Months had passed since Nick last saw Nancy Nordeck. She had so improved in looks that he hardly recognized her. She bore little likeness to the frail girl with pinched and haggard face, who was so deeply affected by the violent death of her crook father that she had resolved to reform, a moral awakening that Nick had by no means felt sure would be lasting. His first thought, therefore, was that she might be up to her old tricks and in league with rascals to have killed Cyrus Darling to get possession of his fortune. It was not in Nick’s nature to expose the girl, nevertheless, if her reformation was genuine, for he never put a block in the way of any one who was down and striving to rise. He felt for a moment that his position might be a delicate one, but though no signs of them appeared in his face, his impressions evidently were suspected by the girl. For she approached him quickly, saying respectfully, yet with characteristic assurance: “I know what you’re thinking, Mr. Carter, and no one could blame you. But there’s nothing in it, sir. I’ve been as straight as a string from the time you set me right and shook hands with me, wishing me all kinds of good luck, and you couldn’t think if you tried how much I now care for you and your good opinion. I have hid nothing here, sir. Mrs. Darling knows all about me and what I was, and she’s been as good to me as you, sir. I’d bite a finger off before I’d go crooked again in any way.” “I think you can safely depend upon that, Mr. Carter,” said Mrs. Darling, smiling faintly. “Nancy has confided her entire past to me, and in overlooking it and lending her a helping hand, I now know positively that I made no mistake. She is a good girl and a capable one.” There was a suspicious moisture in Nancy’s brown eyes, then fixed upon the strong, kindly face of her mistress. She colored deeply, too, when Nick extended his hand and said heartily: “Come here, Nancy. Let’s shake again. I’m more than glad to hear this and to know you are on the right track. Stick to it, my girl, as I now feel sure you will.” “You may be sure that I will, Mr. Carter,” said Nancy, eagerly shaking his hand. “Now let’s proceed with this matter,” Nick said, more seriously. “Mrs. Darling tells me that you advised her to appeal to me?” “So I did, Mr. Carter,” Nancy replied. “She will answer any questions you care to ask her,” Mrs. Darling put in. “To begin with, then, what do you know about the case?” said Nick. “Was it you who last saw Mr. Darling alive?” “Yes, sir. I saw him leaving the house and going down back of the stable.” “Did you notice anything unusual? Did he appear excited, or----” “No, sir; not in the least,” put in Nancy. “I didn’t reckon anything wrong was coming off. I didn’t get wise at all until the mistress told me that most of the master’s money is missing.” “Wise to what, Nancy?” “That he was killed and robbed, mebbe, instead of putting out his own light.” “Why did you suspect that?”