"Eber since den, Boss, folks has heered funny t’ings aroun’ dat tree. Sighin’s, an’ chain rattlin’s, an groans. An’ some folks say dey done seen funny lights floatin’ roun’. Tain’t no men gettin’ dat money, Boss—no _suh_. It’s de hant of dat Jamaica niggah woman’s man gettin’ money to gib to de debil! Boss, dere’s lots of polismen done come from de city an’ watch dat tree. Dey neber seen or heered nuthin’—but in de mo’nin’ de money was gone! Dat means hants sure, Boss." Forrester stood for a moment, gazing thoughtfully across the roadway. He was sure that he had unearthed something worth while by allowing this colored man to talk. Whether the man actually believed what he had told Forrester, or was just repeating a prearranged story, which someone had instructed him to tell, Forrester could not now determine. One thing was certain, however. Several singular and suspicious people _did_ live near this tree. He made up his mind to investigate the colored woman who was reported to be living back in the woods, and also, at the first opportunity, to secure information regarding the young woman who was taking such an interest in the tree. "Joshua," said Forrester, suddenly, "have you told this story to the young lady who is now living at your house?" "Yas, Boss, Ah shuah did. De fus’ time Ah foun’ her at dis yere tree Ah done tole her all ’bout it, an’ wahned her to keep away. She jes’ laughed at me, Boss, an’ said dere wasn’t no such t’ings as hants. Why, Boss, dat young lady done been comin’ down to dis yere tree ebery night since Sunday! She come _all alone_—by _herself_—in de _dark_! Ah know, Boss, ’cause Ah done follow her. Ah got to keep mah eyes on dat young Missey. Ah got to take keer of her, Boss." Forrester glanced at his watch. It was after one o’clock and he decided to return to the city and think the situation over carefully before he undertook any further steps. Taking a coin from his pocket, he handed it to Joshua. "You’re a good story teller, Joshua," declared Forrester. "Here’s a little present for you. I’m coming up to see you again sometime. Perhaps I’ll drop over to your house to see you." "T’anks, Boss, t’anks," exclaimed Joshua, pocketing the coin, and Forrester left him bowing and scraping as he went to his car and started back to the city. CHAPTER VI—THE FLAMING HAND As Green had told Forrester, he had some theories of his own about the people who called themselves the "Friends of the Poor." Like Humphrey, he did not believe that the West Side held any clues. He was more inclined to believe that the guilty people could be located within a comparatively short distance of the tree in which the victims were ordered to leave their money.