ted to meet the newcomer, then, with a sickening feeling, he saw
that it was not McCarthy, but Williams.

"Seen Kohinoor?" inquired Swanson, as Williams hurried past.

"Not since dinner. Isn't he here?" inquired Williams, stopping and
dropping his grip.

"Haven't seen him," replied Swanson, watching Williams closely for
symptoms of guilt, and finding none.

"I expected it," said Williams nastily. "Maybe that story about him
trying to throw games is straight after all."

"That's what a lot of them will say if he don't show up to-morrow,"
reflected Swanson.

The warning cry of all aboard sounded. The big shortstop hesitated an
instant, and gave a despairing glance toward the gates, just being
closed.

"It won't do for both of us to miss this game," he muttered as he
turned and ran along the platform. The porter was just closing the
vestibule doors and the train was gathering speed as the big shortstop
swung aboard, went into the now deserted smoking room and sank down,
staring blankly out of the window at the rushing lights.

Before the train reached the city of the Blues the news that McCarthy
was missing had spread through the car of the Bears. The consternation
that followed the rumor grew as the berths were made up and it became a
certainty that the third baseman was not with the team. Swanson had
informed Manager Clancy early in the morning of the events of the
preceding evening so far as he knew them. They had not told anyone,
but every member of the team knew, and they gathered in little groups.
Williams was circulating around the car, talking with different players.

"Look at him," said Swanson to Clancy. "He hates McCarthy and he was
the one who told them first that Kohinoor was not with us. He guessed
it when I asked him last night if he had seen him."

"It's queer," the voice of Pardridge came from the berth behind them.
"It's a funny thing that all this sort of trouble in the team started
when that red-headed tramp joined us."

"They'll all be talking that way," said Swanson gloomily. "They wait
for a chance to knock."

"Something may have happened to delay him," said the manager in tones
that showed he did not believe his own hopeful words. "Maybe he went
to the wrong station, or had an accident. Have you looked at the
papers?"

"Yes. Nothing in them about any accident. I'm still hoping he'll be
in at noon, catching that early morning train."

"I hope for a telegram from him an