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 could only scare us so we wouldn't dast use Locke for a while he'd have the laugh on us, whether he proved his case or not. He's full o' tricks as an egg's full o' meat."

"Well, until the matter is settled, I think we'd better use Locke as little as possible. I don't believe it would be advisable, under any circumstances, to run him into this game to-day."

"This game! I should say not! We've got other pitchers for games like this. We'll keep Locke special to down Bancroft. If we can't hold our own with the rest of the teams with the pitchers we've got, we'll git more pitchers."

The umpire was ready, and the game was on the verge of starting, so Hutchinson returned to the bench.

Despite his outward boldness, Henry Cope was troubled, for it began to seem that Riley really meant to press his claim, an action that would be foolish unless he could back it up with proof. The grocer sought Tom Locke, and drew him away from the bench.

The young man listened to Cope's words, frowning a little, the blood slowly mounting into his cheeks.

"They seem determined to make as much trouble for me as possible," he said. "I have a feel