He had hardly done this when Lannigan hurried up to the Bowery with something in his arms and under his coat, jumped into the coach, and was driven rapidly away.
After that it seemed to be merely an effort to get back to Lannigan’s apartments in Avenue A in a way that could not be tracked.
Patsy, by questions, soon settled that the house which Lannigan had entered was the tenement house in which Spike had his rooms, and said so positively.
“Then,” said Nick, “it is settled. Lannigan entered that house to steal from Spike Thomas what Spike Thomas in the afternoon stole from Lannigan.”
The two then told to Chick that which had been learned from Spike Thomas and Bally Morris, and together the two stories made a complete one.
“Are you satisfied,” asked Nick, “that Lannigan carried those drawings and the model to his rooms?”
“Yes,” said Chick. “Now, with what you tell me, I know that they are in Lannigan’s rooms at this moment. What has bothered me all night, and why I clung to him so, giving you the trail, was that I knew he was up to some game that was important, but I couldn’t tell what. You see, I never knew that Lannigan suspected Spike Thomas of that theft, nor that you did. You sent me off on the trail of Lannigan before I had learned that. I was beginning to fear you would not pick up my trail, and when I heard Patsy’s signal, was going to chance a rush into Lannigan’s rooms.”
“We’ll make the rush now,” said Nick.
“Where is the unknown?” asked Patsy.
Chick laughed.