The latter was posted more than a month ago. It stated that Virginia and her father were leaving Eaux Chaudes for Italy. Since then no letters have come from her."

"Do you mean to say you haven't an idea where Miss Collier and her father are at the present time?"

Parlmee lighted a cigarette. His hands were not steady. "I haven't an idea where Charles Collier is. As for Virginia, she cabled me that she was sailing on the _Victoria_, which reached New York four days ago. I was at the pier to meet her, but she didn't arrive, and her name was not on the pa.s.senger list."

Lefty uttered an exclamation. "That was strange!"

The other man turned on the settee to face him. "The whole thing has been queer. I had practically overcome Mr. Collier's prejudice and won his entire approval. Then he broke down; his health went to the bad, and his manner toward me seemed to change. I had an idea he went abroad more to take Virginia away than for any other reason. Anyway, I knew there was something wrong, and the two letters I got from her added to that conviction. Her father was trying to get her to break with me! There was another man whom he preferred."

"Another!"

"Yes, Bailey Weegman."

Locke gave a great start, as if he had received an electric thrust.

"Weegman!" he cried guardedly. "That scoundrel! Collier is crazy, Parlmee!"

"Now you've said something! I believe the man's mind is affected.

Business reverses may have done it."

"Do you know that he left his baseball interests practically in the control of Weegman?"

"No; but it doesn't surprise me. In some way, that scoundrel has got a hold on him. Weegman has tried hard to undermine me with Virginia. I've always disliked him and his detestable laugh. Who is he, anyway? Where did he come from, and what are his antecedents?"

"You'll have to ask somebody else."

"It's Virginia I'm worrying about now," said Parlmee, tossing aside his half-smoked cigarette.

"But if she was contemplating sailing for the United States with her father--"

"Her cablegram to me didn't mention her father. I got the impression that she was sailing alone."

"Alone! Great Scott!"

"And she didn't sail! Where is she? What happened to her? Do you wonder I'm rattled? I've made arrangements so that I can have a month, if necessary, to dig into this business. If that isn't enough, I'll take all the time needed. It's the deuce to pay, Locke, as sure as you're a foot high."

"In more ways than one," agreed Lefty. "I could tell you some other things, but you've got enough to worry about. We must arrange to keep in touch with each other. I presume I'll go back to Fernandon when I get through here."

"Here's my New York address," said Parlmee, handing over his card, and rising.

Five minutes after they separated old Jack Kennedy arrived, dusty and weary from his railroad journey. His shoulders were a trifle stooped, and he looked older by years, but his keen eyes lighted with a twinkle as he grasped Locke's hand.

"I knew you'd beat me to it, Lefty," he said. "Wouldn't have called on you to make the jaunt, but I had to chin with you face to face. Let's talk first and feed our faces afterward."

The veteran registered, and they took the elevator. Carrying Kennedy's traveling bag, a boy conducted them. A bar boy, bearing a tray that was decorated with drinks, was knocking on a door. Within the room somebody called for him to enter, and he did so as Locke was pa.s.sing at old Jack's heels. By chance Lefty obtained a glimpse of the interior of that room before the door closed behind the boy. Two men, smoking cigars, were sitting at opposite sides of a table on which were empty gla.s.ses. They were Mit Skullen and Bailey Weegman.

Left together in Kennedy's room, Locke told the old manager what he had seen, and immediately Kennedy's face was twisted into a wrathful pucker.

"You're sure?"

"Dead sure," replied Locke.

"Well, it sorter confirms a little suspicion that's been creepin'

inter my noddle. The Blue Stockings are up against somethin' more'n the Feds, and the Feds have chewed the team to pieces. Within the last three days they've nailed Temple, Dayly, and Hyland. There's only the remnants of a ball club left."

Locke was aghast. "Gene Temple, too!" he cried. "The boy I found! I thought he would stick."

"Money gets the best of 'em. Why shouldn't it, when them lads ought to have been tied up before this with Blue Stockings contracts? The bars have been left down for the Feds, and they've raided the preserves.

Seems just like they've been invited to come in and help themselves.

Why not, with a team without a manager, and everything left at loose ends? Never heard of such criminal folly! But mebbe it ain't folly; mebbe it's plain cadougery. I've had an idea there was somethin'

crooked behind it, but couldn't just quite nose it out. Now, with Weegman and Mit Skullen gettin' together private, I see a light.

Garrity's the man! You know how he got his dirty paws on the Rockets.

Well, if he ain't workin' to gobble the Blue Stockings I'll eat my hat! I'll bet that right now Tom Garrity's gathered in all the loose stock of the club that he could buy, and he's countin' on havin'

enough to give him control before the season opens. He saw his chance, with the Feds reachin' for every decent player they could lay their hands on, and he went for it. What if the Blue Stockings do have a busted team this season? In three years the club might be built up again, and it's a sure money-maker just as long as it can keep in the first division. Lynchin' is what a crook like Garrity deserves!"

Kennedy's eyes were flashing, and he was literally quivering with wrath.

Despite the fact that he was tired, he strode up and down the room.

"Weegman must be Garrity's tool, the creature who is helping him do the dirty work," said Locke.

"You've got his number! How he came to pick you for a mark, I don't know, unless it was because he thought you let me work you to death, havin' no mind of your own. He knew he couldn't put anythin' over with me, and so he decided to get rid of me; but he had to have somebody for a manager who would appear to be all right. He's got to be blocked.

There's only one way."

"How?"

"You'll have to accept, and sign a contract to manage the team."

Lefty gasped. "But," he said, "I can't do that! You--"

"I'm out. He wouldn't have me, even if I'd do the work for no salary."

"But I can't agree to Weegman's terms. I couldn't do anything of my own accord; I couldn't sign a player unless he agreed. He made that plain."

"But he wouldn't dare put anything like that in the contract. It would be too barefaced. The minute you have the authority you can get to work savin' the remnants of the team by signin' up the players the Feds haven't grabbed already. I have a line on a few good youngsters who went back to the minors last year because there wasn't room for them. Put proof of Weegman's treachery before Collier, and Weegman's done for!

It's the one play that's got to be made in this here pinch."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" called Kennedy.

Bailey Weegman entered, smiling.

CHAPTER XV

SIGNING THE MANAGER