Pylotte ran on ahead, while Kilgore and Matt Stall continued urging the
detective across the grounds, making toward the old wooden mansion in
which their secret plant was located.
It seemed to them the safest place in which to confine Nick, pending the
delay in getting hands upon Chick.
Presently they came to a dry ditch, walled at each side, and originally
built for draining the low meadows between the two estates. Into this
they plunged, following it until they arrived near a wooden bulkhead in
the foundation wall of the house. This was the secret way of entering,
to which Cervera had referred the previous night.
Pylotte already had opened it, and Nick was quickly forced through a
dark cellar.
"All right," cried Kilgore. "Let us in."
Instantly the secret stone door was thrown open, and Nick was nearly
blinded by the flood of light in the room into which he was abruptly
thrust.
He stood in the subterranean chamber of the diamond plant.
And there, erect on the floor, with her evil countenance a picture of
malicious triumph, stood his crafty combatant of the previous
night--Sanetta Cervera.
"_Caramba!_" she cried, shrilly, with a vicious laugh. "So you've got
him! Well done, Dave! Well done!"
"Yes, and we'll presently have the other," cried Kilgore, panting hard
after his exertions.
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