with me?"

Baldwin entered the room pompously, and walked toward the Bears'
manager with his pudgy hand extended.

"Ah, Clancy," he said patronizingly. "I'm Mr. Baldwin. I've seen you
often on the field, but never had the occasion to meet you before."

"Yes," replied Clancy, ignoring the hand, "I've heard of you often,
Baldwin, in various connections. You wanted to see me?"

"Yes; matter of business," said the big man. "Fact is, Clancy, I ran
over from home purposely to have a little confidential talk with you."

"Depends upon what it is whether it's confidential or not," said
Clancy; "I can't pledge myself not to tell the newspaper boys,
especially if you've come to give me a third baseman."

"Hasn't McCarthy shown up?" inquired the politician quickly.

"No," responded Clancy coldly. "Didn't happen to see him over in town,
did you?"

"No, no. Fact is, Clancy, I never have paid much attention to my ball
players."

"Your ball players?" It was Clancy's turn to be astonished.

"Yes, yes; Clancy, I supposed you knew. I've owned the controlling
interest in the Bears for a number of years. That's what I came to see
you about."

"You own the Bears?" Clancy's tone was between surprise and disbelief.

"Certainly, certainly. Now, I haven't taken any active interest in
them for several reasons until lately. Truth is things aren't going to
suit me, and I have decided to take a hand myself."

"You have?" asked Clancy. "Well, you may own this club, but I'm d----d
if you can run it while I'm manager."

"I'm not trying to run it, Clancy," replied the big man, unruffled.
"Don't fly off that way. I just decided to use the owner's prerogative
of consulting the manager."

"All right, Mr. Baldwin," replied Clancy, puzzled and mollified. "I
did not know--you see it's a new idea--I didn't even know you owned
stock."

Clancy was sparring for time in which to collect his thoughts, which
were sadly scattered by the unexpected developments.

"Thought you might not be convinced," said Baldwin easily, "so I
brought the documents along. Look over them and be convinced I own the
club. They cost me a pretty neat pile, but I'm satisfied. You've made
'em pay me."

He tossed over the book of stock certificates, and Clancy, who owned a
few shares of stock himself, realized their genuineness as he looked
through them while planning his next move.

"I congratulate you," he said, handing back the forms. "I own a co