Nick went to his home, and the other still kept at his heels. The detective had but reached his room when his servant announced a visitor. He supposed that it was some one from headquarters, and he was surprised when the gentleman, who had been following him, was ushered in. “You will pardon the intrusion of a stranger, I am sure,” said the visitor, giving the detective his card, “when you have heard what I have to say.” “Go ahead, Mr. Furman,” said Nick, glancing at his visitor’s card. “I will take my own way, and I hope I may not give offense.” Nick Carter surveyed the cheeky fellow from head to foot, and were he to express his thoughts the gentleman would have heard little complimentary. Furman sat down on a lounge and threw one leg over the other. The fellow was cool, decidedly cool. “You would like to be rich?” he said. “But that is a foolish question; we all want money, and the more we get the better appetite we have for more. It never surfeits a fellow.” “Come to the point at once,” said Nick, who seriously contemplated throwing his visitor downstairs. “What do you want? I have no time to listen to your impertinence.” “Do you want to make a cool hundred thousand dollars?” asked Mr. Furman. “No,” was the reply; “I certainly could not make it honestly.” “That is a matter of choice, whether what I propose is honest or not,” said the visitor. “I should say it was not dishonest.” “What is it that you propose?” asked the detective. “That you will give up the search for Hilton Field.” “Oh, that’s your little game, is it?” said Nick. “It is evident that you don’t know me, or you would not have made such a proposition. Who do you represent in this matter?” “It does not signify.” “Elmer Greer has no such sum of money to pay,” remarked the detective. “I am quite aware of that,” said Mr. Furman. “Then, it is Thomas Smith, the curbstone broker,” remarked Nick. “Well, we’ll suppose it is Tom Smith,” said the visitor. “It will make no difference to you who puts up the stuff, if you get it.” “I told you I would have nothing to do with you.” “Better think it over,” suggested Furman. Nick did think for a moment, and his visitor eagerly watched his features the while, but he could see nothing there. “I will accept your offer,” said the detective, hastily, “but when am I to receive this money?” “You will be paid twenty thousand dollars to-day and the rest in thirty days’ time,” replied Mr. Furman, smiling at his success. “I knew you would come around, after a bit.” “What man wouldn’t?” said Nick, with great earnestness. “Why, you offer me a fortune. But suppose some other detective finds the old banker, what then?” “We have no fear of the others,” answered the visitor. “You are the only one we are afraid of. Of course you will not give any of them a clew to work on?” “Not I.” “Then we will go down to Wall Street and get your first installment.”