“Why do you hold that opinion?” “Murphy would be dead if he lost all that blood.” “Then he is dead,” said Burt. “Perhaps Bull Blair can give me some information on the subject.” “Blair wasn’t into it.” “How do you know?” “Because I was with him all night, and he did not come here.” “What did Monte do with that big diamond he took from Cook, here?” “I don’t know that he took a diamond from any one.” “What do you know?” “I know that you are acting exceedingly fresh,” returned Tony. Burt smiled. He released Cook, and placed both handcuffs on the other’s wrists. Then he took Enoch aside. “Now,” he said, “I am going to do something contrary to my duty.” “I do not understand.” “I’m going to trust you.” “I swear you may!” Enoch spoke from the bottom of his heart. It was something unusual for any one, outside of a pal, to trust him. “Now, I may as well tell you, there is no likelihood of Jacquet dying from the wound you inflicted.” Cook’s face became radiated with joy. “Now,” added the detective, “I suppose you will admit that you stabbed him?” “He would have killed me, Burt, if I didn’t,” said Cook. “Will you be true to me and help me find Stolburst?” “Willingly.” “Remember,” said Burt, “that, if you are false to me, the loss will be on your side.” “I’m tired of this business, Burt; you’ll see I’ll act square.” Both men started at the sound of an agonizing groan. It seemed to come from under their feet. CHAPTER XVIII. MURPHY’S DEATH. Both men listened intently. The groan was repeated. Enoch tore aside the carpet. A trap was disclosed, and he opened it. Burt lighted a match, and looked into the opening. He saw a flight of stairs. “I’ll go down,” said Enoch; and he did so. The stairs were enclosed on all four sides. At the bottom of the shaft Cook found Monte Murphy. The old fence was all but unconscious. Enoch picked him up in his arms and began the ascent, which he found laborious, the stairway being very steep. When Cook arrived in the hall with his ghastly burden, Tony Riley turned deathly pale. Murphy’s clothing was saturated with blood. Burt sent Enoch after a doctor. The wounded man continued to moan piteously. When the doctor came, he expressed surprise that the old man could have bled so much and lived. He made Monte as comfortable as possible, and had Cook help him carry the man to bed. The doctor said that, at most, his patient could not survive beyond a few hours. “Now, my man,” said Burt, addressing Riley, when the “fence” was removed, “what have you got to say for yourself?” “I didn’t know the old jigger was down there,” replied Tony. “I’ll soon know whether you did or not.” “At any rate, I don’t know who stabbed him,” said Riley. Cook now returned, and, leaving him in charge of Tony, Burt visited the “fence’s” bedside. Burt felt that he could safely trust Enoch to guard his prisoner, and his confidence was not misplaced.