“Then we came to this country. All the while he was a thief and a cracksman, and I did not know it—until later. “After the discovery, my life seemed an utter wreck. I permitted myself to be led into crime by that man. I was afraid of him. He threatened my life if I did not obey him. Then he was caught and sent to prison, and I escaped him. And then Mr. Carter found me, held out hope to me, secured me a position on the stage, and so helped me back to an honorable life. “I married a Mr. Smathers, an actor, and he has since died. Howard Drummond was supposed to be dead, also. Mr. Carter believed him dead; everybody who had known him thought the same. I did not know differently until last Thursday night, in the middle of the night, when I went to the library of this house to get a book to read, and found him there with Lenore’s necklace and the other stolen jewels on the table before him. “The recognition between us was mutual in an instant. “He threatened me with a pistol. He even tried to make love to me again, believing that his old influence over me still existed. But he found that it did not. “We were there, in the library, a long time. At the end of the scene, he promised me that he would return the stolen property, and that he would leave here for good and all. Formerly he possessed one virtue; he would keep his word; so I believed him then. “But he did not restore the stolen property, and I threatened him with exposure. “Then I went to New York with Mrs. Remsen. I encountered Mr. Carter by accident. I told him everything, because I knew that there, at least, was one man who knew the truth about me, and in whom I could trust. “And now I come to what took me out of the house to-night, and so the explanation of my return here at an unexpected moment—for it was not expected that I would return—at the least, not until that scoundrel had won the victory he anticipated. “Have any of you happened to notice the absence of one guest from this room? Mr. Carter, will you call your first assistant, Chick? He is outside waiting. His presence will help me to explain fully.” CHAPTER XIII. THE LAYING OF THE GHOST. Nick Carter stepped to the doorway, and called aloud: “Ho, Chick! Come here!” A moment later there were steps along the lower hall, and Chick entered the room where now all were eagerly awaiting him. “Thank you for waiting so patiently, Chick,” said Nan; then she turned to the others again. “Please remember what I have just told you about finding Howard Drummond, alias Bare-Faced Jimmy, and all the other names he has passed under, in the library, with the jewels in his possession. Remember that he had promised to restore those jewels, and that he did not keep his word, and that I induced Mr. Carter to come here to help me get them.