"Yonder is Venner's house, Chick," said Nick, as they picked their way
along the unpaved sidewalk. "We'll vault this iron fence and steal
across the grounds."
"It doesn't look much as if our quarry was there," observed Chick, as
they scaled the fence.
"Their deeds are dark, and like seeks like," replied Nick. "They now may
be making darkness their cover."
"Not a light in the house, is there?"
"None visible from this side. We'll steal between the house and stable,
and have a look at the opposite elevation."
"Not much danger of being seen. It's as dark as a nigger's pocket under
these trees."
"So much the better in case anyone is watching."
"Who lives here with Venner?"
"Only an elderly housekeeper, of whom I don't hear anything very good,"
replied Nick. "Venner is here but part of the time, I am told. In fact,
I don't quite fathom his habits."
"Why so?"
"I can't learn what takes him from home so much of the time. He does not
leave the city, nor patronize any hotel that I can discover, yet he
frequently is away from this house overnight."
"Perhaps he secretly keeps another house, and is leading a double life."
"Possibly," admitted Nick. "He is on friendly terms with numerous women,
I learn, and other quarters may be essential to designs of some kind.
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