"Then who are you? Where is her father? You know! I am sure of it!" Larry was upset over the mistake he and the detective had made.
"I did know where Mr. Potter was," and as he made that answer Retto gave every evidence of being under a great strain. His hands shook with more than the weakness of his illness. He was paler than the white hue caused by his confinement in the hospital.
"I am afraid so. Listen, young man, perhaps you can help me. Let us get to some place where we can talk. I have strange news for you."
"Then you know me?" and the young reporter looked somewhat surprised.
"I couldn't very well help it, with the way you have kept after me lately. But we have no time to lose. Something most unexpected has happened. Mr. Potter is in the hands of his enemies!"
"Yes, in a way, but he might better be lost!"
Retto led the way to a small room off the main corridor.
"What does this mean?" asked the hospital superintendent.
"I will explain later," replied Retto. "Just now it is very necessary that I have a talk with this young man."
The superintendent turned away and Retto closed the door. He sat down in a chair, and Larry could see that he was trembling from weakness.
"I must talk quickly," he said, "for I am still very ill. I made a desperate effort to go out in order to get in communication with Mr. Potter. I mailed him a letter and then called him up on the telephone----"
"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."