At Fourteenth Street Dick Ferris turned and walked toward Broadway. Hal followed close behind, but in the crowd at the corner he lost track of the fellow he was after.
He looked this way and that, and into the restaurants, but Ferris had disappeared.
What was to do next? It was past supper-time, but Hal was in no humor for eating.
Suddenly somebody brushed him rudely. It was a man wearing a heavy cape coat. Hal glanced at the individual sharply, and was astonished to see it was Mr. Caleb Allen.
Allen had not seen Hal, and the boy at once placed himself where he was not likely to be noticed.
"I wonder if he and Ferris met?" thought Hal. "It isn't likely, but yet it may be so. The three of them are into this, and so is that fellow Macklin. I must be careful, and keep my eyes wide open."
Allen passed up Union Square on the west side, and Hal made it a point to follow close behind.
Arriving at Seventeenth Street, Allen turned down toward the North River. He passed over several blocks, and finally ascended the steps of a small mansion on the left.
The front of the mansion was totally dark, but when the door was opened Hal saw that the interior was brilliantly illuminated.
As soon as Allen passed in the door was closed, and all became as dark as before, Hal hesitated, and then ascending the steps, looked for a door-plate.