Instead, he made a quick rush at Nick, trying to knock up both his arms. The detective was quite ready for that. It was true that he wished to take the men alive, and he did not fire, for he had hoped they would be scared into quiet surrender. When the attack came he dropped both weapons to the sidewalk. Letting drive with his fists, he caught Nat on the chest, and knocked the wind out of him. But the crook did not fall. He staggered against Jack, who at first was going to give up. Seeing that the weapons had been dropped, Jack joined in and made a desperate effort for freedom. He caught his partner and kept him from falling, and then both sailed into the detective. “Why!” said Nick, with a laugh, “come on, if that’s what you want.” His arms shot out like flashes of lightning, and every blow landed, but the crooks kept too close for him to give them settlers. And, after a moment, Jack retreated and drew his revolver. That was a moment of peril for Nick, as he was busy just then with Nat. And Nat, seeing the chance, pretended to be knocked down, so as to give Jack a chance to shoot. Up came the ruffian’s revolver, but before he could aim, around the corner rushed the drunken man whom they had seen. This man threw his arms about Jack’s neck, and bore him silently to the ground. “Put the bracelets on him, Patsy,” called Nick. “They’re on,” replied the “drunken man” calmly. Nick had leaped upon Nat, and in a second had him ironed. “This is the way I settle,” he said, as he stood up. The prisoners cursed furiously, but if that did them any good nobody knew it. Nick picked up his revolvers, and then he and Patsy marched the prisoners to headquarters. Kerr was still there, and he was surrounded by eager reporters. “Here are the murderers,” said Nick. “Low is innocent.” He produced the amateur’s photograph, and told the story as briefly as possible. “The chief villain is yet to be caught,” he concluded. “I think we shall find the clew to him in his office.” There was a great deal of excitement at headquarters, and many questions were asked. Nick told the reporters to make it plain that Low’s arrest had been a fake. “When it’s all settled,” he said, “I’ll give you the details, or you can get them from Kerr, who deserves a great deal of credit for the way he picked up evidence. I’ve got work ahead between now and morning.” Low was released, of course, and he went with Nick, Patsy, and Kerr to Claymore’s office. Everything seemed to be in order there, but Nick picked the lock of Claymore’s desk, and found a lot of papers there, on which the man had been at work during the long evening. There were maps of the country around Mason Creek, some printed, some roughly drawn with a pencil. There was also the deed which Low had given to the oil company when he sold a piece of his land. Using his magnifying glass, Nick saw that some changes had been made in the deed.