THE CLUE
Dan was not prepared for this announcement. Tears came into his eyes as
he realized how much Mr. Harrison was willing to do for him.
“It will cost a good deal of money,” he said a little doubtfully.
“Well, I am glad I can afford it, Dan. I never had the chance to spend
much money, and now that I have more than I need, I am only too glad to
aid you with some of it. But we must lose no time. Every hour counts.
I think I shall telegraph for the detective. The two constables we
have here are worse than useless, when it comes to discovering real
criminals.”
On getting back to the village Mr. Harrison sent a message to a well
known private detective firm in New York. He got an answer that a
competent man would arrive the next day.
“If I had stopped to think,” said Dan, when they were talking matters
over that night, “I might have suspected that the well dressed man,
who asked me so many questions about the village and the people, was
the one who robbed the doctor’s house. He made particular inquiries
regarding him.”
“Well, you had enough else to think about then, to excuse you for not
getting on the right track. However, better late than never.”
“I hope we shall not be too late.”
The detective arrived the next afternoon. He was a quiet man, not at
all resembling the picture Dan had formed in his mind as to how a
detective should look. Indeed, this one resembled a traveling salesman
more than anything else.
He came at once to the cottage where Dan and the old soldier lived, and
Mr. Harrison was there waiting for him. The robberies were carefully
explained to the detective, and then the matter of finding the jimmy,
and measuring the marks.
“Do you think I am right in my conclusions?” asked Mr. Harrison, when
he had finished.
“I do. I think there is no doubt but that both jobs were done by the
same man or men. That he was the person you refer to I also have no
doubt. Now the thing is to catch him. I must make inquiries, and do it
in a quiet way. It will be better for neither of you to seem to know
me, so, if you meet me in the village, or this neighborhood, do not pay
any attention to me.”
The reason for this request was well understood, and, after getting
more information, and promising to report as soon as he had anything
definite to tell them, the detective took his departure.
“Do you think he will find the man?” asked Dan.
“I hope so. These detectives are highly trained. Still it is no easy
matter to locate a criminal when he has had several hours in which to
make his escape. We will hope for the best.”
Several days passed, during which time Mr. Harrison and Dan were kept
busy at the new shop. Work there was progressing rapidly, and the
machinery would soon be put in.
“Seems as though we should hear something from that detective,” Dan
remarked one evening, after supper.
“You are naturally anxious, Dan. I admit I am myself. I should like to
hear some news--good news that is--Hark! I think I hear some one coming
up the walk.”
There was no doubt that some one was approaching the cottage. A knock
was heard at the door, and Dan opened it to admit the detective, who
had given his name as Mr. Roscoe.
“Any news?” asked the old soldier eagerly.
“Well, not much,” replied Mr. Roscoe, sinking rather wearily in a
chair. “I was on the track of your man, but I lost him. I had an
accident. The carriage I was riding in broke down, and I got to a
certain town, just half an hour after he left.”
“Then he is in this vicinity?”
“Yes, he has been since the second robbery. I learned also that he is
in company with a rather poorly dressed person. Probably the two work
together.”
“Have you learned the name of that well dressed, mysterious stranger?”
asked Mr. Harrison.
“Yes, he goes by the name of Julius Galt, though I suppose that is only
one of many aliases.”
“How did you get on his track?” asked Dan.
“By making inquiries. I had a good description of the fellow, and it
was easier here to ask persons whom I met than it would have been in
a city, for, around here, strangers are not common, and nearly every
farmer takes notice of them.
“I traced Galt from town to town. He seems to be doing nothing, but
is well supplied with money. There have been one or two robberies
committed recently, and I think he had a hand in them.”
“Where is he now?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. I had to come back because I ran out
of money, and I have to pay cash for the hire of carriages, and for
railroad fare. Galt, when I had to turn back, was headed for a town
about twenty-five miles from here, called Redcliff. If you can lend me
some money until I can telegraph to headquarters for funds, I will get
right after him again.”
“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Harrison, taking some bills from his pocket.
“But won’t you stay and have some supper?”
“No, I can’t spare the time. I must keep right after him. I can eat
somewhere along the way. Now I’m off again. Good bye.”
“It looks as if he would get him,” said Dan, when the detective had
closed the door.
“I hope he does. He seems like a good officer.”
Three days went by, and no word came from the detective. Dan was
beginning to lose hope, and it vanished completely when, on the
following day a telegram came from the officer, stating that he had
again lost track of the man. The detective added that he would be in
Hayden that night, to start on a new clue.
“He’s got to begin all over again,” said Dan, in a despondent tone.
“And my trial comes off in about two weeks. If Galt is not arrested
they may convict me.”
“Don’t worry, Dan. Somehow I feel as if something was going to
happen--something good.”
“I wish it would hurry up and happen then.”
“You must get your mind off your trouble. Suppose you take a ride
with me. I have to drive over to Tompkins Corners to see about some
machinery. The ride will do you good.”
“I should like to go.”
“Then get ready, and I’ll have the carriage here in a little while.”
Since coming into his inheritance Mr. Harrison purchased a horse and
carriage, for he found it necessary to go from place to place to
transact his new business.
Dan and the old soldier were soon driving along the fine country road,
in the direction of Tompkins Corners. They were both thinking of the
robbery and the detective, wondering what new clue he would start on.
“Here comes Mr. Savage,” announced Dan, as he saw a man approaching
driving a horse and wagon.
“So it is. He looks pleased over something.”
This was true, for Mr. Savage was smiling broadly, a thing he seldom
did.
“Good morning,” greeted Mr. Harrison, for though the two men were not
very friendly since the trouble over Dan, they were still on speaking
terms.
“Mornin’,” responded Mr. Savage.
“You look as though something pleased you,” went on the former
blacksmith.
“Suthin’ has. I got back some money a feller cheated me out of.”
“How was that?”
“Wa’al, I’ll tell ye,” spoke Mr. Savage, drawing up his horse, an
example followed by Mr. Harrison. “Some time ago a feller gave me a
bad quarter--Dan knows about it,” and he nodded at the boy. “It was
a feller that took a lot of Dan’s time talkin’ when he’d oughter be
shellin’ corn, an’ I charged him fer it.”
“That man?” asked Dan excitedly, nudging Mr. Harrison.
“That’s th’ feller.”
Mr. Savage seemed to have forgotten some of his vindictiveness against
Dan, because of getting a good quarter for a bad one.
“Where did you see him?” asked Mr. Harrison, trying to speak calmly,
for he felt they were now on the track of the robber. “Where was he?”
“I’ll tell ye how it was. I was over t’ Denville this mornin’ doin’ a
leetle business, an’ I stopped off at th’ hotel t’ see a man. Soon’s I
went in th’ hall I seen this feller in th’ barroom.”
“Did he know you?” asked Mr. Harrison eagerly.
“Not at fust. I didn’t like t’ go in a barroom, seein’ as how I’m
strict temp’rence, but I figured I oughter have my rightful money, so I
went in. I went up to t’ that feller, an’ I says says I, ‘Here’s ye’r
counterfeit money back, an’ I want a good piece fer it, or I’ll have
ye arrested.’ My, but he was took back! Then he begun t’ laugh, an’
pretend it were all a mistake. He said that was a lucky pocket piece of
his’n, an’ he regretted at losin’ it. I said he could have it back an’
welcome, an’ he took it, an’ give me back fifty cents. Said th’ other
quarter were fer interest. He wanted me t’ have a drink, but I took a
cigar instid.”
“Is he going to stay there?” asked Mr. Harrison.
“It looked so. Said he was thinkin’ about openin’ a store in town.”
Dan and Mr. Harrison both thought that the only way Galt would “open” a
store would be with a jimmy.
“So you got your money back,” remarked Mr. Harrison, desiring to close
the conversation, and make use of the clue so unexpectedly given.
“I did, twice over, an’ I’m satisfied. Ye don’t want t’ come back t’
th’ farm, do ye, Dan?”
“No, thank you; not as long as Mr. Harrison will keep me.”
“I reckon he’ll soon git tired of ye. Wa’al, I’ll fergive an’ overlook
th’ past, ef ye want t’ come back.”
“If he does I’ll let you know,” said the old soldier, as he started up
his horse.