Dashing downstairs into the street, Patsy went to a drug store where there was a telephone that he frequently used, and obtained communication with Nick at his home.
Telling his chief what had occurred, the third theft of the papers, he also said that Chick had not returned to his room during the night.
“Chief,” said Patsy, over the wire, “I’m going to try and pick up track of Chick.”
“Where?” asked Nick.
“I shall strike Rivington and the Bowery first, then Thirty-fourth Street, and then Forty-second Street.”
“Right,” replied Nick. “Stay about the Bowery and Rivington until I get over there. I shall come over at once.”
Patsy hurried over to the Bowery, and sought the corner of Rivington Street, where the first thing that attracted his attention was a red chalk mark on the pavement.
Many feet had passed over the mark since it had been made, and it required close observation to discover its meaning.
Finally, Patsy determined that it had been made the evening before, and that it was a notice to himself and the chief that Chick was on the shadow, and going up the Bowery.
He crossed to the upper side of the street, and there found another mark, so dim, however, that he could not tell what its meaning was, but the indication seemed to be still pointing up the Bowery.