“Neither.”

Burt regarded the “fence” with surprise.

“You didn’t stab yourself?”

“No; an agent of Kidd and Cook ‘done’ me,” replied Monte.

“How do you know the party was their agent?” inquired Burt.

“I had his word for it.”

“Do you mean to say they sent him here to murder you?”

“They certainly sent him after the diamond; he could not have known I possessed it unless they told him.”

“Who is this man?”

“Mike Quick.”