"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.