ter on? By that time they'll have a dozen
stars signed and they should worry. As long as it's believed that Joe has
jumped, it's just as good for them as though he had."

"That's the worst of it," agreed Joe bitterly. "Of course I'll send a
cable contradicting it, but the lie has got a head start and a lot of
damage has been done. What do you suppose my friends in America are
thinking about me just now?"

"Don't worry about that, Joe," comforted Jim. "Your real friends won't
believe it, and for the rest it doesn't matter. Nobody that really knows
you believes you would jump your contract."

"Whoever got that story up was foxy, though," commented Mylert, the burly
catcher of the Giants. "There are no 'ifs or ands' about it like most
phony stories where the fellow's trying to hedge in case someone comes
back at him. It sounds like straight goods. It's the most truthful looking
lie I ever saw."

"But it's a lie just the same!" cried Joe desperately. "All you fellows
know I wouldn't throw the Giants down, don't you?" he asked, as his eyes
swept the circle of fellow players who were gathered around him.

There was a murmur of assent, but it was not as hearty as Joe could have
wished. If there was not distrust, there was at least bewilderment, for
the story bore all the earmarks of truth.

"You know it, don't you, Mac?" repeated Joe, this time addressing directly
the Giant leader.

For a fraction of a second McRae hesitated. Then he threw doubt to the
winds and gripped Joe's hand with a heartiness that warmed the latter's
heart.

"Of course, I know it, Joe!" he exclaimed emphatically. "I don't deny that
for a moment the paper had me going. But in my heart I know it's a lie. So
just send your cable and then let's forget it. Those fellows are just
making a rope to hang themselves with. We'll make it warm for them when we
get back to the States."

"You ought to sue the papers for libel," growled Robbie.

"There won't be any suing," said Joe heatedly. "Just let me have five
minutes alone with the fellow that started this and that's all I'll ask."

He hurried down with Jim to the cable office and a few minutes later this
message buzzed its way across the seas:

"Report that I have signed with the All-Star League absolutely false.
Will give a thousand dollars to charity if anyone can produce
contract.

"JOSEPH MATSON."

"That ought to hold them for a while,"