With Links of Steel | Page 7

he
could not consistently offer any remonstrance. Yet he plainly resented
the idea that any of his clerks could have been guilty of co-operation
with the criminals who had committed the robbery that morning, and
his dark features wore a grim and sullen expression when he took the
block of paper and repaired to his main office.
Nick Carter sat and waited, silently sizing up the case as he then saw it.
Just as Venner returned with the numerous signatures, Chick also put in
an appearance again, bringing with him the forged order which had
been left at Hafferman's store. Nick merely glanced at it, then thrust it
into his pocket.
"Did you see Boyden?" he inquired of Chick.
"Yes, and spoke with him," nodded Chick.
"What about him?"
"He looks all right."
"Did you get the signatures of Hafferman and his clerks?"

"They are on this paper."
"Good enough. Let me have those of your employees, Mr. Venner. Are
they all here?"
"Yes, all of them."
"Very good," said Nick, putting the several papers into his pocket.
"Now, Chick, what of the man who visited Hafferman's store with the
forged order?"
"He merely left the order and asked that the diamonds should be sent
here at once."
"What sort of a man?"
"Dark, about fifty, with a heavy mustache and wavy hair," said Chick,
glibly. "Quite a big fellow, Hafferman states."
"H'm!" ejaculated Nick, with a significant nod. "Now, Mr. Garside,
describe the man to whom you delivered the diamonds."
"Raymond?"
"If that is the name he gave you."
"He is a well-built, smoothly shaven fellow, of about thirty years, with
a sallow complexion, slightly pock-marked--"
"Ah, I thought so!" Nick curtly interrupted. "That's quite sufficient, Mr.
Garside."
"What do you mean, Carter?" quickly demanded Venner. "Do you
already recognize these criminals?"
"I recognize their work."
"And the men?"

"I've them in mind from the outset."
"Impossible!"
"Not so, Mr. Venner," Nick now declared, with emphasis. "Without a
shadow of doubt, sir, you have been victimized by the notorious
Kilgore diamond gang, a trio of the shrewdest and most daring
scoundrels that ever stood in leather."
"You amaze me."
"Do I?" inquired Nick, smiling softly. "Well, sir, if I were to tell you
the history of these rascals, you would be more than amazed--you
would be astounded. No crime is too desperate, no knavery too
hazardous, no villainy too despicable, for them to attempt, and too
often successfully execute. They have perpetrated their crimes over two
continents, and are known to the police the world over."
"That is not very complimentary to the police," said Venner, dryly. "I
marvel that such distinguished scoundrels are still at large."
"A fact which stamps them no ordinary criminals," replied Nick,
pointedly. "Nor are they, sir."
"What do you know of them, Detective Carter?"
"David Kilgore, the chief of the gang, is one of the shrewdest and most
daring of knaves, a man of splendid education, polished manners and
broad experience. He possesses nerves of steel, the cunning of a fox,
and would not shrink even from murder, if his designs required it. Yet
he invariably covers his tracks so cleverly, or so quickly vanishes when
hard pressed, that thus far he has successfully eluded the police. That's
David Kilgore, sir."
"And what of his associates?" inquired Venner. "I think you spoke of a
trio."
"His confederates are scamps of the same sort, and nearly his equal in

craft and daring," replied Nick. "Perry Dalton is one--the smooth,
pock-marked rascal whom you, Mr. Garside, had the pleasure of
meeting this morning. He is nicknamed Spotty Dalton, because of his
slight disfigurement."
"And the other?"
"Is a man named Matthew Stall, more commonly called Matt Stall. He
is a Western man, a graduate of a California university, and is an expert
electrician. Oh, I know all about them," laughed Nick, "although this is
the first time I have been up against them personally. I am rather glad
to discover that they are here in New York."
"Why so, Detective Carter?" Venner carelessly inquired, with a subtle
gleam in the depths of his dark eyes.
"Because I have long wanted to match my talents against those of Dave
Kilgore and his rascally push," declared Nick, with grim austerity. "The
last I knew of them they were in Amsterdam, Holland, where some of
the finest work in diamond cutting is done, as you doubtless know."
"Indeed, yes."
"They probably had to jump that country for obvious reasons, and very
likely the European continent," added Nick. "They have long avoided
New York, and the fact that they are now here is significant of--well,
well, we shall see! That's all, gentlemen!"
"But what do you intend doing about this case?" demanded Venner, as
Nick abruptly rose to go.
"All that can