I do not know how it came into the possession of this Merriwell family, and I cannot prove my claim to my own property, so I must recover it in such a manner as is possible.

That is the truth." Wat said nothing.

Somehow he was doubtful, for it did not seem that anybody who was sane could resort to such desperate expedients to recover an ugly old ring that had no particular value save as an heirloom.
As for Frank, he might have believed the strange man's story, but for the fact that the man had told him something entirely different.

One story or the other might be true, but in any case the man in black was a liar.
There was a brief silence, and then Snell asked: "How am I to know that you will surely pay me seventy-five dollars for the ring?
You pounced upon me a few minutes ago as if you would rob me of it if it had been in my possession." "That was all through my eagerness and excitement," declared the man, soothingly.

"I meant you no harm, but I was very anxious." "Well, I don't know; I am afraid I will be left when I get the ring and hand it over, so I guess I'll----" "What ?" Wat edged a little farther away.
"I guess I'll throw up the job," he hesitated.
"Do you still think you can find a way to get the ring ?" "Think so! I know I can get it, sooner or later, if I want to." "Then look here, to prove that I am sincere I will pay you this much in advance.