“Important robbery just reported. Don’t know if it is the one you referred to last night, but it is very important and mysterious. Wish you would come on.” Nick took the next train for the West. Dinsmore’s telegram was sent from Manchester, the capital of Wenonah, and there, of course, the detective went. The journey was without incident, and was made as rapidly as possible, considering that there are no through trains between New York and the distant Canadian town. Dinsmore met him at the station. “I’ve got a telegram for you,” he said, as soon as they had shaken hands. “It was forwarded from New York, after you left.” Nick opened and read it. It was the one Patsy had sent from Chicago to say that he was going with Snell to Helena. “All right,” said Nick. “Now, what’s the case?” “It was reported by the lieutenant governor,” replied Dinsmore, “Gov. Bradley being away. His absence makes the thing very peculiar, and I don’t understand it at all. How you should know in New York that a robbery had taken place in Manchester before anybody here suspected such a thing, is quite a mystery.” “I believe,” responded Nick, “that I begin to see how that happened. But go on. Some State papers have disappeared.” “That’s it, and that’s what makes me suppose it the same affair that you seemed to have in mind when you telegraphed from New York.” “Anything else?” “Do you mean anything else stolen? Not that I am aware of, but the papers are very important. I thought you ought to come on, as you seemed to know something of the matter.” “I am afraid I don’t, but I’m interested. You say there’s been no abduction, or kidnaping?” “I didn’t say so, but I know of no such case.” “Well, tell me all you know about the loss of the papers.” “That’s very little. The lieutenant governor called me up late on the night you telegraphed me. In fact, I think it was about two hours after I had sent my answer. “‘Dinsmore,’ said he, ‘there’s been a very strange robbery, or something that looks very much like it. Some papers that cannot be of value to ordinary thieves, but for which the government would pay a handsome reward, have disappeared.’” “I asked him when they were taken. “‘I’ve no idea,’ he answered. ‘I only discovered the loss this afternoon.’ “Then I asked him why he had not called on me sooner. “‘Because,’ he replied, ‘we’ve been hunting high and low for the papers. We supposed they must be somewhere in the government building. But we’ve looked everywhere. They’re gone, and that’s all there is to it.’” “I thought of your telegram, Nick, but said nothing. After I had asked the usual questions about where the papers were kept, and so forth, I inquired if he had any suspicions. “The questions seemed to make him uneasy. “‘I cannot suspect anybody,’ he replied. “I remembered you, Nick, and I said: “‘That means that you suspect everybody.’” “What did he say to that?” asked Nick.