In the meantime, Nick Carter had concealed himself at a point from which he could watch the man he had followed. Seeing that he was in conversation with some one on the corner, he called Chick and Patsy to him. “Elwell?” asked Chick, as he came up. “Yes,” said Nick. “Do you know who he is talking with?” “Yes,” said Chick. “It is my man Seaman.” “Seaman?” repeated Nick. “That is strange. They have met here by arrangement.” “To meet some one else,” said Chick. “And why are you here, Patsy?” asked Nick. “I followed my two assistants here,” said Patsy, “from the foot of Thirty-fourth Street.” “It is very strange that following men from different parts of the city we should all meet here,” said Nick. “But we must separate. It won’t do for us to bunch together here. But keep in touch with each other, boys.” Chick slipped across the street, closely followed by Patsy, but on the other side Chick took up a station near the elevated railroad pillar, while Patsy, going further, crossed Third Avenue and took a station there, where he could more easily watch the two who were his especial charge. He had been there but a moment or two when he saw signs of excitement in Spike Thomas and Bally Morris. They evidently were trying to conceal themselves from the view of some one on the opposite side of the avenue. Patsy made an effort to see if he could determine who or what was the cause of this excitement, and saw Lannigan coming down the avenue with the same man he had seen in the saloon in Thirty-fourth Street. It struck him at once that Chick and Nick did not know Lannigan, and so he slipped across the avenue again, using a passing street car for a cover, and reaching Chick, said to him: “Lannigan and his pal are coming down the street.” At this moment, Lannigan came into view and immediately went up to Elwell and spoke to him. “That’s him,” said Patsy, “speaking to Elwell. Let the chief know who it is.” He stepped back to look at his own men and saw that they were hastening up Third Avenue at a rapid gait. Without waiting further, he darted after the two, well satisfied that the one they had concealed themselves from, and from whom they were now running, was Lannigan. In the meantime, the four men on the corner had exchanged a few words, and then Lannigan and his companion turning, followed by Seaman and Elwell, led the way into the saloon on the corner near them. Chick crossed Forty-second Street to Nick, saying: “The two who met our men were Lannigan and his pal.” “Does Seaman know you?” asked Nick. “I do not think so,” replied Chick. “Then slip into that saloon and see if you can get near enough to hear what their talk is about.” Chick walked away hurriedly and entered the saloon. Nick took up a position on the street, where he could watch both entrances, and waited for developments. CHAPTER VII. TAKING CHANCES.