had a
confused sense of having appeared to encourage Billie, and did not know
whether she felt happy or guilty. The flame in his eyes had warmed all
her blood. Then, as she glanced over the railing to see the powerful
Burns Carroll, there rose in her breast a panic at strange variance
with her other feelings.

Many times had Madge Ellston viewed the field and stands and the
outlying country from this high vantage point; but never with the same
mingling emotions, nor had the sunshine ever been so golden, the woods
and meadows so green, the diamond so smooth and velvety, the whole
scene so gaily bright.

Denver had always been a good drawing card, and having won the first
game of the present series, bade fair to draw a record attendance. The
long lines of bleachers, already packed with the familiar mottled
crowd, sent forth a merry, rattling hum. Soon a steady stream of
well-dressed men and women poured in the gates and up the grand-stand
stairs. The soft murmur of many voices in light conversation and
laughter filled the air. The peanut venders and score-card sellers
kept up their insistent shrill cries. The baseball park was alive now
and restless; the atmosphere seemed charged with freedom and pleasure.
The players romped like skittish colts, the fans shrieked their
witticisms--all sound and movements suggested play.

Madge Ellston was somehow relieved to see her uncle sitting in one of
the lower boxes. During this game she wanted to be alone, and she
believed she would be, for the President of the League and directors of
the Kansas City team were with her uncle. When the bell rang to call
the Denver team in from practice the stands could hold no more, and the
roped-off side lines were filling up with noisy men and boys. From her
seat Madge could see right down upon the players' bench, and when she
caught both Sheldon and Carroll gazing upward she drew back with
sharply contrasted thrills.

Then the bell rang again, the bleachers rolled out their welcoming
acclaim, and play was called with Kansas City at the bat.

Right off the reel Hunt hit a short fly safely over second. The ten
thousand spectators burst into a roar. A good start liberated applause
and marked the feeling for the day.

Madge was surprised and glad to see Billie Sheldon start next for the
plate. All season, until lately, he had been the second batter.
During his slump he had been relegated to the last place on the batting
list. Pe