Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/158

144 "What do you mean by that?" Latham advanced.

"You make it plain that you know." McNeal stood his ground. "Stop our pay that's running on in your mind, Price Latham. You've given us none of it. Charge it all back to yourself. But if Eric Hedon's alive we'll cheat you of your pay yet." And he looked at Margaret. Latham retreated.

"You—you won't obey?" he stammered.

"Hit on the head!" McNeal jeered. "You've guessed it."

Latham looked about to the rest. Koehler, quiet, calm, observant, moved a little nearer to McNeal; Brunton and Michaelis were more puzzled, but as Latham looked to them he saw that they too sided with the skipper. Geoff also had drawn away; he was beside his sister and holding her arm. Margaret alone of the five did not meet his eyes as Latham looked toward her. Latham stared at her an instant, then back to the others, and turned and walked away.

"This much more before you go," McNeal called to him commandingly, and Latham