"The fact is," continued Braxton, "that Matson's in a class by himself. He's the big cog in the Giant machinery. It's a pity they don't appreciate him more." "Why, they do appreciate him!" cried Mabel, her eyes opening wide with wonder. "Mr. McRae thinks nothing's too good for him." "Nothing's too good except money," suggested Braxton. "They give him plenty of that, too," put in Mabel, loyally. "He gets a ripping salary, don't you know," put in Reggie. "And he almost doubled it in this last World's Series." "A man's worth what he can get," returned Braxton. "Now, of course, I don't know and perhaps it might be an impertinence for me even to guess what his salary is, but I should say that it isn't a bit more than ten thousand a year." "Oh, it isn't anything like that," said Reggie, a little chop fallen. Braxton raised his eyebrows in apparent surprise. "I didn't think the Giants were so niggardly," he remarked, with a touch of contempt. "It's simply robbery for them to hold his services at such a figure. Mr. Matson could demand vastly more than that." "Where?" asked Reggie. "He's under contract with the Giants and they wouldn't let him go to any other club." "Why doesn't he go without asking leave?" asked Braxton. "But no other club in the big leagues would take him if he broke his contract with the Giants," said Mabel, a little bewildered. "I've heard there was a new league forming," said Braxton, carelessly. "Let's see, what is it they call it? The All-Star League. There would be no trouble with Matson's getting an engagement with them. They'd welcome him with open arms." "They've already tried to get him," cried Mabel, proudly. "Is that so? I suppose they made him a pretty good offer. I've heard they're doing things on a big scale." "It was a wonderful offer," said Mabel. "It certainly was, 'pon honor," chimed in Reggie. "Would it be indiscreet to ask the amount?" said Braxton. "I don't think there's any bally secret 'bout it," complied Reggie. "They offered him twenty thousand dollars to sign a contract and fifteen thousand dollars a year for a three years' term. Many a bank or railroad president doesn't get that much, don't you know." "And Matson refused it?" asked Braxton, incredulously. "How could he help it?" replied Mabel. "His contract with the Giants has two years yet to run." "My dear young lady," said Braxton, "don't you know that a baseball contract isn't as binding as the ordinary kind? In the first place, it's one-sided, and that itself makes it worthless." "In what way is it so one-sided?" asked Mabel. "Well, just to take one instance," replied Braxton. "A baseball club may engage a man for a year and yet if it gets tired of its bargain, it can let him go on ten days' notice. That doesn't seem fair, does it?" "No-o, it doesn't," admitted Mabel slowly.