It was obvious to him that Margate had blundered and been deceived, in spite of his precautions. He evidently had, or one of his confederates, been watching Garland in the disguise of the detective, and that none of them suspected the ruse Nick had adopted.
It was perfectly plain, therefore, that the presence of Chick and Patsy in Washington was not suspected, and no steps having been taken by the rascals to guard against what they might accomplish, Nick now felt reasonably sure that one or both of them would make good along the lines he had laid out. His own situation did not look nearly as dark as it had before evoking these disclosures, and Nick was content to meet it as he found it.
The situation took a more threatening turn, however, sooner than he really expected.
Seeing Nick apparently nonplussed by what he had heard, Margate laughed exultantly and quickly added:
“But you’ll turn no trick on me, Carter, take my word for it. The boot is on the other leg. I still have Garland where I want him, as well as you. The newspapers tell[{36}] me all that you have disclosed. I’ll get Garland later—and finish you at once.”
“Don’t hurry, Margate,” Nick put in coolly. “I’m in no rush.”
“But I am!” snapped the scowling miscreant. “I’m itching to get even with you, to pay you for what you have done to me, to see you dead at my feet. It won’t be long, Carter, not long. You shall pay the price. Take it from me—you shall pay the price!”
The threatening face vanished like a flash with the last.
The panel flew back into place with a sharp, ominous click.
Nick Carter found himself again in inky darkness.