“I—You—’Tain’t so. I never sold a drop. Mebby I give a friend a drink—jest sociable like. But I hain’t sold.”
“Don’t lie to me, Mr. Bangs. I know.” She allowed her voice to become less cold. “I don’t want to be hard on you, but it looks as if I would have to.... There’s just one way you can save yourself from going to jail.” She dropped that and let it lay while he looked it over.
“Jail!” he said, feebly.
“Exactly.... If you will make a clean breast of the whole thing to me, tell me where you get the liquor, who smuggles it in, all about it, I will give you forty-eight hours to get away.... I’m not after you, Mr. Bangs—but I may have to take you—if you aren’t reasonable.”
“I tell you I never——”
Carmel stood up and turned to the door. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ve given you your chance.... Good-by.”
He clutched her arm. “Hey!—wait! Where you going?”
“To lay my information before the authorities.”
“They—they said the authorities was fixed.”
Carmel laughed. “That’s better,” she said. “Who said the authorities were fixed?”