“Aside from his legitimate trade as a machinist, at which Nordeck is an expert, he has absolutely no head on his shoulders,” Nick proceeded. “He could not frame up and pull off a job of any size, to say nothing of this savings-bank break, if his life depended upon it. He can work to advantage only when guided by a capable leader. Take it from me, Mallory, this Westchester job was directed by such a man, not by Jim Nordeck. There was a much bigger man than he behind the gun.” “Do you know him, Nick?” questioned Mallory, with sharper scrutiny. “I do not.” “Or suspect his identity?” “No.” “What do you mean by Nordeck’s having been peculiarly unfortunate?” “In that he has been repeatedly cheated by his confederates out of most of his share of the plunder,” Nick explained. “He has been an easy mark in that respect ever since his wife died, something like a dozen years ago. She was a shrewd Englishwoman, but thoroughly unscrupulous, who looked after his interests and handled his money. Since her death, however, though he is known to have had a hand in numerous profitable jobs, Nordeck has been hard up most of the time.” “Through having been victimized by his confederates?” “Exactly. He now fights shy of trusting them, even.” “You got all this from Darby Moore?” “Yes. I had an interview with him on the day he died. I know he told me the truth.” “This card states that Nordeck has a daughter, who is also a crook.” “That is correct.” “Do you know her, or anything about her?” “I have seen her,” Nick replied. “I saw her less than a month ago, in fact, which is another reason why I feel sure that Nordeck had a hand in this burglary.” “She sticks to him, eh?” “That’s what! They never have been separated. I knew the moment I saw her that Jim Nordeck was in these parts, and that something was likely to come off.” “Why didn’t you track the girl to cover?” “It was impossible, Mallory, under the circumstances.” “Why so?” “She was in an elevated train going north, and I was in another going south,” smiled Nick. “Both trains had stopped at a station, and I saw her through one of the windows. I could not wish myself from one train to another.” “True,” Inspector Mallory admitted, laughing. “Have you seen the girl since then?” “No.” “How old is she?” “Not much over twenty,” said Nick. “Her name is Nancy Nordeck, though I guess she uses an alias most of the time.” “Yes, no doubt,” Mallory dryly allowed. “She looked very seedy, as well as I could judge through the car window,” Nick added. “This savings-bank break may replenish her purse, however, and put Jim Nordeck in funds. If his pals don’t bunco him, he ought to be well heeled for some little time--unless some of your men succeed in rounding up this gang. I infer that there is no immediate prospect of it.” “No, I am sorry to say,” Inspector Mallory admitted. “I see that the bank directors have offered a reward of ten thousand dollars for the recovery of the plunder.”