West, his brain clearing rapidly, sat up straighter in the chair, determined to play out his part the best he could.
"Perfectly ready," he replied struggling to control his voice. "Only I should like to know what all this means? Why attack me?"
"You'll find that out soon enough, Captain; but first I'll do the questioning."
"Not until I know one thing, at least--what has become of the man who was with me?"
"Well, I might as well tell you," carelessly. "He got hurt; the fool compelled me to hit him with a gat; so he's out of it, and you might as well come through clean--that guy isn't going to help you any."
"You mean you killed him?"
"Well, he's out of the game; that's enough. And as for you, your best play right now is to talk up straight." He laughed sneeringly, "Unless you want to call up your friend Karvan, at the City Hall, you know. Hell, but you was easy!"
"Easy?"
"That's what I said. I knew you all right when you first blew in, only I wasn't quite sure. Just had a glimpse of you once before. I naturally guessed your smoke-inspector stunt was a sham. So, I ran that Fred Karvan stuff in on you. You ate it up, which gave you clean away, for I never knew any guy of that name. Do you see the point, Captain West?"
"Yes, I see all that plainly enough, but it does not explain the attack on me. You evidently know my name, and this assault has been deliberately made. Why? What have you against me? I have never seen either of you before."
"Perhaps I'll tell you when you explain. What brought you into this neighbourhood. Hunting some one, wasn't you?"
"Not exactly."
"Oh, don't lie; that will bring you nothing, West. You were sticking your nose into a private matter which does not concern you in any way. That's right, isn't it? Very well, you've had your lesson, and now it is simply up to you to either drop this thing, or else take another. It's up to you how far we go. Now listen. I believe it was merely curiosity that brought you here. That's true, isn't it?"
"Largely, yes."
"You suspected something, and wanted to find out if it was so. Well, you came into a bad neighbourhood. We are not nice to your kind around here. What really caused your seeking me?"
"I do not know that I did," West answered honestly. "In fact I haven't the slightest idea who you are."
The other laughed.
"So you are as green as that. Then I'll give you the information. My name is Hobart, Jim Hobart. I am the guy you were looking for?"