The Adventures of Jimmie Dale [157]
in the third car which he was powerless to stop--which accounts for your presence here. You will admit that I have been quite frank." "Oh, quite!" said Jimmie Dale, a little wearily. "But would you mind telling me what all this is leading to?" The man had been leaning forward in his chair, one hand, palm downward, resting lightly on the desk. He shifted his hand now suddenly to the arm of his chair. "THIS!" he said, and on the desk where his hand had been lay the Tocsin's gold signet ring. Jimmie Dale's face expressed mild curiosity. He could feel the other's eyes boring into him. "We were speaking of ownership," said the man, in a low, menacing tone. "I want to know where the woman who owns this ring can be found to-night." There was no play, no trifling here; the man was in deadly earnest. But it seemed to Jimmie Dale, even with the sense of peril more imminent with every instant, that he could have laughed outright in savage mockery at the irony of the question. Where was she? Even WHO was she? And this was the hour in which he was to have known! "May I look at it?" he requested calmly. The other nodded, but his eyes never left Jimmie Dale. "It will give you an extra moment or so to frame your answer," he said sarcastically. Jimmie Dale ignored the thrust, picked up the ring, examined it deliberately, and set it back again on the table. "Since I do not know who owns it," he said, "I cannot answer your question." "No! Well, then, there is still another matter--a little package that was in the taxicab with you. Where is that?" "See here!" said Jimmie Dale irritably. "This has gone far enough! I have seen no package, large or small, or of any description whatever. You are evidently mistaking me for some one else. You have only to telephone to the St. James Club." He reached toward his pocket for his cardcase. "My name is--" "Dale," supplied the other curtly. "Don't bother about the card, Mr. Dale. We have already taken the liberty of searching you." He rose abruptly from his chair. "I am afraid you do not quite realise your position, Mr. Dale," he said, with an ominous smile. "Let me make it clear. I do not wish to be theatrical about this, but we do not temporise here. You will either answer both of those questions to my satisfaction, OR YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE ALIVE." Jimmie Dale's face hardened. His eyes met the other's steadily. "Ah, I think I begin to see!" he said caustically. "When I have been thoroughly frightened I shall be offered my freedom at a price. A sort of up-to-date game of holdup! The penalty of being a wealthy man! If you had named your figure to begin with, we would have saved a lot of idle talk, and you would have had my answer the sooner: NOTHING!" "Do you know," said the other, in a grimly musing way, "there has always been one man, but only one until now, that I have wished I might add to my present associates. I refer to the so-called Gray Seal. To-night there are two. I pay you the compliment of being the other. But"--he was smiling ominously again--"we are wasting time, Mr. Dale. I am willing to expose my hand to the extent of admitting that the information you are withholding is infinitely more valuable to me than the mere wreaking of reprisal upon you for a refusal to talk. Therefore, if you will answer, I pledge you my word you will be free to leave here within five minutes. If you refuse, you are already aware of the alternative. Well, Mr. Dale?" Who was this man? Jimmie Dale was studying the other's chin, the lips, the white, even teeth, the jet-black hair. Some day the tables might be turned. Could he recognise again this cool, imperturbable ruffian who so callously threatened him with murder? "Well, Mr. Dale? I am waiting!" "I am not a magician," said Jimmie Dale contemptuously. "I could not answer your questions if I wanted to." The other's hand slid instantly to a row of electric buttons on the desk. "Very well, Mr. Dale!" he said quietly. "You do not believe, I see, that I would dare to carry my threat into execution; you perhaps even doubt