"I did know where Mr. Potter was," and as he made that answer Retto gave every evidence of being under a great strain. His hands shook with more than the weakness of his illness. He was paler than the white hue caused by his confinement in the hospital. "Why? Have you lost track of him?" "I am afraid so. Listen, young man, perhaps you can help me. Let us get to some place where we can talk. I have strange news for you." "Then you know me?" and the young reporter looked somewhat surprised. "I couldn't very well help it, with the way you have kept after me lately. But we have no time to lose. Something most unexpected has happened. Mr. Potter is in the hands of his enemies!" "Then he is found?" "Yes, in a way, but he might better be lost!" "What do you mean?" "Come in here and I will tell you." Retto led the way to a small room off the main corridor. "What does this mean?" asked the hospital superintendent. "I will explain later," replied Retto. "Just now it is very necessary that I have a talk with this young man." The superintendent turned away and Retto closed the door. He sat down in a chair, and Larry could see that he was trembling from weakness. "I must talk quickly," he said, "for I am still very ill. I made a desperate effort to go out in order to get in communication with Mr. Potter. I mailed him a letter and then called him up on the telephone----" "Then you know where he was!" burst out Larry. "I did, but I do not now. Listen, and don't ask too many questions yet. All will soon be explained, if it is not too late. I am Mr. Potter's friend. He took me into his confidence when he found it necessary, for very strong reasons, to disappear. I agreed to help him and do exactly as he wanted me to. He has been hiding across the Hudson River, outside of the legal jurisdiction of New York State. I was in touch with him by telephone and otherwise up to the time of my accident on the pier. Since then, of course, I have not been able to hold any communication with him. As soon as I had the chance, which came for the first time to-day, I got out and called him on the telephone. I was told by the man, with whom he had been staying, that, about an hour ago, some men came and took him away." "Some men took him away?" "Yes. Men whom I recognized, by the description, as his enemies--as men who have an interest in getting Mr. Potter into their power. He has been trying all this while to keep out of their way. Now they have him!" "But what's to be done?" asked the young reporter. "I don't know," replied Retto, hopelessly. "Everything was going on all right until those horses knocked me down." Larry was conscious of a strange sensation. It was partly due to his impetuosity he felt that Retto had been injured. Larry partly blamed himself for Mr. Potter's present plight, since through the reporter's instrumentality the millionaire's friend had not been able to keep in touch with him.