Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

: ~ O26 it remained. Mabel and the young pitcher were inseparable away from the ball park, and the other young players who had been fascinated by her charms had given up hope of interesting her, Then came an offer from Chicago. Fifty thousand dollars cold cash for the mystery pitcher. When McNulty showed her the telegram he wore a cynical smile. He knew what old Noody would have done under the circum- stances. The girl's eyes flashed. “ Never,” she exclaimed. would ruin my team.” “ Lady,” replied the manager, “ this team is headed for last place. Greening may keep us out of it for a month or two longer, but yee can’t stand the pace, we're cracking al- ready in two or three places. Better take the money the way your uncle used to do. Remember, it’s a great chance for the kid.” “Qh,” said the girl, her expression soft- ening suddenly, “I had not thought of it that way.” “You're sweet on him, ain’t you?” “Most certainly not. Only I hate to stand in the way of any young man’s ambi- tion.” ‘Well, if you don’t sell him, he'll prob- ably crack like the rest of the team before the end of the season, and lose his big chance.” ‘What is your interest in selling him, Mr. McNulty?” “ Well, Moody used to give me ten per cent on all sales. I suppose you will do the same.” “Isee. Well, if I sell him you shall have your blood money.” She walked scomfully away: That night she sat in the hotel parlor and talked with Greening. He handed the telegram back to her. “TI stick with you, Miss Mabel. If you Want the money, sell me. If you want to keep the team in the fight I am satisfied.” “Isn't it your big chance?” “ My biggest chance is being with you. I'd sooner work for three thousand dollars 4 year with the Cricketers, see you every day, than get ten thousand dollars a year from the Cubs and not be with you.” Mabel blushed very prettily and turned “Why, it ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. her big eyes upon the rug causing her long black lashes to hide them from the ardent young pitcher. “You are drawing big money at the gate just now,” he continued, “‘ but pretty soon the papers are going to get tired of playing you up. The reporters are getting wise already that you are not so innocent of the game as you pretend. The players are slowing up; there were five errors behind me in my last game and I only won by good luck. Your infield is the slowest in the big league and your outfield is fast, but can’t hit. You have only one decent catcher, and if he should get injured, blooey go your chances. Aside from my trick ball, you haven’t a pitcher who can win with a weak hitting team behind him, and the fans will stop turning out for our games pretty soon. In a sense McNulty is right; we are headed for last place as usual.” ‘“No,” she said, stamping her foot. “I won’t have it. I will buy players. Do you know that there is sixty thousand in the treasury already?” “ Fine! If you sell me, you will have a hundred and ten thousand dollars and will probably make another ten or fifteen thou- sand the rest of the season. On the strength of our showing this year you can probably sell your franchise for a hundred thousand and retire with a fortune.” “ Pooh!” she retorted. ‘ The only thing that makes me hesitate is whether J am doing you an injustice.” “I want to work for you,” he told her. “ Nothing else matters to me.” “Then you shall,” she declared, smiling radiantly. ‘“ Write a telegram, signing my name, that they can’t have you for a mil- ion.” Mabel’s sportsmanship in refusing to sell her star increased her popularity in Bolton tenfold. When she paid ten thousand dol- lars for a shortstop who could really play the position, the increased business at home repaid her the purchase price in a week. Greening continued to win his games, and her other pitchers turned in one win in three. One of the outfielders developed a batting streak and the Cricketers started on the road in fourth place, which they held by a narrow margin. COMMCOOO© SS Co