“We can’t have quarreling here,” he said. “You go back to your work,” he added, addressing the waiters, “and you,” to the detectives, “make your way out as quietly as possible. I told you not to go into that room.” “At any rate,” thought Nick, “the clerk is not in with this play, whatever it is.” “He can’t come in here and insult my customers,” said the waiter, ignoring the protests of the clerk. “I’ll pitch him into the alley.” “The alley is probably half full of bullies,” thought Nick, “and I have no time for a battle now. The waiter is in touch with the syndicate.” The waiter seized Nick by the shoulder and hurried him along toward the alley door, and Nick went without resistance. He wanted to see what there was in the alley. Another waiter seized Chick and moved forward with him. It seemed to be the idea to separate the two men. Chick waited until the alley door was opened, and then landed a blow on the waiter which laid him unconscious on the floor. Through the doorway leading to the alley the assistant had observed three muscular men waiting for Nick to be passed out to them! Surely the detective had had good cause to begin a line of inquiries at this place! In a moment Chick was at the side of his chief, who was still inside the restaurant. There was a rush for the place, half a dozen waiters swarming about the two detectives. Chick saw iron knuckles in more than one hand, and understood that the intention was to knock them both out. As he approached, he saw Nick whirl suddenly about, land a knockout blow on the waiter’s jaw, and make toward the front of the place. Two waiters were now down, and all was excitement, but no one opposed the exit of the detectives. Two of their crack men had been knocked out, and that was enough to warn the others to be careful. At the door Nick beckoned to a policeman, a roundsman, who knew him well. “I had to do a little hitting in there,” he said to the policeman. “Go in and take the two men you will find suffering from too much impudence. Lock them up, and keep them apart and away from visitors.” The roundsman saluted and passed into the restaurant. “Now,” said Nick, “we may as well learn where Julius and the woman go.” “I’m afraid they’re out of sight,” said Chick. “No, they were waiting to see us beaten to a pulp,” replied Nick. “They have just left the stairway there at the left and turned the corner. Keep along after them and track them home. If they separate, follow the woman.” Chick hastened away, and Nick made his way to his office, where he found Patsy awaiting him. “I have looked up the details of the four diamond robberies,” said the assistant, “and here is the report.” He handed his chief a typewritten roll of at least twenty thousand words. Nick glanced at the length of the document, and asked: “How many hands show plainly in these jobs?” “One in the last three,” was the reply. “And all these are of recent occurrence?” “Yes, of very recent occurrence.”