Trust me to
make out a case against you."
"I'm no thief!" shouted Ernie. Dick was looking about, like a rat in a
trap, his teeth showing in the desperation of alarm. "You fellows will
come to terms with me inside of two minutes or I'll land you both in
the pen so quickly you won't know it's been done. I want this man
Braddock put out of the way. I've got two men waiting to go with you,
so don't imagine that you can play me false after you leave this room.
It is all cut and dried. You are to carry out a plan I have for
landing Braddock. The police will--"
"I'll see you hanged first," grated Dick Cronk. "You are the king of
crooks, you are."
"Don't let him call the police, Dick," whined Ernie, shrinking back
against the wall. "I'm no thief. I won't go to jail! I won't!"
"Well, that's just where you'll land, my handsome bucko," said the
malevolent Colonel. "Dick won't mind it, but it will be a new
experience for you, your reverence. 'Gad, you toad!"
"Let me go!" cried Ernie. "Keep Dick here, but let me out. Dick will
help you, honest he will. I'm no thief. You wouldn't send me to jail!"
"Oh, I wouldn't, eh?" snarled the other.
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