“All right?” cried Nick.

“Yes.  Come on!”

Nick drew himself up until he could grasp the sill of the door, then easily reached the floor and the clearer atmosphere of the parlor.

“Well, here’s a pretty mess!” he growled, in tones of self-condemnation.  “If ever I was done by a crafty jade, I’ve been done by one this night.”

“How in thunder did it happen, Nick?” demanded Chick, with no little amazement.

Nick very quickly told him, and explained the occasion of his own lack of distrust and caution.

“It being a rented house, I did not look for any such trap as this,” said he.  “Furthermore, I did not believe that Cervera had any warning of my coming, and I felt satisfied that she was alone here.  Have you seen anything of Venner while waiting in the cab?”

“Not a sign of him.”

“It’s odds, then, that he 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!”