“I’m not going back on you at all, Woody.  But you can’t use me as you used John Stumpy.  It won’t go down.”

“Now don’t get excited, Chris.”

“I’m not excited.  But I know a thing or two just as well as you do.  If there is any exposure to take place, you must stand the brunt of it.  You were a fool to let the boy get ahead of you.”

“I didn’t; it was Stumpy.  He let the boy get hold of Nick Weaver’s statement, and that started the thing.  Then the boy stole some of my papers that were in my desk, and how much information he has now I don’t know.”

“All your own fault,” responded Holtzmann, coolly.  “Why don’t you destroy all the evidence on hand?”

“Do you do that?” asked Mr. Woodward, furiously.

“I do when I think it isn’t going to do me any more good,” replied Holtzmann, evasively.

“Have you destroyed all the evidence in this matter?”

Holtzmann closed one eye.  “I’m not so green as you take me to be,” he replied impressively.  “All my evidence against you is locked up in my safe.”

“You intend to use it against me?” said the merchant.

“Only if it becomes necessary.”

“And yet you pretend to be a friend of mine.”

“I was until you cheated me out of my fair share of the spoils.  But I am satisfied, and willing to let the whole matter rest.”

“What will you take for the papers you hold?”

“Wouldn’t sell them at any price.  I’m not running my head into any trap.”

“It will be all right.”

“Maybe it will, but I’ll run no risk,” He paused a moment.  “I’ll tell you what I will do.  Give me a thousand dollars and I’ll let you see me burn them up.

I was intensely surprised at this proposition, more so, I believe, than was Mr. Woodward.

“A thousand dollars!” he exclaimed.  “Chris, you’re crazy.”

“No, indeed.  I know a thing or two.  What do you suppose the Strongs would pay for them?”

“You don’t mean to say you would play me false?” ejaculated the merchant, hoarsely.

“I mean to say I’d do anything to save myself if you got us into a hole.  As far as I can see, you have allowed this boy to get the best of you at every turn.”

“Humph!  You needn’t talk.  You let him walk right into your confidence the first thing.”

“Only when he told me all about your affairs.”

“Well, let that drop.  Can’t you let me have the papers cheaper?”

“I said I wouldn’t let you have the papers at all.  I’ll burn them up.”

“Will you let me see them?”

Chris Holtzmann’s brow contracted.

“What for?”

“Oh, I only want to make sure of what you’ve got.

“Will you pay the price?”

“Make them cheaper.”

“No.”

“I’ll take them.”

“You mean have them burnt up.”

“Yes.  But I must examine them first.”