“Hello, Jack,” returned Digg, with equal cordiality. “I’m glad to see you, but I never expected it would be managing a bunch of bushers.” “Oh, this is just a little matter of sport,” explained Kennedy. “I’m out of the game, you know. I’m a farmer now. But it happened that they had a team here in this burg that was getting walloped because of bad management, and my friends in town drafted me into service. I want you to come out with me to the farm to-night, and we’ll have a little chat.” They did have a chat that night after supper on Kennedy’s veranda. In his bluff, open way, which seldom caused offense or produced resentment, the manager came to the point without beating around the bush. “Joe,” he said, “you ought to be drawing a fancy salary to-day in the Big League, and it’s your own fault that you ain’t.” “Tell me something I don’t know,” returned Digg, flushing. “Booze has downed many a good man besides yourself. Are you going to let it keep you down?” “I dunno. Seems like I’m such a thunderin’ fool that I can’t help it.” “Rot! You can help it. Keep away from jag hunters and you’ll be all right. As I said, I’m out of Big League baseball for good, but I reckon my judgment and my influence would count for something with a number of managers who are still in the game. If I should say to one of them that I had a player who ought to be given a trial, that man would get a show, even if he had been canned after one fizzle. You get me?” “I get you, Jack,” nodded Digg, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. “If you can work me back into the game you’ll do me a turn I’ll never forget.” “But you know I wouldn’t try such a thing unless I was satisfied that you had really turned over a new leaf and meant to cut drink out for good and all. You’ve got to show me, Joe.” “It’s a go!” exclaimed Digg. “If you ever catch me drinking anything stronger than water, put the tag on me.” In the first two games in which Digg played third for the Deers he accepted eleven chances, three of them of the most sensational order, without an error, and batted .400. CHAPTER XXIII THE MAN WHO DENIED HIMSELF His pitching staff gave Kennedy the most trouble. No matter how efficient a team may be in other departments, it cannot aspire to championship honors unless it has a capable staff of twirlers. Curley, Sullivan, and Heines, the three mound men for the Deers, each and all had some weakness which was a drawback.