“It was not a bad idea, Jack, but I trust you won’t carry the matter so far as to bury me. What do you mean by saying the fat is in the fire?” “Well, boss, we just stand in the same place we did the day after the old gent was carried off,” answered Tambourine. “Oh, no,” remarked Nick, “we know where to look for him, and I will have the banker before night. I intend to raid the house, if the local authorities will give me help, this afternoon.” “You won’t find Hilton Field there,” returned the little fellow. “They have removed him?” “Well, rather,” replied Jack. “We can go to the place, no matter if it was on the other side of the Atlantic,” said the detective. “Of course we can,” remarked Tambourine. “I’ve thought that myself, but first we shall have to find out the place.” “What, you were there and did not learn where they intended taking the banker?” said Carter. “No. I tried to find out, but could not,” answered the little fellow. “I asked Skip, and he said when they wanted me I would be sent for. I am to take Dell Ladley to New York this afternoon.” “Which direction did they take?” Nick asked, very much chagrined at the removal of Mr. Field. “Dick, Skip and the old fellow went off in a boat about two o’clock this morning,” replied Tambourine, “but I could not make out which way they headed. I know they did not return to Sands Point. They did think about doing so, but changed their mind.” “Elmer Greer is not with them, then?” “No, he took the first train for New York this morning,” said Jack. “I hardly knew him when he came downstairs. The whiskers, mustache and goatee are gone.” “What train do you go on?” Nick asked. “The two-forty.” “Well, if you see an Englishman, wearing a red necktie and a loud suit, aboard, that’s I.” Tambourine Jack, Dell Ladley and a man Nick Carter did not know, drove up to the depot just in time to take the train. The man went into the smoking car, leaving his companions to shift for themselves. When they reached the city, Tambourine Jack put his female companion into a street car and rejoined the detective. “Did you get the slip of paper I dropped?” Jack asked. “No, where did you drop it?” “Just as we got on the cars,” he said; “it only had the name Wilbur on it.” “I didn’t see it,” Nick remarked. “So that chap with you was the banker’s son?” “That’s the sprig,” replied Tambourine. “Don’t look much like a thief, does he? He made quite a time when Skip took the old fellow away. I thought there would be bloodshed, but Wilbur weakened. Skip seemed to be possessed of a million fiends last night.” “Does he know where the new hiding place is?” Nick asked. “You can gamble he don’t, and, between me and you, I don’t think Greer does,” answered the little fellow. “They told him of a certain place, I guess, but my private opinion is, they will dump him unless he soon puts up some more money. They asked for some last night, but he had none to give them.”