We would advise him not to play that dodge any more. "The new short-stop, Chaseaway, put the boots on everything that came his way, but for all that we like his style. He is fast as lightning and has a grand whip. He stands up like Brouthers, and if we're any judge of ball players - here we want to say we've always called the turn-this new youngster will put the kibosh on a few and `chase' the Dude for batting honors"

Chase read it over twice and it brought the hot blood to his face. After that miserable showing of his in the game -how kind of the reporter to speak well of him! Chase's heart swelled. He had been wrong -there were lots of good fellows in the world.

"Make a fellow sick, wouldn't it?" said Cas, in disgust. "Accused me of laying down! Say, come and walk over to the hotel where the Kenton fellows are staying."

Chase felt very proud to be seen with the great pitcher, for whom all passersby had a nod or a word. They stopped at another hotel, in the lobby of which lounged a dozen broad-shouldered, red-faced young men.

" Say," said Cas, with a swing of his head, " I just dropped in to tell you guys that I'm going to pitch today, and I'm going to let you down with two hits. See! " A variety of answers were flung at him, but he made no reply and walked out. All the way up the street Chase heard him growling to himself.

The afternoon could not come soon enough for Chase. He went out to the grounds in high spirits. When he entered the dressing-room he encountered the same derisive clamor that had characterized the players' manner toward him the day before. And it stunned him. He looked at them aghast. Every one of them, except Cas, had a scowl and hard word for him. Benny, not quite sober yet, was brutal, and Meade made himself particularly offensive. Even Winters, who had been so friendly the night before, now said he would put out Chase's other lamp if he played poorly today. They were totally different from what they had been off the field. A frenzy of some kind possessed them. Roars of laughter following attacks on him, and for that matter on each other, detracted little, in Chase's mind, from the impression of unnatural sarcasm.

He hurriedly put on his uniform and got out of the room. He did not want to lose his nerve again. Cas sat on the end of the bleachers, pounding the boards with his bat.

"Say, I was waiting for you," he said in a whisper to Chase. "I'm going to put you wise when I get a chance to talk. All I want to say now is, I 'll show up this Kenton outfit today. They can't hit my speed, and they always hit my slow ball to left-field, through short.

Now you lay for them. Play deep and get the ball away quick. You've got the arm for it."

This was Cas's way of showing his friendship, and it surprised Chase as much as it pleased him. Mac came along then, and at once said " Howdy, boys. Cas, what are you dressed for?"

" I want to work today. "

" You do? What for? "

"Well, I'm sore about yesterday, and I'm sore on - Kenton, and if you'll work me today I'll shut them out."

" You 're on, Cas, you're on," said Mac, rubbing his hands in delight.