e time of the robbery," Nick quickly went
on to explain, thus putting his own strategy on a solid basis. "I
shadowed you from the theater to-night, intending to watch you and your
house, a design which has nearly cost me my life at the hands of your
faithful watchman.

"I am glad to add, senora, that I now have completely changed my views,
and I trust that you will bear in mind that you were a stranger to me,
and so pardon my unworthy misgivings. It is impossible that you, Senora
Cervera, could be guilty of any evil, or know aught of so accomplished a
knave as David Kilgore, or any of his clever gang."

A shrewder move could scarce have been conceived. That Nick would thus
have declared himself in the very presence of Kilgore, if known to him,
seemed utterly absurd; and the eyes of both Kilgore and Matt Stall were
aglow with a vicious amusement and satisfaction much too genuine to be
entirely concealed.

"Well, Mr. Carter," cried Venner, now hastening to release the
defective's hands, "you certainly have had a close call, and are lucky
to come out of it with a whole skin. These two men are employed by
senora to guard her house at night, and they naturally mistook you for a
burglar."

Despite his keen discernment, Nick could not determine whether this man
was lying, or was really as blind as his words implied. Content to await
further discoveries, however, Nick laughed quickly, and replied:

"Well, well, Mr. Venner; I am quite accustomed to close calls and hard
knocks, and I assure you that I bear the senora's watchmen no ill will
for having done their duty as they saw it. Senora Cervera is to be
congratulated upon having secured the services of two such faithful
fellows."

Kilgore had all he could do to keep from laughing aloud, so blinded was
he by Nick's artful duplicity.

"And when I inform you, senora," cried Venner, "that Detective Carter is
in my employ, and is really a royal good friend, I am sure that you will
pardon him for having been so misled by your letter of this morning."

Senora Cervera was blushing now, yet to Nick it appeared a little
forced, and there was in her evil, black eyes a gleam he did not like.
Yet she at once arose and came to shake the detective by the hand.

"Oh, if my dear friend, Mr. Venner, says it is all right, I am sure it
must be so," she cried, smiling up at Nick. "But I am afraid, Detective
Carter, that you will now think me dreadfully severe, and my two
watchmen more br