Part 26 (2/2)
”You leave zat in Boma, wid ze bankers, eh?”
”Yes.”
”But you haf von big lettair of credit, not so?”
”Yes, we have a letter of credit,” answered Randolph Rover. ”But that won't do you any good, nor the money at the banker's neither.”
”Ve see about zat, monsieur. Proceed,” and Captain Villaire waved his hand toward Dan Baxter.
”This is the situation in a nutsh.e.l.l, to come right down to business,” said the former bully of Putnam Hall coolly. ”You are our prisoners, and you can't get away, no matter how hard you try.
Captain Villaire and his men, as well as myself, are in this affair to make money. The question is, what is your liberty worth to you?”
”So you intend to work such a game?” demanded d.i.c.k.
”That's the game, yes.”
”Well, I shan't pay you a cent.”
”Don't be a fool, d.i.c.k Rover. We are not to be trifled with.”
”Well, I haven't any money, and that ends it. You already have all I had.”
”Then you will have to foot the bill,” continued Dan Baxter, turning to Randolph Rover.
”If you value your liberty you will pay us what we demand.”
”And what do you demand?” questioned Mr. Rover.
”We demand twenty thousand dollars--ten thousand for the liberty of each.”
This demand nearly took away Randolph Rover's breath.
”Twenty thousand dollars!” he gasped. ”It is--is preposterous!”
”Is it? You are worth a good deal more than that, Mr. Rover. And I am demanding only what is fair.”
”You shall never get the money.”
”Won't we?”
”Never!”
”Perhaps you'll sing a different tune in a few, days--after your stomachs get empty,” responded Dan Baxter, with a malicious gleam in his fishy eyes. ”So you mean to starve us into acceding to your demands,” said d.i.c.k. ”Baxter, I always did put you down as a first-cla.s.s rascal. If you keep, on, you'll be more of a one than your father.”
In high rage the former bully of Putnam Hall strode forward and without warning struck the defenseless d.i.c.k a heavy blow on the cheek.
”That, for your impudence,” he snarled. ”You keep a civil tongue in your head. If you don't--” He finished with a shake of his fist.
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