“I’m a friend of Tom Ricks’,” returned Scoop, quiet-like, “if that means anything to you.”
“It doesn’t,” and Gennor gave a mean laugh.
“Notwithstanding,” said Scoop, in the same even tone, “it means something to Tom. For I’ve promised to stand by him and protect his father’s invention.”
“No one is trying to steal it.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Say! Who do you mean?”
“I was looking at you.”
“I’ll push your face in.”
“No danger of that,” sneered Scoop. “You might hire somebody to do it for you, but you wouldn’t dare to tackle the job yourself.”
Gennor sprang to his feet.