“What’s that to me? I care nothing about your brother.”
“Yet you attempted not so very long ago to hold him as a hostage. It was your scheme to force me into dealing with you by holding my brother a prisoner in the hands of your ruffians.”
“Be careful, young man! Don’t accuse me of anything like that! If you do, I’ll——”
“You’ll what?” demanded Merry, grim as flint and cold as ice. “Now, what will you do, Macklyn Morgan?”
“I’ll make you smart for it!”
“It’s about time you learned, sir, that your threats have no effect on me whatever. As I have said, my brother is missing. If he is not in Prescott to-morrow morning, it will be the worse for you. Do you know how I dealt with Milton Sukes? Do you know that I investigated his business methods and found out about his crooked dealings, so that when I was ready to expose him he was driven desperate? Macklyn Morgan, are you immaculate? Do you mean to tell me that your career as a maker of millions has been unspotted? Do you mean to tell me that you never have been concerned in any crooked schemes? I know better, Morgan. I know how a man like you makes his money. As I dealt with Sukes, so I will deal with you! I will investigate. I will learn the truth, and then I will expose you. To-day you may be concerned in several questionable projects. If those schemes are rotten, the world shall know it. I shall take hold of this thing in earnest, and I’ll do for you what I did for Sukes.”
“That’s a threat on my life!” cried Morgan, turning to the others who were near. “Gentlemen, I call on you to bear witness that this man has threatened my life.”
“You know better, sir, I have threatened nothing but your crooked business. Your life is safe as far as I am concerned. But you will see that my brother is in Prescott to-morrow, or I’ll hold you up for the inspection of the whole country and show people what a thoroughbred scoundrel you are! That’s all I have to say to you, sir. Good night.”
Frank turned his back on Morgan and walked out of the room.