"Maybe so. But then there's that note. They didn't have any idea of doing me a good turn. That was almost a forgery."
"The trouble is we can't prove it, though. I think the only thing I can do is to let it go, and be more careful in the future."
"Well, maybe it is," agreed Rad slowly. "But what do you think was their object?"
"I haven't the least idea," replied Joe. "That is, the only thing I can imagine is that Shalleg wanted to scare me; or, perhaps, threaten me for what he imagines I have done to him."
"And that is?" questioned Rad.
"That I've been spreading false reports about him to our manager, in order to keep him off the team. As a matter of fact, I don't believe I have ever mentioned him to Mr. Watson. It's all imagination on Shalleg's part."
"What condition was he in to-night?" asked Rad, as he and Joe were on their way to the hotel after the play.
"As far as I could judge, he was about as he has been most of the time lately—scarcely sober. That, and his gambling and irregular living, took him off the team, you know."
"And he thinks, with that record behind him, that he can get on the Cardinals!" exclaimed Rad. "He's crazy!"
"He's dangerous, too," added Joe. "I'm going to be more careful after this."