“I suppose you know,” said he, “that I could jab this button and have the house policeman up here in about two minutes.”
“Mercy!” gasped Nick, all but tying himself up in a knot.
“Oh, brace up, brace up!” grunted the other. “Haven’t you got any sand at all?”
“How much sand do you expect a man to have when he’s caught red-handed like this?”
“You ought to back your legitimate amount of nerve, no matter what happens. You know, I suppose, that I could send you up for quite a spell for what you have tried to do here this afternoon?”
“Will you hush that yaup?” said the man with the gun, exasperated.
“But if you knew——”
“I know you’re a sneak thief, and that I’ve got you dead to rights. Understand? Now, if you want to do the right thing, there’s a chance for you to square yourself with me.”
“What is it?” cried Nick, eagerly.