"Please be seated," said the clerk, and Mr. Shalley and Randy sat down. Then there was a slight pause.
"Mr. Gaffney, I am afraid I have an unpleasant duty to perform," began Andrew Shalley, in a cold, hard voice.
"Why—er—what do you mean?" stammered the clerk.
"I refer to your dealings with my purser, Peter Polk."
"I—er—I haven't had anything to do with him—that is—we had some little business, but——" The clerk was unable to go on.
"You sent him a threatening letter the other day."
"Me? Who says so?"
"I have the letter in my possession."
The clerk winced and the steamboat owner saw that the shot struck home.
"This affair is a very serious one—you know that as well as I do," continued Andrew Shalley. "The fact of the matter is, it is a state's prison offense."