“Why not?”

“I prefer not to answer that question.”

“You think you have a case against me—that you can place me in a tight hole.”

“Well, if all is straight you have nothing to fear.”

“Don’t preach to me, boy. All is straight. I lost my money as well as the others did.”

“This doesn’t look as if you had lost much,” ventured Jerry, as he glanced about the elegant apartment.

“Oh, I have made money since, in a lucky real estate deal in Brooklyn. I won’t keep your papers.”

“I want that door unlocked.”

Slocum muttered something under his breath, and his face grew suddenly red. Like a flash he placed his hands on the flat desk and leaped over it.

“I’ll bring you to terms, you young country fool!” he cried, and made a clutch for Jerry’s collar.