The girl was puzzled, but led Nick to a window in the rear, overlooking the back yard between Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Streets. In one of the yards, in plain view of the rear of the Montgomery house, a roughly dressed young man was working at a clothes pole. Nick waved his hand. The man nodded and started to slide down. “Now,” said Nick, “if I can go down and admit him----” “I will do that myself, Mr. Jones.” In a few moments Patsy was with his chief and had received his instructions. Louise Lansing accompanied Nick to the door. “If your uncle should return, Miss Lansing,” said Nick, in a low tone, “please tell him nothing about my having been here.” “Very good. When will my brother come?” “To-night; but that must also be kept a secret, especially from your uncle and the servants. Your brother will explain to you.” When Nick departed he left behind him a very much bewildered young lady, yet a very happy one, nevertheless. CHAPTER XII. Montgomery at Bay. “Meet me at the corner, Chick,” said Nick, as he passed the man who was working on the street. Nick waited, just around the corner on Sixth Avenue, and Chick came, stripped of his white overalls, blouse and hat and wearing his own garments. He had traded with the regular street cleaner, for the time being, and the street cleaner was five dollars better off by the deal. “Did you observe closely the two men who called at the house while I was there?” Nick asked. “Yes. They drove up in a two-wheeler, and when they came out one of them was reading a letter.” “Did the letter excite them?” “They seemed a trifle worked up.” “They’ll be worked up a good deal more before they finally quiet down,” laughed Nick. “You have got to pass for one of those men to-night, Chick, and Patsy for the other.” “If it’s pretty dark, I guess we can.” “Patsy will be busy all day, and you’ll have to secure the disguise for him as well as for yourself.” “All right.” “Get both disguises and bring them to the house. First, however, you are to take this cigarette and go to Cruse & Cupell’s. Find Mr. Cupell and confer with him privately. Tell him who you are and that you want him to smoke the cigarette and assay it, just as he did the other.” “I see.” “Have him make a rush job of it.” “Sure.” “Then find out if Gillman has come back to work this morning. “Anything else?” “That’s all.” Chick boarded a Sixth Avenue car and started for Twenty-third Street. Nick went to the address given him by John Lansing. It was an obscure boarding house over on the other side of Broadway. At the door Nick asked for “Herman Trevor,” which was the name Lansing had penciled on the card. Mr. Trevor was sick in bed, the servant said. “He’ll see me,” said Nick. “Who shall I tell him wants to see him?” “Don’t tell him. Just say it’s in regard to the Royal Ophir.” Nick was admitted to the “sick” room and found that Lansing was feigning illness in order to keep in his room without causing remark.