Hanleigh gazed at them narrowly. So! They were beginning to suspect him!
“I’ve told you,” he said irritably. “I may buy the place, and naturally I want to look the cabin over.”
“Well, there wouldn’t be any harm in letting us look it over too. Listen, Mr. Hanleigh—you’re up to something, and we know it. If you don’t want us to go to Mr. Jefferson and tell him about your visits to the island, you had better kick in with some more money.” Tad Carson sat back and winked at his companion.
Hanleigh was almost speechless with wrath.
“Why—why—you young scoundrels!” he spluttered. “This is blackmail. Why, it’s a hold-up!”
“Call it what you like!” sneered Nash.
“You can’t tell Jefferson anything. I have his full permission to go to the island at any time I want.”
“Is that so? Now, look here, Mr. Hanleigh—you’ve been trying to tell us that you may buy the island. Now, we happen to know that you made Mr. Jefferson an offer for the island and he told you he wouldn’t sell at any price. How about that?”
“It’s—it’s false.”
“It’s the truth,” said Nash.