“That’s the first move,” thought the detective. “The fellow’s next move will be to find out if there’s anything wrong about the scheme they have put up on Denver Bay.”
Nick had made these two bets not so much for the purpose of winning the money, but because he believed that a bluff of that sort would send the sporting man back to the headquarters of the crooked crowd to see if there had been any change in the programme.
After cashing in his chips the man lit[{26}] a cigar, and turned hastily toward the door.
Nick at once started along after him.
“You won’t forget about that bet in the morning,” he said.
“I should say not. I haven’t got any thousand dollars to throw away that way.”
“Well,” said Nick, as the other passed down the stairs, “I’ll light a cigar and go home.”
Instead of immediately passing into the street with the man Nick stood in the entrance a moment, so as to give the man no indication of being followed, and then hastened away after him.
The fellow turned into a stairway on William Street which, as Nick was well aware, led to another gambling room.
The stairway was dark and deserted as the detective reached it.