This required further thought on Nick’s part. He was tempted, of course, to end matters then and there, before those letters could reach their destination, and cause the consternation they were certain to create. On the other hand, he felt it necessary to give Gordon a little more leeway, and in order to do that, it seemed essential that the letters be mailed.
He had searched Gillespie’s private rooms, on the theory that Green Eye might have left the stolen papers there, but he had found nothing of the sort. Yet, it was imperative that these papers be recovered, if possible, at the same time the rascal was captured.
Unless that were done, the precious records might not be returned at all, for certainly Gordon could not be counted on to restore them voluntarily.
To be sure, the fact that he had been writing those letters—doubtless, blackmailing ones—under Nick’s own roof, suggested that he had the documents there to refer to. That, however, was by no means certain, for he might have put the records in some remote place, perhaps a safe-deposit vault, after making a list of the names and addresses desired.
Therefore, it seemed wise to give the fellow his head, for the time, and meanwhile to keep him under observation, in the hope that his movements would give some hint as to his possession or nonpossession of Nick’s papers.
The detective was about to explain this to his assistant when the latter broke in excitedly.
“For the love of Pete! What’s up?” he demanded. “What are you cooking up in that brain of yours, and why are you so curious about Gillespie’s doings?”
“Gillespie is down in South America,” Nick returned quietly. “That’s why. Our friend back there in the house is—well, you can guess, I imagine.”
And then he proceeded to give his instructions to the dumfounded Chick.