eless, and he must bestir himself, strike a fresh trail,
if possible, and hope for better results.

He wondered why they had not skipped immediately after Jake Walton's
release, but finally concluded that they had remained in the city for a
day or two to disarm suspicion.

"Where did they go?" he inquired, as soon as he could command his voice
to speak calmly.

"To the Grand Union Station. I believe they were going North, for I heard
the young man say something about purchasing tickets, at reduced rates,
for Chicago," the clerk replied.

"Had they baggage with them?" Mr. Rider questioned.

"Yes, a trunk and a good-sized grip," said the man.

The detective thought a moment.

Then he called for writing materials, hastily wrote a few lines, which he
sealed, and directed to "Miss Richards."

"There is a young lady by that name stopping here, I believe," he
remarked, as he laid the envelope before the clerk.

"Yes; she is with a Mrs. Montague."

"That is the lady," said the detective. "Will you see that this letter is
given into her own hands, and _privately_? It is a matter of importance."

"Yes, sir, I will myself attend to the matter," responded the obliging
clerk.

Mr. Rider deposited a piece of silver upon the envelope, touched his hat,
and walked briskly from the hotel.

He jumped into a carriage that was waiting before the door.

"To the Grand Union Station," he ordered. "Be quick about it, and you
shall have double fare."

The man was quick about it, but the train for Chicago had been gone some
time.

Mr. Rider had of course expected this, but he at once sought an interview
with the ticket agent, and made earnest inquiries regarding those who had
purchased tickets for Chicago that morning; but he could learn of no
persons answering to the description of the miner and his supposed
mother.

If he could have obtained any intelligence regarding them, he had
intended to telegraph ahead, and order their arrest when they should
arrive at the end of their journey. But of course it would be of no use
to put this plan into execution now, as he doubted very much their having
gone to Chicago at all.

He was very much disheartened, and retraced his steps to his hotel, with
a sickening sense of total defeat.

"Tom Rider," he muttered, fiercely, as he packed his own grip to take the
first train back to New York, "you might as well give up the business and
take up some trade; you've been hoodwinked by these