ight; but the meaning of it--"

Chick paused. Suddenly a flash came from his eyes.

"I have it!" he cried.

"That's good," said Nick. "Now, if you'll follow Deever, I'll go back to
Dr. Jarvis."

Accordingly Nick hurried home. He found Jarvis in a state of great
mental anguish.

"It is an extraordinary fate," he cried, as soon as Nick appeared,
"which has twice brought these Deevers into my life to make me
miserable."

"You have had to do with them before?" asked Nick.

"Yes, and in a way that is beyond belief."

"Explain yourself."

"This man, Lawrence Deever," said the doctor, with a groan, "had the
incredible presumption to make love to my daughter."

Nick could not help smiling.

"What did you do about it?" he asked.

"I sent him about his business in a hurry."

"Was that all?"

"No; and I'm ashamed to say it. There is no possible way of accounting
for the conduct of women. My daughter actually took this fellow's part."

"But nothing came of it?"

"No, sir. I am master of my own household."

"So your daughter really loved this man?"

"No; it was only her obstinacy. They became acquainted in some way. I
don't know how. The fellow called at my house. I made my daughter
promise never to speak to him, but it was a most unpleasant affair
throughout. I thought Deever would murder me.

"It seems strange, perhaps, that I should speak of it in the midst of
the terrors that surround me, and yet I can't help thinking of the whole
affair as one freak of fate."

"And now tell me the truth about his brother and yourself," said Nick
earnestly.

"I will," replied the doctor.

At this moment a messenger was announced. Nick knew that the matter must
be of the greatest importance, or he would not have been interrupted in
his conference with his prisoner.

It proved to be a message from Superintendent Byrnes asking Nick to come
to his house as soon as he could.

CHAPTER VIII.

BEFORE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

As Nick expected, he met Chick outside Superintendent Byrnes's house.

"Go to Jarvis," said Nick. "He is going to tell the whole story.
Personate me in this disguise."

Chick nodded and vanished.

Within the house Nick found Deever in the superintendent's presence.
Deever's face was red, and he looked like a man who had been kicking a
stone wall until he is tired.

"Mr. Deever has lodged a complaint against you, Mr. Colton," said the
superintendent, with a twinkle in his eye.

"What's