dear heart was faint with fear lest they accept, and thus bring about
who could say what disastrous consequences through their meeting with
Judy.

"Not this time, Auntie Sue," returned the Sheriff. "Mr. Ross is anxious
to get on down the river as fast as he can. He's got men on watch at
White's Crossing, and if our man ain't passed there, or if we don't
strike his trail somewhere before we get there, we will jump back on the
railroad, and get some boy to bring the horses through later."

"I see," returned Auntie Sue. And to the detective she added, smiling:
"I am sure it must be very difficult for any one to escape you, Mr.
Ross. I have read such wonderful things about Mr. Burns and the work
of his organization; and now that I have met you,--a real live
detective,--I shall be very careful, indeed, about what I do in the
future. I shouldn't want to have you on my track, I assure you."

The two men laughed heartily, and the detective, as he extended his hand
in farewell, returned: "I count it a great privilege to have met you,
Miss Wakefield; and if you will promise to do one thing for me, I'll
agree to be very lenient with you if I am ever assigned to a case in
which you are to be brought to justice."

"I promise," returned the old lady, quickly. "I really wouldn't dare to
refuse under the circumstances, would I? What do you want me to do, Mr.
Ross?"

"If this man Brian Kent should happen to appear in this vicinity, will
you get a message as quickly as possible, at any cost, to Sheriff Knox?"

"Why, of course," agreed Auntie Sue. "But you have not yet told me what
the man looks like, Mr. Ross."

"He is really a fine looking chap," the detective answered. "Thirty
years old--fully six feet tall--rather slender, but well built--weighs
about one hundred fifty--a splendid head--smooth shaven--reddish
hair--dark blue eyes--and a high, broad forehead. He is of
Irish extraction--is cultured--very courteous in his manner and
speech--dresses well--and knows a lot about books and authors and such
things."

"I would surely know him from that description," said Auntie Sue,
thinking of the wretched creature who had fallen, sobbing, at her feet
so short a time before. "But, you do not make him seem like a criminal
at all. It is strange that a man such as you describe should be a
fugitive from the law, is it not?"

"We come in contact with many strange things in our business, Miss
Wakefield," the Burns operative answered--a