Page:Lefty o' the Bush.djvu/178

 of surprise at the call. "Have a chair." He put aside the pen, and turned his own chair from the desk.

"This unfortunate contention over you," Hutchinson said, "seems to be creating considerable disturbance. To say the least, it's annoying."

"I quite agree on that point," nodded the pitcher, "and it is far more annoying to me than it can possibly be to any one else."

"I should think it might be, although I wish to state that it has jarred me some. I'd like to know whether we have a good claim to you or not. Have you seen the Bancroft News this morning?"

"No."

"Here it is. You'll find something of interest concerning you here in the sporting department."

He handed over the newspaper, indicating the article mentioned, and sat down. Not once did he take his cold eyes off Locke's face as the latter read the piece pointed out.

The News has learned that a warm controversy is in progress over a certain remarkable young left-handed pitcher who has created a decided sensation by his phenomenal slabwork for one of Bancroft's strong rivals in the Northern League. The man in question is said to be a college pitcher who is playing under an assumed name, this discovery being made by our astute manager, Mr. Riley, who is certainly on the job every minute. To put one over on Michael Riley it is neces