ll right," was the simple response. "What do you want? Who are you,
anyway? And what in blazes do you mean by bursting into my room in this
way?"

"First," said Nick, "I want to know who you are, and whether you belong
here or not?"

"Oh, you make me tired," grunted the man on the bed. "I'm Phil, the head
day bartender downstairs."

"All right, Phil," said Nick, smiling. "Get up on your feet, where I can
look at you, and where you can answer a few questions for me."

"Oh, what's eating you?" growled the bartender. "I ain't been to bed
more than an hour. Let me sleep."

Instead of replying, the detective reached out his hand, and, seizing
Phil by the shoulder, jerked him from the bed to the floor, stood him on
his feet, and then seated him forcibly upon one of the wooden chairs
near at hand--so forcibly that his jaws snapped together like the
cracking of a nut.

"Now, will you be good?" asked Nick, smiling grimly.

"Yes, curse you," was the surly reply. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you."

"Well, talk on, can't you? I'm listening. Who are you, anyhow?"

"I'll tell you who I am," answered the detective, "and after I have done
so, perhaps you will consent to listen to me. I am Nick Carter, the
detective, and I want to make a little bit of use of you right now,
Philip."

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE CRIMINAL'S COMPACT.

"How long have you been here in this room?" asked the detective sharply.

"I told you about a minute ago," was the surly reply. "About an hour."

"Where were you before you came here?"

"That's none of your infernal business."

"I want to know if you were downstairs in the saloon?"

"No, I wasn't, if that will satisfy you."

"Have you been there at all to-night?"

"Yes, I was there about three hours ago."

"Was Black Madge there when you were there?"

A cunning leer came into the fellow's face before he answered, and then
he replied by asking another question.

"Who's Black Madge?" he demanded.

"You know well enough who Black Madge is," insisted the detective; "and,
Phil, if you keep a civil tongue in your head and answer my questions as
I ask them, it will be all the better for you. If you do not----"

"Well, what then?"

"If you do not, there are several little things connected with your
career which will make it unpleasant to have the inspector up at
headquarters question you about."

"Well, I ain't a-goin' to give away anybody downstairs, no matter what
happen