"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."