Part 61 (1/2)
Meg nodded her head, but did not raise her eyes from the floor.
”Do you pretend to know where she is?” asked Scott.
”No, I don't know just now.”
”But you promised to tell me something of her past life.”
”Yes.”
”Are you ready to do so?”
”No,” said Meg, decidedly.
”For what reason.”
”I can't tell you that now.”
”Can you tell me anything about Rene's father?” Scott asked.
”What do you know of her father?”
”I asked you a question.”
Meg looked at Scott with fierce and searching eyes, but she quailed before the far more searching gaze of Scott.
”Who told you of my secrets?” Meg asked.
”That does not matter. I asked you to tell me what you of your own free will promised.”
”Well,” said Meg, knocking the ashes from her pipe, ”I am in need of money, but I don't sell my wisdom for nothing.”
”Meg,” said Scott, in a commanding tone, ”I never fail to do as I promise. I have told you that you would be well paid for whatever information you may possess, and I wish you to name a time when you will be ready to impart it to me as you have promised to do. Do you know anything of a certain portion of a mining country in California, owned by Rene's father?”
Meg started, and said:
”So you are after more news, are you?”
”Answer my question.”
”Maybe you'll pay me as the rest did, as both of them did, but I can tell you I ain't to be fooled this time. Old Meg ain't wise, but she will get her money in advance.”
”Very well, you need not be uneasy about the money; I want to know just when you will tell me what you have promised.”
Old Meg sat with downcast eyes for a moment, then she said, bringing her cinched fist upon her knee, as though to make the statement stronger:
”When you give me five hundred dollars, and tell me where Rene is.”
”Your information must be valuable.”
”It is worth that to you.”