yway, when we get to the hotel,"
replied the manager.

But McCarthy did not show up, nor was there any telegram from him
awaiting when the team reached their hotel.

CHAPTER XXVI

_Baldwin Shows His Hand_

"There's a swarm of reporters down in the lobby all excited over
McCarthy," announced Swanson as, in obedience to orders, he, with
Kennedy, Norton and Technicalities Feehan, gathered in Clancy's room
soon after breakfast.

"Let them wait," replied Clancy. "They've been calling up here every
five minutes."

Briefly each of the players recounted the little they had seen or heard
during the preceding evening, Swanson giving his account of his
engagement with McCarthy, his telephone conversation with Miss Baldwin,
of her evident sincerity when she informed him as to McCarthy's
departure from the house and of his vain wait.

"But what could have happened?" asked Kennedy. "You're sure he got out
of the house? It's only two blocks to the street car line and three to
the elevated on lighted streets, you say. If he was hit by an
automobile or held up by robbers it would have been in the newspapers."

"Manager Clancy," said Feehan softly from his perch upon a trunk, which
gave him the aspect of a huge owl, "I have been giving consideration to
a plan. Unless Mr. McCarthy should arrive on the 11.45 train I shall
catch the noonday express for home, arriving there shortly after five,
to put my plan into effect."

"But you cannot neglect your work, Feehan," protested the manager.
"It's fine of you to offer it, but you've got yourself to think of."

"I have a premonition," responded the reporter solemnly, "or what Mr.
Swanson so graphically expresses as a 'hunch,' that the story at the
other end is bigger than the story of the contest. Besides, Mr.
Hardner has kindly consented to report the game of to-day for my paper
as well as his own."

"What's your theory, Technicalities?" asked Clancy gratefully.

"Only one of two things are probable," explained Feehan. "Either
McCarthy left of his own accord or because of threats made to him or
else he has been kidnapped by certain--ah--interests, let us say,
desirous of preventing the Bears from winning the championship emblem."

"Ah, Kohinoor wouldn't quit, and they couldn't scare him," growled
Swanson.

"Precisely, Mr. Swanson. The statistics prove beyond doubt that he is
not concerned in the losing of games, putting aside the fact that the
young man undoubte