“By Jove, the rascal may be getting ready to open the sluice gate,” thought Nick, shifting a revolver to his side pocket. “I guess I’d better shout up to him and engage him in conversation. I must find some way to play for time.” Nick was about to do so, glancing up at the gloomy floor, when the hurried tread of other feet fell upon his ears, quickly followed by a voice which he instantly recognized. “Well, Ben, what do you say? Have you got him? I know you have, all right. Your face shows it.” “Margate’s voice, as sure as I’m a foot high,” thought Nick. “I have the satisfaction, at least, of having run down these rascals. That may not be all, by Jove, if they will only continue talking.” There appeared to be no immediate reason to doubt that they would, for Ardley was triumphantly stating what had followed the detective’s entrance. “You bet I’ve got him, Dave,” he bellowed, in conclusion. “There’s no way he can get out of the trap. I can drown him like a rat in a firkin. It’s dead lucky you telephoned to me and put me wise.” “I did so as soon as he left the road house.” “He showed up there, did he?” “Yes. Morley and Conroy were having a drink in the barroom when he came in.” “They knew him, eh?” “Bet you!” said Margate expressively. “They came up and told me. I was just out of bed.” “How did you know he was coming here?” “I stole down on the stairs and heard him ask Dugan about the sign on your building,” Margate explained. “I knew by the way he spoke, then, that he would head for here. So I phoned over and put you on your guard.” “It’s dead lucky you did,” Ardley repeated. “He would have got me, all right, if I hadn’t been wise. But I was ready for him. I had the chair right on the trapdoor. He planked himself down on it, when I told him to, like a kid on a circus seat. There was nothing to it after that. How did you fellows come over?” “Dugan brought us in his launch.” “Where is he?” “He remained to make her fast. Ah, here he comes, now.” All of this enlightening conversation was plainly heard by the listening detective. Mingled with the voices of the others, he occasionally heard those of Morley and Conroy, also the heavy tread of Dugan when he strode into the building, and Nick then knew that the entire gang was gathered there. “So that is how it was accomplished,” he said to himself, when a momentary lull in the conversation followed Margate’s last remark. “That’s why the milk is in the coconut. But don’t get gay too quickly, you rascals, for you may throw a shoe.” Nick’s train of thought was broken by another question from Margate. “Have you seen him since you downed him, or heard from him?” he asked, with a more malicious ring in his voice. “Not yet, nor a sound from below,” Ardley informed him, with a growl. “The fall may have broken his neck,” cried Margate. “I hope it did. That would save us the trouble. Open the peek, Ardley. Let me have a look at him.”