ortunity that the two were soon on the
best of terms, and he learned that the Englishman was without a valet,
and, being unaccustomed to move about without one, felt the awkwardness
of his position very much. This gave Sweetwater his cue, and when
he found that the services of such a man were wanted only during the
present trip and for the handling of affairs quite apart from personal
tendance upon the gentleman himself, he showed such an honest desire
to fill the place, and made out to give such a good account of himself,
that he found himself engaged for the work before reaching C--.

This was a great stroke of luck, he thought, but he little knew how big
a stroke or into what a series of adventures it was going to lead him.

Once on the platform of the small station at which Mr. Grey had bidden
him to stop, he noticed two things: the utter helplessness of the man in
all practical matters, and his extreme anxiety to see all that was
going on about him without being himself seen. There was method in this
curiosity, too much method. Women did not interest him in the least.
They could pass and repass without arousing his attention, but the
moment a man stepped his way, he shrank from him only to betray the
greatest curiosity concerning him the moment he felt it safe to turn
and observe him. All of which convinced Sweetwater that the Englishman's
errand was in connection with a man whom he equally dreaded and desired
to meet.

Of this he was made absolutely certain a little later. As they were
leaving the depot with the rest of the arrivals, Mr. Grey said:

"I want you to get me a room at a very quiet hotel. This done, you are
to hunt up the man whose name you will find written in this paper, and
when you have found him, make up your mind how it will be possible for
me to get a good look at him without his getting any sort of a look at
me. Do this and you will earn a week's salary in one day."

Sweetwater, with his head in air and his heart on fire--for matters were
looking very promising indeed--took the paper and put it in his pocket;
then he began to hunt for a hotel. Not till he had found what he wished,
and installed the Englishman in his room, did he venture to open the
precious memorandum and read the name he had been speculating over for
an hour. It was not the one he had anticipated, but it came near to it.
It was that of James Wellgood.

Satisfied now that he had a ticklish matter to handle, he prepared for