With Links of Steel Part 23

"I have said that I shall not betray you, nor will I," cried Venner, signing for her to put up the weapon. "Yet you were mad, Sanetta. You had no grounds for such jealousy, no occasion for such a crime."

"I had--and you know it! I told you I would do it."

"Well, you have tried it, at least," growled Venner, forcing a smile to his gray lips.

"And you dare not betray me," repeated Cervera, thrusting the glittering weapon within her dress. "I have not failed entirely, Rufe, since it makes the criminal tie between you and me all the stronger. It binds us together with links of steel, Rufe, and they are stronger far than any marriage contract."

"Then you love me like that, eh?"

"You know that I do."

"Yet your infernal jealousy, and your determination to quit this house and go to the plant with the gang, may yet ruin us all. If Nick Carter were to get a clew--"

"Bah!" Cervera fiercely interrupted. "I despise him, not fear him! I tell you again, I will fool and foil Nick Carter, as I have fooled and foiled his betters!"

"His better as a detective never lived, Sanetta."

"I care not! I defy him, and will yet show you that--"

"Hus.h.!.+ Hark! A cab has stopped outside!"

Cervera changed like a flash.

With the bound of a leopard, one of those lightning moves with which she could electrify an audience from the stage, she crossed the adjoining room, which was in darkness, and reached the front window.

One glance through the lace draperies was enough.

Nick Carter was just alighting from his carriage.

Cervera darted back and rejoined Venner.

"It is Carter--Nick Carter himself!" she fiercely whispered, with all the fire of her pa.s.sionate Spanish nature ablaze in her eyes.

"Carter! Good G.o.d!"

"Be off, Rufe, and leave him to me!"

"To you alone?"

"Yes."

"He already is on your track for this crime."

"I'll foil him yet! Leave him to me alone!" Cervera fiercely cried. "Be off by the back stairs, then through the stable and the side alley. Go to your own home, and from there signal Kilgore to have the secret way to the plant open for me. Here--the paper! Take it away with you! I'll elude Carter--"

"But he may arrest you at once," protested Venner, excitedly. "If he does--"

"_Caramba!_ do you stop to question?" Cervera furiously interrupted. "If he takes me from this house he will take me--dead!"

"But--"

"Quick--he's at the door! Leave him to me alone, and do what I told you!

Away! There's the bell!"

Venner caught up his coat, darted down the back stairs and quickly departed by the way mentioned.

At the same time, while Nick's summons was still echoing through the great house, Sanetta Cervera swept haughtily through the main hall, switched on the electric light, and then opened the front door.

She appeared as cool and composed as if she had just arisen from her dinner.

Yet in the vestibule stood the one man whom she had most cause to fear, the man who now held her fate in his hand--Nick Carter.

CHAPTER XIII.

CRAFTY CERVERA.

"Good-evening, Mr. Venner. Oh, it's not you!"

"Oh, yes, 'tis!" said Nick, dryly. "It's I all right, and I'm it. You appear surprised at seeing me, Senora Cervera."

Cervera had begun, then stopped, then uttered the startled exclamation; and all with the utmost coolness, with the air of one stirred only by genuine surprise, and as if without the slightest fear or dismay upon beholding Nick Carter in the vestibule.

So perfectly natural was her artful a.s.sumption, that it rather deceived Nick for a short time.

In response to his dry remarks, the artful jade now nodded and began to laugh.

"Surprised? Well, rather!" she exclaimed, in animated tones. "I was expecting our mutual friend, dear Mr. Venner, and supposed it was he who rang. But I'm just as pleased to see you."

"Yes?"

"Surely! Come in, Detective Carter. You are very, very welcome. I shall be so glad to renew our brief acquaintance. In fact, Detective Carter, I am quite charmed to see you."

"You'll not feel so chipper and charmed when you learn my business,"

said Nick to himself, as he entered and followed her to the library.

"Take a chair, Detective Carter, and try to feel perfectly at home,"

laughed Cervera, with bantering vivacity. "You have been here before, you know."

"Yes, indeed, I know," said Nick, dryly. "The night I had a taste of a choke pear, at the hands of your faithful guardians."

"Ah! but you shall be better treated this time," smiled Cervera, dropping into a chair opposite the detective, and fixing her sensuous, dark eyes on Nick's calm, unreadable face.

"I hope so, senora," he replied. "By the way, what has become of those two stalwart guardians of your treasures? Do you still retain them in your employ?"

It was second nature to Nick to feel his way in this crafty fas.h.i.+on, yet he did not really expect any resistance in arresting Cervera, who now laughed and shook her head, replying: