"It's from Hetherington," Jack told Frank, after a hasty perusal. "Says he is unable to meet us here, but for us to come to his place in the taxi he has sent for us."
"All right," replied Frank. "But I must go upstairs a moment first," and he started hurriedly for the elevator.
"I'll wait in the taxi," called Jack, and he followed the chauffeur to the street, where the taxi stood in the shadow of the hotel.
The chauffeur opened the door and the lad climbed in. As he did so, two strong hands reached out from the darkness of the cab and took him by the throat, while a third hand was clapped over his mouth to prevent his making an outcry. At the same moment the door was slammed shut, and the taxi rolled swiftly away.
Jack struggled desperately, but in vain. The sudden attack had been well timed and, struggle as he would, Jack could not shake off the hold on his throat, but soon sank back unconscious.
Then the hand upon his throat relaxed and a voice exclaimed in German:
"He's as strong as an ox. It's a good thing both of them didn't come."
"Well, we have got him, all right," came a second voice, "and this is the one the chief wants, I am sure."
When Jack regained consciousness the taxi was still rushing swiftly along, and the lad found that his hands were securely bound behind his back.
"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded of the darkness of the cab.
"You will know soon enough," replied a voice in a harsh tone. "In the meantime, if you don't keep quiet, we shall gag you!"
For almost an hour the taxi bowled along swiftly, then finally came to a stop. One of Jack's captors alighted, and the other pushed Jack from the cab. They dragged him up a short gravel path to a rather pretentious looking house and into the door.
In the house the lad was taken to the third floor, where he was led into a nicely furnished room. Then his hands were untied, and his captors backed out of the room, locking the door behind them.
"I wonder what on earth this is all about," Jack asked himself when he was left alone. "I'll bet they have me mixed up with someone else. Well, I'll have to wait and see!"
For an hour Jack sat silently awaiting the arrival of someone; but no one came.
"Guess I might as well lie down and get a little rest," he told himself finally; "I'm likely to need it."