,' said I, 'except to answer my questions, or
I'll carry you off and lock you up. I have not come to arrest you. I
only want to ask you a few questions. Haven't you a sister-in-law named
Miss Kearney?'

'Yes, what do you want with her?'

'I am not going to do her any harm. I only want to know where she
lives.'

'Oh I she lives in ---- street.'

'Do you know the number?'

'Goodness, yes; it is number 34. I have boarded there myself until only
a little while ago.'

'Indeed!'

'Yes, I have got a dead-latch key somewhere about.'

'The deuce you have! Give it to me; it is just what I want.'

'Give you a dead-latch key! a pretty notion!'

'I wouldn't give it to any man--not to all the detective squad in New
York.'

'Look here, my friend, I am M----, pretty well known in this town. I
have a good many opportunities in the course of my business to do people
good turns, and not a few to do them ill turns. It is a convenient
vocation to pay off scores, particularly to persons of your sort. If you
will give me that key, I'll make it worth your while the first chance I
have. If you don't, you'll be sorry; that's all."

I gave him a significant look as I concluded. He looked me in the face a
minute--as if to see how much I meant, or if I suspected anything; then
turned and ran up stairs. In a few moments he came down, and handed me
the key. I took it with satisfaction.

'Now,' said I, 'you'll have no objections to telling me where your
sister-in-law's room in the house is.'

'Third story, back room, second door to the left from the head of the
stairs.'

'Thank you, good night.'

We walked rapidly to ---- street, and reaching the house, I stopped a
moment to examine my pistols, by the street lamp, and then softly opened
the door. Clarke and I stepped in, and I shut the door.

Leaving my comrade in the hall, I crept noiselessly up stairs, and
tapped at the door of the room.

'Who is there?' called out a woman's voice. 'Open the door,' I replied,
'and I'll tell you what I want.'

'You can't come in. I have gone to bed.'

'Oh, well, I am a married man; I'll do you no harm; but you must let me
in, or I shall force the door.'

After a moment's delay the door was opened by a young woman in a morning
wrapper, who stood as if awaiting an explanation of the intrusion. I
passed by her, and walked up to a young man sitting in a low chair by
the fire, and tapping him on the shoulder, said: 'You are my prisoner.'
He r