Possibly if he had known the ready use the famous detective could make of his fists, he would have thought twice over his action. As it was, he received a blow straight between the eyes which sent him out of the door and on his back to the pavement. Nick sprang forward through the door at once to meet the second coming up. He did not wait for any action on the part of that fellow, but sent him to keep company with the other, who was endeavoring to get on his feet. Chick caught Ida and swiftly carried her out of harm’s way, through the door and into the street, through which now she had passed for the second time that night. Nick followed them closely, and in a moment they were out on the corner. “Take notice of the place, Chick,” said Nick. “We may want to come back here again.” The two rascals who had been so severely dealt with by Nick made no attempt to follow them, and it was not long before they were in the street where they could take the cars that would take them to the hotel where they usually stopped when in that city. It was not until then that Ida told the story of her experience of the night, and of the information she had gained. After he had listened to it intently, Nick said: “What you tell us puts an entirely new look upon our case. Chick has picked up a point to add to it, and together they give us some work that will keep us in Philadelphia to-morrow. That brown-bearded man has got to be investigated.” “Yes,” said Chick, “and we have got to know where he spent the last three days.” “But what was the meaning of their peculiar treatment of me?” asked Ida. “They meant to keep you a prisoner,” said Nick, “to prevent you from doing work which they had already found was getting too close to them.” Nick got up from his chair, and turning to Chick, said: “Come, Chick, Ida wants rest after her rough experience, and you and I have got to size up something. Come with me.” CHAPTER XX. PATSY’S TRIUMPH. While these events were transpiring in Philadelphia Patsy was endeavoring to set out as a yachtsman. Chick said that Patsy was like a cat, since he always fell on his feet, no matter how you threw him. Leaving Nick and Chick starting for their Philadelphia trip, he wandered over to Broadway and from caprice turned into the hotel café where he had left the man who had brought to Masson the news of the change in the arrangements for the funeral of Ethel Romney. Rather to his surprise than otherwise, he found this man drinking with acquaintances. Among them was one with whom Patsy was slightly acquainted. This man knew Patsy had some connection with Nick Carter, but how much he knew Patsy could not tell. As Patsy was standing near the bar, this man looked up and recognized the lad. He arose from his seat and crossed to where Patsy was standing, addressing the young detective rather familiarly.