CHAPTER XIII
DANGER SIGNALS
The travelers were now in the most picturesque part of their journey, andthe magnificent views that spread before them as they topped the ridges ofthe continent and dropped down on the other side into the land of flowersand eternal summer were a source of unending interest and pleasure.
"I'll tell you what, Joe," remarked Jim: "I never had an idea that thissection of our country was so truly grand."
"It certainly is magnificent scenery," was Joe's answer. "Just look atthose mountain tops, will you? Some height there, believe me!"
"Yes. And just see the depth of some of those canyons, will you? Say! if afellow ever fell over into one of those, he'd never know what happened tohim."
"I've been watching this particular bit of scenery for some time,"remarked Joe. "It somehow had a familiar look to it, and now I know why."
"And why is it, Joe?"
"I'll tell you. Some time ago I saw a moving picture with the scene laidin the Rocky Mountains, and, unless I'm greatly mistaken, some of thescenes were taken right in this locality."
"Was that a photo-play called 'The Girl From Mountain Pass?'" questionedanother player who was present.
"It was."
"Then you're right, Matson; because I was speaking about that film to theconductor of this train, and he said that some of the pictures were takenright around here. His train was used in one of the scenes."
This matter was talked over for several minutes, but then the conversationchanged; and, presently, the chums went off to talk about other matters.
Joe and Jim were lounging in the rear of the observation car, talking overthe stirring events of the night before, when McRae happened along anddropped into a seat beside them.
"Some game that was yesterday, boys," he remarked genially. "Those Denverfellows were curly bears, but we trimmed them just the same."
"Yes," grinned Jim. "But we weren't comfortable while we were doing it."
"They sure did worry us," acquiesced Joe. "They made us know at least thatwe'd been in a fight."
"It was that ninth-inning work of yours that pulled us through, Joe,"declared McRae. "That stunt you pulled of whirling on your heel andshooting it over to third was a pretty bit of inside stuff. And therewasn't anything slow either about spearing that ball that Thompson hit."
"I'd have let the fielders take care of that," admitted Joe, "if therehadn't been so much at stake. My hand stung for an hour afterward. But I'dhave hated to let those fellows crow over us."
"That fellow, Alvarez, that Thorpe rang in on us was a sure-enoughpitcher," observed McRae. "I'd sign him up in a minute if it weren't forthat dark skin of his. But it wouldn't work. We had a second baseman likethat one time, and although he was a rattling good player it nearly brokeup the team. It's too bad that color should stand in the way of a man'sadvancement, but it can't be helped.
"By the way," he continued, drawing a paper from his pocket, "here'ssomething that may interest you. It's the official record of the NationalLeague of the pitching averages for this season. It made me feel good whenI read it and you'll see the reason why."
He handed them the paper, which they opened eagerly to the sporting page.
Joe's heart felt a thrill of satisfaction as he saw that his name stood atthe head of the list, and Jim, too, was elated, as he noted that althoughthis was his first year in a major league his name was among the firstfifteen--a rare distinction for a "rookie."
"Some class to the Giants, eh?" grinned McRae. "There's sixty names inthat list and no single team has as many in the first twelve as we have.That average of yours, Joe, of 1.53 earned runs per game is a hummer.Hughson is close on your heels with 1.56. The Rube, you see, is eighth inthe list with 1.95, and Jim's eleventh with 2.09. I tell you, boys, that'sclass, and to cap it all we won the pennant."
"Two pennants, you mean," corrected Jim with a smile.
"And neither one to be sneezed at," grinned Joe.
"We sure had a great season," observed McRae. "If we start next year withthe same team we ought to go through the league like a prairie fire. Ihave every reason to think that Hughson will be in tip-top shape when theseason opens, and if he is, there won't be any pitching staff that canhold a candle to ours. But----"
He paused uncertainly and looked at Joe as though he wanted to speak tohim privately. Jim saw the look and took the hint.
"I guess I'll go into the smoker and see what the rest of the fellows aredoing, if you'll excuse me," he said, rising and strolling back.
McRae greeted his departure with evident satisfaction.
"I'm glad to have a chance to talk to you alone, Joe," he said. "You're myright bower and I can talk to you more freely than to anyone else, exceptHughson. I don't mind telling you that this new league is worrying me alot."
"What is it?" asked Joe with quick interest. "Anything happened lately?"
"Plenty," replied McRae. "I've kidded myself with the idea that the thingwas going to peter out of its own accord. Every few seasons something ofthe kind crops up, but it usually comes to nothing. Usually the men whoput up the coin get scared when they see what a big proposition it isthey've tackled and back out. Sometimes, too, they go about it in such ablundering way that it's bound to fail from the start.
"But this time it's different. They've got barrels of money behind them,and they're spending it like water. There's one of them named Fleming,whose father is a millionaire many times over, and he seems to have moneyto burn. They certainly are making big offers to star players all over thecountry. You saw the way they came at you, and they're doing the same inother places. There isn't a paper that I pick up that doesn't give thename of some big player that they're tampering with. The last one I sawwas Altman of the Chicago White Sox. I guess though, that is a wrongsteer, for Altman has come out flat for his old team and denies anyintention of jumping his contract."
"Bully for Nick!" exclaimed Joe. "I guess I helped to queer that deal. Isaw Westland talking to him, and he seemed to have him going, but I put afew things straight to Nick and he seems to have come to his senses beforeit's too late."
"There's Munsey of the Cincinnatis, he's left his reservation," continuedMcRae. "He's the crack shortstop of the country. They've got a line out,too, for Wilson of the Bostons, and you know they don't make any betteroutfielders than he is. In fact, they're biting into the teams everywhere,and none of them know where they're at. If I'd known they were going at itso seriously, and hadn't got so far in my preparations for this trip, Ithink I wouldn't have gone on this world's tour. It looks to me as thoughthe major leagues would be backed up against the wall and fighting fortheir lives before this winter's over."
"It may not be as bad as you think," said Joe consolingly. "Even if theyget a lot of the stars, there will be a great many left. And, besides,they may have trouble in finding suitable grounds to play on."
"But they will," declared McRae. "They've got the refusal of first-classlocations in every big city of the major league. I tell you, there'sbrains behind this new league and that's what's worrying me. I don't knowwhether it's Fleming----"
"No," interrupted Joe, smiling contemptuously, as he thought of thedissipated young fellow whom he had thrashed so soundly. "It isn'tFleming. He's got money enough, but there's a vacuum where his brainsought to be."
"Then it's his partners," deduced McRae. "And their brains with his moneymake a strong combination."
"Well," comforted Joe, "there's one good thing about this trip, anyway.You've got the Giants out of reach of their schemes."
McRae looked around to see if anyone were within earshot, and then leanedover toward Joe.
"Don't fool yourself," he said earnestly. "I'm afraid right now there aretraitors in the camp!"