For a moment, Weyman remained silent, evidently thinking over what the boy had said to him. Then he made answer: “Yes I think on the whole that’s the quickest and surest-way of finding out what you want to know. There’s nothing like suddenly facing a man of that sort and putting your question to him before he has time to frame some answer that might suit his own purpose. Likely as not if he knew you were coming he’d cook up some reply that would throw you off your scent but when you come upon him unexpectedly he is apt to tell the truth even when it’s contrary to his usual practice. Yes I’d go up there if I were you because if he’s hunting up for the son of Frank Decker he’s bound to come across him sooner or later. It’s funny he never came around here to ask the Chief or any of us about him, and it’s just as strange to me that he didn’t find out at headquarters that you were drawing a pension. However, I’ve noticed that these very smart and tricky fellows often over-reach themselves by trying to be too smart when they might accomplish some thing by being straightforward and honest.” Bruce, having slept on the matter, determined to take his friend’s advice, and although it was more difficult for him to obtain leave of absence now that he had become a more useful member of the company than formerly, he soon found an opportunity to make the long journey to the upper part of the city where Mr. Dexter’s house was situated. Leaving the elevated railroad, he walked a few blocks out of his way in order to pass the gate of the great mansion in which Harry and Laura Van Kuren had lived. The house was closed now, and it was evident from the unkempt appearance of the lawn and shrubbery that its master had been away for some time. For several minutes he stood leaning sadly upon the gate and thinking of the kind friends whom he had known there, and from whom he was now separated not only by the trackless waste of ocean, but also by something he knew not what, but which was nevertheless an invisible and impassable barrier. It was with a sad heart that he finally turned his back on the Van Kuren mansion and walked rapidly along the same highway which he had last trodden in company with the Van Kuren children and their tutor on that day when he discovered that Mr. Dexter had departed for Europe.