"
"I am her friend, and you must aid me to find her, young man;
your service, if successful, will bring you more money than
you have previously earned during your whole life."
"Oh, no."
"Yes, sir; I will pay you a fortune if you will find the
girl."
"I already possess a fortune."
"You are rich?"
"I am rich."
"Your appearance would not indicate that you were a rich man."
"But you said a moment ago that I was not what I seemed."
"And I was correct?"
"You were right."
"Who are you?"
"Never mind; I am a friend to the girl."
"Why are you her friend"
"I cannot tell you now, but I will admit that I am under deep
obligations to her, and when I met you first to-night I was on
my way to the cottage."
"How long a time since you saw the girl?"
"It is more than a week."
Strange revelations were to follow.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The detective was beginning to take a more favorable view of
the character of the man in the rubber coat.
"It is over a week since you saw Renie?"
"Yes."
"When you saw her last had you reason to fear any special
danger she was likely to encounter?"
"Why do you ask that question?"
"You were on the way to this cottage, as you admit, after a
week's absence, and when you reach here and find the old
boatman murdered and the girl gone, you claim you have an idea
as to what has befallen her."
"You reason well, my friend, and the time has arrived when
absolute frankness must exist between you and me; the girl's
immediate safety demands that you and I should perfectly
understand each other.
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