citing events of the day.

"Betty," said Manager Clancy, looking up, "if you and Ellen are ever
going to get ready you'll have to start."

"I'm ready now, Mr. Clancy," the girl responded brightly, lifting her
head until she revealed the perfect curve of her firm chin, and smiled,
"I left Mother Clancy in the rooms sewing on some buttons. She will be
ready soon."

At that moment a slender youth, easy in movement, almost graceful in
his confident carriage, entered the hotel lobby. Something in his
bearing gave evidence that he was accustomed to association with
persons of refinement. His closely cropped, curling hair, sandy to the
point of redness, attracted attention to his well-formed head, set well
upon a pair of shoulders so wide as to give him the appearance of
strength, in spite of the slenderness of his waist and the lightness of
his body. His face was freckled and the uplift of his nose added to
the friendly impression created by his blue eyes. His clothes were
almost threadbare and his shoes were worn, but his linen was clean and
his appearance neat. The youth hesitated, glancing from group to group
of the players, as if trying to decide which one to approach.

"Silent" Swanson, the giant shortstop, who had earned his nickname
because he was the noisiest player on the field, was standing talking
with "Noisy" Norton, the second baseman, so called because he seldom
spoke either on or off the field, and Adonis Williams, the star
left-handed pitcher of the team. The newcomer's eyes fell upon this
group, and his face lighted as he observed that Williams's hair was
only a shade darker than his own. As if deciding quickly, he walked
toward the group.

"You are Williams, are you not?" he inquired easily, smiling in a
friendly manner.

"That's my name, but most people add a mister to it," responded
Williams sneeringly.

The red-headed youth flushed and the smile died out of his eyes.

"I beg pardon, Mister Williams," he said, quietly; "I was seeking
Manager Clancy. Perhaps you can tell me where to find him?"

"It isn't very hard to find Clancy," responded Williams. "We can't
lose him."

"Perhaps you would be so kind as to point him out to me. I never have
had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Clancy."

Neither of them had observed that Swanson and Norton had drawn aside to
permit the girl who had been in the writing room to pass on her way to
the elevator. Evidently she overheard the youth's inquiry, f