"Hello, Ed," replied the big man cordially. "Let's have a drink. I've been away a month out West visiting the family. Brought my niece on East with me. Just got home and heard that things are going wrong, so I ran over here last night to see what sort of cattle have been breaking up my political fences while I've been gone. What brings you over here?" "Baseball--ran down to see the game to-day. Rotten game." "Didn't know you were interested in baseball," said the politician. "I'm pretty well satisfied with the situation--both my clubs up there fighting for the lead, and I'm getting it coming and going." "Both your clubs?" ejaculated the gambler. "I knew you had some stock in some club. How much of the Bears and Panthers do you own?" "Well, I can control both in a pinch. I don't pay much attention to them. I let the fellows I hire as presidents of the clubs do the worrying." "If you own both these clubs you and I can do a little business," said the gambler, lowering his voice. "Come on up to my rooms and we'll have our drinks sent up there where we can talk." "I haven't much time, Ed," protested Baldwin. "I want to meet some of the boys down here and learn how the political situation is stacking up." They ascended to Edwards's rooms and when they were seated the gambler rang for wine, and, leaning forward, said: "You want your man, Hoskins, to go to the Senate when the Legislature meets this winter?" "Why--not exactly--my political plans are rather indefinite. Hoskins is an acceptable man"---- "Oh, chop it," said the gambler sharply. "There's no use for us to try to fool each other. You want to put Hoskins over and you know you're going to have a deuce of a time crowding him through." "Admitting that to be the case, what then?" "I think I can push it over for you," the gambler said easily. "Up home I've got four members of the Legislature where they will do what I say--and perhaps can handle two others. With those four your man would go over--if you've lined up as many members as the papers say you have." "Rather early to count noses," Baldwin started to protest. "We may line up several others"---- "Nothing doing!" exclaimed Edwards sharply. "You've got all you can--the others are lined up either with the high brows or against you under Mullins. I can deliver four, possibly six, of Mullin's votes that he counts as sure." "What do you want out of it?" The politician was interested at last. "Does it make any difference to you whether the Bears or the Panthers win?" Edwards put the question as if casually. "It don't make any difference to me," Baldwin retorted curtly. "I'm not a bit interested in baseball--except to make money out of the teams. I bought the stock as part of a political deal--to help someone out--and it turned out a good investment. What has that to do with it?"