Events that preceded and led up to the desperate encounter between McCarthy and the two strangers in the dark interior of a racing taxicab seemed to have been dictated by fate. At the end of the doubleheader between the Jackrabbits and Bears, Easy Ed Edwards had hurriedly laid new plans to save himself. The gambler had watched both contests, believing all the time that the result of the games ended his final hope of winning the bets, and, facing ruin, he had welcomed his new lease upon hope with the determination of resorting to desperate measures to achieve his end. He realized that unless he acted at once all his plotting had failed. After the defeat of the Bears in the second game he left the grounds, hastened downtown in a taxi and at once telephoned to both Adonis Williams and Barney Baldwin to meet him at his rooms. Baldwin responded at once to the gambler's summons and entered the rooms blustering. "You've a frightful nerve, Edwards," snarled the angry politician. "Understand, I do not take orders from cheap gamblers." "You needn't try storming at me," said the gambler quietly. "I'm onto you. You may ring over such a bluff as that in politics, but not with me. You don't seem to understand." "I don't think you can deliver any votes anyhow," said Baldwin sullenly. "I've nothing but your word for it." "That's all the security I ever needed," said the gambler superciliously. "But never mind about the votes--you're going to help me." "I've done all I can"---- "No, you haven't. I want you to go to-morrow morning and join the Bears and I want you to see to it that Williams pitches one of those games against the Blues. He'll lose it this time. I've thrown a scare into him and he'll do it, even if he gives himself away." "I tell you I can't," snarled Baldwin. "President Bannard is the only one who knows I own the club"---- "Take your stock with you. That proves you own it." "And Bannard is out of town. Clancy wouldn't pay any attention to me"---- "You own this club," said Edwards. "You can do what you please with it, and you're going to do it." "You talk as if you owned me!" Baldwin was purple with anger. "I do," said the gambler coldly. "It would look good in print to have the people know that Barney Baldwin, the crooked politician, owns both the Bears and the Panthers, wouldn't it?" "You have no proof"---- "Haven't I? I saved both your notes. You're a fool, Baldwin. You write letters. I have two mentioning McCarthy and Williams. I wouldn't have any trouble getting them printed. Any sporting editor in the city would give a thousand dollars for such proof." "Look here, Ed," expostulated Baldwin, "there isn't any use for us to quarrel. We're both in this thing"---- "Now you're talking sense," said the gambler. "We haven't any time to lose. The club leaves town at 11.30 to-night." "What do you want me to do?" gasped Baldwin helplessly.