“You will tell me?” “I beg your pardon,” Elmer said, “that is my secret.” “I will pay you for the secret, if its knowledge helps the police any--that is, providing you will not take the case yourself.” “Oh, do take it, Elmer; both this young lady and her father have been very good to me,” said Louise. Mignon was utterly disgusted with the shameless woman’s acting. “Well, I suppose I must take it or you will torment the life out of me,” replied Greer. “You must know, young lady,” the fellow continued, turning to the banker’s daughter, “that I shall require a good heap of money at the start. There is but one way to reach your father, and that is by bribing some member of the gang who carried him off.” “Here is a check for two thousand dollars; will that be enough for the present?” “I don’t like checks.” “It is made payable to bearer.” “I will cash it for you, Elmer Greer, with these.” The false whiskers were plucked off, and Nick Carter, a pair of handcuffs in his hand, confronted the villain. “A thousand furies!” yelled the rascal, springing into the other room and closing the door after him. The detective drew his pistol and ran into the hall. There was no one going downstairs; Greer must be in the rear room. “Open the door.” Nick Carter drove his foot through one of the panels. Greer fired through the door at the detective. The bullet went wide of its mark, but it found a lodging place in Mignon Field’s bosom. With a cry of pain the wounded girl slipped off her chair to the floor. The sight transformed Nick Carter into a madman. He threw his whole weight against the door and tore it from its hinges. The room was empty and the bird had flown. The detective heard the front door close after him, and he rushed downstairs and into the street, but he could not see the fugitive. “I will arrest this demon of a woman, at any rate.” Another surprise awaited him. Louise Calhoun had also disappeared, and he searched the house from top to bottom without finding a trace of her. Nick was beside himself with rage. He had the two birds caged, as he thought, and now what had he to show for his work?--nothing! He returned to the room where the interview had taken place. Pretty Mignon Field lay upon the floor bathed in her own blood. The banker’s daughter’s presentiment that harm would befall her had proved true. CHAPTER VII. BLACKMAIL. Mignon Field, fortunately, was not badly injured. It was only a flesh wound, after all, the doctor said, and she would soon be herself again. Nick Carter was rejoiced to hear this at the Field’s residence, to which he had taken Mignon, for he felt a sincere interest in the beautiful young girl. When Nick Carter left the banker’s mansion he did not notice a nice, gentlemanly-looking fellow who followed him. For many blocks he dodged the detective’s footsteps, and when the latter took a car he also boarded it.