This seemed to be the opinion of those who had been near the Texan when the incident occurred, and much curiosity was expressed as to who could have been the perpetrator of the affair.
The general sentiment was that Schaeffer had been well repaid for his dirty work on the slab; but the more thoughtfully inclined, knowing Jim Brennan’s temperament, wondered what would happen if the manager ever found out who had done the spiking.
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE TELEGRAM
The days passed without the truth coming to light. At first Brennan set about systematically interviewing every man who had been on the field that day, but without avail. Having failed to arrive at the truth in this manner, and other and more important matters coming up to take his time, he seemed to drop the subject. Those who knew him, however, realized that it would always remain tucked away in some corner of his brain until he had finally solved the mystery.
The work of training proceeded rapidly and successfully to its conclusion as the end of March approached. Each afternoon the cubs fought out their losing battle with the regulars on the diamond. The latter were getting into splendid shape, and their opponents had almost forgotten what it felt like to win a game.
Nevertheless, they never gave up, or slackened their efforts, for the net was drawing closer and closer about them day by day. Every now and then a youngster would drop out of the race. He was not yet ready for the big game, and had either been sold by the manager, farmed out to a minor league, or released unconditionally.
Of the cub pitchers, only two remained, Locke and Elgin. They were both remarkably good in their way, and the other players were divided as to their relative merits. The almost universal conclusion was that Brennan would keep both with the organization unless something unexpected occurred to give him reason for changing his mind.
Lefty worked strenuously without a let-up. He knew his doubtful points almost as well as the manager himself, and strove with all his might to correct them.
Hard as the labor was physically, the southpaw found it anything but disagreeable. He was well liked by most of the regulars and a great many of the cubs. In Buck Fargo he found a real chum whom he came to admire and think better of every day. When the diminishing number of players made a readjustment of rooms at the hotel desirable, Locke accepted with alacrity the big backstop’s invitation to come in with him, an arrangement which proved pleasant and satisfactory.