hted up when
they got out."

"Thanks, Mac," said Clancy worriedly. "This is tough news at this
stage of the game. I'll have to take a look into it."

Clancy, his weather-beaten face furrowed with a heavy frown, walked
slowly back to the hotel.

President Bannard, of the Bears, was waiting for him in the lobby.

"Good morning, Bill," he said. "You're out early. I wanted to see
you."

"Had some business downtown and went out an hour or so ago," replied
the manager. "What's the woe?"

"Who's going to pitch to-day?" asked the president.

"I don't know. I never decide in advance," responded the manager
carelessly. "Guess it will be either Wilcox or Williams--whichever one
looks best warming up."

"If it's all the same to you," said the president diplomatically, "I
wish you'd let Williams work."

"Why?" demanded Clancy, on the defensive in an instant.

"It's this way, Bill," explained the president. "You know I don't own
this club. I've got most of my money in it, but another fellow has
control of the stock. He is going to the game and he asked me to let
Williams pitch, as he never has seen him work."

"Williams hasn't been very steady in his last three games," remarked
the manager thoughtfully. "I don't want to risk this pennant to please
anyone, no matter if he owns the whole league."

"Well, you said yourself that your choice was between Williams and
Wilcox, so I can't see it makes any difference."

"You know I don't like to announce pitchers ahead of time," said the
manager.

"It seems to me the owner ought to have a right"----

"Now look here, Bannard," said Clancy sharply, "when I signed this
contract it was with the agreement that I was to run the business on
the ball field and let your end of it alone. I'm perfectly willing to
oblige a stockholder, but I'm going to win this pennant, and I'll do
what I please with the playing end of the game. If Adonis looks good
warming up he'll go in, if he don't I'll send someone else to the
slab--and that goes."

"Well--have it your own way"; the president had surrendered entirely to
the aggressive manager. "Put him in if you can, and if you can't I'll
explain that he wasn't right--twisted himself or something."

Clancy went to his room puzzled and annoyed and, as usual, he sought
advice and enlightenment by consulting Mrs. Clancy, whose abundant good
nature and portliness formed a striking contrast with his seriousness
and slenderness.

"Will