“Yesterday in New York,” continued Nick, “the baggageman stored the diamonds in a deposit vault on Broadway, and when the train came through here not long ago, he handed the key to the box to Bernice. I have it here now.” “But the baggageman, he have escape!” cried Bernice. “I have nothing to do with it all! I am free—innocent!” At that moment Nick was called to the telephone. Before leaving the room he turned to Anton and Bernice. “I am going to leave you here,” he said, “although both are under arrest. I don’t know but you will try to escape. If you do it will be the worse for you both. Under the circumstances, if you behave well, I am inclined to be very lenient with you. Will you remain here until I return?” They both promised. For the first time a gleam of hope shone in Anton’s eyes. When Nick reached the phone he found Chick at the other end. “I have the baggageman under arrest,” said the assistant. “What does he say?” “He says that he did not know what the box contained.” “That may be true. Have you found out whether the diamonds are really in the vault?” asked Nick. “It is impossible to locate the manager to-night,” was the reply. “How are things at your end?” “Everything lovely,” was the reply. “Come out on the first train.” When Nick went back to the parlor he handed Charley the key to the safety box in the Broadway vaults. “The baggageman is under arrest in New York,” explained Nick. “Perhaps you had better go down on an early train and see if the diamonds are all right. He claims that he did not know what was in the box.” “He did not,” said Bernice. “I was not the fool to tell him.” “You may have made a mistake in not doing so,” said Nick, “for he might have left the package about in a careless manner. You have done several injudicious things in connection with this affair,” added Nick. “When you watched us from the hall on the morning following the murder you attracted attention to yourself. When you came up and destroyed the footprints in the hall leading to the servants’ rooms, you made yourself an object of suspicion. When you shot at us from the thicket in the orchard, you admitted, as plainly as words could have done, that you were deeply implicated in the robbery or the murder, or both. Under these circumstances it was natural that you should be followed to the station and your movements there noted. I saw the baggageman give you the key to the deposit box, and heard what you said to him. Your interview with him the night before was witnessed by the lunchman, although he could not hear what was said at that time. It was enough for me that you were there with him. So you see you, yourself, supplied the clues which led to the location of the gems.” “What are you going to do with me now?” demanded the girl.