Part 10 (1/2)

”Baldwin,” said the gambler, leaning forward again and speaking in low tones, ”you see to it that the Panthers beat the Bears out in that pennant race, and I'll deliver you at least five votes for your man.”

”That's easy,” remarked Baldwin. ”I can turn that quickly enough, but I don't see where you get off.”

”You make it a sure thing and I'll tend to my own part of it,” said the gambler. ”I'll get mine, but I'm not so certain you can do it as easily as you think.”

”Why not--don't both clubs belong to me?”

”Sure they do,” said the gambler, ”but baseball is a hard thing to monkey with. You've got to handle it carefully, for if the fact came out we'd be in such hot water we'd both scald.”

”Nonsense,” said Baldwin testily. ”I'll call the presidents in, explain what I want and let them do it.”

”Keep off that stuff,” warned the gambler. ”You don't seem to know much about this game. If you tried to tell Clancy to lose this pennant he'd run straight to some reporter, and the whole country would be up in arms. I shouldn't wonder if they'd lynch you.”

”Then how do you propose having it done?” asked the political boss, for once willing to listen to advice. He had no qualms of conscience. To him baseball meant a game, and the fact that hundreds of thousands of persons in all parts of the country were vitally interested either in the Bears or the Panthers did not count with him. He only sought the easiest and safest way to accomplish his ends without arousing suspicion.

”I have one of the Bears fixed,” said Edwards. ”But I'm afraid of him.

He is crooked and willing to deliver, but he is yellow--lacks courage--and he is likely to fail to deliver just when I need him most.

The first thing I want you to do is to help stiffen this fellow's backbone. After that we'll try to get at someone else. If you say it's all right and promise to protect them we will find it easier.”

”This must be a big thing for you, Edwards,” suggested Baldwin as another drink was served and the waiter departed.

”I don't mind telling you that if the Bears win I'll almost be smashed,” replied the gambler angrily. ”I was fool enough to play the game myself. I picked the Panthers to win and made a lot of scattering bets all summer. Then Carson, the Bears' third baseman, broke a leg.

They tried to keep it quiet as long as possible. I had a friend in the club who tipped off to me an hour after it happened that Carson's leg was smashed in two places. I jumped right in and plunged, thinking that without Carson the Bears hadn't a chance. Then along comes this blanked red-head and turns it all upside down.”

”What red-head?”

”McCarthy--that kid third baseman. He's been winning games right along that they ought to have lost, and it looks as if the Bears will win out anyhow--unless you can stop them.”

”McCarthy, eh?” Baldwin smiled patronizingly for the first time. ”My boy, don't worry. You may know baseball better than I do--but you've hit something I know about. I think I can handle this McCarthy. I believe you can get ready to deliver those votes. I must be going now.”

”I'm going to send for that pitcher I've got fixed, to-night,” said Edwards.

”Have him down about ten, or a little later,” suggested Baldwin genially as he arose to leave.

It was the arrival of Baldwin in the barroom to attend the meeting with Adonis Williams and Easy Ed Edwards that Silent Swanson and Kohinoor McCarthy saw--and it was well for McCarthy's peace of mind that he did not hear what transpired at that meeting.

CHAPTER X

_Williams Caught in the Net_

Baldwin, by nature, was pompous and patronizing. In his capacity as political boss, representing certain more or less questionable financial interests, he distributed political patronage with an air of one bestowing great favors personally.

Baldwin's rise to riches and to a certain degree of power had been a strange one. He had been a bartender, and had by a certain selfish economy and ”touching the till” acquired sufficient money to purchase the saloon in which he was employed from the honest German who had trusted him almost to the verge of bankruptcy. Certain wealthy men and some others interested in public utilities had seen in Baldwin a proper catspaw, and, in a small way, had used him in politics. From that he had developed quickly into an official collector of graft money from disorderly houses, saloons, and gamblers.

Baldwin had become more and more independent financially and more powerful politically as he learned the game. He was shrewd and quick to learn. His share of the collections became larger and larger until in time he was admitted to the higher circle of graft, and, having served his apprentices.h.i.+p, he had others to collect for him and take the greater risk of going to prison. Eventually, by cunning catering to big interests, he became the political boss of his city, stockholder in several public utilities, and head of a brokerage firm, which he maintained more to account for his possession of wealth than to do business, although favored in many instances in bond deals. His purchase of stock in baseball clubs had been incidental. He knew little of the game and cared less. He was satisfied with the large returns on the stock and avoided publicity in advertising himself as owner of either team through fear of causing an increase in the demand, ”Where did you get it?”

Easy Ed Edwards, while waiting in the booth of the Metropolis Cafe, had told Adonis Williams the name of the man for whom they were waiting.