other. I'm buying her to get what's on her."

"Suppose I sell you what's on her for $10,000 and keep the ship," said
Cleggett, wondering what WAS on the Jasper B.

"Agreed," said Loge.

"Since we're being so frank with one another," said Cleggett, "would
you mind telling me why you didn't come to me at the start with an
offer to buy, instead of making such a nuisance of yourself?"

"Eh?" Loge appeared genuinely surprised. "Why should I pay you any
money if I could get it, or destroy it, without that? Besides, how was
I to know you could be bought?"

Cleggett wondered more than ever what piece of evidence the hold of the
Jasper B. contained. He felt certain that it was not merely
counterfeit bills. Cleggett determined upon a minute and thorough
search of the hold.

"You'll send for it?" said Cleggett, still trying to get a more
definite idea of what "it" was, without revealing that he did not know.

"I'll come myself with a taxicab," said Loge.

Cleggett rose, smiling; he had found out as much as he could expect to
learn.

"On the whole," he said, "I think that I prefer to keep the Jasper B.
and everything that's in her. But before I leave I must thank you for
the pleasure I have derived from our little talk--and the information
as well. You can hardly imagine how you have interested me. Will you
kindly step back and let me pass?"

Loge got to his feet with a muttered oath; his face went livid and a
muscle worked in his throat; his fingers contracted like the claws of
some big and powerful cat. But, out of respect for Cleggett's pistol,
he stepped backward.

"You have confessed to making counterfeit money," went on Cleggett,
enjoying the situation, "and you have as good as told me that there are
further evidences of crime on board the Jasper B. You can rest assured
that I will find them. You have also betrayed the fact that you
planned to blow my ship up, and there are several other little matters
which you have shed light upon.

"I am not a detective. Nevertheless, I hope in the near future to see
you behind the bars and to help put you there. It may interest you to
know that my opinion of your intellect is no higher than my opinion of
your character. You seem to me to have a vast conceit of your own
cleverness, which is not justified by the facts. You are a very stupid
fellow; a--a--what is the slang word? Boob, I believe."

But while Cleggett was finishing his remarks a subtle change stole