human
How are you, Hughson, old man? cried Joe.
gpt
How's that wing of yours getting along?
human
All to the good, replied Hughson.
gpt
I stopped off for a day or two at Youngstown and had it treated by Bonesetter Reese. I tell you, that old chap's a wonder. He tells me it will be as good as ever when the season opens.
human
I'm mighty glad you're going along with us on this trip, said Jim, heartily.
gpt
It wouldn't seem like the Giant team with you out of it.
human
I'm going through as far as the coast anyway, answered Hughson.
gpt
More for the fun of being with the boys than anything else. But I don't think I'll make the trip around the world. I made a half promise some time ago to coach the Yale team this coming spring, and they don't seem inclined to let me out of it. And I don't know if after all it may not be best to rest up this winter and get in shape for next year.
human
How many of the boys is Mac taking along?
gpt
I think he figures on about fourteen men, replied Hughson.
human
That will give him three pitchers, two catchers, an extra infielder and outfielder, besides the seven other men in their regular positions. That'll allow for accident or sickness and ought to be enough.
gpt
Just as I doped it out,
human
On a pinch, McRae could play himself, laughed Jim.
gpt
No better player ever held down the third bag than Mac when he was on the old Orioles. The old boy could give the youngsters points even now on winging them down to first.
human
For that matter, Robbie himself might go in behind the bat, grinned Joe.
gpt
No ball could get by him without hitting him somewhere.
human
It would be worth the price of admission to see Robbie running down to first,
gpt
What kind of a team has Brennan got together for the All-American?
human
Believe me; it's a good one, replied Hughson.
gpt
He's got a bunch of the sweetest hitters that he could get from either league. They're a bunch of fence breakers, all right. When those birds once get going, they're apt to send any pitcher to the shower. You'll have all you want to do, Joe, to keep them from straightening out your curves.
human
I don't ask anything better, replied Joe, with a laugh.
gpt
I'd get soft if they were too easy. But who are these ball killers? Let me know the worst.
human
Well, said Hughson,
gpt
It's a strong team, commented Jim,
human
Both Mac and Brennan have got the right idea, said Hughson.
gpt
Too many of these barnstorming trips have been made up of second string men, and when people came to see the teams play and didn't find the real stars in the line-up they naturally felt sore. But they're going to get the simon-pure article this time and the games are to be for blood. Anyone that lays down on his job is going to get fired. It'll be easy enough to pick up a good man to take his place.
human
What's the scheme? asked Joe.
gpt
Are we two teams to play against each other all the time, or are we to take on some of the local nines?
human
I don't think that's been fully worked out yet, replied Hughson.
gpt
I know we're going to play the Denver nine and some of the crack California teams.
human
Easy meat,
gpt
Don't you believe it, rejoined Hughson.
human
Don't you remember how the Waco team trimmed us last spring? Those fellows will play their heads off to beat us--and they'll own the town if they succeed. They figure that they'll catch us off our guard and get the Indian sign on us before we wake up.
gpt
Yes. But do you think they can get the Indian sign so easily?
human
No, I don't.
gpt
Of course, those minor teams will play their very best, because it would be a feather in their cap if they could take a game away from us. They'll probably look around and pick up the very best players they can, even if they have to put up some money for the purpose. Just the same, we ought to be able to polish them off with these.
human
Well, of course, we've got to expect to lose some games. It would be a remarkable thing to go around the world and win every game.
gpt
Yet it might be done,
human
I suppose there'll be quite a party going along with the teams, just for the sake of the trip,
gpt
You've said it, replied Hughson.
human
At least half of the men will have their wives along, and then there's a whole bunch of fans who have been meaning to go round the world anyway who will think this a good chance to mix baseball and globe trotting. Altogether I shouldn't wonder if there would be about a hundred in the party. Some of the fellows will have their sisters with them, and you boys had better look out or you'll lose your hearts to them. But perhaps, he added, as he saw a look of quick intelligence pass between the chums,
gpt
By the way, said Hughson, changing the subject,
human
Why, what's he up to, now?
gpt
I don't know, Hughson replied.
human
But I do know that he's sore at you through and through. He's got the idea in that twisted brain of his that you got him off the Giant team. I met him in the street the other day----
gpt
Half drunk, I suppose,
human
More than half, replied Hughson.
gpt
He's got to be a regular panhandler--struck me for a loan, and while I was getting it for him, he talked in a rambling way of how he was going to get even with you. Of course I shut him up, but I couldn't talk him out of his fixed idea. He'll do you a mischief if he ever gets the chance.
human
He's tried it before, said Joe.
gpt
He nearly knocked me out when he doped my coffee. Poor old 'Bugs'--he's his own worst enemy.
human
But he's your enemy too, persisted Hughson.
gpt
And don't forget that a crazy man is a dangerous man.
human
Thanks for the tip, replied Joe.
gpt
But 'threatened men live long' and I guess I'm no exception to the rule!
human
Talking of angels!
gpt
It's 'Bugs,' sure enough, he said.
human
And, for a wonder, he's walking straight.
gpt
Guess he's on his good behavior, remarked Hughson.
human
There's a big meeting of the American League here just now, winding up the affairs of the league, now that the playing season is over. Maybe Hartley thinks he has a chance to catch on somewhere. Like everybody else that's played in the big leagues, he hates to go back to the bushes. He'd be a find, too, if he'd only cut out the booze--there's lots of good baseball in him yet.
gpt
He's a natural player, said Joe, generously.
human
And one of the best pitchers I ever saw. You know how Mac tried to hold on to him.
gpt
I don't think he has a Chinaman's chance, though, of staying in big league company, observed Jim.
human
After the way he tried to give away our signals in that game at Boston, the Nationals wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole, and I don't think the American has any use for him either. You might forgive him for being a drunkard, but not for being a traitor.