“It is true that I was married, most unfortunately. I was informed months ago that my wife was dead, as I had heard two years or more before.” “I understand that,” replied Nick; “and that your wife made her appearance in this country on the day of your wedding to Miss Sanborn.” “That is what I was informed, and the fact that she was nearby induced me to leave the house as I did. But the fact is, Mr. Carter, the woman I met in that coach was not my wife. She was my wife’s sister, who looks much like her. It was a fraud played upon me. It was my discovery of it that led to my being chloroformed and kept in confinement. My wife is dead.” “And you are, therefore, legally and fairly married to Miss Sanborn,” said Nick. “It is not for me to advise you, Mr. Ellison, but my duty to Mr. Sanborn leads me to say that I know, if his wishes are to be consulted and those of the lady who is now your wife, everything will be done to prevent publicity and notoriety, even if it results in the escape of these rascals from the justice they so richly merit.” “That accords with my feelings,” returned Mr. Ellison, “though my first impulse was to seek revenge on them.” Nick then went to the coach door and spoke to Mrs. Ladew, saying: “My aid, Ida here, will return with you to your house, Mrs. Ladew. You may go in the full assurance that you will not be bothered by Lannigan.” To Ida he said: “As soon as you leave Mrs. Ladew, come to the hotel. We shall go back to New York as soon as we can. A new case awaits us there.” He then directed the driver to drive off with the two occupants, and when the courtyard was cleared of the coach he turned to Lannigan, saying: “Jimmy Lannigan, I have always heard that your luck is very great, but this time it has deserted you. Some time ago I let you slip out of my hands, believing that the warning would keep you straight. I was wrong. I know now that you are crooked all the way through. You would be a menace to the community if I let you off again, and this time I’m going to run you in--under the old charge.” Lannigan, who thought he had escaped again, was so much confused that he simply stared at Nick and made no movement until he felt the cold steel on his wrists and knew that he was handcuffed and in Nick’s power. Then his passions let loose and he turned a flood of abuse upon the detective. But Nick quickly stopped the fellow with an effective gag and prepared to remove him in custody. Subsequently he was taken to New York and Nick Carter’s testimony was so damaging that Lannigan was sentenced to ten years in the State’s prison. THE END. No. 1099 of the NEW MAGNET LIBRARY, entitled, “A Race Track Gamble,” by Nicholas Carter, is a great story, and tells how the quick-witted Nick caught a gang of race-track crooks, after much trouble and many dangers, and sent them where they could do no more harm for some years to come. * * * * *