n doing lately?"

"I don't know; they have told us nothing for some time."

"You find them kind of disappointing?"

"I believe my father does."

The man said nothing for a while, and then looked around again.

"Well," he ventured, "it strikes me there's one man Curtis ought to keep
his eye on."

Gertrude started and Wandle studied her face. He was observant and quick
to draw a conclusion, and he read something that surprised him in her
eyes. It was, he thought, a deeper feeling than suspicion; Miss
Jernyngham knew whom he meant and had some reason for being very bitter
against Prescott.

"Why do you say that?" she asked.

"All I've heard looks black against him," he answered with an air of
reflection. "What does your father think?"

"He is perplexed and distressed," said Gertrude coldly, deciding that the
man must not be allowed to go too far.

Wandle guessed her thoughts, but he was not to be daunted.

"That's natural. He must be anxious to learn the truth, and the police
haven't found out much yet--looks as if they were getting tired."

Gertrude hesitated, while he led the horses round a clump of birches. It
was painful and undignified to discuss the matter with a stranger, but
his manner was suggestive; she felt that he had something to tell.
Perhaps it was her duty to encourage him, and her suspicions of Prescott
drove her on. Wandle waited, knowing that she would speak.

"Is there anything that might be useful they have neglected doing?"

"It's hard to say. I'll allow that they've worked through the muskeg and
the bluffs pretty thoroughly; but do you know if they've made a good
search round Prescott's house?"

"No," said Gertrude eagerly; "I can't tell you that. But why should they
look there?"

Wandle considered. It would be awkward if she mentioned that she had had
a hint from him, but he did not think this would happen. There was a
greater probability of her acting as if the idea had originated with her.
He let the team stop and looked at her impressively.

"It strikes me as quite a likely place. I've heard of people hiding
things they wanted to get rid of in a bluff. You put it to your father
and see how the notion strikes him."

"I'll think of it," Gertrude replied coldly; but Wandle knew that she
would do as he had suggested.

He said nothing further until they had crossed another rise or two, when
he stopped and pointed to a bluff not far away.

"When you make those trees you'll stri