fellow players, "that's all I want to know."

As they moved off in the direction of the West Farms subway station,
Golnik's resentment, which for the time had rendered him speechless,
gave way to profanity.

"So," he cried, choking with indignation, "I was acting like a loafer,
was I? And that's how I got hurted!"

Here he contorted his face and clapped his hand to his injured shoulder
in response to a slight twinge of pain; and for at least two minutes he
closed his eyes and gasped heavily in a manner that suggested the
agonies of death by the rack and thumbscrews.

"You will hear from me later, gentlemen," he said at last, "and from
Bogin also, which we wouldn't take no part of your sick benefit."

He fell back exhausted against the outstretched arm of a bearded
operator; and thus supported, he seized Bogin's elbow and started to
leave the lot, with the halting steps of Nathan the Wise in the last
act of that sterling drama, as performed by the principal tragedian of
the Canal Street Theatre.

"And you would see, Mr. Birsky," he concluded, "that we got plenty
witnesses, which if we wouldn't get from you and Mr. Eschenbach at the
very least two thousand dollars, understand me, there ain't no lawyers
worth the name in this city!"

Three minutes later there remained in Adelstern's lot only two of
Birsky & Zapp's employees--namely, the pitcher and the catcher of
Eschenbach's team; and they were snapping the ball back and forth in a
manner that caused Eschenbach's eyes to gleam with admiration.

"_Nu_, Mr. Eschenbach," Birsky croaked at last, "I guess we are up
against it for fair, because not only we would lose our designer and
shop foreman, y'understand, but them fellers would sue us sure."

Eschenbach waved his hands airily.

"My worries!" he said. "We would talk all about that to-morrow
afternoon in your store."

Again he seized the bat and swung it at a pebble.

"But, anyhow," he concluded, "there's still five of us left, Mr.
Birsky; so you and Zapp get out on right and left field and we'll see
what we can do."

He crossed over to the home plate and pounded the earth with the end of
his bat.

"All right, boys," he called. "Play ball!"

* * * * *

Louis Birsky limped wearily from the cutting room, where he had been
busy since seven o'clock exercising the functions of his absent
designer.

"Oo-ee!" he exclaimed as he reached the firm's office. "I am stiff li