"Yes, sir," answered Vernon, with a shiver. "What--er--what about?"
"I want to know why you have been circulating a report calculated to hurt our lumber company."
"Me?" cried Vernon, pretending to be astonished.
"Yes, you."
"I have circulated no report."
"It is useless for you to deny it, young man. I have it upon the best authority that the report came from you."
"What report?"
"That our company was in a bad way financially and liable to go to pieces at any time."
As Richard Anderson finished he closed and locked the door and placed the key in his pocket.
"Hi! what are you doing that for?" gasped Frederic Vernon in alarm.