e a lingo
that would pass for his."

"Well, rather," laughed Nick.

"And if I was wise to the game you wished to play I easily could act as
the interpreter, and run the conversation correctly on my own hook."

"No doubt of it."

"Do it? Why, surely we could," repeated Chick "Why did you ask?"

"I think it may yet become necessary or desirable to make a move of
that kind," replied Nick.

"Why so?"

"Because, as I have suspected all along, I still think there is some big
game in the wind, with the Kilgore gang back of it, and that the murder
of this Barton girl may have some connection with it, or at least give
us a clew to it."

"Egad! I hope so, Nick."

"We soon shall see."

"Going after Cervera now?"

"Yes; at once," said Nick, with grim austerity. "We shall find her at
home, as usual. She'll not imagine that I can have got on her track as
quickly as this, so no doubt I can easily land her. Before midnight I
want bracelets on the white wrists of that Spanish dare-devil."

CHAPTER XII.

CLOSING IN.

There was, indeed, as Nick Carter shrewdly suspected, a mysterious bond
between the several crimes thus far engaging his attention, and the
secret operations for which David Kilgore and his gang had ventured into
the city of New York.

Nick had remarked, however, that the game would become as hazardous and
stirring as one could desire, as soon as it was fairly driven from
cover.

And Nick began to drive it from cover that very night.

Shortly before nine o'clock, and just as the two detectives were parting
from the Hindoo snake charmer, Mr. Rufus Venner rang the bell at the
door of Cervera's uptown residence.

It was answered by Cervera herself, much to Venner's surprise.

"Where's the butler to-night?" he abruptly demanded, as he entered and
closed the door.

"Gone," said Cervera, curtly.

"Gone?"

"I've sacked him along with all the rest."

"Not discharged all of your servants?"

"Nothing less."

"But why?" demanded Venner, with a frown settling about his dark eyes.
"You cannot remain here alone."

"I don't intend to."

"But what are you going to do? When are you going?"

While thus speaking they had repaired to the library at the rear of the
house, the room in which Nick had encountered the gang nearly a
fortnight before. It was the only room then lighted. Even the hall
through which they had passed was in darkness.

Yet Cervera was dressed in an elaborate evening gown, fi