CHAPTER V.
CUNNING FOES.
That evening, while Chick sat in comfort on the north porch at the Maynard house, strong in the belief that his chief had gone to New York in quest of a murderer and thief who was then in that house, Nick was standing in front of a small, mean-looking store near Chatham Square.
There was a pawnbroker’s sign over the door, and diamonds were shown in the windows in goodly quantities. On the door itself, the top half of which was of glass, was the line: “Diamonds bought and sold.” Below was the one word: “Hartley.”
The detective had reached the city at three o’clock, and at once “made up” for an inspection of the diamond merchant’s place of business. Standing across the street, Nick had the appearance of a sailor having a leave of absence and a desire to observe all that was worth seeing in the city.
Presently Nick went into the store and stood by the front counter, which was covered with show cases, each containing diamonds of all sizes and shades. The salesman who came forward to wait upon him leaned on one of the cases carelessly, and looked only casually at the pretended sailor.
“I wants to sell me di’mond,” said Nick.
“Let’s see it, mate.”
Nick took from his pocket a superb stone worth fully $500. It was finely cut and had been removed from its setting. In fact, it was a stone which the detective frequently wore.
“’Ow much for it?” he asked.
“Where did you get it?” asked the clerk.