CHAPTER III.
NICK TAKES A CHANCE.
Nick Carter found Gordon seated in a detention room at police headquarters, accompanied by Regan, Kennedy, and the police commissioner.
The two officers had arrived with their prisoner several minutes before, bringing also the evidence mentioned by Phelan. Despite the persuasive arguments of the commissioner, however, for the two men were personal friends, Gordon had positively refused to make any statements about the case, or to discuss the threatening situation in which he was involved.
He sprang up eagerly, nevertheless, when Nick entered, and a tinge of color appeared in his pale cheeks. He extended his hand, saying fervently:
“Thank Heaven, Carter, that you have arrived. I was just about to request that I might telephone to you again. I seem to be in a deucedly bad mess. I can depend only upon you to pull me out of it.”
“I will try to do so, Gordon, of course,” Nick replied, after a word of greeting for the others. “Have you told——”
“I have told nothing,” Gordon interrupted. “Nor will I, Nick, except in a private interview with you. I then will state all that I know about this infernal business.”
“Well, that can be arranged, I think,” Nick replied, turning to the commissioner. “Have you any objection?”
“None whatever, Nick,” was the reply. “I know of no man I would rather have on the case. Go as far as you like.”
The commissioner at once withdrew with Regan and Kennedy, and Nick took the chair the former vacated.