as a set, determined
expression about his mouth and eyes that struck Anderson as new.

"Say, Wick," began the marshal mysteriously, "I'm up a stump."

"What? Another?"

"No; jest the same one. I almost got track of somethin' to-day--not two
hours ago. I met a man out yander near the cross-roads that I'm sure I
seen aroun' here about the time Rosalie was left on the porch. An' the
funny part of it was, he stopped me an' ast me about her. Doggone, I
wish I'd ast him his name."

"You don't mean it!" cried Bonner, all interest. "Asked about her? Was
he a stranger?"

"I think he was. Leastwise, he said he hadn't been aroun' here fer
more'n twenty year. Y'see, it was this way. I was over to Lem Hudlow's
to ask if he had any hogs stole last night--Lem lives nigh the
poorhouse, you know. He said he hadn't missed any an' ast me if any hogs
had been found. I tole him no, not that I knowed of, but I jest thought
I'd ask; I thought mebby he'd had some stole. You never c'n tell, you
know, an' it pays to be attendin' to business all the time. Well, I was
drivin' back slow when up rode a feller on horseback. He was a
fine-lookin' man 'bout fifty year old, I reckon, an' was dressed in all
them new-fangled ridin' togs. 'Ain't this Mr. Crow, my old friend, the
detective?' said he. 'Yes, sir,' said I. 'I guess you don't remember
me,' says he. I told him I did, but I lied. It wouldn't do fer him to
think I didn't know him an' me a detective, don't y'see?

"We chatted about the weather an' the crops, him ridin' longside the
buckboard. Doggone, his face was familiar, but I couldn't place it.
Finally, he leaned over an' said, solemn-like: 'Have you still got the
little girl that was left on your porch?' You bet I jumped when he said
that. 'Yes,' says I, 'but she ain't a little girl now. She's growed
up.' 'Is she purty?' he ast. 'Yes,' says I, 'purty as a speckled pup!'
'I'd like to see her,' he said. 'I hear she was a beautiful baby. I hope
she is very, very happy.' 'What's that to you?' says I, sharp-like. 'I
am very much interested in her, Mr. Crow,' he answered. 'Poor child, I
have had her in mind for a long time,' he went on very solemn. I begin
to suspect right away that he had a lot to do with her affairs. Somehow,
I couldn't help thinkin' I'd seen him in Tinkletown about the time she
was dropped--left, I mean.

"'You have given her a good eddication, I hope,' said he. 'Yes, she's
got the best in town,' said I. 'The thousand dol