CHAPTER XXVII
BAFFLED AGAIN
William, coming across the street to take up a position, where he couldwatch the lad he suspected was Ned, puzzled his head over the scene hehad just witnessed.
"I wonder what he went off with that man for?" he said to himself."Didn't act as though he wanted to, either. I'll ask the fruit man."
He approached, and then the thought struck it would be a good idea toapply for the job the other boy had just left. He got it, for there wasneed of hurry in unloading the fruit, as the day was cold.
"What was the matter with the other fellow?" asked William carelessly asthough it was of little moment to him.
"I don't know," the fruit man replied. "The boy came along just like youand asked for a job. I hired him and then along comes this fellow andsays the lad owes him money. It wasn't any of my affair. Hustle thoseboxes in now, I don't want the oranges to freeze."
"Who was the man who took him away?" asked William, as indifferently ashe could, though he was nervous with eagerness to hear the answer.
"I never saw him before. It was none of my affair, though I liked thelooks of that boy, and I didn't care much for the man. But I've gottenover the habit of interfering in other people's business. Come now, boy,hustle!"
William went to work with an energy that pleased his employer. The boywas beginning to think he had made a mistake. He felt that he shouldhave followed the man, to see where he took the lad he believed was Ned.But then, too, he had telephoned Mr. Wilding and the chums to meet himat the fruit store, and if he was not there when they arrived, theywould not know what to make of it.
"I can't be in two places at once," William thought to himself. "I guessI'd better stay here until some one comes. Then maybe I can trace whichway the man took the boy. Anyhow I'm not sure it was Ned. I've neverseen him, and it wouldn't do to make a mistake. He wouldn't admit he wasNed Wilding, but he acted to me as though he was afraid of something."
Thus musing, and puzzling over whether he had done the right thing,William continued to help unload the truck, keeping a sharp lookout forMr. Wilding or the three chums.
The three boys arrived first. They came down the street in a hurrylooking for the place William had described to the hotel clerk over thetelephone.
"There he is!" cried Bart, as he caught sight of the boy they had pulledfrom the snow drift. "Where's Ned?" he added.
"I'm not sure it was him," William replied, "but a man came and took himaway half an hour ago."
Then he rapidly explained what had taken place, describing the boy hehad seen.
"That's Ned sure enough," Fenn exclaimed. "Where in the world could hehave gone to?"
"And who was the man who said Ned owed him money?" asked Frank. "I guesswe're on the trail of the mystery."
"Hurry up, let's see if we can't find them," suggested Bart. "They can'thave gone very far."
"One of us ought to stay here to meet Mr. Wilding if he comes," saidFenn. "The other two can go with William to look for Ned and the man."
"Say, did I hire you to chin or to carry in oranges?" asked the fruitman, suddenly appearing in the doorway, and noting William talking tothe three boys.
"Guess I'll have to give up the job," replied William. "I've got to gowith these boys."
"Say, there must be a hoodoo about this job," the fruit man exclaimed."You're the second boy to give it up in less than an hour. What's thematter?"
The boys did not think it necessary to explain. It was arranged thatFrank would stay in the vicinity of the store to meet Mr. Wilding, ifthat gentleman should arrive, and tell what had happened, while William,with Bart and Fenn, tried to trace Ned and the red-moustached man.
"When Mr. Wilding comes I'll take him to our hotel," said Frank. "Therewill be no use in remaining here and we can wait for you there, as it'snearer than his."
"All right," replied Bart. "We may have some good news for you."
"I hope you do," Frank said. "This thing is getting on my nerves. I'mafraid we'll never see Ned again."
"Oh, yes we will," put in Fenn cheerfully.
William did not stop to ask any pay from the fruit man for what work hehad done, but hurried off with the two chums in the direction taken byNed and the man who had led him away.
"We'll ask any policeman we meet," suggested Bart.
"I'm afraid we're on a sort of wild-goose chase," remarked William, "butit's the best we can do. If I had only been sure it was Ned I would havefollowed him, without waiting for you, but I wasn't."
"If it was Ned," said Bart, "I can't understand why he didn't admit hisidentity."
"He must have had a good reason for it," retorted Fenn.
Through the street they hurried, making inquiries from policemen, andothers whom they met, as to whether Ned and the man had gone that way.They got some traces, but in New York few persons, even policemen, havetime to take note of those whom they have no special reason for keepingin mind. As William had said, it was a sort of wild-goose chase, and,when they had gone a mile or more, they became convinced that it wasuseless to continue any farther.
"Baffled again," remarked Bart. "This beats me. I wonder what we are todo."
"Have to begin all over again," declared William. "It was my fault. Ishould have followed Ned."
"No, you did what you thought was best," Fenn replied.
They returned to the hotel, to find Mr. Wilding and Frank awaiting them.Mr. Wilding, who had expected some news of his son, was deeplydisappointed when the three boys returned with none.
"What in the world are we to do?" asked Mr. Wilding. "We seem completelyat a loss."
"There are a few more lodging houses to try," suggested William. "I'llstart out again this evening. That's when the places are full, and I mayget some trace of him."
No one could offer a better suggestion, and it was arranged that Mr.Wilding should continue the search with a private detective he hadhired, while William and Bart would make a tour of the lodging houses.Fenn and Frank were to remain at the Imperial Hotel.
"There's no telling when a message may come from the baggage agenttelling us that Ned has called for his trunk," Bart said, "and some oneought to be ready to hurry to the depot. We'll have to divide ourforces."
With little hope in their hearts, but with dogged patience, and adetermination to keep up the search, William and Bart started out.