“That’s the line that we have got to work on now. If we can connect Seaman and Lannigan, I think our theory will straighten out into fact.” “I wish,” said Chick, “I had known all that we now know before I left the neighborhood of Seaman’s office.” “Why so?” asked Nick. “Because,” replied Chick, “I fear that that trip of Lannigan and his companion across the river, that Patsy tells of, was to meet Seaman and, perhaps, to deliver to him there that case.” “I don’t think so,” said Patsy, positively. “And why not, youngster?” asked Chick. “Because the biggest ‘fence’ there is around here is on that side of the river, in Long Island City. I don’t know how long it has been there, but a crook told me about it a week ago, and, when I heard Lannigan and the other fellow say they were going over to the other side of the river, I dropped that they were going to make arrangements for taking the stuff they took out of that house in Thirty-fifth Street over there.” “I think Patsy is right,” said Nick. “I hardly think that they would cross the water to meet Seaman. But I do fear that that case has already been delivered to Seaman--was delivered before day broke.” Chick looked up quickly at Nick, and said: “Then it is your plan to make the fight on the Seaman line.” “Yes,” said Nick; “after the developments of to-day I am satisfied that if we recover that case, it will be from Seaman. However, we are hardly in deep enough to be positive about anything. I have great hopes from what Patsy may learn this afternoon. And, Chick, I think the thing for you to do now is to put yourself on Seaman’s trail and follow him up to see where he leads you.” “If that is so,” replied Chick, “I had better get to him as soon as I can.” “And I must get back to my assistants,” laughed Patsy. Without further delay, both Chick and Patsy left the room and hurried off in their different directions. The two young detectives were hardly out of sight when Ida made her appearance to report the results of her labor during the day. As she entered, Nick said: “I hardly expected to see you to-day, Ida. But your coming now would indicate that you have something to say.” “I have,” replied Ida. “I have seen and had a talk with the widow, Mrs. Pemberton.” “So soon?” said Nick, highly pleased. “That is very quick work, Ida.” Ida laughed, and replied: “I had unusual good luck. Finding out where Mrs. Pemberton lived, I saw at once that her next door neighbor was a friend of mine. Going there, to that friend, I found out that the two--my friend and Mrs. Pemberton--were quite intimate friends. At all events, very neighborly--frequently exchanging calls. That is how I came to meet her so quickly. While I was in the rooms of my friend, Mrs. Pemberton ran in, and it was not a difficult matter to get Mrs. Pemberton to talk of that which is nearest to her heart.” “That was, indeed, unusual luck,” said Nick. “Nick Carter’s luck,” said Ida, with a laugh.