The features of one of the men were familiar to Nick, but the hair did not appear to be in keeping with the rest of the man’s make-up.
“I will watch those men when I go out and see who they are. I don’t like their looks,” said Nick to himself as he took his seat.
Nick had hardly begun his supper, when a young man strolled in and took a seat at Nick’s table.
He was a young newspaper man on one of the great dailies, and was a warm friend of Nick’s. The young fellow had been all over the world, and whenever Nick and he got together they sat down and exchanged reminiscences.
They lingered over their coffee and cigars, and when the young newspaper man said good night to Nick it was long past midnight.
Nick took his departure shortly after.
The four men, who had been drinking wine all the time that Nick and his friend had been talking, got up and left the place as soon as the detective went out the door.
Glancing up and down the street, they saw Nick going toward his home. They followed, skulking in and out of doorways.
The young journalist, who had forgotten his cane, was returning to the restaurant, when he saw the suspicious actions of the men. He dodged back into a doorway until he saw that they were really following Nick.
As Nick reached the corner, he saw two patrolmen that he knew. He spoke to them for a minute, and then turned the corner to go to the house where he lived.