E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Roger Frank, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.fadedpage.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 34100-h.htm or 34100-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/34100/pg34100-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/34100/34100-h.zip) LEFTY LOCKE PITCHER-MANAGER by BURT L. STANDISH Author of "Lefty o' the Bush," "Lefty o' the Big League," "Lefty o' the Blue Stockings," "Brick King, Backstop," "The Making of a Big Leaguer," etc. Illustrated by Charles L. Wrenn [Illustration: Lefty had sprained his ankle so seriously that he required assistance to walk from the field. (_See Page 103_)] Publishers Barse & Co. New York, N. Y.--Newark, N. J. Copyright, 1916 By Barse & Co. LEFTY LOCKE, PITCHER-MANAGER Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I An Unexpected Offer 11 II Something Queer 20 III The Federal Policy 28 IV The Magnetized Ball 37 V A Man of Mystery 48 VI Peculiar Behavior 56 VII The Test 64 VIII At Necessity's Demand 72 IX Torturing Doubt 79 X The Only Door 86 XI Burning Speed 93 XII Too Much Temptation 103 XIII The Perplexing Question 113 XIV Only One Way 120 XV Signing the Manager 132 XVI The Wrong Stool Pigeon 139 XVII Getting into Action 146 XVIII The First Deal 155 XIX A Fleeting Glimpse 165 XX A Riddle to Solve 175 XXI The Man Ahead 180 XXII A Doubtful Victory 186 XXIII All Wrong 194 XXIV Wheels Within Wheels 202 XXV Hidden Tracks 210 XXVI Not Much Show 219 XXVII The Suspended Ax 226 XXVIII The Gage of War 233