“How could he have known of it, then?” the girl asked.
“He is one of the gang,” answered Nick. “Oh! if I could but get out.”
“You know our address?”
“Yes.”
“Will you inform me from time to time of the progress you make in your quest for father?” Mignon asked.
“I shall be delighted to do anything to please you,” answered the detective.
“Then I will say good-by.”
Next day Nick went to headquarters and there found news which aroused his ire.
Skip Brodie had found some means of communicating with a lawyer, and the latter had sworn out a writ of habeas corpus, by means of which Skip was released.
“I didn’t know what we were going to hold this fellow on,” said the chief. “We could not prove that he had any hand in carrying off the banker, although we are sure he did. When we were asked for proofs we should have none to show.”