“Can I be of any use to you, sir?” he asked, eager to keep up an acquaintance he felt sure would lead to some definite results.
“Is anyone following me or watching me?” inquired the man breathlessly.
“Not at all,” responded Tom reassuringly. “Everybody is running to the fire.”
“Ah, that is good, most good!” exclaimed the man in a relieved tone. “The troubles—all at once. I am all turned around. You are a good honest boy,” he added, scanning Tom critically. “You would not bring troubles to a poor old man?”
“Not I,” declared Tom.
“You would help him?”
“I would be glad to,” said Tom, delighted at getting more closely into the confidence of his companion.
“Then you shall earn a dollar. See, I am a stranger in the city. You must direct me—to that address.”
The speaker fumbled in a pocket and produced a card which he handed to Tom. It bore an address, and below it the words: “Go to section 4. Wait for Brady.”
“What luck!” breathed Tom ardently. “This man is certainly the mysterious operator, and he is going to see one of the men who kidnapped Harry Ashley.”