gangster in its folds. There was a muffled cry, then a pistol shot, and the car
suddenly darted forward.
The door closed with a crash. Through the rear window of the limousine,
Vincent saw a man sprawled in the street. Evidently it was the fellow who had
attempted the holdup.
Then the car burst into the glare of lights on Fifth Avenue. Vincent turned
quickly to the corner where his strange companion sat. Now he would see his
mysterious companion face to face!
But, except for himself, the car was empty. He was alone in the limousine.
A dark splotch showed on the inside of the door; he touched it and found blood
on his hand.
Who had been wounded the shadowy stranger or the assailant who had tried to
enter the limousine? Vincent could not guess; he only knew that in the brief
struggle the man who had found him on the bridge had left the automobile -
unseen and unheard - and the door had closed behind him.
The mysterious stranger had vanished like a shadow!
CHAPTER II
THE FIRST MESSAGE
Harry Vincent was annoyed as the big limousine sped along Fifth Avenue. The
promise he had made to the stranger was still uppermost in his mind, and he
intended fully to keep his word. But his mind was busy ferreting out the strange
things that had happened since the episode on the bridge.
Alone, now, with thoughts of suicide gone, he began to wonder what
coincidence had brought the stranger out of the night, and by what strange trick
he had managed to disappear so completely.
He found the light switch in the automobile and turned it on to examine the
rich upholstery, which bore the stain of blood. The car was an imported Supra;
that, at least, was tangible evidence. It would not be difficult to learn the
name of the man who owned it.
The car turned from Fifth Avenue and pulled up in front of the Metrolite,
one of New York's newest hotels. The attendant opened the door and Vincent
stepped to the sidewalk. Then he opened the front door of the limousine and
accosted the Negro chauffeur.
"Was this where you were told to bring me?" he asked.
"Yes, sah," replied the chauffeur. "Whah's de uddah man?"
"He left the car when the taxi nearly bumped us."
The chauffeur's eyes opened widely.
"Lawdy, sah, Ah didn't even stop at dat time."
Vincent looked at the man intently. He could see that the chauffeur was
actually astonished. He put another question.
"Whose car is this?"
"Don't say nuthin', boss," pleaded the chauffeur. "Dis am Mr. van Dyke's
cah, an' Ah hadn't no right to take you men along."
"What do you mean?"
"It was dis way, boss. Ah was keepin' the cah in town tonight an' de man in
de black hat come up to me when Ah was startin' for de garage. He come up jus'
