“Sh!” said Old King Brady, in a whisper. “We must be careful. No, my dear young lady, we do not. We are New York detectives, of the Secret Service. We are in quest of the villains who were supposed to be your murderers!” Evelyn Grimm was plainly surprised and delighted. “Oh, heaven be praised!” she said, ardently. “You will save me. You will take me back to New York. In another year my heritage will be mine. I shall contest my uncle’s right to put me in an insane asylum.” “And well you may. It is as you say, only a scheme to beat you out of your inheritance.” “Uncle Napoleon will pay for it.” “We promise you he will. But now let us consider what is to be done. Very naturally you are anxious to escape.” “Yes.” “But there are many things to consider. In the first place there is a terrible risk!” “Indeed!” “You see the gang of villains with whom your uncle is in league are here to-night. We want to entrap them.” “Then I must wait?” “Perhaps so. Or—it might be as well for us to liberate you now. But you must be very careful and not betray us.” “Oh, I will promise.” “Very well.” The detectives now lifted the iron bar and opened the cell door. It creaked a bit, but after listening carefully the detectives were convinced that they were not betrayed. In another moment Evelyn Grimm, the supposed victim of the Fifteenth street crime, walked out safe and well. The Bradys felt that they had made a great step toward the winning of this remarkable case. While they knew that the crime charged against the trio was thus disproved, yet there was sufficient evidence against the gang to hold them for the law. So they did not deem the case by any means ended, with the liberation of Evelyn Grimm. Along the corridor to the end of the wing they now all crept. It had been decided by the Bradys what was to be done. At the end of the wing there was an iron fire-escape. It would be easy to descend by this to the ground. Luckily Evelyn knew the use of snowshoes. Harry was to accompany her to the Paine farm house. Then he was to organize a band of the farmers, armed, and return. The asylum would be surrounded. It seemed that this must be a certain way of capturing the gang. “Queer, isn’t it?” said Harry. “The charred remains of a body were found in the ruins of that Fifteenth street fire.” “Very good.” “Well, now we find Evelyn Grimm alive.” “Yes.” “But I cannot see that that disproves the crime of murder. A murder must have been enacted.” “Beyond a doubt.” “But who was the victim?” “That remains to be seen. It certainly was not Evelyn Grimm.” “No.” “I can see the gist of the whole diabolical plot,” said Harry. “Old Blood thought he could bury his niece forever in this asylum. The evidences of her presence in the burning dwelling would blind everybody and make them believe that she was burned to death.” “That is true.” “But she is very much alive.” “Well, I should rather think so. Ah, here we are!”