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 *ers, and when I don't know it's my business t' find out. I was negotiatin' with this man Hazelton last December. I s'pose he used my offer to pry a bigger one outer you, which is just what the league rule coverin' the point was made to prevent. That rule was adopted so players couldn't work one manager agin' another; likewise, so one manager couldn't bother another by monkeyin' with players he was arter. We'll fix this up; Kingsbridge can transfer Hazelton to Bancroft."

"Hold on! Hold on!" sputtered Cope desperately. "I ain't said you was right; I ain't acknowledged Tom Locke's name is Hazelton."

"You don't have to," returned Riley; "I know it. You can send him down to us in the mornin'. Just to save argument, I'll pay him the same sal'ry you're payin', though I reckon it's more'n I offered him."

He made a move to depart.

"Hold on!" cried Cope again. "You'll never git him. We won't give him up."

"Oh, won't ye? Then you oughter know what'll happen. He won't be 'lowed to pitch ag'in, and the games he's pitched a'ready will be thrown outer the percentage count. You better think it over calm and reasonable, Cope. Good night."