But at last the time of parting came, and they faced it with sinking hearts but with brave smiles that showed what sports they were.
“And remember, Joe,” were Mabel’s last words to Joe, as she leaned from the window of the train, “to keep on your guard against those wicked men.”
“Don’t worry, honey,” replied Joe. “I still wear your glove against my heart. That’s my mascot.”
[CHAPTER X]
WONDERFUL WORK
The Western clubs had come and gone and now the Giants were engaged in a short series with the rest of the Eastern teams before themselves starting on an invasion of the West.
The Western clubs were decidedly the stronger half of the National League, and it was practically certain that one or the other of these would be the one that the Giants would have to beat if they again won the pennant.
And there was not one of them that did not have a “look in” for the flag. St. Louis, as has been said, was especially strong with the bat, and her sluggers were feared by every pitcher in the league. She had a strong pitching staff, too, none of them bright particular stars with the exception of Leadows, but well up to major-league standards.
Pittsburgh, too, was a team to be treated with respect. The boys from the Smoky City had been the runners-up in the previous season and during the winter they had secured some very promising material from the minor leagues. Their infield was a stone wall, and very little got by it. Their outfielders were batting well over the .300 mark, and one of them, Morey, the fleet-footed center fielder, was the leading base stealer of the league.