To have heard him swear and talk one would have supposed that he was an honest man and there had never been such an outrage before, or so dishonest a thing, as that of robbing him of what he had robbed Mr. Herron. Nick, laughing at this, nevertheless by a long whistle gave Chick the signal to be on the alert, as their birds were coming. The next instant Lannigan and the unknown stepped out into the street and hurried in the direction of Third Avenue. Nick hung back, fearing that he was known by one or both of the two, and signaled to Chick to take up the shadow. Chick promptly appeared at the corner and, seeing the two men now pretty nearly at the other end of the block, hurried along past Nick and heard Nick say that he would follow behind him. Thus the four went to Third Avenue, where the two men, Lannigan and the unknown, boarded a street car. A coach and pair stood at the corner, and Nick, calling to Chick, sprang in after telling the driver he should have double fare if he kept the passing car in sight. It was a somewhat difficult matter, but when Thirty-fourth Street was reached they were near enough for Nick to see Lannigan and the unknown descend from the car and go down Thirty-fourth Street. “They are going to the place Patsy told about,” said Chick. “Then,” said Nick, “they are looking after the two Patsy calls his assistants.” “Spike Thomas and Bally Morris?” “Yes. And----” “They are the two Lannigan suspects of robbing him,” quickly put in Chick. “That is the only conclusion.” All this time Nick and Chick had been rapidly following the two down Thirty-fourth Street. Reaching the last block they drew aside to watch the two, and saw them searching every one of the numerous saloons on that block without finding, apparently, what they sought for. Having found nothing, they retraced their steps and again hurried in the direction of Third Avenue. As they stepped out, Nick said to Chick: “They have not found their men here and are going to try somewhere else.” Then they set out to follow. CHAPTER X. IN CLOSE PURSUIT. It was some time before Patsy’s patience in waiting in the saloon he knew to be the hang-out of Spike Thomas was rewarded. But at length Spike and Bally Morris made their appearance, and on seeing Patsy went over to him, and said: “I say, cull,” was Spike’s greeting, “get out of here with us to another joint, where we can patter a bit.” Without knowing why they wanted to go to another place, nevertheless he got up willingly and followed them out into the street. Spike led them to a place in Bond Street, not far from the Bowery, and evidently one which he knew only from the outside. “Yer see, cull,” he said, “I don’t know much about dis place, but it’s quiet, and there’ll be no mix-up wid de rounders and de culls.” “What are you wanting to hide for, Spike?” asked Patsy. “Oh, there’s nothin’ doin’,” said Spike. “Only I want to talk to you about de things you was puttin’ up to me dis morning.”