the charge was made that one
member of the Bear team had been bribed; indeed, had been put on the
team with the sole end that he might throw games and force the
championship upon the Panthers.

The article created a furore which caused the public to forget the
mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Swanson and
Kennedy.

Although no name was mentioned, the facts set forth fitted only
McCarthy, the new third baseman, and rallied all the admirers of the
lithe red-headed boy to his side and set loose a storm of anger and
suspicion directed upon him by those who criticised his playing or
opposed him through prejudice.

Manager Clancy, after an anxious evening and night trying to get at the
facts of the case of Swanson and Kennedy, and getting Kennedy out of
the hospital, was the first of the Bears to see the new attack. He
read the entire article from end to end, and going to his apartment he
telephoned for McCarthy, Swanson, Kennedy and Secretary Tabor to come
to his rooms at once.

Manager Clancy was waiting, striding up and down the room restlessly
and as the three players entered, he unceremoniously shooed his wife
into the next room before she had a chance to defend her boys.

"Fellows," said the manager quietly, "I sent for you because you seem
to know more what's going on than the others do. I suppose none of you
has read this article in this morning's paper. I'll read it to you."

As he read, the players began to look one at the other and ejaculations
of surprise and anger came from them. When Clancy reached the portion
of the article telling of the player joining the Bears, McCarthy sprang
from his chair.

"Why," he exclaimed, flushing angrily, "why, he means me."

"It's a d----n shame," roared Swanson. "I'll wring his neck."

"Let me finish," said Clancy, and completed the reading. At the end
the players broke into excited questions and threats and Clancy said:

"Now, see here, boys; we're against a tough proposition. This article
is just part of it. I wanted to talk things over with you fellows.
I've sent for Technicalities, and want to find out a few things from
him. Now you fellows tell me all you know. By the way, you needn't
shy at using Williams's name. I'm not saying he's guilty, but I know
he's the one you have been watching."

Detail by detail they described to the manager the events of the
preceding days.

"Keep quiet about all that. The case is one we can't