Chick went to his position and Nick to his.
Nick was about to give the signal, when he heard the voice of Lannigan saying:
“I suppose I’ve got to take it this way.”
“I don’t see how else it is to be done,” said Elwell. “The paper is drawn in such a way as to show that the fifty thousand dollars due you is for value received. You must rely upon me to get the proper acknowledgment of this when you bring the paper to me to-morrow. I will do that and have it properly indorsed by responsible people, who will give a bond for the faithful execution of the requirements of this paper by Seaman. It is the best I can do. We have had business before together and you have found me a man of my word. That ought to stand for something now.”
“I s’pose it must go,” returned Lannigan, in a doubtful and dissatisfied tone. “I suppose I must take my chance that you’re acting on the level.”
“I’m on the level,” said Seaman. “You wouldn’t want me to bring my bondsman here, would you?”
“Not on your life,” said Lannigan. “Anyhow, I’ll take the chance. I may be done out of the money and you may not make the bond good to-morrow, but if you don’t——”
He stopped talking suddenly and there was a pause that lasted some time. Then Elwell spoke:
“There’s no use of your making such threats as that, Lannigan. They are not pleasant.”
“No,” laughed Lannigan, bitterly, “and they won’t be pleasant for either you or Seaman here, if I carry them out.”