tch gave way quickly to a cry of surprise that
rose to a roar of applause when Bill Tascott announced that McCarthy
would play third base.

He walked slowly out toward third base, the huge arm of Swanson, who
with a bellow of gladness had raced to meet and embrace him, around his
shoulders, while the great crowd stood and howled with excitement and
hummed with curiosity as to the explanation of his reappearance. Had
Clancy tricked the Blues and produced his third baseman at the dramatic
instant, hoping to unnerve them? Had McCarthy been hurt? A thousand
conjectures and questions flashed around the field.

The announcement by Bill Tascott was a double shock to two persons
sitting in one of the front boxes near the Bears' bench. Barney
Baldwin brought his fat hand down with a thump upon the shoulders of
the rat-faced, cold-eyed man who sat next to him, and shouted, "I told
you so!"

Easy Ed Edwards, paler than usual, turned angrily toward the
politician, restrained himself, and resumed his steady scrutiny of the
field. When the umpire announced McCarthy playing third, Baldwin, in
his astonishment, half arose and Edwards started quickly.

"Sit down, you fool," he said sharply. "We're in enough trouble
without you giving us away. Clancy was watching us from the bench.
They're wise to you."

"To me!" ejaculated Baldwin. "I like your nerve"----

"You're the only one they can connect with McCarthy's--accident," he
said coldly. "There'll be h---- to pay at home."

McCarthy's head was bandaged afresh, strips of court-plaster decorated
his face, and even from the stands the black bruises around his eyes
were visible.

Nearly forty thousand persons were watching, unaware of the full
meaning of the complex drama they were witnessing. McCarthy was so
astonished at hearing that Williams was pitching that he turned to
Swanson.

"What does it mean, Silent?" he asked anxiously.

"Clancy made him pitch," whispered Swanson rapidly as they went toward
the bench. "He has had him locked in his room all day and Williams is
scared stiff. Look at him."

The pitcher was white to the mouth, and he licked his lips nervously as
if in a fever, as he sat during the first inning while his own team
endeavored to make a run. Clancy, his face hard, sat next to him,
terrible in his rigidity.

Three of the Bears retired in rapid order and the team raced for the
field. A roar of applause greeted them, and as McCarthy ran along