speak to the supposed Gilder, probably with the intention
of sending him at once to his room.

But at that moment the lamp suddenly went out.

With a low cry the colonel sprang toward it. The lamp was not there.

It had been removed. The room was almost totally dark.

The colonel lit a match. There was no sign of the lamp. It had utterly
vanished.

As the burned match fell to the floor a beam of light suddenly shot
across the gloom.

And there, before the old-fashioned fire-place, stood a figure
corresponding in every particular to Lavina Richmond as she appeared in
a portrait painted just previous to her death, and hanging at that
moment in the colonel's room.

There was no sound in the room except the labored breathing of the
excited old man, whose faith was now fully justified to his mind.

He was gazing straight at this apparition.

It was veiled, and the heavy folds of a black silk dress in the style of
many years ago hung loosely about the form.

Immediately a white hand appeared. The veil was lifted, disclosing the
thin and pale face of a woman of advanced age and feeble health. The
likeness of Lavina Richmond was perfect.

The colonel tried to speak, but his voice stuck in his throat.

Slowly the veil descended. Nick made a sign to Patsy, who had pressed up
a little in advance.

He had kept an eye over his shoulder, however, to be sure of getting any
orders from his chief.

There was light enough to see the signal. Patsy sprang forward toward
the specter.

The distance separating them was not more than twenty feet. The athletic
youth would have covered it in a twinkling.

But suddenly he fell to the floor with a smothered groan.

"I'm hit hard," he cried; and, raising himself upon one knee, with his
left hand pressed to his temple, he drew a revolver with the other.

"Don't shoot!" exclaimed Nick. "It's Millie Stevens!"

The detective made a bound toward the figure.

The light which had played full upon it wavered, as if about to vanish.

Yet there was time. Nick felt sure of his prize, as he sprang out from
his place beside the colonel.

And the next thing Nick knew it was six o'clock of the following
morning, and he was lying in a bed, looking up into Patsy's face.

CHAPTER VIII.

PATSY'S STORY AND THE TEST PROPOSED.

"Are you much hurt?" asked Patsy, anxiously.

Nick took in the whole scene before he replied.

Beside the bed were Colonel Richmond, Horace and a man who