The gate was padlocked. When the house was searched it was found that nobody had been there. Evidently Lynne had been misinformed as to the destination of his captors, or they had changed their minds after the escape from the city house.
Nick sought the local chief of police, who was known to him, and had a watch placed upon the house at Pleasantglades; then he returned to the city.
It was midnight when he got back, but nevertheless he went at once to the Creotoria apartment house, where Madge Babbington lived—and went there to find her goods and chattels had been sent to a storage warehouse that day, and that nothing was known as to where she had gone.
Well, there the chase ended for the moment.
We need not go into the details, save to say that not a further trace of Carleton Lynne or of Red Mike, or of Madge Babbington could be found after three days of painstaking and insistent search.
The abductors of the millionaire had left no trail whatever behind them.
It was evident that they had planned every move they made that afternoon and evening, many days in advance, and had prepared for every emergency.
It was certain that they had covered their tracks so expertly that even Nick Carter, aided by his two assistants, could not find them.
The evening of the third day after the related incidents, Nick, with his two assistants, was seated in the study.
All had been silent for a time, each evidently thinking upon the same problem, when Patsy broke the spell by asking suddenly: