“There’s no question in my mind, inspector, as to who did the job,” said Nick Carter.
“You feel sure of it, then?”
“As sure as water runs downhill. I refer, of course, to the mechanical part of the work. I looked it over on the morning following the burglary, every part of the looted vault, and I am as sure of the cracksman’s identity as if I had seen him getting in his work. Only one yegg in the business has the mechanical genius to c***k a vault as that was cracked.”
“James Nordeck?”
“Surely. I have seen Nordeck’s work before, and I know it when I see it. It is invariably stamped with his mechanical ingenuity. Jim Nordeck is in a class of his own at that business.”
“Here is his mug, front and profile, chief, also his record. Have a look at them.”
The last came from Chick Carter, th
