The youth turned to follow the secretary as if to hide a little mist
that came into his eyes, and he left Manager Clancy gazing thoughtfully
after him and nibbling the end of his penholder.

"It would be a miracle," said Clancy to himself. "But I've got a hunch
it will come true. He's bred right--tell it from his looks. He's
game, light on his feet; good shoulders, and--and--and a pair of eyes."

CHAPTER II

_A Miracle Called McCarthy_

Thirty thousand persons, banked in the great grandstands and massed
upon the field seats, roared with increasing excitement as from every
direction solid streams of humanity poured toward the park to witness
the second game of the series between the Bears and the Panthers.

The batting practice of the teams had ended and the Bears trotted out
upon the field.

"Who is that red-head practicing at third?" inquired "Chucky" Rice, the
veteran reporter of the Panthers.

"Name is McCarthy, a busher Clancy picked up somewhere. He is to have
a trial this fall--after the pennant fight is over," said Koerner, of
the _Globe_, who traveled with the Bears.

"Looks sweet on ground balls," commented Rice, watching the slender,
graceful athlete, who was occupying Pardridge's place at third base.
"Where did Clancy find him, Tech?"

The question was addressed to "Technicalities" Feehan, the odd little
reporter who had traveled with the Bears for twenty years.

"I have not been informed," responded Feehan, adjusting his glasses and
watching McCarthy closely. "He came to the hotel last night and asked
for a try-out. Did you see him hit?"

"Yes," replied Rice. "Hits right-handed and he cracked two on the
nose. Will he play?"

"Clancy hardly will take a chance with him at this stage," replied
Koerner.

McCarthy tossed his glove to the veteran third baseman and ran toward
the plate to bat grounders to the infielders. He was not aware of the
fact, but Clancy had been watching him keenly during the entire
practice and had asked Kennedy, the star catcher, to keep an eye on the
recruit and report how he liked his actions.

"Handles himself like a ball player," commented the catcher. "He hit a
curve ball {22} with a snap swing that had a lot of drive in it and he
gets the ball away like a flash when it hits his hands."

"He takes things easily," said the manager. "I haven't seen him fight
a ball yet. Blocks it down and recovers in plenty of time. If this
game didn't mean so m