'All right, sir; at least we can make a beginning—we can find that guard.'
'How?'
'Take his description from Lausch—find out who was detailed here——'
I put up my hand, and he stopped—staring.
'Dave, there is not a Columbian guard on the force who would, or could, have played that part—if it was played. It was simply one of the band wearing a guard's uniform.'
My friend sat down opposite me, and for some time not a word passed between us. Then he took up his notebook, and, drawing a small table toward us, said:
'Let's go over the ground slowly, and see if there is anything here to corroborate your theory, or to point to any other conclusion.'
And now I knew that Dave was fixed, so far as his opinions were concerned, and that while he might declare himself convinced by my wisdom, he had been all the time simply establishing his own convictions, and that he was now ready for earnest work.
It was some time before we came out from the superintendent's little inner sanctum, but we were now quite ready to begin our campaign; and when we were given carte blanche as to methods, and were promised as many men as we might need for the work, we could ask for nothing more, or better.
Our first demand was peremptory. There must be no publicity; no word of the robbery must reach the vigilant reporters who were everywhere in search of news.