There was a moment’s silence. Then Dyke spoke up. “We’ll be up ag’inst it hard with our left-hand hitters if they keep on holdin’ Locke in reserve for us,” he said. “Lisotte, McGovern, Bernsteine, Mace—he’s got their number, ev’ry one of ’em. It was pitiful to see them tryin’ to hit him to-day.”
“Never suffered more at a game in all my life,” sighed Jorkins. “Every time a man fanned and those Kingsbridgers howled, I had an attack of heart disease. Then think of them loading up with brooms, and bells, and tin horns, and parading through the main street! It was insulting.”
“Insulting!” gurgled Butler. “Wonder they weren’t pelted with rotten eggs.”
“It would have been unfortunate if they’d caught anybody shyin’ rotten eggs at them,” said Riley. “They were primed for a ruction, and there’d have been merry blazes to pay. Now, gents, just you calm down, and wait for me to straighten things out. Losin’ this game to-day hit me just as hard as anybody, for I had an idea we’d bag it, dead sure.”
“And your confidence, which you expressed unreserved last night, cost me good money,” murmured Fancy.
“You’ve won enough in the past to stand one or two losings.”
“I wish you could give us an idea what you propose to do,” urged Jorkins.
“I don’t mind sayin’, confidential, that I mean to do some chinnin’ with Bob Hutchinson.”
“How is that going to help us?” questioned Butler, in doubt.
Riley winked shrewdly. “Hutch ain’t handlin’ a team in this bush league from choice, or for his health, and I know enough about him to hang him. He’s in a position to muddle things for the Kinks, and, if I have to, I can make him do it. I’ll get busy with Hutch to-night. Leave it to me, gents.”
“I’d rather beat them on the square,” said Kilgore.
“I never knew a lawyer to worry much about the way he won; they’ll gener’lly grab at anything that’ll land ’em on top. Of course, we’d all ruther trim the Kinks on the level; but we can’t let them trim us, no matter what we have to do.”
“If we did let ’em,” said Dyke, “some of the crazy ones would feel like handin’ us some tar and feathers. I reckon we’ll have to leave Mike to fix things; he’s on the job.”
“Thanks,” growled Riley sarcastically. “The way you come at me on the street, I didn’t know but you was goin’ to demand my resignation from the management.”
“Oh, we couldn’t get another manager like you.”
“Thanks ag’in.”
“That’s right,” nodded the lawyer, “we couldn’t. We depend on you entirely.”
“But, of course,” put in Jorkins hastily, “if you enter into any sort of a deal with Hutchinson, we don’t care to know about it. You’re engaged to manage the team, and see that it wins; but no member of the association is going to advise you to go out for victory in anything but a legitimate, honest manner. I trust you’ll see fit not to come to me with information concerning a deal with this dishonest rascal, Hutchinson.”
“And don’t tell me anything about it,” cautioned Butler. “I have a conscience, and I’d feel it my duty to protest.”
Riley produced a fresh cigar, twisted off the end with his teeth, and lighted a match. Puffing at the cigar, with the match flaring at the end of it, he made no effort to mask the faint, sneering smile upon his face.
“You’re all men with consciences, I know that,” he said. “I wouldn’t for the world do a thing to make any of ye lose sleep at night. Go home and rest easy. That’s all I have to say.” He rose to his feet.
“I’m very glad to hear you speak that way,” said Jorkins. “It lifts something of a load from my shoulders.”
“Mine, too,” said Butler. “I was worried, but I feel better now.”