Chick then visited these brokers one after another, and he learned that the said Jack Conroy was carrying margin accounts aggregating more than half a million dollars, so distributed that neither broker had felt any misgivings, though comparatively little was known about the man.
It was after four o’clock when Chick had gathered all of these facts, and he then made a bee line for the offices of Madden, Mellen & Mack. He found Madden and Mellen in the room in which Nick had conferred with them that morning, and Chick at once came down to business.
“Is Mr. Mack absent?” he inquired, after evasively informing Mr. Madden that no definite clews had been discovered, much to the banker’s disappointment.
“Yes, he has gone for the day,” said Mr. Mellen, replying.
“He is to meet that infernal scoundrel, Redlaw, this evening,” Mr. Madden bitterly added. “Nick has told you, of course, about the rascal’s telephone communication to Mack?”
“I know all about that,” Chick replied. “How long has Mr. Mack been gone?”
“Since two o’clock. The assistant cashier is handling his work.”
“Mack is cashier for this firm, then, I take it.”
“Yes.”
“Is he a wealthy man, Mr. Madden?”