She had kept on the west side of the street and was evidently going downtown on foot in the dense crowd thronging the street.
With this meagre clew to follow, Harry hurried away.
"She had the gems," he muttered. "Perhaps she had an idea of selling them quick to raise money to aid her parents, both of whom she now knows are in trouble. She's a wise girl, and must certainly know that she would be helpless to aid them without money. Money will give her power. It's possible, therefore, that she's heading for the jewelry district, which is near by. As the street is crowded with vehicles and she'd have to cross to reach Maiden Lane or John street, she must have gone over under the protection of a policeman. He would remember her and might post me. I'll try all the big cops from here down to Wall street, if necessary."
Harry knew that the largest part of the time of these officers was spent at escorting people across the crowded street.
He therefore began with the policeman at Fulton street, giving him an accurate description of Clara, but the officer had not seen her.
On the corner of Dey street he met with the same result.
At Cortlandt street he gained a clew.
The officer there had piloted a girl over who answered her description and said she had gone down the Lane on the north side.
Harry hastened down the great jewelry center.
He scrutinized every one he met.