Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“WE WANT MABEL!” 921 worst club in the big league, trying desper- §_ Being a courageous, intelligent and enter- ately to make a lot of spavined old timers prising young woman she had determined to and half baked youngsters knit together manage her inheritance. On the steamer into a ball team, without a yellow haired she picked up from willing Americans whom British chicken bringing ridicule and con- she met some smattering of information tumely upon his outfit. He knew that they about the national game, and she had were soing to be called the “cricketers” learned just what a pathetic, forlorn, hope- before the sporting editors got started. less and futile outfit were her baseball “I suppose we'll serve tea at the end of _ players. the seventh inning, and the outfield will be “We shall change dll that,” she had de- dropping as many ‘ aiches ’ as they do flies,” clared confidently, and tossed ber blond: he growled to Bill Blake, the second base- bobbed head at their incredulous smiles. man. It was a bright, cheerful April morning “ Yes, and if she finds out your views on when she reached Oakville, entered the hotel the Irish Free State, you'll get your ticket and demanded a sitting-room and bedroom. the day she arrives. Better tell her you are She had been expected. One or two local an Orangeman.”’ reporters were on hand and a camera man, This brought forth the string of profanity while the clerk beamed delightedly and that Blake intended, and McNulty stamped called her by name. away to his own room. “I wish to see Mr. McNulty imme- Miss Mainwaring wired McNulty imme- diately,” she told the man behind the desk. diately after her arrival in New York that “He’s out to the ball park with the she would join the team at Oakville within players.” a few days. “Ts it possible to send for him?” “I expect the Bolton team to win the “Yes, miss. I'll phone out there for trophy this year,” she said in her message, you.” ‘so please arrange to have the best players | She moved serenely toward her room, possible.” while a phone message caused the manager Having fired her opening shot she settled to turn the team over to Captain Blake and back in her comfortable hotel room and proceed to the hotel. ordered tea and muffins. He found his boss in a big armchair by Old Bill Moody’s sister had married an the window, smoking a cigaret in a long Englishman; Mabel was born in London, ivory holder. Most men would have been her parents were both dead, she had never dazzled by her loveliness, but Crab saw visited America, never seen a game of base- only a meddling female, and an English one ball, had forgotten the existence of an Amer- at that. ican uncle when she learned that she was “I’m McNulty,” he mumbled. “ What his heir. do you want?” As the young woman had reached the last § “ How do you do?” she greeted him, ex- few hundred pounds of her scanty pat- tending a long slim hand. rimony she was overjoyed at her. good He took it dubiously in his hairy paw fortune, hastened to close up her affairs in and dropped into a chair near by. London, which were few, and took the first | ‘“ And how are my athletes to-day?” she boat possible for America. The lawyer had inquired. informed her that Moody had left nothing § Crab looked surprised. ‘“ Athletes! If but his baseball franchise and a ten years’ you mean that bunch of bums out at the lease on the Bolton park, the rent of which ball park, they are terrible.” was paid for one year. To realize from her “Really? And why do you employ ter- inheritance she must turn the team, which ible people?” was barely making expenses, into a winner, “ Best we can get.” in which case she could sell it for a very ‘If you were to discharge them all and large sum, perhaps a million dollars, other- securé others, wouldn’t it be an improve- wise her fortune would not amount to much. ment?” IDOOKS () Gon Co