“That’s all,” Nick repeated, rising. “Do absolutely nothing more in this matter, gentlemen, but leave it all to me. I will contrive to thwart these rascals and land them behind prison bars. Come, Chick, we must get a move on.” “What’s your scheme?” Chick inquired, when they emerged up the street. “That can be briefly told,” Nick replied. “Martin, whoever he is, evidently is in Philadelphia, where he probably learned about the money shipment and most likely he was there with that object in view. It is almost a safe gamble, too, that he will be on the Southern Limited to-night, since his letter to Dewitt states that he will see the latter after the robbery.” “I agree with you,” Chick nodded. “It does look, indeed, as if he would be on the train.” “What part he will play in the robbery, however, is an open question,” said Nick. “He may take no active part in it, as far as that goes, but may leave the work to his confederates.” “Possibly.” “We have, of course, no idea just when, where, or how the job will be attempted,” Nick continued. “The letter states, however, that there will be nothing doing until the train is south of North Dayton.” “I remember.” “The job will be undertaken, then, somewhere in the run of eighteen miles to Shelby.” “Surely.” “Thinking they have a walk-over, as Martin terms it, the rascals may be overconfident,” Nick added. “I think we can foil them, however, and get them with hands up. I will leave Patsy to trail Dewitt to cover, if possible, while we tackle the train end of the job.” “But what do you make of the other statements in Martin’s letter?” Chick inquired. “As to having a substitute down fine by that time and the other dead to rights?” “Yes. What do you make of that?” “That seems open to only one interpretation,” Nick reasoned. “It probably refers to the package containing the money. A substitute evidently is to be used in some way, and the other taken from the express car.” “That seems like a reasonable theory.” “The money certainly is to be on the car, however, for Dewitt is directed to be on hand to relieve some one of the goods, possibly Martin himself.” “Very likely.” “But, as the letter also states, nothing is to be done until after leaving North Dayton,” Nick repeated. “And your plans?” “We will leave town in disguise at five-thirty. You go as far as Amherst, to board the express when it arrives. You must be governed by the make-up of the train as to what car you will take. Select that which Martin would be most likely to occupy, and be on the lookout for him, or for any other suspicious circumstances. There is a fourteen-mile run before you arrive in North Dayton.” “I understand, Nick, and will be governed accordingly,” Chick assured him. “But what are your own designs?” “I’m going to board that express car at North Dayton,” said Nick, with rather grim intonation. “I’ll contrive to do so in a way that will occasion no misgivings, even if I am seen by some of the gang.” “And then?”