Nick and the inspector were taken aback by this turn of affairs.
As the beggar hobbled down the road his hoarse laugh came back mockingly.
At the same moment that the four men appeared, two others came from the direction of Weeden’s house; they were Meloy and the chauffeur of the taxi.
The question that flitted through Nick Carter’s mind was: “Where was Weeden?”
None of the men who confronted the detectives bore any resemblance to Weeden or Billy Young.
Was it possible that the old tramp was none other than Weeden in disguise. He was evidently a fraud.
Nick made up his mind that he would look after the beggar when they had finished with the rascals who now confronted them. That they would be able to overcome the men, who now threatened them, Nick was almost certain. He had been in tighter places before, and his calmness and courage had gotten him out of many a hole. After Meloy and his companion had arrived the detectives were ordered to throw up their hands. As they were covered by the guns of the men they were compelled to submit.
At this moment the rain commenced to come down in torrents.
The flashes of lightning and the awful peals of thunder made the scene a weird one.
“Meloy, see what these fly cops have on them,” commanded the leader of the gang.