It was noon when Nick Carter entered the vast building on Pennsylvania Avenue, in which the state, war, and navy departments of the nation are located.
Nick proceeded at once to the west wing and the office he was seeking, which he entered without the ceremony of knocking. He found a young woman at work with a typewriter.
“Is Mr. Garland inside?” Nick inquired, glancing at the closed door of a private office.
“No, sir,” said the stenographer, turning from her table. “But he is likely to come in at any moment.”
“Where has he gone?”
“To an office on the next floor, sir. A young lady is mysteriously missing, one with whom he is acquainted, and he wanted to inquire about her.”
“Is she employed in the office to which he has gone?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How long has she been missing?”
“She was a
