"Why, I may not be living in the town on Saturday, you see, and one of
the rules of our match games is that every player shall be a resident of
the town his club represents. My folks are going to move to Harmony on
Friday, sure!"

"That's bad for us, Alec," admitted Jack, his heart sinking as he
remembered how ineffectual McGuffey had been in the box even while
Chester was scoring against the Harmony man; and with Hendrix sending
his puzzling shoots over, defeat was positive for Chester unless they
had Donohue to depend on. "Tell me how it happens, will you?"

"Why, my father lost his job a few weeks back, being sick for a spell.
He doesn't seem able to strike anything here, but is promised a good job
up in Harmony on condition that he moves there right away, so he can
start in Saturday. And, Jack, he said this morning that much as he hated
to leave town, there wasn't any other way out; so we're going the day
after tomorrow. I knew I'd have to tell you, but, say, every time I
tried to speak it seemed like I'd choke."

It was a time for quick thinking with Jack.

"I wish you could hold this off for just twenty-four hours, Alec," he
told the other. "Perhaps I may find a way out long before then. Could
you promise me that?"

"Sure thing, Jack, and believe me I'd be mighty happy if only you did
run across a way of bridging this trouble. But we're out of money at
home, and jobs don't seem to be floating around in Chester, at least for
men as old as my dad."

"Would you mind telling me what he was promised over at Harmony?"
continued the other, at which question Alec started, and looked eagerly
at him.

"Why, you see, all my dad's fit for these days, with his rheumatism
bothering him, is a job as night watchman in some factory or mill. That
was what he has been promised in Harmony."

"And what wages does he expect to draw down, Alec? I'm not asking from
any curiosity, remember, but I ought to know if I'm going to try to get
your father a position here in his old town where he's known so well and
respected; and where his eldest son is making such a name for himself as
a sterling baseball player."

"He is promised twenty-one a week, Jack. You see, in these times wages
have all gone up to meet the high cost of living. Time was when he only
got fifteen per. I reckon now, it's your plan to interview some of the
gentlemen who are interested in baseball, and that you hope they'll
consent to give my dad a steady job so