see the way he did his work. I saw him at the Polo Grounds when in that
last, heartbreaking game he won the championship for the Giants. And I saw
him, too, in that last game of the World's Series, when it seemed as
though only a miracle could save the day. That triple play was the most
wonderful thing I ever beheld. The way he nailed that ball and shot it
over to Denton was a thing the fans will talk over for many years to
come."

"Wasn't it great?" cried Mabel, enthusiastically, at the same time
privately resolving to tell all this to Joe and show him how unjust he was
in feeling the way he did toward this generous admirer.

"The fact is," continued Braxton, "that Matson's in a class by himself.
He's the big cog in the Giant machinery. It's a pity they don't
appreciate him more."

"Why, they do appreciate him!" cried Mabel, her eyes opening wide with
wonder. "Mr. McRae thinks nothing's too good for him."

"Nothing's too good except money," suggested Braxton.

"They give him plenty of that, too," put in Mabel, loyally.

"He gets a ripping salary, don't you know," put in Reggie. "And he almost
doubled it in this last World's Series."

"A man's worth what he can get," returned Braxton. "Now, of course, I
don't know and perhaps it might be an impertinence for me even to guess
what his salary is, but I should say that it isn't a bit more than ten
thousand a year."

"Oh, it isn't anything like that," said Reggie, a little chop fallen.

Braxton raised his eyebrows in apparent surprise.

"I didn't think the Giants were so niggardly," he remarked, with a touch
of contempt. "It's simply robbery for them to hold his services at such a
figure. Mr. Matson could demand vastly more than that."

"Where?" asked Reggie. "He's under contract with the Giants and they
wouldn't let him go to any other club."

"Why doesn't he go without asking leave?" asked Braxton.

"But no other club in the big leagues would take him if he broke his
contract with the Giants," said Mabel, a little bewildered.

"I've heard there was a new league forming," said Braxton, carelessly.
"Let's see, what is it they call it? The All-Star League. There would be
no trouble with Matson's getting an engagement with them. They'd welcome
him with open arms."

"They've already tried to get him," cried Mabel, proudly.

"Is that so? I suppose they made him a pretty good offer. I've heard
they're doing things on a big scale."

"It was a wonderful offer,"