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

man, what have

fashion, several hours after the interview held by the two detecti

of the stage hands of the theater in which the then famous attraction, the mammoth European and American vaudevi

l magnifying glass in his hand, while the table was strewn with the

laugh, and knocked the

it, Chick," he replied. "We

ore diamo

cise

Nick, as you rema

hanged my mind si

they are as crafty and desper

is no doubt a

re from that moment," declared Chick, with a grin. "What have you dug

er know me to study for five hours over anything

s, Nick, your conclusions nearly always prove

the French clo

r before getting down to work against this push. I will d

air and lighting a cigar. "Let her go, Nick. I

he diamonds which he delivered at Venner's store, is merely a forgery. Neither

enough, surely

tore. I have compared the writing of each and every clerk with that of the forged order, and I

disguised handwriting would have been utterly impossible, an

tside pa

k went on. "First, was one of the Kilgore gang in Hafferman's store when Venner went there yesterday,

ssi

the fact that the forged order is written

e of the gang could have obtained

y founded only upon conjecture, with no positive evidence to b

k, as far a

hink

he second theo

lated purchase, and revealed the fact to one of the Kilgore gang,

Venner's intentions. Garside remarked that he appeared quite anxious to leave the diamonds until Venner should return.

Furthermore, Venner's visit was made only yesterday afternoon, less than twenty-four hours before the robbery occurred. It seems hardly probable

matter of fact, then, neither of these th

my conclusion,

what

ner's visit, and of the request he made Hafferman regarding the diamonds. Otherwise he could not have planned the job so neatly. Somebody must have informed him.

ned Chick. "The affair b

with a significant nod. "In fact, Chick, I'm not at all favorabl

so, N

tle job of this kind, netting them only a few thousands at the best; yet a job in wh

ere's no getting away f

to suspect that this paltry little robbery may in some way make a far deeper and darker game. At all events, Chick, we'l

Only your long head, Nick, old man, could have deduced such shrewd concl

ly, "we'll drive the nail home a

we w

" added Nick, "and, starting from that, we wi

that Spanish d

cise

quested Venner to call at

omply with her request. Hence there exists a possibility that she designed to get him away

figure her in with the Kilgore gang, des

y have been purely accidental that her note was sent to-day, and mentioned the very hour when the theft was committed. Obviously, in that case, the thief outside

prob

re of the case, and next we will get down to business. We will drop this fishy-looking robbery for the present, C

e, Nick, and

been at th

ixed things

in upon the s

"Busby is the boss scene shifter there, and

very

however, and must soon be about it.

t Cervera, and what you make of her from observation. In case Venn

that, Nick," cri

after Cervera does her turn, in case Venner is there, and she departs with him,

re, Nick. So

s, indeed, those

tified in his apprehension that Rufus