Inquiry among the conductors followed, and they presently discovered the one on whose car Clara and the spies had ridden.
He informed them that the fugitives alighted at the Bowery with transfer tickets on the uptown side.
Back went the Bradys to the Bowery.
"If we stick to their trail long enough," commented Harry, "we may finally locate them. But it's going to be a hard job."
"We'll beat the car they're in by taking the elevated," said the old detective as he dismissed the cab. "Up at the stables we may learn which car passed Grand street quarter of an hour ago."
"It's worth while trying."
So up they went.
When they reached the stable, they were disgusted to find that the cars which passed the corner of Grand and the Bowery about the time the smugglers boarded one, were all gone ten minutes before.
But one more course was open to the detectives.
That was to proceed to Harlem bridge on the elevated and make another effort to head off the fugitives at the terminal of the road.