I determined, therefore, to follow up the track of Hawes, and thereby, if possible, strike that of his confederate--which was, in fact, all that could be done. Hawes was a small broker. He lived in Eighteenth street, and had an office in Wall street. He lived too far up town, I thought, to go home every day to his dinner; he went then, most probably, always to the same eating house, and one not far from his office. After inquiring at several restaurants near by, I came to one in Liberty street, where, on asking if Mr. Hawes was in the habit of dining there, the waiter said yes. 'Have you seen a young man here with him, lately?' I inquired. 'No--no one in particular,' replied the waiter. 'Are you sure of it? Come, think.' After scratching his head for a moment, he said: 'Yes, there has been a young man here speaking to him once or twice.' 'How did he look?' 'He was short, and had black hair and eyes.' 'Who is he? What does he do?' 'He is clerk to Mr. L----, the linen importer.' 'Where does Mr. L---- live?' The waiter did not know. Looking into a Directory, I ascertained his residence to be in Fourteenth street. The stores by this time were closed, so I went immediately to Mr. L----'s house, and asked to see him. He was at dinner. 'I am sorry to disturb him,' said I to the servant, 'but I wish to speak with him a moment on a matter of importance, and cannot wait.' Mr. L---- came out, evidently annoyed at the intrusion. 'Have you such a person in your employment?' said I, describing him. 'No, sir, I have not.' 'You had such a person?' 'I have not now.' 'Did you discharge him?' 'Yes.' 'Why?' 'What business is that of your's?' he asked, rather huffily. 'My name, sir, is M----, of the police. I am after this fellow, that's all. Tell me, if you please, why you discharged him?' 'Oh, I beg your pardon,' said Mr. L----. 'I took you for one of his rascally associates. I discharged him a week or ten days ago. He was a dissipated, good-for-nothing fellow.' 'Was he your bookkeeper?' 'No, he was a junior clerk.' 'Have you any of his handwriting that you can show me?' He fumbled in a side pocket and drew out a pocketbook from which he took a memorandum of agreement, or some paper of the sort, to the bottom of which a signature was attached as witness. 'That's his writing,' said he. It was a stiff schoolboy's scrawl. This was not my man then. I apologized to Mr. L---- for the trouble I had given him, and withdrew. Lost time, said I to myself. I am on the wrong track. I must back to the eating house, and begin the chase again from the point where I left off. I saw the same waiter. 'I want you to think again,' said I, 'Try hard to remember whether there was never any other man here with Hawes on any occasion.' After reflecting for a little while, he said he thought he recollected his going up stairs not long ago, with another man, to a private room. 'Did you wait on him yourself at the time you speak of?' I asked.