“Decidedly so,” replied Chick. “Such things don’t often happen by chance.”

“We’ll investigate that a little later.”

“Sure.”

“After the hold-up, Chick, I hastened to Badger’s house, arriving there within ten minutes after the robbery,” Nick went on.

“Then it must have occurred pretty near his place.”

“Within half a mile.”

“That, too, is significant.”

“In a measure,” assented Nick. “I found his chauffeur cleaning a Stanley machine in the driveway, where I could not help observing him. Ordinarily such a job would be done in the stable or garage, and I am now inclined to think that it was done outside only intentionally to make me believe, in case of any distrust, that Badger uses a Stanley machine, and not such a car as that in which I saw the thieves escape.”

“Do you know how many machines he owns?”

“I do not, Chick. In fact, I know very little about him or his place.”