AS LIG

ant the crowd sat

t instant

nzied shouter, his fist shot out, and the

eared the orchestra rail at a bound, a

ward the aisles. Women screamed, some fainted,

Joe's voice rang o

ed. "There's no danger. I t

earfully, and Joe took instant

you there's no danger. Haven't yo

gan to quiet down, regaining their courage at th

ng the crowd Jim had rushed into the wing and dragged down some draperies that had caugh

e signaled to the leader to strike up a tune. The next instant the musicians swung i

y be well for the sake of those who have not read the preceding books of

l there that he soon became known in the towns around as one of the best players in the county. 14 He had many mishaps and difficulties, a

to down him, but found that he had made a mistake in picking out his victim. Joe's natural skill and constant practice enabled him to wi

hard to keep a squirrel on the ground" was never better exemplified than in his case. There came a time when the Yale "Bulldog" was hard beset by the Princeton "Tiger," and Joe was called on to twist

right and keen in his studies and had no difficulty in standing up 15 well in his

ssion, did not feel that his life work lay in that direction. He had been so successful in athletic sports and took

entering the professional ranks. But Joe was able to show her that scores of college men were doin

he great players have been developed in that way, and Joe determined to make it a stepping stone to something higher. How he speedily rose to leadership among t

ational League drafted him into their ranks and took him away from the "bushes." Now he felt that he was really on the highway

his dream would come true. He promised himself that he would "pitch his head off" to justify the confidence that McRae, the Giants' manager, had put in him. How he came through an exciting seaso

game. Joe had fearful odds to contend against since an accident to Hughson, the Giants' standby, put the bulk of the pitching burden on our hero's shoulders. 17 Unscrupulous enemies also sought by foul means to keep h

nceton man and second-string pitcher on the Giants, had come with him, not so much, it is to be suspected, because of his fondness for

ition. The leader obeyed, and at the end of this second playing the danger was entirely over. The audience was seated, with the exceptio

he was the most modest of men and hated to pose as a hero. He was wondering what he should say or 18 do, when Altman solved the pro

Matson?" someone shout

ght!" came b

all r

e Matson! B

ers and now were more proud of him than they had ever been, even when he returned to Riverside crowned with the laurels of his last great season.

, and the looks they turned on Joe were a great

oo highly keyed by the great peril that had been escaped. And they had a more dramatic s

d lost track of the friends or relatives that had b

e is

at became of my

say, Bill! Wh

n would rush into each other's arms, crying

as stopped so quickly," remarked one man to another,

, a tall, well-dressed man steppe

id effusively. "That was a splendid thing yo

exaggerate it,

ame to town with the express purpose of seeing you on a business matter. But I didn't

om his pocket and

ing at the hotel, and I would be glad to see you there or at

w morning," said Joe. "It's only abou

land, with an ingratiating smile. "Everybody in Riverside know

arted, while Joe and the

nts of you, Joe?" asked Cl

carelessly. "Some reporter probably who

put in Jim. "Great Scott! Joe, if that had happened in New York

oud of you," sighed

orth having!" excla

t Joe was a brother-in-law worth h

hed the house when C

e joke?" i

the harder until they b

r what tune it was the orchestra played. I suppose it was the first thing the leader

ir brains, but co

s it?" a

ot Time in the Ol