“Not quite. Governor Bradley told the lieutenant governor that he would manage to be within reach at all times, but that his movements and address must be kept private.
“‘I will take the name of George Snell,’ said he, ‘and keep you informed where you may telegraph to me, if anything of real importance comes up.’
“So, for some days, the lieutenant governor received a telegram every day, saying: ‘Snell, Auditorium, Chicago,’ or ‘Snell, Planter’s, St. Louis,’ and so forth.
“Then there was a break of a few days, after which came word that ‘Snell’ was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York.
“Meantime, nothing had happened that the lieutenant governor couldn’t attend to alone.
“Then came the discovery that papers were missing.
“As soon as it was certain that the papers had disappeared, the lieutenant governor telegraphed the fact to ‘Snell,’ and told him in the same message that the matter would be placed in my hands.
“If the lieutenant governor had thought twice, he would have called me up before wiring to Bradley, alias Snell, but he didn’t think quick enough, and since that time not a word has been heard from ‘Snell.’ And there you are.”
“I see,” said Nick; “it’s very interesting. When does the next train go to Helena, Mont.?”
“To Helena! There’s no direct train to that point, in any case; but what the mischief do you want to go there for?”