“Thanks for the tip,” replied Joe. “But ‘threatened men live long’ and I guess I’m no exception to the rule!”
CHAPTER IX
THE UNDER DOG
“Talking of angels!” exclaimed Jim, giving Joe a sharp nudge in the ribs.
Joe looked up quickly and saw Hartley coming down the corridor.
“It’s ‘Bugs,’ sure enough,” he said. “And, for a wonder, he’s walking straight.”
“Guess he’s on his good behavior,” remarked Hughson. “There’s a big meeting of the American League here just now, winding up the affairs of the league, now that the playing season is over. Maybe Hartley thinks he has a chance to catch on somewhere. Like everybody else that’s played in the big leagues, he hates to go back to the bushes. He’d be a find, too, if he’d only cut out the booze—there’s lots of good baseball in him yet.”
“He’s a natural player,” said Joe, generously. “And one of the best pitchers I ever saw. You know how Mac tried to hold on to him.”