or. "I
certainly know of no such person."

"Have you been accepting the attentions of any other young man?"

"No, sir," smiled Violet. "That is not my style."

"I am glad to hear you say so, yet I really might have known it,"
laughed Nick.

"Thank you, Detective Carter," bowed the girl, blushing warmly. Then she
hastened to add: "Still, I am not a prude, sir--don't think I mean that.
In my profession one is obliged to be on friendly terms with a great
many persons, both men and women. At the theater, for instance, I meet
many men and form many acquaintances, both agreeable and the reverse."

"And sometimes have the attentions of men fairly forced upon you, I
imagine?" said Nick, inquiringly, with a brighter gleam lighting his
earnest eyes.

"Yes, sir; sometimes," Violet demurely admitted.

Nick drew forward in his chair, and Chick saw that he had caught up the
thread at that moment suggested to himself.

"Miss Page," said Nick, more impressively, "I now want you to answer me
without the slightest reserve."

"I will, sir," bowed Violet, with a startled look.

"Has any man of the late vaudeville company, or one connected with the
theater, endeavored to force his love upon you?"

"No, sir; not one."

"Or any visitor admitted to the stage?"

"Well--yes, sir," faltered Violet, quite timidly. "Since you press me
thus gravely, I must admit that I have been obliged to repel the
affection of a certain man. Yet, please don't infer, sir, that he has
ever been ungentlemanly. He even has done me the honor, if one can so
term an undesired proposal, to protest that he wished to make me his
wife."

"What is that man's name?" demanded Nick, quite bluntly.

Yet both Nick and Chick already anticipated it.

"Must I tell you his name, sir?" faltered Violet.

"You may do so confidentially, Miss Page."

"His name, sir, is Rufus Venner."

"One more question, Miss Page," cried Nick, quickly, "Was there any
member of the vaudeville company who knew of Venner's proposal?"

"I don't think so, sir. At least I know of none."

Nick glanced at Chick and dryly remarked:

"All under the surface, Chick."

"Not a doubt of it, Nick."

Violet looked surprised and alarmed at this, and hastened to ask:

"Oh, Mr. Carter, is there something of which I am ignorant? Or have I
done wrong in any way?"

Nick turned to her and gravely answered:

"No, Miss Page, you have done nothing wrong--far from it! But there is
considerable of