Mr. Braden, for reasons of his own, experienced a decidedly nervous feeling. "Huh!" he said. "An understanding! What do you mean?"
"You know damned well what I mean," Gerald replied. "You and my father were in this thing together. He had an interest—or was to have one. We expect to have the same interest. Is that clear enough for you?"
It could not be much clearer, but nevertheless Mr. Braden if not bewildered gave an excellent imitation of that state of mind.
"Your father's interest in my coal property!" he exclaimed. "There is some mistake. Your father had no interest."
"Oh, yes, he had," Gerald maintained.
"But I tell you you are mistaken," Mr. Braden protested. "I give you my absolute assurance that he had no interest whatever."
"Your assurance—hell!" Gerald sneered. "What do you take me for, anyway? Do you think I'm not wise to you?"
"If you have any evidence of your father's interest, produce it," Mr. Braden returned.
"So that's the ground you take, is it?" said Gerald. "Well, I guess you know I haven't any evidence that would hold. But all the same the two of you were partners in this deal. I know it, whether I can prove it or not. And what we want is to be let in on this on a fifty-fifty basis with you."
"You do, hey?" Mr. Braden replied sharply. "Well, you won't be. Your father had no interest at all. As it is, he owes me money, which—"