Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"Seeing that I am not able to deal with you on a business man's basis, I

shall handle you as I would handle any other thief."

Mayo turned to leave, afraid of his own desperate desire to beat that

sneering mouth into shapelessness.

At the head of the companionway stood half a dozen sailors, armed with

iron grate-bars.

"If those papers are on you, I'm going to have them," stated the

financier. "If they are not on you, you'll be glad to tell me where they

are before I get done with you."

The captive halted between the master and the vassals.

"I'm going to crucify my feelings a little more, Mayo," stated Marston.

"Step forward here where those men can't hear. It's important."

Marston knocked softly on a stateroom door and his daughter came forth.

She gasped when she saw this ragged visitor, and in her stare there was

real horror.

"I haven't been able to sift this thing to the bottom. By facing you

two, as I'm doing, I may be able to get the truth of the case," said

Marston, with the air of a magistrate dealing with malefactors. "Now,

Alma, I'll allow you a minute or two to use your tongue on this fine

specimen before my men use their bars."

"I heard what my father offered you. You must take it."

"I have other men to consider--honest men, who have worked hard with

me."

He trembled in their presence. Her appearance put sane thoughts out of

his head and choked the words in his throat. He saw himself in a mirror

and wondered if this were not a dream--if it had not been a dream that

she had ever loved him.

He wanted to put out to her his mutilated hands which he was hiding

behind him. He yearned to explain to her the man's side of the case. He

wanted her to understand what he owed to the men who had risked their

lives to serve him, to make her realize the bond which exists between

men who have toiled and starved together.

"You have yourself to consider, first of all. Much depends. In your

silly notions about a lot of paupers you are throwing my father's

kindness in his face!"

He stammered, unable to frame coherent reply.

"Be sensible. You have no right to put a heap of scrap-iron and a lot of

low creatures ahead of your personal interests."

There was malice in Marston's eyes. He saw an opportunity to make Mayo's

position even more false in the opinion of the girl.