Keshub turned from the idol and strode over to Clarice. Nick saw then—as he cautiously peeped around the idol, and partly concealed by draperies—that the Indian had taken from his clothing a package of papers, held together by a rubber band.
“Take!” he said curtly.
The girl sat perfectly quiet, and appeared not to hear the word. He repeated it, at the same time lifting the girl’s right hand and placing the packet in her fingers.
The touch of the packet seemed to revive some sleeping memory in her being. She clutched it tightly and arose from her seat.
“Obey! Forget!” she murmured.
“I will return in a short time and take you out to the car,” said Keshub. “Stay here.”
Whether the girl heard and understood this Nick Carter could not tell. All he knew was that she stood perfectly still, her eyes staring into vacancy, but always turned toward the idol, while Keshub disappeared between the curtains to the elevator.
“Now, Patsy! Go to that elevator and see if you can fasten it so that no one can get out of it. There is a door with gilt railings. I think it can be bolted from this side. I noticed it when I was in this place before.”
Patsy ran to obey his chief, and a low chuckle told that he had found the bolt referred to. Then there was a[Pg 33] click as the bolt slipped into the socket, and Patsy came back.
By this time Nick Carter had begun something that had been in his mind while Keshub talked to the girl. He went to her, and staring straight at her eyes, whispered: