a chance to fight."

"Any time you please," replied Williams, rather taken aback. "I think
you're yellow and won't dare fight."

He swaggered down the aisle, leaving McCarthy angry, helpless and
raging. He was boiling with inward anger when Swanson slid down into
the seat with him as the train entered the suburbs of the Pilgrim City.

"Smatter, Bo?" asked Swanson, quickly observing that something was
wrong. "I saw Williams talking with you. Has he been trying to bluff
you? Don't mind him. He has been as sore as a Charley horse ever
since you joined the team, and he won't overlook a chance to start
trouble."

"He has started it all right," replied McCarthy, savagely. "We're
going to fight to-night and I'll"----

"Steady, Bo, steady," warned Swanson, dropping his voice. "That's his
game, is it? He won't fight any one. He heard Clancy warn you not to
fight and he is trying to get you in bad. I know his way."

"I told him I'd fight," responded McCarthy, worriedly. "Now I'll have
to. I don't know anything I'd enjoy better."

"I'd like to second you and make you do it," responded the giant. "But
it would be playing into his hands if you punched him. Leave him to
me. I'll fix his clock."

Swanson's methods were all his own. The repairing of Williams's
timepiece took place in the big auto 'bus that carried the players from
the train to their hotel. Swanson, wise with long experience in such
matters, secured a seat across the 'bus from Williams, and when the
vehicle rolled onto smoother streets he addressed the pitcher.

"Hey, Adonis," he said in tones Manager Clancy could not fail to hear,
"trying to take out your grouch on Kohinoor, eh? You lay off him or
count me in on anything that comes off."

"That sneak been tattling and crying for help, eh?" sneered Williams.
"I wasn't going to hurt him."

"You're right, you're not," retorted Swanson. "He didn't tell me. I
saw you trying to start something with him, and I've seen you do it to
too many other kids not to know what you were up to."

"Who's talking fight?" demanded Clancy sharply, turning to scan the
players until his eyes rested upon Williams's flushed and angry face.

"Nobody is going to fight," said Swanson easily. "Adonis has been
trying to bully Kohinoor and stir him up. I guess he thought he could
put over his bluff because you told Kohinoor not to fight."

"Adonis, you cut that stuff out or I'll take a hand in it myself," said