“Where is my son? You kidnapper!”
Dick stared at the man for a full minute before he could realize that Bennett Graham was accusing him.
“I kidnap Allan and Syd? Why, what are you talking about? Have you lost your reason?”
Suddenly Bennett Graham became calm. “Dick Mapes, you may as well own up. Of course I know you couldn’t go out and kidnap the boy yourself. But your gang!”
“My gang! The only gang I have is your son and his friend Syd Ames. They are good boys and I’m proud of them. No one feels worse about this matter than I do.”
“What is your price, Dick Mapes? What do you want? Is this your way of getting even with me for withdrawing my support from your field?”
As Dick did not answer, the man went on, “I’ve been hearing about you from different sources. I’m on to you, and you must know it. Now tell me where the boy is! I’ll pay you. Yes, even the fifty thousand dollars, if you return him safely.”
“I don’t want your money that way, Bennett Graham! And if I knew where Allan was, I’d tell you.”
“Where’s Terry?” demanded Graham. “She knows all about this deal. She thinks that fifty thousand dollars will finance the field here!”
“Stop! Not another word! Terry and Prim went north to try to find your son and Syd Ames. They started before they heard that the boys had been kidnapped.”