He had all along felt satisfied that the abduction of the banker had never been planned by Brodie and his rough companions.
There was a master hand that pulled the strings, while the puppets danced.
Nick Carter felt certain that he had found the leader in the person of Elmer Greer.
For two days Nick haunted gambling saloons, theaters, sporting resorts and other places where Elmer was likely to be found, without success.
The detective was cleverly disguised as a fop, and his best friend would not have recognized in the dude the celebrated Nick Carter.
On the evening of the second day, the detective was sauntering across the park at Union Square when a gentleman, walking hurriedly, his eyes bent on the ground, collided with him.
“I beg your pardon, sir,” said the offending party.
“Don’t mention it.”
Carter walked on, but only for a few feet, then he turned.
“Shall I arrest him now?” he thought. “No, I will follow and see where he goes; he can’t escape me.”