In a few moments they came to the City Hall. The detective looked up at the clock on the tower, compared the time with his watch and then took his stand under one of the electric lights on the street in front. "He has a date here," whispered Hugh. "We'll have to cross the street." They crossed over and under the pretense of looking at the billboards in front of the moving picture theater kept watch on their man. "Where've you been?" demanded Bob. "Just following that man around," said Hugh. "What happened to you?" and he looked at his friend's torn and dirty clothes. Bob related the story of his experiences. He had searched vainly for any trace of Lena and failing to find her had resolved to take one turn along the main street and then go down to the factory. He had met Hugh as has been told. "But the paper Lena had," exclaimed Hugh. "You got it you say?" "I certainly did." "What did it say?" "Read it," said Bob, handing the crumpled sheet over to his companion. Hugh started to unfold it, but before he could do so, Bob grasped him by the arm and pointed across the street. "Look," he exclaimed. A woman had joined the fake detective under the light, and the two were talking together. "It's Lena!" said Hugh excitedly. "But where did she come from?" "I don't know, but there she is all right." "He's mad about something," said Bob. "Probably because she lost that piece of paper." "That'll prove to him they're being watched." "I wonder if they suspect us." "Let's hope not, yet," said Hugh earnestly. "There they go," he added a moment later, as Lena and the fake detective started down the street. They still were talking excitedly together and it was hard to tell from their manner whether the man was threatening Lena or pleading with her. "Another chase, I suppose," sighed Bob. "I'm getting tired." "Not a chase on foot anyway," said Hugh, for just then the fake detective hailed a passing cab; he and Lena stepped into it and a moment later were being driven rapidly away. CHAPTER XXIV AT THE FACTORY "Well," exclaimed Bob in dismay, "I guess they got rid of us that time." "Why have they?" demanded Hugh. "Why can't we hire a cab and follow them?" "Have you got any money?" "Not a cent." "Neither have I. I guess we're left." "Aren't we fools?" cried Hugh angrily. "How could any one be so stupid?" "There's no use in crying over spilt milk," said Bob. "The thing for us to do is to decide what we ought to do next." "Let's go down to the factory; I don't see what else we can do." "All right," said Bob disconsolately. "I do hate to have to go and tell father that we've been tricked and beaten though." "He can at least get the police to come down and help guard his factory," said Hugh. "Probably no harm will come to it if they do that."