"Speak up, before I shake the truth out of you!" warned Darrin.
"Do you understand that this is a crime, you knave, and that
I can place you under arrest and have you sent to the penitentiary
for years?"
Tony was now sure that he was in the clutch of a Naval officer. Moreover, Darrin's grip was one that spoke of more muscular strength held in reserve.
"Let me go, sare!" begged the Greek, squirming. "This ees all one joke. I do ze man no harm."
For answer, Dave used his left hand to snatch away the bottle that Tony still held.
"Alcohol!" detected Dave, and hurled the bottle to the other end of the alleyway. "And you have been sprinkling it on this midshipman's uniform? You are the fellow who runs the temperance drinks place? A nice business for you to be in—drugging midshipmen and trying to ruin them! To prison you go, unless you limber up your tongue. Who put you up to this miserable business? Talk quickly—or off to a cell you go!"
This was pure bluff, as Dave, being under twenty-one, had no right to make an arrest, even as a citizen. But he saw that he had the Greek scared, and he resolved to push his advantage to the limit.
"Talk this instant, or to the police station you go!" warned Dave.
"Then it will be years before you are a free man again."
"Mercy, Captain!" howled the frightened Greek.
"Then out with the whole truth like lightning!" ordered Dave Darrin.
He accompanied his order with a shaking that made the Greek's teeth rattle.