Two thousand down, the balance--"
"You infernal beast!" snarled Dick, standing squarely in front of him
and glaring into his eyes with a scorn so shriveling that the other
drew back with an oath. "So that's what you wanted with Ernie, is it?
Through him you hoped to get me to do the trick, eh? Well, you've
slipped up good and hard on _me_. I--"
Ernie, his lips twitching, his fingers working, seized his brother's
arm and pulled him back.
"Wait a minute, Dick,--listen to me," he fairly croaked in his
excitement. "Let's hear what his plan is. Maybe we can see a way to
help him. Le' me talk, Dick. Leave it to me. I'm smart and sensible.
You're off your nut to-night. Just le' me do the talking."
"That's right," cried the Colonel quickly. He recognized an asset in
Ernie's despicable greed.
Dick shook off his brother's hand. "No! This is no business of yours,
Ernie. I'm the one he wants to dicker with. You can't put up a job on
Brad and he knows it. He's just using you to land me. Not for ten
million, Grand. Do you get that?"
"Don't shout so that they can hear you in the street," cried Grand,
scowling deeply.
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