They advanced into the large room, and Nick bowed humbly to a portly, dignified man behind the large table. On either side of him were younger men, who appeared to be assistants. There was a typewriter in front of one of them.
It would be tedious to describe the interview in detail. Suffice it that when Nick and his assistant came out of the offices, they had a bundle of circulars and booklets, and had learned positively that somebody who called himself Howard Milmarsh had taken possession of the estate.
One thing rather relieved Nick, and that was the admission from the big man behind the desk that Mr. Milmarsh had not formally taken possession of his property yet. There were some legal matters to be adjusted, he said, which might take a month or more. But Mr. Milmarsh was selling plots now, with the understanding that buildings would begin after the settlement of his estate.
“It’s a swindle, of course. But it is in the hands of good lawyers, and they know just how to smooth over the rough places for their clients,” remarked Nick. “I should like to see Lampton.”
Little more was said until the two were again at home. They had not used the street cars this time. Chick caught a passing taxi, and they rode quickly home.
“Let Patsy run over to that café and find out something about Andrew Lampton. I understand he has lost sight of him in the last three weeks.”
“Well, you did not want him to spend any more time watching the fellow,” Chick reminded him.
“I know that. We traced him to a hotel uptown, and he was living there till three weeks ago. Then he vanished, and I did not think it worth while to trouble Patsy about it any longer.”
Chick looked at his chief in a peculiar way. He felt convinced that there was something passing in the detective’s mind that he had not chosen to divulge. He was right, as his next words showed.
“I had information that he was in the neighborhood of the Milmarsh home. Captain Brown is an old friend of mine. I telephoned him, and he said a man who did not give his name, but who, he since has learned, calls himself Powers, stayed at the Old Pike Inn one night. After that he went up to the Milmarsh home, and is believed to be the guest of Howard Milmarsh. If Louden Powers is there, the chances are that Andrew Lampton is not far away.”