"Oh, curse your fine speeches!" growled the Don. "I did not kill Carr if that is what you are driving at." He paused and cast a look at Joyce. "I see that you have got the better of me. If that white-livered cur had held his tongue--however I must make the best of a bad job. Come, if I answer your questions freely and frankly will you promise not to inform the police of what I tell you?" "No, I can't promise that. If you know where Frisco is you must tell me. I want to have that man hanged." Joyce started up with a cry. "I am sorry Robin, if he is your father, but as he is a murderer also he must--" "One moment," interposed Santiago coolly, "Frisco is no murderer." "Indeed? Then, as you were in possession of the pistol with which Colonel Carr was shot, perhaps you can tell me who used it. That is," said Herrick significantly, "if you did not use it yourself." "I don't use weapons of that sort," said Santiago scornfully, "besides it was my game to frighten Carr, not to kill him." "I see. It was you who sent those warnings in cipher." "You know that do you. Yes, it was I, and to make Carr afraid. He had few good nights after he got those warnings I know." "They were all bluff?" "So far as I was concerned," replied Santiago easily, "but had I chosen they could have been sent in deadly earnest." "I do not understand." "I do not think you will until I explain. But first I must be assured of my own safety before I speak." "Well," said Dr. Jim pulling out his pipe, "its this way you see. I want to get to the bottom of this conspiracy. Also to learn who killed Carr. I could have you arrested on a charge of trying to kill Marsh," here the Mexican muttered a curse on Robin's head and the little man winced. "But if you will prove to me that you did not kill Carr and tell me the whole truth, why I will let you go back to Mexico unharmed." "And if I refuse?" demanded Don Manuel. "In that case I'll call up the police and give you and Joyce in charge for conspiracy and assault with intent to kill." "I did not wish to kill him," protested Manuel, "I only wanted to prevent him going to the vault." "And so allow the money to pass to Frisco," put in Herrick, "very clever. I know all about that. Tell me something new." "If I had only been here before you intimidated this--" "You would have done as he has done," said Herrick; then changing his tone, he spoke sharply. "We are wasting time. Tell me all I want to know; answer my questions, and you shall go free, save that I shall have you watched until the true murderer of Colonel Carr has been found. If you refuse you shall be arrested forthwith." "And if I were to shoot you?" cried Santiago savagely half rising. "You would be hanged, or else you would have to end your own life. Don't I tell you the sound of the shot will bring up the men I have had posted?"