o the Danby's back yard. "Where you been? Gee! You look queer!

"Here! Give me your catcher's m

"All self-respecting secrets ca

Guess it's about that pitcher of his. Bet he'll be with

ke the boy Abe Lincoln, he was honest, hard-working and full of droll fu

ught up with a slow ambling figure that greeted them with a sq

Professor George. The younger men of the city could remember when he was a popular teacher i

l over his dry face, but his kindly smile was worth earning, and many

keep in step. "You'll have better luck next time. I'm sure of

ly, "we're going to have a grand pit

aking. He had suddenly appeared from somewhere. "Just the fellows I want to

t more of the town besides. Now it all belonged to Big Bill. Once the ball park had been the grounds of a canning factory. Bill's father had been rich and generous, a good citizen and a great friend

ort. He cared little for boys, in fact he thought very little about the welfare of anyone but Bi

into my office last week. He's interested in organizing a professional baseball league. Hired players and all that from out of town. Play the games on Sunday. Big thing for the

mes on Saturday just the same," P

ed. "Boys would be in the way. Professionals need practice and all that.

hat?" Dou

n get me a tho

essor George

ed. "First payment on a contr

much?" Doug

nd dollars

Johnny whistled

's a fair price, William. But you'll have to

business-like air. "Two weeks. Time enou

ars," Doug grumbled gloomily,

s boys, I'm positive of that. So, just like as not He'll show us the way." Professor George was religious but he was not what you call pious. His religi

ouble you too much. We'll get round him somehow. Used to trouble us in school, William did, but

went on down the street. "Dad says Bill cheated something terrible, but Professor

dded gloomily. "He'll cheat us out of

t much in the bank-been saving it for new bleachers. Took two years

sterious new pitcher now. He ought to dra

st right. Then I'll shoot that thought-camera at myself and turn out some swell copy. Old C. K. Lovell will put it i

s!" Doug exclaim

himself back to earth with a start. "Oh! Yes!

oug broke in. "Three months! I've been round the lab nearly every day, and I

course up his spine. He was to see that strange pitcher. With his olive skin and bright glea

und. Already these laboratories were famous. Here a new drug had been discovered that had proved a great boon to those sufferi

death. This was only a rumor. Better founded was the statement that "heavy water"-a water in which no animal life, however small, could live-had been produced.

em not only the Colonel, but a short, round-shouldered b

boy with a hearty grin. "What you doing here?

Goggles Short, the boy wizard, both che

oggles was

terribly embarrassing thing, Goggles. However, since

about to face the other boys, "I suppose you think that I sent f

ug's face drop

be back for Saturday's game. I'm ready to guarantee that. And you boys a

" Doug's face took on a hop

. "Only moral and mental suppor

one carried conviction. "Goggles here has an idea. Sit down

't help a bit. But this is it. Dave Saunders over at the electric shop has been experimenting wi

eyes," Joh

Goggles' eyes bulged b

llow talked to me down a beam of light. Electric eyes helped him to do that, and

orty eyes. Some see up and down and some sideways. We've tried it

s beefing about the umpire. Holler their heads off. So I thought-" he took a long breath, "

an! Oh, man! We'll draw a crowd! Think of it! Something abso

y started. "Electric eye.

t!" Doug exploded.

e had ever seen. "I dreamed it," he had been telling himself. "Thing never happened. That Chinaman never recorded my thoughts. But if he did, if the thing's

lectric umpire had been explained to

a crowd,"

g crowds are what you need right now. You'll get that extra five

for a dash home. With the aid of the thought-cam

. I'll get in touch with the Fairfield bunch.

a smile. "They get a percentage of the gate receipts. Jus

ave my pitcher on hand for Saturday's major attraction. And yo

you a lot!" the three boy

ed, "we didn't se

more lost in his contemplat

g grumbled. "Fellow'd think h

s he is," Joh

replied as they lost themsel