"Say, there must be a hoodoo about this job," the fruit man exclaimed. "You're the second boy to give it up in less than an hour. What's the matter?" The boys did not think it necessary to explain. It was arranged that Frank would stay in the vicinity of the store to meet Mr. Wilding, if that gentleman should arrive, and tell what had happened, while William, with Bart and Fenn, tried to trace Ned and the red-moustached man. "When Mr. Wilding comes I'll take him to our hotel," said Frank. "There will be no use in remaining here and we can wait for you there, as it's nearer than his." "All right," replied Bart. "We may have some good news for you." "I hope you do," Frank said. "This thing is getting on my nerves. I'm afraid we'll never see Ned again." "Oh, yes we will," put in Fenn cheerfully. William did not stop to ask any pay from the fruit man for what work he had done, but hurried off with the two chums in the direction taken by Ned and the man who had led him away. "We'll ask any policeman we meet," suggested Bart. "I'm afraid we're on a sort of wild-goose chase," remarked William, "but it's the best we can do. If I had only been sure it was Ned I would have followed him, without waiting for you, but I wasn't." "If it was Ned," said Bart, "I can't understand why he didn't admit his identity." "He must have had a good reason for it," retorted Fenn. Through the street they hurried, making inquiries from policemen, and others whom they met, as to whether Ned and the man had gone that way. They got some traces, but in New York few persons, even policemen, have time to take note of those whom they have no special reason for keeping in mind. As William had said, it was a sort of wild-goose chase, and, when they had gone a mile or more, they became convinced that it was useless to continue any farther. "Baffled again," remarked Bart. "This beats me. I wonder what we are to do." "Have to begin all over again," declared William. "It was my fault. I should have followed Ned." "No, you did what you thought was best," Fenn replied. They returned to the hotel, to find Mr. Wilding and Frank awaiting them. Mr. Wilding, who had expected some news of his son, was deeply disappointed when the three boys returned with none. "What in the world are we to do?" asked Mr. Wilding. "We seem completely at a loss." "There are a few more lodging houses to try," suggested William. "I'll start out again this evening. That's when the places are full, and I may get some trace of him." No one could offer a better suggestion, and it was arranged that Mr. Wilding should continue the search with a private detective he had hired, while William and Bart would make a tour of the lodging houses. Fenn and Frank were to remain at the Imperial Hotel. "There's no telling when a message may come from the baggage agent telling us that Ned has called for his trunk," Bart said, "and some one ought to be ready to hurry to the depot. We'll have to divide our forces."