was such a deep plot."

"Neither did I," replied Roy, "and I don't believe we have seen the
last of it."

"Well," went on De Royster, "I had quite a time tracing that cabman. I
must have interviewed nearly fifty drivers before I found one who knew
a fellow that answered the description of the one who had taken you
away. But at last I located him, and, though he was reluctant at
first, to tell me what I wanted to know, he did, after I threatened to
call in the police."

"Would you have done so?"

"Certainly. I felt that you were in danger, for you know little of New
York."

"That's so, and I'm afraid it will take me a long time to learn. I'm
pretty green."

"Well, you may be in some things, but you can go ahead of New Yorkers
in lots of ways. That was a great trick, sliding down that lasso."

"It was lucky I had it with me."

"Indeed it was, and it was a good thing those scoundrels took your
baggage as well as you, or you might have been there yet."

"No, for you would have helped me, I reckon. You arrived just a few
minutes after I had started to escape. How did you manage it?"

"Well, as I said, my dear chap," replied De Royster, adjusting his one
eye glass, which had fallen out during the struggle with Wakely, "I
made the cabman tell me where he took you, and, after that it was an
easy matter to locate you. I got to the tenement right behind Wakely
and I followed him up the stairs, though, then, I didn't know who he
was, and I rushed into the room as soon as he opened the door, for he
forgot to close it when he looked at the bed and saw it empty. I
suspected you had been in here, when I saw what a lonesome sort of
place it was. I pulled him back, just as he had his knife out, ready
to cut the lasso."

"I hardly believe he would have dared to cut it," said Roy. "He only
wanted to scare me into coming back."

"Perhaps he did. But I was not going to take any chances; I just
grabbed him."

"That was fine on your part."

"Oh, that's nothing. Look what you did for me. I only paid you back a
little."

"Nonsense. As if I wanted pay."

"Of course you didn't, but I was glad of the chance. I only wish I
could have held Wakely. Now, I suppose he'll go and tell Annister, and
they'll keep right after you."

"Do you think so?"

"I believe so, from what you tell me of the men."

"Then what would you advise me to do?"

"Let me think it over a bit. Suppose we go to your room?"

"All right