Lester Chadwick

“ He tested the bonds that held his hands behind him. They seemed tight but not excessively so. Probably his captors had put most of their faith in the chloroform.
With as little apparent exertion as possible, he began to stretch and strain at them. His powerful wrists and hands seemed endowed with double their ordinary strength and to his delight he could feel the cords give.
Moriarty was alone with him, but Joe could hear low voices in an adjoining room. One of them he thought he recognized as Fleming’s, and his teeth gritted with rage. ”

“ But now the waiters came bustling in and they talked of indifferent things until the table was spread. A sumptuous meal was brought in, and the three sat down to as merry a little dinner party as there was that night in the city of New York.
“How honored we are, Reggie,” exclaimed Mabel, “to have the great Mr. Matson as our guest! There are hundreds of people who would give their eyes for such a chance.”
She flashed a mocking glance at Joe who grew red, as she knew he would. The little witch delighted in making him blush. It made his bronzed face still more handsome, she thought. ”

“ Could any girl barely out of her teens possibly ask for more?
So it was a happy party that laughed and chatted as the train sped through the night toward Boston.
“Our last trip to Boston, for a while at least,” smiled Mabel.
“I wonder whether the Series will be settled there or at the Polo Grounds,” remarked Clara. “It would be glorious if when we come back to-morrow night the Giants should have won the Series.”
“Well, we have two chances to the Bostons’ one, anyway,” observed Jim. “They must win to-morrow or they’re goners. We can lose to-morrow and still have a chance.” ”

“ As the game went on, it seemed as though the hopes of the spectators were to be gratified.
The veteran pitched superbly for seven innings. His twirling was up to the standard of his best games. He mowed the opposing batsman down one after the other, and as inning after inning passed with only two scratch hits as the Bostons’ total, it began to look as though it would be a shutout for the visitors.
“They’ve got holes in their bats,” cried McRae, gleefully, as he brought his hand down on Robson’s knee with a thump. ”

“ And she was not sorry that Mabel had arranged that she and Jim should sit next each other at the table.
They were soon talking with freedom and animation.
“You ought to be awfully proud of that brother of yours,” Jim declared.
“I should say so!” Clara exclaimed. “He’s the dearest brother that ever lived.”
“He’s a prince,” assented Jim. “A finer fellow never trod in shoe leather. I owe an awful lot to him, Miss Matson. I was feeling as forlorn as only a ‘rookie’ can feel when I broke into the big league, but he took me up at once and we’ve been like brothers ever since.” ”

“ Among others, McRae, the famous manager of the New York Giants, thought he saw in Joe a great chance to bolster up his pitching staff. Joe could hardly believe his eyes when he learned that he had been bought by New York. It brought a bigger reputation, a larger salary and a capital chance to get into the World Series. He worked like a Trojan all through the season, and, as we have already seen, came through with flying colors, winning from the Chicagos the final game that made the Giants the champions of the National League and put them in line for the championship of the world. ”

“ Now, Momsey, I want you and Dad and Clara to shut up the house, jump into some good clothes and hustle on here to New York just as fast as steam will bring you. You’re going to see the World Series, take in the sights of New York and Boston, and have the time of your life. ”

“ Then with an ugly sneer, Fleming remarked:
“Ah, Mr. Matson, I believe. Or was it Mr. Buttinski? I’m not very good at remembering names.”
“You’ll remember mine if I have to write it on you with my knuckles,” returned Joe, brought to a white heat by the insult and the remembrance of the occurrence of the day before.
“Now, my good fellow——” began Fleming, a look of alarm replacing his insolent expression.
“Don’t ‘good fellow’ me,” replied Joe. “I owe you a thrashing and I’m perfectly able to pay my debts. You’d have gotten it yesterday if we’d been alone.” ”

“ If wild and long-continued cheering could have [117] won the game, it would have been won right at the start when Hughson came out on the field a little while before the gong sounded.
It was a tribute of which any man might have been proud. For more than a dozen years he had been the mainstay of the team. His record had never been approached in baseball history.
Year in and year out he had pitched his team to victory. Several times they had won the pennant of the National League, and even when they failed they had always been up among the contenders. ”

“ A rousing shout rose from the eager group.
“Sure, we’ve got it copped already,” cried Larry.
McRae smiled.
“That’s the right spirit to tackle the job with,” he replied, “but don’t let the idea run away with you that it’s going to be an easy thing to do. It isn’t. Those American Leaguers are tough birds, and any one who beats them will know he’s been in a fight.
[41]
“There used to be a time,” he went on, “when the bulk of the talent was in the National League. But it isn’t so any longer. They have just as good batting, just as good pitching and just as good fielding as we have. ”

“ They’re half whipped before they start, because they feel that he has the Indian sign on them, and it’s of no use to try.”
“That’s so,” assented Reggie. “Besides, when he’s in the box his own team feel they’re in for a victory and they play like demons behind him.”
“It’s going to take away a lot of confidence from our boys,” said Joe, “and in a critical series like that, confidence is half the battle. We could have lost two or three other men and yet have a better chance than we will have with Hughson out of the game.” ”

“ With a man on third, no man out and some of the heaviest sluggers coming up, it looked as though the Red Sox would break their string of zeros.
A long fly to the outfield, even though caught, would in all probability bring in Walters from third.
But Joe tightened up and struck out the next man up in three pitched balls. He made Hobbs chop a bounder to the box on which Walters did not dare to try for the plate. Then with two out he beguiled Girdner into sending up a towering foul which Mylert caught almost without stirring from his position. ”

“ The boys have always drawn big crowds and aroused a good deal of interest.”
“And they’d do that to-day more than ever,” put in Jim. “Baseball is no longer simply an American game but a world game. You’ll find crack teams even in Japan and China.”
“It would be a wonderful experience,” remarked Reggie.
“You bet it would!” exclaimed Joe, enthusiastically. “Think of playing ball in sight of the Pyramids! We’d take in all the great cities of Asia and Europe and some in Africa. It would be a liberal education. And instead of spending money in making a tour of the world, we’d be paid for taking it.” ”

“ But several hours were to elapse before the train started. Joe hurried into his street clothes, and, accompanied by Jim Barclay, was whirled away in a taxicab to the Marlborough, where they had arranged to have a jolly dinner with his family and the Varleys.
The baseball players found everything ready for them, and the welcome that greeted them warmed their hearts.
“What a pity that we haven’t a band here ready to strike up: ‘Hail the conquering heroes come,’” said Mabel, mischievously. ”

“ McRae had told Joe that afternoon that he was slated to pitch the opening game.
“I’m banking on you, Joe,” the manager told him. “You’ve never failed me yet, and I don’t think you’ll do it now. If you fall down, we’re dead ones.”
“I’ll do my very best,” declared Joe earnestly.
“Your best is good enough for any one,” replied McRae. “Just show them the same stuff you did the Chicagos in that last game and I won’t ask for anything more.”
The next morning dawned bright and clear, and the city was agog with expectation. New York, usually so indifferent to most things, had gone wild over the Series. ”

“ By the time the game started the enormous Braves Field was packed to its utmost capacity.
Personally, McRae welcomed the overcast sky. It was a pitcher’s day, a day that called for speed, and speed as everybody knew was Markwith’s “long suit.”
[100]
“Smoke ’em over, Red,” was McRae’s admonition, when he told Markwith he was slated to pitch. “If we can only put this game on the right side of the ledger, the world’s flag is as good as won. Give us a lead of two games and it will take the spine out of those birds. They’ll never catch up.” ”

“ The players had no financial interest whatever in any money taken in at other games, which went to the clubs themselves, less the percentage of the National Commission.
“Hurrah!” cried Jim Barclay in delight, as he broke into the rooms occupied by Joe and himself.
[64]
“What’s the matter?” asked Joe, looking up. “Dropped into a fortune? Got money from home?”
“We’ve won the toss of the coin!” ejaculated Jim. “New York gets the first game.”
“Bully!” cried Joe. “That’s all to the good. That’s the first break in the game and it’s come our way. Let’s hope that luck will stay with us all through.” ”

“ THE PLOT
“There are lots of people in Boston hoping the same thing,” replied Bixby. “But I think they’re due to be disappointed. It isn’t often they send that boy back to the shower.”
“He can be beaten like any one else,” snarled Fleming, his gorge rising as he heard Joe praised.
“Sure,” conceded Bixby. “The best of them have an off day at times. But they say he’s in splendid shape just now. That arm of his is certainly a dandy.” ”

“ We ought to have made those runs earlier in the game, that’s all.”
“I felt so sorry for poor Mr. Markwith,” said Mrs. Matson. “It must have been very mortifying to have to give up before so many people.”
“Poor Red,” said Joe. “It was too bad, especially when he got away to such a splendid start. But every pitcher has to take his medicine some time. Pitchers are very much like race horses. One day no one can beat them and another day any one can beat them.”
“I think you did splendidly, Mr. Barclay,” said Clara, shyly.
“Oh, I didn’t have much to do,” said Jim. ”

“ His former team mates stepped back as he lurched against them.
“Hello, Hartley,” said Joe not unkindly, for despite his just cause for resentment, he was shocked and sorry to see how low “Bugs” had fallen.
“Don’t you talk to me!” snarled Hartley viciously. “You got me off the team and knocked me out of my chance of World Series money.”
“You’re wrong there, Bugs,” returned Joe, keeping his temper. “I did everything I could to help you. When you were drunk in St. Louis, Jim and I smuggled you off to bed so that McRae wouldn’t find it out. You’re your own worst enemy, Bugs.” ”

“ McRae said it was lying just off the wharf!” exclaimed Joe.
“Perhaps Mr. McRae says more than his prayers,” was Hennessy’s surly reply.
The words, with all they implied, struck Joe with the force of a blow. Like a flash, the warning of Louis Anderson that morning came to his mind.
“Look here!” he cried, starting to his feet. “What does this mean? What game are you up to?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, my bucko,” answered Hennessy. “In the meantime you’d better take my tip and keep a civil tongue in your head. [172] My temper’s rather short, as those who have sailed with me can tell you.” ”

“ So there was no protest when the game was formally and finally declared off, and the disgruntled New Yorks gathered up their bats and strode from the field.
“Never mind, boys,” comforted McRae. “We can beat the Red Sox but we can’t beat them and the rain together. Better luck next time.”
“That listens good,” grumbled “Robbie,” who refused to be consoled. “But now we’ve lost the jump on them and it’s all to be done over again.”
“Well, we’re no worse off than they are, anyway,” returned the Giant manager.
“If we could only pitch Matson every day, the Series would be a cinch,” mused Robson. ”

“ Even here his mates had pawed and mauled him in their delight at the glorious victory, until he had laughingly threatened to thrash a few of them. And [3] now, as, after getting into his street clothes, he came out into the side street and viewed the crowd that waited for him, he saw that he was in for a new ordeal.
“Gee whiz!” he exclaimed to his friend and fellow player, Jim Barclay, who accompanied him. “Will they never let up on me?”
“It’s one of the penalties of fame, old man,” laughed Jim. “Don’t make out that you don’t like it, you old hypocrite.” ”

“ But I suppose they feel so good over getting the pennant that they take this means of showing it.”
“They can well afford to do it,” said Jim. “Your pitching has brought it into the box office [51] twenty times over. Still it’s nice and white of them just the same to be so prompt. That’s one thing that you have to hand to the Giant management. There isn’t a club in the league that treats its players better.”
“You’re just right,” assented Joe, warmly, “and it makes me feel as though I’d pitch my head off to win, not only for my own sake but for theirs.” ”

“ In the Giants’ half, Joe was the first man up and he laced out a hot liner between second and short that carried him easily to first. Mylert hit to short and Joe was forced at second, though Berry relayed the ball to Hobbs too late for a double play. A wild pitch, the only one of the game, advanced Mylert a base. Burkett received a pass. Now there was a man on first, another on second, and rousing cheers came from the stands. There was only one man out, Fraser was evidently getting wild, and it looked as though New York might score. ”

“ All pitchers look alike to him. He’s a perfect terror to the twirlers.”
“Well, you won’t have to worry about him, anyway,” smiled Mabel. “It’s lucky that he’s on the Detroits instead of the Bostons. For I suppose it’s the Bostons you’ll have to face in the World Series.”
“I guess it will be,” answered Joe. “Their season [24] doesn’t end until Friday. They’ve had almost as tight a race in their league as we’ve had in ours, for the Athletics have been close on their heels. But the Bostons have to take only one game to clinch the flag while the Athletics will have to win every game. ”

“ Willis went out on strikes, but Becker poled out a crashing three-bagger that brought Larry over the rubber for the first run of the game and sent the stands into hysterics.
Becker was caught napping a moment later and the inning ended. The New Yorkers were hilarious while the Boston rooters were correspondingly depressed.
“You’re getting to him, boys!” yelled McRae. “We’ll drive him to the tall timber before long.”
But Fraser had views of his own on that subject and refused to be driven. He had no ambition to be slaughtered to make a New York holiday. ”