as much as the winning players get out of the world's
series. You get me?"

"Why, you d--d crook." Williams leaped from his seat threateningly.
"You want me to throw the championship?"

"Sit down, you fool," snarled the gambler, viciously. "Do you want me
to let Clancy know who tipped it off that Carson's leg was broken? Do
you want me to tell him you got $500 for tipping it to that Panther
bunch of gamblers?"

"Now listen to sense," continued Edwards, more quickly, "you saw to-day
how easily you can lose a game and blame the other fellow. You can use
your head and get rich instead of being in debt. If you don't like
McCarthy, all you have to do is to make him lose games for you. The
papers will yell, 'Hard luck,' you'll get money and I'll clean up a
fortune."

"You can't make a crook of me," whined Williams. "Wanting me to throw
down a bunch of good fellows"----

"Oh, shut up. You make me sick," sneered the gambler. "All you have
to do is to make a sure thing out of a doubtful one. You'll be
protecting yourself and getting even with a fellow you hate."

"I won't do it." Williams was at bay and defiant.

"All right," said Edwards sharply, "then to-morrow Clancy will get some
news that will start something."

"Aw, say, Ed, you wouldn't cross a fellow like that?" whined Williams.

"Wouldn't I? Perhaps you think I'll let go of all that money and not
fight? I'm starting home to-morrow. I won't see you any more. I am
depending on you to deliver--or I'll protect myself."

"I won't do it." Williams was desperately defiant.

"Yes you will--when you think it over," Edwards replied easily. "Let's
have a drink." He rang the bell and smoked in silence while Williams
sat sullenly defiant.

"I tell you I wouldn't do it for all the money in the game," declared
the pitcher.

"Here comes the boy," said the gambler. "I'll watch the score of the
next game you pitch to see what you do."

CHAPTER VI

_Adonis Makes a Deal_

The after theater crowd was trooping into the lobby of the hotel in
laughing, chattering groups and drifting steadily toward the cafe, in
which already gay parties were gathered at the tables. Manager Clancy
and his wife, with Secretary Taber and his daughter, came together and
they stood undecided, the men urging that they go to the restaurant for
a lunch before retiring, and Miss Taber, laughing, declaring that too
much pleasure in one day was bad for them. At that moment