It was nearly four o’clock when Nick Carter left the Treasury Building, and he at once turned his steps toward the hotel to which he had directed the two men who had emerged with him from the Union Station.
They were, as no doubt was inferred, his two most efficient assistants, Chick Carter and Patsy Garvan, both in disguise, and four o’clock found them seated in the suite assigned them, to which their trunks and other luggage already had been brought.
Both then had removed their disguise and were reading the local newspapers, when Nick knocked on the door and was admitted by Patsy.
“Well, chief, what’s up?” Patsy eagerly inquired, after closing the door.
Nick removed his outside garments and sat down.
“We have a hard nut to crack,” he replied. “The case is a serious one, very serious.”
“What’s the nature of it?” Chick questioned. “I have been vainly searching the newspapers.”
“The case has not reached the newspapers. The facts have been suppressed. They are known by only a few except the persons involved.”
Nick then proceeded to tell them of what the case consisted, covering in detail all that he had learned from Chief Welden and Harold Garland.
“By Jove, it does look like a hard nut to crack,” Chick agreed, after listening attentively. “It will make a mighty bad mess for the government unless those plans can be quickly recovered. Have you any definite suspicions?”