While speaking, Jack had unconsciously stepped to one side. With a sudden movement Corrigan slipped past him, and made for the open door.
But the young machinist was on the alert, and before the man could realize it, he was sprawling on the floor, with Jack on top of him.
By intuition, he appeared to feel that it would be useless to struggle, and so lay perfectly still.
"I've a good mind to bind you, hands and feet," said Jack. "Close that door, will you, Mont?" he added to his friend.
"Will you let me go if I give up the model?" panted Corrigan, who began to feel the weight of Jack's heavy body upon his chest.
"I don't know. But you've got to give it up, anyway."
"I suppose it's hidden here," put in Mont. "That's probably the reason he's hanging around the place."
"Wherever it is you will never find it without being told," broke in Corrigan.
For well-known reasons he was anxious to get away.
"Oh, let him go, Jack!" exclaimed Deb. "I don't care, now I've got you--and Mont"--the last words with a grateful look at the young man, that caused him to blush. Jack thought the matter over carefully. He was not of a vindictive nature, and bore no personal ill-will against Corrigan.