“What I dictate—yes!” Deland cut in sternly. “I heard what you finally said to this cursed dick. He had you driven to the wall. You were ready to throw up your hands, to squeal on your pals, to confess the whole[Pg 33] business. Do you think I would stand for that? Not much, Madison, not much!”
“But he knows——”
“I don’t care what he knows. We must prevent him from making use of it.”
“Impossible.”
“Wait and see! Twice this cursed Carter has foiled my cleverly laid plans, and twice he has sent me to prison. There shall be no third time—not on your life! I’ve got it in for him good and hard. I will send him to the devil on greased rollers. I will send you with him, Madison, if you balk against my demands.”
“You are quite capable of it, Deland.”
“You’ll find I am.”
“What are your demands?” Madison now asked with a growl, apprehending no immediate violence. “What do you mean by that?”
“You know what I mean.”
“On the contrary——”