there was no time to spare, in the momentary
pause during which she had given the thought consideration.

She reached the nearest subway station, which was her objective, and
boarded a Harlem train, satisfied that her heavy veil would protect her
against recognition. Unobtrusively she took a window seat. No one paid
her any attention. Hours passed, it seemed to her impatience, while the
black walls rushed by, punctuated by occasional scintillating signal
lights, and, at longer intervals, by the fuller glare from the station
platforms.

In the neighborhood of 125th street she left the train, and, entering
the first drug store she found, consulted a directory. She did not know
this section of New York at all; she did not know either the location or
the firm name of the iron plant to which Danglar, assuming naturally, of
course, that she was conversant with it, had referred; and she did not
care to ask to be directed to Jake Malley's saloon, which was the only
clew she had to guide her. The problem, however, did not appear to be
a very difficult one. She found the saloon's address, and, asking the
clerk to direct her to the street indicated, left the drug store again.

But, after all, it was not so easy; no easier than for one unacquainted
with any locality to find one's way about. Several times she found
herself at fault, and several times she was obliged to ask directions
again. She had begun to grow panicky with fear and dread at the time she
had lost, before, finally, she found the saloon. She was quite sure that
it was already more than half an hour since she had left the drug store;
and that half an hour might easily mean the difference between safety
and disaster, not only for the Adventurer, but for herself as well.
Danglar might have been in no particular hurry, and he would probably
have gone first to whatever rendezvous he had appointed for those of the
gang selected to accompany him, but even to have done so in a leisurely
way would surely not have taken more than that half hour!

Yes, that was Jake Malley's saloon now, across the road from her, but
she could not recall the time that was already lost! They might be there
now--ahead of her.

She quickened her steps almost to a run. There should be no difficulty
in finding the iron plant now. "Behind Jake Malley's saloon," Danglar
had said. She turned down the cross street, passed the side entrance to
the saloon, and hastened along. The locality was lonely,