he crime?

Or, on the other hand, had Boyden left the girl alive and well, and was
the crime the work of another?

Or, finally, was there some strange and startling connection between
this park murder and the robbery committed at Venner's store? Was there,
between the two crimes, some extraordinary bond yet to be
discovered--some tie uniting the two misdeeds as if with links of steel?

These were some of the conflicting questions that occurred to Nick
Carter that afternoon, and in order to consider them before taking any
decided action in the matter, Nick had kept to himself his startling
discoveries, and left Officer Fogarty to take the customary steps in the
affair.

At seven o'clock that evening, while Nick and Chick were seated at
dinner, and still engaged in discussing the conflicting circumstances, a
message was received from police headquarters, informing Nick that the
girl had been identified, and that Harry Boyden had been found and
arrested.

"Very good," observed Nick. "We shall now get something to work upon. I
will go and question Boyden as soon as I finish my dinner."

"By all means," nodded Chick.

"Do you know," said Nick, "I am seriously impressed that there is some
strange connection between this girl's death and that robbery at
Venner's store. I believe that we have struck the very clew, or are
about to strike it, that we so long have been vainly seeking."

"To the Kilgore gang?"

"Exactly."

"Egad, I hope so," laughed Chick, with a grimace. "I am beastly tired of
nosing about on a scentless trail."

Nick joined in the laugh of his invariably cheerful associate.

"Odds blood, Nick, as they say in the play," added Chick. "I'd welcome
any sort of stir and danger, in preference to this chasing a
will-o'-the-wisp."

"There'll be enough doing, Chick, take my word for it, as soon as we
once more get on the track of Kilgore and his push."

"Let it come, and God speed it," grinned Chick. "What's your idea,
Nick?"

"This empty jewel casket, the possibility that it contained diamonds, of
which the girl was robbed and then murdered, and the fact that Harry
Boyden is the clerk who brought the stolen diamonds to Venner's
store--certainly the circumstances seem to point to some strange
relation between the two crimes."

While Nick was thus expressing his views, a rapidly driven carriage
approached the residence of the famous detective, and a servant
presently entered the dining room and inform