“Have any of your people any influence with the Cardews?”
“No one has any influence with the Cardews, if you mean the Cardew men. Why?”
“Because Cardew has got to get out of the mayoralty campaign. That's all.”
“That's a-plenty,” said Pink, grinning. “Why don't you go and tell him so?”
“I'm thinking of it. He hasn't a chance in the world, but he'll defeat Hendricks by splitting the vote, and let the other side in. And you know what that means.”
“I know it,” Pink observed, “but Mr. Cardew doesn't, and he won't after you've told him. They've put a lot of money in, and once a Cardew has invested in a thing he holds on like death. Especially the old man. Wouldn't wonder he was the fellow who pounded the daylights out of Akers last night,” he added.
Willy Cameron, having carefully filled his pipe, closed the door into the shop, and opened a window.
“Akers?” he inquired.
“Noon edition has it,” Pink said. “Claims to have been attacked in his rooms by two masked men. Probably wouldn't have told it, but the doctor talked. Looks as though he could wallop six masked men, doesn't he?”
“Yes,” said Willy Cameron, reflectively. “Yes; he does, rather.”