it, but as he leaned
+down to lift it he struck the ball with the toe of
+his shoe, kicking it fifteen feet away.</p>
+
+<p>It looked like an accident, but whether or no,
+the runner instantly seized his chance and raced
+for home. Even then McCarney by quick work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>
+might have thrown him out at the plate, but his
+recovery of the sphere was slow, and when he
+finally did get it and threw it to the bag, the runner
+had arrived well ahead of it.</p>
+
+<p>This tied the score, and while Markwith held
+the opposing team down for the rest of the inning
+without any further runs, the game had to go into
+extra innings. Finally, in the eleventh, the other
+team manged to score one more run, which lost
+the game to the Giants when it should have been
+won.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim had narrowly watched every move
+of this game, especially the actions of the players
+whom they suspected of crooked dealing. When
+McCarney fumbled the ball in that crucial ninth
+inning, Joe clenched his fists and muttered various
+uncomplimentary things about the baseman.</p>
+
+<p>“That settles it!” he exploded at last, when
+the opposing player crossed the plate with the
+tying run. “McCarney’s a good actor, Jim, but
+he was just a bit too clumsy in that play to be
+natural. He can play good enough ball when
+he wants to, and it isn’t easy for him to be quite
+as clumsy as all that. I could see him purposely
+drop that ball after he had really caught it.
+Didn’t it look the same way to you, Jim?”</p>
+
+<p>His friend nodded.</p>
+
+<p>“No doubt of it,” he agreed. “I’d like to keep
+track of McCarney after he leaves the clubhouse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>
+and see where he goes, but I’ve got an appointment
+with Curry and I don’t see how I can. Why
+don’t you shadow him, Joe, and see if you can
+find out anything? I’ll take my turn at it to-morrow.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, I will!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll beat
+it for the clubhouse right after the game is over,
+and I’ll be ready to leave as soon as he is. I
+may not find out a thing, but it will be worth the
+chance, anyway.”</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with this plan, Joe was one of
+the first under the showers and was in his street
+clothes before McCarney had finished dressing.</p>
+
+<p>The latter was surly and resentful of the criticism
+directed at him by his team mates. They
+were not sparing of this, and did not hesitate to
+tell him what they thought of such bungling.
+Every big league player knows that mistakes are
+unavoidable at times, but McCarney and Hupft
+had begun to get on their nerves. In almost
+every game lately it seemed that one or the other
+was sure to make a bad play at a crucial time.</p>
+
+<p>“We could pick half a dozen fans out of the
+bleachers who could hold on to a baseball tighter
+than you can, Mac,” growled Mylert, the burly
+catcher. “You must have grease on your fingers,
+the way that ball slides through them. Why
+don’t you see if you can hold on to it once in a
+while?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Shure, and I’ll bet if the ball wuz a twinty
+dollar gold piece he’d kape holt of it, all right, all
+right,” chirped up Larry Barrett.</p>
+
+<p>A shout of appreciative laughter followed this
+sally, and McCarney glared around at the circle
+of derisive faces.</p>
+
+<p>“I suppose you fellows are too blamed good to
+ever make a mistake, ain’t you?” he growled.
+“If Markwith hadn’t shot the pill at me so doggone
+fast I wouldn’t have dropped it. There
+wasn’t any need of putting so much smoke on it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, get out of here before we throw you
+out,” snapped Mylert disgustedly. “Be a man
+and admit you made a punk play without trying
+to blame it on some one else.”</p>
+
+<p>McCarney seemed tempted to throw himself
+at the big catcher, but then thought better of it
+and flung out of the clubhouse, slamming the door
+behind him. A minute later Joe slipped quietly
+out and glanced quickly about to locate the renegade
+ball player. McCarney was only half a
+block away, and Joe set out to follow him.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br />
+<small>A FURIOUS FIGHT</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>It was no easy matter to trail McCarney without
+himself being discovered, especially as the
+third baseman had a trick of glancing back over
+his shoulder from time to time. More than once
+Joe felt sure that he had been discovered, but
+fortune favored him, and he successfully evaded
+detection.</p>
+
+<p>At the first car track that McCarney reached
+he hesitated, in doubt, apparently, whether to
+take a car or walk to the subway. Joe slipped
+into a convenient doorway, where he could see
+without being seen, and waited for the other to
+make the next move.</p>
+
+<p>McCarney was still hesitating when a trolley
+car came into view. This evidently settled the
+third baseman’s doubts. As the car drew near
+he signaled it to stop, and then swung to the back
+platform.</p>
+
+<p>This left Joe in a quandary. He realized that
+it would be practically impossible to board the
+car himself without being discovered, and yet if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>
+he did not it meant that his first attempt at
+“shadowing” would end almost as soon as it had
+begun.</p>
+
+<p>The trolley started on, and Joe was revolving
+the possibility of keeping up with it on foot when
+a taxicab came careering out of a side street not
+a block away. With a heartfelt prayer of gratitude
+Joe dashed to the corner and hailed the
+vehicle just in the nick of time.</p>
+
+<p>“Keep that trolley car in sight until I tell you
+to stop, and I’ll double your fare,” Joe promised
+the driver.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s easy,” replied the other. “Them cars
+don’t go so fast but what this boiler can keep up
+with ’em without half tryin’. Just leave it to me.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe kept an anxious eye on the trolley car,
+fearful that McCarney might alight with some
+other passengers and escape him. But nothing of
+the kind happened. The chase continued for a
+long distance before Joe saw the familiar figure
+of the third baseman come out to the back platform
+and hang on to the lowest step, evidently
+preparing to drop off at the next corner.</p>
+
+<p>“Pull up, driver,” called Joe, and the man
+swung into the curb. Joe hastily paid him double
+the amount that the meter registered, together
+with a generous tip, and hastened after the retreating
+form of his quarry.</p>
+
+<p>The neighborhood in this section was of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+poor description, the houses being ramshackle
+affairs with a run-down and neglected appearance.
+McCarney was evidently on familiar ground,
+however, for he hurried along at a fast pace, apparently
+in such a hurry that he even forgot to
+glance behind him as was his usual custom.</p>
+
+<p>This was a fortunate thing for Joe, as the
+street offered few places of concealment. He
+kept close to the houses on the opposite side of
+the street, keeping a wary eye on the suspected
+ball player. The latter had gone about two
+blocks when he suddenly stopped at the door of
+a house that looked even a little more dirty and
+out of repair than its neighbors, and rang the
+bell.</p>
+
+<p>Joe was about half a block away at this time,
+and he glanced about for a place in which to
+conceal himself until McCarney should be safely
+inside. In the basement of a house near him
+there was a dirty looking little candy store, and
+Joe turned into this. He bought a bar of chocolate
+and made shift to talk with the storekeeper
+until he judged that McCarney must be inside
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>When he ventured into the street again, the
+third baseman had disappeared, and Joe set himself
+to formulate some scheme that would get him
+inside the house. This project might well have
+daunted one less courageous than the star pitcher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+of the Giants. The neighborhood was close to
+the lower West Side waterfront of New York,
+and Joe knew that if he did manage to get inside
+the house he would probably find himself in the
+abiding place of a desperate set of men. However,
+he hesitated only long enough to decide
+on a plan of action, and then set boldly about its
+execution.</p>
+
+<p>He felt that there was a chance that whoever
+had opened the door to admit McCarney had
+failed to fasten it securely. At any rate, he decided
+to try this first. Accordingly, he walked
+boldly over to the house and ascended the steps.
+If discovered, he could simply ask for a “fake”
+name, like one who has gotten the wrong house
+by mistake.</p>
+
+<p>He reached the front door unchallenged, and
+gently tried the knob. As he suspected, the latch
+had not quite caught, and as he pressed against
+the door it swung open before him. Noiselessly
+he entered the dark hallway and closed the door
+gently behind him.</p>
+
+<p>Within the house it was so dark that at first
+Joe could see nothing at all. As his eyes became
+accustomed to the gloom, however, objects in the
+dark hallway became apparent to him.</p>
+
+<p>To right and left were closed doors, while
+directly ahead a long narrow staircase wound upward
+to the floor above. Joe listened intently for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+some sound to guide him, but at first he could hear
+nothing. He tiptoed cautiously over to one of the
+closed doors and listened there, and then at the
+other, but could hear no sound. Suddenly, he
+heard a subdued murmur of voices on the floor
+above, and he decided that in all probability
+McCarney was up there. He was about to start
+the ascent of the stairs when he was startled by
+the ringing of an electric bell almost over his
+head, and at the same time some one tried the
+handle of the front door by which Joe had
+entered.</p>
+
+<p>A chair was pushed back in the room upstairs,
+and Joe surmised that in another moment one or
+more of the inhabitants would descend the stairs
+in answer to the ring of the newcomer. There
+was not a second to lose if he were to escape
+detection, and Joe’s mind acted with lightning
+rapidity. Escape to the street was barred, he
+knew, and it would be hopeless to try to get to
+the upper landing in time to avoid whoever it
+was who was coming to open the door.</p>
+
+<p>His only chance was to get through one of
+the doors that flanked the hall on either side,
+and as this thought flashed through his mind he
+stepped swiftly to the one to his right and turned
+the knob. The door held fast, and he knew
+that it must be locked from the inside.</p>
+
+<p>A door opened upstairs, and Joe could hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>
+heavy footsteps starting down the stairs. Fortunately,
+the staircase made a sharp turn near the
+top, so that as yet Joe was concealed from the
+sight of the man descending.</p>
+
+<p>Again the bell rang, as the ringer grew impatient
+of waiting. Another instant, and Joe’s
+last chance of escaping detection would be gone.
+Swiftly he stepped to the other door, his one
+remaining chance, and breathed a heartfelt prayer
+of gratitude when he found that the door opened
+to his touch.</p>
+
+<p>In a second he was within the room, with the
+door closed behind him. He glanced swiftly
+about, taking stock of his surroundings. Luckily
+there was nobody in the place, which was sparsely
+furnished with a table and a few shabby chairs.</p>
+
+<p>With his ear close to the door, Joe could hear
+the newcomer enter and then he heard two persons
+ascending the stairs. There came the bang
+of a closing door from the upper floor, and Joe
+judged that it would be safe enough to venture
+out again.</p>
+
+<p>A less courageous fellow might have been
+glad to take this opportunity to get out the
+front door and so to safety. But this idea did
+not enter Joe’s head. He had come here to get
+information about the gambling ring, and to
+abandon the quest was the thing furthest from
+his thoughts.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>From the floor above he could still hear the
+murmur of voices, growing louder at times in
+a manner that suggested a quarrel. Impatient
+to learn what was going on, Joe made for the
+stairs and ascended them cautiously, treading
+warily to avoid making a noise on the creaking
+boards. At length he reached the upper landing
+and paused to take stock of his surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>He found himself on a small square landing,
+from which doors gave into adjoining rooms.
+The sound of excited voices came from a room
+to the left of the stairs, and Joe edged close to
+this until he could make out what was being said
+within.</p>
+
+<p>But he was just a few minutes too late. Whatever
+subject had been under discussion had apparently
+been settled, for there came a scraping
+of chairs, and before Joe could move the door
+was thrown open, leaving him in plain sight of
+those in the room.</p>
+
+<p>There was a chorus of startled exclamations,
+and then those in the room made a concerted
+rush for Joe. He turned to make for the stairs,
+but found that avenue of escape cut off by two
+rough looking men dressed in sweaters and caps,
+who had ascended so quietly that Joe had no
+inkling of their approach until he saw them stepping
+on to the landing.</p>
+
+<p>Fairly cornered, Joe realized that his only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>
+chance lay in fighting his way out, and he had
+faith in the theory that the attacker has an advantage.
+With a shout he hurled himself at the
+two men who had just come up the stairs, and who
+had stopped at the landing, uncertain as to what
+was going on. His rush had the power and speed
+of a stampeding buffalo, and in spite of their bulk
+the two newcomers could not bar his path. One
+reeled back from a stunning blow on the jaw,
+while the other staggered aside as Joe’s elbow
+caught him in the pit of the stomach. Before
+him the path to the front door lay clear, and he
+would have made it but for an unlucky accident.</p>
+
+<p>As the second man reeled and fell, his foot
+projected out over the top step, and as Joe started
+to leap downward he tripped over the sprawling
+leg, staggered wildly for a brief moment, and
+then crashed head first down the steep stairs.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br />
+<small>TAKEN CAPTIVE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>So great was the force of the fall that when
+Joe brought up at the foot of the stairs the breath
+was knocked out of him, and before he could get
+to his feet the crowd of rough men were on him
+like dogs on a wounded wolf. Stunned though
+he was, Joe would not submit to overpowering
+numbers without a struggle, and more than one
+of the crowd bore marks of the fight for many
+a day afterward. Joe was in the very finest
+physical condition, and as he fought the effects
+of the fall wore off somewhat, and he struck out
+with a force and power that sent his opponents
+reeling back. At one time Joe actually had his
+hand on the knob of the street door, but he was
+dragged back, fighting like a madman. His adversaries
+were hampered by their own numbers,
+and in the narrow hall only one or two could get
+at Joe at once. He was engaged with two of
+the fellows, when suddenly some heavy object
+landed on his head with paralyzing force, and he
+crumpled to the floor.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Guess that fixes that guy,” remarked one of
+the fellows, as he returned a “blackjack” to his
+pocket.</p>
+
+<p>“I hope you haven’t fixed him too well,” said
+the leader of the gang, a corpulent, flashily
+dressed man. “It’s all right to put him to sleep,
+but we don’t want any killings, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“Leave that to me, boss,” said the other.
+“He’ll soon come back from the land o’ nod, an’
+when he does, we’d better have his hands an’ feet
+tied. He’s got a punch in each mitt that’s fit to
+knock a mule out.”</p>
+
+<p>The others seemed to agree heartily with this
+statement, and they lost no time in following
+their companion’s advice. When Joe regained
+consciousness, some ten minutes later, he found
+himself securely tied in a chair, while the members
+of the gang sat about at their ease, planning
+what disposition to make of their captive.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing Joe did was to look for McCarney,
+but he was nowhere to be seen. During
+the fight he had kept in the background, and as
+soon as it was over he had slipped out of the
+house. He had little doubt that the gang would
+overcome Joe, but he had a great respect for the
+capabilities of the young pitcher, and he thought
+that in case Joe ever got away from them he
+would accuse him, McCarney, of being an accomplice
+of the gang. In that case, the less he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>
+seen in their company the better. Besides this, he
+was anxious to bet some money against the Giants
+on the coming games, as he knew that Joe’s disappearance
+would be very likely to demoralize the
+whole team.</p>
+
+<p>Up to this time the Giants had been considered
+the favorites in the pennant race, and
+among the gamblers they had been better than
+even money. But when McCarney, in sporting
+circles familiar enough to him, tried to place some
+cash, he found that already the odds were against
+the Giants to win, and he was at no loss to guess
+the reason for this. Some of the gang that held
+Joe prisoner had begun to plunge heavily against
+the Giants, and the gamblers who did not know
+were suspicious and not over-anxious to back the
+team that was apparently the best in the league
+by a fair margin. Gamblers as a class are quick
+to take fright, and those manipulating the “baseball
+ring” as it was already called in the underworld,
+were no exceptions to the rule.</p>
+
+<p>When Joe did not put in an appearance at
+their hotel that night Jim was very uneasy, but
+he comforted himself with the reflection that Joe
+might have found it necessary in the course of
+his sleuthing expedition to keep close to the
+trail. He fully expected to see Joe at the baseball
+field the following afternoon, especially as
+he was slated to pitch that day. But there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>
+no sign of the missing star, and when it was
+almost time for the game to start McRae sought
+out Jim where he was warming up with Mylert
+back of the clubhouse.</p>
+
+<p>“Where’s Joe, Jim?” he asked anxiously. “It
+isn’t like him to be late. Did he tell you he
+wouldn’t show up to-day?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know much more about him than you
+do, Mac,” replied Jim, a worried look in his eyes.
+“He didn’t show up at the hotel last night, and
+I thought he was probably with one of the other
+fellows. But now that he isn’t here for the game
+I’m getting worried for fair. I know that if
+he isn’t here it’s because he couldn’t get here.”</p>
+
+<p>“Couldn’t get here!” echoed McRae. “What
+in thunder would stop him from getting here if
+he wanted to come?”</p>
+
+<p>“You know well enough that both Joe and I
+have had trouble with the gambling ring before
+now,” said Jim. “They’ve been after both of
+us, and it looks as though they’d landed on Joe
+this time. If they have—” Jim did not finish
+the sentence, but his flashing eyes and the grim
+set of his mouth supplied the rest.</p>
+
+<p>“That goes for the whole team,” said McRae.
+“Anybody that tampers with any member of this
+team is going to have trouble. I’ll get a couple
+of detectives on the job right away, and we’ll see
+if we can’t locate Joe in a hurry. In the meantime,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>
+you’ll have to pitch to-day’s game, Jim. I
+was counting on Joe for this afternoon, but I
+guess you can turn the trick, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m here to try,” said Jim. “But after the
+game is over, I’m going to look for Joe on my
+own hook. And what’s more, I’m willing to bet
+that there’s at least one member of this team that
+could tell you right now, if he wanted to, where
+he is.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who?” demanded McRae quickly. “Give me
+his name.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’d better keep this quiet for the time,
+Mac,” said Robson who came up just at this
+juncture. “We don’t want any of this to get
+into the papers, if we can help it.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” admitted McRae. “Come
+with us, Barclay, and we’ll talk this over in
+private.”</p>
+
+<p>In the manager’s office under the grandstand
+Jim told of Joe’s resolve to follow McCarney
+the previous afternoon. McRae and Robson
+listened with worried frowns on their faces. Robson
+was the first to speak.</p>
+
+<p>“This is a thing we won’t be able to hush up,
+Mac,” he said. “The newspaper men know that
+we intend to pitch Matson to-day, and they’ll
+want to know the reason why he isn’t in the box.
+They’d soon find out the reason why, and if we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>
+tell them what we know, they may be able to
+help us find him.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s true, in a way,” said McRae slowly.
+“But we won’t tell them about our suspicions of
+McCarney—not yet. Remember, we haven’t any
+proof against him, and we don’t want to make
+any false moves.”</p>
+
+<p>By the time this decision was reached it was
+almost time for the game to start, and the three
+hurried out on to the field, where the rest of
+the team had already congregated. They were
+warming up, one or two knocking flies to the
+others while a few were pitching balls back and
+forth to each other with that long, effortless swing
+of the arm characteristic of a good ball player.
+Jim started pitching to Mylert, taking it easy
+on the first few balls and gradually warming up
+to his regular speed and control. But it was hard
+for him to keep his mind on the work in hand,
+as his thoughts kept wandering to his missing
+friend while his heart was filled with gloomy
+forebodings. He knew that Joe would never
+have been absent from the ball field that afternoon
+unless he were actually in captivity, or perhaps
+worse yet, actually injured by his enemies to
+keep him from playing. The only thing that kept
+Jim from throwing down his glove and starting
+to search for his chum then and there was the
+knowledge that Joe would want him to pitch the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>
+game for the sake of the team and to frustrate
+the gamblers. Jim made up his mind that he
+would pitch such a game in the absence of his
+chum that the opposing team would not have
+even a look-in. His arm had never felt better,
+and he had an uncanny control over the ball that
+made him confident of winning.</p>
+
+<p>There was little time for practice before the
+umpire called “Play ball” and the game was on.</p>
+
+<p>The Giant fans were expecting a great battle
+that day, and they were not disappointed. The
+team was playing the Pittsburghs, and the latter
+were no mean adversaries. In addition to an
+all-around good team, they had a young pitcher
+who was one of the sensations of the season. He
+had been taken right from a high school team,
+where his phenomenal ability had earned him
+the attention of a big league scout. He had a big
+variety of curves, although a little erratic on control,
+a defect that time would probably remedy.
+He was considered the best pitcher the Pittsburghs
+had, and their manager had decided to
+work him that afternoon before he heard of Joe’s
+non-appearance. After learning of this, he decided
+to pitch him anyway, in order to “put the
+game on ice.” The Pittsburghs were close on the
+trail of the Giants; so close, that every game was
+important.</p>
+
+<p>However, Jim was nothing daunted by this, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>
+was confident that he could pitch his team to victory.
+He had never played in a game against
+Miles, the Pittsburghs’ star, but from the bench
+he had studied him closely and had a pretty good
+line on his offerings. In addition, he and Joe
+knew the weak points of every batter in the
+league, and just what kind of delivery was least to
+his liking. This counted for a tremendous lot
+in a tight place, and the two chums had worked
+it out to a science.</p>
+
+<p>The Pittsburghs were disposed of in the first
+inning in quick order. Then the Giants came in
+for their turn with Curry as the first man in the
+batting order. He was a dependable batter as
+a rule, but he found himself helpless against the
+puzzling shoots dished up to him by the star
+pitcher of the Pittsburghs. He knew that Miles
+was short on control, and tried to wait him out,
+but after the pitcher had had three balls chalked
+against him, he sent over three strikes in succession,
+and Curry threw down his bat disgustedly
+and went over to the players’ bench to meet the
+gibes of his team mates. But Iredell, who followed
+him, was little more successful, popping
+up a high fly that Miles caught without moving
+from the mound. Burkett struck out in one-two-three
+order, and the Pittsburghs came trotting
+in from the field for their second turn at bat.</p>
+
+<p>“Guess our kid has got you fellows eating out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>
+of his hand,” gibed O’Connor, the Pittsburgh
+captain, as he passed the Giants on their way
+out to the field positions. “You fellows haven’t a
+chance in the world of winning this game.”</p>
+
+<p>“‘He who laugh last, irritates,’” retorted Mylert.
+“We’ve got as many runs as you so far.”</p>
+
+<p>O’Connor grunted and went to the dugout to
+get his favorite bat. In a few seconds he was
+back at the plate with it, swinging it slowly back
+and forth as he waited for Jim’s delivery.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br />
+<small>AIR-TIGHT PITCHING</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>O’Connor had a big reputation throughout
+the league as a heavy batter, and he was. But
+Joe and Jim had noticed that he invariably swung
+at comparatively low balls. High ones he did
+not like, so, of course, Jim was careful to give
+him nothing but high balls. O’Connor waited
+grimly for one to come across that was to his
+liking, but he waited in vain. Two strikes had
+been called on him, with no balls, and he realized
+that the time for waiting had gone by. The next
+one that Jim pitched was a high fast one that
+just clipped the corner of the plate. “Str-r-rike
+three,” chanted the umpire, and O’Connor threw
+his bat to the ground and walked over to the
+dugout.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s the matter?” inquired Mylert, as the
+discomfited batsman passed him. “It looked as
+though you were standing there waiting for next
+Christmas to come. I thought you said you were
+going to win this game.”</p>
+
+<p>O’Connor glared at him, but could not think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>
+of a fitting reply. The next man to face Jim was
+Jenkins. Jenkins was not a heavy batter, but
+when he did connect with the ball he was so fast
+on the bases that he often stretched an ordinary
+one base hit into a two-bagger. But his speed
+availed him little to-day, for he never got away
+from the home plate. Three times he swung
+wildly at the whispering breezes, and then retired
+sheepishly to the bench. The next man up fouled
+to Mylert for an easy out, and the Pittsburghs’
+half of the inning was over, with no runs scored
+by either side.</p>
+
+<p>“Good work, Jim,” chortled Robson. “Hold
+’em down tight, and in a little while we’ll blow
+their pitcher out of the box. The kid’s good, all
+right, but he lacks steadiness. If we can once
+get a man or two on the sacks, he’ll blow up with
+a bang that they can hear over in Hoboken.”</p>
+
+<p>But it was not an easy thing to “get a man or
+two on the sacks.” Miles seemed to get better
+and better as the innings began to mount up, and
+the game settled down into a spectacular pitchers’
+duel. As the end of the fourth inning the score
+still stood nothing to nothing, and bade fair to
+stay that way. The mightiest batsmen on both
+sides were mowed down one after the other.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of the gnawing anxiety that bit at his
+heart whenever he thought of his missing chum,
+Jim was pitching the game of his life.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At first he had hoped against hope that Joe
+had only been delayed, and would show up at the
+ball field after all, but as inning followed inning
+this hope faded out. But Jim was determined
+to win that game, for he considered that he
+stood in Joe’s place and that he owed it to his
+absent friend to chalk up a victory, as he was
+sure Joe would have done had he been there.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, the thrill and tingle of the game
+were in his blood, his brain, his pitching arm.
+No matter what emergency of the game might
+arise, he had supreme confidence that he would
+be equal to it.</p>
+
+<p>In the first half of the fifth inning O’Connor,
+the captain of the Pittsburgh team, drove a
+vicious twisting grounder directly at Jim, a ball
+that fairly smoked as it traveled. But Jim
+picked it off the ground with a movement so swift
+that the eye could hardly follow it and tossed
+the runner out at first with a big margin of
+safety. When Burkett, the Giants’ first baseman,
+was forced far off from his position by a high
+fly between first and second base, Jim covered
+first base on the chance that Burkett might drop
+the ball. It was a difficult ball to handle, and
+while the first baseman managed to knock it down
+with his glove, he was unable to hold on to it. He
+made a snappy recovery, however, and tossed to
+Jim, putting the runner out. Had the Giant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>
+pitcher not been right where he was, the runner
+would have been safe.</p>
+
+<p>But the big test came in the eighth inning. Up
+to this time, so perfect had been Jim’s pitching,
+that neither McCarney nor Hupft had had anything
+to do. Jim knew that if any break came
+in the Giant defense, it would in all probability
+be because of some error, intentional or otherwise,
+on the part of one of the two men.</p>
+
+<p>This break came in the first half of the eighth
+inning. Ralston, of the Pittsburghs, swung wildly
+at a fast, straight ball, after two strikes had been
+called on him, and more by luck than good management
+connected squarely with it. The ball
+whistled straight over Jim’s head and almost into
+the hands of Hupft, who was playing center-field.
+But Hupft, instead of waiting for the ball, which
+was all he had to do, ran in on it instead, and
+the ball passed over his head. At the last second
+he made an ineffectual leap for it, but to no avail.
+The ball bounded along the grass until it was
+finally retrieved by Curry. But by this time the
+runner had reached third base and would probably
+have made the home sack had not Curry
+made a wonderful long throw to Jim, which
+made the runner think better of the attempt.</p>
+
+<p>Still the Pittsburghs had not scored, but they
+had a man on third base, with only one out.
+Baskerville was the next man at bat, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>
+made a sacrifice bunt in the direction of third
+base. It was McCarney’s ball, and he picked it
+up in snappy style, and threw to Mylert to keep
+the runner at third from reaching home. It was
+an easy play, but McCarney threw wild, so wild
+that Mylert, in spite of a back-breaking reach for
+it, was unable to connect. Throwing aside his
+mask he dashed after the ball, recovered it, and
+seeing that it was too late to nail Ralston at home,
+he made a superb toss to Larry Barrett, who
+nailed Baskerville at second. Jim struck out the
+next batter with three pitched balls, which shot
+over the plate so fast that the batter seemed
+dazed when he walked back to the dugout.</p>
+
+<p>But the Pittsburghs had scored, and that lone
+run looked pretty big at this stage of the game.
+The Giants had only two chances left to overcome
+it, and Miles seemed to be pitching better
+at this time than when he started.</p>
+
+<p>Larry was the first Giant batter to face the
+Pittsburgh pitcher, and the grim look on his
+usually jovial face showed that he appreciated
+the gravity of the situation.</p>
+
+<p>“Knock the cover off that pill, Barrett, and
+I’ll buy you a new one covered with ten dollar
+bills,” said McRae, as Larry started for the
+plate.</p>
+
+<p>“Shure, an’ I’ll do ut, thin,” promised Larry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>
+with a flash of his usual happy grin. “This’ll
+be an expensive wallop for you, Mac.”</p>
+
+<p>Larry did his best, but luck was against him.
+He poled a hot grounder between first and second
+base, but the Pittsburgh shortstop smothered
+it and pitched Larry out at first.</p>
+
+<p>“Good night!” he exclaimed, as he reached the
+bench. “Thim Pittsburghers has more luck than
+brains. Shure, it wuz a lovely hit, and I had
+your money spint already, Mac, whin that spalpeen
+tuck it away from me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, it’s the safe ones that count,” remarked
+the manager. “Anybody can hit them at the
+fielders.”</p>
+
+<p>Allen was next at bat, and his team mates sat
+tense, waiting to see what he would do. The
+chances of the Giants winning the game were
+getting poor, and already many of the more pessimistic
+rooters were leaving the stands. Allen
+was not noted as a slugger, and Jim followed him.
+Many thought that McRae would substitute a
+pinch hitter for Jim, as a pitcher is not supposed
+to be a very heavy slugger, and Jim had not the
+reputation in that line that Joe possessed.</p>
+
+<p>Two strikes were called on Allen, when the
+Pittsburgh pitcher loosed a wild throw that struck
+the batter on the arm. This sent Allen to first
+base and put the next move up to Jim. To many
+of the fans it seemed as though McRae should put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>
+in his heaviest slugger at this point, but the manager,
+with that knowledge of men’s hearts and
+minds that had made him famous in the game,
+thought otherwise. He understood Jim’s desire
+to win this game above all others, and he believed
+that Jim, backed by that desire, would be more
+apt to slam out a hit than any other man on the
+team.</p>
+
+<p>“Go in and win your own game, Jim,” he admonished
+his young pitcher. “Make the crooks
+wish that they’d let Joe pitch this game. Show
+them that dirty work doesn’t pay.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s exactly what I hope to do,” said Jim,
+with a grim set to his square jaw. “I’d be willing
+to give my next year’s pay to win this game.”</p>
+
+<p>Miles seemed a trifle rattled by hitting Allen,
+and the first two balls he pitched were wide of
+the plate. The next was a low, fast one, and
+Jim scooped it up, sending it whistling straight
+at Miles. The ball came so fast that the pitcher
+was unable to hang on to it, but he succeeded in
+stopping it, and it rolled along a few feet toward
+first base.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br />
+<small>JIM PUTS ONE OVER</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as Jim felt the bat connect with the
+ball he started down the base line at top speed,
+and top speed with Jim meant covering ground
+fast. Every bit of energy in him was concentrated
+on beating that ball to first base, and no
+sprinter could have made the distance more
+quickly. He was two-thirds of the way to first
+when Miles recovered the ball and straightened
+up for the throw. Fifteen feet from the bag
+Jim leaped through the air in a headlong dive for
+the sack, reaching it in a cloud of dust. A fraction
+of a second later he heard the smack of the
+ball in the first baseman’s glove, but it came too
+late. The umpire declared Jim safe, and he got
+to his feet, slapping clouds of dust from his
+uniform.</p>
+
+<p>Miles really should have thrown the ball to
+second and tried to cut off Allen; but, as it was,
+the latter reached the second hassock safely, and
+a moment later stole third. Things now began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>
+to look brighter for the home team, especially
+as Mylert, who was always a dependable slugger,
+was next at bat.</p>
+
+<p>Miles wound up and delivered a slow, elusive
+curve that would have fooled most batters. But
+Mylert judged it to a nicety and poled a safe one-base
+hit into right field. Allen and Jim sprinted
+around, the former crossing home plate with the
+tying run.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the Pittsburgh fielder had recovered
+the ball. He shot it to third base, in the
+hope of catching Jim there. But the Giant
+pitcher had already reached this base and was
+making for home, covering ground like a frightened
+jack-rabbit. The grandstand and bleachers
+rose to their feet <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en masse</i> and a roar of excited
+shouting swept over the field.</p>
+
+<p>It looked as though Jim had ventured too much
+and would surely be thrown out at the home plate.
+But he ran as he had never run before, and slid
+for the bag like a human catapult. The ball
+actually reached the catcher ahead of him, but
+such was the force of the slide that when the
+catcher tried to touch him out, the ball was
+knocked from his hand and bounded over the
+grass several feet away. Jim was safe, and the
+score stood 2 to 1 in favor of the Giants!</p>
+
+<p>At that the rooters went wild, and for five
+minutes the racket startled even the hardened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>
+residents of that neighborhood. Jim was surrounded
+by his team mates and pounded and
+thumped enthusiastically. But there was little
+time for this now as the game was not yet finished,
+and was far from being a certainty, as the Pittsburghs
+still had an inning at bat.</p>
+
+<p>Mylert was still at first base, and Curry came
+to the bat next. He did his best, but hit into a
+fast double play, which cut short the Giant rally.</p>
+
+<p>Now it was up to Jim to retain the one-run
+lead that he and his team mates had acquired.
+The Pittsburghs were wild at having the game
+snatched from their grasp so near the end, and
+went to the bat with determination writ large
+on their features.</p>
+
+<p>Now everything depended on Jim. His support
+could not be relied on. He knew that if the
+ball were once delivered into the hands of either
+Hupft or McCarney they would manage in some
+way to mishandle it and let in a run or two. He
+realized that the only sure thing was to keep
+the opposing batsmen from even hitting the ball,
+and to this end he summoned all his resource
+and skill.</p>
+
+<p>His arm still felt strong, and his control was
+little short of marvelous. The first man to face
+him was struck out on three pitched balls, the
+second fouled weakly to Mylert and was put
+out easily. The third man lifted a high fly toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+third base. This ball really belonged to
+McCarney, but in an instant Jim resolved to take
+no chances. He started running for the ball at
+the same instant as McCarney.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s my ball! Keep away!” shouted McCarney.</p>
+
+<p>Jim paid no heed. He grabbed the ball as
+it descended and at the same instant collided
+with McCarney. The third baseman was hurled
+sprawling several feet away, but Jim kept his
+feet, although he was badly shaken. But the
+batter was out, and the Giants had won the game.</p>
+
+<p>“Confound you!” growled McCarney, as he
+struggled to his feet. “What do you mean by
+taking that play out of my hands? I’ll get you
+for this, you see if I don’t!”</p>
+
+<p>“You know blamed well why I took it,” retorted
+Jim. “I took it because I couldn’t trust
+you to make a straight play on it. And if you
+want to make a fuss about it I’ll tell the whole
+world the same thing.”</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, you’ve got me wrong,” protested McCarney,
+his threat changing to a whine. “I’ve just
+been running in a streak of bad luck lately, and
+here you and your pal try to hang it on me that
+I’m throwing the games. Lay off, can’t you?”</p>
+
+<p>Jim did not even take the trouble to answer
+this, but made the best of his way to the clubhouse.
+A mob of cheering fans was pouring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>
+down on to the field by this time, and he had to
+hurry his pace in order to escape their attentions.</p>
+
+<p>In the clubhouse there was a hot discussion
+going on over the merits of Jim’s play. The general
+attitude was that “all’s well that ends well,”
+though some thought that Jim should have left
+the play to McCarney. However, the wiser ones
+had been suspicious of the new players of late,
+and could guess pretty accurately the motives that
+had impelled Jim to act as he did. But above all
+else was rejoicing that they had won the game,
+and Jim was the hero of the hour.</p>
+
+<p>The one thought uppermost in the pitcher’s
+mind was to be off in search of his missing friend,
+and he was impatient of delay. As soon as possible
+he slipped out of the clubhouse and set off on
+his difficult quest.</p>
+
+<p>In this he had little to guide him, and he had
+no other plan save to watch for McCarney and
+shadow him, as Joe had done the day before. But
+this was not so simple a matter now, for the recreant
+third baseman had been rendered wary by
+Joe’s discovery of the gamblers’ house, and when
+he came out of the clubhouse he glanced cautiously
+in every direction before he started off at a
+brisk walk in the direction of the nearest subway
+station.</p>
+
+<p>The streets were so crowded, however, that
+Jim managed to escape detection, and in the subway<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>
+boarded the same train as McCarney. The
+latter took a seat inside and Jim stuck to the
+platform, where he could keep an eye on his
+quarry without much likelihood of being seen
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>At Ninety-sixth Street McCarney changed to
+an express, and Jim did likewise. They were
+whisked rapidly downtown. McCarney got off
+at Fourteenth Street, with Jim still on his trail.</p>
+
+<p>From that point McCarney strode rapidly
+westward, and more than once Jim escaped detection
+by a miracle, as McCarney continually
+cast suspicious glances behind him. Eventually
+he reached the street where the gamblers’ house
+was located, and turned down it. Jim waited at
+the corner, as the street was deserted and McCarney
+would be almost certain to see him if he
+turned the corner.</p>
+
+<p>From his post of vantage he saw McCarney
+ascend the steps of the house and ring the bell.
+The door was opened a few inches and the ball
+player held a short conversation with some unseen
+person inside, after which he descended the
+steps and walked rapidly toward the corner where
+Jim was observing his actions.</p>
+
+<p>The latter had only time to dodge into a
+convenient hallway when McCarney passed the
+corner, apparently on his way back to the subway
+station. Jim gave him plenty of time to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>
+get well out of the way before he stepped into
+the street again. He had no definite plan in
+mind as yet, except to get inside the house someway
+and aid his friend to escape, provided he
+was there. But how to get in was the knotty
+problem.</p>
+
+<p>He sauntered down the street and past the
+house, examining it from the corners of his eyes
+without seeming to take undue interest in it, as
+he did not know who might be on the lookout.
+He walked on to the next corner and stood there
+a few minutes, trying to think of a feasible plan.
+He then started back to have another look at the
+place, and had reached a point about opposite
+when a big automobile came sweeping around
+the corner and drew up at the curb only a few
+feet from where he was standing.</p>
+
+<p>The car was filled with a crowd of rough looking
+men. Almost before he could realize what
+was happening, Jim was surrounded and attacked
+by these fellows. He fought desperately, but the
+odds were too great, and he was carried, still
+struggling, to the waiting automobile. Here he
+was pinned to the floor, a gag was stuffed into
+his mouth, and his hands and feet were securely
+tied.</p>
+
+<p>It was hardly two minutes from the time that
+the car drew up before it was again on its way,
+and the dexterity of Jim’s captors spoke of much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>
+practice in similar episodes. The gamblers, finding
+that the removal of Joe from the team was
+not sufficient to cause its defeat, had not hesitated
+to go further and abduct the only other pitching
+ace the team possessed, thus making it practically
+impossible for it to win the pennant.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile McRae, not knowing of this fresh
+disaster, was hiring detectives to find Joe and
+trying to plan a series of games in which he might
+employ Jim to the best advantage in the event
+that Joe was not found.</p>
+
+<p>He called at Jim’s hotel that evening to talk
+over matters with him, and when told that Jim
+had not been there since leaving for the ball
+field, he became wildly excited. He hunted up
+Robson, and together they held a conference. In
+the end McRae called up the head of the most
+famous detective agency in the country and, after
+swearing him to secrecy, commissioned him to
+hunt for the missing ball players.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, we’ve done all that we can do just now,
+and we might as well get a night’s sleep,” said
+Robson. “Don’t forget that both Matson and
+Barclay are resourceful lads and know how to
+handle themselves. I wouldn’t be surprised to
+see them both turn up in time for to-morrow’s
+game.”</p>
+
+<p>“If they don’t we’ll lose,” predicted McRae
+gloomily. “The team can’t pull together when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>
+things like this are going on. It’s getting so that
+nobody trusts anybody else on the team, and I
+never yet saw an aggregation of ball players
+win a pennant under those conditions.”</p>
+
+<p>The game next day proved the truth of this
+assertion. Both Joe and Jim were still missing,
+and while Bradley pitched a game that would
+ordinarily have been good enough to win, his
+team mates failed to support him in their usual
+masterly style, and the game was a walkover for
+their opponents, the score being 7 to 0 against
+them. Suspicion was rife on the team and the
+outlook for winning the pennant seemed gloomy
+indeed.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br />
+<small>A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The interest and speculation caused by the
+disappearance of the two crack pitchers of the
+Giants was at fever pitch. The sporting pages
+of all the papers were filled with special articles
+and the story in many was featured on the first
+page. Fans collected on every street corner and
+discussed the many strange features of the occurrence.
+Many were the ingenious solutions proposed,
+and McRae’s mail in the morning was
+flooded with advice from amateur sportsmen and
+detectives.</p>
+
+<p>All this, however, was of little service to either
+Joe or Jim. After the former had been finally
+overborne by sheer weight of numbers in the
+dark hallway of the gamblers’ house, he was
+conveyed to a dark room in the basement of the
+old building. The place was as dark as pitch,
+and was infested with rats and other vermin.
+For several hours they were his only company,
+and he had ample leisure for some bitter reflections<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>
+on the hard fate that had brought him to
+this pass. Too late he wished that he had summoned
+aid before entering the house. He
+thought of the team waiting for him and counting
+on him for the game the following day, and
+a feeling of hot resentment and rage against his
+captors welled up in him. Following this came
+a resolve to outwit his enemies and escape, and
+with this idea in mind he made a careful exploration
+of the place in which he was confined.</p>
+
+<p>The walls were of stone or cement, and were
+clammy and dripping with water. The air was
+cold and damp, and although in the world outside
+it was a lovely summer evening, Joe shivered in
+the dark atmosphere of his prison.</p>
+
+<p>The hours dragged slowly by, for what seemed
+an interminable time, and Joe was preparing to
+make a bed on the floor and get what sleep he
+could under the circumstances, when he heard the
+sound of a key being turned in a lock. The door
+of the place opened on complaining hinges, and
+the big, flashily dressed man who had directed
+his capture in the hallway entered, carrying a
+lantern. At his back came two rough looking
+men, each carrying a club.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, young feller, you seem to have got
+yourself into a nice mess now, haven’t you?”
+inquired the fat man.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“You mean you’ve got me into it,” retorted
+Joe. “I’m not here because I want to be here.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, don’t get gay, now, or maybe we can
+make you wish you hadn’t,” threatened the other.
+“All you’ve got to do is to follow the directions
+we give you, and you won’t get hurt.”</p>
+
+<p>“If you didn’t have those ruffians with you,
+you might get hurt yourself,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I brought them along on purpose so that
+wouldn’t happen, young feller,” said the other.
+“After watching you in action upstairs a while
+back, I’m ready to admit that you know how
+to handle yourself, but I don’t propose to have
+you make a punching bag of me.”</p>
+
+<p>“What is it you want me to do?” asked Joe
+curtly. “I can probably tell you in advance that
+I won’t do it, but it won’t hurt to listen to you.”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t see that you have much choice,” said
+his captor. “But I don’t think I’ll tell you what
+I want you to do—not yet. Maybe a night in
+this hole will make you readier to listen to reason.
+The rats are rather thick down here, and I
+imagine by to-morrow you’ll be glad to get out
+on any terms. I wouldn’t like it much here myself.”</p>
+
+<p>The two fellows behind the speaker laughed
+hoarsely at this attempt at humor.</p>
+
+<p>“Better let us tap him a few wid de persuaders,
+boss,” said one. “The feller is too fresh. I kin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>
+see that with half an eye. Let’s rough ’im up a
+bit.”</p>
+
+<p>The leader seemed undetermined, but finally
+decided against this.</p>
+
+<p>“A night in this place will fix him, all right,”
+he said. “If it don’t, there are lots of other
+ways to make him act nice. When my bunch
+wants a man to do something, he does it, or he’s
+mighty sorry, that’s all.”</p>
+
+<p>With this the fellow turned, followed by the
+two with him. For an instant Joe had a mad
+impulse to attack the trio, but he was weaponless,
+and he told himself that better opportunities of
+escape were sure to offer. The door creaked on
+its rusty hinges, a lock snapped, and he was left
+alone with his thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>Needless to say, these were not of the pleasantest
+description. What was it that the fellow
+wanted of him? Whatever it was, Joe felt sure
+that it would be something with which he could
+not honorably comply, and he was ready to face
+any hardship before doing a dishonorable thing.</p>
+
+<p>That night stood out in his memory ever
+after like some horrible nightmare. He was
+badly bruised from the effects of his fall and the
+struggle that followed, and besides was cold and
+hungry. He craved sleep, but sleep in that rat-ridden
+den was impossible. He could hear the
+rats scurrying about in the darkness, and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>
+than once he felt the nip of small but sharp teeth
+as he flung some rodent away from him. As the
+night wore on the rats became bolder in their
+attacks, and it was all Joe could do to ward them
+off. Every hour seemed like an eternity, and it
+was with boundless relief that he at last heard
+the key turn in the lock.</p>
+
+<p>This time there were three different men from
+those he had seen the night before, but he recognized
+two of them as having been among his
+assailants the previous day. The third man he
+had never seen before.</p>
+
+<p>“The boss wants to see you upstairs,” said
+this individual. “He sent us to take you up.”</p>
+
+<p>“Lead the way,” said Joe. “Any place is
+better than this filthy den.”</p>
+
+<p>The man eyed him curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“Say, you’re Matson, the pitcher of the Giants,
+ain’t you?” he asked, with a note of surprise in
+his voice.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re right the first time,” Joe assured him.
+“Anything I can do for you?”</p>
+
+<p>The other made no reply to this, but merely
+motioned to Joe to follow him. They passed
+through a long cellar and then up a flight of stairs
+that let them into the rear of the hall where
+Joe had had the battle the previous day. Then
+they climbed the main staircase, and Joe was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>
+conducted into the room where the rascals had
+been congregated.</p>
+
+<p>The leader of the gang was there, in company
+with another man whose face seemed
+familiar to Joe from the first. He could not
+place the man, however, and had little time to
+think of this before the ringleader spoke.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, young feller, how did you enjoy the
+night?” he asked, and there was a cruel leer
+on his big, flabby face.</p>
+
+<p>“You know well enough what that place is like
+without my telling you,” said Joe. “Tell me what
+your game is and let’s get it over with. You
+won’t gain anything by putting it off.”</p>
+
+<p>The other regarded him searchingly for a few
+moments.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, in your case, perhaps not,” he said at
+last. “What you have got to do is to sign a paper
+saying that you won’t play baseball again this
+season. You sign the paper, and you walk out
+the door a free man.”</p>
+
+<p>“And what if I refuse?” asked Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“Then you’re going toward the river. There’s
+too much of our money sunk in this game now
+to let us hesitate about what happens to one baseball
+player more or less.”</p>
+
+<p>“You must have a lot of confidence in me,”
+said Joe. “Suppose I sign this paper and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>
+go right ahead and play ball anyway? What’s
+to stop me from doing that?”</p>
+
+<p>“Say, son, you must think we’re easy!” he said.
+“When you sign this paper it will tie the can to
+your career as a ball player. In it you’ll admit
+that you threw several games last season, and this
+for pay. You’ll name the dates and the games,
+and we’ll have other framed evidence to back
+it up. Oh, you won’t play any more games this
+season—nor any other season, I guess. But if
+you <em>don’t</em> sign this paper, you won’t play any
+more games, either,” he added significantly.</p>
+
+<p>For the first time the full measure of his extremity
+dawned on Joe. On the one hand he
+was asked to sign a paper that would disgrace him
+and make him an outcast in the eyes of the world—such
+a paper as no decent man would care to
+sign and live after signing it. And if he did not
+sign, there might be even death waiting for him,
+without the chance of saying good-by to his young
+wife and to his parents and friends, certainly such
+an injury as would forever put him out of baseball.
+Of the two hard alternatives he quickly
+made his choice.</p>
+
+<p>“I guess it will have to be the river for mine,
+then,” he said, in a steady voice. “You can rest
+assured I won’t sign any such blackguard paper
+as that.”</p>
+
+<p>The ringleader gave an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Take him back to the cellar, men,” he
+ordered. “You can have until to-night to change
+your mind, young feller. If you don’t do what
+I want you to then, you—well, you’ll take the
+consequences, that’s all.”</p>
+
+<p>The others closed in on Joe to take him away,
+but Joe wrenched himself free and with a movement
+like that of a leaping panther he was at
+the scoundrel. His fist shot out and caught the
+fellow squarely between the eyes. A look of
+vacant surprise spread over the flabby features
+and the man crumpled to the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Before Joe could strike another blow his hands
+were pinned to his sides, and he was hustled out
+of the room on the way to the subterranean cell.</p>
+
+<p>“You couldn’t have done a worse thing than
+that, Matson,” said the man who had recognized
+him as being the Giants’ pitcher. “The boss will
+have it in for you worse than ever now. It’ll be
+personal hate, as well as money.”</p>
+
+<p>“He’d probably do his worst, anyway, and
+that will give him something to remember me
+by,” said Joe grimly.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ve got nerve, kid. I’ve got to hand it
+to you,” said the other. “I’m sorry they’ve got
+you slated for the river. I used to be a ball
+player myself once, and I guess I’ve got some
+idea of how you feel about it.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe paid little attention to the man’s words,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>
+for his mind was busy trying to place the man
+whom he had seen when he first entered the room
+upstairs. He was sure he had seen him somewhere.</p>
+
+<p>His captors conducted him to the room in
+the cellar, thrust him in, and locked the door.
+Joe felt that he might perhaps go to his death
+when that door opened in the evening. The men
+were desperate. They planned injury, and a
+step too far— A crowd of thoughts and memories
+came thronging through his mind. A bitter
+end, this, to his work for fame and fortune.</p>
+
+<p>But was there, in fact, no chance of escape
+from that dark pit? He paced to the wall and
+started to examine every square inch of it with
+his fingers. Nothing but hard, smooth cement
+met his search, and after an hour of fruitless
+effort he was about to give over the attempt when
+he heard a stealthy, scratching sound from the
+direction of the door.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br />
+<small>THE ESCAPE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The scratching sound continued, and then Joe
+could hear the sound of the lock being stealthily
+shot back. But why should his captors exercise
+such caution? There was dead silence for a
+few seconds, and then the door swung slowly
+open, letting in a dim, sickly light from the cellar
+beyond.</p>
+
+<p>This slow approach of some unseen person
+was beginning to get on Joe’s nerves, and he was
+about to utter a challenge when a sibilant whisper
+warned him to be quiet.</p>
+
+<p>The door was now open a foot or so, and a
+dark figure edged itself into the room. Joe stood
+tense, waiting for the attack that he thought was
+coming.</p>
+
+<p>But no attack came. Instead, a tiny shaft of
+light, reflected from a flashlight in the newcomer’s
+hand, lit the place dimly. By its rays
+Joe recognized the man who had said that he
+used to be a ball player and who had seemed to
+take an interest in him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Don’t make a sound, Matson,” he warned.
+“If they catch me, there’ll be two of us in a
+desperate plight to-night, instead of one. The
+big chief has sworn to get you to-night, and he’d
+just as soon knock me out at the same time.”</p>
+
+<p>“What has he got against you?” asked Joe
+curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing yet. But he would have if he knew
+I was helping you escape.”</p>
+
+<p>“Escape!” echoed Joe, hardly willing to believe
+his ears. “Do you really mean that you’re
+going to help me get away from this place?”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s what,” averred the other. “I’m taking
+my life in my hands to do it, but I couldn’t
+stand by and let them injure—or worse—a game
+ball player like you. I’ve seen you pitch more
+than once, and you’re too good to have a fate
+like that. I told you I used to be a ball player
+myself, before drink put me down and out. But
+we can’t waste time talking here. Follow me, and
+I’ll see if I can get you out.”</p>
+
+<p>He led Joe through the cellar until they
+reached the stairs leading to the first floor. They
+had started to ascend when the guide stopped,
+and Joe could hear voices from above. Joe
+recognized the voice of the leader, raised in
+angry protest.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not going to argue with you any more
+now,” he shouted. “The bunch will be at Bill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>
+Davendorp’s to-night, and we’ll hash out the
+whole thing then and make our plans. If that
+doesn’t suit you, I can’t help it.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe could not hear what the other man said,
+but he apparently spoke soothingly, and their
+voices dropped to an indistinguishable monotone.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll have to get you out another way,” whispered
+Joe’s guide.</p>
+
+<p>He noiselessly descended the steps to the cellar,
+with Joe at his heels. They had not gone far
+when Joe’s guide stopped at a stout door set in
+the cellar wall and fitted a key into the lock.
+Cautiously he swung the door open and then for
+a full minute stood listening intently.</p>
+
+<p>In the silence Joe could hear the wash and lap
+of water at no great distance, and the thought
+flashed across his mind that perhaps this man
+was leading him into some death trap. But he
+was totally in the power of the man, who had
+only to shout to bring members of the gang to
+his assistance. Joe resolved to follow him unhesitatingly,
+since, after all, it seemed his only
+chance.</p>
+
+<p>After listening for some time, the ex-ball
+player apparently decided that the way was clear,
+for he motioned to Joe to follow him. They
+entered the black tunnel, for such it seemed to be,
+and went slowly forward, the path being dimly
+lighted by the little flashlight. The walls were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>
+wet and moldy, and there was hardly room for
+one man to pass along. Ever as they walked the
+splash and gurgle of running water came nearer,
+until, after rounding a corner, Joe saw the cause.</p>
+
+<p>The tunnel ended at the river, only a foot or
+two above the high water mark. The tide was
+at flow, and the waters of the mighty Hudson
+raced and swirled past, moaning and gurgling
+about the piles of an old dock under which the
+tunnel had its exit. Joe could not repress a
+shudder as he gazed at the green water lapping
+past almost under his feet, for he reflected that
+possibly he had been close to an ignominious
+death in its cold depths.</p>
+
+<p>“There are spikes driven into the far side of
+that pile,” said Joe’s rescuer, indicating a slippery
+green post to the right of the tunnel. “When you
+get to the top you’ll find a trap door that will let
+you out on the dock. From there you can easily
+enough reach the street. Then see how fast you
+can get away from this neighborhood. And one
+more thing: Take a little advice and don’t go
+around alone much for the rest of the baseball
+season.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe extended his hand.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t even know your name,” he said, “but
+I know you’re a real man in spite of the set you’re
+running with. Why don’t you shake them and
+play the game on the level? If I can ever help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>
+you with cash or in any other way, all you’ll ever
+have to do is to say so. I owe my whole future
+to you.”</p>
+
+<p>The other took the extended hand.</p>
+
+<p>“Your dope sounds good, kid, and maybe
+I’ll do it,” he said. “But don’t think about me
+any more. Go in and bring your team out at
+the top of the heap, and I’ll be paid for my
+trouble. I used to belong to the Giants once.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe wanted to ask him more, but the man only
+waved his hand and disappeared in the black
+mouth of the tunnel. Joe felt for the spikes in
+the slippery pile and found them just as his
+rescuer had said. Three minutes later he was
+standing on the hot planks of the dock, the
+glorious summer sun beating down on him, deep
+joy and thanksgiving in his heart.</p>
+
+<p>The dock was deserted, and Joe started for
+the landward end, on his guard for any sign of
+his enemies. But nothing occurred to hinder him,
+and in a few minutes he had reached West Street.
+Here he turned south for a few blocks and then
+east until he reached a subway station. Here he
+boarded a subway train that would take him to
+the Polo Grounds.</p>
+
+<p>As the train whizzed uptown it almost seemed
+to Joe as though he had been through a terrible
+dream, from which he had just awakened. In his
+ears was still the voice of the man, saying:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“The gang will meet at Bill Davendorp’s to-night
+and we’ll make our plans then.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe had heard of this Davendorp before. He
+was a shady character, known to the police but
+never actually convicted of any crime. He was
+the proprietor of “Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors,”
+a resort much frequented by people who
+led an evil life.</p>
+
+<p>Already Joe was beginning to revolve plans in
+his mind for discovering the schemes of the plotters,
+but, warned by his recent terrible experience,
+he had no intention of going into the venture
+single-handed. He planned to tell the whole
+story to McRae and leave the matter to the
+greater experience and resources of the manager.</p>
+
+<p>When Joe entered the clubhouse a shout went
+up that brought McRae and Robson on the run,
+under the impression that a riot had broken out.
+Joe was bombarded with questions from every
+side, and the delight of his team mates passed all
+bounds. It was some time before McRae and
+Robson could drag him away to the former’s office,
+where Joe gave a complete account of his
+harrowing experiences.</p>
+
+<p>“But how about Jim?” asked McRae, when
+Joe had finished. “Wasn’t he with you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Jim?” exclaimed Joe. “Don’t tell me that
+the gang has got him, too!”</p>
+
+<p>“It looks that way,” said the manager grimly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>
+“He went in search of you the day following your
+disappearance, and nobody’s seen nor heard from
+him since.”</p>
+
+<p>This news came as a terrible blow to Joe and
+put a damper on his happiness at his own escape.
+But he resolved to hunt for his missing friend
+right away.</p>
+
+<p>This was not so easy, however, as news of his
+arrival had gone out on to the field and spread to
+grandstand and bleachers, where the greatest excitement
+prevailed. Joe had to go out and show
+himself, whereupon the fans rose and gave him a
+greeting that any one might have been proud to
+receive as a tribute. They all wanted Joe to pitch
+the game that afternoon, but McRae would not
+hear of it.</p>
+
+<p>“After what you’ve been through, Matson, you
+need a good rest before you’ll be ready to pitch
+again. Take the afternoon off, and forget about
+baseball for that length of time.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a><br />
+<small>DOWN THE ROPE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>It was not easy for Joe to “forget about baseball,”
+but the thought of his chum in captivity,
+perhaps as bad as that from which he himself had
+just escaped, did much to take his mind from the
+game that he loved so well.</p>
+
+<p>How was he to find out where Jim was held
+captive? New York is a tremendously big city,
+and Joe had not the faintest clue on which to
+work. McCarney would be likely to know something
+about it, Joe thought, but if he did there
+was little hope of getting the information out of
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Joe decided that the first step would be to go
+to his hotel, get a bath and put on some respectable
+clothes before starting the hunt for Jim. The
+clothes he had on were torn and bedraggled, and
+when he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror
+he realized that he looked more like a tramp than
+the spruce star pitcher of the New York Giants.</p>
+
+<p>When he arrived at the family hotel the clerk,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>
+a young woman, threw up her hands in mingled
+wonder at his unkempt appearance and delight at
+his return. She had a keen interest in both Joe
+and Jim, and had been sorely grieved at their disappearance.</p>
+
+<p>Joe gave her a brief sketch of his experience
+and told her that Jim was still missing.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, that reminds me!” exclaimed the clerk.
+“A note came from Mr. Barclay not an hour ago,
+and as you weren’t here I was going to call up
+Mr. McRae and tell him about it.”</p>
+
+<p>“A note from Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Who
+brought it? Let’s have a look at it.”</p>
+
+<p>The clerk turned to her desk, and finally produced
+a crumpled scrap of paper.</p>
+
+<p>“There it is,” she said, handing it to Joe. “It
+was brought by the dirtiest boy I ever saw. He
+said that he saw it thrown out of a window, and
+when he saw that it was addressed to Joe Matson
+he pretty near killed himself to bring it here. He
+seemed awfully disappointed when I told him you
+weren’t here. He talked to me the longest while
+about what a wonderful pitcher you were, and it
+was all I could do to get rid of him. I never could
+understand why people think it’s such a wonderful
+thing to be able to throw a baseball around,”
+and she smiled.</p>
+
+<p>But Joe did not hear a word that she was saying.
+He was engrossed in the note, which had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>
+been scribbled on a torn piece of brown wrapping
+paper.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+
+<p>“The crooks have got me in a house opposite
+to number 821 East 17th St. Am taking a chance
+that you’ve got clear and can help me. Come if
+you can. <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Jim.</span>”</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Will I!” exclaimed Joe. “I’ll tell the world!”
+and he bounded up the stairs to his room.</p>
+
+<p>“Tell the world what?” called the clerk after
+him, but she got no answer. Joe scrubbed the
+worst of the dirt off his hands and face, jumped
+into another suit of clothes, and was out the door
+like a shot, much to the disappointment of the
+young woman clerk, who was consumed with curiosity
+to know his plans.</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, Joe did not have any definite
+plan, but his friend had called on him for aid
+and his one thought was to fly to his assistance.
+The idea uppermost in his mind was to locate the
+building, reconnoiter it, and then see what he
+could do. It seemed hours before he finally got
+out of the subway at East Eighteenth Street, although
+really the trip was a short one. He walked
+rapidly in the direction of the East River, scanning
+the house numbers as he went.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take him long to find the address that
+Jim had scribbled in his note. Opposite this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>
+house was a big building that looked as though it
+had once been used as a warehouse. There
+seemed to be no sign of life about it now, however.
+There were few windows, and most of these were
+tightly boarded up.</p>
+
+<p>Joe scanned the front anxiously, wondering if
+the note had been a fake after all. Even if Jim
+were in the place, how could he let Joe know it?</p>
+
+<p>These and many other doubts passed through
+Joe’s mind as he stood looking at the high, drab
+wall of the place. But suddenly, from a small
+window close to the roof, a hand was waved and
+a moment later Joe saw the face of his friend
+framed in the opening.</p>
+
+<p>Joe waved back to him, and a few minutes later
+he saw a bit of paper come fluttering down. Joe
+picked it up almost before it had touched the
+roadway and scanned its contents.</p>
+
+<p>“Be careful, Joe, and whatever you do, don’t
+call the police,” read the note. “If this place is
+raided, the first thing they’ll do is get me out of
+the way. Try and get a rope up to me some way.
+If you can’t, it will be bad for me.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe measured the height of the window with
+his eye. It was at least one hundred feet from
+the ground, but suddenly Joe had an inspiration.</p>
+
+<p>He waved his hand to let Jim know that he had
+gotten the note and understood, and then walked
+at top speed toward Second Avenue. After a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>
+further walk of a few short blocks, he saw a small
+hardware store. He purchased a long coil of
+stout hemp rope and a ball of light but strong
+twine. Then in a small stationery store he bought
+a baseball, and with his newly acquired property
+he hurried back to the place where his friend was
+held prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately for Joe’s project, that part of the
+city, close to the East River, is a quiet neighborhood,
+far removed from the roaring tides of traffic
+that go surging up and down the main avenues.
+The inhabitants of that neighborhood are prone
+to mind their own business, and while several people
+whom he passed looked curiously at his unusual
+equipment, no embarrassing questions were
+asked. The old warehouse was the last building
+between the street and the river, and when Joe got
+to it the street seemed deserted, for which he was
+duly grateful.</p>
+
+<p>Taking the baseball from his pocket, he wound
+it firmly about with twine and then attached a
+long string of that material to it. While he was
+making these preparations, he could see Jim peering
+from the little window, and he knew that his
+friend would quickly understand his plan.</p>
+
+<p>Joe carefully measured the distance with his
+eye, wound up, and pitched the ball with all his
+strength toward the small opening high in the
+wall. It struck within a few inches of the window,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>
+but bounded off and bounced down into the street.
+Joe picked it up, untangled the twine, and tried
+again. This time the ball went right through the
+center of the open window. The throw must have
+been all of a hundred feet from the sidewalk to
+the window, and in addition the ball was weighted
+with the trailing twine. It is doubtful if any other
+pitcher in the big leagues could have equaled the
+wonderful throw. Joe, however, never gave the
+matter a thought. Jim had one end of the twine,
+and Joe was elated that his scheme had been successful
+so far.</p>
+
+<p>He glanced cautiously about, but as far as he
+could tell his actions had not attracted any attention.
+Half way up the block a few people were
+going in and out of the shabby tenement houses,
+but they took no notice of him. However, he
+judged it wise to wait a few minutes before proceeding
+farther, and so sat down on his coil of
+rope and whittled nonchalantly at a sliver of
+wood. The thin string hanging down the front
+of the old warehouse would never be noticed from
+the street, and Joe felt reasonably secure so far.</p>
+
+<p>After about ten minutes of waiting there came
+a time when the street was again almost deserted,
+and Joe was not slow in taking advantage of this.
+Crossing swiftly over, he attached the end of the
+one-inch hemp line to the twine, and gave a gentle
+pull to let Jim know that everything was all right.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The latter had grasped Joe’s idea as soon as
+the baseball with the twine attached came bounding
+into the room. Now, when he felt the tug on
+the cord, he pulled the rope up hand over hand,
+and soon had the end in the room. There were
+several big hooks in the room, and he quickly
+fastened the cord to one of these. This done, he
+prepared to essay the perilous descent.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a><br />
+<small>SCATTERING THE RASCALS</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>It required nerve to climb out on the narrow
+window sill and trust his life to that swaying rope,
+but Jim was plentifully equipped with that article,
+and he hesitated not a second. He twisted the
+rope several times about one leg, so as to take
+some of the strain off his arms, and then started
+sliding slowly down.</p>
+
+<p>Down on the sidewalk, Joe held the lower end
+of the rope, to prevent its swinging, and gazed
+anxiously up at his friend. One false move or a
+moment of dizziness, and Jim would be dashed
+to death on the paving.</p>
+
+<p>So engrossed was Joe in watching his chum that
+he forgot to watch for anything else, and he was
+not conscious of the presence of a man who had
+come out of the warehouse a moment before and
+who now stood gazing in stupefied silence at the
+sight that met his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>His period of inaction, however, did not last
+long. With a startled shout he sprang into action<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>
+and dashed back into the building, calling at the
+top of his lungs.</p>
+
+<p>Jim was still less than half way down, and Joe
+gazed desperately about in the hope of assistance.</p>
+
+<p>There was none in sight. Jim had heard the
+man’s shout, and, knowing that his actions were
+discovered, slid down the rope at increased speed.
+But he was still thirty or forty feet from the sidewalk
+when the man who had raised the alarm
+dashed out, followed by three others. They made
+furiously for Joe, and he let go the rope and
+rushed to meet them. He knew that he would
+have to beat them off until Jim could join him.</p>
+
+<p>The fellows did not recognize Joe, and they
+were chiefly concerned lest Jim should escape
+them. They tried to get at the rope, but Joe
+would not have it so. Hot rage boiled up in him
+at the thought of the unprovoked attacks on him
+and his friend. He saw red, and the four ruffians
+were staggered by the force and fury of his onslaught.
+They gave back momentarily, then returned
+to the attack.</p>
+
+<p>One of them had a club in his hand. He edged
+behind Joe, waiting for a chance to use it. The
+weapon was poised in readiness for a blow when
+its owner was sent sprawling to the ground. Jim
+stood at his friend’s side.</p>
+
+<p>He also had the memory of recent wrongs and
+insults to avenge, and together the two friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>
+charged into their assailants, striking right and
+left and feeling a fierce joy as their flailing fists
+smashed and battered at their shrinking opponents.</p>
+
+<p>But reënforcements were at hand for the ball
+players’ opponents. With a yell, three more fellows
+dashed out of the warehouse and charged
+into the fray.</p>
+
+<p>“Time for a getaway, Jim,” panted Joe, realizing
+that these odds were too great. As he spoke,
+he saw the club that one of the ruffians had
+dropped lying on the sidewalk. Like a flash he
+picked it up and laid about him like a madman.
+As his weapon landed with terrific force, the
+scoundrels momentarily gave ground.</p>
+
+<p>“Come on, Jim!” shouted Joe, and the two
+friends charged through the ring of assailants like
+a couple of maddened bulls.</p>
+
+<p>Then they took to their heels, with the rascals
+after them. But the latter were no match for
+fleet base runners like the two Giant ball players.
+Reaching the corner, the two boys raced up the
+avenue a block or so, but the ruffians appeared to
+have given up the pursuit, and they slowed down
+to a walk.</p>
+
+<p>They kept up a rapid pace, however, and did
+not feel secure until they were seated in a subway
+train and speeding uptown.</p>
+
+<p>Both of them bore signs of the struggle they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>
+had been through, but they little minded this nor
+the curious stares of the other passengers. They
+were both safe, after having gone through adventures
+that might well have ended in tragedy for
+one or both.</p>
+
+<p>Joe looked at his friend, and Jim looked at him.
+Then they both grinned.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t blame people for looking at us as
+though we were a couple of freaks,” said Joe. “If
+I look as bunged up as you do, Jim, I must be
+a terrible sight.”</p>
+
+<p>“You are,” said Jim frankly. “I guess I am
+too, though. And make out my hands aren’t
+sore!” and he exhibited two blistered palms.
+“After that gang came swarming out of the house
+I slid down that rope so fast that it smoked.”</p>
+
+<p>“You didn’t get down a minute too soon,” answered
+Joe. “But your hands look pretty bad.
+I’m afraid you won’t be able to pitch for a week,
+at the least.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, if I hadn’t slid down fast, I’d probably
+never have pitched again at any time,” said Jim.
+“A few blisters are a cheap price to pay to get
+away from that gang.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t forget the rope that I contributed,” Joe
+reminded him. “Not to mention the baseball.”</p>
+
+<p>“That was some rock,” said Jim. “When it
+landed in the room I thought it would go through
+the floor. I’ve got to hand it to you for thinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>
+up that scheme, Joe. Likewise, that was a wonderful
+throw you made, up to the window. When
+I saw you winding up for it, I never thought you’d
+make it.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was a case of where I had to make it,” said
+Joe. “Anyway, I think I could have hoisted it a
+little higher if I’d had to. You can never tell
+what you can do till you try. But now tell me
+how you happened to get in that place. I’ll bet
+they had a scrimmage before they persuaded you
+to make them a visit.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I can’t claim much of a battle, at that,”
+confessed Jim. “I trailed you to that house on
+the West Side, and I was trying to think up a plan
+to get inside when a big automobile came along
+and stopped right near me. I didn’t think much
+of it, but the next thing I knew a crowd of six or
+seven rascals landed on my devoted head and I
+went down for the count. They carried me over
+to that joint near the East River, and locked me
+in a little room on the top floor. I’d have had to
+be a human fly to get out, and I guess they thought
+they had me safely cooped up.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did they want you to sign a framed-up paper
+that would have run you out of the game?” asked
+Joe. “That’s what they handed me.”</p>
+
+<p>“That was the idea, all right,” replied his
+friend. “Of course I refused, and then they told
+me I could starve until I came around to their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>
+terms. I haven’t had anything to eat in twenty-four
+hours, and, believe me, a nice beefsteak
+would be mighty easy to take.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good night!” exclaimed Joe. “Why didn’t
+you get something before we got on the sub train?
+They don’t run dining cars on this line.”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess I was too excited to think about it,”
+said Jim. “I’m getting more starved every second,
+though. Let’s get off at the next station and
+hunt up a restaurant.”</p>
+
+<p>“Fine! I could take a little nourishment myself,”
+said Joe, and at the next station they proceeded
+to put this plan into effect.</p>
+
+<p>While Jim was ordering a meal that made the
+waiter gasp, Joe slipped out to a telephone and
+got McRae on the wire. The delight and excitement
+of the manager was manifest over the wire,
+and Joe promised to report with Jim as soon as
+they had eaten.</p>
+
+<p>When he got back to the table Jim, unable to
+await his coming, had already started, and Joe
+was treated to an unusual exhibition of eating.
+His friend finished one large steak and called for
+another. The waiter looked scandalized, but he
+filled the order nevertheless.</p>
+
+<p>When Jim at last finished and leaned back to
+drink a cup of black coffee, Joe solemnly extended
+his hand across the table.</p>
+
+<p>“Shake, old man,” he said, with feeling. “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>
+never knew any man could pack away food like
+that and live to tell the story. I used to think I
+was fairly good myself, but now I’ve got to admit
+that I’m not even in your class.”</p>
+
+<p>“I always knew that, but I never thought you’d
+come around to my way of thinking,” answered
+Jim with a grin. “I feel now as though I could
+lick my weight in wildcats. Let’s go back and
+clean out that joint on Seventeenth Street.”</p>
+
+<p>“You can go if you’re looking for a quick
+death,” said Joe. “Personally, I’d just as soon
+live a little longer. Besides, I’ve promised McRae
+that we’ll report to him as soon as possible.
+Those hands of yours need a doctor’s attention,
+too.”</p>
+
+<p>“They can still handle a knife and fork,” said
+Jim complacently.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim found McRae at his hotel, but he
+would not listen to a word until he had taken Jim
+to a doctor and his hands were swathed in white
+bandages. Then they went back to the hotel, and
+the manager listened to Jim’s story, with many
+grunts and interjections and angry mutterings.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a><br />
+<small>LARRY HAS HIS SAY</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“I’m so glad to have both of you back, safe and
+sound, that I can’t sit down right now and figure
+out the best way to punish those scoundrels,”
+McRae said, when the recital was ended. “You’ve
+both shown wonderful pluck and nerve, and I’m
+proud of you. I’d have given quite a few dollars
+to have been around when that scrap down by the
+East River started. I haven’t been in a real good
+fracas for a long time, and it would surely have
+been a pleasure to have landed on one or two of
+those rascals. You must have put up a peach of
+a scrap to get away from them as neatly as you
+did.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a wonder they didn’t start some gun play,”
+remarked Joe. “We’d have been out of luck for
+fair if they had.”</p>
+
+<p>“I imagine they wanted to capture you both,
+rather than settle your hash for good,” observed
+the manager.</p>
+
+<p>“If you don’t mind, Mac,” said Joe, getting to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>
+his feet, “I think we’d better go to our hotel and
+get cleaned up. Jim says I look as bad as he does,
+but I’d hate to believe it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Go on!” exclaimed his friend. “You look
+worse. I guess it won’t hurt either of us to have
+a bath, though, and get some decent clothes on.
+I’ve got to admit that we both look a little mussed
+up.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, beat it along, and look out for those
+hands of yours, Jim,” said McRae. “I want to
+get you back into the box just as soon as I can.
+That last game you pitched is still being talked
+about by the fans, and I want you to repeat the
+performance.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll do the best I can,” promised Jim. “I don’t
+see where there was anything so wonderful about
+that game, though. I was just trying to pitch as
+well as I knew Joe would have done if he had been
+there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thanks for the compliment,” laughed Joe.
+“But I haven’t heard about that game yet, Jim.
+On the way home you’ve got to tell me about it.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, I will. But let’s beat it now,” said
+his friend, and the two said good-by to McRae
+and headed for their hotel. Joe insisted on Jim’s
+telling him the details of the last game when Jim
+had pitched to victory, and he chuckled with satisfaction
+when his friend told him about the way
+he had bowled McCarney over.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“You had the right dope, all right,” declared
+Joe. “I’ll bet that shady ball player was all set
+to muff that fly and then blame it on the sun getting
+in his eyes. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s
+pulled that excuse, but it’s beginning to wear
+pretty thin.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, that’s what I figured,” agreed Jim. “I
+couldn’t afford to take a chance right then. We
+needed that game too badly. It’s a wonder to me,
+though, that I pitched as well as I did, I was
+worrying so about you all the time.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I might have had an off day and gotten
+knocked out of the box, so maybe it was a lucky
+thing for the team that I wasn’t there,” said Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll take a chance on you any time, old scout,”
+declared Jim. “But here we are at the old hangout,
+and make out our lady clerk won’t be surprised
+to see us come walking in together.”</p>
+
+<p>The interested woman was surprised, indeed,
+and delighted as well. She fairly deluged them
+with questions, which they answered as well as
+they could. McRae had warned them to keep
+their experiences to themselves, for a while, at
+least, but they told the clerk as much as they could
+and evaded the other questions. At last they succeeded
+in satisfying her curiosity to some extent,
+and went on upstairs to their rooms. Their bathroom
+was equipped with a shower bath, and they
+fairly reveled in this. Then, when each had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>
+donned a complete set of fresh clothing, they felt
+almost “one hundred per cent efficient,” as Jim
+put it, although his hands still bothered him a
+good deal.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll have to take my turn at pitching as well
+as your own, Joe,” he said ruefully. “I’m afraid
+I shan’t be able to handle a ball for a week, at
+least.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I’m the boy that can do it,” said his
+friend confidently. “I feel as though I could pitch
+a double header right now and never be any the
+worse for it. It’s one of my ambitions to do it
+some day, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“It looks as though you might have the chance,
+all right,” remarked Jim. “But there’s somebody
+at the door. Let him in, Joe; you’re nearest
+to it.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe did so, and they were both delighted to see
+Larry Barrett standing on the threshold. He
+rushed in, delighted at seeing them, and they all
+shook hands joyously.</p>
+
+<p>“Glory be, but it’s glad Oi am to see you both
+again!” he exclaimed. “Shure, an’ we thought
+you’d both been bumped off, fur good, when ye
+neither one showed up for practice. Phwat in the
+name of all that’s good have ye been doin’ wid
+yerselves?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, just off on a little vacation,” said Jim,
+airily. “It looked at one time as though it might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>
+turn into a permanent one, but they say ‘only the
+good die young,’ and that probably explains why
+we’re still decorating the landscape.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s happy Oi am that ye’re both back,” said
+the jovial Irishman. “Shure, an’ the Giants would
+soon have been in the cellar position if ye hadn’t
+got back pretty soon.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, we’re not as important as all that,” protested
+Joe. “There was a Giant team before we
+were ever heard of, and chances are there will be
+one after we’re buried and forgotten. The team
+is right up among the leaders, and they ought to
+be able to cop the pennant, anyway.”</p>
+
+<p>“Up wid the leaders is right, me bye, but stayin’
+there is another matter,” said Larry. “Why is
+ut that when we’re wid the leaders, as you so truly
+remarked but a short time ago, that everybody’s
+bettin’ against us? It looks as though some of
+the baseball sharps wuz bankin’ pretty heavy on
+the Giants losin’ the pennant. Am Oi right or
+am Oi not?”</p>
+
+<p>“The gamblers don’t know everything, not by
+a long shot,” observed Jim. “Often their plans
+slip up on a banana peel. Don’t they, Joe?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, once in a while,” replied his friend, grinning.
+“But, anyway, Larry, here we are back in
+the game, so what do you suppose the gamblers
+will do now?”</p>
+
+<p>“Faith, an’ Oi think if it’s wise they are, they’ll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>
+bet on the Giants, instid of aginst thim,” said
+Larry. “We’ll wipe up the diamond wid thim
+other teams now. That is,” he added, “if we
+don’t git double crossed by some of the fellers on
+our own team. That’s the thing that’s worryin’
+me now, an’ Oi don’t care who knows it.”</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim exchanged glances.</p>
+
+<p>“Whom do you mean?” asked the former.</p>
+
+<p>“An’ who should Oi mean but thim two, McCarney
+an’ Hupft?” demanded Larry, in a belligerent
+tone. “You fellers know who Oi mean,
+well enough. For phwat did ye take that pop fly
+away from McCarney the other day, Jim, if ut
+wasn’t because you had a hunch that he wouldn’t
+field ut? Some of the other fellers didn’t get on
+to what wuz in back o’ that play, but you can’t
+fool yer Uncle Larry so easy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, there’s no use denying that we are suspicious
+of those two birds, to say the least,” admitted
+Joe. “But just keep that under your hat,
+Larry, and don’t talk to the other fellows about
+it. We want to get the goods on McCarney and
+Hupft before we make any move to get them off
+the team.”</p>
+
+<p>“That sounds raysonable,” admitted Larry.
+“But I gave one o’ thim birds a piece o’ me mind
+yesterday, and I wish now Oi’d taken a swing at
+his left ear for luck.”</p>
+
+<p>“It wouldn’t have been much luck for the fellow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>
+on the receiving end, though,” laughed Jim.
+“What did you tell him, Larry?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oi told him if he couldn’t hold on to the ball
+better, he ought to be playin’ checkers instid o’
+baseball. ‘Ye’ve got no man’s grip in yer hands,
+or the ball wouldn’t slip through thim so easy,’
+I told him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who was that, McCarney or Hupft?” asked
+Joe.</p>
+
+<p>“’Twas the spalpeen of a third baseman,” replied
+Larry. “If he’d been half a man he’d have
+answered me back, and maybe started a little
+scrap, which Oi’d have been thankful for that
+same. But he only gives me an ugly, sideways
+look an’ says somethin’ under his breath that Oi
+cuddn’t hear. Oi should have swung at him, an’
+me conscience has been botherin’ me ever since
+fur not doin’ ut.”</p>
+
+<p>“I never knew you had a conscience,” laughed
+Joe. “Doesn’t it ever bother you when you argue
+with the umpire over calling a strike against you,
+when you know all the time it was a strike?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, that’s different,” answered the good-natured
+Irishman, grinning. “That’s a matter of
+principle wid me, an’ me conscience would bother
+me if I didn’t do ut. You’re both ball players
+yerselves, an’ should realize that widout me havin’
+to tell ye.”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess we know how you feel about it,” returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>
+Jim, chuckling. “An umpire has to be kept
+in his place, or a ball player’s life would be harder
+than it is.”</p>
+
+<p>Larry stayed with them for some time before
+taking his departure. Joe and Jim then decided
+to go back to the manager’s hotel and find out
+what he intended to do in the matter of the gamblers
+and their high-handed proceedings.</p>
+
+<p>They found McRae in no very pleasant temper.
+He was pacing up and down the room, and his
+face wore the look that members of his team knew
+boded trouble for some one. He waved them to
+chairs, and then gave vent to his anger against the
+crooks who he believed were ruining baseball.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a><br />
+<small>A COUNCIL OF WAR</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“This sort of thing has gone far enough!” exclaimed
+the Giants’ manager, pounding on a table
+with his fist. “No bunch of tin-horn gamblers
+can play ducks and drakes with my ball team and
+get away with it. If their dirty plans had gone
+through, both Joe and Jim would have been out
+of the game for good, branded as crooks, and the
+Giant team would be so shot to pieces you’d need
+a vacuum cleaner to clear up the remains. I’m
+going to turn this thing over to the police right
+here and now,” and he started for a telephone in
+the corner of the room.</p>
+
+<p>“Easy there, Mac, easy,” warned Robson, who
+was also one of the party. “Take a little time to
+think this thing over before you go to making any
+bad breaks.”</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean—bad breaks?” queried the
+fiery manager. “If somebody lifts your watch, is
+it a bad break to go to the police about it? What
+are the cops for, anyway?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“That’s all right, as far as the crooked gamblers
+are concerned,” said Robson. “But how
+about the crooked ball players we’ve got on the
+team right now? That’s a matter for organized
+baseball, more than for the police.”</p>
+
+<p>“The crooked ball players will get theirs to-morrow,
+don’t doubt that for a minute!” growled
+McRae. “I’ll settle their hash for good, but I
+don’t see yet why we can’t put the police on the
+track of the gang that captured my two pitchers.
+We know their hangouts now, and the cops ought
+to be able to round them up easily enough.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not a chance in the world,” said Robson,
+shaking his head. “You don’t suppose those birds
+will sit around in their nests and wait for the
+patrol wagon to come and get them, do you? I’ll
+bet any money that if you went to either of their
+hangouts right now you’d find them first cousins
+to the deserted village.”</p>
+
+<p>McRae thought a moment.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I suppose you’re right,” he growled at
+last. “You always are, confound you! But if we
+don’t get the police in on this, what are we going
+to do? We can’t let this business go on unchecked,
+and not raise a finger to stop it, can we?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not by a long shot!” exclaimed Robson. “But
+it would be better to worry along almost any way
+to the end of the season than it would to get this
+scandal in the newspapers. It would leave a stain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>
+on organized baseball that it would be almost impossible
+to wipe out. Let’s keep what we know
+to ourselves for the time being, and see if we can’t
+find some better way of handling the problem.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll agree with you in that,” said McRae.
+“You’ll have to admit, though, that we can’t leave
+McCarney and Hupft to throw games for us at
+will. I’ll follow your advice as far as not publicly
+throwing them off the team goes, but I’m not
+going to have them play those important positions
+any more. The race is getting closer every day,
+and we can’t afford to take chances.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, you’re right there,” admitted Robson.
+“The trouble of it is, that we haven’t any good
+substitutes to put in their places.”</p>
+
+<p>“Even a rookie that’s honestly trying to do his
+best is better than the finest ball player in the
+world that’s trying to make mistakes,” McRae
+pointed out. “I’ll let them stay until they make
+some other bone play accidentally on purpose, and
+then I’ll have a good excuse to retire them to the
+bench. Maybe our rookies will do more than we
+hope for. I’ll leave it to your judgment which
+ones to put in when the time comes.”</p>
+
+<p>“But what are you going to do about that meeting
+at Bill Davendorp’s to-night, Mac?” asked
+Jim. “There will be a choice assortment of
+crooks there, including the ringleader of the
+crowd. I’d say, capture the whole bunch red-handed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>
+if possible, even if we have to get the
+police in on it. I know that a public scandal will
+be a bad thing for baseball, but if this sort of
+thing keeps on there’s bound to be a big blow-up
+some time, anyway, and when it comes it may be
+a lot worse than at the present time.”</p>
+
+<p>“You told it, Jim!” exclaimed Joe. “Round
+up the whole bunch and get it over with right
+away, is what I say. And nothing will please me
+more than to be in at the finish. I owe that crowd
+a thing or two, and I’m anxious to pay them off.”</p>
+
+<p>“They’re right, at that, Robson,” said McRae.
+“This looks like a golden opportunity, and we’d
+be foolish to miss it, it seems to me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, yes and no,” said Robson slowly. “As
+you say, it looks like the opportunity of a lifetime
+to round up the gang and put them out of business.
+But don’t you think we could do it quietly,
+without letting the police and newspapers in on
+the show? I want to see those fellows get their
+deserts, all right, but if there’s some way to do it
+without hurting the game I want to do it that
+way.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, yes,” said McRae, a trifle impatiently.
+“But what way is there? These men are desperate
+characters, and won’t submit tamely to be
+captured. If you’ve got a plan, tell us the details.”</p>
+
+<p>“There’s another thing we’ve got to consider,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>
+pointed out Joe. “If we go easy we can probably
+find out what the plans of the fellows are. If we
+can find some way to listen in on them and learn
+what they’re up to, we’d have evidence that would
+put them out of harm’s way for a few years.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the idea, exactly,” said Robson approvingly.
+“That’s just about what I was going
+to say when you beat me to it, Matson. Get the
+evidence first, and then it will do some good to
+round them up. How does that sound to you,
+Mac?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, all right, I suppose,” said the manager
+irascibly. “As long as we get that bunch of
+crooks behind bars, it doesn’t matter much to me
+what methods we use. But if we don’t let the
+police in on the game, how do you propose to capture
+the bunch? There’s apt to be a pretty lively
+scrap, and if anybody gets hurt, you and I will get
+the blame for it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, well, we’re used to getting blamed for
+things that aren’t our fault,” said the genial
+trainer, with a touch of his usually cheerful philosophy.
+“You ought to be used to having the can
+tied to you by this time, Mac.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’re right enough there,” admitted the
+manager. “Let’s get down to brass tacks on this
+proposition, though. We haven’t got much time
+to make our plans, so we’d better get busy right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>
+away. Who’s got something to suggest?” and he
+looked inquiringly from one to the other.</p>
+
+<p>They were all silent for a few moments, as they
+thought of and rejected various plans. Of the
+four, Joe was the first to break the meditative
+silence.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t imagine there will be very many in the
+gang at Davendorp’s to-night,” he said, speaking
+slowly. “Probably not more than fifteen altogether,
+if there’s that many. The rascals will
+know that they are in a bad position, due to having
+let Jim and me get away from them, and there
+won’t be any one but the ringleaders at the conference,
+it’s likely. It seems to me that if we got
+all the men on our team together and put the
+thing up to them, they’d all volunteer for the job.
+They’re as anxious as we are to clean up the game
+and throw out the crooked ones.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s probably true, as you say, Matson, that
+only the leaders will be in at conference,” said
+Robson. “We know, though, that Davendorp’s
+place has a pretty shady reputation, and probably
+a lot of the gamblers’ hangers-on will be loafing
+about the place. I should say we’d need more
+men than the team can muster, to be on the safe
+side. We’ve got to count out McCarney and
+Hupft, and even with the rookies we would have
+only about fifteen men.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>“Yes, but they all know how to handle themselves
+in a scrap,” said Jim.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s true enough. But we can’t afford to
+take chances,” said Robson, with the caution for
+which he was noted. “We ought to have five or
+six more, and the question is, where to get them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Before we go any further I’m going to get
+Hughson here, and we’ll have the benefit of his
+advice,” said McRae. “He’s in the city on business
+connected with his team. I still think this is
+a matter for the police, but if he sides with you
+fellows, I won’t put up any more opposition. This
+is a serious thing, and we don’t want to go rushing
+into it before we know we’re right.”</p>
+
+<p>“It won’t take long to get him here, I think,”
+said Robson. “He told me he was going to stay
+in this evening, so I think we can get hold of him
+right away. I think I know where I can find him,
+so I’ll give him a ring.”</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a><br />
+<small>WEAVING THE WEB</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Robson took the telephone and called a number.
+In a few seconds he heard the familiar voice
+of the veteran baseball man over the wire, and he
+explained that he and the manager wanted his
+advice. Hughson promised to join the council
+as soon as possible, and it was not fifteen minutes
+later that he was shown up to the room.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s going on here, anyway?” he asked,
+when he had exchanged greetings with the little
+group. “You all look as serious as the mourners
+at a funeral.”</p>
+
+<p>“It may end in a funeral for some one,” said
+McRae pessimistically. “Sit down, Hughson, and
+I’ll give you the facts in as few words as possible.”</p>
+
+<p>The manager sketched a brief outline of the
+happenings of the last few days and the project
+that they were considering for that evening.
+Hughson listened attentively, throwing in a terse
+question here and there, and when McRae finished
+he sat silent awhile, digesting the information<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>
+that had been given him. McRae had not
+told him which plan he himself favored, so that
+the veteran baseball man could make his own decision.</p>
+
+<p>“I think that if we can keep this matter to ourselves,
+it will be a better thing for the game,” he
+said, at length. “If it gets out that McCarney
+and Hupft have been in league with the gamblers
+and have been trying to throw games, the fans
+will suspect every one of you, and if you should
+lose the pennant, you’d never make them believe
+in a hundred years that you hadn’t done it purposely.
+It seems to me, though, that it will be a
+difficult thing for us to get into Davendorp’s without
+being recognized and arousing suspicion.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll have to chance that,” said McRae. “If
+some of us are recognized, the gang will just
+think that we’re crooks too, and in the plot. But
+Robson thinks that we should have more men than
+the team can furnish, and we are up against it to
+know who to get.”</p>
+
+<p>“That shouldn’t be so hard,” said Hughson.
+“There are plenty of fans who think as highly of
+the game as we do, and want its good name preserved.
+There ought to be plenty of volunteers
+for a job like this. I have one or two friends who
+would go into it at the drop of a hat, if I asked
+them to.”</p>
+
+<p>“I could muster a few myself,” said McRae.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>
+“Probably the rest of us could too, for that
+matter.”</p>
+
+<p>“There are five of us here,” said Hughson.
+“Suppose each of us gets hold of two men that he
+knows can be relied upon, and explains the situation
+to them. If we can each get two, that will
+make ten extra men, and with all the fellows on
+the team, it will be enough, I should say. I don’t
+think any of them will try to back out.”</p>
+
+<p>“That plan sounds all right to me,” said McRae,
+and looked questioningly at the others.</p>
+
+<p>As it appealed to them in the same way, there
+was no further argument on that score, and after
+a little more discussion they had planned out the
+matter in every detail. Each of them was to get
+two volunteers, and bring them to McRae’s rooms
+as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the manager was
+to get hold of the players by telephone or messenger,
+arranging for them to meet him at a designated
+spot.</p>
+
+<p>They had to act quickly, for already the late
+summer dusk was closing in, and there was much
+to do in a short time. Of course, there was a
+chance that the rascals, frightened off by the escape
+of Jim and Joe, would not meet at all, but
+this was not very likely. They would have no
+reason to suspect that their trysting place was
+known, and in view of the mishaps of the day,
+might be even more desirous than before of getting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>
+together and concocting schemes for the future.
+Anyway, this was a chance that the Giants
+had to take, and even if the conspirators did not
+meet, the ball players would be out nothing but
+their time and trouble.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim, of course, had hosts of friends
+and admirers, but they considered some time before
+picking out those that they intended to enlist
+in the cause of clean baseball. Finally they
+made their choice, and were fortunate in getting
+the consent of all of them without hesitation.
+They were young fellows, enthusiastic followers
+of the game, and hailed the chance of aiding it
+and at the same time entering into what promised
+to be an exciting adventure.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim hired a taxicab, and in company
+with their friends rushed back to McRae’s hotel.
+They had not taken long, but Hughson was there
+before them, with two stalwart citizens who
+looked as though they could give a good account
+of themselves in a scrimmage. Robson and McRae
+had experienced no difficulty in getting their
+recruits, and the latter had also found time to get
+in touch with most of his players on the telephone.</p>
+
+<p>Such a summons naturally came as a big surprise
+to all of them, but they obeyed the call without
+hesitation and were all gathered at a northern
+entrance to Central Park when the manager arrived
+with Joe, Jim, Robson, Hughson, and their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>
+ten volunteers. Fortunately, they had all evaded
+reporters so far, and to the best of their knowledge
+no hint of their enterprise had leaked out.</p>
+
+<p>“Shure, an’ phwat’s the big idea, boss?” inquired
+Larry. “Is ut a ball game by moonlight
+you’re plannin’?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, nothing like that,” said McRae. “This
+is more serious,” and he was starting to explain
+the situation when the team caught sight of Jim.
+Every man tried to shake hands with him and
+question him at once, and it was a wonder that
+some policeman was not attracted by the noise.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell you all about it, boys, some time when
+we’re not so rushed,” laughed Jim. “I’m here,
+and ready for anything, even if my hands are a
+little sore. But never mind me now, just listen
+to what the boss is trying to tell us.”</p>
+
+<p>They quieted down at this, and McRae told
+them briefly how matters stood and what he
+wanted them to do.</p>
+
+<p>“But there’s nothing compulsory about this,
+you know,” he finished. “Any man that doesn’t
+feel like going is at liberty to say so, and it won’t
+make any difference with me.”</p>
+
+<p>He looked inquiringly at the team, but there
+was not one who did not seem eager to undertake
+the adventure. McRae then proceeded to outline
+their plan of campaign.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll drift into Davendorp’s place in twos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>
+and threes,” he said. “After we get there we’ll
+have to make our plans as we go along. But
+everybody keep his eyes and ears open, and I’ll
+pass the word around when it comes time for action.
+If any of you are recognized, as you’re
+practically certain to be, just say you dropped in
+to shoot a little pool, or some excuse that will
+sound plausible.</p>
+
+<p>“And one more thing. Before we start, I want
+every man here to pledge absolute secrecy about
+this business. We’re doing this to avoid a black
+mark against organized baseball, but if just one
+of us gets to whispering about it, all our trouble
+will be wasted.”</p>
+
+<p>All promised silence, and then they broke up
+into small groups and headed for Davendorp’s
+Sporting Parlors.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a><br />
+<small>SAVING THE LEAGUE</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>By twos and threes the party drifted toward
+Davendorp’s resort. It had at various times been
+a dance hall, a hotel, a police headquarters, and
+at all times a resort for crooked gamblers. It had
+an evil notoriety, but though it had been frequently
+raided in the attempt to put it out of business,
+it had always bobbed up again under a new
+proprietor but with the same old shady clientele.</p>
+
+<p>It was a rambling sort of structure, to which
+wings had been added at various times. The main
+floor was devoted to pool and billiards, and there
+were a large number of tables, for the place did
+a thriving business. There were few of the underworld
+who did not at some time or other frequent
+it.</p>
+
+<p>The second floor was a shabby restaurant and
+saloon, with scores of tables for drinkers and
+card-players. On the third floor was a dance hall,
+and the fourth was reserved for the use of the
+proprietor and the inner ring of the gambling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>
+clique where they could lay their plots in comparative
+seclusion.</p>
+
+<p>In the corner of this floor the largest room was
+located. There were several other rooms strung
+out in shambling fashion and more or less connected
+with each other, so as to afford facility for
+flight on the occasion of a raid.</p>
+
+<p>On the night in question the large room held
+an assortment of men of hard faces that would
+have graced any Rogues’ Gallery. Many of them
+in fact had already achieved that undesirable
+fame, and there were others whose admission had
+only been deferred.</p>
+
+<p>Joe and Jim were too well known to almost
+everybody in New York to venture into the place
+in their ordinary clothing and with their faces in
+full view. They would have been noticed at once,
+and their plans would have failed right then and
+there. They had secured, therefore, through one
+of the party who was an actor, some rough clothing
+and had had their faces touched up by his
+hand, so that, as he proudly said when he stood
+off and viewed his handiwork, their own mothers
+wouldn’t know them.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the party were not so likely to attract
+attention among the large crowd with which
+they mingled, most of the members of which were
+so intent on their own amusements that they gave
+but fleeting attention to anything or any one else.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>For an hour or so the members of the volunteer
+posse mingled with the company, taking at times
+a part in the various activities of the resort, but
+always keeping within reach and sight of each
+other. Gradually they moved to the second floor
+and then to the third. Joe kept a sharp lookout
+to see if he could recognize any of the fellows
+who had held him in captivity.</p>
+
+<p>For some time his search was fruitless, but at
+last he caught a glimpse of one of the rascals slipping
+up to the fourth floor. He watched his opportunity,
+and as silently as a ghost made his way
+to the same floor.</p>
+
+<p>A hum of voices, rising so high at times that it
+seemed as if an altercation were going on, came
+from the corner room. On tiptoe Joe moved to
+the room adjoining. There was no light or sound
+coming from it, and after a moment Joe ventured
+to try the door. It opened, and, slipping in, he
+found that it had another door communicating
+with that in which the excited discussion was
+going on.</p>
+
+<p>In a moment Joe slipped down the stairs again.
+Going from one to the other of his party, he gave
+them the information he had gained and arranged
+for them to follow him as soon as possible and
+without attracting attention. Then he again
+moved up the stairs and took his post in the adjoining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>
+room, where he was soon joined by the
+others.</p>
+
+<p>Luck had favored them, for if there had been
+any lookout originally posted by the baseball gamblers
+he had been drawn into the room again to
+take part in the excited discussion.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely daring to draw their breaths, the invaders
+listened to the debate.</p>
+
+<p>“You spilled the beans when you let Matson
+get away from you,” an angry voice was saying.
+“Why didn’t you make sure of him when you had
+him?”</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, cut out the beefing,” growled a sulky
+voice that Joe recognized as that of the fat leader
+of the gang. “I thought he might cave in and
+sign that paper and save us all further trouble.”</p>
+
+<p>“You thought!” sneered the other. “You
+might have known he wouldn’t. Now the two
+hundred thousand our gang have bet against the
+Giants is as good as lost. How about you other
+fellows?” he snarled. “You ought to have had a
+raft of chances to put him out of the game. What
+do you suppose we’re paying you for?”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ve done the best we could,” came a sullen
+voice that caused McRae and Robson to give a
+violent start, as they recognized it as belonging to
+McCarney. “We got Lemblow to come on and
+help us. He was only too glad to do it, for he
+thought it would give him a chance of breaking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>
+into the big league. He nearly got Matson when
+he pushed that pile of lumber over.”</p>
+
+<p>“And I nearly got his number with a lump of
+iron on the last Western trip,” came the voice of
+Reddy Hupft. “It came within an inch of cracking
+his skull.”</p>
+
+<p>“Excuses! Excuses!” snapped the angry boss.
+“I didn’t give you fellers ten thousand dollars
+apiece with a promise of more simply to listen to
+excuses. You’re a couple of false alarms, and if
+you don’t get busy it’ll be the worse for you. You
+can’t double cross me and get away with it.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s enough,” whispered McRae to the
+group about him. “We’ve got the goods on them
+at last. Half of you go to the outside door, and
+when you hear us break through this door do the
+same to that.”</p>
+
+<p>They did as directed.</p>
+
+<p>There was a moment of tense expectation, and
+then with a rush McRae’s party dashed through
+the inner door. At the same instant the other
+half of the attacking party burst into the room
+from the hall.</p>
+
+<p>There were eight men in the room and they
+leaped to their feet in wild alarm at the sudden
+interruption. But before they could form any
+plan for defense the husky young invaders were
+upon them slugging them without mercy.</p>
+
+<p>The rascals fought back as best they could, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>
+from the first they never had a chance. As Joe
+had surmised, most of them were the heads of the
+baseball gambling ring, bloated, overfed, corpulent
+rascals who could not stand for a moment before
+trained athletes. Had they anticipated
+trouble and had their hirelings with them, there
+might have been a semblance of a fight. But in
+their physical condition and with the odds two to
+one against them, they were simply a joke.</p>
+
+<p>Hupft and McCarney were the only ones capable
+of putting up a real fight, and they did their
+best. But Joe had singled out McCarney and
+Jim had tackled Hupft, and they joyously gave
+them the beating of their lives.</p>
+
+<p>It was a very battered group of rascals that in
+less than three minutes were huddled into a corner,
+while their captors crowded so closely about
+them that escape was impossible.</p>
+
+<p>“Now,” said McRae, whose own knuckles had
+done valiant work in the scrap, “we’ve got you
+fellows exactly where we want you. All of you
+ought to be sent up the river and put behind bars
+where the dogs can’t bite you. But I’m not going
+to turn you over to the police.”</p>
+
+<p>There was a stir of relief among the prisoners
+at this.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m going to stop your dirty schemes for once
+and for all where baseball is concerned,” went on
+McRae, producing a paper. “I got this ready<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>
+this afternoon on the chance of copping you
+scoundrels to-night. And every one of you is
+going to sign it, or I’ll have you beaten to a frazzle
+on the spot.”</p>
+
+<p>While the rascals glared at him sullenly he read
+the paper. It acknowledged that the signers had
+kidnaped Joe and Jim; that they had hired thugs
+to do them great harm; that they had paid ball
+players to throw games; and that they had done
+these things to win large sums of money that they
+had bet against the Giants.</p>
+
+<p>The fat man who had been Joe’s captor started
+forward with a yell to protest, but Larry smashed
+him straight between the eyes and he staggered
+back, cowed and wilted.</p>
+
+<p>The object lesson was effective, and all of the
+rascals signed, except Hupft and McCarney, who
+were not required to affix their names.</p>
+
+<p>“Now,” said McRae, as he folded the signed
+document and put it in his pocket, “that puts a
+brand on the whole lot of you. The least move
+on your part and I’ll make this public and you’ll
+be in jail within twenty-four hours.</p>
+
+<p>“As for you traitors,” he added, turning to
+Hupft and McCarney, a look of utter contempt
+in his eyes, “there’s no need of telling you you’re
+fired. Your names are a stench in the nostrils of
+decent ball players, and I’ll see that you never
+play in the ranks of organized baseball again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>
+You’re on the blacklist forever. And I’ll see that
+Lemblow gets the same medicine. Now go while
+the going’s good.”</p>
+
+<p>They slunk out, and none of the Giants ever
+saw their faces again.</p>
+
+<p>“Now we’ve done our work and we’re going,”
+concluded McRae, as he turned to the crooked
+baseball gamblers. “Remember, one word from
+you, one dirty trick, and it will be curtains for
+you.”</p>
+
+<p>They left the debased and discomfited rascals
+and filed out into the night.</p>
+
+<p>“A good night’s work, boys,” were McRae’s
+last words, as he bade good-night to the party.
+“We’ve saved the league!”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>It was a jubilant, rejuvenated Joe that occupied
+the box the next day and pitched the Giants
+to victory over the Brooklyns. Not only did he
+shut out the boys from over the bridge, but
+clouted two of the longest homers that had ever
+come from his bat. The rest of the Giant team,
+with two rookies in place of Hupft and McCarney,
+played behind him like the stars they were,
+and the newcomers more than held their own.
+Altogether it was a great day for the Giants and
+started them anew on the road to the championship
+which they were destined to win that year as
+they had the year before.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But it was a still greater day for Joe, for in a
+box as witness of his glorious victory was Mabel—Mabel
+who had come on with Reggie that
+morning to surprise him. The applause of the
+crowds was dear to him; the congratulations of
+his team mates were dearer still. But none of
+these compared with the joy that thrilled him at
+the words that fell from the lips of Mabel as he
+approached the box where she sat, flushed and
+sweet as a rose, looking at him with all her soul
+in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>“I am <em>so</em> proud of you, Joe,” she said. “So
+proud!”</p>
+
+
+<p class="p4 noic">THE END</p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="tnote">
+<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p>
+
+<p class="smfont">Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.</p>
+
+<p class="smfont">Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p>
+
+<p class="smfont">Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Baseball Joe Saving the League, by Lester Chadwick
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+</pre>
+
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