“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Jolls snarled, the politeness in his nasty voice wearing very thin. “That isn’t the only way we’re going to get at your precious Priest. There’s plenty of other strings that we’re pulling, already. Your note won’t be more than a drop in the bucket. It won’t hurt Priest a quarter so much as some of the other things we’re going to do. Don’t let that hurt your sweet young conscience. You might just as well take the thousand dollars I’m giving you, and be easy. “Think, son, just think of the things you can do with that thousand.” Jolls’ voice was soft again, in there. “Why, you can make aeroplane experiments of your own. See here. I haven’t stated the other side, yet. If you _don’t_ write that note, there’ll be two less boys by to-morrow night—not only you, but your young friend Torrington Darby—what is it you call him? Poodle, is it? I won’t tell you what will happen to him, except that we have him in a trap, too. But as for you—” “You make me tired,” Hike could be heard yawning, apparently not much impressed. “I’ll make you much tireder before I get through with you if you don’t write this note,” Jolls roared. “Look here. You ought to know, by this time, after the way you were brought here, and the way you’re guarded, that I can do whatever I want to with you. I might as well admit that I won’t stop short of anything, to land this contract for aeroplanes. I’m going to have it, and if you think a brat like you can put any hindrances in my way, you might just as well get over that idea right _now_! You might as well take this thousand dollars that I’m simply _giving_ you, and be easy. “And if you _don’t_ write that note, let me tell you what will happen to you. I’ll let you have till to-morrow to make up your mind. If you won’t write this note—which I’ll telegraph to your dear friend Priest, signed with your name, in any case, whether you write it or not, so you might just as well—” “Gee, you’ve got a nice little brain,” Hike could be heard laughing. “You just thought of that, didn’t you? Why didn’t you think of it before? You can go ahead and telegraph, all right—so what’s the _use_ of my writing the note? Course you were going to send it by mail, with my writing but—” “Well, the note will be handy for proving _you_ sent the wire,” Jolls declared. “I want it, that’s all you need to know. And if you don’t write it, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll have my men dig out a nice little hole in the marshes below here. You know what they’re like—my men told me about that fool attempt to escape that you made last night. You may remember that there’s one or two mosquitoes there. Well, you will be tied there, and left—without a drop of water to drink. Nothing to eat—your stomach will draw up its sides, you’ll feel faint—oh, you’ll have a nice time. You’ll get weaker and weaker till you can’t lift a finger to chase away the mosquitoes. They will cover you!”