_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 apprenticeship, 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.
"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 feel."
"I'm wise, I guess," said Williams, warming with the wine. "All I need
is the chance, and I'll make the Panthers win it."
"You understand," Baldwin said pompously, "it won't do at all for
owners to have anything to do with the games; that's the reason I don't
care to have my name mentioned in connection with the Bears or the
Panthers, but in this case it is to all our interests to have the
Panthers win. My boy, I'll take care of you well, if you deliver the
goods."
"You may count on me. We have ten more games to play, and I ought to
work three, maybe four. I can lose two or three and make it a cinch."
"That's the talk," said Baldwin genially. "You know which side your
bread is buttered on."
"Yes," remarked Edwards, "he does--but he wants it on both sides. He's
had chances already to end this race, and won instead of losing."
"I couldn't help it," retorted Williams. "You know, Ed, I tried to
lose, but that red-headed four-flush was lucky enough to keep me from
it. You know I don't dare to make it too raw. Clancy might get
suspicious."
"This McCarthy seems to be the trouble maker all 'round," suggested
Baldwin. "With him eliminated it ought to be easy, hadn't it?"
"Him a good ball player!" ejaculated Williams angrily. "Say, he's a
bum. He's just lucky."
"I don't want any more such luck," sneered Edwards. "The next time
you're in there you lose the game right--you hear? Let them get a big
bunch of runs right quick so no one can save the game."
"Maybe Clancy won't let me pitch," objected the star whiningly. "I
can't make him let me pitch."
"I'll see to that," said Baldwin casually. "I'll see the president in
the morning and have him tell this Clancy to let you pitch. Then he'll
put you in."
"Don't be too certain of that," said Edwards. "Clancy usually runs the
team to suit himself--and he plays to win."
"You leave that to me," replied Baldwin complacently. "I usually get
what I want. Meantime, I think I can fix this young fellow Mac. I'll
have a little talk with him in the morning."
"Don't let him find out that you know either of us," warned Edwards.
"He's a pretty cagey young fellow from what I hear."
"Trust me for that," said the big man. "I've handled wise fish before
now, and landed them without using a net."
"You know anything about him?" inquired Williams.
"Yes--and no. Anyhow I am pretty close to someone--a woman--who knows
him and knows all about him."
"I wish I did," snarled Williams, now growling mean from the effects of
drink. "Who's the woman?"
"She's someone whose name won't appear in this matter," replied the
politician reprovingly. "She's a relative of mine. I think he is in
love with her and she turned him down cold. Let's have another bottle
and break up the party."
"He was in love with her?" asked Williams eagerly, as a plan for
revenge flashed through his mind.
"I believe so," said Baldwin carelessly. "Family affair. Never heard
the details. Of course she couldn't marry a fellow of that class."
The three men emerged from the booth, Williams and Baldwin flushed and
unsteady from the drink, Edwards cold and revealing not a trace of the
wine.
"Williams, you'd better go out the front door," he said quietly. "It
wouldn't do for you to be seen around the lobby with us at this hour."
Fifteen minutes later Swanson and McCarthy, in their beds, heard
Williams enter the adjoining room unsteadily and hastily prepare for
bed.