over the woman who hated her with a deadly hatred. Not so, I assure you,
for my vengeance is even more complete than I ever dared to hope, and
your 'promised wife,' my fine young man, will never flaunt her colors
in triumph over me here in New York, for her reputation has been
irretrievably ruined, and the city shall ring with the vile story ere
another twenty-four hours shall pass."

"Don't be too sure, madame; don't be too sure that you're going to down
that clever little lady just yet," were the words which suddenly startled
every one in the room, and the next instant the door swung wide open to
admit a new actor in the drama.

A brisk, energetic little man entered the room, and going directly to
Mrs. Montague's side, he laid his hand upon her shoulder.

"Madame, you are my prisoner," he added, in a more quiet but intensely
satisfied tone.

"What do you mean, sir?" haughtily demanded the woman, as she shook
herself free from his touch. "Who are you, and how came you here?"

"Well, we'll take one question at a time, if you please, madame," the
new-comer returned. "First, what do I mean? Just what I say--you are my
prisoner. I arrest you for obtaining money under false pretenses--for
theft, for abduction. The proof of the first charge is right here in my
hand. Look!"

He opened his palm and disclosed to the horrified woman's gaze and to
the amazement of the other occupants of the room two beautiful crescents
of blazing diamonds.

"Heavens! where did you get them? Oh, I know--I know!" shrieked the
unhappy creature, cowering and shrinking from the sight as if blinded by
it, and sinking upon the nearest chair.

"Yes, I reckon you do," grimly remarked Detective Rider, for it was he,
"and this clears up the Bently affair of Chicago, for here, on the back
of the settings, is the very mark which Mr. Arnold of that city put upon
them more than three years ago. Well, so much for that charge. Now, if
Mr. Palmer will just step this way, maybe he'll recognize some of his
property, and we'll explain the second and third charges."

Ray looked astonished as he went forward, but he was even more so when
Mr. Rider held up before him an elegant diamond cross, which he instantly
identified as one of the ornaments which the beautiful Mrs. Vanderbeck
had selected on that never-to-be-forgotten day when he was decoyed into
Doctor Wesselhoff's establishment and left there a prisoner, while the
woman made off with her booty.

"Wh