se it would be too easy for
him to give things that appearance in order to throw us off; and I can't
get away from the fact that a John-boat that was tied to the bank near
the hotel managed to break loose and drift off down the river that same
night. Working on my theory, we are following down the river, trying
to get trace of either the boat or the man. So far, we haven't heard of
either, which rather strengthens me in my belief that the boat and the
man went away together. He is probably traveling nights, and lying up
under the willows in daylight. But he will be compelled to show himself
somewhere, soon, in order to get something to eat, for he couldn't have
taken much with him, trying, as he was, to create the impression that he
had committed suicide. You have a wonderful view of the river here, Miss
Wakefield."

"Yes, sir; it is beautiful from the porch."

"You spend a good deal of time on the porch, do you?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you would be quite likely to notice any boat passing, wouldn't
you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Could you see a boat at night,--in the moonlight, I mean?"

"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