Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/180

 "What about Mr. Holdney?"

"He too, has deserted me—turned against me, though I helped him in many schemes. I'm nothing but a tramp now, Joe."

The young pitcher looked at the wreck of the man before him. Truly he was "down and out." His once fine and well-dressed appearance had given place to a slouchy attire.

"But I must tell you, Joe. Your father's patent rights are again in danger. Rufus Holdney is going to try to get some valuable papers and models away from him. That's what he and I quarreled over. I'd do anything to spoil his plans, after he has thrown me off as he has. I left him, and since then I have had only bad luck. I don't know how I came to come here. I didn't know you were here. But warn your father, Joe, to look well after his new patents. Warn him before it is too late."

"I will," promised Joe, "I will. Thank you for telling me. Now we must look after you."

And indeed it was high time, for, as the young pitcher spoke Mr. Benjamin tottered and would have fallen had not our hero caught him.

"Quick, get a doctor!" cried Joe, as the crowd surged up again around the unfortunate man, who had fainted.