"Hamvert swindled Breen out of the one strike he made, and Mrs.Breen and her little girl back here were reduced to poverty.

The amount of that swindle was, I understand, fifteen thousand dollars.

I have ten of it here, contributed by the Weasel and Hamvert; and you will, I think, recognise therein a certain element of poetic justice--but I am still short five thousand dollars." Jimmie Dale removed the cover from the tin can.

Mittel gazed at the contents numbly.
"You perhaps did not hear me ?" prompted Jimmie Dale coldly.

"I am still short five thousand dollars." Mittel circled his lips with the tip of his tongue.
"What do you want ?" he whispered hoarsely.
"The balance of the amount." There was an ominous quiet in Jimmie Dale's voice.