ed scarlet and stepping quickly back into position he
drove a straight fast ball at the batter. McCarthy was on his guard.
Drawing back slightly he allowed the ball to touch his shirt, and when
Williams, angrier than ever, hurled another fast one at him he stepped
back and drove it to left field for a clean hit.

As he hit the ball he heard Clancy call angrily to Williams to come off
the slab, and the pitcher, white with anger at the contempt the recruit
had shown for his pitching, sullenly obeyed.

"That fellow tried three times to bean you," said Swanson in low tones
as they walked to their positions after retiring runless in the first
inning.

"I know it," said McCarthy. "I coaxed him along. I think we can make
him pitch to-day by telling him that we don't think he can."

The plan was adopted. For two innings the shortstop and third baseman
harassed the pitcher.

Under the running fire of taunts, criticisms and sarcasm Williams
pitched harder and harder, furious at his teammates, and venting his
anger upon opposing batsmen.

"Say, you guys," remarked Kennedy on the bench after the fourth inning.
"Have some pity on me. You've got Adonis so mad he's smashing my mitt
with his speed. Better ease off on him or you'll have him in the air."

The Bears had accumulated two runs and seemed winning easily in the
fifth, when, before a runner was out, McCarthy, cutting across in front
of Swanson to scoop an easy-bounding ball, played it too carelessly,
fumbled and allowed the first batter to reach first base. The error
was common enough, but allowing the first batter to reach a base on an
easy chance was serious at that stage of the game. Williams turned
upon McCarthy and gave him a violent rebuke. McCarthy was not in a
position to respond. He saw that, in spite of his angry words,
Williams seemed pleased by the error. An instant later a drive whizzed
past him and then another screamed by him en route to left field. A
run was across the plate, runners on first and third and no one out.

"Trying to toss off this one?" demanded Swanson angrily. "You big
stiff, pitch ball."

The next batter sacrificed, and again Williams broke the ball low and
inside the plate to a right-handed hitter. The ball came like a shot
at McCarthy, who dived at it. It rolled away toward Swanson, who
recovered just in time to throw out the runner at first, but another
run had counted and the score was tied. Another hit screeched pas