The Lamar register., 1920-07-28
Copyright. by Doubleday Page a Co.


kings of baseball the next season. For
the fan dearly loves winner.
On form-relying on the weak broth.
er, Barney Larkin-the Giant-killers
looked TO have shade the best OF
the argument This being so, why
were the Phillles the favorltes In the
betting? Even money was at first the
rule. But over In New York tho
gamblers soon had the odds hammered
down until tn. Nationals we're favor
ties at 10 to q.
Gambling iris Ford abhorred. re-
garding II as the ever-present menace
to the Integrity OF the national game:
and II he thought man, however
prominent or important, was seeking
d line ON the Giant killers as Il guide
in betting, Iris would shut up like
II steel trap. 1t wasn't the betting IT.
self but the information behind the
odds. that troubled him.
II did not surprise him-why. he
did not know-when he received .
letter. special delivery, from the sport
ing editor of one OF the New York pa
oers. The man who wrote 1t loved
fair play and clean sport. and looked
upon Iris Ford as the apostle OF the
one and the exponent Of the other.
The letter read:
.'In this town the gamblers are
plunging on the Phillies. Regardless
of form. your club is being forced
down steadily In the betting. Jake
stinger and other big gamblers don't
look upon this betting proposition as
a game Of chance not they. Gam
bling 10 them on such scale means
a sure thing. II is no secret on the
inside. They say you have only one
pitcher who can stop the Phillies, now
at the top Of their batting, and that
IL Barney Larkin. They boast that
they have got him
Take this for what It's worth. You
doubtless know Larkin-but i know
SINGERS crowd. They are betting on
q sure thing or else somebody Is fool
ing them most awfully. Anyhow, look
out Good luck"
After reading this letter to Win
Shute Iris Ford observed: There's
something behind those long odds
I've thought so right along"
..You don't think they could bribe
Barneyf with all his vices he wouldn't
sell out. would hef" asked Win rather
anxiously.
Not for one minute" said Iris
positively Money means nothing to
him-leastwise. great deal OF mon
ey. / keep his coin for him-deal It
out IN small bits. | ind he's as
pleased over a tw0-dollar bill as he
Is over a five. And tenner looks
10 him ike Rockefeller's dividends for
a whole day
The money end OF it don't worry
me" Iris repeated
"Then what Is bOthering your"
The manager OF the Giant-killers
hesitated. his expression becoming alb
normally serious II don't know that
| ought 20 speak OF II eyen-it might
get the idea started. If 1t hasn't al
ready"
What ideaI" almost snapped Win
Shute. whats on your chestf II
its something threatening. we ought
to plan to beat it. Tell mel"
Iris showed his anxiety In his face.
"Kidnaping that's what I'm afraid
Of" he whispered to Win Shute.
kidnapping Barney Larkin7 They'd
have to bind and gag his giant keep
er FIRST
"Oh. they'd manage that II they set
out To- try" said Tris gloomily.
James Winton Shute fell back on
his gray matter. Then came the
beam of dnwning solution.
Wen put some one to watch the
keeper that watches the victim" he
said
'WhoY'
THE best detective We can get in
the city. with two strong arm boys
for bodyguard"
And they did. Unknown TO Bar
ney Larkin. his piseator1al friend.
Ernest Steadman, sat In front OF his
bedroom door, keeping watch. I'm
known to Larkin and Steadman, down
stairs the cleverest detective In the
city kept vigil, reinforced by two able
diamonds In the rough. very rough.
In his home, not three blocks away,
Iris Ford tossed on the bed, unable
to sleep. He had vague feeling OF
impending disaster.
The day OF the first game OF the
world series. all Philsdelphia's own.
was clear and mild, built to order by
the gods for the American Olympian.