“Nevertheless, prejudice exists in the minds of many old-fashioned persons, such as Phil Hazelton’s father must be. To them, playing baseball is a great deal like taking part in a circus performance. They can’t see that it has become an honorable, legitimate, recognized profession, followed by hundreds upon hundreds of clean, honest young men. You understand why I doubt this being a genuine case of loss of identity? I believe Hazelton is trying to hide himself under an assumed name and personality.” Old Jack shook his head. “He ain’t no fool, doctor; he can’t help knowing that I know him and you know him. Elgin knows him, too. If he was a simple-minded idiot, he might continue to try to keep up the bluff. I tell you, that boy has gone wrong in his garret, and something ought to be done for him. I don’t know just how to do it.” “Well, now, look here,” said the doctor; “I’m coming over to Deering in a day or two, Kennedy. In the meantime, I want you to try to trip Hazelton. Lead him into some sort of a give-away, an admission, then nail him. Tell him it isn’t any use to stick to the bluff.” “And have him get red-headed and tell me to go straight to――well, you know where.” “Never mind that.” “But I do mind. With him pitching for the Deers, we can put ourselves into first place in two weeks’ time. I know just what he can do. Talk about John Coombs, the iron man, or ‘Cy’ Young in his palmy days――why, Lefty Locke is as good as either of them. He can pitch three days running, if necessary; and two or three games a week, with a day between each, is like loafing for him, especially in this bush league. Oh, I don’t want him to quit me!” “I don’t blame you,” said Hetner, laughing; “but I don’t believe he’ll quit. Yet, if he belongs to the Blue Stockings, and they’re in need of him――” Kennedy growled. “Then it’s up to me, if I’m decent, to let ’em know where they can find him. No matter how I feel about the way I was treated, it’s up to me just the same.” “Still,” said the physician, “if the man isn’t right in his head, it would be wrong for him to go on pitching baseball without any treatment whatever.” “Treatment?” said Kennedy. “Does treatment always cure ’em?” “Sometimes it won’t do a blessed bit of good. Nothing cures them but a long rest, and, perhaps, a sudden accidental occurrence which flashes back into their brain the realization of their true identity. Sometimes a situation may be successfully planned to bring this about; more often the most skillful planning results in absolute failure. But remember, I haven’t stated that Hazelton is a victim of such a delusion.” “We’ll find out whether he is or not, doctor,” said the old manager, rising. “If he’s fooling, I’ll catch him at it. I’ll let you know right away if I trip him somehow. So long, doc.”