“It’s mighty little fun I’ve had since I’ve been down here,” grumbled Patsy. “It’s the dullest place I ever was in.” “It wouldn’t be hard to force the door, would it?” asked Paul Clayton. “We can all tackle it together.” “It’s a pretty heavy door,” remarked Douglas. “I’ve seen it open, and it is nearly three inches thick.” “What’s the idea?” asked Patsy. “To keep the sound in when they are talking.” “Gee! I don’t see what they want a three-inch door for, just for that,” was Patsy’s scornful comment. “Why couldn’t they whisper if they were talking secrets.” “Well, never mind about that,” interposed Nick Carter. “We’ve got to break it down.” “Hold on!” cried Douglas. “This is a pretty dangerous thing. I don’t know that we have the right to do it. When the governor comes back he might raise Hail Columbia with us.” “You mean the acting governor, don’t you?” asked Chick. “Either one,” replied the chief of police. “What are we expecting to find in there, anyhow?” “I’m convinced that we shall find something,” declared Nick Carter. “I want to make sure that Senator Garnford really did come in here. I have what I regard as positive proof that the senator is in Washington, and I want to find out who has been impersonating him in San Juan.” “You think that is what has happened?” asked Douglas, elevating his eyebrows. “That sounds rather wild, don’t you think?” “Perhaps it does,” answered Nick. “But I’ve been on the trail of a wild man since I came to San Juan, and I fancy I can detect the fine Italian hand of that person in this whole affair.” Captain Douglas knew the reputation of Nick Carter as a detective who did not make mistakes, and he had the highest respect for his ability and acumen. He did not press his objection. At the worst, he would have Carter to share the responsibility. “All right, Mr. Carter!” he said. “Let her go!” Nick Carter, Chick, Patsy, and Clayton put their shoulders against the door, and, at a word from Nick, the four pushed with all their might. There was a crash, but the door did not break down. Only a splintering of wood told that it had been weakened by the assault. “Stop!” shouted Captain Douglas. “I’m afraid to go on with this. It is liable to put us all in jail. You can’t fool with the United States government. This is a government building, and I don’t propose to----” Nick Carter took no heed of this protest. He had made up his mind to find out what was in this room, at any cost. He had come so near the actual truth in his surmise, that he would not have drawn back now, no matter who might have objected. “Again, boys!” he shouted. The four hurled themselves again at the weakened door. This time there was more effect than at first. Another crash resounded through the building, and, as the door toppled, the quartet went sprawling into the room, with Patsy and Chick landing with a bump against the heavy table in the middle. Nick Carter and Paul Clayton fell on top of the door.