Nick Carter hastened to join Patsy and Frank Mantell, pausing at the latter’s touring car to learn the occasion for his visit. He had not long to wait, for Mantell hardly took time to greet him.
“You must throw up this murder case, Nick; you really must, and take on a matter in which I am desperately interested,” he forcibly insisted. “More than half a million dollars are at stake. They’re hopelessly lost, in fact, unless you can trace and recover them. You must drop this case and——”
“Wait!” Nick interposed, after intently regarding him. “Keep your head. Who has lost so much money, and when?”
“It’s not money,” Mantell replied, in hurried undertones. “It’s a collection of old jewels of vast value, which was obtained under most extraordinary circumstances. I cannot inform you in detail out here, Nick, where I might be overheard by others. Come with me to my residence, where——”
“Presently, perhaps,” Nick again interrupted. “Come into this house, instead, where we can occupy one of the chambers. I then will hear what you have to say.”
Mantell did not wait for the invitation to be repeated. He sprang out of the car before it was fairly uttered, then accompanied the detective to the house, followed by Chick and Patsy.
Nick lingered only to inform Sergeant Kennedy that he had other business for a few minutes, directing him to take charge of the house while he was engaged, and he then led his three companions to a front chamber and closed the door.
“Now, Mantell, out with it as briefly as possible,” said he, when they were seated. “What is this matter in which you are so desperately interested?”
He had read in Mantell’s pale face the depths of his anxiety and distress, and knowing him to have a level head and excellent judgment and discretion, he reasoned that it must be a matter of extraordinary importance.
Mantell hastened to obey him.