Mr. Sanders nodded again. “Thank you. I’ll come to the point at once, but I wanted you to understand the situation. I intend to get this Mr. Evans, and get him I shall. Soon—very soon. Much sooner than he expects. There is no way out of it for him. I will get him in the end, and the end is not far off.” The pleasant look had gone from his eyes, and his mouth was hard.
“Why do you want him?” Bill blurted out, and a moment later would have done anything to withdraw his words.
“Ah!” Sanders cried, “I thought so! He has been clever enough to conceal that. Exactly. So that is part of his game! Well, my young friend, it’s part of mine, too. It is nobody’s business at present but Mr. Evans’ and my own. And I tell you, there is no sacrifice I wouldn’t make to meet that man face to face, alone, for ten minutes. Look here, Bolton, to come to brass tacks, how much do you want in hard cash to tell me where Evans is at this moment?”
Sanders leaned forward, his glowering eyes fixed upon Bill’s face.
Bill stared back at him and an angry devil rose within the lad. Bribery—so that was the object of his visit! And the man certainly played his cards well. He insinuated that Mr. Evans was a scoundrel, that Bill himself was being made a tool. That was bad enough, and the astuteness of his argument was apparent, but the bribery business stung young Bolton’s pride. He sprang to his feet, determined to lash out at the white, grinning face.
Sanders held up his hand, reading his purpose. “Bolton, I’m delighted. I can see you’re a good fellow. You refuse to give away your man. If you had fallen for that, I wouldn’t have had much respect for you, would I?”
“What the blazes are you getting at now?” demanded Bill.
“Do sit down, my dear chap.” Again came that quick nod. “I’ve no respect for a fellow who sells his boss—cheaply. I’m not asking you to do that, Bolton.”
“Then what—?”
“Just this. Why not come over to my side? Why not leave a sinking ship and come aboard a sound one? Whatever you’re getting out of this game in hard cash, I’ll double. Row in with me, Bolton. You won’t regret it.”