Nick laughed, nodding approvingly, and Chick hastened from the office.
It was then about three o’clock. At four Nick had business up-town, and he presently put on his street attire and left the house.
A quarter of an hour later, as he was crossing Forty-second Street and Fifth Avenue, he was observed by a young woman on the opposite corner.
The moment she saw him, moreover, a gleam of malicious satisfaction flashed in her evil eyes.
She tripped quickly over the opposite crossing and intercepted Nick as he reached the Fifth Avenue sidewalk.
The young woman was Belle Braddon, out for the great detective’s scalp.
CHAPTER XVI.
TRAPPED.
Nick Carter suppressed any show of surprise upon beholding Belle Braddon approaching. He halted, politely raising his hat, upon observing that the girl intended to speak to him, and they met on the Fifth Avenue corner.
Belle greeted him with a smile and a pretty toss of her well-poised head, saying glibly:
“How-dy do, Mr. Carter? You haven’t been round to call on me, sir, and play that game of ping-pong.”