"I should say so," rejoined Chick. "The affair becomes a dense mystery."

"It becomes a mystery that I don't quite fancy," declared Nick, with a
significant nod. "In fact, Chick, I'm not at all favorably impressed
with this robbery. To me it has a mighty fishy look."

"Why so, Nick?"

"It is not like this Kilgore gang, mark you, to have been dickering with
a dirty little job of this kind, netting them only a few thousands at
the best; yet a job in which they incurred as much danger of detection,
Chick, as in one infinitely greater."

"By Jove! that's so. There's no getting away from that argument, Nick."

"Instead of trying to get away from it, Chick, I'm going to stay with
it," continued Nick, with emphasis. "I am beginning to suspect that this
paltry little robbery may in some way make a far deeper and darker game.
At all events, Chick, we'll not wind ourselves in a search for those
diamonds, at least not before we have sifted these side issues a little
finer."

"Good enough!" cried Chick, heartily. "I agree with you on every point.
Only your long head, Nick, old man, could have deduced such shrewd
conclusions; and I believe, by Jove! that you have hit the nail on the
head."

"If I have," rejoined Nick, grimly, "we'll drive the nail home a little
later, and home to stay."