"I own some Blue Stockings stock, so you see I have a financial, as well as a sentimental, interest in the club. I'm going to fight hard to prevent it from being wrecked. As long as it can stay in the first division it will continue to be a money-maker, but already the impression has become current that the team is riddled, and the stock has slumped. There are evil forces at work. I don't know the exact purpose these forces are aiming at, but I'm a pretty good guesser. The property is mighty valuable for some people to get hold of if they can get it cheap enough." "They're even saying that you're extremely to the bad. What do you think about it yourself, Lefty?" Locke flushed. "Time will answer that." "You look like a fighter," said Wiley. "I wish you luck." "But what do you say to my proposition? Give me a flat answer." "Five hundred dollars!" murmured the Marine Marvel, licking his lips. "I'm wabbling on the top rail of the fence." "Fall one way or the other." Heaving a sigh, the sailor rose to his feet, and gave his trousers a hitch. "Let's interview Jones," he proposed. CHAPTER XIII THE PERPLEXING QUESTION The following morning Lefty Locke received two letters. One was from the Federal League headquarters in Chicago, urging him to accept the offer of the manager who had made such a tempting proposal to him. The position, it stated, was still his for the taking, and he was pressed to wire agreement to the terms proposed. The other letter was from Locke's father, a clergyman residing in a small New Jersey town. The contents proved disturbing. The Reverend Mr. Hazelton's savings of a lifetime had been invested in a building and loan association, and the association had failed disastrously. Practically everything the clergyman possessed in the world would be swept away; it seemed likely that he would lose his home. Lefty's face grew pale and grim as he read this letter. He went directly to his wife and told her. Janet was distressed. "What can be done?" she cried. "You must do something, Lefty! Your father and mother, at their age, turned out of their home! It is terrible! What can you do?" Locke considered a moment. "If I had not invested the savings of my baseball career in Blue Stockings stock," he said regretfully, "I'd have enough now to save their home for them." "But can't you sell the stock?" "Yes, for half what I paid for it--perhaps. That wouldn't he enough. You're right in saying I must do something, but what can I--" He stopped, staring at the other letter. He sat down, still staring at it, and Janet came and put her arm about him. "Here's something!" he exclaimed suddenly. "What, dear?"