in, for there you will find your
man."

He thanked me several times, and after shaking hands with me, started on
the run.

I then hurried to the hotel and ordered my horse, which the landlord
refused to let me have, saying that notice had been served on him to
keep it locked up.

I sat down to await the coming of the great detective.

[Illustration: THE WILY DETECTIVE'S RETURN TO THE HOTEL.]

He soon made his appearance, and more resembled a tramp than the
polished official of a few moments before. It was plainly evident to me
that he had made a desperate attempt to follow my instructions. One-half
of the skirt of his Prince Albert coat was entirely missing; no hat,
a piece torn from the seat of his pants, only half of his linen collar
left to grace his neck, and a single linen cuff to decorate his two
wrists; one sleeve of his coat in rags, one of his pant legs fringed
out, the perspiration running off him like rain-water, and one eye
closed. He came in panting and puffing and roaring like a lion.

"Find me a Justice of the Peace, at once! I'll arrest the whole gang!"

"Arrest what gang? Who are you alluding to?" asked the landlord.

"Why, that gang up north here. I'll arrest the whole mob, and shoot that
dog if I get killed for it!"

"Well, I supposed you were looking for Johnston?"

"Well, so I am; but they have him down there stowed away, and a whole
regiment of soldiers wouldn't be able to get in, unless that dog is put
out of the way. And that pesky old woman looks more like the devil than
a human being. I wouldn't venture back there alone for the whole north
half of Michigan!"

"But isn't this the man you want?" pointing to me.

"The devil, no. What do I want of the telegraph operator? I want
Johnston, but I'd give more for that ---- old woman's scalp and that
dog's life than I would for a dozen Johnstons and all the horses in the
state, and I----"

"But," interrupted the landlord, "this isn't the operator; this is
Johnston,--or at least, he's the man who rode the horse here."

"The dickens he is!" shrieked the officer. "This is the man who sent me
up there, and--"

"Did you get in?" I asked, insinuatingly.

"Get in? I want you to understand this is no joke, sir!" said he, as he
came towards me in a threatening manner. "And if you're Johnston you
ought to have your heart cut out. Look at me, look at me, sir: Do you
think there is anything funny about this?"

"Well, I thought I'd give you a