CHAPTER XVIII _Two Missing Men_ The disappearance of Silent Swanson and Ben Kennedy brought consternation to the ranks of the Bears, consternation that increased as the hour for starting the first game of the series against the Jackrabbits drew near. McCarthy, returning to the rooms after his surprising interview with Helen Baldwin, was determined to tell his chum all that had taken place and to explain as well as was possible the position in which he found himself. He planned to urge Swanson to go with him to Clancy, and for that reason he postponed taking the manager into his confidence. He hastened downstairs to breakfast, half expecting to find his chum waiting for him in the dining room with an account of the night's events. He finished breakfast in a troubled state of mind, and, after wandering around the lobby for nearly an hour in the vain hope that Swanson would appear, he encountered Noisy Norton, who appeared disturbed and distressed. "Say," said Norton, "seen Kennedy?" "No--seen Swanson?" "They went out together," said Norton, with an unusual burst of conversation. "Didn't Kennedy come home either?" asked McCarthy in fresh alarm. "No." They sat silent for some time, then Noisy said: "Something wrong." "What'll we do?" asked McCarthy anxiously. "Tell Clancy," said Norton, with an effort. They ascended the elevator together and rapped at Clancy's door. "Mr. Clancy," said McCarthy, when the manager had bade them enter, "I ought to have come to you before. Swanson and Kennedy are missing. They didn't come in last night--and we're worried." "Where were they?" demanded the manager quickly. "I was going with Swanson on an errand last night," said McCarthy. "We were working on that matter that caused trouble the other day. Then I had a telephone call and went to see a--a friend of mine. Swanson said he'd take Kennedy with him. They left the hotel together, Norton tells me, and they haven't come home." "Either of them drinking?" asked Clancy sharply. "Beer--sometimes--not often," said Norton. "Swanson hasn't been drinking at all," declared McCarthy. "Neither of them would go off on a tear at this stage of the game." "You're right, Kohinoor," said Clancy worriedly. "It's something else. They'll show up, all right. Thank you for telling me, boys, and don't say anything about it." In spite of their silence, however, the rumor that the star catcher and the shortstop were missing spread through the team. By noon the players were openly discussing the whereabouts of the two players. Clancy showed his anxiety. "Can't you tell me where they were going, Kohinoor?" he asked. "I don't want to press you to reveal anything you don't want to, but I'm afraid those boys are in trouble." "I haven't any idea where they were going," replied McCarthy. "I know that they were watching a certain fellow, and that a gambler named Edwards was mixed up in it."