Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/250

 234 He knew what I meant, and there was an ugly look in his eyes, but I gave him no time for action. The colonel was safe enough, and I felt free to give my entire attention to the younger man. Nor did I feel any inclination to deal with him gently. It was his jealousy and malice which were largely responsible for my position of peril, and he had exhibited petty meanness in his treatment of me when he possessed the power. Now, for the moment, at least, that power was mine, and the recollection left me no inclination to be gentle. I gripped him by the collar, twisting my knuckles into his throat, and thrust him down into the chair seat with a violence which caused the fellow to gasp for breath.

"You move when I speak!" I said threateningly. "This is no boy's play. Now put your hands back—oh, farther than that; cross them over each other. Come, do you feel the steel! I do not like you any too well, Raymond; I know your treachery."

"I did nothing against you," he protested wriggling about to gain glimpse of my face. "I had no authority here—" "No, but you had influence, and used it against me. I got the story straight enough, and can guess the reason. You were going to call on me, but you failed to do so."

"Did Captain Fox tell you that?"