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 DARK NIGHT’S WORK.[5]
II.CONFLICTING CLUES.[21]
III.COVERING CLUES.[38]
IV.A GROUP OF THREE.[55]
V.CUNNING FOES.[70]
VI.DEATH COMES TOO SOON.[87]
VII.AT FOUR O’CLOCK.[104]
VIII.HOW IT WAS DONE.[121]
IX.MAYNARD’S FOLLY.[139]
X.A FATAL ERRAND.[150]
XI.A STARTLING DISCOVERY.[159]
XII.THE HUSTLING REPORTER.[166]
XIII.INTO THE TRAP.[173]
XIV.THE GREAT DIAMOND SYNDICATE.[181]
XV.A DESPERATE GAME.[191]
XVI.MORE TROUBLE.[203]
XVII.MORE SURPRISES.[209]
XVIII.BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN.[218]
XIX.MANTELLE AT BAY.[226]
XX.FLUSHING THE BIRDS.[235]
XXI.A CLEVER WOMAN.[245]
XXII.THE STORY TOLD.[260]
XXIII.THE DEN OF THE SYNDICATE.[277]
XXIV.WHAT NICK OVERHEARD.[284]
XXV.A DESPERATE RAID.[291]
XXVI.NICK TAKES A CHANCE.[304]
XXVII.BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.[312]