ountry. They've got a line out,
too, for Wilson of the Bostons, and you know they don't make any better
outfielders than he is. In fact, they're biting into the teams everywhere,
and none of them know where they're at. If I'd known they were going at it
so seriously, and hadn't got so far in my preparations for this trip, I
think I wouldn't have gone on this world's tour. It looks to me as though
the major leagues would be backed up against the wall and fighting for
their lives before this winter's over."

"It may not be as bad as you think," said Joe consolingly. "Even if they
get a lot of the stars, there will be a great many left. And, besides,
they may have trouble in finding suitable grounds to play on."

"But they will," declared McRae. "They've got the refusal of first-class
locations in every big city of the major league. I tell you, there's
brains behind this new league and that's what's worrying me. I don't know
whether it's Fleming----"

"No," interrupted Joe, smiling contemptuously, as he thought of the
dissipated young fellow whom he had thrashed so soundly. "It isn't
Fleming. He's got money enough, but there's a vacuum where his brains
ought to be."

"Then it's his partners," deduced McRae. "And their brains with his money
make a strong combination."

"Well," comforted Joe, "there's one good thing about this trip, anyway.
You've got the Giants out of reach of their schemes."

McRae looked around to see if anyone were within earshot, and then leaned
over toward Joe.

"Don't fool yourself," he said earnestly. "I'm afraid right now there are
traitors in the camp!"

CHAPTER XIV

A WEIRD GAME

Baseball Joe was startled and showed it plainly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, as his mind ran over the names of his
team-mates.

"Just what I say," replied McRae. "I tell you, Joe, somebody's getting in
his fine work with our boys and I know it."

"Where's your proof?" asked Joe. "I hate to think that any of our fellows
would welch on their contracts."

"So do I," returned McRae. "We've been like one big family, and I've
always tried to treat the boys right. I've got a rough tongue, as
everybody knows, and in a hot game I've called them down many a time when
they've made bonehead plays. But at the same time I've tried to be just,
and I've never given any of them the worst end of the deal. They've been
paid good money, and I've carried them along sometimes when other managers
would have let the