e was here when I arrived, and made his escape
by a back door," growled Nick. "If so, it goes to show that he is in
with her and the Kilgore push, and not a blind victim to their cunning.
We now must get some proof of that, Chick, and force that gang and
their game to light. We at least have made a beginning, and now for
another move."

"To-night?"

"At once!" declared Nick. "Cervera must find shelter somewhere, and it's
very likely she will go to Venner's house. That must be our next point,
and we will lose no time. Possibly we yet may land her before she finds
cover."

"We can give it a try," cried Chick.

"Help me extinguish these lights, and then we'll be off again."

"I'm with you."

"What sent you into the house so suddenly?"

"The reports of your revolver," explained Chick. "I at once recognized
its bark, and knew something was wrong."

"Ah! I see."

"I saw the light in the chamber, and supposed you might be letting the
woman prepare to go with you," added Chick. "That was while I sat in the
cab. But when I heard your gun, I smashed open the front door and bolted
upstairs."

"Very lucky, too," nodded Nick. "That she-devil would have burned the
house, and me in the bargain. But the end is not yet."

"Well, hardly!" laughed Chick, as they descended the front stairs and
extinguished the last light.

"We'll stop an officer, and send him here to watch the house," said
Nick. "Then we'll have a look at Venner's dwelling. It's my opinion,
Chick, that our work has now begun in good earnest."

"Well, I reckon we shall prove equal to it," smiled Chick, rather
grimly, as they hastened to enter the waiting carriage.

CHAPTER XV.

THE DIAMOND PLANT.

"This does settle it!"

"What do you mean, Dave?"

"It must be done?"

"We must get these Carters--that's what! If we don't get them,
Spotty--you take my word for it--they'll get us!"

"Do you really think so, Dave?"

"Not think, but know so!" declared Kilgore, with emphasis. "I know these
Carters, root and branch. They have now struck our trail, and they'll
stick to it like bloodhounds till they run us down--unless we get them!
It must be done, I say, and done promptly."

"Put them down and out?"

"Exactly. It's them--or us!"

"And why do you think, all of a sudden, Dave, that Nick Carter is so hot
on our heels?"

"I'll tell you why, Spotty."

And Mr. David Kilgore, chief of the notorious diamond gang bearing his
name, and one of the