Chief Weston opened a drawer of his desk and took out a batch of papers and documents, among which was a neatly mounted photograph about five inches square, such as may be taken with a small portable camera, or a kodak. While he placed the papers on his desk, he handed the photograph to Nick Carter, saying impressively: “First examine this, Nick, and tell me what you make of it.” CHAPTER II. MODERN HIGHWAYMEN. While the Boston chief sat silently regarding him, Nick Carter studied the photograph attentively for several moments. “H’m!” he presently grunted. “The picture is quite plain. Two automobiles appear to have met in a lonely woodland road.” “Precisely.” “Only part of one of them is visible in the picture,” continued Nick, commenting upon the various details. “The picture was evidently taken by an occupant of one of the cars.” “Correct.” “In the road near the other machine stands a very tall woman, closely veiled, who is pointing a revolver, evidently at the occupants of the other car.” “Exactly.” “They are not visible in the picture, however, except the extended hand of one of them, obviously the hand of a woman. She is passing a purse, two watches, and what appears to be several pieces of jewelry, to a masked man, who is standing near the woman holding the leveled revolver.” “Those are the main features of the picture, Nick,” nodded Weston. “Now, what do you make of it?” Nick glanced up and replied: “It looks to me like a hold-up.” “That’s just what it was.” “When and where?” “Near the Brookline suburb, about a week ago.” “Is this the case on which you wish to employ me?” “One of them.” “There are others?” “Fifty, Nick, within the past two months.” “Whew!” whistled Nick, with brows lifting. “I have read in the newspapers that you have had numerous highway robberies about here, but I did not imagine them to be so frequent as you state.” “Because only a small part of them have been given publicity,” replied Weston. “I have suppressed many, Nick, in the hope of thereby getting some traceable clue to the crooks.” “Yet you are all still in the dark?” “Never more so, Nick,” was the grave rejoinder. “In the past two months there have been, as I have stated, upward of fifty of these highway robberies.” “Early and often, eh?” “Decidedly so. These hold-ups have been committed, moreover, with a boldness and daring that invests them with a peculiarly mysterious character. Whether they are the work of two or three professional crooks, or that of a larger organized gang of them, is hard to say. At all events, Nick, we have been absolutely unable to get any traceable clue to the identity, haunts, or headquarters of the rascals.” “Have two of these hold-ups ever been committed at precisely the same time?” “Not that have been reported.” “If that had occurred,” explained Nick, “it would indicate that a considerable gang is at work.”