“Hush,” cautioned Cora. “We must do something!”
“Do something?” questioned Marita. “Oh, why don’t the boys come?”
Cora and her chums were close to the cabin now. They could look in the door, and through the uncurtained window, and see plainly all that went on. They could also hear plainly, for the men and old Denny spoke loudly. And, as yet, the girls had not been noticed.
“Now, look here!” said Bruce, and there was a snarl in his voice. “This is our last offer, Shane. Either you take the hundred and fifty dollars, and testify the way we want you to, or we’ll find means to make you, and you won’t get the money. And I’ll say this, that we’ll treat the Widow Lewis as fair as we can.”
“Which won’t be fair at all!” burst out Denny. “Not at all!”
“Well, what’s your answer?” cried Kelly. “We can’t stay here all night. Give him the money, Bruce. When he feels it he’ll hate to let it go.”
Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise of Cora and the girls the fisherman took them. Was he going to betray Freda and her mother?
The next instant they knew Denny for the brave-souled man he was.
“That’s me answer!” he cried, throwing the bills in the face of Bruce. “Take your evil money and get out. I’ll stick to the widder!”
For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then, with an angry exclamation, Bruce started forward.