"The letters," said Luke again, "belong to the man that can make the better use of them."
"I'll do the right thing by you, Huber, if you give them back to me."
"Thank you. The real owner of the letters can do more—when I'm for sale."
Leighton bent forward and began to whisper.
"I'll tell you what I'll do for you politically," he began. "I'll——"
"No thank you," said Luke.
"Well, then,"—Leighton, his face now white from fear of loss, appeared to capitulate-"give them back and I'll use them the way you want them used."
The two men's eyes probed one another.
"I don't believe you," said Luke.
It was final, and it drove Leighton back to his purple rage.