“What can be done?” she cried. “You must do something, Lefty! Your father and mother, at their age, turned out of their home! It is terrible! What can you do?”
Locke considered a moment. “If I had not invested the savings of my baseball career in Blue Stockings stock,” he said regretfully, “I’d have enough now to save their home for them.”
“But can’t you sell the stock?”
“Yes, for half what I paid for it–perhaps. That wouldn’t he enough. You’re right in saying I must do something, but what can I–” He stopped, staring at the other letter. He sat down, still staring at it, and Janet came and put her arm about him.
“Here’s something!” he exclaimed suddenly.
“What, dear?”
“This letter from Federal League headquarters, urging me to grab the offer the Feds have made me. Twenty-seven thousand dollars for three years, a certified check for the first year’s salary, and a thousand dollars bonus. That means that I can get ten thousand right in my hand by signing a Federal contract–more than enough to save my folks.”
Janet’s face beamed, and she clapped her hands. “I had forgotten about their offer! Why, you’re all right! It’s just the thing.”
“I wonder?”
She looked at him, and grew sober. “Oh, you don’t want to go to the Federals? You’re afraid they won’t last?”