“Yes, I’m on. Where is he?”
“Lingering near, like the vulture awaiting the feast.”
“He’s under this roof?”
“I expect the shingles of Meadwold shelter him at this moment.”
“The dishonest crook, he ought to be kicked out! I’ll see that he is kicked out at once.”
But Dale grasped Randall’s arm.
“Be not too hasty in your violent resentment against this pernicious person,” implored Spark. “You can’t kick him to-night, Randy, without hitting me. He has me nailed to the wall, and it’s useless to squirm.”
“Are you going to let that blackmailer squeeze money out of you?” indignantly demanded Randall. “I wouldn’t do it.”
“If I refuse, he’ll proclaim to the world my iniquities. I can’t stand for that to-night, Jack. I’ve got to choke him off, and there’s only one way to do it. For goodness’ sake, let me have a paltry one hundred dollars.”
“So he demands a hundred, does he? He’s modest!”