And then a sharp click was heard. The fraudulent brakeman held up his arms helplessly--they were safely secured with handcuffs! CHAPTER III. PROFESSOR DARLINGTON RUGGLES. It would be hard to find a more completely astounded person than the one calling himself Watson Wilks at that moment. The noted detective had outwitted him completely. It was humiliating, to say the least. "This is an outrage!" at length the young villain found voice to utter. "I will call on the police for assistance if you do not at once remove these bracelets." "Do so if you like," answered Dyke Darrel, coolly; so icily in fact as to deter the young man from carrying out his threat. It might be that the detective would delight in turning him over to the Chicago police, a consummation that the fellow dreaded more than aught else. "Come with me, and make no trouble. You will do so, if you know when you are well off," said Dyke Darrel significantly. And Wilks walked along peacefully, allowing the sleeves of his coat to hide the handcuffs. After going a few blocks, the detective hailed a hack, and pushing his prisoner before him, entered and ordered the driver to make all speed for the Union depot. "What does this mean?" demanded the prisoner, with assumed indignation. "It means that you will take a trip South for your health, my friend." "To St. Louis?" "You have guessed it, Skidway." A troubled look touched the face of the escaped prisoner. "Why do you call me by that name, Dyke Darrel?" "Because that IS your name. You have five years unexpired term yet to serve in the Missouri penitentiary, and I conceive it my duty to see that you keep the contract." "A contract necessarily requires two parties. I never agreed to serve the State." "Well, we won't argue the point." "But I am in the employ of the railroad company, and will lose my place---" "You gain another one, so it doesn't matter," retorted the detective. "No use making a fuss, Mr. Skidway; you cannot evade the punishment which awaits you. Any confession you choose to make I am willing to hear. The late tragedy, for instance?" "You'll get nothing out of me." "I am sorry," "Of course you are. Did you recognize me when we first met?" "No. It was an afterthought." "I thought so. You shall suffer for this. You've got the wrong man, Mr. Darrel." "You seem to know me." "Everybody does." "You flatter me." "My name isn't Skidway, but Wilks, and I can prove it." "Do so." "Release me and I will." "I'm not that green." The prisoner muttered angrily. He realized that he was fairly caught, and that it was too late now to think of deceiving the famous detective.