“It would look as if the thieves, in hunting for some special things which they did not find, had hunted behind every picture in the room. The inference is that they knew that some object of value, which they were anxious to obtain, was concealed somewhere within this room.” The young man, Temple, looked curiously at the detective, as if the remark of Nick indicated a shrewdness not known to him, but he made no reply. “Do you miss anything from this room?” asked Nick. The young man closely examined the room, and, completing his investigation, came back to Nick to say: “I miss two rather valuable bits of bronze that my uncle picked up abroad. However, it may be that before leaving on this journey these bronzes and other valuable things were picked up and locked away. You see, I only stay at the house occasionally, and though I am here nearly daily, I am yet not as familiar with it as if I was living here all the time.” “What room were you occupying when we aroused you?” “The front room on the fourth story.” “Were there any servants in the house?” “No; you see I only sleep here, and Uncle Jacob gave his servants a sort of vacation until his return.” “The rooms on the floor above, who are they occupied by?” asked Nick. “The front room by Uncle Jacob and his wife; the rear room by his daughter; and the room between as a nursery.” “Take us to those rooms.” The three mounted to the third floor, and on entering the front room the first thing that attracted Nick’s attention was a little house safe in the corner. The door stood wide open and the safe itself was empty. Nick examined the lock and saw that it was of the combination order. Apparently the safe had been opened by one familiar with the combination. “What was kept in this safe?” asked Nick. “I don’t know; I never knew the safe was here. I have not been in this room in a long time.” It was clear that every drawer and receptacle in the room had been rifled in great haste, articles having been thrown upon the floor in the most reckless manner. Investigation showed that the daughter’s room in the rear had been treated in the same manner. The little party now went down to the first floor, and, entering the dining-room, saw that it had been literally stripped of its plate. “Was it valuable?” said Nick. “On my word,” replied Temple, “I couldn’t tell you whether it was genuine silver or merely plated ware. My impression is that there was a great deal of silver here.” “When will Mr. Herron be back?” asked Nick. “He’s expected back to-morrow.” Nick turned away after saying to the policeman that he had no further business there, and that the officer should make his report to the station house as quickly as he could. He then left the house. CHAPTER II. ANOTHER PHASE. The next morning Nick Carter had hardly concluded his breakfast when a card was brought to him by the servant. He smiled as he read it, and, tossing it to his wife across the table, said: