With Links of Steel, Or, The Peril of the Unknown

was a litt

nd although still very pale she sat gazing calmly at th

collapse upon first beholding the casket, Miss Page had j

ore?" exclaimed Nick,

t from your desk a few minu

you so overcome

I fear that you will think me very weak and

think

as alone in an enormous graveyard at midnight, with a full moon revealing the disma

rful-certainly

ore terrible," continued Violet

was

within. Then I saw a fleshless hand appear above the disturbed sods. Then a sightless human skull thrust itself forth, and presentl

eed," remarked Nick. "

was extended straight toward me while he approached, was a silver box-the exact li

ee," nod

t of the real casket, after so horrible a dream, was more th

"Evidently coming events have been casting their shad

. Carter," protested Violet

in," said Nick. "Am I to infer, Miss Page, th

thing, sir," d

aid, Mary Barton, speak of

er,

"this casket was found beside her dead

ry broke from Viole

en the package mentioned by Harr

Nick. "Have you seen B

s,

and

When I learned for what and heard the particulars, I

come dire

ast as a carriage

red Nick. "Tell me, Miss Page, just

left her alive and wel

he

lked about in the park for a short time. Then he told her that he had an errand to do, after w

y of suicide, Chick," remarked N

eplied Chick, with a

t after he left her?" inquired

red to the officer

make of a package c

be a small, square box, done up in brown w

any inquiri

it was, and she tol

l him where

d; and I am quite

ck. "What did the Barton

y a woman whom she had met on F

quaint

the stranger must have known Mary, and that she l

d t

age and asked her to deliver it to me, into m

of the frien

opening the package, stating in explanation that she

to Harry Boyden, are they?" demanded Nick, w

ir, the

in turn, made to the officer by

. I heard them from

f the identity of the woman from

d that she could not see her face. The incident seemed so stran

e strange woman, her

oman was plainly clad. Nothing

now told me all that you kno

ve," admitted Violet, with

s watch and glan

ick," said he abruptly.

dded Chick, as he sprang up

to tremble. "Oh, sir, will you not give me some word of encourag

k, rising and taking h

ill say this, however, if Harry Boyden is, as you so firmly believe, inn

nk you?" cried the girl, with her tear

ing. "And by carefully following a few

the very letter, sir,"

Third, say nothing about the jewel casket, and display no personal knowledge of the affair. Fourth, do not come here again unless I send for you. And, finally, rest assured that I will do all in my

ill obey you in all!" cried

escorted her to the door. "You sh

You are so very kind, and I a

Miss Page, since I now happen to think of it," the crafty detective indifferently added, "wasn't there a

sir! Pan

is his nam

s,

till in

hink that he may be, for he is sign

where he has

address on letters forwarded to t

am making a study of the Hindoo language just at this time, and I w

gave Nick the address of the snake charmer, whereupon the detective

g up to the curbstone in front of Nick's residence.

cried Nick, sharply. "Wait about th

ht,

e steps and into the house

ou make of

cinch, Chick, dead open and shut. Grab your hat

! I'm with y

o lose," cried Nick, "