The bright eyes of the little man twinkled merrily as he responded:
“I fear that I will have to put the shoe on the other foot and kindly inquire what I can do for you.”
“Why,” said Herbert, “I never met you before.”
“Probably not,” replied the other, still smiling; “but I was ordered to report to you this morning, and told that you would give me directions how to proceed.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Herbert, a light breaking in on him, “you are the detective.”
“Yes,” said the other mildly, “that is my business, and I am now at your service.”
After a conversation of ten or fifteen minutes, the reporter and the detective came to a thorough understanding. They were to meet at the main post office shortly before noon, and their movements after that were to depend entirely upon circumstances. Herbert was pleased with the character of man who had been sent to assist him, and mentally congratulated himself upon what now appeared to be the certain success of many days of hard labor. The end was already in view.
A few minutes after the detective had taken his leave, Herbert received a square cornered envelope, containing his name and address. He tore it open quickly and read as follows:
“Father, mother and I have removed to New York for the winter, and would be glad to have you call at the earliest opportunity. We understand that you are engaged in your newspaper work in the evening, so that if you care you are quite welcome to call in the morning, or at any other time that may suit your convenience.
Herbert looked at his watch. He had nearly three hours to spare before it would be time to keep his appointment with the detective in the post office, and he quickly decided to utilize it by making a hurried call on the Blacks. The address given was that of a house on West 69th Street, and in a very short time, by making use of the sub-way, Herbert found himself at the address indicated.
Mary Black, who responded to his call, was delighted to see her old friend and schoolmate, and in a few minutes he was also talking with Mr. and Mrs. Black. The family, distressed by the continued absence of the son and brother, had determined to stay in New York for some months in the hope of obtaining some clue to the runaway. A financial friend of Mr. Black, who had gone to Europe for the winter, had insisted upon his occupancy of the house during the time that he was absent from the country. Although the suggestion had been made only a fortnight before, the little family was already comfortably installed in the 69th Street house. They were all delighted with their new surroundings, and Mary was very much pleased and interested with the sights of the big city; but over it all there was a certain sadness caused by the sorrow which was felt on account of the erring one. The father was almost completely crushed at the domestic affliction which overshadowed their hearthstone. He had lost the coldness and haughtiness for which he was distinguished while at Cleverly, and in broken tones expressed to Herbert the sorrow he felt at the injustice which he had done to his old friend, David Harkins. He said that if an opportunity should ever come whereby he would be enabled to remedy the ill that had been caused through his thoughtless words, he would cheerfully do so.