“Now sign it!” cried Bart exultantly. “We’ll see if Merriwell will have any compassion on that whelp after this.”
“What will Morgan do?” whispered Defarge, seeming to hesitate, with the pen uplifted.
“No matter what he does!”
“But you do not think of me! He will be furious! I dare not sign it!”
He was playing his part very well.
“By Heaven! you must sign!” roared Bart.
“But Morgan’s power over me—what revenge will he take? He will be sure to seek revenge on me!”
Under other circumstances, Bart might have seen that Defarge was overdoing the terrified act.
But Bart was blinded by his own hatred of Morgan and his desire to get this signed confession which must convince Merriwell of Dade’s dastardy.
“Sign it!” he cried, “and I’ll protect you from Morgan! Perhaps Morgan will never know how it came about.”