Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/431

 “But why—what do I get in return?” puzzled Nace, beads of sweat now dotting his red forehead.

“You will be allowed to remain outside of state-prison until some new piece of crookedness lands you there,” calmly answered Thaxter.

“What d’ye mean! How dare you talk to me in such a slanderous way?” bellowed Nace. “I’ll have the law on you. These men are witnesses that—”

“Sit down,” coldly warned Hatton, tapping something hard in the drawer.

“This is a hold-up,” choked Nace, his eyes now roving about the room as if seeking a place to escape.

“Besides doing what I have directed you will turn over to the town owning the public lot, which you cut and then burned over, the sum of twelve thousand dollars, which Mr. Whitten says will cover the stolen stumpage. Of course the town will put in its surveyors to verify Mr. Whitten’s estimate.”

“Is that all?” huskily asked Nace.

“Not quite. You will cause to be printed within three days an announcement that you have withdrawn from politics and will never