ve told you this," said Nelson, with some compunctions
of conscience at his garrulity. "And if my wife was to hear that I had
done so, she would take my head off."

"Well, she won't hear of it from me, I can assure you, and I am too much
disappointed in my friend to speak of it unnecessarily to any one."

Their conversation was continued a few minutes longer, and then Nelson,
promising to see my operative again, took his leave.

Here was a revelation, which amounted to a direct confirmation of our
suspicion regarding Edwards, and was convincing testimony of the fact
that he was hiding from the officers of the law. The information about
his location, while indefinite, was a surety of the fact that he had not
gone west, according to his previous arrangement, and that he must be
looked for in the state of New York.

One thing, however, was necessary to be done at once, and that was to
keep a sharp lookout for any letter which might be mailed by Mrs.
Edwards or any member of her family. There was no doubt that this lady
would sooner or later attempt to write to her husband, and that too
within a few days. It was therefore of the utmost importance that a
close watch should be kept upon all the movements of the members of Mr.
Black's household, and then to endeavor to get at the address of any
letters which they might attempt to mail.

Everman immediately sent his report of what he had learned to me, and
then sought the chief of police in order to enlist his further aid in
such efforts as were now necessary to be taken.

When the chief had listened somewhat incredulously to what Everman had
been enabled to learn in the few minutes' conversation which he enjoyed
with Tom Nelson, he was overwhelmed with surprise at the rapid success
he had met with, and he readily proffered all the assistance in his
power.

Everman resolved to see Nelson again, and endeavor to induce him to
ascertain the exact locality in which Edwards was hiding. The carpenter
could not recollect it at the first interview, and was not sure that he
had heard it, but Everman concluded to try to jog his memory upon that
point still further. He did not have to seek an opportunity for meeting
his man, for that evening he received another call from Nelson, who had
evidently taken a great fancy to my affable operative. During the
conversation that followed, Everman was informed by his new-found
friend, that as well as he could recollect the name of the place f