“I remember there was quite some stir about a missing boy last night,” remarked Mr. Lynch, “but that happens so often I paid no attention to it. But now that you speak of it, I do seem to recall something about a boy begging to be taken to see the animals again. It was rather odd, I call to mind now, I was thinking, that a lad who had seen all the trapeze stunts inside would be wanting to go back to the animals. Most of ’em, as soon as they comes out, asks their fathers or mothers to buy ’em a trapeze, or some flying rings. But I recall I heard one little lad asking to be taken to the animals, and possibly it’s the one you’re inquiring of.” “I’m sure it is!” exclaimed Larry. “What happened to him?” “As near as I can recollect,” went on Mr. Lynch, “I heard someone tell him to come with him, and he’d see the beasts. Didn’t you take him yourself?” “No,” replied Larry. “Try and think, Mr. Lynch, what sort of a person it was enticed him away.” The doorkeeper seemed lost in thought. He pondered over the matter, striving to bring back to his mind the scene he had almost forgotten. “I think I have it!” he exclaimed. “There was a lad about your age,” indicating Larry, “who came up behind the little chap, and said something about taking him to see the animals. I didn’t pay much attention, for I thought you were all together.” “What sort of a boy was this one you speak of?” asked Mr. Newton, eagerly. “Well, he was what I’d call a bold-looking lad,” was the answer. “Not a nice sort of a chap at all, though he seemed smart.” He proceeded to describe the boy more fully when Mr. Newton interrupted him: “I’m pretty sure I know who he was!” “So am I!” cried Larry. “It was Peter Manton!” “The very one I had in mind,” spoke Mr. Newton. “That only proves what we believed all along. It is the gang with the blue-handed man at the head that has Jimmy. Peter is only one of the tools. Yet we may be able to get a clew through him. He’s liable to make a false move, not being as well versed in crime as the older ones. I think we are beginning to see daylight, Larry.” “But it’s a pretty faint clew,” objected Larry. “Yes, of course, but we can’t expect everything. We’ve got a clew quicker than I expected we would. Now we will have to develop it and work it up. I’m sure it will lead to something. We must get on the trail of Peter. Do you think you could do that?” “I guess so,” answered Larry. “Then we’ll split up this work,” went on the older reporter. “You devote your time to locating Peter, or find out where he hangs out. If you get a chance, follow him. Sooner or later he’ll go to the headquarters of the gang. I’ll work on another end.” “What are you going to do?” asked Larry. “I’m going to start my investigations from the sign of the blue hand,” replied Mr. Newton. “Not from the place in Chinatown where you were nearly injured by those men?”