“I don’t know anything about it,” said Merton. “But a friend of mine, who was there as a guest, said he heard Sanborn say something to his nephew that made him believe that it was the running away of Ellison from the house that made the bride sick. In other words, my friend thought that there had been a big quarrel somewhere and that Ellison left the house in a huff before the reception.” This was enough to justify Chick in a denial, and he promptly made it. “Well,” said Merton, “if there was an attempt made on the house, what gang was it?” “The chief thinks,” said Chick, “that Lannigan tried to get inside the house, pretending to be one of your plainclothes men.” “Lannigan? The man that Nick Carter had his hands on a little while ago and let him off with a caution. Is it possible that he can be fool enough to butt himself against the law again?” “That’s what the chief thinks.” “Well, I saw Lannigan on the street not an hour ago. You can find him almost any minute in the Tenderloin somewhere. Both nights that he has been about here he has had a woman with him, who is as swell as they make ’em.” Chick turned to Patsy and said: “You see, Patsy, my guess was right. The Tenderloin is the place to look for him.” “Who is the woman that is traveling with him?” asked Patsy. “She’s a stunner,” replied Merton. “She’s tall, slim, handsome, with a face white, like marble, red lips, round blue eyes, and wavy, light fluffy hair. She is dressed in the highest style. She looks to me like a lady who is trying to see the wrong side of New York without being in it.” Chick and Patsy instantly exchanged glances. “Are you looking after such a woman?” said Merton. “The chief wants to know all about such a woman,” said Chick. “He fancied that she was with Lannigan, and I guess they want evidence for a divorce suit.” “I thought Nick Carter never touched such cases,” said Merton. “Oh,” replied Chick, carelessly, “it’s only my guess, but the work of Patsy and myself is to get on to this couple, and put them under watch.” “Then,” said Merton, “the best thing you can do is to travel with me to-night, for, if they are here in town when the lights are lit, we’ll run against them for sure.” Having finished their meal, the three started out on their travels. Merton had little difficulty in finding the man over whom he had watched, but the two that Chick and Patsy were anxious to find could not be found in any part of that gay section of New York. All places, possible and impossible, open and concealed, were visited, but no trace of Lannigan could be found. The hours passed and midnight was nearly reached when Patsy said: “I’m afraid, Chick, that our man has got out of New York after his failure to do the work that he came here to do.” “You mean the robbing of the Sanborn wedding presents?” said Chick. “Yes,” said Patsy. “Very likely he has got to know that Nick Carter is on his track again, and he doesn’t want any more hot encounters with the chief.”