he price which he
asked was not half as much as the garment was worth.

After the customer had departed, the clothier advanced, bowing and
smiling, toward the detective, as if anticipating another sale as
profitable as the last one. Manning informed him in a few words that he
was looking for Duncan, and was a friend of his, who was desirous of
gaining some information of his present whereabouts, as unless he saw
him, Duncan might be getting into more trouble.

It appeared that Duncan had told the same gambling story to Mr. Gross,
who seemed to be dreadfully shocked at the affair.

"Py gracious," said he excitedly, "I hafe knowed dot boy ven I sold
cloding in Des Moines, more as fife years ago, and so help me Moses I
did nefer belief he vud do such a ting loike dot."

After further conversation, he learned that Duncan had spent a great
deal of his time at this store, and when he left, had stated that he
intended to go on to Miles City, and perhaps to Butte City, Montana. It
appeared that Duncan had an uncle who was engaged in the clothing
business at Butte City, and that it was possible he might eventually get
there.

"If you find him," said Mr. Gross, after he had given the above
information, "you musn't told him where you heard this, because he told
me, I should say nothing about him to anybody."

"All right," replied Manning, "if I find him, it won't make much
difference to him who told me about him."

As he uttered these words a peculiar look came into the shrewd face of
the Jew, a look which was partly of quick suspicion and of fear, and he
eyed the imperturbable detective for a few moments as though seriously
in doubt about the whole affair. Manning, however, had nothing further
to say, and bidding the clothier a pleasant farewell he left the store.

On returning to the hotel, he found that he had several hours to wait,
as no train would leave Bismarck until evening, and he therefore
employed his time in writing up his reports and mailing them to me.

After partaking of an early tea, he returned to the railroad station,
where he discovered that he had yet some time to wait before the arrival
of the train, which was belated. As he was standing on the rude
platform, musing over the events which had taken place in his journey
thus far, and speculating as to the probable result of his chase after
an individual who had seemed, phantom-like, to have eluded his grasp at
every point.

He knew full well the desp