“So,” replied Elwell, “you are threatening to add murder to your list.”
“No,” replied Lannigan; “I am only telling you that you can’t fool me. That’s all.”
There was a movement and sound as if somebody had thrust back a chair and risen to his feet.
“But what’s the use of talking?” said Lannigan. “You got my say. If you want them papers what’s into that leather case you can get them for fifty thou. I’ll give you until to-morrow, this hour, to think it over, and if you don’t come down I’ll make the best deal I can with the man I took them from, and I know how to do it.”
There was the sound of a step or two and Seaman’s voice was heard.
“Wait a moment, Lannigan,” it said, “I want just a word.”
There was silence some four or five minutes, when Seaman was heard again:
“Lannigan,” he said, “we’ll make you a new offer. We haven’t got the money you demand. It’s a big sum. But I stand ready to make this deal with you now, if you’ll take it. If you will deliver those drawings and the model to me this afternoon, I’ll give you five thousand dollars in cash and my promise in writing, well indorsed, to give you fifty thousand dollars when this thing is sold to the company that stands ready to buy and manufacture.”
There was no reply to this for a moment or two, and Seaman added:
“It’s the best I can do, and in giving you five thousand I give you every cent I have. I can’t make the sale, which is all ready to make for big money, unless I’ve got these things in my hands. And that’s all there is about it. If you don’t take this offer we’ve got to throw up our hands and we won’t owe you a cent.”