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ROT FOR THE PENNANT.
BY HUGH S. FULLERTON.
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
T HE second week In flr*ptember finds the
Panthers and B-art nearing the end of
a bitter struggle for the baseball cham
pionship The four-game aeries they are to play
will probably decide the question of supremacy.
Through an accident the Bears lose the services
of their heaviest hitter and speediest base-run
ner, and they lose the first garner
That evening a stranaer calls at the hotel
where the Bears are stopping and asks f, ’ r
Manager Clancy He is Insulted by Adonis
Williams, the club's star pitcher, and threatens
to whip him Betty Tabor, the club's secretary s
daughter, intervenes and directs the stranger
to Manager Clancy. As a result of the Inter
view. the stranger is signed to fill the G*P ,n
the Bear team and his skill as a pinch-hitter
In the Mcond fame, win* It for the Bear*.
"Kohlnoor" McCarthy.
Increases ns a renult of the sneeess of the Bear**
new rucrult.
On the train which is bearing the Boars away
from the Panther's city, McCarthy surprises his
tearn-mates by his fine singing voice. He 1»
warmly congratulated by Betty, the secretary's
daughter, and the next morning Betty invites
him to Join her at breakfast.
I>atcr in the day Pitcher Williams warns
‘Kohlnoor" to keep away from Betty declaring
that the young lady Is going to be his wife.
"Kohlnoor," feeling very blue at this news,
repeats the conversation to his particular chum
Swanson, the team's great fighting shortstop
and Is told that while Williams has been crazy
about Betty for three years, she has no use
for him. AfcCarthy falls asleep to the music of
the car wheels which seemed to him to way over
and over again: "She isn’t engaged; she isn't
engaged; she isn't engagd."
He la dubbed
The enmity between WMlllams and McCarthy
Copyright, 191S, by the 8tar Company.
He doesn’t eeem to here any dries behind It
BUSTS,
Continued from Last 8und«y.
CHAPTER V.
Tbs Gsmbtef* Proposition.
irnAST EH" EDWARDS. Blender,
quietly dressed and In appearance the
antithesis of the popular conception of a gam
bler save for his cold, rat-llke eyes, stood
leaning against the cigar case In the lobby of
the hotel as the Bears came trooping in from
the hall park after their second triumph over
the Pilgrims, which gave them a firmer o'®’ 1 "
upon first place; a full game ahead of he
Panthers They came clattering over the
marble floor, some still In clashing spikes,
others paddling along In slippers; '^flblng
Joyous, confident with the confidence born of
victory It had been another fierce struggle.
Outbatted, outflelded and outpltched the
Bears had won the game by nerve and daring
on the bases. Twice their brilliantly ««*cuted
delayed double steal had broken the Pilgrims
defense, and finally It had produced the win
ning run that gave the Bears a game won by
sheer courage and refusal to surrender.
As the players clattered past terward tn©
elevators the other guests of the hotel pressed
forward, forming a lane through which they
were compelled to run the gauntlet of curious
and admiring oyos. Easy Kd Ed wardhi was
smiling sardonicallv as he noted the little dis
play of hero worship, and he watched the pro
cession of battle stained athletes until Adorls
Williams entered. The handsome, arrogant
..itrber was laughing nnd posing as he strutted
for the benefit of the onlookers, but, as his
eyes met the cold, steady gaze of the gambler,
his laugh suddenly censed and gave way to a
look of surprise not unmlxed with alarm. Ed
wards nodded coldly and motioned with his
head for the player to come to him. Williams,
obeying the nnd, seemingly agslnst his will,
crossed the lohhv to the cigar stand and held
out his hand. Edwards did not seem to ob
serve the extended hand, but turned coldly to
the case and said:
“Have a clfiifcf' M
‘’Thanks," said Williams, nervously, rs he
selected a cigar. ‘‘What brings you out here,
Ed?”
“Business,” replied the gambler chillingly.
"Business concerning you—and others. Come
to my room to-night.”
"C an -t I was going out Had an en
gagement,” Williams faltered, as he dropped
his eyes to avoid meeting those of Edwards.
“I want you In my room to-night,” said Ed
wards coldly, ignoring the refusal, as he slowly
puffed his cigar Into a full light, and Inspected
the wrapper. “It will be to your interest to
come.”
“You seem to think you have a mortgage on
my life,” said Williams, angered by the tone
and manner of the gambler.
“Well—on your baseball life, I have,” re
sponded the gambler without changing a
muscle of his face.
The pitcher started to flare Into anger, then
paled and his eyes dropped under the gam
bler's steady gaze.
‘‘Well,’' he said uncertainly, “I've got to
dress. I'll see you later.”
"Better drop In early. You’ll probably
pitch to-morrow and you must keep In condi
tion.” Edwards’s tone was trontc as he added
for the benefit of the clerk who was handing
him his change: "The race is getting warm
and you can't be too careful of your condition.”
What happened In the gamble's room that
evening never was known to any Rave the two
who were present, not shortly after 11 o’clock
Williams came downstairs white and shak
ing with passion, and went in to the bar. He
emerged nearly an hour later, flushed and un
steady, Just In time to encounter Manager
Clancy, his wife, Miss Taber and McCarthy,
chatting and laughing as the men bade the
women good night at the elevators. McCarthy
was wearing new clothes, his trunk having been
recovered from the impounding express com
pany. The glance that Williams gave the
young third baseman was full of threatening
and malice. He still was scowling when
Clancy, catching sight of him, remarked:
“Hello, Adonis. Better hit the hay. You
work tomorrow.”
Williams turned away, merely saying, “All
right.” But when the manager and McCarthy
entered the elevator a few moments later
Williams returned to the barroom, and when,
at 1 o'clock, the bar closed, he went unsteadily
to his room after Informing the bartender that
he was the best pitcher In the world and that
but for him the Bears would be in the second
division.
The Bears faced the Pilgrims for the third
game of the series before a huge Saturday
crowd, attracted by the announcement that
Puckett, the star pitcher of the Pilgrims, would
face Adonis Williams; s fact that Insured a
hard game. The teams battled brilliantly for
three innings, although Williams was wild and
unsteady during that period and seemed to lack
control of his fast sldearm ball, which cus
tomarily he used with deadly effect against
right handed batters. Twice sharp work by
the lnflelders prevented the Pilgrims from
•coring, and when the fourth Inning com
menced the crowd was cheering the Pilgrims
wildly and encouraging them to drag down the
Bears from their proud position at the head of
the league stanuing. Manager Clancy, crouch
ing forward near the players’ bench, was Batch
ing Williams closely, and every few moment*
his worried frown and quick gesture showed
that he was not pleased with the manner in
which hie best left hander was working. Be
tween innings the manager talked in low tones
with Kennedy who w„s catching, seeking to
discover why Williams seemed wild and what
was thf- matter with his curve ball.
"They’ll start hitting him soon if he don’t get
something more onto that curve," he predicted.
to-day.’’
"It is breaking too soon," replied Kennedy.
“I've been keeping him using that fast side-
arm ball, but he can't get It over and he is in
the hole with It and has to use the curve.”
‘Get put there and warm up a bit, Will,”
said Clancy to Wlllcox, his reliable veteran.
"They’re likely to get after Adonis any
minute.”
To those In the stands it seemed as If Will
iams was pitching Just as well as was his
rival, but both teams knew that he was not
in his best form, and that it was luck and
fast fielding, rather than good pitching, that
was saving him from being batted hard. The
Pilgrims attacked him In each inning with
confidence born of the certainty tnat sooner
or later their hard drives would begin to fall
In safe ground, while the Bears played the
harder to prevent the start of a rally.
The break came In the sixth Inning. A base
on balls to the first batter gave the Pilgrims
man the Bears fought desperately. Puckett
was pitching one of his cleverest, most studi
ous games and, although the Bears strove
again and again to start a counter rally, he
held them helpless and the Pilgrims won the
game 3 to 1.
A sore and disappointed team of Bears
crowded Into the big auto bus after the game.
They were depressed and silent, for the Panth
ers had won and the teams again practically
were tied for the lead of the championship
race. This knowledge that they had thrown
away a game to a second division team which
they expected to beat four times was bad
pnough, but that the Pilgrims should have won
from Williams for the first time In two seasons
made the dose more bitter. No word of blame
for any one was uttered, but McCarthy, bruised
and nursing a cut on his forehead, grieved
and refused to be comforted even by the re
assuring pressure of Swanson’s arm extended
around him over the back of the seat
"That waa a great play you tried to make,
Kohlnoor,” remarked Manager Clancy Just be
fore the bus reached the hotel. "1 like to see a
player try to get the runners nearest home.
If you bad forced that fellow at second, as
you tried to do when Adonis cut Into the play,
the next hit never would have got through the
Infield and the chances are wed have had a
double play and won the game.”
These were the first words of praise Mana
ger Clancy ever had said to him, and he felt
better. He glanced at Williams to see what
effect the manager's rebuke had, but Williams
was yelling back taunts at the fans who stop
ped along the sidewalks to hoot at the Bears
over their defeat, and either he did not hear
Clancy or preferred to avoid argument.
The players had been Invited to attend a
performance at a theatre that evening. After
dinner they were grouped around the lobby
of the hotel, preparing to start, when Edwards
strolled through going toward the desk. Man
ager Clancy glanced at him In surprise and
a worried look came over his face.
"I wonder what that crook Is doing out
chance to lose that game without any trouble
and you’re sore because you did lose It."
“Why shouldn t 1 be? ’ demanded Williams.
"If we win my part of the world's series money
will be close to $4,000 -enough to settle what
1 owe you and pay my bills.
"Now, look here, WlllUms," said the gam
bler, laying aside his cigar and leaning for
ward across the table. "You stand to win
Just enough to pay your debts and you 11 he
broke all W’nter, without a sou to show for a
year’s work. If the Bears lose I’ll cancel all
you owe me and make you a present of as
much as the winning players get out of the
world’s series. You get me?"
"Why, you d—d crook!” Williams leaped
from his seat threateningly. "You want me
to throw the championship?"
"Sit down, you fool,’’ snarled the gambler
viciously. "Do you want me to let Clancy
know who tipped !t off that Carson’s leg was
broken? Do yon want me to tell him von got
$500 for tipping It to that Panther bunch of
gamblers? Do you want him to know yon
have been betting against your own team?
Well, then, be good and listen.”
Williams, frightened and pa'e, ,»t down and
glared helplessly at the gambler.
“Now listen to sense,” continued Edwards,
mre quickly. "You saw to-day how easily you
can lose a game and blame the other fellow.
You can use your head and get rich Instead of
being In debt. If you don’t like McCarthy all
you have f o do Is to make him lose games for
you. Tne papers will ye'i, ‘Hard luck,' you'll
get moue7 and I’ll clean up a fortune ”
"You -an'i make a croou of me.” whined
Williams. "Wanting me to throw clown a
bunch of good fellows”
"Oh, shut up. You make me sick,” sneered
the gambler. “All you have to do is to make
a sure thing out of a doubtful one. You’ll be
protecting yourself and getting even with a
fellow you hate.”
"I won’t do It." WllHaras waa at bay and
defiant.
"All right, said Edwards sharply. "Then
“Williams touched the ball with his groping fingers just before McCarthy, stooping and going at full speed, scooped it and tried
to snap it to second base without stopping to straighten up. The ball left his hands as he crashed with terrific force into Williams”
the opening for which they had been waiting
and they rushed to the assault like soldiers
upon a breached wall. Douglass, the next bat
ter, hit a screeching line single to right so
hard that the runner going from first was
compelled to stop at second Instead of de
laying and steadying himself while planning
a system of defense, Williams seemed to lose
his nerve and commenced pitching as rapidly
as he could get the ball away from his hand.
Almost before the batter was In position he
pitched a fast ball straight over the plate
and the batter bunted down toward shortstop.
McCarthy was racing down upon the ball,
ready to scoop It In perfect position for a
throw to first. Williams, although he was a
left-hander, and therefore would be compelled
to stop and turn entirely around to throw to
first, attempted to field the ball, which either
McCarthy or Swanson could have handled
without trouble. Williams touched the ball
with his groping fingers just before McCarthy,
stooping and going at full speed, scooped it
and tried to snap It to second base without
stopping to straighten up. The ball left his
hand just as he crashed with terrific force
Into Williams Both men reeled and went
down, stunned and dazed. The ball flew wild
and rolled On into right field One Pilgrim
progressed to the plate. Douglass, who had
been on first, dived safely to third, while only
Swanson’s fast recovery drove the batter back
to first.
Williams arose, hurt and furious, and while
McCarthy was striving to struggle to his feet
the pitcher aimed a vicious blow at his head.
Swanson's arm was Interposed just In time
to stop the blow, and before Williams could
strike again players of both teams and the
umpires rushed In and prevented further hos
tilities. The shaken and bruised players re
covered and resumed play in a short time, and
another safe hit and an out sent two more
of the Pilgrims scurrying across the plate.
Against the three-run lead caused by the
mix-up between the pitcher and third base
lie re?” lie remarked to a group of players.
"You fellows keep away from him. It's worth
a player's reputation for honesty to be seen
with him."
Several of the men fidgeted uneasily and
■ooked toward Edwards. Most of them had
tnnwn him for many seasons. At first he
had been a friend and a “good fellow," but
after a time they commenced to avoid him,
distrusting his motives.
As Edwards turned from the desk he glanced
quickly at Williams, eaught his eye and beck
oned slightly with his head. The players
started for the theatre a few mlnntes later
and Williams suddenly pleaded that he was
too Weary to attend the performance and re
mained in the hotel, declaring his Intention ot
retiring early. As soon as Manager Clancy,
escorting the women of the party, left the
hotel, Williams ascended to Edwards’s room.
’’See here, Ed," he ~aid, “you’re putting me
in a dickens of a hole. Clancy is sore on you.
He said he would tine any player who talked
to you. I was afraid he'd see you tip me to
come up. If he gets on I'll lose a bunch of
salary. I had to sneak to come up here.”
“I wanted to talk to you," replied the gam
bler. "1 told you last night that the Panthers
must win this pennant. 1 stand to lose close
to $SO,000 if they don't. Of course they may
beat you, but I want to make it a sure thing
and clean up on It”
’’You ought to be feeling better about it
to-day,” said the pitcher In an aggrieved tone.
"We lost to a dub club with me pitching, what
more do you want?”
"It wasn't your fault that you lost,” retorted
the gambler coldly. “Y’ou tried hard euough
to win it and you might have won If you had
kept away from that bunted ball.”
“I’d have thrown him out at first easily if
that four-flush third baseman hadn't bumped
me,” snapped Williams, his pride hurt.
“Sure you would.” sneered the gambler.
'Youd have thrown me ont of about $1(10.1)00
just to have a better average. You had a
to-morrow Clancy will get some news that
will start something.”
“Aw, say, Ed, you wouldn’t cross a fellow
like that?” whined Williams.
"Wouldn’t I? Perhaps you think I’ll let go
of all that money and not fight? I'm starting
home to-morrow. I won’t see you any more.
I am depending on you to deliver—or I’ll pio-
tect myself.”
"I won’t do it.” Williams waa desperately
defiant.
"Yes you will—-when you think It over,"
Edw-ards replied easily. "Let’s have a drink.”
He rang the bell and smoked In silence
while Williams sat sullenly defiant.
"I tell you I wouldnt do It for all the money
In the game,” declared the pitcher.
"Here comes the boy,” said the gambler.
"I'll watch the score of the next game you
pitch to see what you do.”
CHAPTER VI.
Adonis MakeS'd Dealt
(TIHE after theatre crowd was trooping into
■E the lobby of the hotel in laughing, chat
tering groups and drifting steadily toward the
cafe, in which already gay parties were gath
ered at the tables. The ball players, officials
and the women of the Bear party returned to
the hotel in pairs and congregated near the
desk and by the elevators, chatting with ac
quaintances or bidding good night to each
other. The married men among the players
either came from the desk eager to read the
home letters or turned away despondently and
with worried faces at failure to receive the
dally missives.
Manager Clancy and his wife, with Secretary
Taber and his daughter, came together and
they stood undecided, the men urging that
they go to the restaurant for a lunch before re
tiring, and Miss Tabor, laughing, declaring that
too much pleasure In one day was bad for
them, and telling Clancy that he should set a
good example for his players by retiring early.
At that moment Williams, a little flushed,
swaggered across the lobby, and, lifting hts hat>
advanced toward the group. The girl smiled
pleasantly In response to his greeting but, as
he spoke again she stiffened Indignantly and
retired a step Involuntarily as she saw he had
been drinking. Manager Clancy, who had not
observed the pitcher carefully, was talking
with Tabor and the girl, as If striving to pro
tect the pitcher from exposure to the manager,
turned quickly from him and said good night
coldly. She shook hands with Mrs. Clancy,
bade her good night, and turned to hasten to
the elevator.
For an Instant Williams stood Irresolute,
then, with an ugly look on his handsome face,
he started after her and overtook her aa she
waited at the elevator entraoe.
"So you prefer that red headed prison bird
to me?’’ he asked In sneering tones.
Betty Tabor flushed, then turned pale and
facing the handsome, half drunken fellow she
gazed at him Bteadily until in spite of his swag
gering attitude he grew uheasy and dropped
his eyes. Then she spoke. She spoke just one
word, vibrant with ail the scorn and anger in
her being.
"YeB.”
Without a glance at him she turned and
stepped Into the waiting car, leaving Williams
staring blankly Into the elevator well. The
cold scorn of the girl’s single word had stung
him more deeply than a volume of rebuke
would hare done. Half maddened by Jealousy
and drink he turned to cross the lobby, forget
ting to replace his hat, and Clancy, whose at
tention had been attracted by the pitcher's
pursuit of the girl, grasped him by the shoul
der and said sternly:
"Williams, If you take another drink to-night
It will cost you a month's pay.”
The Indignation of a half drunken man who
resents the fact that others observe bis condi
tion, boiled within the pitcher. He
felt bitterly wronged that Clancy
should accuse him of drinking and
flared out angrily: "What do you
mean by accusing me of being
drunk?”
I didn’t,” said the manager. “But
you re near enough to it. Another
drink oi* two would finish it and
what I say about the fine goes."
The manager turned to rejoin his
w ” e and Williams, seething with
what he considered a double dose of
Injustice, walked unsteadily across
the lobby. Like most drinking men
he never would believe that he was
under the Influence of drink. The
whole team was against him. He
sat down and meditated over his
wrongs. McCarthy, Swanson, Ken
nedy—and now Miss Tabor and
Clancy. He thought of Edwards and
his offer and rising quickly lie walked
to the telegraph office and wrote a
message for which he paid as he
handed It to the night operator.
Clancy, who had been talking with
friends, was waiting for an elevator,
when glancing across, he saw Will
iams sending the message. He shrugg
ed hts shoulders and entered the ele
vator but, after reaching his rooms,
the reoollectlon of the pitcher’s man
ner and the message caused,him to
worry, and after a time he deoend-
ed again to the lobby. Williams
had disappeared and Clancy crossed
quickly to the telegraph office.
"Williams, one of my players, ssdc
a message a while ago,” he said con
fidently. "I want to gee it”
"Sorry, Mr. Clancy,” remarked the
operator. "But it’s against orders.
We are not permitted to show mes
sages.”
"I know It,” replied Clancy, with
out hesitation. "But this is club busi
ness and I have the right If It
hasn't been sent I’d like to stop it.”
”1 sent it a few minutes ago,”
said the clerk. “Want to make any
corrections?”
“Maybe. Let me see how it Is
worded."
The reassured operator handed over
the message to Clancy, after seeing
that It was addressed to “Easy Ed.”
Edwards, read:
“Have thought matter over. Deal
goes.—Williams.”
“No,” he said with hardened face
as he handed the message back to
the operator. “No changes. Guess
it will do.”
"Going to trade some one?” in
quired the operator, who was a base
ball "fan.”
"Maybe—can't tell until I hear,” remarked
Clancy. His forehead knitted into a worried
frown as he turned and slowly walked toward
the elevator again, whistling, as was his
habit when he was seriously disturbed. Why
should Williams be telegraphing the gambler?
Clancy wondered whether or not the pitcher
had heard him forbid his players speaking to
Edwards and he wondered what the "deal”
might be. Knowing Williams’s carelessness
and extravagance with money and his pench
ant* for gambling he feared that the pitcher
was gambling on the races again, although he
hr o.rhldden it.
Clancy determined to watch his star left
hander. He did not speak of the matter to
any one, having decided to await develop
ments, although he was puzzlqd to understand
bow Williams could have known that Ed
wards had returned to his home. He watched
Williams closely during the remaining games
against the Pilgrims, which the Bears won
easily and during the trip to the city of the
Maroons where Williams was to pitch the
opening game of the series.
The Bears and Panthers were fighting upon
an unchanged basis, only a fraction of a game
separating them in the league standing. With
but eighteen more games remaining on the
schedule for the Bears, and nineteen for the
Panthers, the race was becoming more des
perate each day and the nervous strain was
commencing to tell upon some of the men.
Clanoy was nursing his players, knowing that
one disheartening defeat might mean a break
that would lead to a succession of downfalls.
The more he watched Williams the stronger
grew his conviction that something was amiss.
Williams was not acting naturally and his de
meanor when with the other players was a
puzzle to Clancy. The idea that Williams was
contemplating losing the pennant never oc
curred to him. He suspected that Williams
was the man who had betrayed the secret of
Carson's injury to the gamblers, yet lack of
proof kept him from making any accusations.
He knew Williams was without money and In
debt, and that ho had been relying upon his
share of the world's series receipts to settle
with his creditors and he did not suspect that
Williams could make more money by losing
than by winning.
He selected Williams as the pitcher In the
first game against the Maroons with a fixed
purpose, being determined to find whether or
not the pitcher was in condition, and he sent
Willcox, his best right handed pitcher out to
warm up so as to be ready to rescue Williams
at the first sign of distress.
"What’s the matter with Adonis, Ken?” in
quired Manager Clancy as his catcher and
principal adviser returned to the benoh after
the second inning.
“His curve is breaking slow and low and on
the Inside corner of the plate to the right
handers," replied Kennedy. "I can’t make him
keep it high and out"
"Make him use his fast one or he’ll get
Kohlnoor killed with one of those tins
smashes,” ordered Clancy quietly. “Watch him
closely and If he Is loafing signal me.”
The third inning and the fourth reeled away
without a score, and In the first half oi lbs
fifth a base on balls, a steal by Norton and
a crashing drive by Pardridge gave the Bears
a score and the lead.
Caton, one of the heaviest hitters of the
Maroons, started their half of the Inning, and
as he stepped Into position Kennedy crouched
and signalled. Williams shook his head quick
ly and pitched a curve that broke on the in
side corner of the plate. Caton drove the ball
with terrific force straight at McCarthy, who
managed to knock it down and hold the batter
to one base. The next batter sacrificed, and
Ellis, a right-handed slugger, came to bat.
Again Kennedy signalled for a fast side-arm
ball, pitched high, and again Williams shook
his head and curved one over the plate. Ellis
hit fiercely, and McCarthy, diving sideways,
struck the ball with one hand and sent it
carromlng down to Swanson, who failed In a
desperate effort to recover and throw out tha
runner. With men on first and third the Bears’
first and third basemen came close to the
plate to cut off the runner, while the shortBtop
and second basemen remained in position to
make a double play or to catch the runner
stealing. Burley, the giant first baseman of
the Maroons, was at bat, a man noted for his
ability to hit any ball pitched close to him.
Kennedy signalled for a fast ball outside.
Williams sent a strike whizzing over the plate.
Again the catcher ordered a fast ball, and he
pitched a curve that Burley fouled off for the
second strike. Kennedy, perpiexed and anx
ious, ran down to consult with the pitcher.
He was angry over Williams's act and up
braided him. Williams nodded his head, sul
lenly assenting to the order to pitch high and
out and waste two balls. Instead he threw a
curve, low, close to the batter's knees and
barely twisting. Before Kennedy's cry of
anger arose the bat crashed against the ball,
which flashed down the third-base line, struck
McCarthy on the arm, then on the Jaw, and he
Went down like a poled ox, the ball carromlng
away toward the stand. Before it was recov
ered one Maroon had scored and the others
were perched on second and third.
Time was called and players rushed to as
sist the injured third baseman. Kennedy
threw off his mask and ran to the bench.
“I signalled him and told him to pitch fast
and waste two,” he said to Manager Clancy.
"He nodded that he would and then crossed
me and lobbed up an easy curve Inside the
plate.’’
"Don’t say a word," cautioned Clancy, as
McCarthy, still dazed, but recovering, was
helped to his feet. "Keep ordering him to
pitch fast and outside. Signal me If he diso
beys again.”
McCarthy got onto his feet unsteadily while
the trainer worked with his numb and aching
arm. He winced with pain as he tried to
throw to see how badly the arm was damaged,
and after three throws he gritted his teeth
and nodded that he was ready to resume play.
The crowd, which had watched in anxious
silence, cheered as he started to his position.
It was while he was walking slowly back to
the bag, testing his arm anxiously, that Mc
Carthy had the second shock. The cheering
in the stands drew his attention, and as he
glanced toward the crowd he saw a girl. She
was sitting in one of the field boxes between
two men and she was staring straight at him,
her entire attitude betokening surprise. Mc
Carthy lifted his cap, as if acknowledging the
tribute of the crowd, but really In salutation of
the girl. She flushed angrily, and, turning
quickly to one of the men, commenced to talk
vivaciously as if to conceal her emotions. A
wave of resentment stirred McCarthy. He
strove to think that she had failed to recognize
him, yet feeling that the cut was deliberate.
He went back to his position, his mind filled
with thoughts of the girl. He felt certain she
knew him. At the thought came the realiza
tion that she might reveal his identity. He
must see her and request her not to tell. Per
haps she did not even know that he was play
ing under an assumed name. He wondered
what she was doing In the city of the Maroons
and where she was stopping.
Play had been resumed, but McCarthy’s
mind was not upon it. A Sharp yell from
Swanson aroused him from his reverie Just In
time to see a slow, easy bounding ball coming
toward him. He leaped forward, fumbled the
ball an Instant, recovered nnd threw wild. Two
runners dashed home, the batter reached sec
ond. McCarthy was thoroughly unnerved. A
few- moments later he permitted an easy fly
ball to fall safe In left field without even
touching It with his hands and after he had
driven Swanson away by claiming the catch.
His errors gave the Maroons two more scores,
and, although the Bears rallied desperately
late In the game, it w-as too late, and they were
beaten 6 to 3.
A sullen crowd of players, venting their rage
and disappointment in sudden explosions of
wrath over inconsequential things, climbed
Into their bus under punishment of the jeers
of the crowd that gathered to see them start
back to their hotel. McCarthy, w-ith his shoul
der and head aching, but with his heart aching
worse, sat with his chin drawn down into tha
npturned collar of his sweater, refusing to be
comforted. The Bears were In second place,
half a game behind the Panthers, and he, Mc
Carthy, had lost the game. No—he glanced
with quick resentment across toward where
Williams sat Adonis was smiling as if pleased
and McCarthy, blazed with anger.
0 —i
To Be Continued Next Sunday.