"You're after that money," said Matt, "and you're fooled. You won't get it, and neither will Big John. It has been in Mr. Lorry's hands ever since noon. You didn't think I'd bring ten thousand dollars back with me in cash, did you? The money was in the form of a draft, payable to Mr. Lorry, and it wouldn't have benefited you or Big John any if you had stolen it."
"That's luck for old Lorry, then," answered Ross, pushing his hand into Matt's pockets. "Here's a roll," he added, drawing some bills out of Matt's vest. "It's hardly big enough for the ten thousand, but I reckon we'll have to be satisfied with what we can get."
"If you take that," said Matt, "you'll be in trouble with the law before you're many hours older. So far as San Francisco is concerned, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones; but if you take my money I'll do everything I can to have you caught."
Kinky seemed nervous. Ross, however, was reckless and in an evil temper.
"We'll not get ourselves into trouble," he flared. "By the time we're through with you, my hearty, there won't be anybody to make us trouble."
Ross brought out his flask again and helped himself liberally to its contents.
"Here," he said, extending the flask toward Kinky.
"I guess I've had enough," demurred Kinky.
"Take it, you fool!" cried Ross; "you'll need it before we're done with this night's work."
Not until that moment did Motor Matt realize that here were two enemies who were seriously to be feared. He had thought, when he recognized his captors, that they had merely made a prisoner of him in the hope of securing the ten thousand dollars, but now he realized that there was something more villainous, perhaps more murderous, back of their scheming.