“The chief villain is yet to be caught,” he concluded. “I think we shall find the clew to him in his office.” There was a great deal of excitement at headquarters, and many questions were asked. Nick told the reporters to make it plain that Low’s arrest had been a fake. “When it’s all settled,” he said, “I’ll give you the details, or you can get them from Kerr, who deserves a great deal of credit for the way he picked up evidence. I’ve got work ahead between now and morning.” Low was released, of course, and he went with Nick, Patsy and Kerr to Claymore’s office. Everything seemed to be in order there, but Nick picked the lock of Claymore’s desk, and found a lot of papers there on which the man had been at work during the long evening. There were maps of the country around Mason Creek, some printed, some roughly drawn with a pencil. There was also the deed which Low had given to the oil company when he sold a piece of his land. Using his magnifying glass, Nick saw that some changes had been made in the deed. Words and figures had been carefully scratched out and others inked in. “I had an idea this was what he was up to,” said Nick. “We shall find Claymore out at Low’s farm.” The four men set out for Mason Creek soon after. Nick went in Low’s wagon, and Patsy and Kerr in one they hired. When they came to the beginning of the trail, Nick got down and told the others to drive slowly on. “I’ll take the short cut,” said he. “You keep on by the road, and if he escapes me he’ll run into your hands.” As it was late in the spring, light came early. The day was beginning to break when Nick passed the dead body of the panther. As he approached nearer Low’s house he moved cautiously. Coming to the edge of the cleared land, he saw a man busy with a shovel at a little distance. It was Claymore. He was digging a hole for the purpose of setting a boundary post in it. The post had been taken up from a spot some distance farther down the stream that crossed the farm. Claymore’s scheme was to change the boundaries of the land bought by the oil company so that they should include twice as much as had been bought. That was why the deed had been changed, and it explained the maps in Claymore’s desk. Nick watched the rascal for a few minutes, and then walked toward him. “Why don’t you put the post up where it will take in Hank Low’s house and barn?” he asked. Claymore turned at the sound, and caught up a revolver that was lying on the ground beside him. He fired hastily, and the bullet went wild. Nick had him covered. “Try again,” said the detective, “if you think you can do your own murdering.” As he spoke, he was advancing upon the man. Claymore gave one desperate look around. He saw two wagons coming up the road. Then he dropped his weapon, sat down on the ground, and put his hands to his face. “You haven’t as much nerve as I thought you had,” remarked Nick.