“For if he does, he’ll know right away what’s up, and he’ll disappear with the million, and I’ll have all my work to do over again. I certainly was lucky to spot him this time, and lucky lightning would never strike twice again like this. I’ve got to keep out of sight.”
It was only by cleverly dodging behind tree boxes, and house-stoops that the reporter was able to remain unobserved. Several times Witherby turned sharply, as though he suspected he was being followed, but Larry was too quick for him.
“My, he lives a good way from the theatre,” thought Larry, as he followed along, block after block. “I wish I knew what he was doing there. If I knew which of the performers he cared about, I might be able to get a line on him that way. Guess I’ll make some inquiries. It may be——”
Larry had no time to finish his sentence, for Witherby turned suddenly, and, as Larry was just then under a street lamp, he had to dodge quickly behind the post.
“I wonder if he saw me?” mused the reporter. “He is certainly suspicious.”
But this proved to be the end of the chase, for, a moment later, Witherby went up the steps of a house which bore the sign “BOARDING” in a window. Larry made a mental note of the street and number, and also looked at the surroundings.
The street was a quiet one, with a number of apartment houses of the poorer class on either side. The house that Witherby had entered was near a corner, and this cross street was traversed by a trolley line. The neighborhood seemed to be an old-fashioned part of the city.
“Well I’ve found his stopping-place,” thought Larry, “and the next thing is to settle how he’s to be arrested. I can’t go in there, and get him single-handed, and I haven’t a warrant on which the police could take him. Nor could a policeman go in there and get him to-night. In the excitement he might get away with the million, if he had it hidden in his room, as is likely the case.
“And yet he must be arrested. But how? I think he’s safe enough until morning, and by then I’ll think of a plan. I hate to leave this neighborhood, but I’ve got to.”
Larry was in a quandary. Though he was morally certain that Witherby was the thief, all the evidence against him, so far, was circumstantial. It might not be wise to arrest him on suspicion, for, if the charge should fail, then Witherby could sue Larry, the bank, and the paper for false arrest.