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diff --git a/old/66724-0.txt b/old/66724-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 552ee51..0000000 --- a/old/66724-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8430 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Four-Fingered Glove, by Nicholas Carter - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Four-Fingered Glove - Or, The Cost of a Lie - -Author: Nicholas Carter - -Release Date: November 14, 2021 [eBook #66724] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Edwards, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOUR-FINGERED GLOVE *** - - - - - The Four-Fingered Glove - - OR, - - THE COST OF A LIE - - BY - - NICHOLAS CARTER - - Author of the celebrated stories of Nick Carter’s adventures, - which are published exclusively in the NEW MAGNET LIBRARY, - conceded to be among the best detective tales ever written. - - [Illustration] - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - - PUBLISHERS - - 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York - - - Copyright, 1904 - - By STREET & SMITH - - The Four-Fingered Glove - - - (Printed in the United States of America) - - All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign - languages, including the Scandinavian. - - * * * * * - - - - - Bill Cody - - -At a rough estimate there are 400 million civilized human beings who -have heard of Bill Cody, not under his real name, but by the name -everybody called him, “Buffalo Bill.” - -His character made him an outstanding figure during a period of the -development of America when a strong character was a matter of vital -necessity. - -We doubt, however, whether the man’s work is fully appreciated, or ever -has been. In the rush and bustle that followed the introduction of the -railroad to the West, the results of Buffalo Bill’s work were more or -less overlooked, but a time is coming when this remarkable man’s -achievements will be fully appreciated. - -This is the character whose adventures are dealt with in Buffalo Bill’s -Border Stories. - -Read them. You will find them of true historical value. - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - - 79 Seventh Avenue New York City - - * * * * * - - Real Cloth Books At 75 Cents - - -We have a line of new 75-cent books which dealers everywhere are selling -under the title of CHELSEA HOUSE POPULAR COPYRIGHTS. - -These books are well bound, are stamped in gold, and make a very -satisfactory addition to one’s bookshelf after they have been read. - -The stories are of the adventure, Western and mystery type, and are -exceptionally good value in the way of cloth-bound books. - -Ask your dealer to show you CHELSEA HOUSE POPULAR COPYRIGHTS. If he does -not carry them send us his name and address and we will send you a list, -and arrange to have your dealer carry them, or else to supply you direct -from this office. - - CHELSEA HOUSE - - 79 Seventh Avenue New York City - - * * * * * - - - - - THE FOUR-FINGERED GLOVE - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -“IF I AM GUILTY, CONVICT ME.” - - -The hands of the clock pointed at half-past five, one beautiful June -morning, when Nick Carter, having just finished with his morning -exercise and cold plunge, was told that there was a gentleman in the -reception-room who wished to see him on matters of the utmost -importance, as soon as he was at liberty to descend, and the servant who -brought the message to her master passed a card through the partly -opened doorway upon which was engraved in fashionable block lettering: - - +--------------------------+ - | REGINALD MEADOWS DANTON. | - | | - |Linden Fells. | - +--------------------------+ - -“Young Danton, of Linden Fells, eh?” murmured the detective, as he -proceeded with his toilet after placing the card on the dresser. “What -in the world can he want at this hour? I should not hesitate to wager a -considerable amount that he has never been out of bed at this hour -before in all his life, unless it was because he had stayed up all -night. Reggie Danton! Humph! Whether he is in trouble or not, it is safe -to say that he believes he is, or he wouldn’t be here to see me so early -in the morning.” - -Ten minutes later Nick entered the room where his caller was awaiting -him, only to find him pacing up and down between the window and the -door, apparently under the greatest strain of excitement. - -Nick Carter’s half-contemptuous, half-humorous remark, “Young Danton, of -Linden Fells,” had been peculiarly appropriate, for Reginald Meadows -Danton exactly filled one’s ideas of a young man of possibilities--and -perhaps probabilities--who hailed from somewhere in the world of society -and wealth. - -He was neither tall nor short, fat nor lean; nor did there seem to be a -distinguishing trait about his appearance or his manner, and yet there -was an indefinable something which compelled a stranger to glance at him -a second time, and then to wonder why he had done so. He was Reggie -Danton to everybody, several times a millionaire in his own right, and -the son of a man who had long since ceased to count his millions by -units, having adopted multiples instead. - -Linden Fells? Well, it was--and still is, although its name has since -been changed--a magnificent estate situated on the bank of the Hudson -River within a reasonable distance of New York. A place where once upon -a time a very rich and eccentric German had brought his family and lived -while he awaited the pardon of his emperor, and who had also brought -with him a love for his own _Unter den Linden_. And as the estate was -heavily wooded, he had given it the name of Linden Fells. Later, when -the pardon came from his emperor, he had sold out for a song and -returned to the fatherland: and so, Horace Danton, the father of Reggie, -became possessed of it. - -Then Linden Fells became transformed. - -From the home of a recluse who used it only as a place of refuge while -he awaited permission to return to his own country, it was turned into -an open house of entertainment, for the Dantons liked to “sling things.” - -Mrs. Danton was a beautiful woman of middle age, who still looked -thirty--scarcely older, in fact, than her two children, Reginald and -Mercedes, aged respectively, twenty-three and nineteen. - -It had happened in the past that Nick Carter had done some little -business for the head of the house of Danton, but it had been of a -commercial character, and he had never met the other members of the -family, although naturally they were all known to him by sight, as well -as by the reputations they had earned for themselves in their own -separate ways. Mrs. Danton--or the señora, as she was often called -because of her Spanish ancestry--because she was a leader of society and -a giver of the most lavish entertainments in New York and Newport; -Reggie, because he was a self-confessed high roller who was inevitably -getting into some sort of hot water and paying his way out of it with -gold--whom everybody talked about, and laughed at, and wondered what he -would do next, but who was nevertheless generally well liked, and among -those who knew him best, respected, too; and Mercedes! - -The reputation of Mercedes Danton can be comprehended in three words. -She was beautiful, she was brilliant, and she was, above all, good. - -Everybody loved Mercedes. Her father adored her; her mother worshiped -her; her brother idolized her; her servitors almost deified her; and she -merited it all. - -Reference to her upon any occasion was comprehended in the utterance of -her first name only. There was but one Mercedes in the world, one queen -of beauty, one fountain of sympathy and goodness--Mercedes. - -She was nineteen, with the poise, the repose and the presence of -twenty-five. She was tall, regal, as graceful as a fawn; she had -unfathomable, gipsy eyes, hair of a dead black, with a faint suggestion -of waviness, and when the light struck it just right, a touch of amber -somewhere in the depth of the tresses which disappeared as it came and -which was inevitably changed to a reflection upon rather than from it; -and with all her somber hair and eyes, her long black lashes and -brunette presence, she had the complexion of an Irish beauty. - -To describe Mercedes as beautiful is inadequate, for she was the -standard of beauty. - -And now, that we have outlined the chain of thought which flitted -through the mind of Nick Carter as he descended the stairs to meet his -early caller, we will return to the moment of their greeting. - -“Good morning, Mr. Danton,” said Nick, as he entered the room. “You rose -early this morning.” - -“Yes. That is--fact is--I haven’t been to bed. Thank you. Yes; I will -sit down. Are you Mr. Carter? Mr. Nick Carter? Pardon me for asking, but -I wish to be sure.” - -“Yes. I am Nick Carter.” - -“I have heard my father speak of you several times, Mr. Carter. I -suppose you are aware that my governor is abroad just now?” - -“I think I noticed in one of the papers, about a month ago, a mention -that he had sailed. I did not know that he had or had not returned.” - -“No. He’s over there still. I say, Mr. Carter, do I look excited?” - -“Well, yes, a little,” replied Nick, smiling. “Has something happened to -upset you?” - -“Well, rather! Do I talk as if I could tell a connected story? Eh?” - -“Why, yes.” - -“You’ll pardon me, I know, but you see I wish to be sure. The fact -is---- by Jove, old chap, I’m all of a tremble yet. I’ve been trying for -the last two hours--all the while, in fact, since I started to come here -to see you, to pull myself together so that I could tell you a connected -story, and ’pon my life I’m not at all sure of myself yet. It’s awful, -you know, Mr. Carter! Horribly awful!” - -“What is?” - -“The murder.” - -“The murder? Do you mean to say that you are speaking seriously and -that you have come here to see me about a murder?” - -“Yes. That’s the long and short of it.” - -“Who is killed? Where was the crime committed? I hope, Mr. Danton, that -this is not a specimen of one of the jokes you are so fond of -perpetrating,” said Nick severely. - -“Joke! gad! I wish it were a joke! No, Mr. Carter, it is very far from -being a joke, I’m sorry to say. It’s a murder of the first water. A -regular gem of the blue-stone variety. An out-and-out, dyed-in-the-wool, -double-back-action, deliberate murder, carefully planned and -scientifically executed, and”--he leaned forward in his chair and looked -the detective straight in the eyes--“the joke will be on me, don’t you -know.” - -“What do you mean, Danton? You will have to be more explicit if you wish -me to pretend to understand you.” - -“Good Lord, I’m trying to be explicit. I mean that I will be accused of -this murder--I mean that there will be developed the best chain of -circumstantial evidence you ever heard of to convict me, and I mean -that----” - -He paused and rose from his chair, crossing the room to the window and -then returning. - -“Well?” said Nick. “What were you about to add to your statement?” - -“I mean,” he said, slowly and impressively, “that I am not, myself, -positive of my own innocence.” - -There was half a moment of silence after that extraordinary statement, -and it was Danton who spoke first. - -“Do you wonder now that I asked you if I looked excited, and if you -thought I could tell a connected story?” - -“In the light of the statement you have just made, it seems doubtful if -you can tell one,” said Nick slowly. “You tell me that there has been a -murder committed, that you will be accused of the crime, that there will -be circumstantial evidence which will tend to convict you of the crime, -and that you are not sure that you are not guilty. Those statements are -rather extraordinary, coming from a man who is supposed to be sane, Mr. -Danton.” - -“Well, all the same, they are God’s truths, every one of them.” - -“Then suppose you tell me why you have come to me at five o’clock in the -morning?” said Nick severely. “If you are not sure that you have not -committed a crime--which is a statement to be taken with a large -proportion of salt--you are more than half convinced that you have -committed one. My business, Mr. Danton, is to catch criminals, not to -protect them.” - -“Well, that’s all right. That’s just what I want you to do. That’s why I -came here at five o’clock in the morning.” - -“Why?” - -“Because I want you to catch and convict the criminal. If I am guilty I -want you to convict me of it, just as if I were not here to engage your -services. I want you to prove who did commit the crime, and if I did it -I want you to prove it to my own satisfaction, as well as to a jury of -twelve men. I’ve been asleep ever since I was born, Mr. Carter, but I -woke up this morning in earnest, and I’m awake now, to stay awake.” - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE QUARREL IN REGINALD DANTON’S ROOM. - - -“You seem to be very much in earnest in what you say, Mr. Danton,” said -the detective. - -“I am very much in earnest, sir.” - -“Well, in the first place, suppose you tell me who is dead. Since you -say that a murder has been committed and it is not unlikely that you did -it, it is well to know something of the _corpus dilecti_. Who was -murdered?” - -“Ramon Orizaba; my mother’s guest.” - -“Your cousin, is he--or rather, was he not?” - -“A kinsman of my mother’s so far removed that the ties of blood are very -thin; still, he has passed as our cousin. You know of him. He has been -our guest, at intervals of two or three months at a time, for half a -dozen seasons.” - -“Oh, yes; I know of him. Now where was he killed?” - -“In my own room at the Fells.” - -“In your room? Where were you?” - -“I was there.” - -“There in the room when he was killed?” - -“Just that.” - -“Then you did it--by accident, perhaps--and that is the reason why you -do not----” - -“No. You’re wrong.” - -“Well, what, then?” - -“I was there when he was killed; at least I suppose I was, but I was -either unconscious, or asleep, for I did not see it done, and I did not -know that he was dead until I awoke, at three o’clock this morning, and -found him.” - -“Had you quarreled?” - -“We always quarreled. There never was a time when we did not quarrel.” - -“How was he killed? What killed him?” - -Danton left his chair and crossed to the window again, but after a -moment he returned and stood facing the detective. - -“I was waiting for that question,” he said slowly, “and wondering when -it would come, for I had not yet determined how I would reply to it. The -fact is, Mr. Carter, I believe that even the coroner and the physicians -will find it difficult to determine at first how Orizaba was killed; but -nevertheless, although I have not examined the body, save to look at one -spot where I expected to find something, I can tell you what killed -him.” - -“Then tell me.” - -“He was killed with a glass needle, three inches in length, and of the -size of a common darning needle. Orizaba’s hair grew very low on the -back of his neck, and the weapon I have described was jabbed into the -vertebra at that point.” - -“So that death was almost instantaneous, I suppose?” - -“It must have been.” - -“Now, how do you know that he was killed as you describe?” - -“Because I looked at that spot to find out.” - -“Why did you look there?” - -“Because I expected to find what I did find.” - -“Why?” - -“Because I had meditated killing him in just that way.” - -“Good God, Mr. Danton----” - -“It’s true.” - -“In that case, I do not see what I can do to assist you. A man who will -meditate such an infamous thing and then have the effrontery to come -here and confess it to me in cold blood expecting me to sympathize with -his troubles, must be beyond the pale of human sympathy.” - -“Wait, Mr. Carter. I quite agree with you--in the abstract; but this is -different.” - -“I cannot determine the nice points of reasoning of that kind, sir.” - -“Just listen to me, won’t you? I have been careful to tell you all the -worst phases of this case first.” - -“There certainly could not be others much worse, unless you are about to -confess that you had progressed so far in your meditations that you had -actually provided yourself with a needle such as you have described.” - -“I had such a needle in my possession,” replied Danton, smiling -pathetically; “and moreover, it has disappeared from its accustomed -place, so I have no means of knowing that it is not the one now actually -imbedded in the neck of my cousin.” - -“Danton,” said the detective, “since you have been in this room with me, -you have succeeded in giving me several very different impressions -concerning you. My first glance at you when I came into the room was -that you had been on a spree and that you had done something which had -the effect of sobering you suddenly, so that you came to me to get you -out of your trouble. The second impression was that you were in real -trouble, but that it concerned another more than yourself. My third was -that you were sincere in your statement that you did not know whether -you had committed a crime or not, and was willing to take the -consequences if you had done so, and my present one is that you are -telling me a story in a slipshod fashion which I do not like, and which -is not calculated to win my appreciation or my assistance. Now, sir, if -you care to prolong this conversation there is only one course for you -to pursue, and that is to tell me your story, commencing at the -beginning and continuing on to the end--and that you do it in some sort -of connected style, so that I can follow you.” - -“Well, sir,” replied Danton, slowly and seriously, “I’ll try. The fact -is, I am almost crazy. I scarcely know what I am saying at all. I have -tried so hard to pull myself together since I started out to find you, -and I have endeavored so strenuously to keep calm since I have been here -that I begin to fear that I shall fail in both.” - -“Tell me your story,” said Nick shortly. - -“Will you permit me to make two beginnings? They seem necessary.” - -“Tell me your story.” - -“Well, in the first place, I attended a banquet at the club last night, -and while there I drank of everything in sight, from cocktails through -the still wines and champagnes to the cordials and cognac. In short, I -became very drunk.” - -“I can believe that. It was not your first experience.” - -“No. Orizaba was with me at the club. We started for home together in -the same cab.” - -“You did not drive out to the Fells in a cab, did you?” - -“Oh, no. We caught a train from the station. I suppose it was the -twelve-thirty, since that is the last train out.” - -“Well?” - -“I remember entering the cab with Orizaba, and I remember leaving the -cab with him at the station; but I do not remember riding in the cars -with him.” - -“That is not surprising. But go on.” - -“I know that when the conductor awakened me and told me we were at the -Fells, I left the train alone. Orizaba was not with me then, for I -remember distinctly that I left the train alone and walked from the -station to the Fells alone.” - -“How far is it?” - -“About half a mile.” - -“Were you still under the influence of the wine you had drank?” - -“Undeniably. In plain English, I was very drunk. So full, in fact, that -I remember that I stopped and held several serious arguments with myself -during that walk of half a mile.” - -“You are sure you talked only to yourself?” - -“Why, yes; at least, that is my impression. I am quite sure that Orizaba -was not with me then.” - -“Yet you are positive that you caught the same train?” - -“Oh, yes.” - -“Well, go on with your story.” - -“It was very warm last night, if you remember. I recall that when I -arrived at the Fells the combination of wine and half a mile walk had -heated me considerably, and I seated myself in one of the piazza chairs -to cool off. Now I cannot tell you whether I sat there one minute or -half an hour, for I don’t know; I only know that it could not have been -more than half an hour, because the train I rode out on is due at the -Fells at one-fifteen, my walk from the station to the house must have -consumed a quarter of an hour, which would bring the time up to two -o’clock, and my watch is stopped at two-thirty.” - -“What has the stopping of your watch got to do with it?” - -“Only this: That I cannot start it. Something inside it is broken, and I -argue that I must have broken it while winding the watch.” - -“Well?” - -“Drunk or sober, I have always been in the habit of winding my watch the -last thing before removing my waistcoat, and never at any other time.” - -“So you think that you stopped your watch by breaking it while winding -it the last thing before going to bed?” - -“Yes; only I didn’t go to bed. In fact, I didn’t make any preparation to -do so, more than to remove my coat and vest. But I am getting ahead of -my story.” - -“Tell it in your own way.” - -“We will say, then, that I went up-stairs at half-past two, after -sitting on the piazza for about half an hour.” - -“Very good.” - -“When I entered my room, Orizaba was there before me.” - -“Ah! So he did come on the same train with you, and doubtless walked -from the station with you also.” - -“That I do not know. The point is that he seemed greatly surprised to -see me--he appeared, when I entered the room, as if I was the last -person he expected to see.” - -“You were evidently sober enough to take cognizance of that fact.” - -“There are reasons why, as you will understand. Orizaba was standing at -my desk when I entered the room. He had turned on the lights, and he had -opened my desk, although I supposed the only key that would open it was -in my pocket. He was looking at something--some of my private letters, I -suppose, when I entered the room, and he dropped them on the desk with -an exclamation of rage, and flew at me like a tiger-cat.” - -“Did you fight?” - -“I don’t know. T don’t think so. I was not angry; only astonished. I -know that we rolled to the floor together and that presently we both -rose to our feet. Then, I remember that I ordered him from the room, and -that he apologized--or tried to do so. But I remember, also, that I -refused to listen to any apologies from him. I was angry, and I told him -that I wanted nothing more to do with him. In fact, I told him many -things that I had long had in mind to tell him some day, and ended by -ordering him from my room again.” - -“Did he go then?” - -“No. He refused to go. He dropped himself into a big chair near one of -the windows and said he would stay where he was until he got ready to -leave.” - -“And what did you do then?” - -“I told him if it wasn’t for the noise it would make I would either -throw him out, or shoot the top of his head off, but as it was, and -because I didn’t want to disturb Mercedes--you know her rooms are quite -near to mine--he could stay where he was if he wanted to, but I warned -him that as soon as I sobered up I would go to my mother and father, -both, and tell them everything I knew about him, and also that I would -see to it that he was kicked out of the house for good.” - -“And then----” - -“He only grinned, and said something about it being a more difficult job -than I supposed to get him out of that family--that he would remain -until he chose to go of his own free will, and----” - -“Well? And----” - -“Well, to be plain, I told him to go to hades. Then I threw myself on -the couch. Every light in the room was going, but I must have fallen -asleep at once.” - -“And the time must have been as late as half-past two o’clock then, you -think.” - -“Yes; or even a little later.” - -“What happened next?” - -“I woke up.” - -“Woke up to find him dead? Is that what you wish to tell me?” - -“Yes; just that, but let me explain the particulars.” - -“Go ahead.” - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE MYSTERY OF THE DEATH WOUND. - - -“I woke up with the feeling that somebody had called to me, and I -started to a sitting posture on the couch before I was aware where I -was. Then, of course, a glance told me my surroundings.” - -“And you still had the impression that somebody had called to you?” - -“Yes.” - -“Called your name?” - -“Yes; and by my middle name, which is never used outside my immediate -family. My father, mother and sister always call me Meadow, or Med.” - -“And your cousin? Did he call you so, also?” - -“Rarely. Usually he addressed me simply as Danton, and at times with the -familiarity of some of my club friends he called me Dan. But I -discouraged such familiarities on his part, for I never liked him. In -fact, I always hated him--despised him, hated him and feared him as -well; but that is part of the story I shall tell you from the second -beginning. You know I asked you to give me two beginnings.” - -“Well; you started wide-awake with the feeling that somebody had called -you, and that your middle name had been used. Go on.” - -“Not wide-awake. I was dazed. There was an instant when I did not know -where I was.” - -“Naturally.” - -“Then there were several moments when I could not remember how I got -there, although I could tell that I was in my own room.” - -“But it all came back to you as you thought it over?” - -“Not all; and what did come back to my recollection came very slowly. -Let me tell you things chronologically.” - -“Certainly.” - -“I rubbed my eyes and saw that I was in my own room. Then I looked -around to see who had called me, and discovered Orizaba seated in the -big chair by the window; but for the life of me I could not remember how -he got there. I leaned back again among the pillows of the couch to -think it over, and then I remembered that somebody had called to me, and -I sung out to Orizaba to know if he had done it. - -“He didn’t answer, and I called to him again, and then it came over me -that we had attended the same banquet at my club, and that we had come -home together--that is, I remembered the cab part of it--and I figured -that he was asleep, and had either spoken my name in his sleep, or I had -dreamed that I heard it. - -“Well, I remained in that position, thinking things over and trying to -get things clear in my mind for several minutes, and then I got up, -stretched myself, looked at my watch, saw it was half-past two----” - -“But you had removed your coat and vest. Where was your watch?” - -“In my vest on a chair beside the couch.” - -“All right. Go on.” - -“My watch said half-past two. I felt rocky, so I turned out three or -four of the lights, leaving only one of them burning, and went into my -bathroom. In about three minutes I was in a cold bath, and nothing in -this world ever felt so good as that did.” - -“It pulled you together, too, did it not?” - -“Amazingly. Things came back to me that I had totally forgotten--but -still I was hazy about Orizaba’s presence in my room, and remembered -nothing of the quarrel.” - -“And then----” - -“I finished my bath and passed back into my room, and so on through it -to the sleeping-room which is just beyond. It was my intention to go to -bed at once, but as I entered my bedroom there was a clock facing me, -and the hands pointed to half-past three. I could not believe that I had -been an hour in the bath, so I went back into the other room and took -another look at my watch, only to discover that it still said half-past -two, and that it had stopped. Then I thought that possibly it was run -down, and I turned the stem, only to discover that the mainspring was -broken. All the same, if I broke that mainspring at half-past two, I had -not slept much more than half an hour in all, taking the time for the -bath into consideration.” - -“That is quite evident.” - -“Well, I turned then to take another look at Orizaba. To tell the truth, -I did not like the idea of his sleeping in my room, and I couldn’t yet -understand why he did so.” - -“Well?” - -“I hesitated a moment or so, and then I crossed the room to his side and -spoke to him. He neither replied nor moved, and so I seized him by the -shoulder and shook him.” - -Danton shuddered as he uttered this last sentence--shuddered and uttered -a low groan. - -“And then----” said Nick. - -“Why, then his head fell over on one side, and I saw that his eyes were -half open, and---- Well, I seemed to know instantly that he was dead.” - -“What did you do then?” - -“I didn’t do anything at first. I only stood there staring at him in -amazed wonder. I think my senses as well as my muscles were paralyzed.” - -“Quite likely.” - -“I replaced him as well as I could, in the position he had occupied -before I shook him out of it, and then I felt of his flesh. It wasn’t -cold and it was not warm. It was sort of clammy. There isn’t anything -else that I know of that feels just as his flesh felt to my touch then.” - -“I can understand that.” - -“Well, the remarkable part of that moment is that everything about our -conduct after we were in my room together, which I have already told -you, came back to me in a flash then, as if I had not forgotten it at -all, and at the same instant I seemed to know what it was that had -killed Orizaba. My God! Mr. Carter, you don’t believe I did it, do you? -You don’t believe I could have done such a thing in my sleep, do you?” - -“No. Emphatically I do not. Go on, Mr. Danton.” - -“I seemed to know what had killed him as well as if I had seen it -done--as perfectly as if I had done it myself, although then it did not -occur to me that I had done it, nor as a surprising fact that I should -seem to know how it was done.” - -“We will go into that later on, Danton. Just now I want you to be -particular to tell me everything that you did from that moment on, until -you entered this room here; and I want you to tell me also, as nearly as -you can, the impressions that fastened themselves on your mind between -that moment and now. There is a subconsciousness here which I wish to -fathom. And--there is one thing which I want you to bear in mind.” - -“What is that?” - -“That no matter what impression you are making upon the mind of Nick -Carter, you have not yet satisfied a jury that you are not detailing a -cleverly concocted story--or, in plain English, that you did not -actually kill Orizaba with deliberation and malice prepense. Do you -understand?” - -“Yes; I understand.” - -“Well, continue from the point where it came over you suddenly that you -knew how the murder was committed. What was it that forced that idea -upon you?” - -“Nothing. It came accidentally. I discovered that in raising his head -to replace it against the upholstering of the chair in the position it -had occupied before I shook him, I was unconsciously examining the back -of his neck under his hair, which, as I have said, grows downward, quite -out of sight below his collar--in fact, below his shirt band when he has -no collar adjusted.” - -“You were searching there unconsciously, you say?” - -“Quite so, it would seem, since I realized suddenly what I was doing, -and only realized it when my search revealed a speck of blood where it -had oozed out and hardened into a crimson bead among the short hair on -the back of his neck.” - -“And then----” - -“Then, still without a full realization of my acts, I wiped away the -speck of blood with my handkerchief--wiped it away with great care and -looked for the sign of a wound underneath the spot where it had been.” - -“Did you find one?” - -“Barely that; nothing more. Just a little mark like the prick of a pin, -turned blue, and altogether unnoticeable unless you should search -diligently for it. I shall come to that again, sir, later, but it -belongs with that part of my story which has the second beginning.” - -“Very good. For the present stick to the text you are on. What did you -do next?” - -“I think in all that I did then I acted automatically. I replaced his -head in position with great care. I even walked around in front of him -to see that he looked quite as naturally asleep as when I first -discovered him.” - -“And then----” - -“In one of the inside compartments of my desk I keep a small metallic -casket in which I store a few treasured keepsakes. Among the things I -kept in that casket was the needle I have already described. It had been -fastened into a cork handle, like the handle of a brad-awl. The casket -was invariably locked--I do not remember ever in my life to have left it -unlocked--but now, when I went to it, it was not only unlocked, but it -was open, and--the needle was not there.” - -“What about the cork handle?” - -“That was there, in place, where it belonged, but the needle had been -broken off short against the cork.” - -“Well, what then?” - -“I took the cork handle from the box and laid it on the desk. Then I -crossed the room to my discarded trousers--for I had not dressed since -my bath and had on only my pajamas--and felt in my pocket for my keys.” - -“You found them?” - -“Yes. Then I crossed back again to the desk, locked the casket and -replaced it where it belonged, after which I closed my desk and locked -it, but not until I had placed the cork handle to one side. Later, I put -it in my pocket and brought it here with me. Here----” - -“Never mind. We will come to that later. You told me in the beginning of -your story that when you entered your room after leaving the piazza, you -found Orizaba there, at your desk, and that the desk was open, although -you believed that you possessed the only key that would fit its lock. -How do you account for that?” - -“I don’t account for it; I only know it is the truth. Every word that I -have told you is the solemn truth, so help me God!” - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -TRYING TO FORGE HIS OWN FETTERS. - - -“What were your personal sensations while all this was taking place? How -did you feel about it all?” asked Nick. - -“That is one of the strangest features of the case, Mr. Carter,” replied -Danton, “for while I seemed to know all about everything, as correctly -as if I had seen the crime committed, it never once occurred to me that -I was myself the guilty party. That aspect of the case was not impressed -upon me till afterward.” - -“When did it first occur to you?” - -“Wait, and I will tell you. Through all that I did from the moment I -discovered that Orizaba was dead until I began to put on my street -clothes, I seem to have acted mechanically, as if I were really two -beings, one of which was watching the other, passively. The finding of -the wound on the back of his neck, the discovery of the open casket, the -broken needle and the empty cork handle--none of those things seemed to -surprise me at all, until I had begun the operation of dressing, and was -in fact half-dressed, when it all came over me with a suddenness that -made me stagger back against the wall like--well, as if I had received a -blow in the face.” - -“What came over you? What made you stagger?” - -“The thought that perhaps I might have committed that horrible deed in -my sleep.” - -“No, sir! Disabuse your mind of any such thought as that, now and -forever. You did not do murder in your sleep.” - -“Well, I know that I did not do it at all, then.” - -“Certainly you know that. Others do not and will not. But you may rest -assured that no person on earth will ever believe that you did it in -your sleep, and I least of all. And was that all that came over you and -made you stagger back against the wall?” - -“No; not all.” - -“Well, what else?” - -“The thought of Mercedes.” - -“What had the thought of your sister to do with it?” asked Nick. - -“It was the thought of what she would think of the matter that brought -home to me the possibility that I had committed the crime in my sleep.” - -“How so?” - -“Simply because I have more than once told Mercedes--in jest of course, -only she did not always believe that I was in jest--that some day I -would kill Orizaba.” - -“Indeed. You have often made that threat to her, have you?” - -“A hundred times; perhaps more. Very often. I have even showed her the -needle.” - -“Ah! The needle again. You say you have shown it to your sister?” - -“Yes; twice.” - -“And she knew where you kept it?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Where did you obtain it?” - -“It was given to me three years ago in Paris. It has a grewsome history, -but whether it is true or not, I do not know. I only know that I was -told that it had for years been the favorite sort of weapon for a -famous--or rather an infamous--murderer, who was at last beheaded for -his crimes. It was said that this needle was found in his possession -when he was last captured.” - -“A French criminal named Cadillac. I know of him. The story is doubtless -true. But to return to your sister. Why did you show her the needle and -threaten to use it on your cousin?” - -“Mr. Carter, if you don’t mind, I would much prefer that you do not -refer to Orizaba as my cousin. At best the relationship was so far -removed that it cannot be considered, and I really doubt if there was -any at all. I think he was an impostor, and whether he was or not, and -notwithstanding the fact that he is dead and I am not sure that I did -not kill him in my sleep, or somehow, I know he was a scoundrel of the -worst sort. I hope I did not kill him, but I can truthfully say that I -am glad that he is dead. Don’t call him my cousin.” - -“Very well. Now let us return to your sister.” - -“Well?” - -“Why did you show the needle to her and threaten to use it on Orizaba?” - -“The answer to that question belongs to the other story.” - -“Never mind. Let me have it now.” - -“Mercedes has known, ever since we have had any knowledge of Orizaba, -that I hated him. In a word, my hatred of him has arisen chiefly because -of his determined court paid to her. I have known all along that he was -totally unworthy of her, but----” - -“Then why did you not put a stop to his attentions at once?” - -“Because Mercedes would not permit it.” - -“Ah!” - -“For some reason she chose to defend him always--that is, whenever I -attacked him.” - -“Do you mean by that, that she favored his suit?” - -“No; I do not mean that, for that is what she did not do. I have never -thought that she favored him, and yet on more than one occasion she has -constituted herself a sort of quasi protectress over him whenever we -have had our accustomed three-cornered fight at the home concerning -him.” - -“What do you mean by accustomed three-cornered fight?” - -“I refer to wordy battles which often took place among my mother, my -sister, and myself concerning Orizaba. These were usually begun in -raillery, but always ended in bitter words.” - -“And on such occasions you say that your sister championed Orizaba?” - -“Championed is not the word; it is too strong. She took his part, if -that expression can be said to mean anything.” - -“I understand. Now let us return to the room, and to the moment when you -staggered back against the wall with the thought in your mind that your -sister would believe that you had carried out your threat and killed -Orizaba. Was there any other reason than those you have mentioned why it -should suddenly have occurred to you that she would think you guilty of -the crime?” - -“Yes. One other.” - -“What was that?” - -“Merely the fact that the very last words I uttered to Mercedes before I -left the house last night to attend the banquet referred to such a -possibility.” - -“How? In what manner? Explain.” - -“She came into my room just as I was on the point of leaving it to come -here to the city for the banquet. When she entered the room I was seated -at my desk engaged in addressing the envelope of a letter I had just -written, and which I wished to post when I went out. The casket in which -I kept the needle was open on the desk before me----” - -“How did that happen?” - -“I had opened it to get out a diamond stud which I was then wearing, and -I had not yet closed and locked the casket and returned it to its -place.” - -“Well? Mercedes entered the room; what then?” - -“She expressed the wish that I would enjoy myself at the banquet, and -also the hope that I would drink less wine than usual. I replied that -when she and my mother decided to rid the house of Orizaba I would be -willing to give up wine altogether, and that the mere fact that he was -to be present at the banquet was sufficient to make me get drunk, and I -closed my remarks by taking Cadillac’s needle from the casket and -holding it up to her view. - -“‘As surely as there is a kingdom of heaven,’ I said, ‘I’ll jab this -thing into his vertebra some day if he hangs around here much longer. -I’ve had about all of him that I can stand.’” - -“What reply did she make?” - -“None whatever. She rose and left the room. Five minutes later I left -the house and came to New York.” - -“But you returned the needle to the casket?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Did you lock the casket?” - -“I did.” - -“You are positive of that?” - -“Certainly.” - -“And the desk itself?” - -“I am equally positive that I locked that also.” - -“Well, now let us return again to the moment when after the discovery of -Orizaba’s death you staggered back against the wall. What did you do -next, after that?” - -“I finished my dressing with all the haste I could command. I put the -cork handle of Cadillac’s needle in my pocket. I locked the casket and -put it away again. I locked the desk. I tiptoed around the room with -great care, and as far as I was able to do so in my more or less dazed -condition, I left things exactly as I supposed they were before I -returned there from the banquet. Then I came out of the house silently, -hurried to the station, caught the four-ten train for the city, and here -I am.” - -“Did you suppose that you could cover up the fact that you had returned -to the house in company with the man who is now dead?” - -“I supposed so at the time I attempted to accomplish it; I know now that -such a thing would be impossible. There is the cab driver who took us to -the station here in the city; there is the good-natured conductor who -knows me, who waked me when we were approaching our station; he has -waked me many times in the same manner and he would not forget it. There -is the conductor who came down on the four-ten train, who expressed -unbounded surprise because I was going to the city so early in the -morning. He had never seen me going in that direction at that time of -day before, and he even asked me, jokingly, if there was anybody dead at -the house, and I, like a fool, replied to him.” - -“What did you say?” - -“I told him yes; that Orizaba was dead.” - -Nick Carter almost laughed, so bright was the smile that suffused his -face. - -“It seems to you now that it was a foolish thing for you to do, to tell -the conductor that Orizaba was dead,” he said, “but I will assure you -that it was in reality the most sensible thing you have done in this -whole affair. Now, two or three more questions, and then we will start -at once for the Fells. We should be able to get there, I think, before -the body of Ramon Orizaba is discovered, since it is not likely that any -one will enter your room at this hour in the morning.” - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -BROKEN LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF CLUES. - - -“What are the other questions, Mr. Carter?” asked Danton. - -“I merely want you to tell me in as few words as possible the other -story you have referred to several times.” - -“It is only about Ramon Orizaba.” - -“That is why I wish to hear it.” - -“I first knew of his existence about five years ago; I think, also, that -my mother heard of him for the first time then. He came to her, during -my absence, with letters of introduction which are said to have -established his relationship to her. I have never correctly understood -what that relationship is, more than that he was a distant cousin on her -mother’s side of the family. Nevertheless, Mr. Carter, I have long been -convinced that there was something--some relationship, some power, some -parcel of family history, some deviltry of some kind somewhere, which -accounted for the studied insolence he often assumed to me and to -others, and more than once, in his cups, he has as much as told me that -it was out of my power to drive him out of the family.” - -“You are making a strong insinuation against your own family, Danton.” - -“I insinuate nothing against my mother; you must not understand me in -that way. She is, and always has been, the soul of goodness. She is so -good that she would suffer untold tortures to protect others, if she -considered it a part of her duty to another to do so. It is some hold -like that which this man had upon her, in my opinion.” - -“But you do not even conjecture what it was?” - -“No.” - -“Do you think your sister might know what it was?” - -“I am positive that she does know.” - -“And her being thus informed would account for her standing between you -and Orizaba in your quarrels, would it not?” - -“Naturally.” - -“So, in reality, she was not protecting Orizaba on such occasions, but -merely standing for her mother.” - -“Yes. I see that now, but I assure you it never impressed me in that way -before.” - -“You heard of the man first about five years ago. How long has he been -considered a quasi member of your family?” - -“Certainly for three years; in reality I have no doubt that my mother -has supplied him with funds for a much longer time.” - -“You have not mentioned that fact before. Why, in your opinion, should -she do that?” - -“Heaven only knows! I know that he had no supply of money of his own. He -has confessed as much to me. I have known of several occasions when he -has obtained money from her. I know them only by implication, of course, -but I am as certain of the facts as if I had witnessed the transactions. -And I do know positively of one occasion when Mercedes gave him a -thousand dollars. She said it was a loan when I upbraided her for it, -but I know that he never returned it, and that he never intended to do -so.” - -“How old a man was Orizaba?” - -“He was thirty last Sunday.” - -“Now, Danton, pay strict attention to the next few questions.” - -“All right. I’m ready.” - -“It is impossible that Orizaba should have killed himself, is it not?” - -“Absolutely so, under the circumstances, since the handle of Cadillac’s -needle was returned to its place.” - -“You are equally positive that you did not kill him?” - -“Unless I did so in my sleep, and am therefore entirely unconscious of -the act. I know that I did not touch him.” - -“And you are equally sure that he was dead? You are positive that in -your dazed condition you could not have been mistaken?” - -“Oh, I am certain of all that.” - -“And that the needle that is missing from this cork handle which you -have just placed in my hand is now imbedded in the back of his neck?” - -“I know that the needle was in the cork at the last moment before I left -my room to go to the banquet. I know that the needle is not there now. I -know that there is--or was--the mark of a wound such as that needle -would have made at the back of his neck. I know that there was a spot--a -bead--of blood there, which I wiped away with a handkerchief, and that -in wiping the spot I was certain that I could detect, by a pressure of -my finger, the presence of the end of the needle under the skin.” - -“And yet you also know that the casket in which the needle was kept by -you was locked and that the only key that exists within your knowledge -which will open it was in your pocket--by the way, were your keys in -your trousers or in your waistcoat?” - -“In my trousers.” - -“And you did not remove them when you threw yourself on the couch to -sleep?” - -“No.” - -“But you admit that you were very full of wine.” - -“Just about as full as I could be and walk.” - -“So that when you dropped asleep in that condition any person might have -gone through your pockets and removed everything you possessed without -disturbing you, don’t you think?” - -“Yes. I hadn’t thought of that, but it is as true as gospel.” - -“But--although you are equally positive that you locked your desk before -you left the house to attend the banquet--yet you are certain that when -you entered your room after having fallen asleep on the piazza and -remained there approximately half an hour, you saw Ramon Orizaba -standing at your open desk. Now is there a possibility that you are -mixed about that part of the story? Remember, you were not sober at the -time.” - -“Nevertheless, I do not think I am mistaken about it. Of course it is -possible that I am deceived, but I do not think so.” - -“Now, supposing you to be correct on that point, have you any idea why -Orizaba was searching your desk?” - -“Not an idea in the world.” - -“Had he, to your knowledge, ever done such a thing as that before?” - -“No; never--at least, not that I have suspected.” - -“Have you ever had reason to suppose that any person has opened your -desk in your absence?” - -“N-n-no.” - -“You seem to hesitate in your answer.” - -“Well, such a thought has never actually occurred to me before, but now -that you suggest it, I am reminded that there have been several times -when I have been annoyed by little things which I attributed to my own -carelessness.” - -“Such as----” - -“Such as discovering papers or letters in pigeonholes where they did not -belong. Such as searching for things that were not in their proper -places when I found them. I am extremely methodical about some of my -habits, and it is one of my boasts that I could go to my desk at night -and place my hand on anything I desired to find there.” - -“And yet you have occasionally found things not in their accustomed -places, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -“When was the first experience of that kind?” - -“I don’t remember. Two or three years ago, perhaps.” - -“Has it happened frequently?” - -“No. Several times, I should say; but at long intervals.” - -“Do you keep a check-book in your desk?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Are you as systematic and methodical concerning the stubs in your -check-book as you are about the arrangement of your desk?” - -“I am afraid not.” - -“Now, go back to the time when you left the train at the Fells, on your -way home from the banquet. You say you have no recollection that Orizaba -was with you during the walk from the station to the house?” - -“None whatever.” - -“And yet you say that you stopped two or three times and indulged in -soliloquies--held animated dialogues with the lamp-posts and the -telegraph-poles, eh?” - -“Oh, yes; there is no doubt of that.” - -“When you reached the piazza and dropped into a chair there, are you -sure that you were alone?” - -“As sure as I am of anything at all. Everything is more or less hazy, -you know.” - -“But half an hour later, or thereabouts, when you went to your room, -Orizaba was standing at your desk, which was open?” - -“Yes.” - -“And there was no train that could have arrived from the city in the -meantime?” - -“Not unless it was a special.” - -“Now, with your knowledge of Orizaba and his habits, of the relations he -occupied in the household, of the acquaintances he cultivated, can you -offer any suggestion concerning the identity of any person who might -have killed him? I don’t necessarily mean who did kill him, but who -might have done so at any time or place?” - -“Nobody but Reginald Meadows Danton--myself. The fact is, Carter, -Orizaba was generally well liked. He was quite a favorite at the club. I -don’t know that he had an enemy in the world, save myself--and possibly -my father. Only, of course, the governor is out of the question. He’s in -Europe, anyhow; and, besides, his dislike for Orizaba was only general. -He disliked to have strangers around the house at any time. We have -always entertained lavishly, but it was always a bore to the governor. -Dear old dad hasn’t an ambition in life that hasn’t the dollar sign in -front of it. You must not get the idea that because I hated and despised -Orizaba that everybody else did the same. On the contrary, he was a -general favorite.” - -“Very well, Danton,” said the detective, rising from his chair. “If you -will wait here while I make some changes in my apparel I will rejoin you -presently and we will catch the six-thirty train for the Fells. For the -present, I advise you to give the impression that you have not been, at -the house before, this morning, and if the body of Orizaba has not -already been found we will discover it. After that we must be guided by -events. My presence with you, you can explain on the plea that I am a -Mr. Felix Parsons, of London, an old friend whom you unexpectedly met at -the club.” - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE PICTURE IN THE ROSE-GARDEN. - - -Nick Carter and his young client walked from the station to the Fells, -and while they were on their way the detective took occasion to refer to -another point that had been mentioned by Danton, and one to which he had -especially objected at the time it was made. - -“In the beginning of our conversation this morning,” he said, “you used -the expression that you had long ‘meditated’ killing Orizaba some day. -Later, you told me about the needle, but I have not yet gone into that -subject of meditation. I would like to know exactly what you meant by -the use of that word in connection with the possible death of Ramon -Orizaba.” - -“I don’t think I meant the expression to be understood in exactly the -way you took it,” replied Danton. “I did not mean that I had actually -meditated murdering him.” - -“It sounded very much like such a statement.” - -“Well, I will tell you how I have meditated upon his death by violence. -If the consequences of committing such a deed were purely physical--if -there were no moral side to the question--if the only thing that I -could have outraged by the commission of such an act had been the law, I -think I should have killed him long ago.” - -“That is an extremely dangerous sentiment for you to express under the -existing circumstances, Danton.” - -“Oh, I know that; but that isn’t the point. When I meditated upon his -death it was in the form of thinking out regrets that, because of the -moral and mental aspects of the case, I was debarred from killing him. I -have wished that we might both return to savagery long enough for me to -take his life without experiencing regret for the act afterward. I -wanted him dead and I wanted to kill him, but I never for an instant -considered the possibility that I would do so; precisely in the same -ratio in which my adventurous spirit is always stirred whenever I read -of an expedition to the North Pole.” - -“How is that?” - -“Why, I meditate upon going there myself. I haven’t a doubt but that I -could accomplish it much more satisfactory than Peary has ever done. I -have meditated upon the accomplishment of such an expedition so many -times that I have well-defined plans for the work, and yet if the money, -the men, the ships and everything were placed at my disposal in the -midst of one of those meditative journeys I would no more have -undertaken it than I would seriously have considered the cold-blooded -murder that had occurred. Do you understand me?” - -“Yes. I think I do. A journey to the North Pole is one of your dreams -which you make use of on account of its soporific effect, when you are -composing yourself for sleep; and the death of Orizaba was one of your -dreams which you used in connection with the happiness of your home -life.” - -“Exactly.” - -“Then I think we understand each other.” - -“No, Mr. Carter. Not quite.” - -“Well, what else?” - -“I would like to ask you a few questions.” - -“Ask them.” - -“You have assured me that you do not believe that I could have killed -Orizaba in my sleep.” - -“I have; emphatically.” - -“You are certain that such a thing did not happen?” - -“I feel as positive as if I knew by observation that it did not.” - -“You have not assured me of your conviction that my hand did not strike -that needle into his neck.” - -“Have I not?” - -“No.” - -“Do you need that assurance from me?” - -“I would like to have it.” - -“Why? Are you not satisfied on that point in your own mind?” - -“Not exactly. I know that I did not do the deed knowingly; but----” - -“But what?” - -“This: I know what it is to do things when under the influence of -liquor, and to have absolutely no recollection afterward of having done -them. I have awakened in the morning many a time with no remembrance of -places I had visited while I was intoxicated. I have met friends often, -on the day succeeding some such spree, and have been told by them of -incidents that took place the preceding night--incidents in which I had -a part, but of which I retained absolutely no recollection.” - -“That is a common experience with men who drink to excess, Danton.” - -“Yes, I know; but here is another point connected with it. In the -majority of cases of the sort I have described, a rehearsal of the -incidents recalls them to mind--I remember them, or rather recall them -when reminded of them; but there have been other cases where such -periods have remained total blanks in my mind, and which no sort of -reminder could recall to my recollection.” - -“That is not unusual, either.” - -“Well, is it possible that I might have killed Orizaba while drunk and -have totally forgotten it?” - -“No. I am sure it is not possible.” - -“Do you mean that?” - -“Certainly I mean it.” - -“Then you believe that I am not responsible for the death of Orizaba? I -want your assurance of that, if you can give it.” - -“Very well, my young friend, then you have it. I believe that you are no -more responsible for the death of Ramon Orizaba than I am--unless the -fact that you owned the weapon that killed him may be said to convey -responsibility. But, Danton, I am not at all sure that you did own it.” - -“You are not?” - -“No. The needle is missing from your desk. You think you wiped away a -spot of blood from the back of his neck. You believe that the needle was -imbedded in his neck at the time because you think you detected its -presence there. It remains to be seen if your conclusions, arrived at -when you were not in a responsible condition of mind, are correct. How -do you feel now, by the way?” - -“Rocky; terribly rocky and shaky.” - -Nick put out one hand and rested it on the shoulder of his companion. - -“Danton,” he said, “I feel that the very best tonic I can give you for -your services is to tell you how much I admire your conduct this -morning. You have done nobly, and you have acted bravely and almost -fearlessly. You have won my respect, my faith and my lasting friendship -for all time, by your conduct since I found you awaiting me in the -reception-room at my house. Be as brave through the ordeals you will -have to face as you have been in the beginning, and take my word for it -the clouds will disappear.” - -Danton came to an abrupt stop, and there were tears in his eyes as he -turned and faced the detective. - -“You mustn’t talk to me like that, old chap, don’t you know,” he said. -“I’ve been up against it awful hard since I found that dead body in the -chair in my room, and I can tell you right now that ‘Little Reggie’s -wild-oats’ days are over, and that’s no dream.” - -“Good for you. I believe you are in earnest.” - -“In earnest? So much so that if you had told me just now that there was -a possibility that I might, even unconsciously, be the murderer, I -should have gone directly and given myself up and faced the music. Thank -Heaven, it is not necessary.” - -They were ascending the long pathway which led to the side entrance of -the house, and as Danton ceased speaking he raised his arm and pointed -across the lawn. - -Nick turned, and his eyes encountered a vision of beauty such as never -before in his life had he encountered, and the memory of which remained -with him to the end of his life. - -It was the month of June, it will be remembered, and a great part of the -garden was given up to the cultivation of roses. There were thousands of -them in bloom, from the purest white to the deep and haughty red of the -jacqueminot, and they clung to low bushes and to high ones. They climbed -upon trellises and peeped from interstices in the lattice work built by -the gardener to support them. They hung in clusters far out of reach -overhead, and they smiled up from the dew-laden leaves and grasses in -the beds. Roses in all their richness, in all the magnificent and -munificent glory of strength, and color and grace. Roses! Roses -everywhere. And in the very midst of them, framed in nature’s richest -and most priceless work, dressed in a simple white morning gown with the -glory of her hair glistening in the slanting sun, with her eyes -sparkling irridescently and her lips parted in a smile, and with -festoons of roses hanging from her shoulders and arms, encircling her -neck and filling her hands, stood Mercedes, looking toward her brother -and his companion. - -Involuntarily Nick Carter raised his hat and bowed--to the matchless -beauty of the scene more than to the young woman who completed it. And -then he was conscious of a shiver that went through him like an electric -shock when he suddenly remembered the cold and silent clod of clay that -was sitting so still in a chair somewhere in the house before him, whose -dead eyes would never look upon this scene, whose senseless nostrils -could never again expand to meet the fragrance of that June -morning--that useless body which only yesterday had been as filled with -hopes and longings as any person alive. - -“It is your sister, is it not?” said Nick in a low tone to Danton. - -“Yes.” - -“Take me to her. It is an excellent moment for me to make her -acquaintance. Remember, I am a friend from England--Mr. Felix Parsons, -in the diplomatic service.” - -She saw that they were approaching her, and waited where she was for -them to draw near, and Nick saw at a glance that she had eyes only for -her brother. - -He saw, too, that her smile expanded as they came nearer to her; that a -look of pleased surprise came into her eyes as she studied her brother, -and he knew that it was because, although he had attended a banquet and -been out all the night, he showed never a sign of the effects of it--of -the wines he had drank, of the liquors he had imbibed; and then he was -presented to her. - -“Mercedes,” said Danton, “this is an old friend and a very dear -friend--Mr. Parsons. Felix, this is the best, the sweetest and the -dearest sister that ever blessed a young scapegrace in this world.” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE DETECTIVE’S SEARCH FOR CLUES. - - -Greetings had scarcely been exchanged when they were interrupted by the -appearance of young Danton’s valet, who approached them rapidly across -the lawn, and, pausing while still some distance from them, called out -in a low tone: - -“May I have a word with you, Mr. Reginald?” - -Danton swept one lightninglike glance upon Nick, and crossed over to -where the valet was waiting. - -“What is it, Rogers?” he asked. - -“I had occasion to visit your rooms, just now, sir,” said the valet in a -low tone, which was inaudible to the others. “Mr. Orizaba is there, -sir.” - -“Orizaba? In my rooms? How is that?” asked Danton in well-simulated -surprise. - -“I do not know how it is, sir, only that he is there; but that is not -all, sir.” - -“Well? What more?” - -“He is in the big chair near the south window, sir. I supposed he was -sleeping, and, knowing that you would be offended if you returned and -discovered him there, I sought to awaken him, sir.” - -“Sought to awaken him! Why didn’t you do it?” - -“He would not awaken, sir.” - -“What the devil do you mean, Rogers?” - -“He would not wake up, because he could not, sir. He is dead.” - -“Dead! Good heavens! You must be mistaken!” - -“He is dead, sir; and quite cold. I saw you as you approached the house, -almost at the same moment that I discovered him, sir, and so I came -directly to you. Will you tell me what to do next, sir?” - -“Yes; send one of the stable-boys for a doctor as quickly as he can go. -Say that Orizaba is ill. Bring the doctor to my rooms as soon as he -arrives. In the meantime, tell nobody of your discovery. I will go with -my friend to my rooms at once. Go. Wait at the stable for the doctor, -and then bring him to me at once.” - -Then, as Rogers turned away, Danton called out: - -“Oh, Felix. I am going to my rooms. My man tells me that Orizaba is -there, and that he is ill! Will you come with me?” - -With a murmured apology to Mercedes, Nick rejoined Danton, and together -they entered the house and proceeded at once to Danton’s rooms. - -Nick nodded his approval when Danton related the conversation that had -taken place between him and his valet, but he made no comment. But when -they entered and closed the door behind them, he said: - -“It may prove a little bit harder for you in the end, to attempt to -carry the impression now, that you were not at home early this morning, -but it is decidedly better in view of my idea of what is to come. Your -sister seemed to take the news that Orizaba is ill with very little -concern.” - -“Oh, she expected that we would both be out of the counting to-day. I -usually am when I have been to a banquet. She thinks his illness is only -the effects of his night out, and his presence in my room due to his not -being able to find his own.” - -“I see,” said the detective--but it was evident that he had other ideas -concerning Mercedes’ reception of the news; however, he said nothing -more on the subject, but at once busied himself in examining the room. - -Orizaba’s position in the chair was precisely as Danton had described -it. - -A rapid, but careful, inspection of the back of his neck disclosed a -small blue mark, not larger than the head of a pin, where the needle -had entered the flesh. Around it there was no sign whatever of a wound, -and there was not a thing that could be discovered externally, to -indicate that an instrument of death had entered there. - -“It is too bad that I cannot go deeper into that question here and now,” -said Nick, “but for obvious reasons the body must not be disturbed until -after the doctor and the coroner have viewed it--and, anyhow, the body -itself is the least of my concerns just now.” - -Suddenly he glanced up sharply at Danton, who was watching him eagerly. - -“Did you have a shower in this neighborhood yesterday?” he asked. - -“Yes. A light one; late in the afternoon.” - -“Are you wearing the shoes you wore at the banquet, or did you put on a -different pair when you started to find me?” - -“I changed them.” - -“Where are the ones you wore to the banquet?” - -“Here.” - -“Let me see them. Ah! I thought so.” - -“What?” - -“Never mind, just now. You think that half an hour might have elapsed -while you were asleep in the piazza chair. Yes. I remember. Here is a -small stain of ink on the ends of the thumb and first finger of -Orizaba’s right hand, as if he had used them to pick an obstruction from -the point of a pen--a hair, for example. Tell me, was Orizaba -left-handed? Did he write with his left hand?” - -“With either. With one almost as well as with the other.” - -“And you use purple ink on your desk, I take it, eh?” - -“Yes. I do.” - -“Good. Where are the clothes you wore to the banquet? Get them, for we -must work rapidly in order to be through before the doctor arrives.” - -“Here,” replied Danton, and he brought them from a chair in the bedroom, -where he had thrown them down carelessly. - -Nick examined them carefully and then returned them to their owner. - -“They are all right,” he said. “Hang them, if you can, in their -accustomed place, where your valet keeps them. When you have done that, -come here.” - -Danton returned in a moment and took his place beside Nick. - -“Well?” he inquired. - -“Look there,” said Nick, pointing at the bottom of the legs of the -trousers on the dead man. “Tell me what you see.” - -“Only a small, green burr.” - -“Exactly. Only a small, green burr--and on the other leg, the remnants -of another small, green burr that has been picked off and thrown away. I -did not find any evidence of such a thing on the trousers you wore, -Danton.” - -“Well, I don’t know, to be sure, but I don’t think I went anywhere to -get such things fast to me.” - -“Exactly; and it is evident that Orizaba did, is it not?” - -“Why, yes.” - -“Do you remember if he drank very much last night? Was he as full as you -were when you started for home?” - -“I don’t know. I don’t think he was, however, for the reason that he -generally kept his head much better than I could.” - -“And yet, when your sister heard that he was in your rooms, ill, you say -she doubtless believed that it was because he was drunk last night. Now, -you take your stand over there at the window and keep your eyes out -through it, so that you can tell me the moment you see any signs of the -doctor’s arrival. That’s it. Don’t have me in mind at all, but tell me -when you see anybody coming.” - -Danton obeyed, and as soon as his back was turned, Nick Carter began to -work in earnest. - -One by one he examined every pocket in the clothing of the dead man, -turning out the contents, examining each article and paper separately, -and with careful scrutiny; and while he did so, there were several -articles which he transferred to his own pockets, and that with the -appearance of the utmost pleasure. - -There were two letters, a check, a fountain-pen, a small card-case, -which, however, contained no cards, but was well supplied with other -things, and a piece of blue blotting-paper, which exactly fitted into -the closed card-case. - -These he deposited in his own pockets, and then, when he had rearranged -the clothing of the dead man so that there remained no evidence that -anything had been disturbed, he straightened up and drew back just as -Danton announced that the doctor had arrived. - -It must be remembered that there was not a sign of violence anywhere -upon the body of the dead man. - -He was seated in the big, upholstered chair near the window, in an -attitude such as a person asleep might quite naturally have assumed. -His head was thrown back against the cushion, and his hands were -disposed as gracefully and naturally as if he had used every personal -sense in placing them before the fatal blow had fallen upon him. - -The doctor summoned by Rogers happened also to be the coroner, which was -fortunate, inasmuch as he could give immediate permission for the -removal of the body. He happened, also, to be not particularly gifted -with understanding, and to be one of those individuals who believes so -thoroughly in what he does know that opposite opinions serve merely to -fasten his own convictions the more firmly. Moreover, an affair of this -kind in a household like the Dantons! Well! He considered it a -beneficent intervention of Providence that Orizaba should have died thus -suddenly in order that he might be called in and be for a moment on -terms of familiarity with the multi-millionaire’s family. - -But Doctor Jackson, the coroner, did not return alone. He brought a -younger man with him, who was also a physician, a young Doctor Pollock, -whose keen, black eyes, alert manner, and comprehensive attitude at once -impressed Nick, so that he remarked, mentally, to himself: - -“There’s a young chap who will not be fooled by appearances, and who -will manage to get at the bottom of this thing without much delay. I -must have a private talk with him as soon as possible.” - -Doctor Jackson lost no time in arriving at a decision concerning the -case. - -“The gentleman expired four or five hours ago,” he said, rubbing his -hands together as if he were imparting information of the most -delightful character, calculated to give unalloyed pleasure to everybody -within the sound of his voice. “Overindulgence in stimulants brought -about his death, I have no doubt. However, the autopsy will fully -determine that part of it. There is, no doubt, however, that -the valves of the heart will be found to be greatly enlarged, -and--er--badly--er--congested. Your friend--or was he a relative, Mr. -Danton? I think I have heard that he was a cousin. Yes? Very well, your -cousin’s death is due to heart failure, sir, superinduced by -overexcitement and stimulant, followed by the sudden relaxation of -falling asleep in this chair. Ahem! I think he may now be removed.” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE WHICH MIGHT HAVE HANGED DANTON. - - -It was at this juncture that Nick called Doctor Pollock aside for a -moment. - -“Doctor,” he said, “I would appreciate it if you would consent to do me -a small favor in this matter.” - -“Very well, sir, what can I do?” replied the doctor. - -“I wish you would appear to accept whatever verdict Doctor Jackson sees -fit to give concerning the events that have happened here this morning, -and that when he takes his departure you would ride away with him but -that you would return almost immediately, if you can do so.” - -“That is rather a strange request, is it not, sir?” - -“Perhaps; but I have good reasons for making it, as you will discover -later.” - -“It would be scarcely a professional act on my part, sir.” - -“Then call it the act of an expert. Doctor Pollock, I must be frank with -you and rely upon your discretion also. I am not Mr. Parsons at all. I -am a person of whom you have no doubt heard, a detective, named Nick -Carter.” - -“Indeed! Yes, sir, I have heard of you and I am glad to make your -acquaintance. I will also be glad to serve you if you will tell me how I -may do so.” - -“In the first place, doctor, Ramon Orizaba was murdered. I have already -discovered that much, but for important reasons I wish particularly that -you should have the credit of the discovery.” - -“Murdered! There is absolutely no outward evidence of a crime.” - -“No; but I can show you much that will convince you; therefore will you -do as I have requested?” - -“Certainly I will.” - -“Then in an hour if you will meet me in the room to which they are -taking the body, I will talk with you there.” - -“Very good; I will be there.” - -Turning from the doctor, Nick motioned for young Danton to come to him. - -“The servants already know that Orizaba is dead,” he said rapidly. “I -think you had best carry the information to your mother yourself. Tell -her only what the valet told you and what the doctor has said since he -arrived. That will be enough for the present. I will take it upon myself -to go into the rose-garden and break the news to your sister. Conduct -yourself throughout exactly as you have done up to the present -moment--if you think you can keep up under this awful strain.” - -“I must keep up. There is no choice.” - -“True. But don’t drop down in your tracks. Once in a while you look as -if you were about to do that very thing.” - -“I feel so, too. But I manage to pull myself together. If I drop, it -will be because I am a dead one--like Orizaba.” - -“Keep up your courage. Go to your mother, and when you have finished -with her, follow me to the rose-garden where we left your sister. I -remember that she said she had taken her coffee, and that after she had -filled her lungs with the breath of the roses, she should sit under the -arbor and read, so I have no doubt that I will find her there.” - -And so while the servants, directed by the two doctors, were conveying -all that was left of Ramon Orizaba to the rooms he had occupied in life, -Reginald Danton sought the apartment of his mother, and Nick Carter went -out of the house through the side door and started along the gravel -walk toward the arbor where Mercedes had told him she would sit and -read. - -He crossed the lawn and passed among the wealth of roses toward the very -spot where he had been presented to her; and there, where she had stood -during the two or three moments they had conversed together, the ground -was littered with the roses she had carried in her arms and upon her -person; and from that spot toward the arbor, fifty feet away, there was -a trail of roses and rose leaves in such proficiency as almost to -suggest that she had played the game of hare-and-hounds with them, in -order to lead her pursuer to her retreat. - -He followed quickly, for there was something about that confused -littering of the flowers along the pathway which suggested haste and -excitement. He could almost imagine that she had flung them there in her -excitement as she turned to fly from some real or fancied peril. The -roses along the walk seemed to speak to him and to bid him hasten to her -side, and he lost no time in making his way to the arbor. - -At the entrance he halted abruptly. - -Inside that rose-embowered place, screened effectually from view from -the outside, Mercedes had fallen, and she was stretched at full length -upon the ground; her face, now waxen in hue, was turned toward the -canopy of roses over her, and her whole attitude told him that she had -fainted the instant she crossed the threshold and knew that she had -escaped from the view of others. - -“Poor child,” murmured Nick, bending over her, and he began to chafe her -hands and to wait patiently until nature should come to his assistance -and revive her, for it was not at all to his purposes that he should -call for assistance or seek restoratives, and thus betray a weakness -which she had sought so strenuously to hide. - -While he bent above her, and stroking her hands, looked down upon her -exquisitely beautiful face, vaguely wondering that creation could have -wrought so perfectly upon one human being, a shadow fell across them -both, and, raising his eyes, he saw that Danton had followed him into -the garden. - -“What has happened to Mercedes?” he demanded, instantly falling upon his -knees beside his sister. - -“She has fainted, that is all,” replied Nick. “How is it that you are -here?” - -“My mother was already informed, it seems. She sent me to bring Mercedes -to her.” - -“Ah! Well, your sister is already reviving. It will be better, when she -opens her eyes, that she should not discover a stranger. I will step to -one side, out of her range of vision. When she is sufficiently -recovered, you can break the news of Orizaba’s death to her.” - -Nick passed outside the arbor, but he stood where he could not only -observe, but also hear all that took place between brother and sister, -and, for reasons of his own, the circumstance was one which entirely -accorded with his wishes. - -“Mercedes,” said Danton, in a low, eager tone. “It is I--Med.” - -She sighed and seemed to make an effort to smile, but it was a failure. - -“I fainted, did I not?” she whispered. - -“Yes, dear. I think so. Why did you faint? What was the matter? You -looked so well when I saw you in the garden only a little while ago. -What happened to you, Mercedes?” - -“Did I look well? Did I look happy? Oh, Meadows! How can you say that?” - -“Why, what is the matter, child-sister? Why do you look so frightened? -Your eyes----” - -“Hush, hush! Tell me what the doctor said. What did he say?” - -“That is what I came here to tell you, Mercedes. Ramon is--dead.” - -Not a trace of surprise manifested itself in her face as she looked up -into her brother’s eyes. Then she slowly raised herself to her elbow, -thence to a sitting posture, and thus she leaned against the rustic -bench, still looking into her brother’s eyes. - -“Did the doctor find--does the doctor know--did he discover what it -was--that killed--Ramon?” she asked hesitatingly. - -“Why, yes,” replied Danton. “He said that death was due to heart -failure.” - -“Thank God!” - -“Why, Mercedes, what do you mean?” - -“What do I mean? You ask me that?” - -“Do you mean to tell me----” - -“Hush, my brother. Did you think I did not know?” - -“Know what, Mercedes?” - -“That Ramon was dead. Did you think I did not know? Oh, my God! I wish -that I might have died a thousand times before I did know--before I saw -what I did see.” - -“Good Heaven! Mercedes, tell me what you mean!” - -“Hush, Reginald. I have never called you by that name before, have I? -But it seems as if I could never again address you by the name I have -loved to use. Oh, my brother, my brother, why did you not kill me also, -instead of condemning me to live on, with this horrible secret in my -keeping? Instead of forcing me to be the one person in all the world who -knows that you have committed a--murder! Oh, God help me!” - -Young Danton started back in terror, and his sister buried her face in -her arms against the rustic bench and burst into a passion of sobs. - -But the young man pulled himself together wonderfully well, and he -forced himself to ask quite calmly: - -“Mercedes, I have feared that you would fear that I had a hand in the -death of Orizaba, but somehow I had disabused my mind of that fear so -utterly that I had, for the moment, forgotten it. Do you mean to say -that you think I killed him?” - -“I know that you killed him, Reginald.” - -“You--know--that--I--killed--him? Good God, Mercedes, what do you mean? -How can you know a thing which is not true?” - -“I saw you.” - -Danton started back with a cry that seemed to him loud enough to have -reached to the river, but which in reality was scarcely heard by the -detective a few feet away, and then he stood there as if paralyzed, -staring into the face of his sister with glassy, unseeing eyes. “You saw -me!” he whispered shrilly. “Then it is true after all. I did it without -knowing that I did it, and all the assurances given me by Mr. Carter, -were wrong. I did it, you say, and you saw me. Oh, God! Oh, God! I did -it after all, and I did it without knowing it!” - -Mercedes raised her eyes again and fixed them coldly upon her brother. - -“Reginald,” she said slowly, “you are dearer to me than anybody in all -the world, and I will keep your secret so well that all the tortures in -the world shall never draw it from me--so well that the keeping of it -will kill me, for I feel as if I were dying even now; but, Reginald, do -not think that I shall hold you guiltless. Do not suppose that I can be -made to believe that you did not commit that awful deed with -deliberation and after full premeditation. I saw you, I say. I saw every -motion that you made, everything you did.” - -“Tell me what you saw,” he said slowly. - -“You did not latch the door when you entered the room, and a draft had -swung it partly ajar. I stood in the hallway. I saw you approach the -chair in which Ramon was seated, asleep. You held a bottle in your hand, -and I saw you hold it under his nostrils so that he might inhale the -fumes of whatever it contained--and then I became conscious of the odor -of chloroform.” - -“But there is no chloroform in the room. I have never in my life had -chloroform in my possession,” groaned Danton, whose only thought then -was to convince himself that his sister might be mistaken. Still, she -paid no heed to what he said. - -“Wait,” she said. “I saw you hold the chloroform under his nose. Then -you crossed the room to your desk. You found the casket and opened it, -and I knew then what you were going to do. I tried to cry out. I tried -to rush into the room, but I could neither speak nor move. All power of -sound and motion had been taken from me. I was as a dead body, standing -there, chained, compelled to witness the most terrible sight the eyes -can behold--the infamy of my own brother. You opened the casket and you -took from it that terrible instrument you have shown to me. I recognized -it by the cork handle, and again I tried to call out to you and stop -you--but I could not make a sound. I could not move.” - -“And then----” asked Danton tensely. - -“Then? Then you passed behind the chair in which he was seated; you -pushed his head forward until his chin rested upon his breast, for the -chloroform had stupefied him so that there was no fear that he would -awaken; and then, while you held his head forward with your left hand, -you did something with your right, and I saw a shudder like a spasm -shoot through Ramon’s figure--and I knew that you had killed him, even -as that terrible man, Cadillac, had murdered his victims in Paris.” - -She broke out into sobbing again, and he made no effort to stop her; -presently she recovered sufficiently to continue. - -“I would not have cried out then if I could have done so,” she said, -“for it was too late. I knew that Ramon was dead. I saw you replace his -head back against the cushion of the chair. I saw that you smoothed his -coat, as if to obliterate any traces you might have left there of the -crime you had committed. I saw you hold up the cork handle of the -instrument you had used, and I saw that it was empty--that the terrible -needle was gone from it. I saw you take it back to the desk and drop it -again into the casket where you kept it, and then I fled to my room, -entered it, locked the door, and fell into a swoon from which I did not -recover until the sun was shining into my room. Then I dressed and came -out here. I steeled myself to act the part you saw me play, but when you -went into the house, taking your friend with you to visit the scene of -your crime, it was too much for me. I ran here to the arbor, and -then--then I opened my eyes and found you beside me.” - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE MAN ON THE COUCH. - - -Mercedes Danton was not only herself convinced that her brother was a -murderer, but she had convinced him of his own guilt. Doubtful at first, -and yet half-believing that he might have unconsciously committed the -act which deprived Ramon Orizaba of life, and later, aided by the -reasoning of the detective, assured that he could not have killed him -without knowing it, he was now thrown back into a worse condition of -mind than ever, for here was one--his own beloved and loving sister--who -saw him do the deed. - -When she ceased speaking, his mind seemed to drift into a stupor from -which he was aroused a moment later by feeling a heavy hand on his -shoulder. - -It was Nick Carter who touched him, and Mercedes discovered the presence -of “Mr. Parsons” at the same instant. - -She leaped to her feet and confronted him with flashing eyes, for sorrow -gave place to anger, and all the maternal instinct of woman, which is -aroused quite as thoroughly in the heart of a sister when she is -fighting for a brother as for a mother when she fights for a child--all -that wonderful fighting and enduring quality with which God has endowed -womankind, rose up within her to battle against the peril in which she -believed her brother stood at that instant when his secret became the -property of a third person. - -“You heard me!” she gasped. “You heard everything that I said?” - -“Yes,” said Nick. “I heard everything;” but the kindly look in his eyes -and the subdued voice in which he spoke convinced her that, at least, he -was not immediately to be feared, and she sank back upon the bench and -buried her face in her hands again. - -Suddenly she raised her head and with a quick motion leaned toward him. - -“You--you knew about it--before,” she whispered tentatively. - -“Yes,” he replied. “I thought I did. Now I am sure that I did.” - -“Then--you saw--I mean--he did not chloroform you---- Ah! You were not -unconscious. You saw--the things--that I have--described. -You--saw--them--yourself!” - -“Mercedes,” interrupted Danton, “are you mad? What do you mean, -sister?” - -“Wait,” said Nick sternly. “Sit over there beside your sister, Danton, -and whatever is said, don’t you speak at all. Your sister saw much more -than she has described, as you will presently discover. It is a -fortunate thing that I overheard this conversation between you, for -through its revelations we will get at the truth. Sit down, Danton, and -wait.” - -Then he turned to Mercedes. - -“Miss Danton,” he said kindly, “you are overwrought, but you are brave, -and tender, and true. You love your brother, even though now you believe -him to be guilty of a horrible crime--even though you believe it on the -evidence of your own senses, than which, it would seem there could be no -better. But yet, there are times when our own senses deceive us most -outrageously, as I shall presently prove to you. Yours have deceived -you. You saw that murder committed, and you were paralyzed with terror -at the spectacle. Has it occurred to you that your perceptions might -have been dulled, or have become distorted by reason of the same -terrors?” - -She shook her head in a slow negative. - -“Yet,” continued Nick, “I will presently prove to you that you know -positively that your brother did not commit that act.” - -“Oh, sir, if you only can. But it is impossible.” - -“Nothing is impossible. Things are only improbable. This one is not even -an improbability. Now, follow me closely. When we--your brother and -I--entered the rose-garden an hour ago, and I was presented to you, -where did you honestly think we had come from?” - -“I did not know. I had no thought about it save that you had been out -somewhere together; but I thought I understood the reason for that.” - -“Precisely. You mean that you supposed that we had gone out of this -house together this morning, do you not?” - -“Certainly.” - -“It did not occur to you that I had just come from New York, and, in -fact, had never set foot upon this estate before?” - -“No.” - -“Why?” - -“Because I knew better than that. I beg, sir, that you will not attempt -to deceive me. I will appreciate everything you would do for my brother, -but do not think that I can be deceived.” - -“I think you have been deceived and now I am endeavoring to set you -right. You say you knew that I had not just come here from New York. -Tell me exactly why you think you knew that.” - -“Because I saw you before.” - -“Ah! Now, are you sure that it was I whom you saw? Did you see me -sufficiently plainly to identify me?” - -“N-n-no. I did not see your face; but it could have been nobody else -whom I saw.” - -“You think so? We will see, for I understand now exactly how you have -made an awful mistake. Was it on the couch in your brother’s room where -you think you saw me? No, let me put the question differently: When you -were looking into that room through the half-open door, and saw the -terrible scene you have just described, were you conscious that there -was a person--a third person in that room?” - -“Yes.” - -“And where was that third person?” - -“Stretched upon the couch, apparently sleeping.” - -“And when you saw me in the garden with your brother a little while ago, -you naturally supposed that I was the same person you had seen asleep on -the couch in your brother’s room? Is that it?” - -“Yes; but there is also another reason.” - -“Indeed, what is that?” - -“I know that there were three persons who came into the house some time -after midnight, and I know that those three persons went to my brother’s -rooms.” - -“Excellent. Now we are getting at it. How did you know that?” - -“I saw them from my window.” - -“Describe them as you saw them.” - -“My brother came up the walk first, and alone. I think he must have -stopped on the piazza, for I did not hear him come up the stairs, -although I listened.” - -“Well! and what next?” - -“Soon after that I saw Ramon Orizaba and a stranger approach the house -together. That stranger I now suppose to be yourself.” - -“Precisely. And did you again listen to discover if they came up the -stairs?” - -“Yes. I thought that all three came up together and went into the room.” - -“Now, what was it that called you from your room, so that you happened -to be passing your brother’s door at the moment when the sights you saw -within held your attention?” - -“Nothing at all. I was merely restless. I knew from his manner of -walking that my brother was intoxicated. I also saw that Ramon Orizaba -was in a condition that was not much better, and I naturally supposed -the same thing of the third person. I knew they had gone into my -brother’s rooms, and I wished to assure myself that they were not -quarreling.” - -“Now tell me what was the first discovery you made inside your brother’s -room. What was the very first thing you saw which attracted your -attention?” - -“I saw him. He was standing at the couch with his back toward me, and he -was leaning over the person who was lying on the couch--yourself.” - -“We will say that it was I, for the present, if it pleases you, although -I was at that time in my own bed in the city of New York. Now what was -your brother doing?” - -“I did not know. He had a bottle in his hand--an ordinary four-ounce -vial.” - -“The bottle which you afterward supposed contained chloroform?” - -“Yes.” - -“And your supposition was that he had been administering it to the -person who was lying on the couch?” - -“In the light of what I saw subsequently--yes.” - -“Now, when he turned away from the man on the couch, did you see his -face plainly? I want you to be sure about this. You say it was your -brother; I want to know if you saw your brother’s face and so -recognized it.” - -“I did not see it plainly; no.” - -“Was not the room lighted?” - -“Very dimly. There was only one incandescent bulb turned on, and that -was in the adjoining room--not in that one.” - -Nick turned to Danton. - -“I believe you assured me that all the lights were turned on when you -awoke. Are you certain about that?” - -“Absolutely positive,” was the quick reply, for Danton was now leaning -forward in intense excitement, since he had caught the drift of Nick -Carter’s questions. - -The detective turned again to Mercedes. - -“The light was, then, very dim,” he said. “Now, if you could not see the -man’s face clearly, can you give me any good reason for believing that -it was your brother whom you saw with the bottle in his hand?” - -“Only that I felt positive that it was my brother,” said Mercedes, now -beginning to stare in amazement, for she also was beginning to -understand. - -“Did this man whom you saw wear a coat?” asked Nick. - -“Yes. He was fully dressed.” - -“Was it a dress coat?” - -“No. I do not think so. I remember thinking afterward that Reginald must -have changed his coat and waistcoat after entering the house, for I -noticed when he came up the walk that he wore a low, white waistcoat and -his dress suit. When I saw him with the bottle in his hand--or the -person whom I did see with a bottle in his hand, wore an ordinary coat -and a dark vest.” - -“Like what Reginald is wearing now?” - -“No. Dark. Quite dark. Almost black, or quite so in that light.” - -“When he turned away from the man on the couch, did he at once approach -the man in the chair--Orizaba?” - -“Yes.” - -“And during all the time you were there at the door, while the man whom -you supposed to be your brother was using the chloroform and the -needle--while he was murdering Orizaba--could you still see the third -man, on the couch?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Then, Miss Danton, your brother is guiltless, for Reginald Danton was -unconscious, on the couch, when the murder was committed.” - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE VICTIM OF A NEMESIS. - - -Mercedes started to her feet with a cry of amazed delight, nor was -Reginald’s joy less deep, although he remained quite still in his place -on the bench. It was Mercedes who spoke first after the announcement -made by the detective. - -“Then who was it whom I saw and believed to be my brother?” she -demanded. - -“Ah!” said the detective, “that is another matter. I think, however, -that we will experience very little difficulty in determining that -question, when once I have had access to the lares and penates in the -room of Ramon Orizaba. However, I see Doctor Pollock returning, and so I -will leave you two together, with the injunction that you had better go -to your mother as soon as convenient. And, Danton, within a few hours it -must be generally known that your guest was murdered, so I would suggest -that you prepare your mother for the intelligence. In fact, I wish you -would tell her at once, for it is more than likely that I will find it -necessary to talk the matter over with her soon. Now, just one more -suggestion. I think you owe it to your sister to tell her everything -that has occurred, just as you told it to me, and to add to the telling -all that has taken place since you entered my house this morning. You -may also tell her who I am, and why I am here.” - -The detective left them then and hurried across the lawn to meet the -doctor who had returned according to his promise, and together they -repaired at once to the room where the body of Ramon Orizaba had been -taken--to the rooms he had occupied always when he was a guest at Linden -Fells. - -“Doctor,” said Nick, when they were alone together in the room and had -closed and locked the door behind them, “I have asked this favor of you -for two reasons. One is because I want a good, reliable witness to all -that happens and to support every discovery I may make, and the other is -because I require your professional services as an expert. The -undertakers will be here shortly, and we will then have to turn the body -over to them, but, in the meantime, we can easily complete such -researches as it is necessary to make. - -“You will find, to begin with, that this man was killed by a needle -which was thrust into the back of his neck. Come; we will turn the body -over and search for it, and I will ask you to withdraw it for use as -evidence. There is the only mark left by the wound. It is scarcely -perceptible, is it?” - -“No. I should not have seen it at all if you had not drawn my attention -to it.” - -“Will you extract the needle? The broken end must be quite close to the -surface of the skin.” - -“Are you sure it is there?” - -“Positive.” - -“Just beneath the skin?” - -“Yes; but be careful; it is of glass and will break easily.” - -There was a moment of silence, and then the doctor, who stood with his -back to the detective, spoke. - -“You say the needle is of glass?” - -“I have reason to believe it is.” - -“Well, you are mistaken. It is of steel.” - -“Steel? Let me see it.” - -The doctor passed the tiny weapon to the detective, who examined it -critically, and then, after carefully wrapping it in paper, deposited it -inside his own card-case. But he did not hesitate to express his -surprise to the physician at the discovery, for the needle extracted -from the neck of the murdered man was in reality a needle--a -three-sided, sharp-pointed needle such as is used by furriers; in -fact--to give it its true colloquial name--a fur needle. - -“A dangerous weapon,” said the doctor. - -“Dangerous, indeed,” assented Nick. “Now, doctor, if you will proceed -with your examination from the professional standpoint, so that you will -be prepared to give your testimony in detail at the proper time and -place, I will give my attention to the other things in the room.” - -From that time on the two men worked together in silence, only -occasionally calling the attention of each other to some discovery that -was pertinent to the occasion. - -And Nick’s investigation of the desk and its contents, of the bureau and -of every nook and cranny of the room itself, was eminently -satisfactory--so satisfactory, in fact, that when at last he had -completed his researches, and discovered that the doctor was also done -with his part of the work, he said to him: - -“Here, doctor, is quite a remarkable circumstance--one, in fact, that is -entirely unique in my experience, for I find by this correspondence that -I have examined that this dead man has been, during his life, in -constant correspondence with a person whom he believed would some day -murder him--as he has done--and more than that, that he has even lived -in close juxtaposition with the would-be murderer, for a period which, -according to the letters, covers almost ten years. But the remarkable -part of it is, that, although he has lived close to his Nemesis, and, -although he has corresponded constantly with him, he has, in all that -time had no idea of the identity of his enemy.” - -“Do you mean that the murderer lives here in this house?” asked the -doctor. - -“I mean that the murderer lived here in this house; but, unless I am -greatly mistaken, the murderer has fled before this.” - -“You know, then, who is the murderer?” - -“Yes. I know exactly. Have you finished with your work?” - -“Yes.” - -“Come, then. Let us go. I will ask you to join me in a family gathering -for a little while; after that, we will each turn our testimony over to -the proper officials, and I think there will be little or no trouble in -apprehending the assassin.” - -Ten minutes later, in the library of the house, behind closed doors, -Nick Carter stood in the center of the room facing Mercedes, Reginald, -and their mother. Beside him was seated the doctor, and upon the table -before him were placed the articles he had collected during his -morning’s work--the things he had taken from the pockets of the dead -man, and the effects and letters he had discovered in Orizaba’s room. - -“Mrs. Danton,” he began, “I feel that I should address my remarks to -you. You have been told, have you not, of the terrible thing that has -happened in your home?” - -She bowed her head in the affirmative. She felt too much emotion to -trust herself to speak. - -“Reginald,” continued Nick, “I have occupied the few moments while I -waited for you to bring your mother and sister to this room in -telephoning to New York, for I find that your valet, Rogers, has started -for the city without your leave. Ladies, and you, Reginald, the valet -whom you have known as Paul Rogers, is the murderer of Ramon Orizaba--at -least, I am sufficiently satisfied of the correctness of that statement -to have telephoned to police headquarters for his arrest. Presumably he -will be met at the station when he arrives in the city, but if he is -not, I think I shall have no difficulty in finding him later.” - -“Rogers! My man, Rogers?” exclaimed Reginald. - -“Yes. Had it ever occurred to you that Rogers was above his station?” - -“Often. He was remarkably well educated for a man in such a position.” - -“He occupied several positions; among them, he represented himself as an -agent for an enemy of Orizaba’s. Rogers was evidently clever at -disguises, for in his room, which I found time to visit for a moment, -there was, in addition to a half-filled bottle of chloroform, a very -good supply of wigs, pigments and other necessaries for manufacturing -disguises. Do you remember when Rogers came to you this morning in the -rose-garden and told you that Orizaba was dead?” - -“Perfectly.” - -“I noticed then that the soles of his boots were stained with clay--a -kind of blue clay unlike anything I saw during our walk together from -the station this morning--which you assured me was the route by which -you returned to the house from the banquet.” - -“It was the same.” - -“Do you remember that I asked you if there had been a shower here in the -afternoon of yesterday? I wished to know if the clay had been softened -sufficiently to make those stains. In discovering the stains upon the -boots of Rogers I paid no attention to them, more than to observe that -they were there; but when I saw stains exactly like them on the boots of -the murdered man I was interested. Also, the discovery of the burrs upon -his clothing, to which I called your attention, brought to mind the fact -that I had seen, also without heeding them at the time, marks of the -same sort of burrs on the trousers of your valet when he came to you in -the garden, so when I sent you to your mother, and before going in -search of your sister myself, I found Rogers’ room and looked through -it. - -“I was already satisfied that Rogers was the murderer when I talked with -you and your sister in the arbor, but I chose to say nothing of the fact -at that time. Now I have additional proof. You will remember that I -asked you if you used purple ink on your desk?” - -“Yes.” - -“There were stains of purple ink in the thumb and finger of Orizaba’s -right hand. I asked you if he wrote with his left hand and you replied -that he used both. Let me tell you now that he has used his left hand to -rob you, systematically, for a long time. You have been careless with -your check-book and with your balances, so you have not discovered the -fact, but here is a check he drew on your desk last night--a check for -a much larger amount than he has ever dared to take before, doubtless, -since the drawing of it made his hand tremble so that he spoiled the -signature and was obliged to draw a second one. The second one is -perfect. I found it in your valet’s room, where he dropped it by -mistake, showing that it was given to him, that both were drawn for him, -that he was in the room with Orizaba at the time they were drawn--in -short, that he was the third person whom your sister saw and believed to -be you. Moreover, he is of your height and build, and in one of the -drawers of his bureau there is a false mustache exactly like yours, -which is still soft from recent use; so that it is not strange that your -sister believed she saw you in the dim light. The lights, by the way, he -turned off for the purpose of his work, and then turned on again when -that work was done and he was ready to depart, in order that you might -not see the difference and wonder at it. Also, while upon this subject, -a trivial matter, but one of interest, in connection with the checks, is -the fact that the ink inside Orizaba’s fountain pen is black. Also, -Orizaba carried a key which fits your desk and another which fits the -casket. - -“Also, like all expert forgers, he carried his own blotter with him. -Fortunately in this case it was one that he had not used before, and -bears a very good impression of the two signatures he signed last night. - -“Now, in Orizaba’s room I found many letters which partially explain -these mysteries; but only partially. We will have to conjecture for the -rest. At sometime in the career of Orizaba he had married and deserted a -woman who died in misery and want, and since that time he has been -pursued by a Nemesis in the shape of her brother who has taken a -vengeance that is truly Satanic, for he has held over Orizaba’s head all -these years--ten of them--the threat of imminent death, and, what is -still more remarkable, he has during that time managed to extort money -from his victim, while he has himself remained so darkly in the -background that Orizaba has never once guessed his identity. - -“Of the occurrences of last night--or, rather of early this morning, I -can only surmise, but either by appointment, or because the man was -awaiting him, he encountered the man who he believed to be the agent of -his Nemesis between the station and this house. They walked away in -another direction, and so got the clay on their shoes. That agent was -Rogers, but so cleverly disguised that Orizaba did not recognize -him--probably the agent was so familiar to him that he never thought of -connecting him with Rogers, having known him a much longer time. - -“When they met last night Rogers was insistent for a larger amount of -money than usual, and finally accompanied Orizaba to your rooms. Orizaba -was at your desk preparing to draw the check when you entered the room. -Rogers was here also, for they believed you were asleep in a chair on -the piazza. When you entered Rogers concealed himself, and he remained -concealed until you had composed yourself to sleep on the couch. Then he -chloroformed you, and the proceedings continued. Rogers then took his -check and went out, and Orizaba, overcome by all that had happened, -dropped asleep in the chair. - -“Presently, for some reason, Rogers returned. Doubtless he had intended -to kill Orizaba last night, since the encounter on the road. He -administered more chloroform to you on the couch, and then performed the -remainder of the ceremony as your sister has described it to us, for she -saw it. - -“And now, Reginald, there is just one point about which I am at fault, -but which I think this letter will possibly explain. I found it in -Rogers’ room, addressed to you, and I have not yet broken the seal. -Before I do so I will explain the point to which I referred. - -“Your Cadillac needle was not the instrument which killed Orizaba. He -was killed with a steel needle--a furrier’s needle--but the cork handle -of your glass needle was used to press it into the flesh. The glass -needle was removed and the steel one substituted for it, but why I do -not know. Let us see now if this letter will inform us. Listen.” - -Nick broke the seal, spread the letter open before him and read aloud: - - “MR. DANTON: Although I have killed Ramon Orizaba, deliberately, - and after waiting ten years, and in the meanwhile gloating over the - prospect of doing so, I am not sufficiently a scoundrel to leave - you to pay the penalty of my crime. I have thought of many ways of - putting him out of the way, and your Cadillac needle has suggested - the best one. But I am afraid that the glass is not strong enough, - so I have substituted one of steel. At first I thought it might not - be discovered that he was killed and that his death would be - attributed to natural causes, but I will not take that chance with - your life and reputation in the balance, so I write this. - - “Why I have killed him does not matter to you. I will say nothing - which will lead to my apprehension, and all the detectives in the - world cannot find me or take me. - - “I was obliged to use the cork handle of your needle in order to be - successful--in order to push the weapon into his neck. You will - find the glass one under the vase on the mantle in my room. - - ROGERS.” - -“Brief and to the point,” said Nick, putting down the letter; and as he -did so Mercedes rose in her place and crossed the room to him, extending -both hands. - -“You have been our savior,” she said; “my savior as well as Reginald’s. -God bless you!” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MERCEDES. - - -When Nick left Linden Fells he carried with him not only the heartfelt -thanks of the Danton family, but also the sincere friendship of -Reginald. Clever detective though he was, he could not quite define the -queer little tingling feeling in the region of his heart when the -picture of Mercedes Danton, as he had first seen her in the rose-garden, -recurred to him. - -In one thing his calculations had failed. The headquarters detectives -did not succeed in arresting Rogers. Although they promptly responded to -Nick’s telegram, and the best men on the force were detailed to take the -self-confessed murderer into custody, he succeeded in eluding them, as -he said in his letter to Reginald Danton he would do. - -Had they succeeded much trouble might have been spared the house of -Danton, over which dark clouds were even then gathering, and plots dark -and threatening that involved death and disaster were hatching. For -days, aided by the counsel and experience of Nick, the detectives sought -high and low for the missing valet. But without success. With the man -still at large Nick could not overcome a feeling that the family at -Linden Fells was in danger. What that danger might be, or what form it -might take, he could not conjecture. But, unlike most criminal cases -which he had successfully unraveled, this one of the murder of Ramon -Orizaba was not easily dismissed from his mind. It was, perhaps, the -rose-garden picture that fixed in his mind all the ramifications of the -murder of Orizaba. - -Nick had just left the Waldorf-Astoria by way of the main entrance on -Thirty-fourth Street. He walked slowly toward Fifth Avenue and was in -the act of turning the corner toward the southward when a carriage -halted at the curb at a point about midway of the block. - -The door of the carriage swung open and a woman appeared for one instant -at the opening. At the same instant two men, who were passing and who -happened to be directly abreast of the point where the carriage had -halted, came to a sudden stop. One of them uttered an exclamation of -mingled astonishment and anger and darted forward away from his -companion and toward the woman, who had not yet wholly emerged into -view, and whose identity the detective could not determine. - -It was evident that she discovered the man almost as soon as he saw her, -for she uttered a little startled cry of consternation and leaped back -into the carriage again. - -At the same instant the driver, as if warned by her cry, and also as if -prepared for just such an attack, brought the butt of his whip down with -a sharp blow against the aggressor’s head, and so jammed his hat over -his eyes and almost felled him to the pavement. Then, reversing the -whip, and using it to good advantage upon the horses, the vehicle was -hurried away at a furious pace, and was soon out of sight around the -corner of Thirty-third Street. - -Nick witnessed the whole thing, which did not occupy more than three or -four seconds of time; but during those few seconds he was steadily -approaching nearer to the spot where it happened, so that by the time he -reached it the man with his hat over his eyes had succeeded in removing -it. But he was standing with his back toward the detective, shaking his -fist in the direction the carriage had gone and was swearing softly to -himself. - -Nick, however, recognized him at once, and he came to a halt, smiling, -while he waited for the angry man to turn in his direction--which, -after a moment of contemplative profanity, he did. - -“Thank God!” he exclaimed instantly and impulsively, for he also -recognized the detective; and he grasped Nick Carter’s extended hand -with a fervor which was as genuine as his rage had been a moment before. - -“I say, Nick, old chap, did you see that?” he asked, rubbing his head -ruefully. - -“Yes,” replied Nick, still smiling. “Nothing serious, I hope. Only one -of your many adventures, eh, Danton? Really, I supposed you were serious -when you told me not two weeks ago that you had turned over a new leaf. -Or, is this a left-over affair?” - -“Left-over affair! Didn’t you see her?” - -“No. I merely saw a woman--that is, I merely saw the costume of a woman, -not the woman herself.” - -“Then you didn’t recognize her?” - -“Certainly not. Do I know her?” - -“Know her! Say, will you wait here a second until I excuse myself to my -companion who was with me? I want to talk to you.” - -“Yes; I will wait.” - -Danton hurried away, made his excuses to the man who had halted a few -feet distant and was awaiting him, and then returned to Nick Carter. - -“Shall we go into the hotel, shall we walk, or shall we--what shall we -do, Carter? I want dreadfully to talk with you.” - -“Let’s walk. We can go in the direction of my house. That is where I was -headed for when your episode of the carriage arrested my attention. Now, -what is the matter, Danton?” - -“Everything is the matter.” - -“Your reply is neither lucid nor comprehensive.” - -“No, I suppose not. I wish you had seen who it was who started to -descend from the carriage.” - -“In that case, and as I did not see, or recognize the person, suppose -you tell me who the lady was.” - -“It was my sister, Mercedes.” - -“Ah!” said Nick, and stopped. He was greatly astonished, but not a sign -of his feelings appeared in his voice. He uttered the exclamation in -exactly the same tone he would have used if Danton had said that the -woman was the Queen of Sheba, or the High Duchess of Benkakakiak. - -“Ever since the murder of Ramon Orizaba about two weeks ago--it will be -two weeks to-morrow, will it not?--one trouble has followed another -until it seems almost as if the family and the home at Linden Fells is -accursed. My mother was taken ill the day of the funeral. Her illness -came on so suddenly that I cannot get it out of my head that she was -poisoned. However, we sent her away at once, and she is better now. She -is at Newport.” - -“Well?” said Nick. - -“Well, Mercedes was preparing for an extended trip abroad, even before -this misfortune came to the house. After the murder she was more -determined than ever to go, and sought to hurry the preparations of her -friends who were to accompany her on the trip; but they did not hurry -fast enough, so she resolved to start on alone with only her two maids. -In the meantime, Nick, she did not act at all like herself. I saw very -little of her, and even that little was most unsatisfactory. She was -strangely unlike herself.” - -“Did you not talk with her about it?” - -“I tried to, but she wouldn’t talk.” - -“But I supposed there was the utmost confidence and sympathy between you -and your sister.” - -“So there always has been until now. The fact is, a week ago last night -we quarreled.” - -“Not seriously, I hope?” - -“N-no. That is, I did not regard it as serious at the time, for we have -had worse spats than that one, many a time. However, she disappeared the -following day.” - -“What is that?” asked Nick, stopping abruptly in their walk. -“Disappeared, you say?” - -“Yes, that is what I said. We quarreled a week ago last night--Saturday -night. Sunday morning I slept late, breakfasted alone, and came into the -city almost immediately after. I did not return to the Fells until -toward evening. When I arrived there she had gone.” - -“Gone where?” - -“How do I know where? If I had known, I wouldn’t have cared. I have -neither seen nor heard a sign of her from that time till just now when -that carriage drove up against the curb and she started to alight from -it. Naturally, when the carriage stopped almost in front of me, I looked -toward it. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw and recognized -Mercedes. You saw what happened then.” - -“Yes. I saw what happened then. Are you sure that the lady was -Mercedes?” - -“Am I certain that you are you? I saw her as plainly as I see you now.” - -“Did you also recognize the coachman who struck you?” - -“No.” - -“Did you see him at all, so that you would have recognized him if you -had seen him?” - -“Sure, I saw him--quite well enough to know him again, the next time I -see him.” - -“And he was a stranger to you?” - -“I do not remember that I ever saw him before.” - -“Did she--did the woman, whom you believed to be Mercedes, say anything -to him when you started toward the carriage?” - -“Not a word.” - -“Are you sure?” - -“I am positive. Why?” - -“Well, it seems strange that a coachman whom you do not know, and who, -therefore, would not have been likely to have struck you without -instructions, should do that very thing without orders. Now, please be -particular, Danton. Is it not possible that you may be mistaken and that -the woman in the carriage was not Mercedes?” - -“No; it is not possible. I saw her plainly.” - -“In that case, I do not see just why you wish to talk to me about the -story.” - -“Good heavens, Carter! Don’t you suppose I want to find my sister?” - -“I don’t know, I am sure. But if that was your sister, it is quite -evident that she does not want to find you, or care to have you find -her. If the occupant of that carriage was Mercedes Danton, she had -mighty good reasons for acting as she did, and I will tell you very -frankly, Reginald, as between you and Mercedes, I will take her side of -the question every time.” - -Reginald Danton took a quick step forward and turned, thus placing -himself directly in front of the detective, so that both were obliged to -come to a stop. Then he held out his hand and smiled. - -“Shake,” he said. - -“Why?” asked Nick. - -“On that last proposition--that, as between Mercedes and me, you will -take her side of the question every time. That is what I want you to do. -In other words, I don’t care a fig whose side of the question you take -as long as it benefits her in the end. I love my sister better than -anybody else in the world--better than everybody else in the world put -together. She’s in trouble of some kind, and I haven’t any more idea -what it is than the man in the moon; neither can I find out what it is -any more than the same mythical personage. Mercedes left the house -without a written word to anybody. She took one of her maids with her--a -new one, who has been in her employ only a month or so, and she left -word with the other one that she would write. - -“She did not write. I supposed, of course, she had gone to Newport, -where mother is, and on Wednesday I ran over there. She was not there, -and had not been there. Mother did not even know that she was not at -home, and I didn’t enlighten her; and there you are. Mercedes went out -of the house last Sunday, a week ago to-day, and----” - -Danton stopped and brushed his eyes quickly. Then, with his tones filled -with emotion, he said: - -“The fact is, Nick, I’ve got a ‘hunch,’ as the racetrack people say. It -never occurred to me till this very moment, but as sure as fate I -believe that there is foul play somewhere. What you said about the -coachman suggests it. Good God, Carter! do you suppose it could be -possible that Mercedes did not leave home of her own free will?” - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A STRANGE LEAVE-TAKING. - - -The detective strode on in silence for some distance before he replied, -and then he said, very slowly: - -“I have seen very little of your sister, Reginald, but what I have seen -of her, and what I know of her character, assures me that she would -never even consider the taking of a step of the kind you mention without -good and sufficient reason. Furthermore, I feel sufficient personal -interest in her to make it my duty to find her and ask her for her side -of the story, so now, if you will come into the house and follow me to -my room I will ask you to tell me all you know about the affair up to -the present moment. You may tell me first what was the quarrel about?” - -“You.” - -“Eh? What is that?” - -“We quarreled about you.” - -“About me! Hmmph! I should like you to tell me the particulars of that -quarrel, if you please.” - -“The whole thing did not really amount to a row of pins.” - -“Nevertheless, I should like to see the point of each pin.” - -“Your name has been mentioned very often between us, ever since the -death of Orizaba.” - -“Well?” - -“I could see, when you were there at that time, that--er--well, that you -admired Mercedes very much indeed.” - -“You were entirely correct in that decision.” - -“I could also see that she was especially drawn toward you; in short, -that she admired you almost as much as you did her.” - -“I am very much pleased to hear you say that. I did not suppose that she -had had time to remember my existence.” - -“It is a funny thing, Carter, that you can be so mighty shrewd about -seeing things in one light, and still not be able to see a deuced thing -in another--that is, from another and different point of view.” - -“That is a very ordinary human failing, Danton. But, go on.” - -“Mercedes has always held rather extraordinary ideas about love and -marriage; about men, women and things socially, much to the annoyance -of mother and to the amusement of my father. I think, Carter, that you -almost came up to her idea of the ideal man.” - -“Nonsense, Danton!” - -Nick could feel that tingling around the heart region again. - -“I am speaking seriously. Please remember that I am talking of my -sister.” - -“I do, my boy; but get down to the quarrel.” - -“I’m getting down to it. All this is a preamble which must be told in -order that you may understand all of it--and in understanding it, I want -you to be particular not to misunderstand anything I may say.” - -“You are rather obscure just now.” - -“Not intentionally. In order to explain so that you will understand, I -must confess to you that I made her believe that I thought she was more -than half in love with--you.” - -“In other words, you bantered her upon what you knew to be untrue; you -merely teased her because you had discovered a theme which did tease.” - -“Exactly.” - -“Well?” - -“It was all raillery, you know. Just making fun.” - -“Yes.” - -“And, in doing so, in order to tease her the more, I did not hesitate to -make fun of you.” - -“Naturally.” - -“In short--you know I want to be entirely frank with you. That is one of -my few virtues, frankness, is it not? In short, at the time when we -quarreled, I permitted myself to speak slightly of you. Quite so, in -fact.” - -“Suppose you tell me what you said.” - -“I say, Carter, that’s mean, you know, to make me tell what I said.” - -“You have already explained why you said the things you did say.” - -“I know, but they will sound differently now, repeated in cold blood.” - -“Tell me what you said about me to your sister. I want to know all about -the quarrel.” - -“Well, if I do, you will have to promise me first that you will forgive, -beforehand, all that I shall say.” - -“Certainly, Danton. I understand perfectly that you were only teasing -your sister, and I know something about the lengths to which brothers -will go on occasions of that kind, as well as some of the liberties they -will take, not alone with their sister themselves, but also with any -other person who happens to be under discussion. Believe me, I will -take all that you said in an utterly impersonal manner.” - -“Well, I accused her of being in love with you, of course.” - -“Yes. And then?” - -“I told her that you were a widower, but----” - -“Go on.” - -“Confound it, I can’t! I simply explained in my own way, which won’t -bear repeating now, that you had worshiped your first wife, and that you -would wear sackcloth and ashes the rest of your days--please forgive me, -old man!--and that there was no hope that another could ever take her -place in your heart.” - -“What next?” asked Nick curtly. - -“Why, then I made fun of your profession. I asked her how she would like -to be known as Mrs. Detective Carter, and all that, don’t you know--and -I kept at it until I got her thoroughly angry.” - -“Well?” - -“She told me that if I were half the man that Nick Carter is people -would have a lot more respect for me, which I admitted, and that if she -loved a man it would make no difference to her whether he was a -detective, or what he was, so long as he was a good and honorable man, -who did his duty to his neighbor and to himself, and all that. Really, -she read me quite a lecture, until I’m blowed if she didn’t get me mad, -too.” - -“She told you a few facts, I suppose.” - -“Facts! Good Heaven! You ought to have heard her. I felt like a kitten -in the grasp of a bull terrier before she got through with me.” - -“And then----” - -“Well, among other things she told me that I belonged to a class that -was ruining posterity, whatever that may mean, inasmuch as posterity -isn’t here to be ruined; that I had never earned a cent of money in my -life, and that all on earth I was good for was to spend the money which -my father provided--and a whole lot more of that sort until I left her -in a rage. That is all; but you can see that the quarrel was not -serious.” - -“That was Saturday afternoon?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you did not see her again?” - -“No. I came into the city in the evening, and I did not go out home -until late. Then, in the morning, Sunday, I slept late, breakfasted -alone, and came into town again. She went away Sunday.” - -“And you say she left no written message?” - -“No.” - -“But she left a verbal one with one of the maids?” - -“Yes.” - -“What was that message--just as it was repeated to you?” - -“Simply that she was going away, and that she would write.” - -“Nothing more?” - -“Not a thing.” - -“She took one maid with her?” - -“Yes.” - -“What else?” - -“Eh?” - -“What else did she take with her?” - -“Pretty nearly everything she owned, I should say.” - -“Do you mean that she took all of her trunks?” - -“Yes; all of her own and some of mother’s as well.” - -“How many in all?” - -“Good gracious, Carter, you don’t suppose I have kept tabs on the number -of trunks those two women own, do you? I only know what the maid told me -about it.” - -“Well, what did she tell you?” - -“She said that it seemed strange that my sister had taken the new maid, -who was not entirely accustomed to her ways, and left her behind, who -knew all about her, particularly when she was intending to be gone for a -long time--but that she thought it stranger still that her mistress had -said nothing to her about her intention of going.” - -“Ah! The maid who was left behind did not know that your sister intended -to go that day, then?” - -“No.” - -“Where was she when Mercedes started away?” - -“Where was she when the many trunks were being made ready for the -journey?” - -“She had been sent into the city on an errand. The trunks had left the -house when she returned and she was only just in time to see my sister -depart.” - -“What was it she said to you about the trunks?” - -“Merely that she thought it strange that her mistress had taken so many -trunks and so many things with her.” - -“In short, Danton, the maid told you those things simply to give you an -opportunity to question her.” - -“By Jove, Carter, I believe now that she did that very thing. She wanted -me to question her.” - -“Which proves that she knew many things which she believed you should -know, but which her position forbade her from volunteering to tell.” - -“Yes. I see it now. But it is better as it is, for I would have garbled -the whole thing. Now, you will question her, and so get at the core of -the thing.” - -“I hope so, Danton--I hope so.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -MERCEDES’ FLIGHT FROM HOME. - - -The meeting between the detective and Reginald Danton took place shortly -before dark on the evening of the last Sunday in June and, therefore, at -about six o’clock. - -After an hour passed together, during which Danton could give Nick but -little more in the way of information than that which has already been -recorded, the young man took his departure and the detective was left -alone to think over the incidents of the afternoon. - -He had agreed with young Danton that he would go out to the Fells early -the following day and there hold an interview with the maid, and after -looking over the ground more thoroughly, would determine if there really -existed any reason why he should search for the temporary hiding-place -of Mercedes Danton. - -“You see,” he said, in conclusion, in talking with his friend, “it is -one thing if she has been induced to leave home through any undue -influence, and it is another if she has simply gone away of her own free -will. But I agree with you, Danton, for from what I know of your -sister, I do not think she would do such a thing, when there is, or -appears to be, no reason for her action.” - -When, however, Danton had taken his departure, and the detective was -seated alone in his room, he went slowly over the ground that had -already been covered, much more deliberately than he had done while the -young millionaire was with him. - -His first remark, too, made to himself in the privacy of his own den, -demonstrated the general trend of his conjectures. - -“Mercedes Danton never left her home in that manner of her own free -will,” he said aloud. “I am as positive of that point as if she had told -me so herself. Now, let me see what I already know about the -circumstances surrounding her, in her home, which might lead to some -clue for the reasons of her going. I’ll go back first to the killing of -Orizaba.” - -“Ramon Orizaba was reputed to be a distant relative. He was killed by -Paul Rogers, Reginald Danton’s valet. Letters found among the effects of -Orizaba showed that he had been pursued by a Nemesis for upward of ten -years, but they do not demonstrate clearly why. Rogers had been in the -employ of Danton for about two years--something more, I believe. I -found the whole family rather reticent about both Orizaba and Rogers, -and while at the time I attributed that reticence to mere family pride, -it now appears that there might have been another reason for it. - -“After the murder Rogers left a letter for Danton in which he confessed -the murder, told how he did it, refused to tell why he did it--and then -he disappeared. Since that time not a trace of Rogers has been -discovered. He disappeared off the face of the earth almost as -completely as if he had gone to the edge of it and jumped off. - -“Next: When young Danton was describing to me the death of Orizaba, he -referred, in an abstract way, to some pretentions to the hand of -Mercedes which Orizaba had made. That was a matter which I had no -occasion to inquire into at the time, and now, of course, it is too late -to do so. Danton would resent it; Mercedes would resent it; their mother -would resent it--and, in fact, at the present moment at least, I can -think of no good excuse for doing so. - -“Next: If I am any reader of character at all, I must concede that -Mercedes and her brother appeared to love each other with a fondness -that is unusual, and it was certainly sincere on both sides. Now it is -absurd to suppose that the quarrel which took place between the brother -and sister had anything whatever to do with the fact of her leaving -home, it was merely an incident, and---- - -“Next: There is only one feature of the case that has come under my -observation or knowledge which is at all significant, and that is that -Mercedes should cry out in alarm upon seeing her brother on the street, -should retreat back into her carriage and drive hastily away, and that -her coachman should strike him. - -“Now: I do not believe that Mercedes Danton would dodge any living -person on earth--I think she is made of the stuff that would dare to -face anybody or anything at any time or place. In other words, if ever I -saw a young woman upon whose character was stamped every indication of -courage, Mercedes Danton was that woman. Again: If Mercedes had left -home willingly and taken all that baggage with her, she would not have -remained in the city of New York at this time of the year, and hence she -would not have been where her brother could have encountered her, and if -such an encounter really took place, Mercedes would not seek to avoid -it, and, least of all, would she have instructed her driver to strike -her brother with his whip. - -“Ergo: The woman in the cab was not Mercedes Danton. Reginald, for some -reason, believed her to be his sister, and for some reason also, the -woman, whoever she was, considered it imperative that she should avoid -an interview with Reginald. - -“Now, there is not a circumstance connected with this whole affair which -should induce me to investigate it, if I regard it purely from a -professional standpoint; but, on the other hand, if I regard it from a -personal standpoint, considering myself the friend of Reginald--or shall -I confess it to myself?--considering myself as solicitous only for the -welfare of Mercedes herself, there is every reason why I should at least -satisfy myself that all is well--or, rather, that nothing is wrong.” - -Nick Carter had just arrived at this decision when he was told that a -client awaited him in the reception-room, and he descended quickly, to -find there a woman, who rose from her chair and bowed respectfully to -him when he entered the room. - -“I do not know if you will remember me, Mr. Carter,” she said, coming at -once to the point, “and I hardly know, sir, how to explain the reason -for my coming here at all. I fear that you will consider it a great -liberty for me to take not only with your time, but with the affairs of -my mistress.” - -“I remember you very well,” said Nick, “although I never heard your -name. You are a maid of Miss Mercedes Danton. Concerning your coming -here, make your mind easy at once, for I already know why you are here, -and I am glad you have come. I should have gone out to the Fells in the -morning to talk with you.” - -“Did I understand you to say that you know why I have come, sir?” she -inquired, evidently greatly surprised. - -“Yes. Mr. Reginald Danton has told me that his sister left home a week -ago, rather mysteriously. Now, if you please, I will ask you some -questions, and I would rather you would confine what you have to tell to -me, to the replies to those questions. If, after we have finished, there -should be other things which you would like to touch upon, do so. First, -then, suppose you tell me your name.” - -“Sarah Kearney, sir.” - -“How long have you been in the employ of Miss Danton?” - -“Ten years. I have served her since she was a little girl, nine years -old.” - -“Good. And you were quite deeply in her confidence, were you not?” - -“She told me almost everything, sir--until quite lately.” - -“Do you mean that she has partly withdrawn her confidence of late?” - -“Yes, sir. Partly.” - -“Since when?” - -“Since just before the mur--the death of Mr. Orizaba.” - -“You think her manner altered toward you, about that time, or just -before his death?” - -“No, sir, I cannot say that her manner altered; only I am certain that -there was some sorrow or trouble on her mind which she did not tell to -me.” - -“I see. And before that, or rather up to that time, she had been in the -habit of confiding her troubles to you?” - -“Always, sir.” - -“Now let us take a back step for a moment: Tell me just why you came to -see me to-night.” - -“Why, sir, you have already said that you know.” - -“I know the reason for your wanting assistance, but I do not know why -you selected me to render that assistance. For example, if this occasion -had arisen a month ago, you would not have come here to me about it, -would you?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because I did not know you then, sir.” - -“Neither did you know me now. Had you never heard the name of Nick -Carter before the time of the death of Orizaba?” - -“Oh, yes, indeed!” - -“Well, then there is some reason other than you have stated, why you -have come here. Now see if you can tell me what it is.” - -“Only what Miss Mercedes herself said to me.” - -“Ah! Well, what was that?” - -“Why, only a few days before she went away she told me----” - -“Tell me her exact words if you can.” - -“‘Sarah,’ she said, ‘if the time should ever come when anything should -happen to me which you cannot explain, go to Mr. Carter and ask him to -help you.’ That was all she said, sir. I asked her why she said such -things, and she only smiled, and replied that she knew you would be her -friend if she should need one.” - -“Very good,” replied Nick. “Now come down for the present to the day she -went away. How did it happen that you were not present at the time she -packed her trunks?” - -“She sent me away to the city, early in the day, sir, on an errand which -took me all the day. I did not get back until just before dark. She had -already entered her carriage to drive to the station.” - -“And the trunks had already gone, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -“Do you think that your return surprised her? That she expected to be -gone before your return?” - -“Yes, sir. I was impressed by that idea.” - -“And that she sent you on that fruitless errand for the explicit purpose -of getting you out of the house while she was making her preparations -for leaving?” - -“Yes.” - -“Was the other maid in the carriage with her when you arrived at the -house at the moment of her departure?” - -“Yes.” - -“What is her name?” - -“Isabel Benton.” - -“Rather a high-sounding name for a maid, eh? We will return to her -presently. I shall want to know more about her.” - -“Well, sir, it won’t be much. Nobody could tell anything about her. She -was a puzzle.” - -“Indeed? I like puzzles--of that sort. Now let us return to your -mistress. How did she appear when you saw her in the carriage? Was she -pale?” - -“I could not say, sir. Her veil was drawn tightly over her face so that -I could not see her features.” - -“Yet you are certain that it was your mistress?” - -“Why, of course, sir.” - -“But why, of course?” - -“Just that it was her. I saw the carriage--the door was already closed -and the coachman was on the point of starting the horses when I came up -the walk. There was a small trunk on the box with the coachman, and I -suspected that Miss Mercedes was going away, so I called to him to wait -and ran forward before they started.” - -“Good. Did she seem annoyed because you delayed them?” - -“She seemed in a hurry, sir. In fact, she said that she was in a hurry.” - -“Tell me what she said to you.” - -“‘Sarah,’ she said, ‘I am in great haste. Tell my brother that I will -write to him. I will also write to you.’” - -“‘Will you not send for me to come to you?’ I asked her. ‘It will be the -first time you have been without me in ten years,’ I urged; and she -replied: ‘Perhaps.’ That was all. She was gone before I had a chance to -say anything more.” - -“Did you recognize her voice.” - -“Of course.” - -“Was she not coughing or laughing, or did she not hold her handkerchief -over her mouth and nostrils while she was speaking to you?” - -“Goodness, sir, how could you know that? Yes, sir, just before she spoke -to me she put her handkerchief under her veil and----” - -“And talked through it when she spoke to you. Very good, Sarah, I am -beginning to think that your mistress had already gone when--but we -won’t anticipate.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -LITTLE STRAWS SHOW THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND. - - -“Do you mean, sir,” asked Sarah, “that it might not have been my -mistress who was in the carriage when I supposed that I was bidding her -good-by?” - -“Yes. I mean that it might not have been your mistress, although we must -act for the present on the hypothesis that it was she. Supposing that it -was, the fact of her holding her handkerchief to her mouth while she was -talking to you would lead one to suppose that she had some reason for -wishing to conceal some emotion from you, would it not?” - -“I suppose so. I had not thought of that.” - -“No. I suppose you stood there and watched the carriage until it was out -of sight?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then you went into the house and went directly to her rooms, did you -not?” - -“Yes.” - -“What was the condition of the rooms?” - -“I never saw them in such confusion, sir.” - -“Showing that the packing had been done quite hastily; is that the -idea?” - -“It is, sir.” - -“Who did the packing? Of course you inquired.” - -“Naturally. Isabel Benton must have done it all, sir.” - -“Unless her mistress helped her, you mean.” - -“Nobody else helped her, sir. She ordered the trunks brought to the -rooms, and they were packed there. Nobody helped her.” - -“What was packed?” - -“That is what surprises me, sir. I have never known Miss Danton to take -so many things away with her before. Her own trunks were not sufficient. -She took three trunks which belong to her mother.” - -“What was put into the trunks?” - -“Almost every bit of her wardrobe. She took a great many things which -she has not used of late and which I know she had discarded for good, -and she took one dress which I have heard her say she would never wear -under any circumstances.” - -“What else?” - -“Why, books, trinkets, keepsakes--a mass of things, sir, which she never -noticed or cared for at all--and she cleaned out her writing-desk, -which hitherto she has only locked when we have been going away.” - -“What else?” - -“Well, sir--and this I cannot explain at all--she took every photograph -of herself that the house contained.” - -“What is that? Her own photographs?” - -“Yes, sir. I noticed, first, that one that she had given to me was -missing. Then I began to look for others. There is not a picture of her -left in the house. She even went into her brother’s, her mother’s and -her father’s rooms and took photographs from there.” - -“Her own?” - -“Her own and theirs as well.” - -“That is rather remarkable. Was she fond of her own pictures, do you -think?” - -“Not at all. She paid almost no attention to them. She never kept a -photograph of herself exposed to view in her own room.” - -“Who took the trunks to the station?” - -“The men at the stable, sir.” - -“How many trunks were there?” - -“Eleven.” - -“Do you know to what place those trunks were checked?” - -“Yes, sir. I asked. They were checked to New York.” - -“Which tells us nothing, and which can never tell us anything, I expect -since an entire week has elapsed since that time. Sarah, did the other -servants in the house know that she was intending to go away that day?” - -“Nobody knew it until she began sending for her trunks.” - -“Now, let us return to the moment when she sent you on that errand to -New York.” - -“Very well, sir.” - -“How did she appear when she gave you your orders about that?” - -“I did not see her then, sir.” - -“Not see her? How was that?” - -“She sent the order to me by Isabel.” - -“Ah! Did you see your mistress at all that day--Sunday?” - -“No, sir, I did not. Isabel attended her.” - -“When did you see her last?” - -“Saturday night, sir.” - -“At what time?” - -“I assisted her when she retired.” - -“Where was Isabel, the other maid, at that time?” - -“Walking on the piazza, I think. She was not in the room.” - -“Who usually attended your mistress when she retired?” - -“I, sir, always.” - -“And when she rose in the morning?” - -“I did, when she required anybody. Often she was up, dressed and out of -the house before I was awake. She loved to be in the garden in the early -morning.” - -“Did she go into the garden Sunday morning?” - -“No, sir. She did not leave her rooms all day, while I was in the -house.” - -“How does it happen that you did not go to her in her rooms?” - -“Isabel told me that she had directed that we were both to remain -outside. She said that Miss Mercedes was not feeling well, and did not -wish to be disturbed, and that she would ring if she wanted either of -us. Two rings were for Isabel and one was for me. She rang for Isabel -twice, I think--for me, not at all.” - -“Was it her custom to exclude you from her rooms?” - -“She never did such a thing before since I have been in her service.” - -“How do you account for it this time?” - -“I do not account for it at all, sir.” - -“What time were you sent away on the errand?” - -“About noon, sir.” - -“What was the errand?” - -“I was sent to see a woman who had been recommended to us--or, rather, -to Miss Danton--as one who could do fine sewing beautifully. I was to -talk with her, and, if she seemed satisfactory, to engage her services; -but the address was evidently incorrect, for no such person lived there. -It was in Brooklyn, so I had a long distance to travel, but I made good -time and so caught a train back to the Fells half an hour quicker than I -otherwise would have done.” - -“I see. You were sent on a wild-goose chase after an imaginary person in -order to get you out of the house while the packing was going on, and it -was intended that you should not return until after it was all over, and -she had gone, too.” - -“It would seem so, sir.” - -“The last time you saw your mistress was when you put her to bed -Saturday night?” - -“Yes.” - -“How did she appear then?” - -“As usual.” - -“Not troubled by anything, so far as you could determine?” - -“No more than had been the general rule of late.” - -“What do you mean by that?” - -“Well, she had not been exactly the same since--well, sir, it seems an -odd circumstance for a comparison of dates in regard to my mistress, but -it occurs to me that she had not been exactly the same since about the -time when Paul Rogers entered the service of Mr. Reginald as his valet.” - -“It is an odd circumstance to use as a comparison, Sarah. I would like -you to tell me exactly why you do so.” - -“Because of a very trivial thing, sir. I happened to be standing in the -hallway of the house when Mr. Reginald returned from Europe and brought -his new valet with him. Miss Mercedes came out from the drawing room to -welcome her brother, and after he had passed on up the stairs she -remained there talking with me until the valet came in with some of the -luggage. She turned to see who it was who had entered, and when her eyes -lighted upon the face of the valet she uttered a sudden cry of alarm and -staggered back into my arms; but she barely touched them before she had -straightened up again. There was not the slightest outward sign of -emotion on her face, either.” - -“The valet stepped toward her, bowed, and said in those peculiar, soft -tones of his, that he was sorry he had frightened her, and she replied -by laughing and telling him it was nothing at all.” - -“And she offered no explanation?” - -“None at all.” - -“Did any occur to you?” - -“Only that I thought she had not heard him and was really startled.” - -“You mean that you thought that at the time; but that afterward you -changed your mind?” - -“No, sir. I did not change my mind.” - -“Do you think that she recognized in the valet a person whom she had -seen and known before?” - -“Yes; I think so now.” - -“Why?” - -“Because--well, I have no good reason, only that many times since then I -have seen her look strangely at the valet when she did not know that she -was observed.” - -“How, strangely? What do you mean by that?” - -“I scarcely know.” - -“Did she seem to fear him?” - -“No; rather to be studying him.” - -“You are of the opinion that she had seen him somewhere before?” - -“Either that, or he was strangely and unaccountably like some person she -had known.” - -“Now you have said that she had not been exactly the same since that -time. In what way was she different?” - -“That is a difficult question to answer, for the reason that there was -no difference which I could explain. There would have been no difference -at all to any one less intimately associated with her than I was. But -there was a difference.” - -“Can you not give me some idea about it?” - -“Only that after encountering him anywhere in the house or in the -garden, she would appear, for a short interval, to be in a mood of -abstraction.” - -“As if she were endeavoring to recall something that was -half-forgotten?” - -“No; not that. More as if she were trying to explain something to her -own satisfaction?” - -“Did he ever address her or she him, save on the mere formalities of the -household?” - -“Never that I know about.” - -“Did his presence ever seem to frighten her?” - -“Nothing ever frightened her, sir. She possessed the courage and the -self-control of a man.” - -“Do you think his presence annoyed her?” - -“No; I think it only puzzled her.” - -“Well, Sarah, we will leave Rogers for a moment and return to Isabel. I -want a word or two about her.” - -“Very good, sir.” - -“I see that you did not like her, but it is possible that your dislike -may have been the result of jealousy rather than have arisen from any -really good reason, so I wish you to make an effort to disabuse your -mind of anything but justice in replying to my questions about her.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE BEAUTIFUL FACE OF ISABEL. - - -“When did Isabel Benton first make her appearance in the household?” - -“About a year ago--perhaps a little more.” - -“Who recommended her?” - -“I do not know. She came one afternoon and entered at once upon her -duties. Nobody offered me any word of explanation and I sought none.” - -“Naturally. Did her duties conflict with yours at all?” - -“Not at all. I attended my mistress’ person. Isabel was more of a -waiting maid, constantly in attendance. My duties were in the bedchamber -and with the wardrobe; hers were entirely general.” - -“Still you were jealous.” - -“I suppose so. I thought Isabel unnecessary. There was nothing to do -that I could not attend to.” - -“Exactly. Isabel is rather beautiful, as I remember her. I saw her, I -think, when I was there.” - -“Yes; she is very beautiful--for a maid.” - -“I did not talk with her at all, so you must tell me how she appeared. -I got the impression that she looked rather above her station; did she -appear that way at all?” - -“Yes; I think she did.” - -“How?” - -“She is an educated young woman. I think, sir, that she had seen better -days.” - -“You think, then, that she had not always been a maid?” - -“I think she had never been a maid to anybody until she came there to -serve.” - -“Ah! I see. Rather that she was one who had enjoyed being waited upon -instead of performing the part of a servant herself.” - -“Exactly that, sir. I would like to ask you, sir, if you looked at her -very closely when you were at the Fells?” - -“No; I barely noticed her at all.” - -“Then, perhaps, you did not notice that there was really a striking -resemblance between her and Miss Mercedes.” - -“I certainly did not.” - -“You saw enough of her to remark that she was beautiful.” - -“Yes; but it was a fleeting glance in the half-light of the -drawing-room when I happened to meet her in the doorway. I merely caught -a glimpse of her face. It was her poise and figure that attracted my -attention, as well as the delicate profile of her face.” - -“Then you would not notice the resemblance, for it was not observable in -her profile.” - -“But you think there was a resemblance?” - -“A decided one, sir, when you got the correct view, and that was -straight in front. But I noticed it on one occasion particularly, and I -gave her a severe scolding at the time, too.” - -“When and how was that?” - -“I found her dressed in one of Miss Mercedes’ party dresses once. Miss -Mercedes had gone to a reception in the city, and the other members of -the family were also away from home. By a strange chance very few of the -servants were in the house, and I was, myself, supposed to be attending -my mistress in New York. But it happened that I was taken with a -headache at the last moment, and, instead of going to the city, was sent -to my room to rest. At nine o’clock in the evening I awoke from a long -sleep, and, feeling much better, went down the stairs to the library to -find something to read. I had to pass through the drawing-room on my way -to the library, and you may imagine my surprise when I entered to -see--as I supposed--my mistress standing before one of the long mirrors -in the room. - -“The carpet is very thick and soft, and she did not hear me as I -approached behind her, so that I had a good view of her face in the -mirror, and, Mr. Carter, I actually believed it to be Miss -Mercedes--until she spoke. - -“I uttered an exclamation of surprise at finding her there, whereupon -she wheeled like lightning and confronted me. Even then the resemblance -was so startling that I was not sure that she was not my mistress; but -she saw that she was fairly caught, and she burst into tears, which she -probably knew would be the surest way of winning me over to promise that -I would not betray her.” - -“And she did win you over so that you never spoke of the circumstance, I -suppose?” said the detective. - -“I have never spoken of it till now, sir.” - -“Tell me what she said at the time, in explanation of her conduct.” - -“I don’t remember much that she said, sir. She talked a steady stream -for half an hour, and it was chiefly about there having been a time when -she had finery of her own, and was a welcome guest at receptions such -as the one where our mistress had gone. The dress she had put on was one -which I had brought out for Miss Mercedes to wear, but which she had -laid aside for another that she preferred. It had not been laid away -again--was, in fact, on the bed when Isabel found it, and determined to -see how she would appear with it. I was sorry for her. She could wheedle -anybody with her voice.” - -“Ah! Her voice. Tell me about that.” - -“Her voice is very soft and low. Not like any other voice I ever heard, -and yet, strangely enough, always remindful of a voice you have heard -somewhere. Don’t you know voices of that kind, sir?” - -“Yes; I think I know what you mean. What was her manner, generally, in -the house? Did she offend the other servants, or did they like her?” - -“I think they all loved her, sir. I was the only one who distrusted -her--and I could not tell you why I did so, either.” - -“Because you were jealous of her, doubtless.” - -“I think so. I think that was the only reason. I know, at least, that it -is the only reason that I can give.” - -“Did your mistress like her? Did she seem fond of her?” - -“Yes--and no. Sometimes I thought she was fond of her, and there were -times when I had an idea that she disliked her.” - -“Describe one of the occasions when you had reason to think that your -mistress disliked Isabel.” - -“Miss Mercedes and I came in from the garden, together, through the side -door, and we passed through the library into the drawing-room to leave -some flowers in one of the vases there. Isabel was standing in the -embrasure of one of the windows, in conversation with Mr. Orizaba. Miss -Mercedes called to her, and ordered her to her room at once. Then she -sent me out of the room, and I know that she said some sharp things to -her cousin----” - -“But Orizaba was not her cousin.” - -“He was in a way, sir. A sixth or seventh cousin. She always spoke of -him as her cousin. Later, she came to her room and rang for Isabel, and -I heard her tell her that one more circumstance of that kind would incur -instant dismissal from her service. That is all I heard her say about -it, but the flash of Miss Mercedes’ eyes at the time made me think that -underneath it all she heartily disliked Isabel. I may have been -mistaken.” - -“Did you often see Isabel and Orizaba together?” - -“Quite often, sir. There was always a glance of mutual meaning between -them when they believed themselves unobserved--and once, quite late at -night, when I had stolen out of the house to the hammock when the others -were in their beds, I saw them talking together on the piazza.” - -“Now let us get back to the moment you returned to the Fells after your -errand to the city. When you stepped forward to speak to your mistress, -who was already in the carriage, was Isabel also there--in the -carriage?” - -“Why--yes, sir.” - -“Are you sure? Did you see her?” - -“Of course, I saw her.” - -“I mean, did you see her face so that you recognized it, or did you only -suppose it to be her, because of the circumstance? Think, now, and reply -carefully.” - -“Why, I have always been certain that it was Isabel, sir.” - -“Did she not also wear a veil?” - -“I really do not know, sir.” - -“In other words, you did not really look at her at all. You had eyes -only for your beloved mistress. Is that not true?” - -“Perhaps it is.” - -“What carriage was it--an open one?” - -“No, sir. The big coupé.” - -“Did you speak to Isabel, or did she address any word to you at that -time?” - -“No. I think not. I was so surprised, so disturbed, and I will confess, -sir, so angry, that I do not remember much about the circumstance, only -that Miss Mercedes was going away without me, and that she bade me -good-by so coldly that it almost broke my heart.” - -“So, as a matter of fact, you do not really know that Isabel was in the -coupé at all?” - -“Why, yes, I do.” - -“Well, how do you know it? That is what I want to find out.” - -“Why, who else would be there if she was not?” - -“Exactly; who else, indeed?” - -“I don’t know what you mean by that, sir?” - -“No; I suppose you do not. Now what was the first thing you did after -you entered the house, when they had driven away?” - -“I went to my own room, threw myself on the bed, and cried.” - -“To be sure. Sarah, do you happen to remember if, during the few days -that immediately preceded her departure, there had been a strange woman -in the house, in any capacity?” - -“There was a woman who came to do some light sewing--some hemming of -linen, I think; but she went away Saturday evening.” - -“How do you know that she went away Saturday evening? Did you see her -go?” - -“No. I heard my mistress dismiss her.” - -“Now, Sarah, just two or three more questions, and then you may return -to the Fells.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -IN HOURLY PERIL OF DEATH. - - -“Sarah,” said the detective, rising and crossing the room two or three -times, “the acts connected with the tragedy which occurred at the Fells -two weeks ago are still fresh in your memory, are they not? I refer, of -course, to the murder of Orizaba by Mr. Reginald’s valet, Paul Rogers. -You recall all the circumstances, do you not?” - -“I think so, sir.” - -“Now, I want to recall to your attention several things you have told -me, to which you have not attached much importance. I want to group them -together for your consideration, and, after I have done so, ask you a -few questions upon points suggested by them.” - -“Very well. I only wish I might be able to tell you something of -importance.” - -“You have already told me several things of very great importance.” - -“Indeed, sir, I did not know it.” - -“Possibly not. Now listen.” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“You have said that Miss Mercedes seemed startled when she saw Paul -Rogers for the first time.” - -“Yes.” - -“You have told me that, although Isabel seemed to come to the house -without especial recommendation, she seemed not unknown to Orizaba, and -that, in fact, there seemed to be an understanding between them.” - -“Yes; I often thought there was.” - -“And you have spoken of a rather striking resemblance between your -mistress and Isabel.” - -“It was striking, sir, all but the profile.” - -“Did it ever strike you that there was also a faint resemblance between -Miss Mercedes and the man she called her cousin--Ramon Orizaba?” - -“Quite so; her mother used to speak of it often.” - -“Well, now, did that resemblance extend to Orizaba and Isabel?” - -“Yes, sir; decidedly. There was quite general comment about it among the -servants.” - -“What was your own opinion about it?” - -“Why, I thought it rather noticeable. I once told Isabel that she might -readily pass for Mr. Orizaba’s sister.” - -“What reply did she make?” - -“She laughed and said that she was one of those persons who resembled -almost everybody or anybody.” - -“Humph! Now tell me: What effect did the sudden and tragic death of -Orizaba seem to have upon Isabel?” - -“None at all that I could notice. I thought she was paler than usual, -but we were all of us that. I do not think she acted any differently -from the others.” - -“You have known Miss Mercedes so long and so well that you would notice -anything which seemed to affect her, at once, would you not?” - -“Surely.” - -“You know, of course, that Mr. Reginald did not like Orizaba?” - -“Certainly. We all knew that. He did not disguise the fact.” - -“How did Miss Mercedes feel toward him?” - -“I think she dreaded him. If she were anybody else, I should have said -that she feared him--and yet, she was very gracious to him.” - -“Do you think by any possibility that she was in love with him, or that -she had ever been in love with him?” - -“N-no.” - -“Why do you hesitate?” - -“Because of several contradictory things she did. I used sometimes to -think that she despised him; again I would think that she dreaded him; -again that she was fond of him. I know that she was very kind to him, -and I know, also, that she often supplied him with money. I even know of -one occasion when Isabel carried money to him for her, and--that reminds -me of one thing which I had totally forgotten. She called him by his -first name.” - -“Who did?” - -“Isabel. She called him Ramon when she gave him the money. I think the -money surprised me more than the use of the name, and I was incensed -because my mistress had trusted her instead of me.” - -“And so you forgot the use of the first name. All right, Sarah. Now I -want you to tell me exactly what you fear might have befallen your -mistress--what the fear was that induced you to come to me.” - -“I don’t know, sir. I fear everything. I cannot get it out of my head -that some dreadful thing has happened to her. It was not like her to go -away like that. It was not like her to bid me good-by as she did. It was -totally unlike her to leave such a message for Mr. Reginald.” - -“And,” said Nick, “it was unlike her to pack her trunks in the way she -did--to take away the articles she did--to care about her own -photographs--to cover her mouth with her handkerchief when she was -bidding you good-by--to have been gone an entire week without sending -you word after she said that she would do so--in fact, Sarah, there is -nothing connected with her going away that is at all like Mercedes -Danton, is there?” - -“Not a thing, sir; not one.” - -“And so you have become frightened lest, in some way, she has been -induced to go away against her own wishes and will; lest she has been -unduly influenced. Is that it?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Now, Sarah, if you were ill, and obliged to go to the doctor, would you -tell him only half of your troubles, or would you tell him all?” - -“I should tell him all, sir. What do you mean by that question?” - -“Never mind; answer me another. How do you suppose I manage to earn my -living at the detective business?” - -“Why, sir, how can I answer that?” - -“I will answer it for you. I accomplish that difficult task by -understanding perfectly when people are telling me the truth and when -they are deceiving me. Now there is a difference between telling a -downright lie, and only telling a part of the truth and withholding the -remainder. I don’t think you have told me a lie, to-day, Sarah, but I am -quite sure that you have not told me all the truth. There is something -you have kept back--something that I should know.” - -“Mr. Carter, I----” - -“I would not amount to much at my business, Sarah, if I was not sharp -enough to discover that much in your conduct this evening.” - -“But, really, sir, there is nothing more that I can tell.” - -“Tut-tut, Sarah, there is something more that you can tell me, if you -will, and that something is about--who shall I say it is about, Sarah? -Shall I say it is about Paul Rogers, the fugitive valet, who murdered -Mr. Orizaba, or shall I say that it is about Isabel--or, better still, -shall I say that it is about both of them?” - -“There is nothing more that I can tell, sir.” - -“Now, Sarah, that is pure obstinacy. I know that there is something -more. You could, for example, tell me why it was that your mistress was -startled when she beheld Paul Rogers acting as valet to her -brother--and you could also explain why you were almost, if not quite, -as much astonished yourself.” - -“One might suppose that you were present at the time, sir.” - -“Sarah, you were in Europe with your mistress while she was at school -there; you know perfectly well that you both knew Paul Rogers at that -time, and you know that you would not have known him in a way to have -affected you when you saw him again, if his position at that time had -been in accordance with his valethood, later; and, therefore, you know -that Paul Rogers was not his true name any more than valet was his true -position. Who was he when you knew him in Europe, Sarah?” - -“There is nothing more that I can tell, sir.” - -“Not even to save your mistress from probable peril?” - -“Not even to save her from positive death, sir,” she said, and her lips -shut tightly together over her teeth. - -“What!” exclaimed Nick. “Is it so serious as all that? This is worse -than I supposed. You are keeping the secret because your mistress has -sworn you to secrecy, and has charged you never to tell, even to save -her life or your own. Is it not so?” - -“I have nothing more to tell, sir.” - -“All right. If you won’t, you won’t, and I see that you are determined -to say no more. But, all the same, Sarah, I will find a way to make you -speak, or I will discover what I wish to know in some other manner. You -may return to the Fells now. I shall be there in the morning.” - -Sarah rose to her feet and started toward the door, but before she had -crossed the room she stopped and began to sob. - -Nick remained silent, watching her, and presently she turned and faced -him again. - -“I think my heart is breaking, sir,” she said. “I do not know what to -do.” - -“There is only one thing for you to do if you would serve your mistress -whom you love, and that is to tell me everything you know which will -throw light upon this strange disappearance. Has it occurred to you, -Sarah, that the woman in the coupé, who put her handkerchief to her -mouth when she bade you good-by, was not your mistress at all, but was -in reality Isabel Benton, dressed in her clothes? Has it occurred to you -that the woman in the other seat of the coupé was not Isabel, but was, -in reality, the woman who had been hemming linen in the house and who -was sent away--but who did not go--the preceding night?” - -“Where, then, was my mistress?” - -“Where, indeed?” - -“But if she was not in the coupé, where could she have been? She was not -in the house.” - -“No. She was not in the house, because she had been carried out of the -house,” said Nick. - -“Carried out of the house! Oh, God! You don’t mean----” - -“I don’t know what I mean, Sarah, save that she had been spirited away -in the night, after you had put her to bed--after she had been drugged, -or possibly murdered.” - -“Murdered! My Mercedes? No, no, no! I will not believe it. No, no, no, -no.” - -“If she was not murdered then, Sarah, rest assured that she is in hourly -peril of death,” said Nick slowly. “The conspirators who dared to take -her away, and who dared to plot the substitution of another in her -place, will not hesitate to put her out of the way the moment they can -do so with safety.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -A QUESTION OF FOUR LIVES. - - -Sarah tottered back into a chair after Nick had ceased speaking, and she -remained there, with her head resting in her hands, and quietly sobbing -until the detective addressed her again. - -“Come, come, Sarah, this will not do at all,” he said. “Remember what I -said to you--that I shall be at the Fells in the morning. You can have -from now until then to think over all that we have talked about, and to -decide upon the importance of the additional knowledge you can supply. I -think, by morning, you will have decided to tell me all.” - -“Very good, sir. I will go; and to-night, on my knees, I will pray for -guidance so that I may decide to do what is right in the morning.” - -“All right. Let it remain that way, until you see me to-morrow.” - -“Tell me, sir, do you think she is in immediate danger?” - -“I am only groping in the dark about her now, Sarah, but I think there -is a deeply laid plot here, that is destined to affect the entire -family of Dantons. The mother was taken ill suddenly, and her son -believes that she was poisoned. She is better now, and, probably, out of -the reach of her enemies. I would not be surprised to hear, almost any -day, of the death of Reginald’s father, who has about concluded his -European trip, and must be on the point of returning home, especially -since he has heard of the tragedy at his house and must know how it has -affected his family; and I would not be surprised to hear of an attempt -on the life of Reginald within the next few weeks. Don’t you understand, -Sarah?” - -“No, sir, I do not.” - -“Why, it is simply that there is a certain woman in the world whom we -know as Isabel Benton, who believes that she can personate Mercedes -Danton so well that if her father, and mother, and brother were out of -the way she would have no difficulty in deceiving the rest of the world. -It is all very simple--awfully simple after what you have unconsciously -revealed to me to-night--all of which I think I should have sensed -before this, and which I would have done, had my mind been upon it. Go -home now, Sarah. Be prepared to tell me all you know, in the morning. I -can wait until then, but I charge you, if you would save the lives not -only of your mistress, but of your mistress’ father, mother, and -brother, keep no secrets back from me. It is no longer a question of one -life, or two; it is a question of four lives--four human lives, which -these fiends coldly intend to sacrifice to their greed for wealth and -luxury.” - -As soon as Nick was alone, he repaired to the telephone and called up -the favorite club of Reginald Danton. - -“Mr. Danton has just gone out,” he was told, “but he said that he would -return in half an hour. No; he did not say where he was going, but I -think over to the Waldorf.” - -“All right,” said Nick. “If he comes in ask him to wait for the -gentleman who met him at the Fifth Avenue front of the Waldorf just -before dark this evening.” - -For a moment, after he hung up the phone, he stood with his hands behind -him, in deep thought; and then he hurried to his dressing-room, from -which, after a quarter of an hour he emerged, but so altered in -appearance that he bore not the slightest resemblance to himself. - -He was now, in every feature of his make-up, a typical Frenchman--a -Boulevardier with a title or two to his name and ample time and money -at his disposal. As he sauntered out upon the street, he murmured to -himself: - -“If Danton is at the Waldorf I will run across him there; if he is not, -I can look him up at his club later.” - -When he arrived at the hotel he entered by the Thirty-third Street door -and strolled slowly through the building toward the office. From there -he made the rounds of the corridors and also peered into several of the -rooms, but nowhere did he get a glimpse of the man he sought. It was -evident to him that if Reginald had indeed come to the Waldorf, he had -already taken his departure. - -Now, it so happens that the Waldorf is a hotel where one rarely takes -the trouble to examine the register--indeed, it is rarely in evidence; -and they keep three or four on tap, as it were, so that there is always -one in which you may write your name while the others are in use by the -bookkeepers. - -Nevertheless, it so occurred that as Nick was passing the desk in the -office, one of the registers was lying idle on the counter near the -registry clerk’s window. - -Without any object whatever in view, save only the thought of killing -time, Nick paused, and, having turned the book around, drew it toward -him. - -He scanned the names without motive and without even comprehending those -he read, idly turning the pages of the book backward, until suddenly he -started--violently, for him, although the start was wholly inside and -would not have been noticed by a person beside him--nevertheless, he -started, for, written upon the register in rather a bold but plainly a -feminine chirography, he read the name: - - “MISS MERCEDES DANTON. - - “Two maids.” - -He glanced hastily at the top of the page to discover the date of -registry, and also made a mental note of the number of the suite placed -against the names, and then he stepped away again and dropped into one -of the big armchairs to think. - -The date of the registry was exactly one week old, showing that the -entry had been made the very day when Mercedes was supposed to have -disappeared from her home, and Nick smiled when he thought how -thoroughly a person may disappear from view in the very heart of New -York by simply going to a hotel and by giving orders that you are not -“in” to anybody while in town. It is only necessary after that to remain -in one’s room. - -“Now here is a remarkable circumstance,” mused Nick. “If I am right in -my conjectures, the woman who is masquerading as Mercedes Danton is in -this hotel at the present moment, and she has managed in some way so to -hedge herself about that she has not the least fear of what may happen, -even if her name is discovered on the register--which it is not likely -to be, save through some such accident as mine. To prove that, I will go -to the room clerk and inquire for her.” - -He sauntered up to the desk and asked: - -“Is Miss Danton stopping here? Miss Mercedes Danton?” - -“No. Gone. Went away a week ago,” replied the clerk shortly, and without -raising his eyes. But Nick was satisfied. He returned to his chair and -reseated himself. - -“It is quite evident,” he mused, “that I have received the stereotyped -answer prepared for any person who happens to inquire for Mercedes -Danton. It is also equally evident to me that she is at this moment in -this hotel--that is, the woman who represents herself to be Miss Danton, -and that instead of wasting my time in running after her brother, I had -better look into this matter here and now.” - -He crossed the corridor to the locality of the pneumatic tubes which -are used as mediums of communication with the upper floors, and asked -one of the clerks there to tell him the exact location of the suite he -wanted to find, and then he made his way through the building to what is -known as the Waldorf side of the hotel and so ascended in the elevator. - -Having stepped out at the floor he had desired, he sauntered carelessly -through the corridor, passed the door, continued on his way to the far -end of the hall, and then retraced his steps. Then, having taken note of -the number of the room directly opposite the one that was occupied by -the woman he quested, he descended again to the ground floor and went -out of the building. - -He hurried at once to his own house, and, without altering his disguise, -for it served as well as any for the work he had in view, he hastily -packed a grip that was liberally pasted over with tags and labels. - -Nick Carter had determined upon one of the boldest moves of his career, -as will soon be seen--a move, too, for which many of his critics might -be inclined to censure him, since it involved entrance to a woman’s room -without her permission--but, yet, he was convinced that the end he had -in view justified the means that were necessary to accomplish it. - -Even when he began the packing of his grip, he hesitated; but assured as -he was that four lives were in immediate peril, he cast his scruples to -the winds and continued with his preparations. - -The articles with which he supplied his grip were simply such as he -might find it necessary to use in the work he had to do, and in a -surprisingly short space of time from the moment he entered his house he -left it again--but not, however, before he had made use of the telephone -to call up the manager of the Waldorf and ask if he could be -accommodated with a certain room, and he gave the number of the one -directly opposite the entrance to the suite that was charged against the -name of Mercedes Danton. - -The reply to his request was all that he could desire, and, accordingly, -he returned, grip in hand, to the Waldorf, without delay. - -Fifteen minutes after entering the hotel, he was assigned to the room he -sought, and had sent up his grip. - -The time was as yet early in the evening--barely ten o’clock--and as at -least two hours must elapse before he could commence operations as he -had planned them, he determined to walk over to the club which Reginald -Danton most frequented, and, perhaps, in that manner kill two birds -with one stone--that is, see him and give him the warning he had -intended to convey before he discovered the name of his sister on the -register, and so been forced to alter his plans. - -But even while he was standing near the desk, turning over his plans for -the night in his mind, he heard the voice of Reginald behind him, and -saw him saunter through the corridor in the direction of the café, in -company with two others. - -“Good,” said Nick to himself, and he followed them, noticed where they -seated themselves, and then, returning, sent a boy to tell Reginald that -a gentleman wished to speak with him at the desk. - -Reginald appeared in a moment and stood looking vacantly around him in -search of a familiar face, but, seeing none, was about to return to his -friends when Nick touched him on the shoulder. - -Reginald Danton wheeled instantly and confronted Nick. A frown appeared -on his face, and was then succeeded by a smile, for, after all, he -thought, this stranger might be the person who had sent for him. - -“You wish to speak to me?” asked Reginald. - -“Yes,” replied Nick, in his natural tones, although in a low voice. -“Tut-tut, Danton, don’t look so surprised. You recognize my voice, of -course.” - -“Yes; but it is the only thing about you that I do recognize,” said -Danton. - -“Naturally, since it is all I wished you to do. But stroll with me -through the corridor for a moment. I want to talk to you.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -UP AGAINST IT IN EITHER CASE. - - -“I was never so astonished in my life,” said Danton, as they walked arm -in arm together along the hotel corridor. “Of course, I have heard that -you could step up and hold conversations with your best friends without -once giving them a chance to recognize you, but I never believed it, you -know. I always thought that sort of thing was what the boys call -‘Sherlock-Holmesing,’ don’t you know. Very pleasant to read about, but -not an element of real life. Just speak again, won’t you, for I am not -sure yet that you are really Nick Carter; I’m not, really.” - -“I’m not Nick Carter, Danton--at least, not for the present. I am the -Marquis de St. Cyr. At least, that is the name by which I have -registered on the books of the hotel.” - -“And why, may I ask?” - -“Rather, for the moment, let me ask the questions. Are you especially -addicted to the two gentlemen who are with you?” - -“Eh?” - -“Who is with you?” - -“Oh. Nobody in particular. They are only time-killers. The fact is I -have been so upset since that episode of the carriage, when I thought I -saw my sister, that I cannot get the idea out of my head that she is -here in this hotel. I was glad of any excuse for sitting around here for -an hour or so.” - -“Even though you sat in the café where there is not the slightest -possibility that you will see her if she is here?” asked Nick. - -“Yes; even so. Oh, I haven’t the faintest idea that I will see her -again, you know.” - -“Let me ask you, Danton, if, when you use the pronoun ‘her,’ you mean -your sister, or the woman you saw in the cab and whom you thought was -your sister?” - -“You seem to be mighty well convinced that she was not Mercedes.” - -“I am as positive as I can be without having established the truth of my -statement.” - -“Well, whether the woman I saw was Mercedes or somebody else, I cannot -get it out of my head that she is here in this hotel.” - -“She is here in this hotel.” - -“Ah! You know, then?” - -“Yes.” - -“How did you find out?” - -“Never mind that now. Come, let us return to your friends. You may -introduce me as an old friend from Paris, the Marquis de St. Cyr--and -then, as soon as it is politely convenient, I want you to shake them and -give your attention to me. I have suddenly determined to initiate you -into real detective work to-night.” - -“Eh? Do you mean that you want me to help you?” - -“Just that, if you are game and care to do so. If you think I may depend -upon your discretion and--sand.” - -“Sure thing, Carter! You may depend upon both.” - -It was midnight when they had parted from the friends of Reginald Danton -and had repaired to the room to which Nick had been assigned; and then, -in a low tone, but with great earnestness, Nick outlined what he -intended to do and the manner in which Danton could assist him. - -“To begin with, Danton,” he said, “you had scarcely left my house before -Sarah Kearney put in an appearance, and from her I have gleaned enough -of the facts connected with the departure from home to assure me that -she has been made the victim--or, rather, one of the intended -victims--of a very deep plot which includes your whole family. Then, my -young friend, I was seeking you in order to warn you to be especially on -your guard, when quite by accident I discovered that Mercedes Danton and -two maids are registered here at this hotel. In fact, they are at this -moment occupying the suite that is directly opposite this one.” - -“Gee whizz! Is that so?” - -“Quite so. Now listen to me quietly and patiently, and I will tell you -how I have sized up the circumstances connected with the events that -have happened in your family lately--and what I want you to do to help -me to-night.” - -“Go ahead, old man. What is it?” - -“In the first place you must understand that the man has never been born -into the world who is always right; I am not an exception to the rule, -and while I believe in the theories I have worked out from what has been -told to me, there is always the possibility that I may be wrong. Now, -Danton, it is highly important that I should enter that room opposite -us, before morning----” - -“Eh? What the dev----” - -“Wait. I must know before daylight if the woman in that room is your -sister, or an impostor. If she is really your sister, then there is -nothing more for me to do in the premises, save to await the morning and -then send up my card in the usual way in the hope that she will receive -me in the interests of her brother.” - -“Well; and if she is not----” - -“If she is not your sister--why, then, I know already who she is, and I -will not be long in determining how to act.” - -“If she is not my sister, who is she?” - -“Isabel Benton.” - -“The devil you say!” - -“Well, if I am right in my conjectures, a sort of a she-devil, I grant -you.” - -“But, I mean----” - -“I know exactly what you mean; better than you do yourself--but don’t -let us get away from the main subject until I have finished what I have -to say on that point.” - -“All right. Go ahead.” - -“Well, then, in plain English, if by any possibility I am mistaken, and -the woman in that room is Mercedes Danton, I tell you frankly that I -would rather be shot than to enter there without her permission. You -see----” - -“Wait half a minute, Carter. I want to ask you a question.” - -“All right. What is it?” - -“This: If it were any other woman on top of the great green earth, not -my sister--any other woman in the world except Mercedes Danton, would -you feel any hesitation about entering her room, if you considered the -act as a necessary part of your duty?” - -Nick looked calmly into his companion’s eyes and replied slowly: - -“No; I don’t think I should hesitate.” - -“Good! I understand you, Carter, better than you think. Now another -question: If Mercedes Danton were not in question, you would not even -stop to consider that your premises in this case are correct, would -you?” - -“No; I don’t think I should.” - -“That’s all right, Nick, old man. It would seem that I was not so far -wrong as one might suppose when I teased Mercedes until she was angry. -But we’ll drop all that now. You had got as far as saying that you would -rather be shot than enter that room under certain circumstances. Go -ahead from there.” - -“If by any chance your sister is in that room, why, it would be no great -crime for her brother to enter it without her knowledge, just to -ascertain if she is really there, while, for me to do so, would be----” - -“Terrible, eh? Let it go at that. But, I say; do you think for a moment -that I’m going to burgle that room?” - -“That is exactly what I expect you to do.” - -“It strikes me that the shoe is on the other foot now, with a -vengeance.” - -“How so?” - -“Why, this way: If I burgle the room, and it is my sister’s room, no -harm is done. If I burgle it and it is not my sister’s room, then the -devil is to pay.” - -Nick laughed outright. - -“If you enter the room and my sister is there,” continued Danton, “you -are up against it, and if I enter the room and my sister is not there, I -am up against it.” - -Nick Carter’s face suddenly became grave. - -“We are wasting precious time, Reginald,” he said. “Now I want you to -listen while I tell you a story.” - -“All right, old chap. Go ahead.” - -“Carry your mind back to the time when you first engaged Paul Rogers as -your valet.” - -“Hello! Harking back to that, eh?” - -“Yes. Be serious now, for it is a very serious matter.” - -“Well?” - -“How was he first brought to your notice so that you were inclined to -take him into your service?” - -“I think he was recommended to me through Orizaba; through some friend -of his, if I remember correctly.” - -“I had scarcely hoped for so good a reply as that.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“Did Orizaba tell you that he personally knew Rogers?” - -“No; I remember distinctly that he assured me he had never seen him.” - -“Now, in the light of all that occurred later--the murder of Orizaba and -the written confession of Rogers, together with his flight, little -things have gone out of your mind. I want to know if in the beginning of -Rogers’ employment in your service, you ever noticed any sign that -passed between him and Orizaba by which you might be led to suppose that -they were not unknown to each other?” - -“No. I never saw a thing: but then I would be the last person in the -world to see such a thing, even if it existed.” - -“Now, one more question and then I will tell my story. Did it ever occur -to you that Rogers and the maid, Isabel Benton, were anything more than -mere fellow servants in your household?” - -“Sure! He was dead stuck on her. I bantered him about it often--when I -was half-full.” - -“Good. Now I will tell the story.” - -“I hope it is as good as the introduction is exciting.” - -“Good or not, it is logical. It is wholly made up from my practise of -putting two and two together, but the more I have thought about it, the -more convinced I have become that it is correct.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -THE PLOT FOR MANY MILLIONS. - - -“You have told me nothing of the real relation of Ramon Orizaba to your -family, save that he was a distant cousin,” began Nick slowly, “and it -is not necessary, in order to carry out my theory, that you should do -so. The point is that he was a relation, however distant, and on your -mother’s side, since you have told me that she is of Spanish descent.” - -“Correct. He was----” - -“Never mind; we will call him a distant cousin. I think, Danton, if he -had shaved off his mustache and the pointed beard he wore, you would -have speedily discovered that there was a strong facial resemblance -between that man and your mother.” - -“Oh, yes. She spoke of it often; and so, for that matter, did he.” - -“As little as I saw of him, the resemblance was plain to me. Now there -was another person in that house who bore a striking resemblance to -Orizaba.” - -“Do you mean my sister?” - -“No. It was not noticeable in her case, I think, although the person -whom I am about to mention as looking like him also resembled your -sister. I mean Isabel Benton.” - -“By Jove, you are right!” - -“My theory tells me, in short, that Isabel Benton and Ramon Orizaba were -brother and sister.” - -Benton whistled softly to himself. - -“It goes still farther,” continued Nick. “We will say that the relation -between Orizaba and your mother did exist, in fact, and that thus far he -was not an impostor.” - -“Yes.” - -“Beginning at that point we must go back to the time when Orizaba first -discovered that the relationship existed, and that his American -relatives were rich. We will picture him as--what he doubtless was--a -sort of half-adventurer, half-gentleman, who lived by his wits, as he -did not cease to do after he made the acquaintance of your mother. -Discovering, we will say, that he was blessed with rich relatives in -America, he made himself known to them, and, by his adroitness, won -himself into a position of recognition. It appears, and quite plainly as -you know, that your mother and sister supplied him with an allowance out -of their own funds. Your sister did this to please her mother, and your -mother did it for the honor of her family--because he was a blood -relation, however distant, and she would not consent that he should -incur the contempt of her husband and son.” - -“I guess that is about right, Nick.” - -“The sums with which they supplied him were, however, not sufficient for -his needs, and, being aware of your proverbial carelessness in money -matters, he did not hesitate to forge an occasional check in your name. -This, I think your sister knew about; perhaps your mother also knew it. -It was the fear that he would repeat that act too often, and so be -discovered, which led your sister to give him more money, and often--for -I find through Sarah that she did so. - -“Now--you have intimated, in the past, that Orizaba had the temerity to -make advances for the hand of Mercedes in marriage. That is the real -reason why you hated him, for, otherwise you would have liked him. You -have told me yourself that everybody did like him--that he had a way of -ingratiating himself into the good graces of everybody.” - -“It is true, too.” - -“Mercedes doubtless gave him to understand that there was no hope for -him in that direction, and so he turned his attention to another -matter--one that had presented itself to him from the first moment when -he met your sister, but one which he did not seriously consider until he -knew that there was no hope that she would ever consent to be his wife. - -“But, then, he recalled the fact that he had a sister--and what is more -important, that the ties of blood had barked back as it will sometimes -strangely do, so that with a little assistance from the arts of dress -and of making-up, there was a resemblance between them sufficiently -marked so that under proper conditions one might readily pass for the -other. It remained, therefore, only necessary to bring about those -conditions. - -“We will say that he communicated with his sister. That they met and the -whole plan and plot was outlined between them. That she was brought out -of obscurity somewhere, and, after some necessary coaching, was -introduced into your home in the capacity of maid to Mercedes. It was a -simple matter for her to dress so that the resemblance to her mistress -should be as little noticeable as possible. The very accomplishment she -wished to make use of later on was covered with every art she could -employ, so that it was hardly to be seen at all while she was in the -house, save at rare intervals. One of those rare intervals I know about, -as well as the fact that she delighted to practise in the part of -masquerading as Mercedes. Sarah surprised her once, dressed in your -sister’s clothing, and standing before a glass engaged in studying her -part, in character. - -“Now, we have that much, and we will take a step backward again. - -“After the murder of Orizaba, you know I went through his papers very -thoroughly. I found the story of the Nemesis, as you know, and Rogers’ -letter developed the fact that he was that interesting character. But -here is a nice little point in the plot--or, rather, two very nice -points: Orizaba did not suspect that Rogers was the Nemesis who had been -pursuing him for so long a time, for the reason that Rogers was all the -time the husband of Orizaba’s sister, Isabel. Don’t you see?” - -“Not quite. There are wheels within wheels there.” - -“Very well, we will say that ten years ago Rogers took the trail of -Orizaba, intending to kill him. In pursuing him, he encountered Isabel, -the sister of his intended victim. He fell in love with Isabel, and -married her. Having done that, he posed thereafter as the fond -brother-in-law, while in reality he was the Nemesis who was bleeding -Orizaba all the while, and who had sworn some day to have his life. Why, -we do not know, and it does not matter; but that is why, try as he -might, Orizaba could never discover the identity of the man who pursued -him. - -“Now, let us take another step backward. We will say that one day -Orizaba confided his plot to Rogers; that he told him of the strong -likeness between Mercedes Danton and Isabel. With their heads together, -it was an easy matter for those two men to work out the plot by which, -ultimately, they were together to enjoy all the millions that your own -father has amassed, and which one day are intended to be divided between -you and Mercedes. They were not working for one million, but for a -hundred millions. Think of it, Danton; it was a game worth playing, and -worthy of the brains they put into it.” - -“By Jove, Nick! But how----” - -“Wait. Rogers was introduced into your service as a valet, in order to -study the lay of the land, so to speak, before he would consent that his -wife should become involved. Later, his wife, Orizaba’s sister, the -woman whom we know as Isabel Benton, was brought forward as maid to -Mercedes. The mine was laid. It only remained for Isabel to study her -part until she had it learned to perfection, and then to fire the mine.” - -“But, I say, Nick, you don’t mean to say that she believed she could -fool me--to say nothing of my father and mother--do you?” - -“Certainly not.” - -“Then how----” - -“You, as well as your father and mother, were condemned to death.” - -“Good Heaven!” - -“With you three out of the way it would be an easy matter to deceive -others. When the little matter of the quarrel, which amounted to -nothing, occurred between you and Mercedes, Isabel overheard it, -doubtless, and as the time was ready to act, she acted. She had already -started her warfare against your mother. You say you thought your mother -was poisoned by something she had eaten. I have no doubt that she was, -only I have many doubts that it was accidental. The poison was somehow -administered by Isabel, and in getting your mother out of the house, she -did what she wanted to do; for she opened the opportunity for her own -disappearance, after which there were other ways in which you and your -mother were to be gotten rid of after some approved plan which offered -small chance of detection. Isabel was establishing an alibi for herself, -as well as for your pseudo sister. You would have had another Cadillac -needle jabbed into your back, on the street somewhere; your mother would -have been poisoned again while she is in Newport, and your father--well, -he may or he may not get home alive. Let us hope that he will; that the -time is not yet ripe to play their act upon him, and if our work -to-night is good, I hope we can prevent the further working of the plot -against you. - -“Hush! Don’t interrupt me yet. There is absolutely nothing that we can -do to prevent the happening of the things I have mentioned, except what -we have elected to do to-night. Now let us take one more step backward. - -“We will say that we are almost at the time for the culmination of the -plot. We will say that we can look in upon a reverie of Rogers wherein -he cogitates upon the mightiest stroke of all. He hates Orizaba. More -than that, he fears him. Still more, with Orizaba out of the way there -will be one less person to enjoy the millions of your father when they -shall have been won. Still more yet, there is a chance that by murdering -Orizaba, he can throw suspicion upon you, Danton, and this he decides to -do. That later he changed his mind on that point is one of the -psychological puzzles of the human mind. I won’t pretend to answer -that, unless it was the thought that he could still further divert -suspicion from himself in the final crimes, if, by chance, suspicion -should ever fall upon him. In putting Orizaba out of the way, Isabel was -both neutral and passive. There had never been affection between them, -nor did she delight in the thought that her brother would be master of -that future in which she wished to be the queen. - -“There! That is the story I have woven from the somewhat tangled thread -provided by Sarah Kearney. Now I come down to the night of the -disappearance of Mercedes. - -“Sarah put her to bed as usual, Saturday night. Sunday morning, Sarah -was sent away upon a cooked-up errand. When she returned, the baggage -had been taken from the house, and her mistress, as she supposed, was in -the act of driving away in the coupé. As a matter of fact, Reginald, it -was Isabel who was inside the coupé, posing as Mercedes, and it was a -woman who had been introduced into the house to do hemming on linen who -was acting the part of Isabel.” - -“Where, then, was Mercedes?” - -“I can only guess at the reply, but there is no doubt in my mind that -she had been drugged and taken secretly from the house during Saturday -night, and--I say, Danton, the registry down-stairs shows two maids. -What if one of those maids is your sister, still under the influence of -drugs? What if, after all, she is in that room across the hall?” - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE PLOTTERS BROUGHT TO BAY. - - -It was past one o’clock when the detective had finished his story, and, -as he brought it to an end, he glanced at his watch, then shut it to -with a snap, and announced that it was time to act. - -“I know the plan of the interior of this house quite well,” he said, to -Danton, “and it will be comparatively easy for me to unlock the door so -that you can gain admittance to those rooms. There are five rooms in the -suite, and I merely wish you to satisfy yourself that Mercedes is there, -or is not there, and then to return to me to report. I will do the -rest.” - -“But, suppose they should hear me?” - -“Then the only thing for you to do is to make your escape and to dart -into this room as quickly as you can. Come; are you ready? Here; let me -adjust this wig and beard, so that if you should be seen you will not be -known. So. Come on.” - -Nick opened the door, and, after directing Danton to remain where he was -until he was ready for him to proceed, crossed the hall and applied his -marvelous pick-lock to the door. - -It was a matter of only a moment for him to spring back the lock, and -gently to push the door ajar, in the meantime, having assured himself by -a quick glance up and down the hall that there was no immediate fear of -interruption. - -As the door upon which he was working swung open not more than half an -inch, he could hear voices proceeding from the room which adjoined that -one, and he could see, also, by the light which reflected into the room -before him, that it was itself unoccupied. - -The voice that had arrested his attention was a man’s voice, and, -turning, he made a hasty gesture toward Danton to remain where he was, -and then stepped boldly through, closing the door behind him. The -presence of a man in the room and the instant recognition of the tones -of that man’s voice had driven all thought of the delicacy of his -undertaking from his mind at once. - -For Nick Carter to hear a voice once was always to remember it, and the -instant those tones fell upon his ear he knew that he was in the -presence of the master conspirator, in short, that the man, Rogers, was -at that very moment at his mercy. - -Having closed the door gently, he dropped upon the floor and crawled -forward until he could peer through a crack between the folding-doors -which connected the two rooms, and he almost exclaimed aloud when his -eyes lighted upon the scene thus unfolded to his view. - -At the first glance it seemed almost as if Mercedes herself was seated -there, conversing with Rogers, so exact a copy had she managed to -produce of the young woman she had plotted to impersonate. But even as -Nick took in the details of her appearance, she spoke, and she did so -with the voice of Isabel Benton. - -“Oh, no,” she was saying. “I will experience no difficulty in getting -her away from this hotel. Give yourself no uneasiness on that score. I -have already made every arrangement. The doctor has given his opinion, -the management of the hotel is ready to assist me in taking her out as -quietly as possible. They are no more anxious to make an exhibition of a -sick guest than I am of a sick maid; and Paul, her own brother would not -know her, she is so wasted and changed. I don’t know what the drug is -that you gave me to administer to her, but, whatever it is, it has done -its work well. Mercedes Danton, the real, goes out of existence -to-morrow when we ship her off to Canada. After that, you can put her -out of existence in fact, at your own sweet pleasure. I wash my hands -of it.” - -“And your part here? What will you do?” - -“Oh, I’ll play my part, all right. Don’t worry about me. You say the -servant whom you have ‘fixed’ at the house in Newport, where the old -lady is staying, will do her work this week, and that Mrs. Danton is too -ill to travel here now. Well, that means that I have nothing to fear -from that source; and Danton père--if your plans do not fail in regard -to him----” - -“They cannot fail. He will die on shipboard on the way over, of -apoplexy, or of something that will look much like it. They haven’t time -to hold autopsies on ocean steamers. I’ll take care of that. The steward -who is to put him out of the way has worked for me before; he will not -fail. But what of the son?” - -“You leave the son to me. He has just twenty-four hours more to live and -then, pouf! He goes out of existence. Thus all the obstacles are -removed. Thus we will come into the millions.” - -“You are a great actress, Isabel. You play the part superbly. Even -now--here--to me--you look it thoroughly.” - -“Play the part? It is thrice easier than it was to play the maid. That -was hard. But, come. You must be going.” - -Nick waited to hear no more after that, but he turned and glided back to -the door, and in another moment was again in the hall, with it closed -and locked behind him. - -With a hasty word of warning and instruction to Danton, who retreated -within the room, Nick sauntered down the corridor a few steps, waiting -till the door of the suite supposed to be occupied by Mercedes Danton -and her maids should open to permit the departure of Paul Rogers--and he -had not long to wait. - -When the man came out into the hall, and closed the door behind him, -Nick was not ten feet away from him, and, as Rogers, after one sharp -glance in his direction, turned to hasten in the opposite direction, -Nick quickened his step so that in a moment he was close beside the -conspirator and murderer. - -He seemed to be in the act of passing Rogers, when suddenly he turned in -his track. - -His arms shot out and the fingers of one hand seized upon Rogers’ -throat, effectually shutting off all hope of his crying out or otherwise -giving an alarm. With the other hand, the detective seized him around -the body, and then, with a leap, he hurried him toward the open door of -his own room where Danton was standing in the doorway awaiting him. - -The whole thing occurred so quickly that five seconds had not elapsed -from the instant when Rogers came out of the room opposite before he was -safely behind closed doors in Nick Carter’s room, with irons upon his -wrists and ankles and a gag thrust into his mouth. - -“This is the luckiest night’s work I ever did in my life,” said Nick, -looking down upon his captive, who was glaring up at him with fierce -eyes, but who was utterly helpless nevertheless. - -“I see that you do not know me, Paul Rogers,” he said. “Perhaps, -however, you will know this gentleman;” and he brought Danton forward -where the prisoner could see him. - -“The game is up, Rogers,” continued Nick. “I think I can assure you that -Mr. Danton’s father will not die of apoplexy on board the ship which is -to bring him over here; also that his mother in Newport will not be -poisoned this week, and also that Reginald will live somewhat more than -twenty-four hours more. Neither do I think that Mercedes Danton, the -real, as your wife correctly calls her, will take that little trip to -Canada.” - -“What the devil does it all mean?” asked Danton, almost beside himself -with curiosity. - -“It means,” replied Nick, “that when I opened the door opposite, I heard -Rogers’ voice inside the room, so I thought that instead of sending you -there to reconnoiter, I would do the thing myself. I happened, -fortunately, to surprise a heart-to-heart talk between this chap and -Isabel, in which, in a very few words, they betrayed the whole plot, -almost exactly as I outlined it to you. And, by the way, Reginald, I -don’t blame you for supposing that Isabel was your sister when you saw -her in front of the hotel in the carriage. I would have believed the -same had I seen her instead of you. Now, I want you to sit here with our -gentle acquaintance while I go down and interview the management of the -hotel. This is one of the circumstances which they like to manage in -their own way, and when I tell them that it need not be known that -anything has occurred in the hotel, there will be no difficulty in -getting our prisoners to police headquarters without delay.” - -“But where is Mercedes? Where is my sister? Has anything happened to -her? You have not told me that yet, Nick?” - -“To be sure I haven’t; but do you suppose that if anything had happened -to her, I would be almost joking with this brute here on the floor? -Wait, Danton. She is under the influence of drugs, and is, doubtless, -quite ill; but I think we will soon bring her out of that.” - - * * * * * - -Half an hour later there was a sharp summons upon the door of the suite -opposite the room where Nick Carter had related the story to Reginald -Danton. - -Presently, after the summons had been repeated a second and a third -time, there came a voice from the other side, inquiring who was there. - -“A telegram,” replied the hotel detective, whereupon he was told to wait -a moment, and presently the door was partly opened and the face of -Isabel--it was uncannily like the face of Mercedes--appeared in the -opening. - -But she had no time to ask questions, for the door being ajar thus far, -was quickly pushed wide open by the men outside, and, almost before the -woman was thoroughly awake, she found herself a prisoner. - -It was broad daylight, in the same suite of rooms at the hotel. - -Mercedes Danton, pale as a ghost, but seemingly more beautiful than -ever, was lying on the couch near the window so that the cooling breeze -of the June morning could fan her brow. Seated beside her and holding -her hand in his was her brother, and, standing near them, looking down -with untold pleasure and satisfaction in his eyes, was Nick Carter. - -“How much we owe to you, Mr. Carter,” she said to him, lifting her -matchless eyes until they rested upon his face with a glance that was -almost a caress. - -“To me?” he replied, smiling. “Say, rather, to yourself.” - -“How to me?” she inquired. - -Nick turned away without answering, and Reginald smiled upon both his -sister and his friend. - -“How to me?” she repeated, looking at her brother for a reply. - -“Why,” he said, smiling, “because everybody who knows you, loves you, -Mercedes. Even I, your brother, love you. Even----” - -“Shut up, Danton,” ordered Nick. “Speak for yourself, and give the same -privilege to others.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -NICK DISCOVERS A NEW MYSTERY. - - -With the principal actors in the plot of death for the Danton millions -safely in the hands of the law, Nick Carter began to breathe more -freely. He followed closely the trial of the accused murderer to see -that no loop-hole for escape from conviction was taken advantage of by -the accused man. - -He had long conferences with the district attorney and laid before him -all the necessary facts in the conspiracy, avoiding, as far as it was -possible, dragging the family into the case. In this he had the hearty -cooperation of the prosecuting officer to whom he frankly turned over -all the data he had gathered, bearing either directly or indirectly on -the charge of murder, asking in return only that the family be spared as -much as possible in the presentation of the evidence. - -There was scarcely any defense offered at all, and, indeed, so apathetic -had the prisoner appeared to be, that it was thought he had abandoned -hope. - -The idea that all that time he was lying low for the very purpose of -averting suspicion from his real plans never once occurred to anybody. - -The trial was short, although the prisoner was forced to spend many -weeks in his cell in the Tombs before the case was reached on the -calendar. The result was a conviction, and Nick felt that a great load -had been lifted from his mind when he learned that Rogers, strangely -calm in the face of the verdict, had been led from the court-room a -condemned murderer. - -If Nick could have known what that calm, unruffled demeanor meant he -would not have been so greatly relieved. - -Following his usual custom of washing his hands of a case after turning -a criminal over to the proper authorities, Nick, when he had placed all -the evidence at his command in the hands of the district attorney, had -gone away to New Brunswick, on a fishing-trip. - -Isabel Benton could not be connected with the murder at all, either -before or after the fact, and the charge against her had been so vague -that she escaped with a light sentence in the penitentiary. - -Mercedes Danton, worn by the thrilling events of the past few weeks, -went to Europe, and Reginald betook himself to parts unknown to pass -away the hot season of the year. - -But even on his outing trip Nick Carter was destined to be called into a -case of mystery that, however, was so soon solved that the detective -regarded it as only one of the side issues that come to him now and -then, and which he dabbles in either from motives of friendship, -curiosity, or amusement. In this case, however, it led to a strange -development. - -He was about to bring his visit to an end, and was spending his last -evening of “loafing” in the cozy study of his host, Jack Northrup, -smoking and chatting, when the servant announced a visitor. - -“George Smart. I wonder what brings him down here?” said Northrup, as he -read the card that the servant brought to him. “Show the gentleman in -here. George is a young lawyer, and an awfully nice chap. You’ll like -him,” he continued, turning to Nick as the servant retired. - -The lawyer promptly followed his card and greeted Northrup cordially as -he entered the room with the air of a man of determination and quick -action. - -“Why, George, what brings you down here?” asked Northrup. - -“Business,” replied Smart promptly. “You didn’t think I had wandered -down to this hole in the world for pleasure, did you?” - -“My friend, Mr. Carter,” said Northrup, laughing at the lawyer’s wry -face, as he introduced the men. “Now lay off your coat and join us in a -pipe. You will stay all night, of course, and as we have fished all the -streams in the neighborhood dry by day and told about it at night we -will be glad to compose ourselves and listen to the tale of the business -that brings you to this ‘hole.’ Your business always has a romantic -side, George, and I am sure that it must be something out of the usual -to get you out of New York and away from your office, club, and cronies. -Come let’s have it. Our friend Carter here is a bit interested in the -law.” - -“Why, it’s a deuce of a mess altogether,” said Smart, as he pulled up an -easy chair and filled a long pipe. “And it concerns one of your -neighbors, too, or, rather, his heirs.” - -“Not old man Peters?” said Northrup. - -“Yes--his estate.” - -“Must have left a handsome fortune. He had no direct heirs, had he?” - -“Yes, one--a burglar.” - -Both listeners uttered a cry of surprise. - -“A burglar his heir?” said Nick, in astonishment. - -“And to a big, round sum, too,” said Northrup, with manifest surprise. - -“Yes, and I cannot find the burglar or the will, now.” - -“How do you know that his heir is a burglar?” asked Nick. - -“Because he told me so.” - -“But how do you know he made such a will?” - -“Because I drew it.” - -“Phew. This is a romance indeed. Tell us all about it, George.” - -The lawyer settled back in his chair as if preparing for a long session. -He was pleased to have aroused the interest of his auditors, and was not -loath to tell the strange story. But he puffed contentedly at his pipe -for a moment before proceeding, seeming to enjoy the impatience of the -two men, who were leaning forward in their chairs expectantly. - -“It was just a week before Mr. Peters’ death that he sent for me to draw -his will,” said the lawyer finally, deciding to satisfy the curiosity of -his hearers. “He had no immediate fear of death, although as you know he -had been partially paralyzed for many years. The document was a very -simple matter. As you say, he had no direct heirs at law, and he wished -to will his entire property to a man whom he designated as Red -Morgan---- Did you speak?” the lawyer asked, turning to Nick, who had -uttered a suppressed exclamation. - -“A sudden pain in my side. It’s nothing. Don’t let me interrupt you.” - -“Although the will tells nothing of the history or character of the heir -to this large fortune, old Mr. Peters related to me the little he knew -of the man and his reasons for his singular disposition of his wealth. -As you know, he was always eccentric and of firm and determined mind. -After he had outlined to me the brief document that I was to draw for -him I tried to dissuade him from this peculiar disposition of his -property, urging that it might result in all sorts of claims being set -up by all sorts of crooks and criminals. - -“But he would not listen to me. ‘I have sent for you to make my will, -Smart,’ he said. ‘I am of sound mind and perfectly competent. I have no -near relations who have any claim on me or my posthumous generosity. The -money is mine, and I purpose to do what I like with it. If you do not -want to draw the will I’ll get some one who will.’ Well, there was no -gainsaying him, and, of course, there was no real reason why he should -not devise his property in this way if he chose. Only I could see all -kinds of trouble coming to me, as I was to be the arbiter and see to it -that the right man got the money, and also that the conditions of the -will, which were also simple, were carried out to the letter.” - -“But why did he make such a strange disposition of his property?” asked -Northrup. - -“I am coming to that. This is the story he told me: - -“As you, and, as far as that goes, the entire countryside knows, Mr. -Peters was in the habit of keeping a large sum of money in the house. He -had been frequently warned that it was a bait for burglars, but in his -stubborn way he paid no heed to his advisers. The money was kept in a -safe in his room, and the key he always carried with him and at night -slept with it under his pillow. This, of course, was little security, as -after-events proved, for every one knew that ‘old man Peters always had -a thousand dollars or more in his safe,’ and just as many knew that the -key was to be found under his pillow at night. Just how this knowledge -reached the inner circles of the criminal world is something it is hard -to explain. But it did. - -“Well, one night Mr. Peters, who lived alone, as you know, with an old -servant, was awakened by a noise in his room. As he opened his eyes -without stirring he saw the forms of two men, who had just entered by -the window which opened onto the roof of a porch. The room was dimly -lighted by a new moon, and, as his eyes became used to the semidarkness, -he could see every movement the men made, and he was soon impressed with -the remarkable fact that one of the midnight visitors was unaware of the -presence of the other. - -“It was a singular scene that the old man witnessed as he lay there -quietly in bed watching the catlike movements of the dark forms. It -would have been a trying situation for an ordinary man, but old man -Peters did not have a nerve in his body, and was as brave as a lion. Had -he been physically able he would undoubtedly have engaged his unbidden -guests in a little rough-and-tumble fight without recking the results. -But his paralyzed limbs would not permit any such demonstration, and he -just lay there watching and waiting. - -“He had a keen sense of humor, had Mr. Peters, and it was this that -nearly cost him his life and made Thomas Danton his heir. As he watched -the foremost man moving stealthily about getting his bearings, and just -as stealthily followed by the crouching figure of the other, the -scene--one thief dogging another--struck him as so ludicrous that he -laughed outright. - -“That laugh was nearly fatal. With a snarl of rage the first man sprang -to the bed, and, seizing the old man by the throat, raised a gleaming -knife. - -“‘Curse you, take that,’ he hissed, and the knife was about to descend -when the shadow sprang upon him and wrenched the weapon from his hand. - -“‘We will have no murder done while I am here, Dan Flynn.’ - -“The first man released his grip on the old man’s throat and turned upon -the man who had seized him. His surprise when he recognized him was -evident. - -“‘Red Morgan! What are you doing here?’ - -“‘The same thing you are, Dan, only I don’t intend to see any violence -done an old and helpless man.’ - -“‘What are you doing here?’ again growled the other. - -“‘On the same lay as you, Dan, only you got here first. I needed the -thousand, but it’s all off now, and we’d better mosey.’ - -“‘And not swipe the stuff while we are here?’ - -“At this point old Mr. Peters took a hand in the game. He touched a -button that had been conveniently arranged in the head-board of his -bed, and the room was instantly flooded with light. - -“‘You fool,’ said the second man, ‘don’t you see that the game is up, -and we will have the household down on us in a moment?’ - -“They evidently had not informed themselves of the strength, or, rather, -weakness, of the household. I can hear old man Peters chuckle now as he -told me of the incident. - -“‘If you hadn’t interfered the old man would have been a dead one now, -and we could have lifted the stuff without a kick,’ said Dan, in deep -disgust. He glanced scornfully at the figure on the bed, but started -back in dismay. - -“Mr. Peters, lying flat on his back with a grin on his drawn face, had -the man covered with a revolver, which he also kept under his pillow. - -“‘We will dispense with your company,’ he said to Dan. ‘By the window, -if you please, so as not to arouse the household. And you,’ he said to -the other, ‘will remain.’ - -“Dan lost no time in making his escape, while the other man sat -nonchalantly down on the edge of the bed and lighted a cigarette. - -“‘Well, Mr. Peters, what can I do for you--call the servants?’ he asked -coolly, as he looked down the barrel of the gun. - -“‘Close the window,’ chuckled Mr. Peters; ‘it is chilly here.’ - -“The man calmly did as directed, and then turned again to the old man, -who lowered his pistol as he said: - -“‘You seem to have some scruples against murder.’ - -“‘I have.’ - -“‘Sit down.’ - -“The burglar resumed his place on the edge of the bed. - -“‘You saved my life at the possible risk of discovery as a burglar. I am -not ungrateful. Here.’ - -“As he spoke, Mr. Peters put his hand under his pillow and drew out the -little key to the safe, which he held out to the man. - -“‘There’s the safe--here’s the key. There is one thousand and two -dollars and thirty cents there. Take the bills and leave me the change. -I shall probably feel like it in the morning,’ and the old man chuckled -at his joke. - -“That the burglar was astounded is drawing it lightly. He took the key, -however, with alacrity, and, unlocking the safe, quickly transferred the -money to his pocket. - -“‘Now, sit down again,’ said Mr. Peters. ‘I think I have earned a few -minutes of your valuable time.’ The man again resumed his seat without -protest, although Peters had now tucked the pistol back under his -pillow. - -“‘Your profession is a precarious one. Why did you take it up? You were -not born to be a burglar, even of the considerate class. Come, tell me -all about yourself, and who you are. I have paid well for a little -entertainment.’ - -“Then the man told him the usual story of the gentleman burglar, and -with dramatic force whispered his alleged real name in the ear of old -man Peters.” - -Nick had listened to the story with intense interest. It fitted well -into a little niche in his mind. - -“And what have you done toward finding this burglar?” he asked the -lawyer. - -“Nothing yet. The will, as I tell you, has disappeared.” - -“What were the conditions of the will to which you referred?” - -“Mr. Peters had an idea that nothing would shake that this man would -reform and lead an honest life. I was to locate him, and, if he had -mended his ways, or if I could induce him to do so without offering the -tempting bait of the fortune, I was to pay over to him the money left by -old man Peters. Now I have no legal authority to act on, even if I -should find the man. It is possible, of course, that Peters destroyed -the will in the short time between its execution and his death, but I do -not believe it.” - -“Nor do I,” said Nick emphatically. - -“And, certainly, no one had any interest in stealing it, even if its -contents were known.” - -“Can we get into the house?” - -“When?” - -“Now--to-night.” - -“To-night?” repeated the lawyer, in surprise. - -“Yes.” - -“I have a key, if the old servant is not still there. But what can be -done there to-night?” - -“Find the will.” - -Smart looked at Nick in astonishment, and then turned to Northrup with a -glance that seemed to ask: “Who’s your friend?” Northrup, enjoying the -situation, said with a laugh: - -“I did not mention Mr. Carter’s full name, I believe, Smart. Mr. -Nicholas Carter, I should have said.” - -“What, the detective?” - -“The same,” said Nick, with a smile. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -DISCOVERY OF THE WILL. - - -After Nick had made himself known the lawyer was quite willing to visit -the house of Mr. Peters, as the detective suggested, but he admitted -that he did not have any confidence that Nick would be able to trace the -missing document. - -“I have searched the house from cellar to garret, and can find no sign -of the will,” said Smart, with confidence. “I do not believe that it is -in the house now, if it still exists.” - -“Another look will not do any harm, if you have no objections,” said -Nick. - -“None in the least. I only hope that you may succeed, as this matter is -giving me a great deal of annoyance.” - -“Is the house far from here?” - -“About a mile,” answered Northrup. “We will take the automobile.” - -The host gave the necessary orders, and in a few minutes they were -speeding over the fine roads in the direction of old man Peters’ house. - -As there was no response to their rings and repeated knocking at the -door, the lawyer admitted the party with his key. - -“Tell me briefly what were the old man’s habits just before he died,” -said Nick. “Was he able to get around himself after his stroke?” - -“He was not exactly helpless, but had to be assisted in walking--in -fact, practically carried. He would put his arms around his servant’s -neck, and, in a sort of a pig-a-back fashion, he was moved around the -house.” - -“Had he any favorite place where he used to spend the days?” - -“Almost invariably he would pass the day in his study, reading or -writing. His mind was very active.” - -“In what room was the will drawn?” - -“In his study.” - -“Did you leave him there when you left the house?” - -“Yes. I simply notified the old servant that I was going, so that he -might know that his master was alone again.” - -“The will is in the study. Let us go there. It is a waste of time to -look elsewhere.” - -“But I have searched the study and every nook and cranny where he might -have hidden the document,” said the lawyer, showing some annoyance. - -“Why should he hide the will?” asked Nick coolly. - -“I am sure I do not know, but it is gone.” - -“That’s just it. There can be no reason for his secreting the will, but -you did not, perhaps, look in the obvious places where he might have -laid it away temporarily. Let us try the library.” - -Mr. Smart led the way to a large handsomely furnished room on the lower -floor, and, turning on the lights, Nick cast a quick glance around the -apartment. - -“This was his seat?” asked Nick, as he took the big revolving-chair in -front of a roll-top desk. - -“Yes,” answered the lawyer, “that is where he spent his days.” - -Nick stepped to the chair and sat down as if he were about to go to work -at the desk. He glanced quickly over the top of the desk, into the -pigeonholes in the back, and then sat for a moment thinking. - -“Have you asked the servant if he saw anything of the document in the -hands of Mr. Peters?” he inquired finally. - -“Yes. The man had seen nothing of it, and I think if the old gentleman -had had it exposed to view in his presence he would have noticed it. He -is a very observant person, and had the interests of his master at -heart. In fact, he aided him in much of his clerical work.” - -“If Mr. Peters had had the will in his hand when the servant helped him -up or down-stairs, you think the man would have noticed it?” - -“Undoubtedly.” - -“Then the will is in this desk.” - -Nick spoke with the utmost confidence, and again the lawyer showed some -irritation. - -“But I tell you I have searched the desk throughout,” he said. - -“Yes,” replied Nick, “but you must remember that you were looking for a -place where he might have hidden it. He did not hide it. He simply put -it one side, and, as it was a document that he did not mean should be -read by any chance caller, he simply placed it under his blotting-pad.” - -As Nick spoke with that confidence for which he was noted when he -believed he had solved a problem, he removed a large dictionary that lay -on one side of the large blotting-pad, and, lifting the blotters from -the leather corners, disclosed a paper which had been pushed under them. - -“I think you will find that that is the will for which you are -looking,” said the detective calmly, rising and pointing to the desk. - -In amazement the lawyer dropped into the chair which Nick vacated, and, -seizing the paper, glanced hurriedly at it. - -“It is the lost will,” he cried. “Mr. Carter, you are a wonder. Your -detective instincts are simply remarkable.” - -“Not at all,” replied Nick modestly. “Most apparently tough problems are -simple when they are solved. The obvious is almost always to be depended -on to clear up nine mysteries out of ten. Some gentlemen of my craft are -too prone to look at the involved and most unlikely side of a case as a -means for discovering a solution.” - -“Is there any way in which I can recompense you for your trouble, Mr. -Carter?” asked the lawyer, in some embarrassment, as he felt that as a -friend of Northrup and while a guest in his home the detective would not -consider that he had been acting professionally, so far as reward went. -And yet, the finding of the will was an important matter to the estate, -which was amply able to pay well. - -“Yes, you can,” was Nick’s unexpected reply. “Let me look over the -will.” - -“With pleasure,” said the lawyer, handing the document to Nick. - -The detective glanced through the paper quickly. - -“I see that the beneficiary figures in the document under his -professional name of ‘Red Morgan.’ Do you object to telling me the -family name which you say he whispered to Mr. Peters? I suppose he -confided that to you.” - -“Yes, to be sure, but to tell the truth I paid little attention to it, -as I did not believe the man’s story. Criminals are all liars.” - -“Have you forgotten the name?” asked Nick, in surprise. - -“In fact I have, but I made a memorandum of it at the time, and perhaps -I have it here.” - -The lawyer dug into his pockets, and, after a time, exclaimed: - -“Ah! yes, here it is.” - -“What is the name?” asked Nick, with some excitement. - -With some difficulty the lawyer read the blurred paper: - -“Thomas Danton.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE MURDERER ESCAPES. - - -It lacked but a few moments of the time when the train that was to -convey Rogers to Sing Sing would pull out of the Grand Central Station. - -A closed carriage was driven hurriedly under the glass canopy which -stretches between the station proper and the annex. There were two men -on the box--the driver and a special officer in citizen’s clothes; and -there were two men inside the hack. - -One of these latter was also an officer; the other, Paul Rogers, who was -to meet the fate that had been allotted to him, by passing through the -“little door” into the room where that terrible chair is located, in -which so many persons are compelled to seat themselves never to rise -again. - -But fate, and the careful plotting and planning of numerous friends of -Rogers, had already determined that he was not, on this particular -occasion, to arrive at the selected destination. Fate, assisted and -directed somewhat by the aforesaid friends, had arranged a most -dramatic rescue, which, by reason of its boldness and originality, was -destined to succeed. - -And this is how it happened: - -When the hack drew up against the curb inside the station, the officer -on the box leaped down and opened the door. - -As he did so, he made a signal which, although almost imperceptible to -many who were spectators of the scene, was yet visible to the police -officers who were near, and they gathered closely around the hack. - -In the meantime, the spectators, many of them ignorant of the identity -of the passenger in the hack, but, nevertheless, attracted by an -indefinable feeling that was in the air, suggestive of the presence of a -convicted criminal, and many of whom--as it appeared later--who were -thoroughly posted regarding that trifling circumstance, gathered closely -around the hack, and the two men who presently descended from it. - -It was somewhat remarkable how quickly that crowd gathered, seemingly -from nowhere, but which, almost in a moment, became absolutely dense. - -To the three policemen in uniform and the two officers who were not in -uniform, in the center of the crowd, it never occurred that the throng -of men who were crushing slowly but surely forward were acting in -concert, and upon a perfectly defined schedule. - -There was no noise--no violence--no disturbance of any sort--nothing, in -fact, to give the officers in charge on the occasion the idea that a -rescue was in progress. - -Each one of those officers had had experience with rescues before that; -each one of them would have known how to meet an emergency of that sort -with a front that would have disabled its intentions then and there, had -they or any one of them realized that an emergency existed. - -And that was the point of the whole rescue. - -That was the very thing which rendered it a success. - -The very unostentatiousness of it! The utter and entire absence of noise -or excitement! The steady and unrelenting pressure which the officers -strove so quietly and so vainly to thrust back again! The quiet which -the officers themselves maintained, fearing that any noise might reveal -the identity of their prisoner! - -Remember, it never once occurred to them that a rescue was in progress! -Had one of them suspected that, revolvers would have been drawn, clubs -would have been in evidence, an alarm would have been sounded and the -attempt at rescue would have been defeated almost as soon as it began. - -But there was nothing in the action of that crowd which so steadily -pressed forward to indicate even that they knew who the prisoner was. -There was nothing about the personnel of the crowd to suggest that it -was not the ordinary miscellaneous collection of humanity which gathers -at and departs from the Grand Central Station a hundred times every day -of the year. - -There was, in fact, nothing about the incident which was observable to -the officers, which was at all out of the ordinary, save that the crowd -was more dense than usual, and that the men who composed it seemed to be -more than ordinarily determined to see for themselves what was going on. - -Later, when explanations were demanded, there was really not one that -was worthy of the name of explanation that could be offered. - -There was the crowd, steadily and relentlessly pressing forward. There -were big men--well-dressed men--business men, from their appearance, in -the van of the crowd; and in the center of it all there were the two -officers with their prisoner, who was handcuffed to one of them, and the -three policemen in uniform. - -Five officers of the law, surrounded by two hundred and fifty determined -rescuers. - -Just at the instant when the officers became convinced that assistance -was necessary--just at the moment, in fact, when one of them was on the -point of calling for it, somebody in the distance, and from a point -higher up, as if its owner was so situated that he could overlook the -conditions, whistled shrilly and peculiarly. - -It was evident that the crowd was awaiting that signal, for with almost -the mechanical precision of machinery, it acted. - -The five officers were seized as one man might have been--and they were -seized by many pairs of hands at once. - -It was the same with each of the five, so we need only know the -experience of one of them, as he afterward described it at the -investigation that was ordered. - -“Two hands, bigger than my own, went across my mouth, and the fingers -locked together so that I couldn’t have opened my jaws to utter a word -if my life had depended upon it. My head was pulled back with a jerk by -those same two hands, for their owner was directly behind me, and I am -willing to swear that he was a giant, although I did not see him. Then, -at the same second, two more hands grabbed me by the throat and -squeezed, not hard enough to choke me exactly, but near enough to that -to keep my attention fixed for the moment on the desire to get my -breath. Then, and also at the same instant, each one of my legs was -seized by more hands, and I was lifted off my feet, and laid, face down, -on the pavement. Then, a moment later there wasn’t a hand touching me, -and I leaped to my feet ready for fight, only to find myself facing a -crowd of a hundred or more innocent-looking men who were vieing with -each other in asking what had happened and offering their assistance. - -“Sure, I couldn’t arrest the whole crowd of them for attacking me, for I -was not certain that a single one of them had been concerned in the -attack.” - -That finished his testimony, and that was, in fact, all that he or any -one of the officers of the law knew about the occurrence--save, perhaps, -one other--the officer to whom the prisoner was handcuffed. - -His story given at the investigation was almost the same. - -“I had two hands over my mouth, two more at my throat, and I don’t know -how many more at my legs,” he said. “I could not call out, and I -couldn’t do a thing to defend myself. When I got on my feet again the -chain between the two nippers had been cut and my prisoner was gone. -That’s all I know about it. I didn’t hear a word said--not one. There -wasn’t a blow struck. Nobody was hurt that I have heard about. They -didn’t even choke me hard enough to hurt.” - -And the fact, so far as Paul Rogers was concerned, was this: - -When the crowd became dense around him and the officer to whom he was -handcuffed was dragged down beside him, a pair of steel nippers quickly -severed the chain between the manacles, and then the manacle itself, -that surrounded his own wrist. - -He was a free man, and before him there was a niche in the crowd into -which he stepped; and as he pressed forward the niche proceeded in front -of him and as rapidly closed up behind him, something after the manner -in which a ripple will travel across a stretch of smooth water when a -pebble has disturbed it. - -It is all smooth and clear in front of the ripple, and all smooth and -clear behind it, but the ripple goes on continuously and regularly, -until it strikes against the shore and disappears. - -And so, Paul Rogers went ahead, slowly, continuously and regularly, -until he struck against the pavement of Forty-second Street, when he, -too, disappeared--was swallowed up in the ebbing and flowing of that sea -of humanity which sucks through Forty-second Street, between the hours -of four and six o’clock, almost every week-day in the year. - -He had disappeared from Forty-second Street before it was known inside -the station that a prisoner had escaped. He was gone before it was known -on the outskirts of the crowd that had surrounded him that he was there -at all. - -The death chair at Sing Sing was cheated of its prey--or, at least, the -journey to Sing Sing was indefinitely postponed. - -Paul Rogers, conspirator, murderer, but more than all, a mystery, had -made good his escape and was again at large--and he was at large for a -well-defined and dastardly purpose. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -NICK ON DECK AGAIN. - - -Against beautiful Mercedes Danton and her family, as well as Nick Carter -himself, Rogers had taken an awful oath of vengeance. - -How terrible that oath was, how carefully he had considered it and -planned for its fulfilment, we are soon to know. - -There were two coincidences connected with the escape of Rogers. One was -the arrival of Nick Carter at the Grand Central Station at nine o’clock -on the same evening, and the other the incoming of the steamship -_Oceanic_, which passed Fire Island at about the hour of the sensational -events at the railroad station, and when the vessel docked the following -morning among the passengers to come ashore were Mercedes Danton and her -father and mother. - -It was about half-past nine when Nick Carter reached his house that -night, and as he was in the act of ascending the steps to his front door -he heard his name called from the street, and, turning, observed, -shambling toward him, a man who at first glance appeared to be a genuine -specimen of the genus hobo. - -He was certainly as repulsive a looking tramp as Nick Carter had ever -beheld, to judge from his general appearance, and Nick somewhat -impatiently asked him what he wanted. - -“I want a word with you, sir, if I may have it,” was the reply. “My name -is Tom Morgan. You’ll remember me best as ‘Red’ Morgan, I think. The -last time you saw me was when you testified against me in court when the -judge sent me away for five years for burglary.” - -Nick suppressed a cry of amazement as he recognized Morgan, for he was -still revolving in his mind the strange story of old Peter’s will. He -controlled himself quickly as he said: - -“You must have been having a hard time of it, to judge by your looks. -Aren’t there any cribs left for you to crack? Out of prison three months -and still broke is an unusual circumstance for you, isn’t it?” - -“Oh, I’m not broke by a long shot, Carter.” - -“Mr. Carter, if you please, Morgan. I can’t permit familiarity from -people in your profession, no matter how much I may happen to admire -their skill.” - -“All right, Mr. Carter. No offense,” and the burglar laughed. “I’m not -broke. This rig I’ve got on is a disguise. I can look the hobo, and play -the part, too, to beat the band, when it happens to be of advantage for -me to do so. I picked up the fact that you were out of town and were -expected to arrive home yesterday or to-day, and so, as I wanted to -catch you as soon as you appeared, and to do that had to hang around the -vicinity of your doorstep until you came, I just adopted the hobo rig; -see?” - -“Yes; I see. But what for? Why did you wish to see me? I should suppose -that I would be about the last person on top of earth whom you would -wish to see.” - -Morgan grinned. - -“Well, Mr. Carter,” he said, “ordinarily that is the case; but there -happened to be a reason or two why I thought you would appreciate my -society just now.” - -“How is that, Morgan? You haven’t turned stool-pigeon since your -imprisonment, have you? You are the last crook in the city whom I would -pick out for an informer against his kind.” - -“Well, sir, I’m much obliged to you for that opinion--and it’s a correct -one, too. Nobody ever accused Red Morgan of being a squealer--bet your -life on that. All the same, that is about the size of my present -contract.” - -“Do you mean that you have come here to betray----” - -“Hold on, please. That is a hard word for me to swallow, even though it -does amount to a betrayal in one way. But, on the other hand, it isn’t a -betrayal at all, for the guns I’m going to peach about are not pals of -mine and never could be. It isn’t my fault that they made a lay for me -and wanted me to get on board their machine with them. Can’t you take me -inside, Mr. Carter? I’ve got a lot to tell you.” - -Nick hesitated and Morgan continued: - -“These clothes aren’t as bad as they look. You know that I’m rather a -clean sort of a chap, and this rig is one I fixed up myself. There’s a -lot about it that looks like filth, but it’s really good, clean dirt, -gathered from a country roadside--and I won’t ask you to let me sit -down. I didn’t come for that, and I probably won’t stay half an hour.” - -“All right. Come in,” replied Nick. - -A few moments later he had provided Morgan with a chair, and they were -seated together in the reception-room. - -“Now what is it all about?” asked Nick. “I know you well enough, -Morgan, to believe that you would not take the risk of coming to see me -unless you had something of importance on your mind. Let’s get down to -business.” - -“Well, it is important. I’m sorry, sir, that you did not get home about -six hours sooner.” - -“Indeed! Why?” - -“Well, if you had, you could have prevented the whole thing that I have -come to warn you about. You see, when you did not get here soon enough -to prevent it, I was for going away and leaving the rest of it to take -its own course; but when I thought it over I couldn’t do that, for when -you came to find it all out later you would say that Red Morgan was a -coward, and I’ve never been called that in my life.” - -“No,” replied Nick. “I would not say that you are a coward, except on -the general principle that any man who will steal must be a coward. -However, we won’t discuss that. What was it that I did not get here soon -enough to prevent?” - -“The escape of Paul Rogers.” - -“Eh? What is that? Has Paul Rogers escaped?” - -“Well, I didn’t see him escape, and I haven’t been told that he has -escaped, but I wouldn’t be afraid to bet a thousand to one that he -has.” - -“When?” - -“At four o’clock this afternoon.” - -“Where?” - -“While they were taking him to the train at the Grand Central. I wasn’t -there, and I haven’t heard anything about it since; but the plans were -too well laid to have failed, and so you can bank on it that he is at -liberty at this moment.” - -“H’m! And you came here to warn me of it so that I could prevent it? Is -that it?” - -“That was my original intention; and I didn’t expect to tell you any -more--then. But now I expect I’ll have to do so.” - -“Tell me first why, when you found out that I would not get here in time -to prevent it, you did not give the information to some other person who -could have prevented it?” - -“For the very simple reason, Mr. Carter, that while there may be a -million coppers and police officers higher up on the fence who would -keep faith with me in a matter of that kind, I never yet happened to -make the acquaintance of any of them. Nick Carter was the only man I -wanted to trust, for I knew that Nick Carter would keep his word with me -with the same absolute certainty that he would keep faith with the -President of the United States.” - -“That is true, of course. But what do you want me to promise? I may not -feel inclined to give promises, you know.” - -“I don’t want you to promise anything, save that you will forget where -you get the information I’m going to give you. Just for the sake of my -own personal feelings in the matter, I don’t care to have it known ever, -that I--well, that I peached.” - -“I can promise you that nobody will ever get that information from me,” -replied Nick. “But is that all you are going to ask? Aren’t you going to -say, when you have told me all, that because you have done me a favor, -you expect me to be a little light on you the next time my duty requires -me to nail you?” - -“Not on your life, Mr. Carter. A fair field and no favors is all I shall -ask or expect at your hands, and I know that I’ll always get that,” -replied Morgan. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -THE UNFOLDING OF ROGERS’ PLOT. - - -“Mr. Carter,” continued Morgan, after a short pause, “I suppose it would -be a sort of paradox to say that there could be such a thing as a square -crook, but if there ever was a crook who tried to be on the square as -far as his business would permit, Tom Morgan is that chap.” - -“It is something of a paradox, Red,” laughed Nick. And then he added -seriously: “Why do you not shake the business and be on the square all -round?” - -“Too late, sir--too late. There is too much past and not enough future -in mine.” - -“‘Though thy sins be as scarlet, they shall be washed as white as -wool,’” quoted Nick solemnly. - -“I know all that, sir, and I appreciate your kindness in saying it, too. -I know, moreover, that you are just the man who would hold out a helping -hand to a chap like me who made a break to get up onto the brighter and -better side of life. But I didn’t come here to discuss that with you, -and if you don’t mind we won’t do it.” - -“All right, Morgan. Go ahead; only, I would like to add just one word on -the present topic before we leave it.” - -“What is that?” - -“This: If there should ever come a time when you want to play square, -come straight to me and say so. I’ll promise to believe you--to take -your word for it, and to stand for you in the fight that is bound to -follow.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Carter. I won’t forget; and who knows? There may come a -time when I’ll call that hand of yours.” - -“Good,” said Nick. “I hope there will.” - -“And now, before I get down to the business of my call here to-night, I -want to say a word in explanation of my position.” - -“Go ahead, Red.” - -“I told you just now that my principle was a fair field and no favors. -That expression means more with me than it does with some people.” - -“I’ve no doubt of it, Morgan.” - -“It means, for instance, that when I decide to crack a crib somewhere I -know that in doing it I am more than likely to get you on my track, and -that it is your duty to nail me if you can.” - -“Exactly.” - -“Well, if you do nail me, I do not cherish the least sort of hard -feeling toward you for doing it. I am a professed enemy to society; you -are its guardian. If I do wrong it is your duty to catch me and send me -away, if you can--and I respect you rather than hate you for doing your -duty, even though I may be the victim of your zeal.” - -“I believe you, Morgan, although it is rather an unusual view for your -class to take.” - -“It is true in my case; but if I should try, I don’t think I could put -my finger upon another crook who feels just as I do about it.” - -“No; I do not think you could.” - -“Ninety-nine out of a hundred of the crooks who have, sooner or later, -felt the weight of your hand, want revenge.” - -“That is only natural, I suppose.” - -“Natural or not, it is true. Many a man is engaged this minute in -keeping tabs on the days of the week and month by scratching on the -walls of their cells, who are only waiting to get out in order to get -square with you.” - -“Sure thing, Red; but I’m not getting nervous about them.” - -“Oh, I know that, and it isn’t what I’m driving at. Let me go on in my -own way.” - -“Correct. Go ahead.” - -“Some of them want to murder you; some only want to punch you, -and--well, there are all sorts of feelings among them, and out of the -whole lot it is safe to say that not one out of a thousand would ever -take definite shape if there was nobody to direct them.” - -“Aha! I think I see your point.” - -“Now, I’ll tell the story of my own experience, and you will see exactly -what I mean.” - -“Well?” - -“I hadn’t been out of prison more than four or five weeks when an old -pal of mine came to see me. The first thing he did was to ask questions -until he found out that I owed the time I had just been doing up the -State to you. Then he asked me to meet some of the gang he was training -with, at a place down in East Houston Street. I asked him what the lay -was, and he told me that I would find out when I got there--and I did. - -“In a few words, the lay had three prongs to it. One of them was for the -rescue of a man named Paul Rogers, of whom I had never heard at all at -the time. He was sure to be convicted of murder in the first degree, -and a rescue was planned to take him away from his guard while he was on -his way to Sing Sing. - -“I saw no objection to that, inasmuch as we were to be well paid for the -job. I did not know, and I do not know now, where the money came from to -pay us; I only know that there was plenty of it. There wasn’t to be a -blow struck--and, in short, the whole plan was so slick and comfortable, -and there was such real genius in it that I rather enjoyed the thing, -and went into it as much for the fun of it as for the money--although -that was a consideration. - -“I won’t stop to tell you about the plan now, for you will hear all -about it in the morning. It is one of the things that can happen once, -easily, and because of the very simplicity of it, can never occur again. -I haven’t been told yet whether it succeeded or not, but I am sure it -did, it was so slick. - -“Well--things went along swimmingly until there came a new deal, all in -the same game. I have told you there were three deals. The second one -was a play against Nick Carter. - -“I want you to understand in the beginning that there wasn’t a man in -that outfit who had not suffered at some time or other at your hands. -There wasn’t a man there who had not cried out from behind prison walls -for vengeance against you. There wasn’t one who did not grasp eagerly at -the thought of it--and right here, Mr. Carter, was where I bolted.” - -“Do you mean that you defended me there among them?” - -“Well, I wasn’t quite such a blooming fool as that, you know. Such a -thing wouldn’t have done you any good, and it would have done me a lot -of harm. No; I just kept my mouth shut and told them that I’d carry out -the program I’d enlisted for, and that I’d see them later about the rest -of it. - -“Now, I told you at the start that I didn’t come here to do any peaching -on my pals, and so you must not expect me to tell you any names. I -couldn’t do that. Nor will I tell you all of the plot; but I will tell -you this much: - -“The main guy behind the whole outfit is that same Paul Rogers, and it -would appear that he is some pumpkins in his own country, wherever that -may be--England or France; I don’t know which. He’s either got a big wad -of shekels, or he knows where to find one when he needs it. - -“Now, Paul Rogers has got a wife, whom you also sent up. She was to get -out of the pen to-day, her time being greatly shortened for good -behavior, and all that. Maybe you know who she is, Mr. Carter?” - -“Yes; Isabel Benton, or Rogers; it is the same thing.” - -“That’s right. Those are the only names I shall mention. You’ll have to -guess the others as they appear.” - -“I think I can do that.” - -“All right. I hope you can. Please take notice that I am telling you -only what I have picked up at the meetings of that mob, and I don’t -vouch for the truth or the correctness of any of it. I never heard of -any of the parties except yourself, until I trained with the crew I’m -speaking about.” - -“Go on. I understand.” - -“Up the river somewhere, not as far as Sing-twice, I imagine, there is a -beautiful country place where some people live whom you know. There is a -very beautiful young lady in the family, and somehow the notion has -gotten out among the crooks that you are very friendly with that family -and especially with the daughter. This Isabel Benton and the daughter -are as alike as two peas, it is said, and there was a plot to place -Isabel in her place, once upon a time, which plot failed.” - -“I know all about that,” said Nick. - -“All the better if you do. The father of the young lady is a -multi-millionaire. There is a brother, also, who is what the boys call a -smart fool. You know what that means. He is money blind. He has -abilities and won’t use them. He is smart, but too lazy to use his head. -Gritty, but too easy to fight. A good fellow, but too much taken up with -killing time to do anything else. A young chap, I imagine, who hasn’t -been woke up yet, so to speak--a sort of an electric motor without any -current to speak of.” - -Nick laughed aloud. - -“That is a first-class description of a person whom you never saw,” he -said. - -“Well, it is the impression I received from what I heard about him. That -boy--he’s about twenty-four, I think--is very much in the way of Paul -Rogers, and Paul Rogers proposes to put him out of it. The old man is -still more so, and Paul Rogers has sworn away his life. The old -lady--the mother--is a sort of supernumerary, but when the time comes -she is billed to shuffle off in some way or other--I don’t know what.” - -“And the young lady?” asked Nick. - -“I was getting down to her. I couldn’t find out much about the plot -against her, save that the woman Isabel is to take her place, somehow -and somewhere, and the thing is to be done so slick that nobody will -suspect that it is done.” - -“Do you mean that you do not know the particulars, or that you are -keeping them back?” - -“I mean that I don’t know them, only to the extent that if you don’t -keep a mighty close watch over her she will disappear off the face of -the earth in such a way that you won’t have any idea that she is gone -until it is too late to help her; and that because you are the only -factor in the plan which can interfere with their success, you are to be -gotten rid of in the most approved fashion--and that, Mr. Carter, is -what I came here to tell you about. Paul Rogers was set free this -afternoon, and I happen to know that there is a bet on, with the odds -against you, that you will be a dead one inside of forty-eight hours -after he is at liberty.” - -“In that case, Morgan,” said Nick coolly, “you won’t mind answering me a -few questions, will you?” - -“I don’t think so. Ask ’em, and I’ll tell you.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -BURGLAR MORGAN’S BIGGEST HAUL. - - -“Morgan,” said Nick, “have you any information which can lead you to -form an opinion or express a belief concerning the method which Paul -Rogers intends to employ in removing me from the pale of existence?” - -Morgan grinned. - -“Would you mind saying that all over again, and saying it slow?” he -asked. “But never mind. I’ll try to reply to it in my own way. - -“You see, Mr. Carter, the fact is that this thing is much more serious -than you imagine. If it hadn’t been, you can bet your life that I -wouldn’t have spent the best part of two days, rigged out in these togs, -standing out there in the street and holding out my hand for alms in -order to keep up the character while I was waiting for you.” - -“I believe you, Morgan.” - -“I tell you, it is a serious matter; so serious that I felt it a duty -which I owed to my own manhood to warn you. I’m a burglar, Mr. Carter, -but I’ve kept some of my manhood tucked away in a dark corner where I -can call upon it for use when it is needed. This was a case where I felt -that it would come into play.” - -“Just why did you feel that way?” - -“Because I think they mean business. Because this gang, which has been -formed at the suggestion of Rogers, under his orders and with his money, -is composed of between fifty and sixty members, and--here is the -point--because there is a separate and distinct method for getting rid -of you, for each and every member of the gang.” - -“They propose to attack me in fifty or sixty different ways, then? Is -that it?” - -“That’s about the size of it.” - -“How do you know that?” - -“Simply by the methods that were employed in my own particular case.” - -“Can you tell me about that?” - -“That’s what I came here to tell you.” - -“Then let me hear it.” - -“Remember, please, that I am relating only my own experience.” - -“Sure.” - -“I don’t know a thing about what was said to the others. I can only -surmise, because of what was said to me.” - -“Yes.” - -“I was called into a room where the gun who acts as the main guy in the -absence of the real chief, Rogers, received us, one by one, and each one -alone. I don’t know just how far down the list my name was, but I was -pretty close to the last that was called in. You see, the outfit hasn’t -got on to my curves yet. They don’t know whether they can quite trust me -or not.” - -“I see. Go on.” - -“Well, when he got me in there he looked me over with a sort of -quizzical expression which I didn’t like, and presently I told him so. -‘If you’re looking for a continuous performance show,’ I said to him, -‘it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to mosey down to Keith’s. I’m not -supplying any star attractions just now.’ - -“I won’t try to quote him; I’ll just tell what happened. He told me that -he thought I had been pretty well informed as to the purpose of the -organization, but for my especial benefit he’d go over the ground a -little. Then he opened with an account of the desire to liberate Rogers -and expatiated on all that Rogers could and would do for the gang when -once he was at liberty; and then he said this: - -“‘Primarily, this is a play for a hundred million dollars’ haul--the -biggest that was ever made in the open in the history of the world. -There have been hauls quite as big made by a class of men who pose as -philanthropists, but there was never such a one by thieves pure and -simple. This is a play for a hundred millions, and it’s dead easy if we -follow the lead of Paul Rogers without question. In order to make it a -success, there are three men and two women to be put out of existence.’ - -“I stopped him right there with the remark that I would not consent to -take part in one murder for a billion, to say nothing of a million. That -I wouldn’t even consent to be an accessory, and that if he had anything -of that kind on the paper he had better count me out of it on the start, -before he told me any more about their plans. - -“‘Well,’ said he, ‘we have counted you out of that. Your friends who -brought you here told us that much on the start; but there is one thing -which we want you to do which will make you solid with the gang, and -that is to help us to get rid of the detective, Nick Carter.’ - -“Then he reminded me that I had been up the State doing a term of five -years because you had sent me there, and he told me that every member of -the gang had some complaint to make against you and some grudge to make -good. He said the whole bunch had sworn away your life, one by one, each -in his own particular way, and that he wanted to find out just what my -method would be. - -“That was when I got wise, Mr. Carter. I figured around a little so as -to see his hand, if possible, only I didn’t succeed in seeing much, for -all that. But I gave him the bluff that a man who handed out a -proposition like he wanted me to do was a fool to start with. That if I -made up my mind to put Nick Carter or anybody else to sleep, I certainly -wouldn’t start in by giving my hand away before I made a play. Nit. - -“‘I’ve thought a good deal about Nick Carter since I’ve been -recuperating up the river,’ I said to him, ‘and I’m not going to put you -wise about those thinks. Nit. I know the game,’ I said, ‘and all I want -is to be left alone to play my hand in my own fashion. If I should want -any help, I’ll call on you, but I don’t think I shall need any.’ - -“Well, he was satisfied. That ended our conversation on that topic, so -you see I don’t really know so darn much after all--only by -implication.” - -“And by implication, will you tell me just what you make out the whole -game to be?” asked Nick. - -“Sure thing. By implication I make out this: That old Peter Danton will -begin, before long, to act sort of queer. His friends and relatives -won’t know what is the matter with him until it suddenly dawns upon them -that he has a sort of softening of the brain. I suppose there is a drug -that will produce that effect; anyhow, that is the racket. After he has -had softening of the brain for a while, he’ll die--quite sudden. In the -meantime, of course, the youngster will have succeeded his father. Now, -the youngster has a decided weakness for good-looking women, and he is -to be lured into a place where a row will be started and in the mêlée he -will get a rap on the head, which will settle his hash. In the meantime -the old lady is to be cared for by a trained nurse, or a maid, or -somebody who is to be introduced into the house through the -instrumentality of Rogers. She has got a year or two, perhaps more, to -live. In short, she can live as long as she is of any use to the -conspirators, for Rogers proposes to force the world to recognize the -substituted heiress for the real one, through the mother. Catch on?” - -“Not quite. State it.” - -“Well, if the old lady is kept alive, but in the meantime her brain is -sufficiently clouded so that she does not know the difference between -Isabel Benton and her own daughter, and if it is Isabel Benton instead -of her own daughter who lives with her the last two or three years of -her life, it will be pretty hard to convince the world after that that -the young woman is not the real daughter of the house; don’t you think -so?” - -“Yes; I do think so.” - -“Well, that’s the game. By implication, remember, I’ve built all this up -by the operation which you detective chaps call deduction.” - -The burglar stopped abruptly and rose to his feet. - -“That, Mr. Carter,” he said, “is all that I have got to say; and now, if -you don’t mind, I will slip back into my own world again.” - -“Morgan,” said Nick, rising also, “I wish you would make up your mind to -remain on this side of the dividing line between those two worlds.” - -The burglar shook his head. - -“No,” he replied. “It’s no use. I can’t. I wouldn’t shine along the -respectable highways of life.” - -“There is a mighty good man in you, Morgan, if you would only consent to -let him get on top.” - -“He’s been the under dog too long a time for that, sir.” - -“It is never too late.” - -“Bah! Don’t preach.” - -“I’m not preaching. Here!” - -Nick held out his right hand, and Morgan gazed at it dumbly for a moment -and then into the detective’s face again. - -“Well? What about it?” he asked roughly. - -“I want to shake hands with you, Morgan,” said Nick. “I want to shake -hands with the man who came into my house and who is on the point of -going out of it now--the real man, you know.” - -“Nit!” said Morgan. “Your hand is an honest hand; mine is not. They are -no more fit to mate together than a negro and a white. Nit. I’m obliged -to you all the same. Good-night.” - -“Wait, Morgan.” - -“Well?” - -“I am a fairly good reader of character.” - -“I suppose you are. What of it?” - -“I want you to tell me just why you have taken all this trouble to save -Mercedes Danton from the conspiracy which overshadows her life--for I -know that you came here for that purpose and not for the one you have -given--to warn me.” - -“Tell me why you think that,” said Morgan hoarsely. - -“I don’t think it; I know it. I knew it by the sound of your voice and -by the look in your eyes when you spoke of her.” - -“All right, I’ll tell you, and that will end our conversation for the -day. Once upon a time I worked six months on plans and preparations to -rob Linden Fells. That was six years ago, when Mercedes Danton was only -a girl of thirteen or fourteen, I think. My plans worked all right and I -had the whole layout ready to my hand--I would have got away with a cool -forty thousand, sure; but--well, that little girl woke up and sat up in -her bed when I entered her room. It was a clear night and the moon was -full. It shone straight in at the windows of her room and upon her white -frightened face--no, not frightened, just startled. I stood a little -back in the shadow, but she was in the full light, and there wasn’t -shadow enough so but what she saw me very plainly.” - -He paused, and Nick waited silently for him to continue. - -“Just a year before that time, Mr. Carter, I had gone home to see my -own people--my father, mother, and sister. They thought I was dead, and -they think so still, for I didn’t put them wise. I sneaked into the -house just the same as if I was going to rob it, knowing well that the -old man would put a bullet through me if he discovered me there; but I -had a good look at him and at my mother, asleep in their bed, and then I -went up-stairs to see my sister in the same way. I have always been told -that children sleep soundly, and I had no idea that I would disturb her, -so I went into the room and stood beside the bed, looking down at her.” - -Again he paused, and again Nick waited without speaking. - -“It was just that same sort of a moonlight night, Mr. Carter, and while -I stood there, looking down upon my sister, she opened her eyes and -raised herself in the bed, just as I have said that Mercedes Danton did. - -“She looked startled, too; not a whit frightened. I was the one who was -frightened. - -“As I took a step backward, she held out her arms toward me and spoke my -name. - -“‘You have come back,’ she said. - -“I did not speak, Mr. Carter. I didn’t let the sound of my voice disturb -the quiet and peace of that room; but I stooped down and touched my lips -to her forehead, and then I turned away and fled out into the night as -if I was pursued. I know that my sister has never told a soul that she -saw me that night.” - -“Well?” said Nick. - -“Well,” repeated Morgan, “when I stood at the bedside of Mercedes -Danton, who was the same age as my sister, and she rose up and faced me -in just the same way, I--I----” - -“You kissed her on the forehead and fled in precisely the same manner,” -interrupted the detective slowly and impressively. And the burglar, in a -burst of vehemence, replied: - -“By Heaven, I did that very thing, and it was the biggest haul I ever -made in my life.” - -Without another word he wheeled on his heel and went out of the house. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -GETTING IN ONE DEAL AHEAD. - - -When the detective was left alone he sat for many moments turning over -in his mind the story he had just heard, and in doing so he recalled a -circumstance which had been dormant in his recollection for a long time. - -He remembered the occasion when Mercedes’ maid, Sarah Kearney, had been -interviewed by him in that same room, and he recalled the fact that he -had accused her at the time of keeping back a part of her story. - -The circumstances which had followed upon that occasion had developed so -rapidly that he had not found it necessary to question her further, but -now, in the light of certain ideas that had come to him through the -story told him by Tom Morgan, he believed that he could make a shrewd -guess as to what it was she had refrained from telling at that time. - -By the time he had finished his cogitations it was midnight, but he had -determined upon the course he intended to pursue. - -He turned off the lights and ascended to his own room, where he found -his assistants, who were waiting to welcome him home. - -“I shall have use for all three of you in the morning,” he said. “I want -all of you to remain in the house to-morrow until you hear from me, and -then to report when, where and how I shall direct, with the least -possible delay. Do you happen to know, Chick, if any of the Dantons are -in town?” - -“No; they are not. The _Oceanic_ has passed Fire Island, and Miss -Mercedes, with her father and mother, are passengers. She will dock at -six in the morning.” - -“Good. Where is Reginald Danton?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“Well, it is more than likely that he will be home soon after the others -arrive, so it is safe to suppose that he will show up some time -to-morrow, also. I don’t suppose that it occurred to you to keep tabs on -the fact that Isabel Benton was liberated from the island to-day, did -it?” - -“No.” - -“Well, I let it slip my mind, also--and we haven’t any of us an idea -where her trail might be struck. We’ll have to let her slide for the -present. On second thought, my lads, I think, instead of asking you all -to stay in to-morrow morning, I will ask that each of you make it a -point to be on the pier when the _Oceanic_ docks in the morning. You may -select your own disguises so long as they are good ones. I only wish you -to be there. If there is anything to do, I will tell you what it is when -the time comes. The main point is to keep a watchful eye over the -Dantons--father, mother and daughter--and to keep particular tabs upon -everybody who addresses them or approaches them in any way. We are doing -this, too, without their knowledge or consent. Now, good night. I’ll see -you at the pier.” - -But Nick Carter did not go to bed when he bade his assistants good -night. - -As soon as they had left the room he hurried with all speed into one of -his favorite disguises--that of a respectable, well-to-do farmer, who -was, nevertheless, so far as appearances went, thoroughly unaccustomed -to the ways and manners of the city, and who carried with him an -accentuated type of the peculiarities of speech and motion of a man -whose life has been bounded by stone walls and rail fences. - -As soon as he was dressed he hurriedly left the house, hastened to the -elevated station, and in a surprisingly short time arrived at South -Ferry. - -He knew, without having to inquire, where he would be most likely to -find a tugboat with steam up, at that hour in the morning, for it was -then close upon two o’clock, and, without loss of time, he presented -himself to the sleepy captain, who was dozing in his pilot-house. - -“Say, yew,” he said; and the captain started into wakefulness. “Dew yew -happen to know anything about a steamboat named the _Oceanic_, hey?” - -“She ain’t no steamboat,” replied the captain. “She’s a tugboat, same as -this, only bigger.” - -“More’n ten times es big, ain’t she?” asked Nick. - -“Ay, ay; more than twenty.” - -“Well, that air is th’ Holstein heifer I’m a-lookin’ for.” - -“She is, eh? What do you want of her? She ain’t no threshing machine. -She couldn’t pull a plow or break a three-year-old steer.” - -“Right you be, mister; right you be. She’s most broke me, just the same. -Say!” - -“Well?” - -“Do yew happen to know where she is?” - -“Ay, ay. Down at Quarantine.” - -“Where’s that?” - -“Down the bay.” - -“Far?” - -“Not very.” - -“How much’ll yew take to git me there, hey?” - -“What! Take you down on the tug?” - -“Yep. That’s what I said.” - -“More’n you’ve got in your clothes.” - -“Mebby so. How much?” - -“Fifty dollars.” - -“Whe-e-w! Jeehosephat! Say, I’ll give you twenty-five.” - -“You’re on.” - -“Hey?” - -“You’re on.” - -“No I ain’t neither.” - -“Well, get on then. I’ll take you there for the twenty-five, only I want -to see the color of it before I cast off.” - -“Yew just wait,” said Nick. - -Then, deliberately he seated himself on a box on the pier, and, after -removing one of his boots, took from the leg of it a roll of bills as -big as his wrist. - -“That’s where I carry it so’s the sharks won’t get onto my money,” he -said confidentially, while he counted off one and two-dollar bills until -he had enough to make up the sum of twenty-five dollars. “There yew be, -capting. Now, how long will it take yeu tew git me down there?” - -“About three-quarters of an hour.” - -“All right. I’ll take a leetle nap. When yew git there, yew jest give -this here letter over the side and say that it is to be delivered to -the--now, who in blazes did he say to give the letter to? Blest ef I -ain’t clean forgot.” - -“Maybe it was the officer of the deck.” - -“That’s it. The officer of the deck is the feller. I wasn’t told whether -he was the right bower, ’r left bower, ’r only a king ’r a queen, ’r a -common no account jack. Haw! haw! haw! That’s a joke, capting, an’ -here’s a good cigar to pay yew for listenin’ to it so patiently. When -you give that letter to the officer of the deck, yew kin jest call me -from my beauty sleep ef yew don’t mind.” - -The detective was sleepy as a matter of fact. He had just come down from -the pure and bracing air of New Brunswick, and he had traveled all day -in the cars, so that slumber was not long in coming to him, and he knew -nothing more until the rough hands of the captain fell upon his -shoulders. - -Presently the letter was sent over the side, and then, after a wait of -several moments, an officer appeared at the rail and called to the -captain of the tugboat: - -“Let the gentleman come aboard,” he said; whereupon the tugboat captain -remarked, in an undertone to himself: - -“Well, I’m----” - -The last word could not be heard distinctly, but it was evidently -intended to express surprise that such an out-and-out hayseed as his -passenger should be received at all on board the great ship, and, -particularly, that he should be referred to with so much respect. He -could not know, of course, that the letter addressed to the captain was -signed by Nick Carter, and was couched in such terms that the captain -did not delay an instant in sending for the great detective. - -“Here is where I get in one deal ahead of the conspirators,” said Nick -to himself, as he mounted over the side of the ship. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -NICK CARTER’S LITTLE COUNTERPLOT. - - -Nick Carter recalled vividly his first encounter with Mercedes Danton. -He remembered that it had been in the early morning and among the roses -at Linden Fells; and he remembered also that he had learned in other -ways that she was fond of rising early in the morning, and upon this -habit he had calculated to afford him an opportunity for an interview -with her before her father and mother should appear on the deck of the -steamer. - -Indeed, he argued that it was extremely doubtful if they appeared at all -before the ship was safely docked at her pier, and so there would be the -time occupied in traversing the distance from Quarantine, during which -he could perfect his plans for the future. - -It may seem strange to the reader that he should have adopted the -disguise he did, in order to see and talk with Mercedes Danton, but -there was a distinct method even in that move. He had no desire to -conceal his identity from the young lady herself, although for the -present and for reasons that were perfectly obvious to himself, he did -not care, as yet, that either old Peter Danton or his wife should be -made aware that Nick Carter was meddling in their affairs. - -Nick had taken the conduct of the case on his shoulders entirely because -of his own wish to do so, and was, therefore, acting in a manner which -might be deemed officious by the old man, who was cranky and difficult -to deal with at the best. - -The detective knew that the financier would pooh-pooh any idea that a -conspiracy had been organized against the peace of his family. If he had -been told that there was a conspiracy against his bank accounts he would -have believed the report without question, on the principle that it -would be an act of wisdom to guard against such a contingency in any -event; but a conspiracy against the happiness and peace of his family, -or even against his own life, unless it were formed somewhere in the -Street and aimed in reality at one of his deals, he would refuse to -comprehend or believe. - -But with Mercedes it was different. - -She had already been through one experience of the kind, and had -promised, upon Nick’s advice, to keep the matter a secret from her -father and mother. Hence, while she was in a measure prepared for what -Nick had to impart to her, her father and mother were not. - -And there was another reason why the detective believed it wise to -disguise himself as effectually as possible. - -He had no doubt--if the story told to him by Tom Morgan was true--that -there could be emissaries of Paul Rogers at the pier when the ship was -docked, for he reasoned that they would not waste time in beginning -their operations. - -He naturally did not wish to have any of these agents of the -murderer-conspirator recognize him nor suspect that he was present, and -he most certainly did desire to see without himself being seen. - -Mercedes did not depart from her usual custom on that particular -morning. - -Soon after the appearance of dawn in the east, and sometime before the -sun was up, she appeared on the deck, and as soon as she did so, the -captain, acting upon Nick’s request, approached her and said a few words -to her in a low tone. - -Almost immediately thereafter she crossed the deck to the spot where -Nick was standing leaning against the rail, and in a position he had -selected so that they would be sufficiently apart from other passengers -who might appear on the deck. He did not care to be overheard in what -he had to say. - -“The captain told me that you wished to speak with me,” she said in a -low tone. “He said that you had something of importance to communicate -to me. Please tell me who you are, sir, for I do not know you.” - -“Don’t you recognize my voice?” asked Nick, smiling, and speaking in his -natural tones. - -Mercedes started back with a little cry of pleased surprise, and then -again looked at him doubtfully. - -“Sure,” she said, “you are not--no, you cannot be--Mr. Carter.” - -“Nick Carter; no other; and wholly at your service,” he replied. - -“Why have you come here in this disguise? Has anything happened to my -brother?” - -“Oh, no. I think not. At least, nothing of which I am informed. I have -come to meet you hidden behind a disguise because I had good reasons for -desiring that you should be the only person aboard this ship--aside from -the captain, of course--who would know me.” - -“But why?” - -“First tell me that you are glad to see me.” - -She smiled brightly at him, and then said demurely: - -“But I do not see you. I see only a man who is past fifty, who looks as -if he had just come in from feeding the stock and milking. I don’t call -that seeing you, because it is not in the least like you.” - -“At least you hear me,” said Nick. - -“Well, I’m not so sure of that, either. Your appearance is so at -variance with my conception of the manner of your meeting me----” - -“Ah!” said Nick. “Then you did expect me to meet you?” - -She bit her lips in momentary vexation, and then said, with a smile: - -“Certainly I expected to meet you somewhere, at some time, again.” - -“All right,” replied Nick. “We will let it go at that, but in the -meantime please remember this fact: If you cannot see me, I can see you -quite plainly, and----” - -“And, of course, you are glad to see me. Let it go at that, Mr. Carter.” - -“All right,” he said, again. “Now to business.” - -“Is there business?” - -“Yes; serious business. Paul Rogers has escaped from prison, and Isabel -Benton has been released from prison. Both of those interesting events -took place yesterday.” - -“Indeed! Well, Mr. Carter, have I anything to fear from them? Is that -why you are here?” - -“Yes; that is why I am here. I will not say that you have anything to -fear, because it is not in you to fear things--is it?” - -“Not especially, I think.” - -“But you have much to guard against--much to make you watchful--much to -keep you on the alert lest your enemies again find an opportunity to -make trouble for you, and I fear that they are contemplating a renewal -of their machinations.” - -“And that is why you are here?” - -“That is why I am here.” - -“It seems too bad that we have to meet a repetition of all that trouble, -is it not?” - -“Yes; and I want to arrange so that there will be no possibility of a -third effort on their part, after we have headed them off on this one. I -have made up my mind that there is only one way to accomplish that -thoroughly, and at the same time to be sure that I am affording you, as -well as the other members of your family, all the protection possible, -and so I have come here to-day to make a strange request of you.” - -“Say, rather, a command,” she said brightly, “for I already see that you -will insist upon it.” - -“Very well; put it that way. Is it true that you have taken the cares of -the conduct of your household equally from the shoulders of your father -and mother? In short, that you are the one who is consulted when there -is any change to be made in the personnel of your service at home?” - -“Quite so. My father never did bother with the home part of his -existence, and my mother leaves it all to me.” - -“How do you like your present butler?” - -“I am afraid that I do not understand.” - -“That’s easy. I want you to fire him and give me the job.” - -“Mr. Carter, I----” - -“Well, you need not fire him; just give him a vacation. Let him go home -and see his parents, or something like that. I want to fill his place. -Don’t you understand?” - -“I don’t think I do understand.” - -“I want to become, for a time, a member of your household, and to be -your butler seems the only available plan that is worthy of adoption. I -want to watch over you, and to be your butler. I’ll wager that this is -the first time in your life when a confessed admirer has offered to -become your butler, isn’t it?” - -“Yes,” she replied coolly, “and it is also the first time in my life -when I have felt it my duty to grant what one of them has asked. You -shall be my butler, Mr. Carter. Could I say more?” - -“Good,” said Nick, chuckling audibly. “You will have no trouble in -sending old Simmons away on a vacation for a time. Now, I want you also -to engage a new stable-boy.” - -“You are not expecting to serve in both capacities, are you?” she asked. - -“Oh, no. I have a young friend who is sometimes handy to have about. I -want him there.” - -“Consider the new stable-boy engaged. I will give directions about him -as soon as I reach home.” - -“Excellent. You can let it be supposed that he came over on the same -ship, if you care to do so. I’ll guarantee that he will be sufficiently -Irish to fool the best of them.” - -“Is there anything else?” - -“Yes; one more. I want to put one more man in your house. Where shall I -put him?” - -“Bless me! Are you going to fill Linden Fells with men?” - -“Not quite. Only three. I want another place inside the house for my -assistant, Chick.” - -“How would he like to serve as valet?” - -“Valet to whom?” - -“My father. We always keep a valet for him, and he never in the world -knows that he has one, for if there is a commodity in the world for -which he hasn’t a particle of use, it is a valet; so you see the -position is a sinecure; perhaps your assistant would like it--or, -perhaps, you would prefer it to the somewhat arduous one of butler.” - -“No, thank you. I’ll stick to the butler.” - -“And when do you propose appearing on the scene with your assistants?” - -“At once. To-day. I will report within two hours after I know that you -are safely at home, and Chick and Patsy will be there before night. And -now, as there are other passengers coming on the deck, I’ll leave you. -Please do not speak to me or notice me again, no matter what happens. -When I appear at the Fells, you can call me by the name of the old -butler--Simmons; will that do?” - -“Very nicely, indeed. There is only one question I can think of which I -would like to ask you, and that is, when shall I have the pleasure of -seeing you in person?” - -“Before very long,” replied Nick, as he turned away. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -IN THE HOUSE AT LINDEN FELLS. - - -An entire week had passed since the arrival of the steamer which brought -the Dantons home to America, and during that time not a single sign of -Paul Rogers or his following had been made manifest. - -Nick Carter’s watchfulness did not, however, abate in the slightest -degree, for he reasoned that the conspirators were merely biding their -time, and he smiled to himself also, when he recalled the conversation -he had held with Red Morgan in which that worthy had informed him of the -numerous oaths against his life. - -“If any of the gang are looking for me, it must puzzle them to guess -where I have gone,” he mused. “It never occurred to me that in coming -here and playing the part of butler, I was, in effect, killing two birds -with one stone--getting out of their way on the one hand, and getting in -their way on the other.” - -For Nick had been the “butler” at Linden Fells an entire week. Chick had -in the meantime filled the post of valet to Mr. Danton, for whom, as -Mercedes had predicted, he never once had a service to perform. The old -man thoroughly despised valets, and would not have one near him. He -argued that his wife and daughter merely required the services of an -extra person in the house and that they chose to hire that person under -the name and guise of a valet for him--which, as a matter of fact, was -not far wrong. - -Patsy filled the rôle of extra stable-boy during this interim--and Patsy -enjoyed it. - -“Sure,” he said, “there’s nothin’ I’d ruther do on earth than shake -hands wid a hoorse!” and it was true. He loved all horses and preferred -their society to men. - -During the week there had been moments when Nick had found opportunity -of exchanging a few words with Mercedes Danton, but for the most part -she had held herself entirely aloof, and had treated him exactly as his -ostensible position demanded that he should be treated. - -Indeed, Nick had insisted on that point, and he often smiled to himself -at the literal manner in which she had taken him at his word. - -During the week, also, Reginald had returned; but he was rarely at home, -and he took no more notice of the new butler than he would have taken of -a post, had it been stationed in the front hallway of the -house--probably not as much, for the post would have been out of place -there while a butler was a part and parcel of the furniture. - -It was plainly to be seen, however, that Mercedes did not like the -situation at all. She had shown no outward feeling about it at all at -first, but as time went on and finally lengthened into a week, she -became restless under the conditions, and, at last, on the day which -completed the week’s stay for the detective, she found an opportunity to -send her mother out on a solitary drive in the victoria, and then, when -she was sure that there would be no interruptions, she called Nick into -the library. - -“Don’t you think, Mr. Carter, that this has gone far enough?” she asked, -somewhat coldly. - -“That what has gone far enough?” replied Nick. - -“This masquerade.” - -“No; to be perfectly truthful, I do not.” - -“It is becoming intolerable to me.” - -“Why?” - -“Do you think I can explain to you why? In fact, need I explain to you, -why? Don’t you know why as well as I do.” - -“I think I can understand how you feel about it--yes.” - -“Well, it must cease. You must go away.” - -“Pardon me, Miss Danton; I must stay.” - -“Against my wishes?” - -“Certainly not; but with your approval. If, when I came here to act as -your butler, I could have foretold the exact time when your enemies were -to make a move, there would not have arisen the necessity for me to play -the part I have taken at all. I could simply have appeared here, hidden -myself in a closet until the villains announced themselves, as they do -in plays, met them in front of the footlights, so to speak, and choked -them into submission to the applause of the galleries. Unfortunately, -this is not a play.” - -“It seems strangely like a farce to me.” - -“God grant it may not prove to be a tragedy.” - -“I wish you would not take things so funereally, Mr. Carter,” she said, -with some show of petulance. - -“How can I take it otherwise when I know the seriousness of the -situation?” - -“But do you know it? Is it not rather due to your imagination and to -your--your--what shall I say?” - -“Say what you started to say and did not wish to complete.” - -“One would suppose you could tell what that was.” - -“I could. You were about to add, in effect, that I was overzealous in -your behalf. Perhaps I am. I do know that danger threatens you, and I -do know that there is no place in the world where I can meet and turn -aside that danger as here on the ground where it is sure to fall sooner -or later.” - -“But this condition is likely to go on for weeks.” - -“In that case we must wait weeks.” - -“No,” she said. “It must cease. Listen, Mr. Carter; have you not told me -that my brother is also in peril? In peril that is really as great as -mine?” - -“Yes; he is in peril, but it is not as great as yours, because nothing -that could happen to him would be as serious as if it should happen to -you. In conditions of this kind, we can only go by contrasts.” - -“But you leave him entirely unguarded while you devote all your time to -watching over me.” - -“Pardon me. We are watching over your mother, your father, your home, -and your surroundings. Neither is your brother neglected. He comes home -usually during the small hours of the morning and goes away again about -midday, but there is never a moment when he could run into danger -without my knowledge--unless it happened to be inside one of his own -club-houses where my shadows cannot follow him.” - -“But this espionage seems to me to be something dreadful. The truth is, -if you will have it, Mr. Carter, that I cannot bear the thought that you -are here in this house acting as a servant. I do not mind the presence -of your assistant, or of Patsy, in the stable; but----” - -“But you want me to get out.” - -“You put the statement in rather a brutal manner, but in plain English I -suppose that to be precisely what I do want,” she replied. “Of course, I -know that you understand exactly what I mean by that statement, so what -is the use of softening it?” - -“None whatever; and you could not say words which would delight me -more--just at this present moment and crisis.” - -“Please go away, Mr. Carter. If this espionage must be continued, send -another of your assistants.” - -Nick thought deeply for a moment, and then, smiling at her, said: - -“Very well. I can send you a man who is almost as old as the one who -went away to make room for me, but he is perfectly reliable. I will give -you a letter which you will hand to Chick. You shall send him into the -city this afternoon, and he in turn will send out the man who is to take -my place. Will that do?” - -“Admirably,” and Mercedes smiled brightly. Then, impulsively she took a -step forward and put out her hand. “Please do not misunderstand me,” she -began, but he stopped her. - -“I understand you perfectly,” he said. “I realize now that I should have -sent an assistant in the first place instead of coming myself; but -you----” - -“Please say no more now,” she interrupted. “You cannot know how terrible -it seems to me to be on terms of intimacy with my butler.” - -“It is, perhaps, a good lesson in sociology,” said Nick. Then he seated -himself at the library table and wrote rapidly, his instructions to -Chick. That done, he sealed the note and gave it to her. - -“You will notice that I have sealed the message I have written,” he -said. “That is done because I am a butler, and do not know any better; -not because I fear that you may read the contents of my letter. The mere -sealing of the note is a part of the masquerade;” and he laughed in a -low tone. - -“Is that necessary, in writing to your assistant?” she asked. - -“Quite,” he said. “And now, if you will give that to Chick and then -return here, I have two or three more questions I would like to ask you. -Remember that in two hours my substitute will be here, and that -thereafter I will have no further opportunity for consultation with -you.” - -The note which Mercedes delivered to Chick, and which took him at once -into the city, directed him simply to go there and make himself up -according to directions given, and then to return and take Nick’s place -as butler, and it explained that Nick himself would, after he was -relieved from duty as butler, assume the disguise that Chick had worn -and return in his place as valet. So the reader will see that Nick -Carter had no intention of leaving the house at all, but determined -merely to change places with Chick. - -When Mercedes returned to the room where Nick was awaiting her, he -pointed to a chair, and then, with slow emphasis, he said: - -“Miss Danton, there is a question which I have long wished to ask you -and which will seem impertinent. Nevertheless, I assure you that it is -important that you should answer it, because since I have been familiar -with the incidents connected with this family, many things not on the -surface have come to my notice.” - -“What is the question, Mr. Carter?” - -“It is a question which I might ask of your brother, or father, or -mother, if I chose to ask it in another way; but I have thought best to -ask it of you, because I think, in your heart, you, of all the family, -will best understand my motives.” - -“I will understand at least, that you deal without impertinence or idle -curiosity, even if your question should appear so,” she replied, in a -low tone. “I think I understand your motives, Mr. Carter, and if, in -sending you away I have seemed to lack appreciation of them, I assure -you that I have not----” - -“Hush! I, too, understand. Now listen, for this is the question. Since -our acquaintance began, I have taken occasion to look up, rather -carefully, the history of your immediate family, and I find that you had -an elder brother, six years older than Reginald, to whose memory a small -monument has been erected in Woodlawn. That monument was placed there -when you were ten years old. The question itself is this: Have you any -reason to believe that the brother, to whose memory that monument was -raised, is still alive?” - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -PAUL ROGERS’ BLOW FOR MILLIONS. - - -For a moment after the detective asked the question, Mercedes stared in -open-eyed amazement into his face. Then she slowly lowered her eyes -until their gaze had settled upon a figure in the carpet, and she -replied with the one word: - -“Yes.” - -She did not ask why he had put the question. She waited for the next one -which she seemed to know would follow upon the first. - -“How long have you known that he was not dead?” asked Nick. - -“Always,” she replied, still with her eyes lowered. “At least, I knew -almost at once that the report was untrue. As young as I was--only -ten--he trusted me to keep his secret. He sent me a long letter in which -he told me all his dreadful history--and sorrow--and, oh, I cannot talk -about it. Later, I saw him.” - -“Three years later--when you were thirteen--you awoke in the night and -saw him at your bedside, did you not?” asked Nick gently. - -She raised her eyes then, half-frightened. - -“Are you a wizard?” she asked. “I have never told of that circumstance -to anybody--not even to Sarah Kearney, my maid, who was my confidant in -the other part of it, and whom I swore to secrecy on the most solemn -oath I could devise.” - -“Sarah has not broken her oath to you. She has told me nothing.” - -Mercedes clasped her hands together and gazed imploringly into the -detective’s face. - -“Then you have seen my brother, Tom,” she said slowly, and with -conviction that could not be shaken. “My brother, Tom, who was my -idol--whom I worshiped. You have seen him. Nobody else could have told -you what only he and I know.” - -“Yes, Mercedes----” - -“Hush! You must not call me that, now; not yet.” - -“I have seen your brother, Tom, and he told me about it--and yet, he -does not suspect that I know that you are his sister.” - -“He is well? And happy? And--good?” she asked breathlessly, and in a -tone which seemed to demand that the answers to her questions should be -in the affirmative. And Nick replied in a gentle tone: - -“Yes, he is well. I do not think he is quite happy; how could he be so, -away from the sister he loves so dearly? And--he is trying to be good, I -think.” - -“Where is he?” she asked, and Nick smiled kindly as he replied: - -“You are asking questions of me instead of permitting me to ask some -that are important, but I think I may promise you that he is not far -away--that he is watching over your safety at this moment in a manner -and under advantages which I could not obtain, however hard I might -try--and that he is not very far away from you.” - -“Then he is--free?” she exclaimed, with a glad cry. - -“Free! Yes. Why do you ask that?” - -“Because I was told--oh, kind Heaven, must I confess it?--that he was a -prisoner for life in a French prison. A prisoner for life! Think of it.” - -“Ah!” said Nick. “Now I think I understand. Now I think it will not be -necessary to ask you any more of these harrowing questions. Now, I think -I know all the truth.” - -“Please tell me what you mean,” murmured Mercedes. - -“Some time ago,” replied Nick, speaking slowly, “I had a long talk with -your maid, Sarah. From her talk I gathered that when Paul Rogers -appeared here in this house as valet to your brother, Reginald, you -discovered that he was not a stranger to you. I also discovered that -there was a secret connected with your knowing him, which she would not -under any circumstances reveal, not even to save your life. When Ramon -Orizaba was murdered by Paul Rogers, it was only the horror of the thing -which affected you--there was no sorrow in your soul. You believed -yourself well rid of both of them, and yet, you were startled lest you -could no longer supposedly communicate with your brother, Tom. - -“Wait, Mercedes; let me finish. I know that while you have been abroad, -you have caused every prison in France and England to be searched, as -well as it could be done by others, for traces of somebody. I know that -you constantly supplied Orizaba with money, and that even now, in a -roundabout way, you are supplying an emissary of Paul Rogers--in short, -that you are furnishing the very funds with which he is bribing others -to murder your father, mother, and your brother, Reginald, as well as -your own self. You do not know that; but I do. You think that he is -sending a large part of that money abroad to make easier the prison life -of your brother, Tom, and you have so great an amount of money at your -command that ten thousand dollars, or even a hundred thousand, is as a -drop in the bucket against the purchase of added comforts for him.” - -Her head was bowed in her hands now, but she was not weeping. - -“Do you remember your horror, Mercedes, when you believed, for a time, -that Reginald was the murderer of Orizaba? Do you remember how grateful -you were when it was proved to you that he could not have done the deed? -And that even after it was proved to you, you still felt gratitude -toward Rogers, because he left behind him a letter in which he confessed -that he did the deed himself? And do you not see the cold calculation -and planning of the fiend through it all? He thought at first that he -would convince you that Reginald killed Orizaba. Later, he became afraid -that his plans in that direction would not work, and so he made a play -to obtain your eternal gratitude by confessing that he did it himself, -and thus saving Reginald.” - -“And if your own clear reasoning had not convinced me of the real truth, -I might still have reason, in my thoughts, for eternal gratitude to -him,” murmured Mercedes. - -“Exactly. But, the cupidity of Rogers grows with his attainments. -Having placed himself in a position where he could command almost any -sum from you at any moment, he became dissatisfied with that, and wanted -the principal--and, remember this: But for your brother, Tom, who has -never been inside a French prison nor in France, so far as I know, and -who came to me with a warning of the plot against you, Rogers would have -been in a fair way to accomplish every hellish thing he set out to do. -Tell me, now, how you first knew Rogers.” - -“When I was at school in France he came to me with a message from my -brother.” - -“Forged,” said Nick. - -“Perhaps so; I believed it to be real. He told me that he had been -friends with Tom, and--oh, I cannot repeat it all.” - -“It is not necessary. I desire only the main facts.” - -“I could not command so much money then, because I was only a child, but -I found a way to obtain a great deal.” - -“And that you gave to him for your brother, Tom.” - -“Yes; all of it. There has never been a month since that time when I -have been free from the demands of Paul Rogers; but I have not resented -that as long as I believed I was benefiting my wayward brother. I have -always supposed that a part of what I supplied went to him.” - -“Nothing has gone to him. Did not Rogers also endeavor to force himself -upon your attentions?” - -“Yes; to my shame, he did.” - -“To your shame? Oh, no; but to your misfortune and your youth--yes.” - -“He is well educated. He represented himself to be of good family----” - -“Which I have no doubt he is. Go on.” - -“But I stopped all that. I threatened even to desert my brother--which, -of course, I did not really intend to do--unless he ceased his -attentions. Then Orizaba came upon the scene. I met him before my mother -did. It was I to whom the proofs of his relationship were first -exhibited. He also had been a friend of Tom’s--at least, so it was said. -And--need we go farther into that subject?” - -“No. I am very glad that we have cleared the atmosphere of things by -this talk.” - -“And I am glad, too. More so than you can understand. It seems to me -right, now, that you should share my secret, although an hour ago, -before you spoke to me on the subject, I would sooner have died than -have shared it with you.” - -“Has your father or your mother any idea that your brother, Tom, is -alive?” - -“No. At least, father has none. Sometimes I have thought that my mother -is not convinced of his death--and yet, I am sure that she is not -convinced that he lives.” - -“And Reginald?” - -“Reginald believes that Tom is dead, of course. You must know, Mr. -Carter, that Tom was my childhood’s idol. He was a saint--a god--a big -brother, who was brave and fearless.” - -“I understand.” - -“Can you tell me no more about him?” she asked pleadingly. - -“At present there is no more to tell. I know nothing more than I have -told you. He did not tell me that he was your brother, nor was I sure -that he was so until I questioned you just now.” - -“And, later? Do you think you will see him again?” - -“I am sure that I will see him again, and I think I may promise you that -some time in the near future, if you will be guided by me, I will bring -you together.” - -“Oh, thank God!” - -An hour later, Chick reappeared on the scene, wearing the disguise -which Nick had directed, and was duly installed as butler in Nick’s -place. At the same time, Nick took his departure, but only for the -purpose of traveling the short distance that was necessary to find a -place to make himself into a counterpart of what Chick had been while he -was serving in the capacity of valet. - -And so their positions were reversed. - -Both remained in the house, and the only real alterations in their plans -of watching, existed in the fact that Mercedes believed that the -detective himself had returned to New York and that she had now to do -only with his assistants. - -As the afternoon waned, Mercedes became anxious about the extended -absence of her mother who, it will be remembered, had gone alone for a -ride in the victoria; and now fully three hours had elapsed since her -departure. It was unprecedented for her to remain out so long alone. - -As Mercedes came out upon the porch for the purpose of directing that -somebody from the stable ride down the road in search of the carriage, -four men, followed by several others, appeared in the gateway. They were -carrying a litter between them, and upon it was stretched the silent and -motionless figure of Mercedes’ mother; and Nick Carter, who, as the -valet, started at once down the path to meet them, muttered to himself: - -“Paul Rogers’ first blow for the Danton millions has fallen.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - -ONE MAN AGAINST SIXTY-FIVE. - - -The mother of Mercedes was not dead, and the story told of the accident, -which had befallen her, was so direct and clear that it seemed to have -happened quite naturally. - -It was, in short, nothing more than a repetition of numberless other -accidents of the kind. The horses had been restless from the start, and -the coachman had found it difficult to manage them. One of them in -particular had acted as if “possessed of the devil” from the very moment -when they left the stable. - -The drive had been a longer one than usual, by the mistress’ direction, -and they had started on their return when a strange figure had sprung up -in the road directly in front of them. - -The horses shied and turned short around, overturning the victoria and -throwing Mrs. Danton out on the hard road. She sustained a fracture of -one arm and a blow on her head had deprived her of consciousness. She -was still unconscious when she was carried into the house, and, although -the doctors resorted to every expedient they could summon to their aid, -she showed no signs of coming out of the coma into which the shock of -the accident and the blow on her head had thrown her. - -As soon as the first effects of the arrival of the litter were over, -Nick hurried to the stable, and, notwithstanding the objections of the -hostler and his assistants, began a hurried examination of the harness. - -“Horses don’t act restless like these did, unless there is some reason -for it,” he said to the head stableman. “I was a coachman once myself, -before I became a valet. Look there.” - -He was holding the backband in his hands, and he pointed to a steel burr -that had been screwed into the band in such a position that short but -sharp steel needles would pierce the delicate skin of the animal that -wore the harness. - -“What do you think of that?” he demanded. - -The hostler was dumfounded and could make no reply. It was plain to -Nick, at once, that he was not responsible for its presence there. - -Another burr of the same kind was found in the remaining harness, but -there was not one among the employees of the stable who could throw any -light whatever upon the mystery of how they came there. Even Patsy, when -he was taken aside by the detective, assured his chief that he had not -relaxed his vigilance for a moment, and that he had done everything he -could think of or that ingenuity could suggest to be in a position to -know of any planning or plotting that might be going on there. He was -certain that the burrs had been introduced into the harnesses by some -person who had managed to creep into the stable unobserved, and who had -also been successful in getting away undiscovered after he had done his -work. - -To Chick, when the opportunity came, Nick said: - -“I think now that we may look for rapid developments. The plotters have -commenced the campaign, and it is more than likely that they will seek -to rush things from this out. It is not improbable that they may think I -am out of the city and that, therefore, it is a good time to strike.” - -Developments did come along rapidly after that. - -As soon as Mrs. Danton had been properly cared for, and her husband and -son notified, Mercedes wrote a letter to Nick Carter in which she told -him of the “accident,” and expressed her regret that she had hastened -his departure from the house just at the time when she needed him most; -and she closed by saying: - - “I know it is too late now to ask you to return and resume the - conditions just as they existed before I sent you away, but I may - express the hope that you will be near us, for I find that in your - absence I have not half the boasted courage I have credited myself - with.” - -Reginald and his father each arrived at the Fells as soon as possible -after they were informed of the accident. - -Darkness had fallen by the time the household had settled down to -routine affairs. - -Two nurses, hastily summoned from the city, were in attendance upon the -mistress of the Fells; old Peter, the master, had sought his study, as -he called it, a small room which he had caused to be fitted for his sole -use and which contained merely a desk, his chair, and a table and -book-case. Beside him was his inevitable pot of coffee, which was always -near him when he spent an evening at home. - -Reginald had gone to his own rooms also, and disappeared utterly from -view, but it was supposable that he was reading, and that he also had -his pot of coffee near him. This pot-of-coffee habit affected father and -son alike, and had extended to the servants, for the coffee was the -famous Uarapam brand, which, when properly made, is richer and better -than wine. - -And so it happened that when ten o’clock was striking, Peter Stuyvesant -Danton was taking his coffee in his “den”; Reginald was drinking his -coffee in his own rooms; Mercedes was sipping coffee with faithful old -Sarah, in her boudoir; Chick, now serving in his capacity of butler, was -partaking of the same refreshment in the servants’ hall, unbending his -official dignity for the moment, for the purpose of placing himself in -an attitude where he could pick up any gossip about the events of the -afternoon that might be floating among the help; coffee was also served -among the men at the stable, for it was the inevitable habit for the -coachman to appear in the kitchen at the proper moment and to return -with a pitcher of the delectable concoction; even the nurses, who were -attending upon the still unconscious mistress of the house, were served -with a pot of coffee, and sat together in the larger of the two rooms, -sipping it and talking in low tones about almost any subject which did -not include their patient. - -And thus it was that from the roof to the cellar of Linden Fells, every -inmate--save one--was drinking coffee at ten o’clock that night. - -That one exception happened to be Nick Carter; and it was not because he -disliked coffee, or because he harbored any suspicion that the coffee -had been doctored, that he did not drink it with the rest, for there is, -no doubt, that had he been where the “Nectar of Uarapam” could have been -offered to him, he would have partaken. - -But it so happened that when the house quieted down after the -excitements of the afternoon, Nick intuitively smelt mischief in the -air. - -It was all mere intuition on his part, too, and the only serious -treatment he gave it, in addition to his ordinary habit of watchfulness -and wakefulness, was to determine that he would take a stroll through -the grounds after the others had retired, and that he would keep an -especial lookout upon the house from the shrubbery--at least, long -enough to satisfy himself that there was no occasion for the exercise of -extraordinary vision. - -But even Nick Carter could have no idea of the terrible things that were -to happen that night. Even he could not be supposed to foresee the plots -and plans of so crafty an enemy as Paul Rogers and his gang of sixty or -more assistants in villainy. - -But back in the city of New York, at about the time when Mrs. Danton was -thrown from her carriage, “Red” Tom Morgan, as we know him, was -learning for the first time of events that were to happen--or that were -planned to happen that same night. - -He was told nothing of the runaway. He was given no information about -the plan to worry and frighten the horses, in the belief that even if -Mrs. Danton was not severely injured by the accident that was sure to -follow, she at least would be sufficiently overcome by the shock and -fright of the incident, that the household would be upset. - -Of that little fact he was not told, because it was not considered -necessary that he should know it; but of another and greater event to -happen, he was fully informed and requested to play his part in it. - -And this event, so far as his information went, was to the effect that -the cook at Linden Fells, whose duty it was to prepare the coffee each -evening, had fallen under the influence of a bribe, and had consented to -drug the concoction, so deftly and at the same time so thoroughly, that -within an hour after the time of drinking it not one who had swallowed -so much as two tablespoonfuls would be awake or capable of being roused -by any ordinary methods. - -The hour for the drinking of coffee there was usually ten, or -ten-thirty o’clock, and it was, therefore, safe to plan that by the time -the midnight hour struck, the inmates of Linden Fells would be -slumbering so soundly that an army marching past would not disturb them. - -And--in fact, there would be something closely akin to an army on hand -at that time, if comparative estimates may be used as standard. - -Sixty-five men, not counting Paul Rogers himself--sixty-five desperate -criminals--sixty-five human fiends would, during the hours between ten -and twelve, approach Linden Fells from every direction, creeping in upon -it silently and stealthily through the darkness, while every member of -the household was incapable of resistance because stupefied by the drug -that had been introduced into the coffee. - -Sixty-five men, whose professions ran the gamut of crime from -sneak-thievery and pocket-picking to bank-burglary and conspiracy, were -to gather around that mansion in the darkness and await the signal of -Paul Rogers for their descent upon it. - -As a precaution against interruption from the outside, every wire which -connected with the house was to be cut, as Dewey cut the cables at -Manila Bay. - -At a given signal, a certain detail of these men were to descend upon -the stable and the remainder were to attack the house, so that if out of -all the inmates there happened to be one person who had not swallowed -the drug--or even two--that one or two would have no opportunity to -escape and so give the alarm. - -And then, the sixty-five were to go through the house and loot it at -their pleasure. They were given full liberty, by Paul Rogers, to help -themselves to anything of value which they could find and which could be -carried away without impediment to their escape. - -And when the house had been looted of all that was desired, and when -Mercedes Danton had been taken out of the house a captive and hurried -away through the darkness to a fate concerning which even Tom Morgan was -kept in ignorance, then, after that, gallons upon gallons of -kerosene-oil were to be scattered throughout the house, the match was to -be applied, and old Peter Danton, with his wife and son, and so many of -the servants as happened to be there, were to be consumed in the flames. - -Thus, it was planned, would all traces of the crime be destroyed. - -Thus, by the wholesale murder of the servants as well as their -employers, it would not be suspected that the real plan was to put the -Dantons out of the world. - -Thus it would be easy to explain afterward how great good fortune had -kept Miss Mercedes in the city that night--and thus, when Isabel Benton -appeared in her place in the world, any difference of character or -appearance might easily be accounted for because of the horrors and the -terrible losses through which she had passed. - -Thus, the reader will understand, the culmination of Paul Rogers’ -plotting would be achieved, and while the real Mercedes Danton was -quietly put to death, the pseudo Mercedes--Isabel Benton--would appear -in her place, in the enjoyment of her fortune and in the exercise of her -prerogatives. - -All this hellish plan was developed to Tom Morgan--or shall we confess -at once what the reader already knows, and saw that he was really Tom -Danton?--during the late afternoon and early evening of the eventful day -upon which it was to happen. - -And when he would have started away at once to warn his sister and his -brother of the awful peril that hung over their heads, even if he was -compelled to acknowledge his identity in order to do so, he was -detained. Not because anybody suspected him of showing any interest in -the affair other than that terrible interest which they all enjoyed, but -because of the careful plans of their leader who had arranged for the -conduct of every separate man with the care of a general in ordering a -concerted attack upon the enemy. - -This and that group of men were to start for the rendezvous at -stipulated times, and they were to meet at specified points so that -there could be no miscarriage of plans--and Tom Danton’s orders offered -him no opportunity of starting out until nine o’clock. - -Fortunately, however, he was to go alone, and he planned that at least -he could get his sister and his parents out of the house before it was -attacked. - -But, oh, the long hours of waiting until the time for his start for the -scene of the crime came around. But when he did start, there was no -delay in his going. - -And up at the Fells, one man sat in a rustic seat under a lattice where -he was in deep shadow, waiting and watching for he knew not what. - -That one man was Nick Carter, who knew nothing of the plot, or of the -drug, which was at that moment being prepared for those who were in the -house. - -And Nick Carter, with only Burglar Tom Morgan for his aid, was to face -all that crew of sixty-five human devils, upon murder and rapine bent. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - -PAUL ROGERS’ LAST STRUGGLE. - - -Eleven o’clock had just tolled from the tower of the town hall in the -village, three miles away, when Nick Carter saw a shadow cross the path -near to the spot where he was sitting, and he started to his feet and -bounded forward with the suddenness of the leap of a panther. - -He seized the man from behind and forced him to the earth, at the same -moment attempting to grasp his throat, thus to shut off all chance of -his calling out and thus summoning assistance; but in the darkness he -missed the man’s throat, and was amazed to hear the well-recognized -tones of Tom Morgan’s voice cursing in a low tone, while he struggled to -free himself from the grasp of his assailant. - -Instantly the detective altered his tactics. - -“Red Morgan! Tom! Tom Morgan!” he whispered in his ear. “Stop -struggling. Lie quiet. Listen to me. I am Nick Carter.” - -“Praise God!” breathed Tom, in reply. And then in a whisper that was -still lower, he continued: - -“Don’t make a sound, for Heaven’s sake. There are sixty-five crooks -around us somewhere. If they are not here now they are on the way and -not far distant. As many as a score of them must be hidden near here -now, although I do not think they will approach near to the house before -midnight.” - -Then, as rapidly as possible, he revealed the awful condition of things -to the detective, covering only the main points of the plot, for there -was not time to go into detail; but he closed with this statement: - -“The telephone wires were to be cut at eleven-thirty, and the electric -light wires at midnight. At a quarter past twelve, the descent is to be -made on the house.” - -“Well, man alive, that gives us an hour and a quarter to work,” said -Nick. “We can do a lot in that time.” - -“But there will not be a moment between now and then when the eyes of -the gang will not be fixed upon the house, and, if they should discover -us----” - -“Come with me,” was the only reply which Nick Carter made, and he glided -away through the darkness. - -The detective had provided himself with a key to the side door, and with -that he admitted himself and his companion to the Fells mansion. - -The hall was brilliantly lighted, and Nick directed that Tom turn off -each light as he approached it. - -“We must work swiftly and carefully,” he said. “And Tom, let us start -right. It will not be a waste of time to say this much to you. I know -you. You are Tom Danton, supposed by all your family, save your sister, -to be dead. Hush! I have talked with her about you. She loves her big -brother now with the same devotion she gave to him when she was a girl. -She only wants you to be good, that is all. To-night do your mightiest, -Tom, in working for her, and for your father, and mother, and brother. -Your mother was injured this afternoon. She is ill unto death. She may -not recover. She and Mercedes must be saved first. After them, your -father, who is an old man. You must take your sister to a place of -safety. I will take your mother. After that you rescue your father, and -after them we will get the others out as fast as we can. Now talk -quickly. You were born here. You lived here all through your boyhood. -There must be a place where we can take them--some place where, as a -boy, you played Indian scout, where these fiends will not find them -until we have rescued everybody from the house. Think it up while I -make use of this telephone before the fiends cut the wire.” - -He seized the receiver and placed it to his ear. The instant he got a -reply, he said: - - “Quick, Central. There may not be a moment to talk. This is Linden - Fells. The house is besieged--is to be burned to the ground. Tell - the police; summon assistance----” - -He heard a sharp stroke against the wire as if it had been struck with a -hammer, and the connection was cut off. He had no means of knowing -whether Central had understood him or not, and he knew that he must work -on the supposition that no help would come. - -“Well?” he demanded, turning to Tom. “Have you thought of a place?” - -“Yes. I know the very place. If we only have time and are not seen, we -can save them all. Can you carry my mother, Mr. Carter? She is very -heavy.” - -“I could carry a horse with her on its back,” replied Nick. “Get -Mercedes and meet me at this door.” - -“No,” replied Tom. “We go out through the cellar. It is a secret way -which I built as a boy. My father had it walled up with masonry, but I -know where there is a crowbar, and I can tear the wall away in two -minutes.” - -“Good,” said Nick. “Get Mercedes and meet me in the cellar, then.” - -When the detective entered the room where the injured woman had been -taken, he saw at a glance that consciousness had returned to her while -her attendants were wrapped in the influence of the drug, and that, -although very weak and faint with fright because of her unavailing -efforts to rouse the nurses, she was still thoroughly conscious, and -instantly Nick determined that the best way to deal with her was to tell -her as much of the truth as he dared. - -Rapidly he explained to her who he was; that the accident which resulted -in her injury was part and parcel with a plot to burn and rob Linden -Fells; that in carrying out the plot, every member of the household had -been drugged into unconsciousness save herself, and that she had been -spared only because she was not able to swallow the coffee; that the -house was at that minute surrounded by their enemies, and that the only -way of escape was to submit to being carried away from danger; and then, -without more ado, he took her in his arms and started for the cellarway. - -At the bottom of the stairs he encountered Tom, who held Mercedes in his -arms. She was in a stupor, and so utterly unconscious of the events -that were taking place around her. - -In the cellar it was the work of a moment for Tom to find the old and -now rust-eaten crowbar where he had hidden it years before, and with it -to knock a hole through the wall where his father had caused the lad’s -“secret passage” to be stopped up. But this was a time when the foolish -prank of a boy was destined to stand the man in good stead--to be, in -fact, the means of saving many lives. - -Ah! the enthusiasm of youth! The labor of many weeks bestowed upon that -“secret passage” by the boy Tom Danton, was bearing fruit this moment. - -The passage led straight underneath the rose-garden to the edge of the -bluff which overlooked a deep ravine, and at the end opened into a log -hut, which had now fallen into decay, but which, because it was almost -inaccessible because of the steep sides of the ravine around it, had -been forgotten by those who lived on the estate. - -It was with relief that Nick discovered when they arrived at the hut -that Mrs. Danton had quietly fainted away, and, depositing her on the -ground beside her daughter, both men hurried back again through the -passage to the mansion. - -“Your father next,” ordered Nick, “and, after that, whomever you please. -Only work fast. Leave me to work as I please. We can get them all out, -even to the last servant, if only our--or, rather, your strength holds -out.” - -“I am as strong as a bull,” replied Tom, hastening away. But he paused -long enough to call back to the detective: - -“We must not forget the stable when we have finished with the house.” - -Nick nodded and proceeded with the work. - -The drugged and unconscious men and women, whom they carried away, hung -like corpses upon their arms. Nothing roused them, and soon the small -log cabin in the ravine was filled with the slumbering throng. And still -all was silent without the house. - -Once Nick took time to look at his watch, but not until he was carrying -out the last of the people he had saved, and he saw that the time then -lacked only two minutes of the time set for the attack. - -Chick, in his character as butler, was the very last whom Nick carried -away, and Chick manifested some signs of reviving. But, although he -opened his eyes and glanced vacantly around him for an instant, he -closed them again and sank back into unconsciousness. - -The house was clear of living occupants at last. Not so, however, with -the stable. - -“Tom,” he said, “are you a good shot?” - -“I can drive a nail at thirty paces,” replied Tom. - -“Have you got a gun with you?” - -“Two.” - -“Good. It is up to us to defend the house now, and save it from fire -till assistance arrives if such a thing is possible. Those whom we have -carried out will be safe where they are for the present--at least, as -safe as we can make them. The electric lights have gone out, showing -that the enemy has cut the wires. There is a fairly good starlight -outside, and we ought to be able to pick off a few of the attackers -before they can get into the house, don’t you think so?” - -“All I ask is to get a bead on Rogers himself,” replied Tom grimly. - -“Good. Kill him if you can. You are justified. He and his men will -probably approach in a body. I have four revolvers here; two in my -sleeves and two in my pockets. You have two, and that gives us thirty -shots all told. We should give a fairly good account of ourselves, I -think. You take the front of the house and I will take the rear. I want -to be where I can cover the stable as well as the house.” - -Nick had guessed the intentions of the man, Rogers, almost exactly. His -followers did not, however, attack in one body, but in three. - -There were a score or more of the men in each bunch, and one of these -advanced toward the front of the house, another toward the rear, and the -third approached the stable. Nick thus had a perfect view of some forty -of the criminals. - -He had opened wide the door where he was standing so that he could see -to shoot without obstruction, and he stood so that he could, if -necessary, kick the door shut at any moment. - -The gang which attacked the stable reached their destination first, and -as the leader reached out one hand to raise the latch of the door, one -of the detective’s revolvers spoke, and the man dropped in his tracks as -if he had been hit with a club. - -Then, with one hand, Nick played upon the men at the stable-door, and -with the other upon the men who were approaching the door where he was -standing, and the reports of his shots sounded with the regularity and -precision of the ticking of a watch as he fired. - -There was a yell of rage at the first fire, and other yells at the -second, third, fourth, and others. - -Men dropped to the ground with howls of rage and pain, and writhed in -agony, for the detective was aiming his shots at their legs and not at -their hearts. He had no desire to kill, save where it concerned one man, -and he could not see Rogers anywhere among those at his side of the -house. - -Within the space of ten seconds from the instant he fired the first -shot, the attacking-party broke and fled; but, even as they did so, -there were loud shouts behind them. - -Lights flashed upon every side. There came the sound of galloping -horses, the screech of a steam fire-engine, and the encouraging cries of -a throng of rescuers who had started out from the village upon the -summons of the girl at the central office of the telephone who had given -the alarm. - -Not one of the sixty-five marauders succeeded in entering either the -house or the stable, and only five of them succeeded in escaping. - -It seemed to Nick as if the entire village had turned out and hastened -to the rescue, as, indeed, it had, and as they had arrived on the scene -at the very moment when Nick and Tom began firing, the attention of the -attacking-party had been distracted from their enemies in the rear until -they were entirely surrounded, and there was left to them no chance of -escape. - -Thirty of the marauders were wounded, although none of them was -seriously injured. - -Only one was killed outright, and he laid upon his face in front of the -porch, with a bullet-hole squarely between his eyes. - -And what of Tom Danton? - -He was also wounded. - -A bullet had somehow found its way to him and had entered his side, but -a quick examination satisfied Nick that the wound was not mortal. - -“I got Rogers with my first bullet,” he whispered to Nick, as the -detective bent over him; “and he got me, too. But he won’t bother us any -more. Send me to a hospital, Carter, if you please, and don’t tell the -folks who I am. I’m going to live a new life from this day forth, and -try to be worthy of the sister who loves me.” - - * * * * * - -It was a remarkable fact of that raid upon Linden Fells that each and -every victim of the drug that was administered in the coffee awoke in -his or her bed or room, exactly where they had dropped asleep, and that -the only person among them all who was at all conscious of what had -happened was Chick, and he only in a vague way, which was utterly -uncertain until the detective explained it to him. - -Nick sent the prisoners and the wounded men away with the -rescuing-party, and removed, as far as possible, all traces of the -fight. - -Even the old man, Mr. Danton, was seated in his chair beside his table -when he awoke, in just the position in which he had fallen asleep from -the effects of the drug. Even the servants were restored to the -attitudes in which they had been discovered by Nick and Tom, and awoke -in the small hours of the morning to slink away to their beds in -chagrin. - -Not one of them knew what had happened while they were sleeping--and not -one of them learned the facts until later, when, of course, it became -public property and was generally talked about--and even then, there -were those who regarded it as a hoax and refused to believe. - -Nick Carter did not send Tom Danton to a hospital. He had him conveyed -to his own house, and, having left him there under the very best care -that could be provided, he returned to Linden Fells. - -But before he departed, he said to Tom: - -“We are rid of Rogers, Tom; but we have an implacable enemy left -still.” - -“You mean Isabel?” asked Tom. - -“Yes. Isabel Benton. Mark my words, she will yet be heard from.” - -But during the days which followed, there came no sign of Isabel Benton, -nevertheless. - - * * * * * - -Not until the afternoon of the day following the fight did Nick Carter -take Mercedes into his confidence and tell her all that had happened. He -had imposed silence upon the mother, who was the only one in the house -who had not partaken of the drug. It remained only necessary for him to -tell all to Mercedes. - -And he did. - -I will leave the reader to imagine how he told it. How he dwelt on the -heroism of Tom Danton, whom he promised should see her and talk with her -as soon as he could be made to consent to do so. - - - THE END. - -In the NEW MAGNET LIBRARY there will next appear an exciting story of -love and crime under the title of “Nabob and Knave,” No. 1171, by -Nicholas Carter. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOUR-FINGERED GLOVE *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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