Chapter II: The Government Engineer

Nick Carter was a keen physiognomist. He no sooner saw the face of the young man who entered Chief Welden’s office a little later, than he was sure of his lofty character and sterling integrity, as Welden already had asserted.

He was tall and erect, with the carriage of a soldier and set up like an athlete. His smoothly shaved face was of a classical cast, with clean-cut, regular features, a fair complexion, and frank blue eyes, with a broad brow and wavy brown hair.

He then looked white and drawn, however, as men look who have aged years in as many days under some terrible experience. Mental distress of the most poignant kind was reflected in his face, and Nick rightly inferred, as Chief Welden also perceived, that the young man apprehended further direful disclosures and additional misery from this unexpected summons to the chief’s office.

Welden hastened to reassure him, however, by saying, with sympathetic voice and a smile:

“Draw up a chair, Garland, and shake hands with this gentleman. We have brought him from New York to pull you out of this affair. I think he may succeed in doing so, for he rarely fails, if ever, in what he seriously undertakes. His own mother would not know him just now, however. Shake hands with Nick Carter.”

Garland’s face lighted as if a ray of sunshine had fallen on it. He clasped Nick’s hand, felt its cordial and sympathetic pressure, and his voice choked despite himself.

“I’m awfully glad to know you, Mr. Carter, and ten thousand times more so in knowing that you are to look into this matter,” he said feelingly; then, with a quick glance at the chief: “Why have I not been told of this, Chief Welden? You know what horrible anguish and anxiety I am undergoing.”

“Very true, Garland,” said Welden, smiling significantly. “But we did not know positively that Carter would be in a position to comply with the president’s request. What good to have extended you false hopes? Sit down, now, and have a talk with Mr. Carter. He wants to ask you a few questions.”

Garland hastened to comply, while Nick said, in a more businesslike fashion:

“Welden has told me all of the superficial circumstances, Mr. Garland, and I’ll do what I can for you. Let’s waste no time in getting right at the matter, for time is always valuable. Steady yourself and answer my questions as quickly and concisely as possible.”

“I will do so, Mr. Carter,” said Garland eagerly.

“To begin with, then, who else occupies your office in the war department? Are there any clerks, or others, in the employ of the government?”

“No, indeed,” said Garland. “I have a private room and an outer office resembling these. I employ only a girl stenographer, who has a desk in the outer office.”

“Does she know on what work you have been engaged?”

“No, sir. That is known only to Captain Backas and the heads of the department.”

“All of whom are, of course, perfectly reliable,” said Nick. “I now am aiming only to pick up a clew, Garland, to the identity of the person who could have had the information necessary to have framed up this job. Did your stenographer know you were going to Annapolis last Friday?”

“Yes, sir. I told her I was going the day before.”

“Did you tell her for what?”

“No.”

“Let’s make a jump, then,” said Nick. “Whom did you see in Annapolis, who might by any means have learned of your mission?”

“Only Captain Backas,” said Garland emphatically. “I went directly to his office, where I remained until I left for my train to Washington.”

“Who else was in the office during your conference with Captain Backas?”

“Nobody. We were alone.”

“Did any one enter while you were talking with him?”

“No, sir. I am sure of that.”

“And you are sure you placed the missing plans in the portfolio before leaving, and that it was not substituted for another before you left?”

“Yes, sir; absolutely sure.”

“How did you go to the station?”

“In a taxicab.”

“Alone?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very good,” said Nick. “Where did you ride in the train?”

“In the smoking car,” said Garland. “I occupied a seat alone.”

“Where was the portfolio?”

“I placed it between me and the wall of the car, next to the window, where my arm could rest on it during the ride. I was reading a book in the meantime.”

“Could the portfolio have been removed by a person in the seat behind you without your knowing it?” Nick inquired.

“No, sir, absolutely,” said Garland. “When I placed it there, Mr. Carter, I made sure there was no space between the end of the seat and the wall, through which the portfolio could slip. Naturally, sir, knowing the vast importance of its contents, I was exceedingly careful and constantly alert. It would have been utterly impossible for any person to have removed my portfolio and substituted another on the train.”

“We will go a step farther, then,” said Nick. “When you arrived in Washington and came from the Union Station, what did you do?”

“I hastened to find my friends who promised to meet me, Miss Barclay and Miss Warren,” said Garland. “I found them nearly opposite the main exit. I got into the automobile with them and they----”

“One moment,” Nick interposed. “Was it a limousine or an ordinary touring car?”

“A touring car.”

“Top up?”

“No, sir.”

“Who was in the car?”

“Only the two ladies and Hopkins, the chauffeur,” said Garland. “To be more correct, however, Miss Barclay had alighted and was standing beside the car when I approached. She knew I would like to ride in the seat with Miss Warren, of whom I am especially fond, and she took the seat next to the chauffeur after our greeting.”

“Just before you started for home, I infer?”

“Certainly.”

“What were you carrying except the portfolio?”

“Only the book I had been reading.”

“What did you do with them after entering the touring car?”

“I placed them beside me on the seat,” said Garland.

Then, with a quick frown, he impulsively added:

“See here, Mr. Carter, don’t suppose for a moment that either of my companions at that time know anything about this matter. They are incapable of such treachery as that. Put it out of your head, sir, if you have any such suspicion. I know positively that Verona Warren and Miss Barclay are above----”

“Pardon me,” Nick interrupted a bit dryly. “What you know about them, Mr. Garland, is not material. I am not seeking to cast suspicion upon any one, least of all, your two lady friends. I want only to trace your movements as precisely as possible from the moment you left Annapolis. Pray don’t infer that I have formed any definite suspicion.”

A tinge of color came to Garland’s pale face.

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Carter,” he said quickly. “I meant no offense. Nor do I question your motives. None could realize more keenly how much depends upon what you can do for me. Please continue your questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability.”

“Very good,” Nick replied. “As a matter of fact, then, you have not the slightest idea when, where, or by whom one portfolio was substituted for the other?”

“No, Mr. Carter, not the slightest,” Garland quickly answered. “I am absolutely in the dark. I nearly fainted when I opened the portfolio and discovered my loss.”

“Were you then alone in your apartments?”

“I was.”

“What is the Grayling?” Nick inquired. “A hotel?”

“No. It is a private boarding house in Vermont Avenue, not far from the Thomas Circle.”

“It’s a first-class house, Carter,” put in Chief Welden.

“I have no family,” Garland added. “I’m quite alone in the world and likely to remain so--unless Verona Warren accepts me for her husband. It was my intention to lock the portfolio in a safe which I have in my room. I frequently have taken plans home for night study, Mr. Carter, so I thought nothing of doing so on this occasion. It was too late to put them in the vault in the department building.”

“How soon after entering your room did you open the portfolio?” Nick asked.

“Immediately,” said Garland. “I had in my overcoat pocket a memorandum relating to the plans, and I was about to put it in the portfolio before removing my coat.”

“The substitution could not possibly have been made, then, after you entered your room?” Nick questioned.

“No, sir. There was no other person in the room.”

“How long have you had the portfolio, Mr. Garland?”

“About a month. I bought it expressly to carry the plans in when I had occasion to take them from my office.”

“Where did you buy it?”

“In Raymond’s leather store in Pennsylvania Avenue.”

“Were you alone at that time?”

“I was.”

“Did you see others like it in the store?”

“Yes. There were several of the same kind.”

“Now, Mr. Garland, about the plans,” said Nick. “Are they so marked that the thief, or thieves, can definitely determine what they are and to precisely what part of the government work they relate?”

“No, not immediately,” said Garland. “They are marked in cipher. It would take an expert, even, some little time to thoroughly understand them and to what they refer. In that, Mr. Carter, lies our only hope. If the plans could be recovered before the rascals learn just what they are----”

“They know what they are, Garland, or they would not have framed up so crafty a job to get them,” Nick interrupted. “We may be able, nevertheless, to recover them before they can be deciphered and definitely understood. In that, as you have said, lies our only hope. I will lose no time in getting in my work.”

“What are your plans, Nick?” Chief Welden inquired. “If I can aid you in any way----”

“I will let you know, Welden, in that case,” Nick interposed, rising to go. “I have no plans at present, nor do I know just how I shall proceed. I must consider the circumstances thoroughly. I will note your home address, Mr. Garland, in case I want to reach you out of business hours. That is all I require of you at present.”