"But as they told the same story, and Prescott can have no connection with Deever or the other man, it must be true." "Right; but the meaning of it--" Chick paused. Suddenly a flash came from his eyes. "I have it!" he cried. "That's good," said Nick. "Now, if you'll follow Deever, I'll go back to Dr. Jarvis." Accordingly Nick hurried home. He found Jarvis in a state of great mental anguish. "It is an extraordinary fate," he cried, as soon as Nick appeared, "which has twice brought these Deevers into my life to make me miserable." "You have had to do with them before?" asked Nick. "Yes, and in a way that is beyond belief." "Explain yourself." "This man, Lawrence Deever," said the doctor, with a groan, "had the incredible presumption to make love to my daughter." Nick could not help smiling. "What did you do about it?" he asked. "I sent him about his business in a hurry." "Was that all?" "No; and I'm ashamed to say it. There is no possible way of accounting for the conduct of women. My daughter actually took this fellow's part." "But nothing came of it?" "No, sir. I am master of my own household." "So your daughter really loved this man?" "No; it was only her obstinacy. They became acquainted in some way. I don't know how. The fellow called at my house. I made my daughter promise never to speak to him, but it was a most unpleasant affair throughout. I thought Deever would murder me. "It seems strange, perhaps, that I should speak of it in the midst of the terrors that surround me, and yet I can't help thinking of the whole affair as one freak of fate." "And now tell me the truth about his brother and yourself," said Nick earnestly. "I will," replied the doctor. At this moment a messenger was announced. Nick knew that the matter must be of the greatest importance, or he would not have been interrupted in his conference with his prisoner. It proved to be a message from Superintendent Byrnes asking Nick to come to his house as soon as he could. CHAPTER VIII. BEFORE THE SUPERINTENDENT. As Nick expected, he met Chick outside Superintendent Byrnes's house. "Go to Jarvis," said Nick. "He is going to tell the whole story. Personate me in this disguise." Chick nodded and vanished. Within the house Nick found Deever in the superintendent's presence. Deever's face was red, and he looked like a man who had been kicking a stone wall until he is tired. "Mr. Deever has lodged a complaint against you, Mr. Colton," said the superintendent, with a twinkle in his eye. "What's the matter?" asked Nick. "He says that you ought to have had this man Jarvis electrocuted by this time." "I have proceeded with great caution," said Nick. "Yes, you have," said Deever. "You have been very careful to shield Jarvis at every step. He's a rich man, Jarvis is!" "Deever," said the superintendent, sternly, "I have delayed answering your complaint until this time because I wished to have Mr. Colton present to hear what I said.