The famous detective got up from his chair, and began pacing up and down the apartment, keeping it up for a long time. When he stopped he dropped again into his chair, and said: “I am satisfied that this move of Masson’s bears some relation to the case we have in hand. What, I am not able to figure out. But we must get ‘onto’ it, to use Patsy’s words, and Patsy, you must be the one to get ‘onto’ it.” “All right, chief,” said Patsy. “But you must tell me how.” “Didn’t you tell me once that some summers ago you were on a yacht as a steward for a little while?” “Yes.” “Well, I think you will have to try and hire out as a steward on the _Derelict_.” Patsy laughed, and replied: “Or as an able seaman?” “Any way, so long as you get aboard,” said Nick. “That’s the most important thing we have to do at present. And you haven’t much time to do it in, either.” “And it isn’t an easy thing to do,” said Patsy; “but I’ll start the ball rolling to-night.” The little clock on the mantel of the room struck the hour of ten, and Chick said: “If you are going to start the ball to-night, you’ll have to start it very soon, for it’s ten o’clock now.” At that moment the servant entered the room with a telegram, which she handed to Chick. Tearing off the envelope and opening the folded paper within, Chick read aloud: “‘Am in trouble.’” Chick hastily glanced at the top of the dispatch, and exclaimed: “Philadelphia! The deuce! It’s from Ida.” “How do you know?” asked Patsy. “Is it signed by her?” “There’s no signature,” said Chick. “But I know it’s from her.” Nick was already on his feet, and he said: “And she wants help or she never would have sent the message. Chick, you and I start for Philadelphia now. We have just got time to catch the next train that leaves for that city.” “Do I go, too?” asked Patsy. “No,” said Nick. “We leave you in charge of the case. Get on to that yacht if you can. I fancy that that’s where the work must be done. We can’t tell how long Chick and I will be away. But, if anything important turns up, wire me to the old place in Philadelphia. “Now, Chick, we must be off.” Nick and Chick hurried away, and Patsy went off to start his own difficult work. CHAPTER XVII. A NEW SIDE. Ida met with an experience unusual to her on her trip to Philadelphia. While riding on the cars she perceived that a man and woman, fellow-passengers, were eying her with no little curiosity. What had attracted their attention she was at a loss to know, and for a time it irritated her. But, turning to the window, she, by interesting herself in a magazine, tried to forget it. And, becoming interested in her story, she did forget it, and was only started from her interest by seeing a man seat himself in the chair next to her.