Merton had little difficulty in finding the man over whom he had watched, but the two that Chick and Patsy were anxious to find could not be found in any part of that gay section of New York.
All places, possible and impossible, open and concealed, were visited, but no trace of Lannigan could be found. The hours passed and midnight was nearly reached when Patsy said:
“I’m afraid, Chick, that our man has got out of New York after his failure to do the work that he came here to do.”
“You mean the robbing of the Sanborn wedding presents?” said Chick.
“Yes,” said Patsy. “Very likely he has got to know that Nick Carter is on his track again, and he doesn’t want any more hot encounters with the chief.”
This had passed between Chick and Patsy as they were walking along Broadway above Thirty-fifth Street.
Suddenly Merton halted the two, and, pointing to the other side of the street, said:
“There’s your couple now.”
Looking across they saw a man and a woman, both stylishly clothed, crossing Broadway to the corner on which they stood.
The three, dropping back out of sight, watched them cross. Standing on the corner for a moment, the two seemed to discuss which way they should go, then they turned up Broadway.