The millionaire explained how he had sailed from Italy under an assumed name, after arranging there with his friend, Mr. Simonson, to precede him to New York, do certain work, and keep him informed of how matters went.  Simonson took the name Mah Retto, which had a foreign sound, and could be depended upon to deceive Mr. Potter’s enemies.  Mr. Simonson was of dark complexion and looked like an East Indian.  The name was formed from some of the letters making up the millionaire’s name.  Retto’s handwriting was very similar to that of Mr. Potter’s, and easily passed for it, even under the scrutiny of Grace and her mother.  The man himself bore a remarkable resemblance to the millionaire and nearly deceived Grace once.

Most unexpectedly, some of Mr. Potter’s enemies got on the trail of Retto, and he learned they would be waiting for him when he landed in New York.  He decided to elude them.

He was aboard the Olivia when the ship struck on the bar, and resolved to take a desperate chance and come ashore on a life-raft.  He did, and Larry and Bailey rescued him.  Then followed his shaving off of his moustache in the fisherman’s hut to make a good disguise, and Larry’s subsequent chase after him.  Once Larry had been close on Mr. Potter’s trail.  The millionaire was in Retto’s room the night Larry called on the mysterious man in the Jackson tenement, and this explained the reference in the letter to the young reporter being so “close” after Mr. Potter.

Sullivan, it was explained, had an idea that Grace or her mother knew where Mr. Potter was hiding, and was much disappointed because the rich man could not carry out the original plan of political action.

“I think Sullivan will show himself, now that he knows I have been found,” said Grace’s father.  “He has been looking for me on his own responsibility, I understand.  I have straightened matters out so that he can support Reilly as he promised to do, Larry, in that interview he gave you.  I think that was all he wanted me to come back for.

“Sullivan used to go up and watch my house,” Mr. Potter went on.  “He thought I was there, I suppose.  Retto also watched it, but for a different purpose.  I sent him up to catch glimpses of my wife and daughter, to see if they were all right, as I did not dare venture into that neighborhood for fear of being recognized.  I had their miniatures, however.  The night I reached New York I went to the house and got them.  I remained in the suburbs of Jersey City most of the time, as, until to-day, the scoundrels did not have matters so arranged that they could legally serve papers on me in New Jersey.  They must have taken a last desperate chance this morning, but, thanks to you, Larry, they were foiled.”

In Fritsch’s auto, after Larry had finished telephoning in the story, the little party returned to New York.  They took Mr. Simonson, or Retto, from the hospital to Mr. Potter’s house.  There he explained his part in aiding the millionaire.  Larry gave him back the papers he had secured from Captain Tantrella, and the curious gold coin Mr. Simonson had lost from his watch chain in the fisherman’s hut.