“I suppose so,” said Joe with a shudder, as the thought of the narrow escape came up before him.
“The superintendent told me that they had been hunting for him ever since he got away but hadn’t got a trace of him. I told him then that I had met him and that he was still going by his right name. Naturally I didn’t tell him what a fool Tabbs had made of me. He was delighted to get the information I gave him and said that he would follow up the clue at once. I didn’t rely wholly on that, however, and on the quiet I put the matter in the hands of a detective agency.”
“Did that help you out any?” asked Joe.
“Not a bit,” replied Reggie disgustedly. “All they sent me was a bill for services rendered, although they kept hinting that they were right on his heels. They must have been a pretty nimble pair of heels, though, because they always got away. Don’t talk to me of detectives. ‘Defectives’ would be a better name for them.”
“How did you find out then that he might be at Riverside?” asked Joe with lively curiosity.
“By the merest chance in the world,” replied Reggie. “I was in Wilmington and when I went to the hotel and started to register I turned over the leaves to see if any of my friends were there and caught sight of Tabbs’ name. Of course I made inquiries in a hurry, and the clerk told me that he had left a week before. I went to the station and found that a man answering to his description had bought a ticket and had his baggage checked through to Riverside. Then I sent the telegram and followed it as soon as I could. Now you know the whole story.”
“Well,” said Joe, drawing a long breath, “it’s pretty bad, but it might have been worse. Now that we have Tabbs where the dogs can’t bite him, you have a chance to get your money back.”
“Yes,” agreed Reggie, “but after all it’s only a chance. No knowing what he may have done with it by this time.”
“Would he have had any trouble in turning the securities into cash?” asked Joe.
“Not the least in the world,” was the answer. “They are as easily handled almost as if they were United States currency. The mere possession of them is regarded as proof of ownership. He could go to any bank or big brokerage house in the country and turn them into cash at five minutes’ notice.”