was sent to abide there."

"Who are you and what are you driving at?"

Mrs. Scarlet asked the question with a puzzled stare. She was
possessed of a very suspicious nature, and she was not ready to accept
a person on outward appearance alone.

"I'm William Sugg, from Missoury," the old man answered promptly. "I
came all the way to Shecargo to see the aunt of a friend. Mebbe you'll
understand when I tell you, that Martin Skidway was one of the best
friends an old man like me had in the bastile."

The name of her nephew opened the way to Madge Scarlet's heart at
once.

She questioned Mr. Sugg about the young man, and he answered her with
the assurance that they had been inmates of the same prison, and that
Martin was losing flesh rapidly from melancholy.

"It's the doings of that devil, Dyke Darrel," cried Mrs. Scarlet,
losing her temper at thought of her troubles.

"I've kind o' thought, bein' as I was in Shecargy, I'd look up a
boardin' place and stay a spell. I've heerd that you have rooms to
rent?"

"I have, to the right ones."

"Will you show me some?"

"Certainly."

Mrs. Scarlet rose and lifted a lamp from the table.

"Come this way."

As the woman led the way through a back door, into another apartment,
a pair of strong hands suddenly seized and held her fast, while a
voice hissed in her ear:

"Not a sound or you die!"

It was a startling situation.

"I am here for a purpose," said the old man, a sudden change in his
voice. "I want you to lead me to the room in which Nell Darrel is
confined."

The man's hands fell from the woman's shoulders, and when she turned
about, she found that he had her covered with a revolver.

His voice sounded familiar.

"You're the detective, Dyke Darrel?"

"It matters not. Show me the way to the room where you have Nell
Darrel imprisoned," uttered the man in a stern voice.

The menacing revolver decided the woman. The old building had been
arranged for emergencies of this kind, as the sequel will show. A
strange glitter came to the eyes of Mrs. Scarlet as she said:

"Who told you that Nell Darrel was in this house?"

"It matters not. Lead the way at once, or it will be the worse for
you."

"You dare not harm me."

"I'll show you, if you attempt to play me false. A dozen policemen
have their eyes on this building at this moment."

"Come on."

The woman turned and walked forward. She passed into a hall, and
halting at a side door, unlocked it and pu