an a touch of the same somber sadness. His eyes were dark and keen and penetrating; with a single glance they seemed to pierce one through and through. And they were ever on the move, li

ression of mingled questioning and resentment. But Jones had resumed his habitual pace, his

ure," said he, "it's a bit of a jump old Jon

sed and fascinated him instantly. His first thought was that the man might be mentally unbalanced to a slight degree; but, though he k

p and take notice if ever he got a show in the Big League. Yours truly, the Marine Marvel,

d, mouth agape, eyes panic-stricken, was staring at the approaching pitcher. Amazement, doubt, disbelief, fear–he betrayed all these emotions. Eve

ute pitcher. No one save Locke seemed to notice Weegman; and so wholly fascinated by the sight of

s speed, a ball doesn't last a minute; the calorie frictio

r, the catcher, "und somet

nes, his head bent, reached the f

mers. "Afterward he usually goes to bed and rests, and he comes out to the games as full of

Wiley drew Lefty forward to meet the voiceless pitcher, and, perceiving a stranger, Mysterious Jones halted at the top

to make Jones aware of the identity of the famous Big League pitcher. Already the mute had lapsed into

when he's gloomiest; appears to entertain the delusion that he's taking acrimonious revenge on the world for handing him some sort of

ded Locke, in mo

f rest. Through the open door the southpaw watched the strange pitcher walk through the office and mount a flight of stairs. And from the little writing room Locke saw Bailey Weegman peer forth, his eyes f

when, scarcely more than an hour later, Charles Collier's private secretary appeared at the little cottage occupied by Locke and his wife, and stat

t out, even though I'm going to leave town at five-thirty this afternoon. That's the first through train north

d yourself the troubl

e obstinate, but even they can be made to change their minds if you b

what nervous and unnatural. "I wonder," murmured the pitcher, "why

e were well along in the thirties, and one had passed forty. Yet, for all such handicaps, they were an enthusiastic, energetic team, and they could play the game. At least five of them had once been stars on college nines.

ed "Marine Marvel" had a record; with players culled from the brambles as he knocked about the country, he had, in former days, put to shame many a strong minor league outfit that had patronizingly and somewhat disdainfully consented to give him an engagement on an off date. Unless t

s left hand to his mouth. A massage expert in Fernandon had done much for him, and he hoped that he had done not a little for himself by perfecting a new style of delivery that did not put so much strain upon his shoulder. Still, until he sh

t once. Doubtless the Wind Jammers were batters of no mean ca

the rest I've had and the doctoring my arm has received, there's not one c