“I am trying to find Mr. Redway,” explained Nick, “and I thought you might tell me where he is.” “Why, he has rooms somewhere on Fifty-fifth street, I believe. Did you look in the directory?” “Yes! He isn’t there. Was he in the office to-day?” “Sure!” “You saw him?” “Why, yes, several times. He rode up and down with me.” “How many times?” “Oh, four or five, maybe!” “Was any one with him on any of the trips?” “There was a stunning-looking young lady with him once when he went down.” “Was that the last time he went down?” “No, he came back half an hour later and went down with me on my last trip at just five o’clock.” This information confirmed Redway’s statement, and was a puzzler for Nick. He had reason now to know that if the janitor was correct in his testimony Redway must have come up almost immediately by the stairs, gone down the second time by the same way and returned a second time by the stairs. The case had a very puzzling complexion at this particular place. “When did you see Mr. Gay last?” asked Nick. “Mr. Gay left the office about eleven o’clock and didn’t come back any more.” “Did anybody inquire of you during the day for the offices of Bridgely & Byke?” Nick expected the boy to say that the strange lady did. The reply was rather disappointing. “Only one old fellow--an old man who rode up about half-past two or three o’clock.” “How long did he stay?” “I don’t know. He didn’t go down with me. Guess he must have walked.” “Half-past two or three o’clock,” said Nick to himself. “The office boy told me that several parties came in while the strange woman was closeted with Redway and that he sent them all away. This old man was one of them, I suppose.” Then, for the time being, Nick dismissed all thoughts of the old man from his mind. But the existence of that personage was destined soon to be recollected with startling force. CHAPTER VII. NICK AND CHICK IN CONFERENCE. The great detective’s next move was to go straight home and summon his right-hand man, Chick, for a conference. Without a waste of words or time he put his assistant in possession of all the facts of the case up to that minute. When he finally ended the details with an account of his visit to the elevator boy he threw himself back in his chair and gave Chick a look which meant: “That is all. What do you think of it?” The latter returned his chief’s stare for a full minute; then he uttered the single word: “Well?” Nick echoed the monosyllable: “Well?” “I guess you have a pretty deep case on your hands,” smiled Chick. “But I’ll wager my watch against your toothpick on one point.” “Which is?” “That though you’ve locked Redway up in the Tombs you don’t believe he killed the girl.” “You would win the toothpick if I took your bet. Still, I might be mistaken.” “I don’t believe you are, and I shouldn’t be surprised if you had some testimony back of all that which you have revealed which puts this Redway in a better light than ever.”