“I shall have to fine myself for that error,” he thought, as he hastened away from the stairway into the crowd. “If I had kept on my countryman’s uniform they would have regarded that break I made as the result of curiosity on the part of a country chump out to see the town, and I might have learned something more about that twenty-thousand-dollar daylight haul on Wall Street.” CHAPTER IV. A HOWLING SWELL. Promptly at eight o’clock next morning Chick made his appearance at Nick Carter’s private office. He had the appearance of a man who had had a hard night of it, but was still full of pluck. “Did everything go all right?” Nick asked. “Yes, I was reasonably successful.” “Well, for my part, I don’t think I scored any very brilliant success after we separated. After a good deal of hard work I struck just the place I wanted, and then a table broke down with me, and I got out of the joint just ahead of a bullet.” After receiving his assistant’s report Nick dressed himself in the costume in which he had first met the Wall Street man, and took his way to that gentleman’s office. “Tell Mr. Wheeler,” he said to the clerk in the outer office, “that I want to see him in regard to that Lackawanna deal.” “You’re to be shown in at once,” said the clerk, opening the door to the inner room. The broker appeared to be awaiting the arrival of the detective, and was in anything but a calm frame of mind. “You were right,” the detective said, “in supposing that undue means would be employed to prevent the horse winning the race.” “I’ve been hoping almost against hope that my suspicions were unfounded. I wish I had pocketed my former loss, and let this matter alone.” “There is still a chance to save yourself without taking any risk.” “What do you mean?” “The horse can be kept out of the race.” Nick eyed the broker keenly as he made this suggestion. “I’ve been thinking about that.” “It’s easy enough done, and in that case you will recover your stakes.” “And still that leaves me just where I started in.” “Why didn’t you think of that before taking the steps you did last night?” “You’re mistaken. I’ve done nothing at all in the matter since seeing you.” “You have not been at the stables since leaving my house yesterday afternoon?” “I have not.” “You have authorized some one to go there?” “I have not.” Nick reflected a moment before speaking. “You could have no motive in deceiving me,” he said, at length, “but it’s very singular for all that.” “I don’t understand you.” “It isn’t necessary at the present time that you should.” “But I’m deeply interested in the matter, and----” “Never mind that now. I am not here to be cross-questioned.” “But I infer from your remark that something unusual took place at the stables last night.” “Not that I am aware of.” “You talk in riddles.” “One of my men simply learned the true condition of affairs there, that’s all.” “Does it affect me?” “Slightly.” “Then I ought to know.”