The detectives decided finally that their only way to baffle their murderous foes was to make a literal race of it. They knew that the three crooks would make hot pursuit. By keeping always just ahead of the trio they could be sure of safety and perhaps find a way of doubling and turning the tables on the foe. “We will lead them a chase across the continent!” cried Old King Brady. “If they can catch us they may have our scalps. In the meantime we will try every kind of a decoy for them.” The Bradys left their lodgings. They had barely struck the street when Harry exclaimed: “We are shadowed!” “Eh?” exclaimed the old detective. “I tell you it is so!” “How do you know that?” “I saw one of the gang slip around that corner.” “If that is so we ought to be able to decoy him. Come on!” The two detectives carelessly strolled down the street. It was a crowded thoroughfare and they knew that no attempt would be made upon their lives here. But presently they slipped into a dark alley. Here they crouched behind some barrels. Each held a revolver in his hand. If their foes came into the alley, the trap was ready and would be sprung. The detectives watched very closely. Twice they saw their birds at a corner far down the street. But they would not venture to accept the decoy. Old King Brady was disgruntled. “Confound them! They are too sharp,” he said. “What shall we do?” “Give it up,” said Harry, laconically. “It looks like it. Well, we would be foolish to go their way. Let us give them the slip through this alley.” “Very well.” So the detectives slipped away and into another street. Soon they were on Broadway. “Aha!” said Old King Brady, triumphantly. “That’s the way to slip them. I think we can fool them yet, Harry.” But the young detective clutched his arm and said: “Don’t you believe it. Just look across the street.” Old King Brady was astounded. One of the trio, Collins it was, stood at an opposite street corner. He glanced at the detectives and then vanished down the side street. “By Jupiter!” exclaimed the old detective. “That beats me! Where did he come from?” “I tell you they are almost omnipresent,” declared Harry. “We can’t seem to turn the trick on them.” “Well, we will!” cried Old King Brady, angrily. “We’ll catch that fellow. Stay here, Harry.” With this the old detective darted across the street. But search as he would, he could find no trace of Collins. Baffled, Old King Brady returned to Broadway. “Confound the slippery rascal!” he cried. “There must be a way to trip them up.” “I have a plan,” said Harry. “What?” asked the old detective, eagerly. “Well, it may seem simple, but I think it will work. Go to an uptown hotel and register.” “Well?” “We will assume to go to our room. But in reality we will slip out by a rear entrance. Once the gang enters the hotel we will nab them.” “But will they do that?” “I think they will. Certainly they will leave nothing undone to encompass our death.”