“Hand what over?”
“The paper.”
“What paper?”
“You know as well as I,” was the reply, accompanied with a curse. “I saw you take it out of his hand.”
“I do not understand you.”
And the victim struggled to free himself. It was in vain. He was held in a vise-like grip.
“Are you not Colonel Conrad’s nephew?” asked the assailant, beginning to cherish doubts as to having hold of the right man.
“Yes, I am Colonel Conrad’s nephew,” was the reply.
“Then do as I wish, or you’ll be murdered, too.”
“I murdered, too! Please explain yourself. And I’ll thank you to give me a clear idea of what you want. If it is my watch, take it. I am helpless; and to have my throat in the embrace of your arm is far from comfortable. You can have my pocket-book, too, although there is precious little in it. At all events, I wish you would transact your business, whatever it is, and then release me.”