“Do a man a favor and he’ll never forgive you,” quoted Joe.
“Where did he get his grouch against you?” asked Hughson, curiously.
“Search me,” replied Joe. “I think it dates from the time when he was batted out of the box and Mac sent me in to take his place. I won the game and Bugs has been sore at me ever since. He figured that I tried to show him up.”
“I wonder how he got here?” mused Hughson. “The last time I saw him was in New York, and the money I lent him wasn’t enough to bring him on.”
“Perhaps Mac gave him transportation,” suggested Jim. 78
“Not on your life,” rejoined Hughson. “Mac’s got a heart as big as a house, but he hates a traitor. You see, though, Joe, I was right in giving you the tip. Keep your eyes open, old man.”
Joe was about to make a laughing reply, but just at that moment Larry and Denton came along with broad smiles of welcome on their faces, and the unpleasant episode was forgotten.
It was a jolly party that left Chicago the next morning for the trip around the world. The managers had chartered a special train which was made up wholly of Pullman sleepers, a dining car and a smoker.
It was travel de luxe, and the sumptuous train was to be their home for the full month that would elapse before they reached the coast.
“Rather soft, eh, for the poor baseball slaves,” grinned Jim, as he stretched out his long legs luxuriously and gazed out of the window at the flying telegraph poles.