“I could if it were well out in the middle of the stream, away from the shadow of the trees, along the bank.” “Have you seen any boats pass lately, Miss Wakefield?” “No, sir; I haven't seen a boat on the river for a month, at least.” “Dead certain about it, are you, Auntie Sue?” asked the Sheriff. “Yes, sir; I am very sure,” she returned. “Judy and I were talking about it yesterday.” “Who is Judy?” asked the detective. The Sheriff answered, “Just a girl that lives with Auntie Sue.” And Auntie Sue added: “I know Judy has seen no boats passing, because, as I say, we were talking about it.” “I see,” said the detective. “And may I ask, Miss Wakefield, if any one--any stranger, I mean--has called at the house lately, or if you have seen any one in the vicinity?” The gentle old lady hesitated. The officers thought she was searching her memory to be sure before she answered. Then Auntie Sue said, deliberately: “No, sir; we have not seen a stranger in this vicinity for several weeks. The last one was a mule-buyer, who stopped to ask if he was on the right road to Tom Warden's; and that must have been fully six weeks ago.” The detective looked at Sheriff Knox. “Well,” said the big officer, “I reckon we might as well push along.” The two men arose. “Oh, but surely you will stay for dinner,” said Auntie Sue, while her dear heart was faint with fear lest they accept, and thus bring about who could say what disastrous consequences through their meeting with Judy. “Not this time, Auntie Sue,” returned the Sheriff. “Mr. Ross is anxious to get on down the river as fast as he can. He's got men on watch at White's Crossing, and if our man ain't passed there, or if we don't strike his trail somewhere before we get there, we will jump back on the railroad, and get some boy to bring the horses through later.” “I see,” returned Auntie Sue. And to the detective she added, smiling: “I am sure it must be very difficult for any one to escape you, Mr. Ross. I have read such wonderful things about Mr. Burns and the work of his organization; and now that I have met you,--a real live detective,--I shall be very careful, indeed, about what I do in the future. I shouldn't want to have you on my track, I assure you.” The two men laughed heartily, and the detective, as he extended his hand in farewell, returned: “I count it a great privilege to have met you, Miss Wakefield; and if you will promise to do one thing for me, I'll agree to be very lenient with you if I am ever assigned to a case in which you are to be brought to justice.” “I promise,” returned the old lady, quickly. “I really wouldn't dare to refuse under the circumstances, would I? What do you want me to do, Mr. Ross?” “If this man Brian Kent should happen to appear in this vicinity, will you get a message as quickly as possible, at any cost, to Sheriff Knox?” “Why, of course,” agreed Auntie Sue. “But you have not yet told me what the man looks like, Mr. Ross.”