Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/264

248 "You knew he had a letter?"

"Suppose I did? What's that got to do with it?"

"Everything!" retorted Claudius Brown savagely. "We can't hang 'round here all day. We knew this cub here had a letter an' we know he has n't gone on any farther than your tavern. We can't find th' letter on him an' ye act 's if ye knew more 'bout it than ye 're willin' t' tell. It 'll be all the better for you, Jake, an' for every one concerned, if ye 'll own up to it right now."

"What 'll ye give me, Claud Brown?" laughed Jacob.

"You know what I 'll give ye if ye don't."

Jacob's laugh was irritating, and evidently the leader lost all control over himself. With an exclamation of anger he ordered his men to assist him, and in a few minutes the landlord was standing in tatters not unlike those that partly covered the body of Robert. The longed-for letter, however, was still missing, and the rage of the men now threatened to break all bounds.

"Jake Gunning, will ye own up where th' letter is?"

"No, I won't," said Jacob sturdily.

"He does n't know, I tell you!" interrupted Robert again.