“He spied me, came up, caught hold of my arm, dragged me after him out of the saloon, pushed me into a cab and ordered the cabby to hurry up and not lose sight of another cab that was just turning into Broadway. “My breath was taken away. “I didn’t know what to make of Rich’s actions. “The cab started, and before I could utter a word, Rich said: “‘Brockey, I need your assistance.’ “‘You can have it, if you pay for it,’ I replied. “‘I’ll pay,’ Rich said. “‘Then what is it you want me to do?’ I asked. “‘I want you to track a man.’ “Well, Rich pulled out a roll of bills and staked me with a hundred. He told me that in the cab which we were following was a man whom he hated and whom he wanted to locate. “As soon as I found out where the man was going to put up I was to send him word. “Rich got out of the cab. “Before he did so he told me he was going to dine that night at the Knickerbocker Cottage, and I could send him word there.” “Why didn’t Rich keep in wid youse?” “He said he wanted to meet Darwin. He was in a very nervous condition, and another thing I saw that he had been drinking heavily. “Well, he got out, and I kept on the bloke’s trail. “Finally the first cab stopped at the corner of Broadway and Sixteenth Street. “My cab stopped on the next corner. “I got out in a hurry, and I saw an old man get out of the other cab.” “Wot was de number of de cab youse was in?” “Number one hundred and forty-seven.” “All right.” “As I said, an old man got out of the other cab. I got close up to him when he was paying the driver, and I heard him tell the man that he would not need him any longer. “As the old bloke walked off I noticed that he had the lock step.” “You don’t say!” interposed Nick. “I do. At first I was not sure, but as I followed him and noted every action, I knew that he had been a guest at the big hotel up the river. He looked respectable enough, but there was the stamp of the prison on him. “I followed the old fellow around all evening. He stopped in at a number of places and he seemed to be looking for some one. “About ten o’clock he entered a restaurant on Sixth Avenue, and sat down at one of the tables. “I went to the office of the district messenger company, wrote a note, and sent it to Rich, asking him to meet me at McKeever’s place. “In a short time he and Darwin met me in the saloon. “We all had a drink. “Then Rich listened to what I had to say about the old man. “When we got outside of the saloon Rich said that he wouldn’t need me any more that night, but he might the next day.” “And youse went off to blow in de hundred plunks?” “Of course I did.” “Den youse don’ know wot Rich an’ Darwin did?” “I surmise.” “Wot?” “Rich and Darwin followed the old cove until they cornered him at the Red Dragon Inn.” “Yes.” “Then Rich got into the place and--you can imagine the rest.” “Youse don’t know fer a certainty?” “I didn’t see it done.” “Was Rich familiar with the Red Dragon Inn?”