“We surely are,” admitted the other.

“So we thought we’d invite you out for a whirl—­see?  We’ll give you a nice ride, so you can enjoy the scenery.  It’s fine out Harlem way, an’ the cold’ll make you feel good.  Eh, Pete?”

“That’s the idea,” responded Pete, cheerfully.

“Very kind of you,” said the detective, leaning back comfortably against the cushions and pulling up his coat collar to shield him from the wind.  “But are you aware that I’m on duty, and that this will allow my man to slip away from me?”

“Can’t help that; but we’re awful sorry,” was the reply.  “We just wanted company, an’ you’re a good fellow, Fogerty, considerin’ your age an’ size.”

“Thank you,” said Fogerty, “You know me, and I know you.  You are Bill Leesome, alias Will Dutton—­usually called Big Bill.  You did time a couple of years ago for knocking out a policeman.”

“I’m safe enough now, though,” responded Big Bill.  “You’re not working on the reg’lar force, Fogerty, you’re only a private burr.”

“I am protected, just the same,” asserted Fogerty.  “When you knabbed me I was shadowing Mershone, who has made away with a prominent society young lady.”

“Oh, he has, has he?” chuckled Big Bill, and his companion laughed so gleefully that he attracted Fogerty’s attention to himself.

“Ah, I suppose you are one of the two men who lugged the girl off,” he remarked; “and I must congratulate you on having made a good job of it.  Isn’t it curious, by the way, that the fellow who stole and hid this girl should be the innocent means of revealing her biding place?”

The two men stared at him blankly.  The car, during this conversation, had moved steadily on, turning this and that corner in a way that might have confused anyone not perfectly acquainted with this section of the city.

“What d’ye mean by that talk, Fogerty?” demanded Big Bill.

“Of course it was Mershone who stole the girl,” explained the detective, calmly; “we know that.  But Mershone is a clever chap.  He knew he was watched, and so he has never made a movement to go to his prisoner.  But he grew restless in time, and when he met you, yesterday, fixed up a deal with you to carry me away, so he could escape.”

Big Bill looked uncomfortable.

“You know a lot, Fogerty,” he said, doggedly.

“Yes; I’ve found that human nature is much the same the world over,” replied the detective.  “Of course I suspected you would undertake to give Mershone his chance by grabbing me, and that is exactly what you have done.  But, my lads, what do you suppose I have done in the meantime?”

They both looked their curiosity but said nothing.

“I’ve simply used your clever plot to my own advantage, in order to bring things to a climax,” continued Fogerty.  “While we are joy-riding here, a half dozen of my men are watching every move that Mershone makes.  I believe he will lead them straight to the girl; don’t you?”