Listen! you claim to be a
friend of the girl; so am I her friend."
"You know something concerning her real identity?"
"I do."
"And you desire my co-operation in, discovering the
whereabouts of the girl?"
"Possibly I do."
"If you desire my assistance, you must make a confidant of
me."
"First tell me; do you believe evil has befallen the girl?"
"Yes."
"What do you suspect?"
"There is no reason why I should make a confidant of you."
"There is."
"Explain wherein."
"If you will prove yourself an honest man, with honest
purposes, I will tell you all in good time."
"It will be better to tell me at once."
"I will."
"When?"
"Speedily; but tell me, what has become of her?"
"I do not know."
"Put you admit what you suspect."
"Yes."
"Will you tell me what you suspect?"
"I believe she has been abducted."
The stranger betrayed great agitation. He buried his face in
his hands. He was at the mercy of the detective, had the
latter been disposed to take advantage of the situation.
A few moments' silence pervaded the room, and a strange scene
was presented. On the floor lay the corpse of the boatman;
seated in a chair into which he had retreated was the man in
the rubber coat, and standing over against him with a stern
glance in his eye was the detective.
At length the man uncovered his face, and said:
"You think she has been abducted?"
"Yes."
"Have you any suspicion as to the identity of the abductor?"
"I have.
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