“No, but the first undoubtedly means located, and the last, unless I’m mistaken is the signature.”
“But who would sign himself just ‘Ot,’ like some African cannibal?”
“Ferrot, the man who probably helped Parloti get the boy,” exclaimed Larry quickly.
“That’s it!” cried Nyler. “Larry, you’re on the right track! This note, torn as it is, makes a good clew. Ferrot wrote it, and sent it to Parloti, telling him he had the boy located, and to come at once. Now I see my way clear. The first place we want to head for is the district messenger office nearest this hotel.”
“Why?”
“To ask which of the boys brought a note here last night for Parloti. And then, from the clerk in charge, we can find out if anyone answering the description of Ferrot left it to be delivered. We’re on the right track at last.”
“Just wait a minute,” suggested Larry, who had gathered up the fragments of the note. “If Parloti had a hand in stealing the boy, or his men did, why should one of them send him word that the boy was located? Wouldn’t they know where he was themselves?”
For a moment the detective was silent. Then he burst out with:
“No! By Jove, Larry, I’m beginning to see things now. The boy got away after they had him, and they’ve only just now located him. That explains it. That shows why Parloti hung around New York after poor little Lorenzo was spirited away.
“Some of their plans went wrong, and the boy gave them the slip. He couldn’t get back to his mother, or communicate with her, or he’d have done so. Maybe they had him drugged, or something like that. Anyhow, he was out of their possession, and Ferrot, or some of the kidnapping gang, happened to locate him. Then they sent word to the chief conspirator, Parloti, to come at once, and he did. He didn’t dare go openly, for he knew we’d be after him, so he took the fire-escape route.”