As a general rule, excepting girls who are employed in the business houses of the downtown section of the city, but few females frequent the side streets.
In fact, so few pass through these streets, that when they do, they are noticed by the numerous boys and business men thereabouts.
Harry was relying upon this curious, but true fact, to gain some news of the girl he was pursuing.
He therefore did not hesitate to ask everyone with whom he came in contact if they had seen such a girl as Clara was.
In some cases he received a negative answer, while in others, not a few people admitted they had noticed her.
According to the latter information, he traced her to Nassau street, and an Italian apple vender with a push-cart near the corner, said he had seen her turn the corner and proceed toward John street.
Following up this clew, Harry met a man standing near the window of a haberdasher's store who asserted that he had seen such a person go through John street toward Broadway.
He averred that she had gone into a building near the corner and pointed out the place to the young detective.
When Harry reached the building in question, he paused and studied the business men's signs in the doorway.
One in particular attracted his attention, worded this way: