an't give you the particulars, since they were not given to me,"
answered he. "I only know that Dyke met with a fall on the stone
pavement, and Dr. Boneset says that his leg is broken. He is in
considerable pain, but cheerful withal, and will be mighty glad to see
Nell, as he calls you."

Again the man smiled in the face of the girl at his side, and up to
this time no suspicion of the truth flashed upon her brain.

Although the hack moved rapidly, it seemed to the anxious girl a long
time in reaching its destination.

"Mr. Darrel is at my house," said the gentleman, "and I live at least
two miles from the depot."

This was said to silence the growing uneasiness manifested by Miss
Darrel.

When at length the hack came to a halt, Mr. Sims quickly alighted and
lifted Nell Darrel to the curb; then the hack sped swiftly into the
night.

Nell gazed about her with a shudder.

The low, dingy buildings and bad smell pervading the place startled
her.

"It cannot be that this is the place," she cried, standing firm, as he
attempted to lead her toward a door, over which glimmered a faint
light.

"Oh, yes it is."

"But I will not go in there."

"We'll see about that," he growled, suddenly lifting her in his arms
and striding forward.

CHAPTER XVIII.

BEATEN BACK.

The moment Nell Darrel felt herself lifted from her feet she uttered a
wild cry, which was smothered in its inception by the hand of her
captor.

"Quiet, child; nobody's going to hurt you if you behave yourself."

Nell was young and vigorous, and she made a desperate struggle for
liberty. It was with the utmost difficulty that the man made his way
to the room occupied by Mrs. Scarlet.

"Bring the chloroform," said the villain. "We can't do anything with
the girl without it."

"I'll fix her!" answered the woman, in a voice that sent a shudder to
the heart of poor Nell.

Then a subtle fume filled the girl's nostrils, and soon her senses
faded out upon a sea of nothingness--her troubles were over for the
time.

Then the man, who was none other than Professor Ruggles, bore his
insensible burden after the steps of Mrs. Scarlet, to a room in a
gloomy basement beneath the building.

As we have before remarked, it was in a disreputable part of the city,
and it was not likely that the friends of the fair Nell would look in
such a quarter for her.

"Now, then," said Professor Ruggles, when the twain were once more in
the room above, "I shall