He told me where the
fisherman resided at the time the child was confided to his
care, and I at once came here to find her."
"Will you tell me the whole story?"
"I can tell you no more."
"Why not?"
"I have reasons."
The detective revolved the man's revelations in his mind. Had
the man told him the whole story Vance would have been led to
believe the tale, but despite his desire to do so, he still
retained a lurking suspicion as to the purpose and motive of
the man in the rubber coat.
"Well," said Vance, "the girl is missing."
"So it appears; but we must find her."
"You are right; I advise you to begin an immediate search for
her."
"You will aid me?"
"No."
"You will not aid me?"
"I will not."
"Why not?"
"I told you that if you desired my aid you must confide to me
all the facts; you have refused, and I refuse to aid you to
find the girl." The detective was testing the man, seeking to
satisfy himself that the stranger really was the father of the
missing Renie.
"Very well," said the stranger, "if you refuse to aid me, I
shall prosecute the search on my own account."
"That is all right, but now let me give you a little advice;
do not be found running around this coast unattended; your
life is in danger."
"And I believe," exclaimed the stranger, "that you are the
assassin."
As the man spoke he rose excitedly to his feet, and at the
same instant, three men forced their way into the cabin.
A moment the five men glared at each other in silence, and a
strange and weird scene was presented.
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