“You’ll never be able to place such proofs before me.” “We’ll see! That creature with his sorcerer’s stick has aroused me. I swear I’ll not leave New York till I find out his name and all about him!” Dick was in earnest. “When you find out, if you do, you may discover that you made a fool of yourself,” said Merry quietly, as he rose. “I think he told about all he knew concerning the mystic stick. I also think the Chinaman outside the door was listening to what passed in here. That being the case, it’s likely he belongs to the secret order. His companions notified him, and he was trying to keep track of the stick. If so, it is pretty certain he knows it has passed from my hands to another, and will so report it. I am glad of that, for I do not care to be tracked about by a lot of crazy Chinks who may take a notion at any time to knife a man in the back.” Starbright scarcely seemed to hear Merriwell’s words. He had turned now and was pacing the floor, a dark look on his face. After watching his companion a few moments, Merry sat down at the little table and began to write some letters. When Jack Diamond came in it was nearly eleven o’clock, and both Dick and Frank were there, Starbright having taken a room in the hotel. Diamond was in a gay humor, though he retained his air of politeness and dignity. He told stories and cracked jokes, being joined by Merry, who did not seem to have a care in the world. “Everything is attended to,” Jack asserted. “To-morrow I shall slip down to old Virginia. Gentlemen, that is the State for you! It’s an honor to have been born in Virginia and of good parents. I am not sure I’ve always been an honor to my parents or to my State, but I mean to be in the future.” Frank smiled. “I see you are feeling like yourself once more, Jack,” he said. “But our mutual friend Starbright seems off his feed,” observed the Southerner. “What ails him?” There was a knock on the door, and Frank cried: “Come in.” A boy entered with a card, which he gave to Merry. When he saw the name on it, Frank leaped to his feet, uttering an exclamation of surprise. “Inza?” he gasped. “Here at this hour! What does it mean?” Then, turning to the boy, he inquired: “Who accompanied the lady?” “She is alone,” was the surprising answer. “She came in a cab and asked to see you without a moment’s delay.” “Something is wrong!” declared Frank, getting his hat and overcoat. Then he hastened down to the ladies’ parlor, where Inza was waiting for him. Inza was pale and somewhat agitated when Frank reached her. “What is it, Inza?” Merry asked. “Oh, Frank!” she said, “I am afraid something terrible has happened to—to Walter!” “Walter?” “Yes; you know—he is——” “The gentleman who was with you?” “Yes.” “What makes you think anything has happened to him?”