“Two hold-ups in one evening is the nearest approach to it,” said Weston. “In the same locality?” “Within a mile of one another.” “Were the crooks in an automobile?” “Yes, in both cases.” “Then both jobs may have been done by the same persons.” “I feel quite sure of that, Nick, for the same description of the thieves and their automobile was given me by the victims of both outrages.” “Do these crooks always work from an automobile?” “In the majority of the cases reported,” bowed Weston. “Yet at times they have appeared on horseback, and on several occasions afoot. The work, Nick, is that of two or more men and a woman, as nearly as I can judge, and all of them are possessed of extraordinary nerve, boldness, and sagacity. They have committed these crimes at all hours of the day and night, frequently in quite public places, yet they have thus far completely evaded detection and pursuit. They invariably do their rascally job with a decisiveness and despatch that completely awe their victims, who are usually so alarmed——” “Stop a moment,” said Nick quite abruptly. “I’d like to ask you a few questions, Weston.” “Very well.” “If I decide to look into this case, I shall then have some few points already settled, and will need to waste no time in seeking the information myself.” “Exactly,” nodded the chief. “What do you wish to know?” “First, about the crooks themselves,” said Nick. “What have you in the way of descriptions of them?” Chief Weston laughed. “A variety, Nick, to fit any type of man except a humpback or one dismembered,” he replied. “The descriptions vary, eh?” “I should say so.” “Possibly the robbers use a different disguise for each job.” “Very likely.” “Or, as nearly always is the case,” said Nick, “the victims of the robbers were so frightened or excited at the time that they retain only vague and exaggerated impressions of their assailants.” “Precisely.” “To illustrate that,” added Nick, “I know of a case of a noted prize-fighter, who was held up and robbed of his watch and money in broad daylight, and within fifty yards of Central Park. He declared that the thief was six feet tall, weighed one hundred and eighty pounds, and was backed by two confederates, whom he could not quite recall. We got the crook next day.” “Yes?” “He was under five feet, weighed one hundred and thirty pounds, and did the job entirely alone.” “Quite a difference!” exclaimed Weston, laughing heartily. “Rather,” smiled Nick. “As a matter of fact, the prize-fighter was so scared when he saw a revolver thrust under his nose that the crook loomed as big as a house. Probably thinking that such a job would not be attempted single-handed, he afterward got it into his head that he saw the two confederates, and was so thoroughly convinced of the imaginary fact that he really believed it. I could cite numerous similar cases.” “So could I, Nick.” “Descriptions are not at all reliable, as you imply, yet they sometimes help one a little.”