“What do you want?”
Then, as if falling into his mood, Northrup said calmly:
“First, I want the Point.”
Larry’s jaw dropped; but he felt convinced that it was Maclin or he who faced destruction and he meant to let Maclin suffer now as Maclin had once permitted him to suffer. If there was dirty work at the mines Maclin should pay. That was justice––Maclin had made a tool of him.
“I don’t own the Point.” Rivers heard his own voice as if from a distance. He had Mary-Clare’s word that she would help him; the letter had done its overpowering work, but he had left confession and detail until later. Mary-Clare had pleaded for time, and he had come from her with his business unsettled.
“I think after we’ve finished with our talk you can prevail upon your wife to sell the Point to me and say nothing about it.”
Rivers clutched the edge of the table. To his inflamed brain Northrup seemed to know all and everything––he dared not haggle.
“Who are you?” he repeated stammeringly. “What right have you to break into my place and read my papers? All I want to know is, what right have you? I cannot be expected to––to come to terms unless I know that. I should think you might see that.” The bravado was so pitiful and weak that Northrup barely repressed a laugh.
“I don’t want to turn the screws, Rivers,” he said; “and of course you have a right to an answer to your question. I want the Point because I don’t want Maclin to have it. Why he wants it, I’ll find out after. I’m illegally demanding 179 things from you, but there are times when I believe such a course is justifiable in order to save everybody trouble. You could kick me out, or try to, but you won’t. You could have the law on me––but I don’t believe you will want it. Of course you know that I know pretty well what I am about or I would not put myself in your power. So let’s cut out the theatricals. Rivers, this Maclin isn’t any good. Just how rotten he is can be decided later. He’s making a fool of you and you’ll get a fool’s pay. You know this. I’m going to help you, Rivers, if I can. You need all the time there is for––getting away!”
Larry’s face was livid. He was prepared to betray Maclin, but the old power held him captive.