ordan's week on night-guard."

There was silence for a moment, and then Hulton asked: "Where did you
meet the man you thought was Jordan? Did he answer you?"

"He was going along the ground-floor passage in front of me, and the
only light was in the pay-office at the end. He stood in the doorway
as I passed and I said, 'It's a cold night, Tom.' I'd gone a few yards
when he answered, 'It will be colder soon.'"

"Then as you passed the door he must have seen your face, though you
could not see his," said Hulton, who turned to Percival. "Clark was on
night-guard and his name's not Tom. Where was he when Mr. Featherstone
left?"

"In the lathe-room at the other end of the building. The punch in the
check-clock shows it," Percival replied.

Hulton pondered, knitting his brows, before he said, "Since you thought
the man was Jordan, you wouldn't know him again."

"No; he was about Jordan's height and build, but I only saw his figure.
It showed dark and rather indistinct against the light."

"Well," said Hulton, "you see the importance of this. We have
something to go upon; a stranger was in the factory." Then he got up
with a look of keen relief in his worn face. "I thank you and your
partner; you have given me hope. Some day all who knew my boy will
believe what you believe. Now I have something to say to Percival, and
then he must help me home to bed."

He shook hands with them and let them go. They left the factory in
silence, but as they crossed the yard Foster remarked: "I'm sorry for
Hulton. For all his quietness, he takes the thing very hard."

"I imagine the fellow who shot Fred Hulton will need your pity most,"
Featherstone replied. "The old man will run him down with the
determination and energy that helped him to build up his business.
Money with brains behind it is a power, but I wouldn't like Hulton on
my track if he hadn't a cent. There's something relentless about the
man." He paused and resumed: "Well, he has a clew. It's curious I
didn't think of mentioning before that I spoke to the watchman, but I
thought the fellow was Jordan. I wonder how the thief will get the
bonds across to Europe."

"There would be some danger in carrying them; anyhow, he'd imagine so,
although it looks as if Hulton doesn't mean to tell the police much
just yet. Of course, there's the mail, but the thief might be afraid
to post the papers."

Featherstone nodded. "I think it's in Hulton's favor that he'll