“Perfectly,” said Garland. “I will follow your instructions to the letter.” “Very good,” Nick replied. “Where is the dummy portfolio and the papers it contained?” “Here, in my safe.” “Just as you found it when you arrived home last Friday evening?” “Yes.” “Let me have it,” said Nick. “I think I can make use of it.” Garland hastened to get it. Nick examined it for a moment, then arose and extended his hand. “That’s all for to-night, Garland,” said he. “Keep a stiff upper lip. There will be something doing to-morrow.” CHAPTER VII. INTO A TRAP. “Andy Margate is the man we must get. He is the rascal who now has the government plans. Andy Margate is the man we must get--and lose no time in getting him.” These forcible declarations came from Nick Carter soon after eight o’clock on the morning following his impressive interview with Harold Garland. They were addressed to Chick and Patsy, then in their suite in the Willard immediately after breakfast. “But how to get him is the question,” Chick replied. “Patsy and I have searched every inch of advertising space in every newspaper, but we could find absolutely nothing that seems to relate to the stolen plans.” “Which denotes very plainly to me, Chick, that Margate has not yet begun negotiations to dispose of them, neither with the original thieves, nor with any government official,” said Nick. “That’s reasonable, of course.” “Naturally, too, Garland is the man with whom he would most likely have communicated,” Nick added. “He has not done so, which further convinces me that I am right. Margate and his confederates are waiting for some move or publication by the government, and to see where they can get in their work to the best advantage.” “It does look so, Nick, I’ll admit,” Chick allowed. “We must get them, therefore, before they can accomplish anything more serious.” “But how?” “I have opened the way,” said Nick. “Carney will be liberated this morning. If my theory is correct, he will hasten to rejoin Margate and the other scamp who assaulted Dillon.” “Gee! that looks like a copper-riveted cinch,” said Patsy. “Carney can be shadowed and the others located.” “That is precisely what I want you to do, Patsy,” Nick replied. “Go to the courthouse in disguise and pick him up when he leaves. Keep an eye on him till you have found the others, and then report to me as quickly as possible.” “Trust me for that, chief,” said Patsy, hastening to make ready. “In the meantime, Chick, you begin an espionage on the Esterveldt place,” Nick directed. “I suspect that Margate knows of Dillon’s intimacy with them, and if he knows the occasion of it, he may attempt to covertly communicate with them. The Baron Esterveldt undoubtedly is the big finger in the service of the foreign power guilty of this conspiracy. He is the one who is providing the money, a fact that Margate may have discovered.”