"I hope we don't intrude," said Lefty, smiling on the startled owner of the Rockets. "Having learned from Weegman of this little business meeting, we decided to drop in. I'm very glad to see that you have arrived home in time, Mr. Collier." "Too late!" sighed the hopeless man at the desk. "Too late! You're just in time to witness the transference of the Blue Stockings to Garrity." "On the contrary," returned the southpaw easily, "we have come to purchase Mr. Garrity's Blue Stockings stock at the prevailing price. Likewise his interest in Northern Can." Garrity rose, his face purple with wrath. A tremendously explosive ejaculation burst from his lips. "What in blazes do you mean?" he roared. "Just what I have said," Locke answered calmly. "Since arriving in town I have made arrangements for this little business matter. I have opened an account with the New Market National by depositing a certified check for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which is more than enough to make the purchases mentioned. Mr. Collier's attorney will arrive in ten minutes or so to see that everything is done in a legal manner." "But you can't buy a dollar's worth of my holdings in either concern." "You may think so now. I'm sure you'll change your mind in a few moments. It is also reported that, for the good of the game, you'll get out of organized baseball. Have you brought a copy of the second edition of the _Morning Blade_ with you, Stillman? Show it to Mr. Garrity, please." The reporter drew a newspaper from his pocket, opened it, passed it to Garrity. One finger indicated a half-column article, with headlines. GARRITY TO GET OUT. WILL DISPOSE OF HIS INTERESTS IN THE ROCKETS AND ABANDON BASEBALL. HINTS OF A CONSPIRACY TO WRECK THE BLUE STOCKINGS. Garrity's eyes glared. His breath whistled through his nostrils. His wrath was volcanic. "Somebody'll pay for that!" he shouted, swinging his ponderous fist above his head like a sledge hammer. "What's it mean?" "It means," answered Stillman, "that more will follow, giving complete details of the conspiracy--unless you decide to quit baseball for the good of the game." "I'll institute a suit for libel!" "No, you won't. You won't dare. We've got the goods on you. Let me tell you how it happened." He did so with unrepressed satisfaction, and the man's air of bluster gradually evaporated as he listened. But he gave Weegman a murderous look. The door swung open again, and a sharp-faced little man entered briskly. "Here's Mr. Collier's attorney," said Lefty. "Now we can get down to real business." CHAPTER XXXVI THE TEST OF MYSTERIOUS JONES