“Just as likely as not,” nodded Chick, in genial assent. “Why not go up there, Nick?”
“That is my intention.”
“Want me?”
“You may as well come along. There may be something doing.”
“Good enough! What disguise, Nick?”
“The usual one, Chick, and I’ll slip into my make-up as Joe Badger.”
“I’ll be ready as soon as you are, Nick.”
In their pursuit of criminals it frequently became necessary for the Carters to visit the gambling-houses about town, both high and low. The presence of a detective, however, if known as such, is always objectionable to the proprietors of these places. For which reason both Nick and Chick had each a disguise in which, at such places, they were supposed to be men addicted to gaming, and were freely given admission. With the opening of any new house of this character, both at once cultivated the acquaintance of the managers, and thereafter visited the place only often enough to keep up appearances, or when in search of some crook.
Nick frequently had been in Flood’s sumptuously furnished house, where he was known as Badger, and none dreamed of his being a detective, not even Flood himself.
It was about seven o’clock that evening when Nick and Chick approached the gambling-house, and as luck would have it, they encountered Flood just as he was entering.