"As for Iredell," went on McRae, "he hasn't his equal in playing short and in covering second as the pivot for a double play. And nobody has played the infield as Curry does since I've been manager of the team." "It would certainly break the Giants all up to lose the three of them," agreed Joe. "But we haven't lost them yet. Remember that the game isn't over till the last man is out in the ninth inning." "I know that. You've helped me win two fights this year, Joe, one for the championship of the league and the other for the championship of the world. Now I'm counting on you to help me win a third, perhaps the hardest of them all." "Put 'er there, Mac," said Joe, extending his hand. "Shake--I'm with you till the cows come home." "Of course, they'll be willing to put up big money, Joe. You know that already." "It doesn't make a particle of difference, Mac, how much money they put up," returned the crack pitcher warmly. "There isn't enough cash in the U. S. treasury to tempt me." "I know that, Joe. And I only wish that I could be as certain of the rest of the players." "Well, of course, I can't speak for the others. But you can be sure that I'll use my influence on the right side every time. Some of them may weaken and break away, but I doubt very much if they'll be any of your main-stays. If I were you, Mac, I wouldn't let this worry me too much." "Yes, I know it's getting on my nerves, Joe, because, you see, it means so much to me. But having you on my side has braced me up a good deal," went on the manager. They shook hands warmly, and McRae, evidently encouraged and braced by the talk with his star pitcher, made his way back to his own immediate party. The teams were slated to play in Salt Lake City and in Ogden. In both places they "cleaned up" easily, and it was not until a few days later when they reached the slope that they encountered opposition that made them exert themselves to win. At Bakersfield, with Jim in the box, the game went to eleven innings before it was finally placed to the credit of the Giants by a score of three to two. The 'Frisco team also put up a stiff fight for eight innings, but were overwhelmed by a storm of hits which rained from Giant bats in the ninth. The game with Oakland was the last on the schedule before the teams left for the Orient, and an enormous crowd was in attendance. Joe was in the box for the All-American team. He was in fine form, and held the home team down easily until the fifth inning, but the Oaklands also, undaunted by the reputation of their adversaries, and under the guidance of a manager who had formerly been a famous first baseman of the Chicago team, were also out to win if possible, and with first-class pitching and supported by errorless fielding, they held their redoubtable opponents on even terms.