“Well,” said Burke, in a mollified way, “if that’s the way of it perhaps you’re right.” “We can fix that!” said Collins. “How?” “To-morrow we’ll take her away in a sleigh. A few miles from here is the Assabet river. We can dump her in under the ice and if she’s ever found it won’t be until Spring, anyway.” “Good!” cried Blood. “That is the best way to work it. No need of having any hard feelings.” “I haven’t any feelings about it,” said Burke. “So we’ll put it off until morning. One more drink, gents.” Brandy was decanted and the party drank freely. All this while Old King Brady had listened with deep interest. Now that the fate of Evelyn Grimm had been settled, other matters came in for discussion. Burke laughed uproariously. “Haw! Haw!” he guffawed. “Every detective in this country thinks the girl was burned up in Fifteenth street.” “Everybody else does, for that matter,” said Blood. “We led ’em astray easy enough. The poor woman who was burned up there though——” “Sh!” exclaimed Van, with a frightful contortion of the face. “Let thet rest.” “Oh, it’s a tender subject with you, Old Bluebeard. How many more wives have you burned up ther same way?” “Curse you, shut up!” growled Van, savagely. “I had to shut her mouth. She was false and would have betrayed the whole gang of us sooner or later.” “Never mind that,” said Scraggs, “I am interested in those accursed detectives. You say a couple of them chased you as far as Lexington?” “Yes,” agreed Burke. “Do you know who they were?” “I do!” said Van. “For I’m the man they chased. Curse ’em! They are the Bradys of New York!” “They are on our list,” said Collins. “We’ll trap them.” “They must die!” “Well,” growled Scraggs, “I don’t want them to get their eyes on my place here. I’ve too much at stake. See?” “Ain’t you with us?” “Of course!” “Then you’ve got to take chances.” “But there’s no need of being so reckless.” “Oh, don’t fret, we can handle the Bradys all right! Hello! What the deuce is that?” A wild, animal-like cry came down the stairs. Old King Brady crouched back in the shadows just in time. A dark form rushed past him. The next moment Isaac, the keeper, sprang into the reception room. He was wildly excited. “Quick!” he shouted. “They have got her! She is gone! She is gone, I tell you!” Wildly threshing his arms about him he made the circuit of the room. Van caught him by the shoulder. “What are ye talkin’ about, ye cursed hyena?” he yelled. “Speak plain! What’s wrong?” “Oh, the girl! She’s gone!” “Gone?” echoed all. “Yes.” “Where?” “I don’t know. The two countrymen slipped a bar out of the cell door and they’re gone, too!” Fierce exclamations filled the room. Van hurled the unfortunate keeper to the floor. “You cursed traitorous dog!” he yelled, drawing a knife. “I’ll kill you for this!” He flung himself forward and that moment might indeed have been the keeper’s last. But Scraggs forced the ruffian back.