LEFTY O’ THE BLUE STOCKINGS [Illustration: THERE WAS A SHARP, CLEAN CRACK, AND THE HORSEHIDE WENT HUMMING INTO THE OUTFIELD.] LEFTY O’ THE BLUE STOCKINGS BY BURT L. STANDISH Author of “Lefty o’ the Bush,” “Lefty o’ the Big League,” “Lefty o’ the Training Camp.” _ILLUSTRATED_ GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Copyright, 1914, by GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc. _All Rights Reserved_ _Printed in the United States of America_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE UNLUCKY SEVENTH 11 II STOPPING A RALLY 19 III TIED IN THE EIGHTH 24 IV REAL PITCHING 33 V ONE FOR LEFTY 39 VI A SUMMONS FROM THE MANAGER 45 VII A GIRL AND THE GIRL 52 VIII AT THE THEATER 59 IX “IN BAD” 68 X THE GROUCH 78 XI ON THE RAW EDGE 85 XII UNCERTAINTY 90 XIII SUSPENSE 96 XIV A WILD HEAVE 102 XV THROWN AWAY 108 XVI HOT WORDS 113 XVII THE UNAPPROACHABLE LOCKE 120 XVIII UNDER A CLOUD 127 XIX THE STRANGER 136 XX THE RETIRED MANAGER 144 XXI BACK IN THE GAME 150 XXII BUILDING UP THE TEAM 155 XXIII THE MAN WHO DENIED HIMSELF 161 XXIV PERPLEXED 167 XXV STRANGER GETS A JOB 173 XXVI MIGHTY QUEER 179 XXVII DID HE REMEMBER? 184 XXVIII A NEW PITCHER 192 XXIX AT THE FIELD 199 XXX BASEBALL LUCK 206 XXXI PITCHERS’ WATERLOO 212 XXXII FILLING THE BREACH 218 XXXIII THE MAN ON THE MOUND 222 XXXIV THE OTHER PITCHER 227 XXXV THE STEAL HOME 233 XXXVI STRANGER IS ANNOYED 238 XXXVII THE DOCTOR’S DOUBTS 244 XXXVIII FIRST POSITION 249 XXXIX A TROUBLED MIND 256 XL THE REPORTER 262 XLI THE MAN WHO KNEW 266 XLII FAILURE 271 XLIII THE COME-BACK 274 XLIV BACK TO HIS OWN 280 XLV THE GIRLS IN THE BOX 287 XLVI THE GAME OF HIS LIFE 292