n as she
realized it was a private conversation," he said warmly.

"Then you know her?" she asked quickly.

"Yes," he replied, realizing he had betrayed undue interest in the
defense.

"Who is she?" the girl demanded.

"One of the women with the team, daughter of the secretary," he
explained, striving to appear unconcerned.

"Is she pretty?"

"Why--yes--I don't know. She is very pleasant and nice looking."

"Rather odd, isn't it, a woman traveling with a lot of tough ball
players?"

"You are unjust," he exclaimed indignantly. "She is with her father
and Mrs. Clancy. Besides, the ball players are not tough--at least
none of them is while she is with the club."

"You seem ready to rush to her defense," she remarked with jealous
accents.

"Of course, I cannot let you think she is not a nice girl."

"Of course not"----her tone was sarcastic. "Traveling around the
country with a crowd of men and eavesdropping in hotel parlors."

"She would not do such a thing. You must not speak of her in that
way," he stormed indignantly.

"I congratulate her upon having captured so gallant a champion," she
mocked.

They were verging upon a sharper clash of words when a big man, heavy
of jaw and red of face, strolled into the parlor, not taking the
trouble to remove his hat.

"Oh, here you are, Helen," he said. "I've been looking everywhere.
Time to start or we'll be late to bridge."

"Uncle Barney," said the girl, rising, "this is Mr.--oh, I forget.
What is it you call yourself now?--McCarthy. I knew him when he was at
college. He plays on some baseball team--one of those we saw to-day.
Mr. McCarthy, this is my uncle, Mr. Baldwin."

"I have heard of you often, Mr. Baldwin," said McCarthy coolly,
although fearful that Baldwin might remember him.

"You're McCarthy, the new third baseman, eh?" asked Baldwin, without
offering his hand and merely glancing at the boy. "Saw you play
to-day. Too bad you threw that game away."

"I"----McCarthy started to offer defense.

"We must be going, Helen," said Baldwin.

The girl extended her hand carelessly.

"We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again," she said.

Baldwin, with a curt nod to the player, turned to leave the parlor and
McCarthy, seizing the opportunity, said:

"As a favor, Helen, do not reveal my identity. Your uncle did not
recognize me as the boy he saw play on the Shasta View team."

"You need not fear," she responded rapidly. "And, Larr