“Yes, Adamson!” went on the harsh voice of Blind Charlie. “That hits you where you live, eh! You didn’t know I had it, did you? Well, I didn’t till to-day—but I’ve got it now all right! There, my cards are all on the table. Look ’em over. I don’t want Bruce elected any more than you do; but either you do what I say, or by God I turn over to Bruce all I know about the Adamson affair and all I know about this water-works deal! Now I give you just one minute to decide!”
Katherine breathlessly awaited the answer. A space passed. She heard Blind Charlie stand up.
“Time’s up! Good night—and to hell with you!”
“Wait! Wait!” Blake cried.
“Then you accept?”
Blake’s voice shook. “Before I answer, what do you want?”
“I’ve already told you. Half of what you get.”
“But I’m to get very little.”
“Very little!” Blind Charlie’s voice was ironical; it had dropped its tone of crushing menace. “Very little! Now I figure that you’ll get the water-works for a third, or less, of their value. That’ll give you something like half a million at the start-off, not to speak of the regular profits later on. Now as for me,” he concluded drily, “I wouldn’t call that such a very little sum that I’d kick it out of my way if I saw it lying in the road.”
“But no such sum is lying there.”