, and the boy at once placed himself where he was
not likely to be noticed.

"I wonder if he and Ferris met?" thought Hal. "It isn't likely, but yet
it may be so. The three of them are into this, and so is that fellow
Macklin. I must be careful, and keep my eyes wide open."

Allen passed up Union Square on the west side, and Hal made it a point
to follow close behind.

Arriving at Seventeenth Street, Allen turned down toward the North
River. He passed over several blocks, and finally ascended the steps of
a small mansion on the left.

The front of the mansion was totally dark, but when the door was opened
Hal saw that the interior was brilliantly illuminated.

As soon as Allen passed in the door was closed, and all became as dark
as before, Hal hesitated, and then ascending the steps, looked for a
door-plate.

There was the number in bright silver numerals, but nothing was to be
seen of any name.

"Most of them have a name," he said to himself. "I wonder who lives
here?"

Hal descended again to the street, and walked on to the end of the
block.

Here was a small stand with a flaring gasoline torch, at which an old
German was selling apples and other fruit.

Hal entered into conversation with the proprietor of the stand, and at
length asked if he knew who lived at the place, mentioning the number.

"Dot blace?" The man gave a low laugh. "I dinks me nopody vos lif dere."

"Nobody?"

"Nein."

"But there must be somebody," urged Hal. "I saw a man go in."

"Dot's so, too." The German laughed again. "But da don't vos lif dere."

"Well, what are they doing there, then?"

The apple man put his long finger up beside his nose.

"Dot vos a blace ver dere rich fool vos plow in his money; see?"

"A gambling-place?"

"Oxactly."

"Who runs it?"

"Dot I don't vos know. I dinks me a fellow named Ditson."

"Do many men go there?"

"Yah. Somedimes so many as two dozen by von night."

"And they do nothing there but gamble?"

The German nodded. "Of you got some money you don't vont to kept dot's
der blace to lose it."

"Thank you, but I need all I have," laughed Hal.

"Den you don't better keep away, ain't it?"

"I think that would be best."

"Dake mine vort it vos."

"Did you see many men go in to-night?"

"Vot you ask dot for, hey?"

"I'm looking for a man I know."

"I seen nine or ten men go in by dere front door. I don't vos know how
many go py der pack."

"Then there is a back door?"