“The baggageman puts up the biggest yell,” said Chick. “He says that he did not know that there had been a robbery; that he did not know that there were diamonds in the package, and that he only did a favor for Bernice.” “When baggagemen break open trunks as a favor to their sweethearts,” said Nick, “it is time that they were called down.” “It was a pretty mess,” said Chick. “The burglars seemed to happen along just in time to turn suspicion from members of the household. Anton and Bernice put up the job to get the diamonds, all right, but Mrs. Maynard unconsciously foiled them for the time being.” “I think Anton must be a bad sort of a chap,” said Nick. “He would have robbed his friend of half a million.” “I’d like to know whether the baggageman put the diamonds in the safety box,” said Chick, in a moment. “He might have opened the package, weakened at sight of so much wealth, and carried out the character of the case by putting a dummy package in the box.” “Well,” replied Nick, “the man is under arrest, but, for all that, it would not be so easy to again locate the diamonds.” That morning the case was laid before the State’s attorney, and Anton and Bernice were taken to the county jail. The diamonds were found in the safety vault, and Charley recommended leniency in the case of the baggageman, who was charged with breaking baggage confided to his care. It proved to be the fact that he did not know what was in the trunk, and that he had been made to believe that Bernice had the right to have it opened. The wounded sailor recovered, and was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary for breaking and entering. His sentence was made light because he testified willingly against Hartley. He said that they had followed the diamonds from South Africa, and had applied to Hartley for funds immediately upon their arrival in New York. The one thing the sailor would not talk about was as to how they were able to interest Hartley in the venture in so short a time. They arrived on the vessel with the gems they were after, and in an hour’s time they were working under the instructions of the diamond merchant. This part of the case was a mystery to all. Nick Carter was abroad at the time of the trial and sentence. Hartley, too, remained silent on this one point, even after he had received a sentence at Sing Sing, and the bully had been sent to the electric chair for the murder done at the store. “It was one of the strangest cases I ever handled,” said Nick, after the matter was closed. “I came near getting a broken head there in the diamond store, but my usual luck protected me. There is one point, however, that I would like to see cleared up.” “About how the sailors and Hartley got together so quickly?” “That’s it. I have my suspicions, but they are vague.” “Has Charley Maynard disposed of his diamonds?” asked Chick.