Nick Carter, listened with some misgivings, also, though he still felt quite that Patsy would yet contrive to accomplish what he had undertaken. “But what led you to suspect?” Floyd questioned. “What put you wise to the game?” “I wasn’t wise, only suspicious, and I knocked him out to make sure,” Bannon quickly explained. “I made sure, too, all right.” “How so?” “Here’s his barker and a pair of bracelets,” said Bannon, producing them. “I knew his mug, all right, after I had downed him. He’s one of this dick’s push. His name is Patsy Garvan.” Floyd swung around and glared at the detective. “What do you know about this, Carter?” he demanded. “I’m not telling all I know,” Nick bluntly answered. “You’re not, eh?” “Not is right.” “By Heaven, I’ll find a way to make you,” Floyd harshly threatened. “I’m going to find out just where we stand, or----” “Easy!” Bannon turned like a flash, then added quickly: “Oh, it’s only the skirt. It’s Vera.” She came by the same way as Bannon, with her skirts drawn around her to avoid the earthy walls, and with a look of alarm in her evil black eyes. “Who’s the stiff in the alley?” she asked abruptly, with a startled glance at the detective. “Still there, is he?” Floyd quickly questioned, instead of explaining. “Yes.” “He’ll lie still for some time to come,” Bannon viciously predicted. “I gave it to him good and strong.” “And I’ll see that you get yours, in return,” thought Nick, far from daunted by his own threatening situation. “You ought to have downed him earlier, farther from here,” said Floyd, doubtfully shaking his head. “Why so?” “He may get wise.” “Rats!” sneered Bannon curtly. “What can he make of it? He don’t know why I came this way, nor which way I went after dropping him. He’ll get fat trying to trail me from where I left him.” “Well, what’s on your mind?” asked Floyd, turning to the woman again, to whom Bagley had hurriedly explained the situation. “Have you seen the girl, as you planned?” “Want it in his hearing?” questioned Vera, with another glance at Nick. “Why not?” snapped Floyd. “He cuts no ice, now that we have him where we want him. We’ll finish him, along with this other good work, before morning.” “That will be the safest way,” Nick coolly advised. “Leave that to us.” “That’s what I am doing--under protest.” “Have you seen the girl?” Floyd repeated, again turning to Vera Vantoon. “Sure, I’ve seen her,” Vera nodded. “Were you expected?” “That’s what. I can always bank on Angel Face.” “Angel Face!” thought Nick, with a quick thrill of satisfaction. “She refers to Minerva Grand, as sure as I’m a foot high. Things are looking up. It’s money to marbles that Chick shadowed the girl, then dropped her to follow this woman. He would not have forgotten her and her past relations with Stuart Floyd. He cannot be far from here. There’ll be something doing presently that will give these rascals the surprise of their lives.”