"You had previously sent no order to Hafferman for the stones?" "Surely not." "Yet a written order was received by him, or he would not have delivered the goods." "In which case, then, it was a forgery." "No doubt of it," Nick readily admitted. "Chick." "Yes, Nick." "Take a carriage and go at once and interview Hafferman. See what you can learn from him. Get the written order received by him, and bring it here. Have a look at young Boyden, and see what you make of him. Also get the written signature of Mr. Hafferman, and that of each person employed in his store. Understand?" "Sure thing!" nodded Chick, already seeing clearly the line Nick's investigation was taking, though neither Venner nor his partner yet perceived it. "I will return as quickly as possible." "You will find me here," nodded Nick. "Wait a moment!" "Well?" "Also get a description of the party who delivered the written order at Hafferman's store. Inquire what he said at the time, and why he did not attempt securing the diamonds then and there." "Probably he was not known there, and knew he could not get them," observed Venner, by way of explanation. Nick made no reply to this, however, and Chick hurriedly departed. CHAPTER III. THE KILGORE DIAMOND GANG. "Now, gentlemen, only a few more questions, and I then shall be ready to go at this case in a more energetic fashion," said Nick Carter, immediately after Chick's departure. "Were any of your clerks absent from the store, Mr. Venner, at the time of this robbery?" "As I was absent myself, I cannot say," replied Venner, rather dryly. "How about it, Garside?--you were here." "Only one clerk, a young man named Spaulding, was out of the store." "Was he out on business?" "Yes, under my instructions," Venner quickly explained. "We have numerous old accounts on our books, and just before I went uptown I sent Spaulding out to try to make a few collections. I think he has returned by this time." "It does not matter, since he was out under your instructions," said Nick, closing his notebook. "Now, Mr. Venner, who among your employees knew you thought of buying this lot of diamonds from Hafferman, or that you had called at his store to examine them?" "Not a soul," was the prompt reply. "Are you sure of that?" "Absolutely. I had said nothing of the matter, even to my partner, there being nothing definite about it before I saw Señora Cervera this morning. I am sure that none of my clerks had any idea of my intentions." Nick was not so sure of it, yet he did not say so. He arose and took from Venner's desk a block of plain paper, which he laid upon the table. "Gentlemen," said he, "I want the signature of your firm, in the handwriting of each of you. Kindly let me have this." "What's that for?" demanded Venner, abruptly. "I wish to make a comparison with the forged order which my assistant will presently bring from Mr. Hafferman," Nick coolly explained. "I would suggest that you do not delay me."