“By gracious! there’s the connecting link,” he said to himself. “This does settle it. Vera Vantoon, eh? That jade who figured with Stuart Floyd in the looting of the loan company. She was hand and glove with Floyd at that time, and it’s long odds that their intimacy has not ended. This is the person for whom Minerva Grand is looking. She’s the connecting link, all right. By Jove, I must contrive to overhear what passes between them.” Chick was quick to take advantage of the girl’s delay in entering the place, which he rightly inferred was due to diffidence and inexperience. Stepping back of the palms near the entrance to the concert hall, Chick beckoned to one of the waiters then at the bar. He was a slender chap in a starched cap and a long white apron, who appeared bright enough to grasp a situation without having it hammered into him. “I am a detective, one of Nick Carter’s staff,” Chick quietly informed him. “There is a woman in the third booth on this side of the hall. Have you noticed her?” “Yes, sir,” nodded the waiter. “I serve at the tables nearest that booth.” “Do you know her?” “Only by sight. She comes in here quite often.” “Can you get me a cap and apron like yours?” “Yes, by asking the manager.” “Where is he?” “The tall man near the end of the bar.” “What is his name?” “Scoville.” “Call him over here.” The waiter obeyed, returning with the manager, to whom Chick quickly explained the situation and stated what he wanted. The mere mention of Nick Carter’s name was sufficient to insure Scoville’s coöperation. “Why, sure thing,” he said, after listening. “I would only bite off my own nose by refusing. Slip around the end of the bar, Mr. Carter, and into my private room. I’ll fit you out in half a minute and be glad to accommodate you in this matter.” Chick did as directed, gliding around into the manager’s office, unseen by any in the concert hall. Half a minute later, wearing a cap and apron, he emerged and mingled with the waiters, selecting that side of the room on which was the booth in which Vera Vantoon was seated. The entire episode had transpired in less than five minutes, yet Chick had hardly arrived near the booth mentioned, when he saw Minerva Grand entering the concert hall with her veil partly raised. At he same moment, too, he saw Vera Vantoon thrust her hand between the curtains of the booth and beckon to the approaching girl. Minerva passed him without so much as a glance and hurriedly entered the booth. Chick edged nearer to it, remaining as stiff and staid as a wooden Indian within three feet of the drawn curtains, there then being no persons at the near tables for him to serve. Chick was near enough to hear the first words that came through the curtains of the booth, and most of what followed when the voices of the two women were lowered. “Hello, Angel Face!” Vera Vantoon exclaimed, clasping both hands of the girl. “Heavens, but you were a long time getting here.”