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. "M