ng past the burly doctor, Jerry
skipped up the stairs, three steps at a time.

The colonel came behind. The doctor was about to remonstrate when he found
himself confronted by the two detectives.

Our hero and the colonel soon found the proper door. It was locked, but
putting his shoulder to it the young oarsman soon burst it open.

Alexander Slocum stood at the table in the center of the room. He had
Nellie Ardell by the wrist, and was endeavoring to force her to sign the
paper before them.

"Leave her alone, you villain!" cried Jerry, and dragged him backward.

"Jerry Upton!" exclaimed the young woman, and her tone was full of joy.
"Oh, how thankful I am that you have come!"

"What--what is the meaning of this?" asked Slocum, turning deadly pale.

"It means that you have been found out, Alexander Slocum," replied our
hero. "We have learned--"

"Darnley the boomer!" burst out Colonel Dartwell at this point. "So this
is where you drifted to after the swindle at Silver Run."

"Do you know him?" queried Jerry.

"Only too well. He was in Colorado for several years under the name of
Chester Darnley. He is a boomer and all-around swindler."

"It's a--a falsehood," burst from Alexander Slocum's lips, but his voice
trembled as he spoke.

"I can prove all I say," said the colonel. "There are witnesses enough
against you at Silver Run."

Slocum was all but overcome. He sank in a chair, and a moment later one of
the detectives came up and slipped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists.

The proprietor of the so-called sanitarium was also arrested, and both
prisoners were driven down to the Brooklyn police station. A hearing was
had, and the prisoners were held for trial.

From Brooklyn the colonel, Nellie, and Jerry returned to New York. Nellie
left the party to go home, and Jerry and the colonel continued on to
Slocum's office with an officer.

The book-keeper, Casey, was found and arrested, and the office was placed
in care of the authorities. The next day Jerry recovered his father's
papers and also those belonging to Nellie Ardell.

The young oarsman lost no time in sending word home how matters had
turned, stating that the claim was probably worth a good deal of money. He
added that if his father was not well enough to come to the metropolis,
Colonel Dartwell stood ready to take entire charge of the case and see
that they got their rights.

An answer soon came back, written by Mrs. Upton. Mr. Upton was well e