“Bristol always did talk a lot with his mouth,” said Kennedy. “If he can’t win any other way, he’ll bluff out a victory.” It was the sore spot not yet healed which had caused Kennedy to avoid Bristol; for Jack, knowing old Hank would ask questions, was far from eager to furnish explanations regarding his sudden release by Collier. “Oh, well, do as you’re a mind to,” said McLaughlin, with pretended indifference. “I’ve done some personal favors for you. When we give you that banquet at the hotel last year――” Flushing, Kennedy interrupted. “If you’re going to put it up to me that way, Peter,” he said, “I’ll go out and watch the game to-day. Perhaps I can give your manager some tips that will help him.” In this manner it came about that Kennedy saw the struggle that afternoon between the Deers and the Buccaneers and warned the manager of the former team, in the midst of the game, that Bristol’s players had the signals of the locals and were, therefore, forewarned and prepared for every method of attack. This warning, however, was not sufficient to prevent the Buccaneers from winning. In the eighth inning they secured a lead of two runs through their disposition to take chances on the paths, and the failure of the Deering pitcher to hold the runners close to the cushions, and at the end of the ninth they were still one tally to the good, although outbatted and outfielded. With a supercilious, confident grin adorning his homely face, Bristol encountered Kennedy after the clash was over. “You see how easy it is out here in the bush, Ken, old hoss,” he chuckled. “It’s a reg’lar cinch to make a winning team if you’ve got any mater’al to work with. Before next week’s over we’ll be leadin’. I took it easy to-day. Saved my best pill slinger for the Stars to-morrow. Your poor little Deers are due to find a resting place in a deep, dark hole.” “Don’t call them _my_ Deers, Hank,” remonstrated Kennedy. “I ain’t got nothing to do with them. If I had――” “It would be just the same, Jack, old boy. You had a streak with the Blue Stockings, I own up; but it was broke before they put Carson in your place. I reckon you lost your rabbit’s foot. If I’d ever had your chance――” “You’ve had chances enough in your day,” cut in Kennedy a trifle warmly. “I was about ready to quit baseball, anyhow; that’s why I bought my farm here.” “Oh, you was always a clever gink holding on to the dollars and salting ’em away,” returned Bristol. In truth, he was jealous of Kennedy’s success, although he endeavored to disguise the fact beneath a joshing exterior. Such joshing, however, was not calculated to please. “Let me tell you something, Hank,” said Kennedy. “If the manager of this Deering bunch knew his business he could eat you up. It wasn’t much of a trick to swipe such a simple code of signals, and any sort of runners could steal on a pitcher with a movement like Corey’s. Don’t get so chesty.”