Transcriber’s Notes:

The original spelling, hyphenation, and punctuation have been retained, with the exception of apparent typographical errors which have been corrected.

For convenience, a table of contents, which is not present in the original, has been included.



CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I.A SHOT FROM AMBUSH.[5]
II.THE WITNESS MAKES CONDITIONS.[10]
III.AN UNFORTUNATE LETTER.[16]
IV.CRAWFORD IS TROUBLED.[22]
V.ANOTHER MURDEROUS ATTACK.[29]
VI.THE LOVE OF COMRADES.[34]
VII.FOLLANSBEE HITS THE NAIL.[38]
VIII.“NAME YOUR PRICE.”[44]
IX.A “FAIR” OFFER.[49]
X.THE RAISED CHECK.[53]
XI.A DISTINGUISHED SCOUNDREL.[57]
XII.THE DEADLY TUBE.[63]
XIII.CHICK SIGHTS THE “BUZZARD.”[67]
XIV.NICK’S ASSISTANT DECAMPS.[72]
XV.A BAD COMBINATION.[77]
XVI.A BIRD OF ILL OMEN.[80]
XVII.NICK CARTER MISCALCULATES.[84]
XVIII.ON THE FIRE ESCAPE.[88]
XIX.A FIENDISH PLOT.[94]
XX.QUICK WORK IS NECESSARY.[98]
XXI.IN NEED OF EVIDENCE.[103]
XXII.HELP FROM THE HOUSE DETECTIVE.[107]
XXIII.THE HYPODERMIC.[112]
XXIV.THE PLUNGER REACHES HOME.[116]
XXV.THE MADMAN’S GET-AWAY.[120]
XXVI.THE AWAKENING OF REMORSE.[125]
XXVII.AN ASTOUNDING STATEMENT.[128]
XXVIII.“YOU’VE SAVED ME FROM MYSELF!”[132]
XXIX.A STRANGE DEVELOPMENT.[136]
XXX.AN UNLUCKY MORNING.[141]
XXXI.NICK HAS A HUNCH.[146]
XXXII.“THE MAN WHO NEVER LETS GO.”[152]
XXXIII.WILL HE SCORE?[157]
XXXIV.A VISIT TO THE BANK.[161]
XXXV.THE DOCTOR GETS A SURPRISE.[166]
XXXVI.SOME PLAIN TRUTHS.[173]
XXXVII.FOLLANSBEE REACHES THE LIMIT.[177]
XXXVIII.NICK IS BALKED.[182]
XXXIX.PATSY TRACES THE AMBULANCE.[188]
XL.THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL.[192]
XLI.NICK HAS A PLAN.[198]
XLII.THE DETECTIVE ACQUIRES A WIFE.[203]
XLIII.THE HYPNOTIC SPELL.[208]
XLIV.CHICK COMES TO GRIEF.[212]
XLV.“HEAVEN HELP ME.”[217]
XLVI.THE BOND IS MENDED.[220]