"What money?"
"The thirty thousand you beat me out of to-day."
"How can you get it by taking me with you?" asked Celeste Seldon quietly.
"Why, very easily, miss."
"How so, may I ask?"
"Harding will go on to Last Chance and report that I have you as my prisoner, to hold until the miners pay me the sum of—well, I'll add interest, so call it thirty-five thousand dollars."
"The miners have nothing to do with me, sir, they do not even know me."
"That does not matter, for they are a gallant lot of men, rough though they may look, and many of them be, so, when it is known what I have done, they will chip in generously and the money will be raised very quickly."
"How will you get it?" asked Harding.
"I will meet you on any day we may agree upon, at this spot, with this lady, and you will come alone, as I will, and the exchange of the hostage for the money will be made. If you come with others, or attempt treachery, I swear to you I will kill the girl before your eyes, so if you wish to have that done, play traitor, while, if you act squarely with me, all will be well. What do you say?"