human
Seems to be straight goods,
gpt
They've got the money all right, rejoined Joe.
human
They've got two or three millionaires who are willing to take a chance and put up the coin.
gpt
One of the names seems to be rather familiar, remarked Jim, with a sidewise look at Joe.
human
Do you remember him?
gpt
I remember him, replied Joe grimly,
human
Who is it?
gpt
Beckworth Fleming,
human
Rather a pretty name,
gpt
Prettier than he was when Joe got through with him,
human
Oh, I hope Joe didn't hurt him!
gpt
Whatever Joe did was for the good of his soul, laughed Jim.
human
I can't say as much for his body.
gpt
It's all right, Momsey, smiled Joe.
human
He was insolent to Mabel, and I had to give him a thrashing. But that's neither here nor there. He's the spoiled son of a very rich man, and he's one of the men behind this new league. 'A fool and his money are soon parted,' and he'll probably be wiser when he gets through with this than he is now.
gpt
But why shouldn't they start a new league if they want to? asked Mrs. Matson.
human
I should think they had a right to, if they wanted to do it.
gpt
Of course they have a right to, agreed Joe.
human
This is a free country, and any man has a right to go into any legitimate business if he thinks there's money in it. Neither the National League nor the American League have a mortgage on the game. But the trouble is that there aren't enough good players to go round. All the really good ones have been already gobbled up by the present leagues. If the new league started in with unknown players, it wouldn't take in enough money to pay the batboys. The consequence is that it tries to get the players who are already under contract by making them big offers, and that leads to all sorts of dishonesty. You take a man who is making three thousand a year and offer him six if he'll break his contract, and it's a big temptation.
gpt
They'll be after you, Joe, sure as shooting, remarked Jim.
human
It would be a big feather in their cap to start off with copping the greatest pitcher in the game. They'd be willing to offer you a fortune to get you. They figure that after that start the other fellows they want will be tumbling over themselves to get aboard.
gpt
Let them come, declared Joe.
human
I'll send them off with a flea in their ear. They'll find that I'm no contract jumper.
gpt
I'm sure that you'd never do anything mean,
human
There isn't a crooked bone in his head,
gpt
The contract is enough, said Joe;
human
We remember that, don't we, Momsey?
gpt
I should say we did, replied Mrs. Matson, while a suspicious moisture came into her eyes.
human
Will we ever forget the day when we opened that letter from the dear boy, and the thousand-dollar bill fell out on the table? It gave us all the happiest time we have had in all our lives.