CHAPTER III.

THE KILGORE DIAMOND GANG.


"Now, gentlemen, only a few more questions, and I then shall be ready to
go at this case in a more energetic fashion," said Nick Carter,
immediately after Chick's departure. "Were any of your clerks absent
from the store, Mr. Venner, at the time of this robbery?"

"As I was absent myself, I cannot say," replied Venner, rather dryly.
"How about it, Garside?--you were here."

"Only one clerk, a young man named Spaulding, was out of the store."

"Was he out on business?"

"Yes, under my instructions," Venner quickly explained. "We have
numerous old accounts on our books, and just before I went uptown I sent
Spaulding out to try to make a few collections. I think he has returned
by this time."

"It does not matter, since he was out under your instructions," said
Nick, closing his notebook. "Now, Mr. Venner, who among your employees
knew you thought of buying this lot of diamonds from Hafferman, or that
you had called at his store to examine them?"

"Not a soul," was the prompt reply.

"Are you sure of that?"