“Yes. I am to see Margate again to-morrow night.” “Where?” “Under the same conditions as before.” “And he expects you to hand him the money?” “He does. He insisted, in fact, that he would allow me only this one meeting; that he would, if the price is not paid to-morrow, at once take steps to sell the photographs abroad. He warned me that I would be constantly watched, and threatened to instantly end all negotiations with me if I confided in any one, or appealed for aid to the police. He mentioned you in particular, and threatened----” “Never mind what he threatened,” Nick interrupted, with an ominous frown. “He shall have good cause to threaten me.” “But consider my position, Nick,” Garland cried hopelessly. “I am placed----” “I see just where you are placed,” Nick cut in again. “You have made the whole knavish business sufficiently plain. But I, Garland, now propose to take a hand in it.” “You mean----” “I mean that the price shall be paid--but Andy Margate is the man who shall pay it,” Nick forcibly declared. “I’ll bring that rat up with a round turn, Garland, or I’ll chuck my vocation.” “But how----” “Don’t ask me how,” Nick interrupted. “Let me see your portfolio and the photograph you received by mail.” Garland hastened to get them from his safe. Nick examined them carefully, inspecting the photograph with a powerful convex lens, particularly the address mentioned. He saw plainly that the photograph was a genuine one, that the writing could not otherwise have been so perfectly imitated, and he then returned them to his waiting companion. “Lock them up again,” he directed. “Now, Garland, answer me a few questions. Why have you recently been talking with Lottie Trent?” “For only one reason, Nick. She has repeatedly stopped me in the corridors, or on the stairs, to beg me to use my influence to have her brother pardoned and liberated from prison. I have told her it would be useless, but she still persisted. She is a good girl, mind you, honest and industrious, with none of her brother’s characteristics.” “There was no other occasion for your interviews with her?” “Absolutely none.” “Did you go to the St. Lawrence Church last evening, or somewhere in that locality?” “I did,” Garland admitted. “For what?” “I was called up by telephone at the Grayling about nine o’clock. I recognized the voice of the same man who had talked with me about the photograph sent by mail. He said that he must see me, and directed me to meet him back of the St. Lawrence Church. I went there and waited until midnight, but he did not join me. I inferred that I had arrived too late.” “Have you since heard from him?” “Yes, this morning. He telephoned that he was prevented from meeting me, and that I must keep the appointment made for to-morrow night.” “That will be kept, all right,” Nick said a bit dryly. “Can you get a New York wire with this telephone?” he added, glancing at the instrument on Garland’s desk. “Yes, of course.”