He hurried her straight to the nearest empty hansom. “Down Seventh Avenue in a hurry!” he said to the driver, as he sprang in after Hilda. As the hansom turned they caught a glimpse of one of the combatants, who dragged himself from the other and ran toward them shouting. The whip of the driver cracked, the horse leaped forward, and they were away, the cool wind whistling into their faces. “A piece of luck,” said Frank. “If that fellow had not jumped on Jones just then, I know not how we would have given him the slip.” “Have we?” asked Hilda, still agitated. “I think so.” “Are you sure?” Merriwell tried to look back. Then he rattled the little trap-door in the roof of the cab till the driver opened it and looked down. “Look out, driver,” said Frank, “that we are not followed. Look back and tell me if you think any one tries it.” A moment later the driver called down: “I believe somebody is coming after us in a hansom.” “Jones!” cried Hilda, clinging to Frank’s arm. “Dodge that hansom, driver,” said Frank, “and I will give you ten dollars!” “I’ll try it, sir.” Into Fortieth Street they whirled, the horse flying along. Down Eighth Avenue they sped for a distance, and then again they turned to the west. Down Ninth Avenue cut the hansom for a single block, and then it doubled back to Eighth. At every turn Frank and Hilda had been able to look back and see the cab in pursuit, which held after them persistently. That is, at every turn until the double back toward Eighth Avenue. When that was made the other cab had not yet turned the corner into Ninth. “You are getting away from him, driver!” shouted Frank, having thrust up the little door; but the wheels were rumbling over the rough paving so it is doubtful if the man above heard or understood. Back to Eighth they went, and the driver promptly turned up the avenue. But he wheeled to the west again at the next corner and was once more driving toward Ninth. Frank laughed with satisfaction. “We struck the right man,” he said. “What do you mean?” questioned the girl. “This fellow must have done some dodging before, for he knows all the tricks, and he can double on his own tracks in the most artistic manner. He will earn his tenner, all right.” “Then do you think we’ll give Jones the slip?” “I think we have done so already.” At Ninth they turned northward and proceeded three or four blocks, when the cab rounded a corner into a side street and the driver called down that he had lost the fellow. “And earned your money handsomely,” declared Merry. “You shall get the coin.” “Where will you go now, sir?” Merry consulted Hilda. “I shall permit you to take me home now,” she said. “I am going to tell you all the story and ask your advice, for I am in sore need of it.” She told him the street and number, which he gave to the driver, who took them to the destination. Merriwell paid the driver the ten dollars in addition to his regular charge, and the hansom rolled away.