"Go on with your tale. We can all lie when occasion calls for it. You are not an infant at it yourself." "Well," grinned Smeltzer, "I found at the Soo that the lady had given me the slip. I went through that boat from top to bottom--the stewardess giving me all the help in her power, and assuring me she hadn't seen any such people on board. Then I made for the depot." "I saw you. You made good time, Smeltzer." "Yes.... Well, when I found the train gone I sat down and figured it out. She had a good long start, but I knew she couldn't leave the Island till morning and I would take the first train down myself. I telegraphed the ticket agents of the G. R. and I. and the _Pere Marquette_ at Petoskey to be on the lookout for these parties (description following) and note their destination. The _Pere Marquette_ man identified them all right and said he sold them tickets for Chicago. I took the next train for that blooming metropolis, telegraphing ahead for another man to be there when they got off, and hold them. Well, sir, when I reached Chicago and heard report, no such parties had got off! Well, sir, I fooled away a day or two in Chicago. Then all at once it came to me that we had crossed a railroad away back there somewhere and I couldn't get it out of my mind. You know men in my business get into the habit of noticing pretty closely." "I've observed it!" "I made some inquiries and went back to Grand Junction. Agent remembered the parties perfectly--had had a good deal of talk with the old lady about roads out of Kalamazoo,--had to show 'em to her on the map." "Yes. She's from Missouri." "I took the next train for Kalamazoo, perfectly dead sure I was on their track. I monkeyed around there one week. Nice place. But I tell you I didn't enjoy it! I got a lot of clues there from hackmen and gatemen that were sure they had seen these people, but a pile of good they did me! You see I was so sure they were in Kalamazoo that I made that sort of headquarters and when I had exhausted one lead would go back there to take up another. Well, finally, I made up my mind that I would go back over this little South Haven road and take the boat for Chicago. I got here about half-past four yesterday and while idling away the time at the life-saving station, before the boat left, who should I see across the river but the woman and child I had been scouring the country for!" "Fool luck!" said Harcourt. "Nothing short of it. I wonder if that isn't the way a lot of you fellows rise to eminence in your profession." "Say--do you think she is going back without that warrant?" "Can't tell. I hope so. I think it will depend somewhat on the telegram. And there it comes now."