The Doctor's Stratagem.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 177, 26 July 1907, Page 6

The Doctor's Stratagem.

By NICHOLAS CARTER

duthor of " The Silent Partner," " Under Cover of the Late," "Seeded Orders," " Cavgkt in a, Web" " The Price of a Secret,' etc.

;. ; CHAPTER XVHL " ! THE LAST TRAIL. Despite the efforts of Detective Garcia that night, the search for Derosa and his gang'proved futile, and the next day passed without any trace of them being discovered. The dives and secret haunts of Italians known to be in touch with such fellows were visited, and the proprietors and inmates closely questioned, but no information of the gang could be obtained. Recalling the promise he had made Maria Marvin, and thinking that something might possibly have been learned at Rangelev; Nick Carter left the three detectives still at work on the case, and went out there soon after dark that evening. •' Miss Marvin had nothing new to offer, however, and the hopeful countenance with which she had greeted Nick underwent a qhange when she learned that lie had nothing favourable to report. "Don't be disturbed on that account,"' he encouragingly said, a little later. "It takes times and patience.you know, to find a rat-hole. . Once found, however, the rat may be speedily slain. We shall locatethese renegades before a great while." "Indeed, Detective Carter, I hope so," Eaid Maria, fervently. "Have you told the servants just how matters stand?" "Certainly, as you directed." "They probably regard mc more favourably now," smiled Nick. "I should say so," replied Miss Marvin. "Really, Detective Carter, they would do anything you might ask, knowing that you are serving our beloved mistress." "You are all very loyal to her, I see that." "She an angel, sir, and worthy of all we can do." "I hope to meet her under circumstances that will enable mc to form some opinion of her fine qualities, and— Stop a moment! What's this?" , The sound of hurried steps in the hall had sounded upon Nick's ears, and Miss Marvin ran to the drawing-room door to learn the occasion. Almost at the same moment the butler, Paul Damon, rushed into the room and exclaimed, with a bow to the detective: '*Oh, I say, Maria! A fellow prowling back of the house has just been caught by Wiggin and Jim Hanlon..' He looks like one of the spies seen about here a week ago, What shall they do with him 1" Nick Carter could not have heard a statement more to his fancy. He saw at once the possibility presented, and prepared to take advantage of it. , Before Miss Marvin could answer, Nick interposed and laid his hand on the butler's arm, saying quickly: "Stop a moment, Damon. Listen to mc and do what_i tell you." "Shall I, Maria?" "Yes, certainly," cried Bliss Marvin, quickly. "That's good for mc, Mr. Carter." "Where is the fellow you mentioned!" Nick now asked. "Just outside the back door, sir." "In charge of the two stable hands." I "Yes, sir." ■ not let him go ?" "Not much," declared Damon, frowning darkly. "Very good," said Nick. "Then we have time to pave the way for a move I wish to make. If the fellow is one of the spies, as you suspect, I can use him to great advantage." "In what way, Detective Carter?" inqnired Maria, with quickened interest. "Evidently he has been sent here foT some purpose by his confederates," Nick hurriedly explained. "It's odds, also, that he will return to them. By letting him go, and then shadowing him, I can locate the whole gang." "Are you sure that yon can follow him?" asked Maria, quickly appreciating the design. fc 'As sure as death and taxes," replied Nick. "The rascal's suspicions must not he aroused, however, or he might not return to his friends." "Surely not." "You do what I command, Damon, and leave the rest to mc," added Nick, again inrrdng to the butler. "I will, sir." ! ""After having the fellow brought in ttere, you pretend that I am an officer who has called here, and that you want the trespasser arrested and locked up." "That will be easy, sir." "I shall insist that you have nongood grounds for holding him, however, and you must quietly inform Hanlon and Mark Wiggin not to interfere, nor to show any surprise at what I say and do." 'TH do that, sir, after having the fellow brought in here." "Very good," said Nick approvingly. *_ shall be in disguise when you return, so betray no surprise." "Trust mc, sir." " ~ "Go out now and have the fellow brought in here." Damon hastened to obey, and Nick at once produced a disguise and Began to adjust it. "Do you think you can accomplish this, Detective Carter?" asked Maria, watching him with earnest eyes. "I feel very sure of it," replied Nick, "Leave mc to do the talking after the man enters. Do you know of any object he can have in coming here again?'' "I know there are documents Belonging to Miss Sheldon, which these Italians have at other times tried to secure," said Maria. "What kind of documents?" "They relate to certain property in Italy." * "Still owned by Miss SheMon?" "Yes, sir." "Could these rascals secure the property, if they got possession of the documents ?" "I think so." "Then that explains it," declared Nick confidently. "Ilaving got the girl in their clutches, and feeling sure of putting her to death, if not already done, the knaves are bent upon securing the papers you mention. This spy evidently has been sent to see how the land lies now,; and what steps are being taken to "Hush!" interposed Maria. "They are Bringing him in." Heavy steps were sounding in the hall, along with sounds of a straggle and growls of protest. _ Nk-k drew back _ few paces, thrusting his thumbs into the armholes of his yes,., and bringing his detective's conspicuously into view. ° A moment later the:two stable-handk, gapping their captive by the arms and collar of his coat, forced the stru"„lin« man .into the room. '■'"■' °* ° v -Sick at ones. ia__ to he-one

of the Italians previously descrißed by Chick, the one bearing the name of Antonio Maggi. With his swarthy features pale with mingled fear and resentment, the man ceased struggling upon beholding Nick and the badge displayed on his vest, and at once began to protest in very good English against the treatment he was receiving. Nick quickly interrupted him, however. "Dry up!" he bluntly exclaimed, with some sternness. "I'll attend to your case, my man, if it needs any attention." "But, sir, I " "Hold your tongue, I say," commanded Nick impatiently. "Where did you find this fellow, you. two?" ■ Nick addressed the last to the stablehands, by whom Maggi had now been released and the parlour door closed. "He was prowling through our grounds, sir," replied Hanlon, who had already received Damon's whispered instructions. "1 was only crossing them, sir, on my way home," protested Maggi, evidently impressed with the authority Nick was displaying. "On your way home?" demanded Nick, suspiciously eyeing him. "Yes, sir," pleaded Maggi. "That's right, sir." "Where do you live?" "In a street just below here, sir, over that way," protested the Italian, pointing. "What's your name?" ■ "Joseph Forelli. sir." "What's your business?" "I'm a barber, sir, and work in a shop in Harlem." "'Whose shop?" "Antonio Pasca's shop, sir." "I never heard of him," growled Nick, frowning, as if in doubt. - "Do you generally cross this estate on your way home?" " Sometimes at night, sir, when I'm not likely to be seen," Maggi pretended to admit quite reluctantly. " Does that make it nearer for you?" " Yes, sir, or I'd not come that way." " T see," muttered Nick, doubtfully, watching the fellow for a moment, and then turning to Hanlon. " Have you seen this fellow about here before? " Hanlon, now acting under Damon's quiet instructions, grimly shook his head, aud replied': " I'm not sure I ever saw this man, sir, but I've seen others about here." " That has no bearing upon this fellow's case," growled Nick contemptuously. " But we want him arrested and held until we can learn the truth about him." " You do. eh?" " Yes, sir. Since you are an officer " Since I am an officer, I know what to do without your telling mc," snapped Nick, frowning. " Don't argue with mc about what I want." " But, this fellow " " Dry up, I say," interrupted Nick, fearing that too much might be said. " I'm not so sure that you are in the right, my man." " I-s that so?" sneered Hanlon. " There's been strange doings at this house of late, and it's not all to my fancy," Nick continued to growl. "You may be in the wrong yourself. As for this Italian barber, you have no grounds for arresting him, merely because he attempted to cross this estate. Is the place fenced in? " "No, sir, not entirely," interposed Maria. " Then I can't arrest this man," declared Nick positively. "You can't?" " Certainly not." " But " "Oh, there's no use in arguing about it," said Nick decidedly. "I "will take the fellow's name, and look up his record to-morrow. If I find that he is not all right, I will then pull him in and make an investigation." Drawing out his note-book, Nick pretended to enter the name given him, then closed the book with a growl. " See here, my man," he said sternly, addressing the " spy. "When you go home after this, you go by the public way. Do you hear? " " Yes, sir, I do," Maggi humbly bowed. "I'll not come this way again, sir, I give you my word." " See that you don't." "•Not I, sir, and I'm sorry I did so this time." " Now be off about your business," said Kick, pointing to the door. "If I catch you around here again, you'll see the inside of a prison cell. Hold your tongue ajid get out." The last cut short the . thanks that arose to the Italian's lips, and a moment later, with a cringing . bow, Antonio Maggi slunk out of the room and hastened through the hall toward the rear door of the house, by which he had been brought in. Nick Carter delayed his departure not a moment. Whipping off his disguise, he cried softly: " Not a word from any of you. Remain here until we are both away. I shall have something to report later, Miss Marvin." " Heaven grant it " While he spoke, Nick had darted to one of the front windows, the lock of which he quickly turned. Having quietly opened, he stepped out upon the verandah, dropped the curtain in place, and then darted like a shadow mto the gloom at the side of the house. A grating noise in the gravel of the rear walk reached his ears. Stealing to the corner of the house, he discovered Antonio Maggi hurrying toward the belt of woods and the back path leading to the street below. Nick's eyes took on a gleam of satisfaction as he began to shadow him. (To be continued daily.)