He returned to the parlors and sat down a while. Then he asked one of the men to open a window and let a little air in. When this was done, he took some cigars from his pocket and handed them to his guards. Then he went to the piano, and, seating himself, to the great pleasure of the three brutes, he sang: “Come to me, darling, I’m lonely without thee, Daytime and nighttime I’m dreaming about thee.” He knew Patsy, and probably Chick, were without and would take his song as a call for them. Nor was he mistaken. But a few minutes passed when his quick ears heard a sound at the front door that told him the lock was being picked. Again he seated himself at the piano, and began to sing and play. The brutes were attentive upon him. But, through the corner of his eye, he saw Chick at the hall door. Wheeling about on the piano stool, he sprang to his feet, and, drawing his revolver, cried out: “Down, you dogs!” Chick sprang into the room from the front door and Patsy came in from the rear room, revolvers up. The brutes, taken by astonishment, could not rally in time, and, seeing they were powerless, threw up their hands. “Take their guns, Patsy,” said Nick. This the lad quickly did, while Nick and Chick covered them. “Boys,” said Nick, “I’m sorry to treat you so, but I must. You must be bound and gagged, but I’ll let you loose in time.” The three did not dare to make resistance, and, making them as comfortable as circumstances would permit, the three detectives took care to carefully lock the house up. Then they quietly departed. “It was a stupid way,” said Nick to Patsy and Chick, as they walked away, “and more like a cheap melodrama than anything else. Really, I believe the Brown Robin has been an actress some time in her life.” * * * * * * * * Shortly before five o’clock that afternoon Mr. Mountain, with a small package under his arm, appeared on the steps of the Park Avenue Hotel. He had not been there long before the young man who had first called on him came up. It was, of course, the Brown Robin. Her tactics were precisely the same as they had been with Mr. Cary the day before, that is, with Nick disguised as Mr. Cary. And the same questions were put to him as to any person being in concealment. When these had been answered as the person desired, Mr. Mountain was asked if he was ready to go and see the Brown Robin. “Yes,” replied Mr. Mountain, “if it is to be done, let us do it right away. But first let me go into the hotel with this.” The young man was reluctant, but yet he followed and Mr. Mountain, going to the desk, asked the clerk to place it in the safe and give it to no one but himself. This done, the two walked out of the hotel. As Nick had foreseen, their way was up to the Thirtieth Street house. What the young man did not see was a trick played by Mr. Mountain, a trick taught him by Nick.