ar 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.

"Now get wise, Adonis," he advised, in friendly tones. "I'll tip you
to something no one outside a few is on to. Baldwin owns this club
you're pitching for, and he owns the Panthers. I had it from him
to-night that he wants the Panthers to win the pennant this season.
You toss off a game or two to help him and you'll be strong with him
for life. You know he holds this State in his vest pocket."

"Ain't I trying my best?" said Williams. "Clancy won't let me work
often now. He was working me to death until a couple of weeks ago and
now he's always saving me for some other team. I asked him to get in
to-morrow. Maybe I'll work. If I do I'll make good and lose it."

"Here he comes now," said Edwards in a low tone as Baldwin came
pompously into the barroom in search of them. "I'll talk and let you
hear what he wants."

"Ah, here we are," said Baldwin pompously, as he discovered them.
"Order a bottle of wine, Ed, and introduce me to your friend."

He already was well warmed with drink and looser and less cautious in
his conversation than customary.

"Glad to meet you, Williams," he said as Edwards went through the
formalities of introduction. "I've seen you pitch. Had a good season?"

"Fair," said Williams, striving to appear modest. "I've won twenty-six
and lost eleven--some of them tough ones, especially lately."

"Sorry to spoil your record, my boy," said Baldwin patronizingly, "but
you must lose a few more for the interests of all concerned."

"Not so loud, Baldwin," warned Edwards.

"All right, all right," assented Baldwin unvexed. "Let's have another
bottle.

"Now, young fellow," he continued in a low tone when the drink was
served, "you know who I am. I don't forget my friends. That's my
motto. Anyone who does anything that helps me, or helps a friend of
mine"----

He paused to wave his hand indicating that Edwards was the friend.

The man was half drunk and too loose with his talk to please the more
cautious gambler.

"Adonis here is all right," said the gambler suavely. "I don't blame
him for being a little bit cautious. You see, Barney, Adonis wasn't
sure the big men behind the game wanted it to go that way and I don't
blame him. I wanted him to understand how the owners fee