, and the bare idea that such _might_ be the case sent
the blood to his heart and a cold shudder through his frame.--He was pale
as marble, for a moment, and the rascals saw it. Mastering his emotions, he
inquired calmly:

"The name you heard wasn't _Hadley_, was it?"

"No, that wasn't it. I heard his name mentioned, but they said he had
started for Philadelphia the day before the theft."

At this announcement, in spite of himself, Hadley drew a sigh of relief,
and as he did so Bill gave Dick a knowing look. Hadley replied:

"Perhaps the name was Huntly?"

"That's it!" said Bill; "that's the name; I remember it now."

"I should hardly have thought him capable of such a crime."

"Just what the people said, exactly."

"And to take advantage of the sickness of Mandeville's daughter, at that; I
can hardly believe it of him."

"You talk precisely as his neighbors talked."

"I do not believe he is guilty; no, I am sure he is not. There are others I
would suspect a thousand times of such an act before I would him."

"Well, I am sure I can't tell as to that. But, to change the subject, may I
be so bold as to inquire which way you are traveling?"

"Certainly, sir; I am on my way to Philadelphia."

"I was in hopes you were going the same way as ourselves; perhaps you are;
we are bound for Wheeling, Virginia.--Do you go that way?"

"No, I go by way of Pittsburgh."

"Do you tarry long at Pittsburgh? We may have to go there before we
return."

"No sir. My mother is very sick at her brother's house in Philadelphia, and
I shall hasten to her with all dispatch."

"Then, I perceive, we shall have to part company."

"I am sorry for that, as I should be pleased to have companionship on my
lonely journey."

Having found out all that concerned his purpose, Bill changed the
conversation, and all of them being fatigued with hard riding throughout
the day, the three soon retired for the night. Bill and Dick roomed
together, and when alone the former said:

"Didn't I do it up about the right way, Dick?"

"Better than I expected; but, ---- me, if I didn't think you'd got on the
wrong track once."

"I knew what I was at all the time; but I saw you were scared."

"Well, what's to be done next?"

"We must get ahead of him, and do the thing up while he is crossing the
mountains, as Lieutenant Duffel suggested, and as I told you before."

"We can do that easy enough; but what do you think; shan't we make Duffel
side wit