older woman skeptically.

"I don't know, Mother Clancy." The girl's face grew troubled. "I'm
worried. I know Mr. Williams hasn't any money. Papa says he is so
reckless he always is in debt, and lately, whenever he talks to me, he
talks about the big sums he's going to have. I asked papa what it was,
and he only grunted."

"He'd better pitch a lot better than he has been if he's counting on
any of that world's series money," remarked Mrs. Clancy savagely.
"McCarthy saved yesterday's game twice."

"You think Mr. Williams didn't want to win the game?" The girl's voice
was tense with anxiety.

"I hate to say it--but it looked that way."

"Oh, Mother Clancy, I haven't dared to say a word to anyone about it,"
said the girl hesitatingly, "but I've been afraid for days. He said
something to me that almost frightened me. He hinted that Mr. McCarthy
was losing games on purpose. I didn't believe it--and somehow I got
the idea Mr. Williams was betting on the Panthers."

"Now, you just keep your mouth shut about this," replied Mrs. Clancy,
pressing her lips together determinedly. "I've had that same idea, and
I think that's what's worryin' Willie. You just lead that fellow on to
talk and I'll put a bug in Willie's ear. Only," she added, "Willie is
likely to snap my head off for buttin' into his business. He's got to
know, though."

Clancy came into the apartment soon afterward and Betty Tabor, making a
hasty excuse, gathered up her fancy work.

"It's going to rain," remarked Clancy resignedly. "I think the game
will be called off. If the game's off, I've got tickets to a theatre,
and you and mother and I can go. Which one of the boys shall I ask to
go with us?"

"If you don't mind," replied Betty Tabor steadily, "ask Mr. Williams."

The rain came down steadily and before one o'clock the contest was
called off. The postponement was believed to lessen slightly the
chances of the Bears to win the pennant, and they lounged dismally
around the hotel, watching the bulletin board record the fact that the
Panthers were winning easily, giving them the lead in the race by a
small fraction in percentage.

Manager Clancy, his wife and Betty Tabor, with Williams rode away in a
taxicab to the theatre. McCarthy declined Swanson's proposal to play
billiards, and, going to their rooms, he commenced to read. Presently
five of the players trooped in, led by Swanson, to play poker, and,
shoving McCarthy's bed aside, ig