The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11
THE BOBBS= COMPANY.

stand right. and what else can he want
except hold up? He's a wise guy.
that's what he is. He's got cinch
on US"
Il guess not--it doesn't look like
Fred"
ITS a hold up or else he's going
TO vote for the investigation of where
the money went that beat the Lacy
bills" retorted Stillman eoolly. and
that last would raise hell up and down
the state, wouldn't it?"
Arnold looked at the intricate mosaic
of the stained glass /. window that
screened the gold room from the
street; he was trying 10 study the
matter out; he had rather forgotten
Fred weldy the past month. along with
everything else. ''Fred's funny. he
asserted, at length, "and the unions
have been jumping on him about this
bribery inquiry"
Well, who's he taking orders from -
demanded Stillman. What did these
rat unions have to do with it except
to vote for him?'
The other laughed.
The business agent for the labor
municipal administration went on with
the brisk hurriedness he always used
when the time for -quips was past
He's q bad actor. He's handed US
the double cross Personally, Fred's
:
here. But we can break him."
Break him? You couidn't get Fred
back into politics with a club, once he
can get out of it.'
The business. agent looked shrewdly
worried.
That's bad. You don't imagine he's
coming any baby play7-that he will
favor the investigation? My God-nor'
It's an even bet" murmured Arnold
complacently He was enjoying Still
mans perplexity--it was rarely one
saw him at loss.
Well we've got to get him. There's
big men behind, theN track. Ham--the
best people in the town here, socially.
and all-and there's nopody wants any
stink stirred about the killing Of the
Lacy bills. Now. you know that I'm
2 responsible. Hammy. I took 1T from
you that Fred was straight. Some
OF these people are asking me what
sort of dub we sent up there from
your district I come to you. Ham.
This fellows yours, and you'll have
to handle him"
Harry, I don't want to mix.
don't owe the track anything. I've
been trying TO support a brace OF
bookies out there for two weeks my
self, and I think that lets me or
I've heard you went wild. Amt
you got more sense than to buck that
crowd? Ham, this racing Is fixed for
the rubes and the cheap John clerks
and all these little screws and sawed
offs that think they can beat another
man at his game. If you want to go
on the turf, go right. Go inside and
work out" the commissioner contin-
ued thoughtfully; don't be handing
money up to the professionals with the
rest of the lambs-get inside and take
it yourself
inst al Avor Y,av4r fba,
the sport"
''Sport-nothing. it's business. Ham
my, between you and me there's
nothing so weak and foolish as the
sport-he's just the sucker for the man
with the long business head to play"
The younger man watched the
brusque business agent fitting the
white robed bottle across the table; he
heard IL crash back in the ice, and said
not word. Stillman, the jollier. the
man about town. the sponsor for the
sporting men, defender OF the open lid.
did not drink, but he lit a fresh cigar.
Business" he continued. and that's
why the races are run. the booze is sold
and the houses fourish-some business
man wants the money. and we develop
the sport to feed into the mill. Well I
don't often open up this way, but
know you understand. Business-and
that's why we've got to get Weldy.
Ever talk with him? How much Will he
want?"
Harry, you can't touch him."
20, yes we can" the debonair man
about town airily waved his cigar to-
ward the other. He's waiting for the
offer. I know these stins in politics
he's holding out to stick US hard"
Well. go to him. then"
Yes. But the colonel and the boys
az Sacramento are afraid of Weldy.
He's pretty raw, and they don't know
how to approach him. So they passed
1t back to me; and he's yours, Ham
he's yours.
Il pass him up"
The police commissioner had drawn
roll of new bills from his pocket He
counted them briskly. 'swiI YOU need
five hundred? What kind of a stiff is
he? He's got house in Berkeley and
mortgage due, I hear"