“Then you know where he was!” burst out Larry.

“I did, but I do not now.  Listen, and don’t ask too many questions yet.  All will soon be explained, if it is not too late.  I am Mr. Potter’s friend.  He took me into his confidence when he found it necessary, for very strong reasons, to disappear.  I agreed to help him and do exactly as he wanted me to.  He has been hiding across the Hudson River, outside of the legal jurisdiction of New York State.  I was in touch with him by telephone and otherwise up to the time of my accident on the pier.  Since then, of course, I have not been able to hold any communication with him.  As soon as I had the chance, which came for the first time to-day, I got out and called him on the telephone.  I was told by the man, with whom he had been staying, that, about an hour ago, some men came and took him away.”

“Some men took him away?”

“Yes.  Men whom I recognized, by the description, as his enemies—­as men who have an interest in getting Mr. Potter into their power.  He has been trying all this while to keep out of their way.  Now they have him!”

“But what’s to be done?” asked the young reporter.

“I don’t know,” replied Retto, hopelessly.  “Everything was going on all right until those horses knocked me down.”

Larry was conscious of a strange sensation.  It was partly due to his impetuosity he felt that Retto had been injured.  Larry partly blamed himself for Mr. Potter’s present plight, since through the reporter’s instrumentality the millionaire’s friend had not been able to keep in touch with him.

“I’ll find him!” exclaimed Larry.  “Tell me what to do!  I’ll trace him!”

“If I was only stronger!” said Retto.  “I’m so weak that I couldn’t walk another block.  I’d like to get after those scoundrels who have Mr. Potter!”

“I’ll get after them!” cried the youthful newspaper man, thinking more of Grace just then than he did of his assignment.  “Tell me where to go!”

“I can only tell you where Mr. Potter was hiding,” went on Retto.  “That was in a little house just outside of Jersey City.  The men must have gone there after him.  Possibly you can trace them from the house.”

“Tell me how to get to the place!”

Retto gave the necessary instructions.

“I’m going over there!” exclaimed the young reporter.

“What are you going to do with Grace?”

“That’s so!  I forgot about her.  I’ll take her along!” and Larry sprang to his feet in his enthusiasm and started for the door.

“Can she stand the trip?”

“She’s a brave girl!  She’ll be glad to go!”

“Then you’d better hurry.  Every minute is precious.  Great things hang on this.  If Mr. Potter’s enemies force him to do certain things, which he has been trying to avoid doing, the consequences will be very bad for many persons.  Hurry, Dexter!”

“I’ll start at once.  I wonder if Grace is better?”