It was seldom that Nick Carter felt at a loss, yet he realized that his position was a peculiarly difficult one. He might have forced his way into James Stone’s room, of course, but he felt that the mine owner would have sufficient cunning to destroy at once the only tangible evidence of guilt as soon as he heard the first alarm. And even if he did foil Stone’s attempt that night, the detective feared that it would only be putting off the evil day. He could have Stone locked up, to be sure, and an inquiry into his sanity begun. He might also be able to secure Follansbee’s arrest. That would seem to clear the way and remove Crawford’s danger; but the detective saw further than that. He felt certain that Follansbee must have demanded a large fee of Stone, either for treatment or frankly for the services of getting rid of the man’s partner. Furthermore, he was assured that Follansbee had contrived it so that the fee would be paid whatever happened. In that case the arrest or death would by no means end the matter. Follansbee’s professional standing would undoubtedly result in an arrangement whereby the specialist would go free under heavy bonds pending his trial, and the moment he was at liberty to do so, he would almost certainly begin work on a new attempt to get rid of Winthrop Crawford and to earn his money. That fact had to be taken into consideration in connection with Follansbee, for the latter would not be treated as an ordinary criminal; therefore, it became increasingly evident that Nick would have to meet cunning with cunning if he hoped to handle the affair successfully. At last, the hint of a plan came to him. He halted by his window and looked out again. The light was still shining in Stone’s room. “I must go in there without the fellow’s knowledge,” he thought. “A minute, possibly half a minute, would do, with good luck. I wonder how I can manage it, though?” CHAPTER XXII. HELP FROM THE HOUSE DETECTIVE. Nick looked at his watch. It was ten minutes of one. More than an hour and a half remained before half past two. There seemed to be plenty of time, therefore; but he could not be sure that Stone would take Follansbee’s advice and wait until that hour before attacking his partner. The man’s insane impatience might get the upper hand and lead him to act before the time set. But the plan which had come to Nick could be put into execution at once, and thus a nerve-racking delay could be avoided.