CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE RIGHTFUL HEIR.
“Bring in that young lady and her father, with Chick,” ordered the detective, as he swung the secret panel shut and nodded to Patsy.
“Gi’ me the key, Bonesy.”
Billings unlocked the door, and, while Patsy was absent, he stood guard. Not that it was needed, for nobody made an attempt to get out.
“Here they are, chief!” cried Patsy, as he came in with the three persons he had been sent for.
The girl would have run to the sick man as soon as she saw him, and it could be seen that a cry of recognition was ready to spring from her lips.
“Not yet!” warned Nick. “Patience for just a moment!”
She nodded obediently and sank into the chair Chick set for her. Her father, bewildered, was already seated.
“Now, gentlemen,” went on the detective, “in the first place. I will ask this man, who has been posing as Howard Milmarsh, what his name really is.”
“What is the use of my saying?” grumbled the man he addressed. “You know it, and, of course, these other fellows do.” He pointed to Louden Powers and Andrew Lampton. “They thought it was a slick game, and that we could get away with the bluff. I knew we couldn’t.”