They returned, weary and discouraged. They had not found a trace of the missing boy. Scarcely had they reached their rooms than another call for Miss Tabor came, and a few minutes later Technicalities Feehan entered. "Mr. Feehan, what are you doing here?" both women exclaimed in chorus. "I'm searching for Mr. McCarthy," responded Feehan. "I reached the city shortly after five o'clock, and, having concluded my arrangements for finding Mr. McCarthy, it occurred to me that, having an evening of idleness, I might devote it to no better purpose than in escorting you ladies to some place of amusement." "To a theatre, with a tragedy like this happening to one of our boys!" exclaimed Miss Tabor indignantly. "Rest assured, Miss Tabor," he replied, "we can do nothing, and eventually Mr. McCarthy will be found." "How? Who is looking for him while we waste time?" she asked hotly. "My arrangements," he stated quietly, "did not include useless running around. I called upon our managing editor, laid the figures and conclusive data before him, and convinced him that, besides securing an excellent news story, he can serve the team and the ends of right and justice by seeking Mr. McCarthy." "Well, what did he do?" demanded Mrs. Clancy, sadly out of patience with his deliberate manner and rather flamboyant style of expression. "As a result of his interest in the matter," replied Technicalities, "eight of the most highly trained men of his staff--men who know the city better than anyone who lives in it does--are seeking Mr. McCarthy with orders to find him to-night." "How did to-day's game come out?" inquired Miss Tabor, relieved. "I almost forgot the game." "Our team was defeated, 8 to 6," replied Feehan quietly. "McCarthy's absence already has cost us one game, and I greatly fear that unless he plays to-morrow the Bears are defeated in the championship contest." "Glory be! I've dropped two more stitches!" said Mrs. Clancy. CHAPTER XXVIII _Williams Stands Exposed_ "Now here's a bally nice mess of figures," said Kennedy, holding half a dozen much-marked-upon sheets of writing paper in his inky fingers, and looking across the table at Swanson, Norton and Holleran. "What are you figuring, Ken?" asked Holleran. "I've been trying to figure out this pennant race," said Kennedy irritably. "Here we seem to be half a game ahead of the Panthers, and yet, just because it rained on them yesterday, and they didn't have to play but one game of their doubleheader, we've got to win two games to beat them out if they win their one game to-day." He handed across a sheet of paper upon which was written: W. L. P.C. Bears.......... 89 59 .600 Panthers....... 91 61 .599 "Well, ain't we ahead of them?" asked Swanson, studying the figures. "Yes, but look here. Supposing they win to-day and we win, we'll still be ahead. But supposing they win to-day and we win, and then we lose to-morrow. Look at this."