“After a great deal of hard persuasion, I have induced Miss Doane, as I have known her, to remain. She is very much afraid she is not doing right.” Smiling, the detective rejoined, aloud: “She is doing perfectly right. So far as I am concerned, I am pleased to see her remain here.” Under his breath, he added: “It’s the truth I utter when I say I am glad to see her remain here, for I want to know exactly where to find her should I want to put my hand on her.” The girl’s face brightened as she listened to the words uttered by the detective. She at once left her seat, and coming forward, laid one hand on his arm, looked up into his face, and said: “I am glad to hear you commend my doing so, after hearing me say that I would not do this very thing, as indeed I would not had not I met Mr. Barnes so unexpectedly.” “You should not be surprised that anyone commended a resolution to stand up for your rights. As you are aware, I suggested the same thing to Mr. Barnes.” “Yes, I remember.” She gave him a bright smile as she said this, and then added: “Mr. Barnes has told me about you!” “Has he?” “Yes.” “Did he paint me very black?” “On the contrary, he painted you in glowing colors, as a man of great ability.” “Did he?” “Yes. And he said that you were a detective come here to try and solve the mystery surrounding the death or disappearance of Mr. Field--my father. It comes very hard,” in an apologetic tone, “to think of him as being such.” “Yes, I am here for that purpose.” “I hope you will find the murderers; from the bottom of my heart I hope so.” To this Nick answered: “Your earnest desire to have them captured is creditable to both your heart and your head.” These words appeared to please the girl, who said: “Thank you for saying so. I had feared you might have considered me something of a barbarian, from the way I answered you a while ago. And yet, I spoke the truth, as you must know.” “So I do. As a matter of fact, it would be a little singular if you showed much grief over the death of a man you never saw.” “Besides which, you must remember that I have always in my mind’s eye the fact that mother was forced to suffer through the insane jealousy of my father.” “True again.” “Had I come in contact with him for a time, that feeling might have eventually been changed, but at the present I cannot think of him without coupling my mother’s wrong with it.” The detective bowed. Presently remarking something to the effect that he did not have any time to waste, he asked Barnes to step aside with him for a minute. They went into another room. Being here, Barnes at once said: “From your manner I am convinced that you have found some clew to the mystery. Am I not right?” “In part only.” “But you have found something in the nature of a clew?” “Yes.” “What does it point to?” “I am not prepared to say just now. What I want to see you about is to ask some questions in regard to the girl in yonder room.” “Ah!”