ld take the case, but also that it gave
promise of something far more startling than then appeared aboveboard.

Yet even Nick's keen discernment utterly failed, at this early stage of
the affair, to anticipate its actual magnitude and tragic possibilities.

Having consented to accompany Maynard to the scene of the crime, Nick
turned to Chick Carter, his reliable chief assistant, who also had been
an attentive listener to Maynard's disclosures.

"You had better come with me, Chick," said he. "This affair has rather a
bad look, and in case quick work is imperative, I may need your
assistance."

"Go with you it is, Nick," Chick heartily cried, hastening to put on his
coat and hat.

"From the circumstances disclosed by Maynard, however," added Nick, "I
am inclined to think that these rats have very carefully covered their
tracks, and that a still hunt for their trail may prove to be our stunt.
Yet you had better go along with me."

"I'm ready when you are, Nick."

"Very good. Come on, Mr. Maynard. I see you have a carriage at the door.
We will not delay even for lunch, but will snatch a bite later."

Together the three men left the house, and it was precisely one o'clock
when Nick was ushered into the private office of Venner & Co., where the
two members of the firm then were seated, apparently still engaged in
discussing the audacious robbery.

Mr. Rufus Venner, it may be here stated, was a man of about forty years
of age, and was a very well-known man about town. Darkly handsome, with
an erect and imposing figure, an _habitue_ of the best clubs, a man
still unmarried, yet of whom hints were frequently dropped that he was
very popular with the fair sex, whom he was known to lavishly entertain
at times--this was the senior member of the firm of Venner & Co., and
the man who, quickly arose to greet Nick Carter and Chick when the two
detectives entered.

"Your clerk has already given me the main facts of the case, Mr. Venner,
so we will dispense with any rehearsal of them, and get right down to
business," Nick crisply observed, immediately after their greeting.
"There are a few questions I wish to ask you, and concise replies may
expedite matters."

"I will respond as briefly as possible, Mr. Carter," Venner quickly
rejoined, as they took chairs around the office table. "I do not fancy
being robbed in this scurvy fashion, sir, and you may go to any
reasonable expense to discover and arrest the thieves. Now, Detec