“All right, go ahead, there’s his wire.” “Hello.” “Arkwright, is this you?” “Yes.” “Well, this a fellow that knows where there is an escaped convict.” “Who? And who are you?” “Never mind who I am, but you just watch the boathouse of Biddy Roan, on the river. Tom Cooper is there with the Standish girl, whose mother died in prison.” “You don’t say so,” cried the detective. “Have you been to see Mr. George Benson?” “Yes, but the cove ain’t in. Now then, what are you going to do?” “Ask you to come here and go with me to Mr. Benson’s.” “Well, you must promise not to ask me any questions about myself,” said Jim, “or else I won’t come.” “Don’t worry. You put me on the track of that girl, and I’ll make you all right.” So Jim went to police headquarters, thinking he was doing a great stroke of business, and it was late in the night when Arkwright called up the Benson mansion. “I want to speak with Mr. Benson.” “He has retired.” “Never mind, call him to the wire. I want to speak with him. This is the police headquarters.” George Benson responded immediately to the call. “This is Arkwright. May I call upon you at your home immediately? I have found trace of your cousin, Helen Standish.” When the detective did come in answer to Benson’s reply in the affirmative, he found the rich man pale with fright. The fifteen years that had passed had whitened the locks about his forehead, and his eyes had taken upon them a crafty expression, and no one could ever hold their attention long at a time. “Maybe you are mistaken,” said he when Jim Farren gave the history of his call upon his Cousin Biddy. “I’d know that girl by the jewel about her neck,” said the thief. “I don’t believe it,” stubbornly replied Benson. “Nevertheless I am going to investigate this matter,” said Arkwright, “and if she is there you will be relieved of your burden in taking care of her fortune.” Benson’s face darkened, as he was just beginning to think it time to apply to the court to make the money over to him as the next heir, but now there would be another delay. If this little fool of a convict had only come to him before going to the police there would have been a chance to silence the girl forever if it proved that she was living, but with Arkwright on the trail Benson would dare to do nothing. “What are you going to do?” he asked tremblingly. “Be there at the peep of day and arrest this Tom Cooper and place Helen Standish in your hands, as the law left you her guardian.” Benson drew a long breath. What could he want more? His conscience troubled him so that he thought everybody knew of his evil intentions. He breathed again peacefully and said with a genial smile: “You could not please me more than to bring my cousin to me, and I shall be glad to make a statement of her fortune to her.” “We all know you have done your best, Mr. Benson,” said the detective, “and I hope that you will have many a happy day with your relation. You will go with me in the morning?”