He had recognized Arthur Hatch and Carlos Mendoza. Arthur was unsteady on his feet and rather boisterous.
Frank's first inclination was to cross the street immediately and to get Arthur away from his companion; but something caused him to decide on a different course.
"See here, Bronson," he said, "have you any particular duty on hand just now?"
"No, sir; not just at present. I'm on the lookout for crooks and sharks along here. You know we have orders to keep this part of Broadway clean of them."
"Can you come with me? I wish to follow those chaps. The one who appears to be in the worst condition is the son of Warren Hatch, the banker, and his associates are helping him go to the dogs as fast as possible. I'd like to find a way to break up his friendship with that crowd."
Bronson was willing to accompany Merry, and they followed the boisterous young men down Sixth Avenue some distance. Finally the boys disappeared into a cigar store.
"Hanged if they haven't gone into Spice Worden's!" said Bronson.
"Who is Spice Worden?"
"The proprietor of a gambling house. I know him, but I've been tipped to let him alone. There's graft in it for somebody, and I fancy I know who gets the rake-off, though I wouldn't like to say."
When they looked into the cigar store Hatch and his companions had disappeared.