"
"And you will know where to look for her?"
"I will know who to look for."
"Do you suspect the motive for the abduction?"
"Yes."
"What was the motive?"
"Renie is a beautiful girl."
"You told me differently before."
"I did."
"Now you admit she is beautiful?"
"Yes; one of the most beautiful girls I ever beheld."
"Will you describe her appearance?"
The detective hesitated a moment, but at length did describe
the appearance of Renie.
A detective can better describe a missing person's appearance
than any other party, as it is a part of their trade to
accustom themselves to the art, and our hero's description was
vivid and accurate.
"Yes, yes, it is she," muttered the stranger, involuntarily.
"From the description you are satisfied that the adopted
daughter of Tom Pearce is the girl you are looking for, my
friend?"
"Yes; there is no doubt."
"You recognize the description?"
"Yes."
"Then you have seen the girl?"
"Not since she was a year old."
"Not since she was a year old?" exclaimed the detective.
"How can you know what she would look like now?"
"I knew her mother."
"I wish I were assured that you are her friend."
"I am her friend."
The real agitation the stranger had betrayed, had modified the
detective's original opinion concerning the man.
"Answer me, are you really the girl's father?"
"I am her friend."
"You were at first ready to proclaim yourself her father; now
you only claim to be a friend.
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