Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

“WE WANT MABEL!” 927 But Greening’s prediction in regard to The meeting was held, and Mabel laid her celebrity proved to be true. Mabel was her program before the assembly of about no longer red-hot news, and the attendance forty prominent business and newspaper on tour, though far greater than the Bol- men. For a moment it looked as though it tons had drawn for many years,“was noth- would go over with a bang, and then it ing like as large as on the first trip. struck a snag. Jefferson Heighton, a bank The team won half its games and re- president and enthusiastic fan, climbed to ° turned home with a better hold on fourth his feet and coughed. Position. McNulty was still without hope ‘' Miss Mainwaring,” he said, “ your idea and shook his head sadly when he looked at does you credit, but it doesn’t follow, if you his growing list of cripples which included get this money and expend it for players, one of his regular fielders and Jones, his that you will have a championship club. first baseman. He was compelled to put There are teams in the league with ten times @ pitcher on first. your resources who can always outbid you. Predictions that Greening, who had won They are making a drive now for your star sixteen and lost two games, would soon be pitcher, Mr. Greening, whom I see here to- sold were rife. Something had to be done, day. LEventually, they will make offers and soon, too. which will compel you to accept, or if you ‘‘ We need a catcher, a pitcher and acen- refuse, Greening will feel injured and refuse ter fielder who can hit three hundred to to play ball. With Greening and several stay in the first division,” McNulty told good players purchased as you suggest, you his owner, “ but it would take a fortune might win the championship next year. But to buy the men I want.” how can you guarantee to hold him? You “‘ And I have an idea,” declared Mabel, can't.” “that we are going to get them.” Mabel rose to her feet, a flush in her ‘“‘ What are you going to use for money?’\, cheeks, her eyes shining brightly. She “ Those funny pieces of green paper your ‘ glanced at Greening, a glance which caused government issues. I have decided to sell his eye to kindle. forty-nine per cent of the club for two hun- “Can I not?” she inquired. ‘“ Mr. dred and fifty thousand dollars, put the Greening, before this company, I ask vou if stock on the market here, make it a patriotic you will honor me by becoming my hus- campaign, popular subscription, guarantee- band.” ing to spend all the money in buying good There was an astonished silence, then a players.” chuckle from some one, then a wild burst ‘Not so bad,” McNulty admitted grudg- of laughter. Mabel was indeed inimitable. ingly. ‘ The town is baseball mad, the idea Greening climbed to his feet, crimson as of a championship team next year might ap- a rose. He threw a reproachful look at peal to them. Whose notion is it, Green- the girl who was regarding him confidently. ing’s?” It was the most embarrassing moment of his “T talked it over with him,” she said, _ life. coloring slightly. “ That’s one way to keep a pitcher,” a “T thought so. Well, we'll call a meet- -rude. person was heard to exclaim. ing of newspaper editors and prominent fans The pitcher set his jaw and his eye and see how the proposition strikes them. flashed. Matter of fact, if we built up the team so “Do vou love me, Mabel?” he demanded. it made a fight for the championship you She tossed her head defiantly at the could sell it for more than a million and _ throng. your stockholders would get a hundred per “I do,” she answered firmly. cent on their investment.” “T don’t sell the team. I play the game,” hand. He strode to her side and caught her Proclaimed Mabel. ‘‘ That’s cricket,” “ Then I refuse your proposal, and make “Cricket may be a good game at that,” youa counter one. Will you marry me?” McNulty said with a whimsical grin. “ Most assuredly.” COMICHDOOKS. CONN