Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/54

 Spottiswoode glanced into each of their faces as if asking for suggestions. The Italians seized upon what they supposed a moment of weakness and indecision. With all of that cash in sight, they lost control of themselves, rose together and demanded, "You must give us our money; if you don't we will"

Colonel Spottiswoode swept the money from the table, folded up the bills and poured the jingling sovereigns into his pockets.

"Don't say must to me. I have tried to straighten this game. Now I shall do as I like. You will not let me tell you what was wrong. Now you may protect yourselves the best way you can."

Both Italians drew close to the big German, while Reifenstein suggested, "It seems to me, sir, that the men to whom this money belongs should be consulted."

Colonel Spottiswoode was thoroughly angered and his face began to flush. "I tried to consult them," he said abruptly, "but you are too infernally crazy to get your clutches on a dime."

Castelleone suddenly pointed his finger and said, like a dog barking through a fence, "You're a cheat! You're a cheat!" The Colonel dashed a deck of cards into his face. "You are a swindler," Reifenstein spoke in a lower tone.

"You are a liar," retorted the Colonel.