between them,
followed Marsh back to the house. They put the two men in chairs in
the library, and lifting the other man from the floor placed him in
a chair near them. Marsh then turned to Morgan.

"Have you fixed everything up?"

"Yes, they ought to be here inside of an hour and a half."

"Fine!" commented Marsh. Then turning to Nels, he pulled out a bill
and presented it.

"Nels," he said, "we've all got to go into the city. Somebody must
watch this place while we're gone. You have a good gun there, so you
can stick around until the police come."

"Sure--Aye watch."

"Come on," Marsh called, and the three men started out. The last
thing Marsh heard as he went down the steps, was a voice murmuring,
"He bane fine man."

Oak Street lay shadowy and deserted, as Marsh, accompanied by
Morgan and Tierney, turned into it from Rush Street.

"Wait here for a minute," requested Marsh, as they stopped in front
of the entrance to Hunt's building, and he moved toward the dark
tradesmen's entrance. As he neared it, a man appeared from the
shadows. They held a low-voiced conversation, and Marsh then
returned to the others. When the door was opened, in answer to their
ring, the three detectives climbed the stairs.

Hunt's man-servant stood at the door.

"Mr. Hunt in?" asked Marsh.

"Yes, sir," replied the man. "I think you were here before, sir."

"Yes, Sunday night."

"Walk right in, sir. Mr. Hunt's in the living room."

Hunt had evidently been reading, but had risen at the sound of
voices, for on entering the living room they found him standing by
the davenport, with his finger between the pages of a book.

"Good evening," said Marsh.

There was a look of surprise on Hunt's face, but he quickly mastered
it.

"I hardly expected to see you here," he observed, significantly.
"And who are your friends?"

"Detective Sergeant Morgan, whom you have met before; and his
partner, Detective Sergeant Tierney."

Again that astonished expression passed over Hunt's face. He spoke
quite calmly, however.

"May I ask the reason for this late call?"

"It's really a continuation of the visit I made here Sunday night,"
answered Marsh. "My story has had another and more interesting
chapter added to it, and I thought you might like to hear it."

"Naturally, I am interested," returned Hunt, smiling. "Will you
gentlemen take chairs?"

Hunt's man, who had followed them into the room, now offered to
assist them in taking off