human
Well, said Joe quietly, after a moment's pause,
gpt
Oh, we're no pikers,
human
But there's one little thing in the way, Joe went on;
gpt
Of course, of course, he said, with the tolerant smile of a man of the world.
human
I didn't think for a minute that McRae would let his kingpin run around loose without being signed up. But you know what baseball contracts are. They're so jug handled that no court would uphold them for a minute. In fact, McRae wouldn't dare to bring it into court. He may threaten and bluster, but that will be the end of it. That ten-day clause alone would kill it with any judge.
gpt
Even admitting that I could break my contract with the Giants and get away with it, said Joe, leading him on,
human
The guarantee of your own self-interest, replied Westland, flicking the ash from his cigar.
gpt
We'd make it so much worth your while to stay with us that there wouldn't be any inducement to go anywhere else.
human
In other words, said Joe, with a touch of sarcasm,
gpt
Now, now, Mr. Matson, put in Westland deprecatingly,
human
Put up your pen, Mr. Westland, said Joe calmly,
gpt
That's the stuff, Joe! he cried jubilantly.
human
You knocked a home run that time.
gpt
Surely you're joking, Mr. Matson, he said.
human
No man in his senses would turn down such an offer as that.
gpt
I must be out of my senses then, replied Joe,
human
Perhaps you think we're bluffing, said Westland,
gpt
There's the signing-up money, he explained.
human
They wanted me to bring a certified check, but I insisted on the actual cash. Count it if you like and take it to the bank if you doubt that it's good. There's twenty thousand dollars in that roll, and every cent of it's yours if you put your name at the bottom of this contract.