ken to record it.

"Off with his coat and hat, Patsy," he hurriedly commanded. "Now the
false beard, my lad. Now get into them yourself, as quickly as you can."

"I'm all in, Chick," chuckled Patsy, working like a trooper.

"Got all the traps with you?"

"Sure!"

"Clap the bracelets on him, then. Now give me a second pair, and a strip
of line. That's the stuff."

"Oh, I brought the whole shooting match," laughed Patsy.

"Good for you! Now mount to the box, and leave this dog to me. I'll
return in half a minute."

Patsy climbed up to the seat from which Dalton had been so speedily
snatched and overcome, and Chick now ran the rascal a rod or more into
the woodland on the opposite side of the road.

There he threw him to the ground beside a small oak, around the trunk of
which he quickly twined Dalton's legs, and then fastened them at the
ankles with a pair of irons.

"I reckon you'll stay there quietly until I want you, barring that you
pull up the tree," he grimly remarked, as he turned to hasten back to
the carriage, in which he quickly resumed his seat.

A moment later Venner peered from the distant window--and was satisfied
with what he saw.

Five minutes later he came striding down the walk and approached the
carriage. Without a word to the driver, whom he supposed to be Dalton,
he opened the carriage door and laid his hand on Chick's arm, at the
same time pointing toward the house.

Chick signified that he understood, and held out both hands, as if he
wished to be helped to the sidewalk.

Venner promptly raised both of his--only to suddenly hear a quick,
metallic snap, and feel links of cold steel confining his wrists. Their
icy chill went through him like a knife, and he reeled as if stricken a
blow.

"Good God!" he gasped, hoarsely. "What's this?"

Chick and Patsy were already beside him.

"This," said Chick, sternly, "is your wind-up!"

"My--"

"Stop! Not a loud word, Mr. Venner, or worse will be yours! Now tell me
in whispers--where is Nick Carter?"

The sight of a revolver thrust under his nose had a potent effect upon
the dismayed man, yet even while he saw that he was cornered, he seized
upon the hope that Kilgore and the gang might discover and release him.

"Find him yourself, if you want him!" he hissed through his teeth, with
an ugly frown. "I'm cursed if I'll inform you!"

Chick did not delay for arguments or persuasion. With Patsy's help he
speedily put Venner in the same he