e of a wall, is a
herculean and hazardous undertaking."

While he stood, measuring the altitude with his eyes, Nick heard Cervera
returning.

Then a great bunch of flaming paper came flying down the well, and the
detective was forced to leap aside to escape it.

She-devil, indeed, Cervera had set fire to a crumpled newspaper, with
which to illuminate the bottom of the well.

"Ah, there you are!" she exultingly cried, on discovering Nick in the
glare of the light. "On your feet, eh? You were lucky to escape,
Detective Carter."

"And you'll be lucky if you escape Detective Carter," sternly retorted
Nick, quickly stamping out the fire. "I'll finally land you, my crafty
young woman, though I lie awake nights to devise a way."

Cervera gave vent to a shrill, vindictive laugh.

"Do you think you can do it?" she demanded, mockingly.

"You'll find that I can."

"Better men than you have tried--and failed."

"Yet I shall succeed."

"Do you feel quite sure of it?"

"Absolutely."

"Then I think I'd better see your finish this very night, since I now
have you cornered!" cried Cervera, in taunting tones, "It may not be
wise to defer it."

Then Nick beheld a second burning newspaper coming his way.

"Let up, you demon!" he shouted, angrily. "You'll set the house afire."

"Wouldn't it be a shame! And what would become of you?"

"Don't try it again, young woman, or worse may be your fate."

"Oh! is that so?" sneered Cervera, maliciously. "We'll see."

Down came another burning paper, and by the light of it Nick now
discovered a closed door in one of the walls. It was directly under the
closet door in Cervera's chamber, both of which evidently had once been
used for entering the elevator.

The fact chiefly observed by Nick, however, was that the sill of the
door was wide enough to offer him a safe footing. Though it was fully
eight feet above his head, Nick resolved to attempt to reach it by means
of the notched iron on the side wall.

Gripping the rough notches with his muscular fingers, and using those
lower down for a foothold, as best he could, Nick hurriedly began the
difficult ascent.

By the light from a fragment of burning paper, Cervera perceived his
design, and greeted it with a scream of derision.

"I'll soon stop that, my fine fellow," she shouted, with vicious
asperity. "Look out for yourself!"

White speaking, she touched a match to one of her dresses, which hung
from a near peg on the close