"It's a bally lie. I didn't stay with Bleyer to guard him."
"That's right. You didn't. You came back with the others. But you know what Bleyer did. Out with it."
"I don't admit a word of what you say," said Verinder doggedly.
Colter had trapped him into a half admission, but he did not intend to say any more.
Moya spoke, a little timidly. "Wait a minute please, Mr. Colter. Let me talk with Mr. Verinder alone. I think he'll tell me what you want to know."
Jack's friend looked at her with sharp suspicion. Was she trying to make a dupe of him? Her candid glance denied it.
"All right. Talk to him all you like, but you'll do your talking here," he agreed curtly before he turned on his heel and walked away a few steps.
"You must tell him what he wants to know, Mr. Verinder," urged the young woman in a low voice. "Something has happened to his friend. We must help clear it up."
"I'm not responsible for what has happened to his friend. What do you want me to do? Peach on Bleyer, is that it?"
"No. Send for him and tell Mr. Colter the truth."
"I'll see him hanged and quartered first," he replied angrily.
"If you don't, I'll tell what I know. There's a life at stake," Moya cried, a trace of agitation in her voice.
"Fiddlesticks!" he shrugged. "The fellow's full of tricks. He worked one on us the other night. I'm hanged if I let him play me again."
"You must. I'll tell Captain Kilmeny and Lord Farquhar. I'll not let it rest this way. The matter is serious."
"I'm not going to be bullied into saying a word. That's the long and short of it," he repeated in disgust. "Let Bleyer tell the fellow if he wants to. I'll have nothing to do with it. We're not responsible for what has happened--if anything has."
"Then I'll go and get Mr. Bleyer."
"Just as you please. I'd see this ruffian at Halifax first, if you ask me." The angry color flushed his face again as he thought of the insult to which he had been subjected.
To Colter Moya explained her purpose. He nodded agreement without words.
After two or three attempts she got the superintendent on the telephone at the Mollie Gibson mine and arranged with him that he was to come to the hotel at once. A few minutes later he drove up in his car.
Moya put the case to him.
Bleyer turned to his employer. "You want me to tell Colter what I know?"