“These syndicate fellows are all right,” he said. “It is something worth while when you get up against fellows who meet at first-class hotels instead of in some dark basement in the slums!” The door to the private room opened and closed again. Nick, who was at the transom, motioned, and Patsy slipped out into the hall and stood some distance from the door. “There are only two left in the room now,” said Nick. “They are Mantelle and a woman.” Again the door opened, and Mantelle stepped out. The woman was a few paces behind him, but still in the room. Patsy stepped forward from the other end of the hall. “I was just going to the parlor, sir,” he said. “I have a message for you.” “Deliver it,” said Julius shortly. “A call, rather,” said Patsy, correcting his mistake. “Well?” “It is a request to call at room fourteen. That is it, there at the right.” Julius made a motion with his hand, and the woman closed the door of the private parlor. He then stepped up to the door of fourteen and knocked lightly on the panel. “You asked for me?” he said, as Chick opened the door. Nick was nowhere in sight. The messenger followed on as Julius stepped into the room. It all took place in a second, and Mantelle lay bound, gagged, and panting on the carpet. “That was quietly done,” said Nick, stepping out of a closet. “I was afraid the noise might attract attention.” Mantelle almost foamed with rage as he saw Nick, dressed so exactly like himself that it would seem that his best friends must be deceived. Chick mounted a chair and looked through the transom. “You must be going,” he said presently. “The woman in the parlor is becoming anxious and keeps opening the door a crack.” Nick bent over Mantelle, lying helpless on the floor, and took a peculiar-looking pin from his scarf. Then he took a diamond ring from the prisoner’s little finger. Mantelle squirmed under his bonds, but could not resist. “I can use these to good advantage,” said Nick. “And, by the way, Mantelle, I think I have seen these before.” The prisoner looked as if a little cursing would relieve his mind, but he did not at that time have the power to make a loud sound. “The woman is at the door,” said Chick. Nick opened the door and stepped out into the hall. “I was detained a moment in that room,” he said, as the woman advanced to meet him. Julius foamed as he realized how exactly the voice reproduced his own. “Looks all right, doesn’t he?” asked Chick, as he closed the door. “Now, when they get to the end of the hall, Patsy, you follow on, and I’ll see that this fellow is locked up.” Patsy moved away, and was soon in full view of Nick and his companion. They were standing in front of a clothing house, and the woman was urging him to make some purchases. The woman had apparently not even glanced at Nick as he appeared in the hall in the guise of Mantelle. She had walked at his side until they were clear of the hotel without speaking. Now she said: