Page:Lefty o' the Bush.djvu/120

 her side. She made an observation about the beautiful day, but his face wore a shadow, and it was of something quite different that he presently spoke.

"I hope, Janet," he said, "that you are not becoming interested in that man Locke?"

"Oh, but I am interested in him," she returned, laughing. "How can I help being? He is a wonderful pitcher, and he has shown that he can take care of himself when crowded into a corner. Every one who has seen him must be interested in him."

"You know what I mean, Janet. He is a professional ball player, a stranger, a man whom no one around here knows anything about."

"Oh, Mr. Cope must know a great deal about him, or he'd never signed him for the team. I'd really like to ask Mr. Cope some questions."

"Don't! If you do that, if you're not careful, you'll have people gossiping. You know how easy it is to start gossip in a small country town."

She tossed her head a bit. "Yes, I know; but if they want to gossip over nothing at all, I'll not attempt to deprive them of the pleasure."

"These baseball players," he went on, "always think they can mash any country girl they choose. I understand that they joke and boast of their conquests, and laugh about the silly girls who