Evening star., 1895-08-12

means But it's quite possible. wondered
why the fellow was 30 mighty anxious to
keep the sack in his own clutches"
'Of course" l said. "he may not have
done the boy any serious harm. perhaps
only rendered him unconscious In sOme
way. so as to get him out of the train and
away from the station. expect the watch
that the boy carried has been the tenpta-
tion."
he should make inquiries for the boy In
the neighborhood, while 1 went on to Con-
nah'S Quay to compare notes with the po-
lice. and secure their active corporation
In following up the clue had found
The inspector of police was in the office
when I arrived. and I soon told him my
story and made him acquainted with my
suspicious In regard to the man with scar
across his cheek. The inspector heard me
patiently till had finished. making mean
while one or two notes, and then he said
quietly: "And you badly want to get hold
of that man. suppose? But you'll have to
whistle for him. He's gone"
"Gone! What do you mean?" asked, In
some excitement.
"Oh, he's cleared out, bag and baggage.
We ought to catch him. though. We know
the man very WELL He's an old acquaint-
ance of ours known as 'Dusky Joe.' I'm
only surprised at a man with face like
that taking to bad ways. He's too easily
recognized. He lives at Flint, and Is the
biggest rascal in the district. He's already
served one or two terms for various Of
fenses. but If we can only catch him this
time 1 fancy he'll be settled for good long
spell. My men have been after him all the
morning. They've found traces OF ms nav
irg called at home during the night, but
for the present, at any rate. he's got clear
away"
I'm awfully sorry for that" said: but
what has become of the boy, l should like
to know. Have you met with any trace OF
him, either living or-or dead?"
"No news at all of the boy till you
came" was the reply; land We want Dusky
Joe for quite another matter. may as
we'll tell you all about it. During the night
there's been a bad poaching ARRAY on tne
Hawarden estate. Three poachers and two
keepers met in the wood. and there was a
hot fight, and the keepers got the worst OF
1t, and they're both badly hurt. One OF
them isn't likely to get over it. From what
the other keeper says. Dusky Joe was one
of the poachers, and what you tell me as
to his travelling to Queensferry last night
confirms it. That's why we've been after
him. And If he's done anything to the lad.
all the more reason why We should catch
him soon as we can. We can't do more
than we are doing to get hold of him, but
I'll send a man to Queensferry at once to
make inquiries for the lad round there, and
if l hear anything I'll let you know
1t occurred to me that before leaving Con-
nahs Quay it might. be an advantage to
have a conversation with Mrs. Edwards,
and 1 got the station master, who was well
acquainted with her, to go with me to her
house and introduce me. I found her to be
very intelligent woman. apparently about
ffty-five years of age. rather tall. and with
very pleasing face. An ideal nurse l
thought she must have been. r,t,
Have you found little Frank. Mr..
Barnes?" she asked. eagerly. as soon as
introductions were over. and the station
master had left us.
Il am sorry to say that have not" 1 re-
piled.
Il am so sorry. I don't know what his
mother will do If any harm has befallen
him. She was in dreadfully agitated state
when she arrived here last night. She
she is. she has had a great deal of trou-
BILE, Mr.. Barnes, and do hope she may not
have the loss of her boy added to what she
has already gone through"
do you know whether her little girl is
better?" asked.
Eyes; she wired me an hour or so ago to
say that Nellie was much better, and that
1t was not a case of scarlet fever, after all.
But do you mind telling me, Mr.. Barnes.
what you have done to trace the boy, and
whether you have found any clue at all ?"
/ told Mrs. Edwards briefly what inquiries
I had made, and how everything now SEEM
ed to point to Duslly Joe being responsible
for the boys disappearance.
Although at first" I added, II did not
attach as much importance to the fact of
the boy being placed in that compartment
as Mrs. Fairholme seemed to do. felt
sure 1 should find him at Mostyn, and his
not being there was great disappoint-
ment to me- 1t seems quite certain, how
ever. that nobody alighted- there except Sir
Philip Sandford and his family
''Sir Philip Sandford"- exclaimed Mrs.
Edwards springing to her feet as if she had
been galvanized. 'tMr. Barnes, are you
sure of the name?'' .
quite sure" 1 replied: 'but-"
"And does he--does Sir Philip live near
there?'
''He lives at Rhydowen Hall, about eight
miles inland. l remember his removing
there q year OF more ago. He bought an
estate there, I have heard, ...g. d,
docs his son-Mr. Reginald-liye with
him stll?' .ar,a re-.' -.s-
Eyes"
-"Was he with the party?"
mo: he has met with an accident He
had stayed at home, and was out riding
yesterday when he got thrown from his
horse"
HE is not dead. Mr.. Barnes. or-or in
jured fatally?"
1.-THE only information received was that
he was badly hurt. I am sorry that the
you knew Sir Philip or his family. But
this does not help US find the boy. You can
suggest nothing that will afford me fur
ther clue, 1 suppose?'
mo, nothing. But before you go let me
tell you why the mention of Sir Philip and
his son upset me 50 much just now. Under
the circumstances. / am. sure. Mrs. Fair
holme would not mind my doing so for I
have an impression that in some way which
1 cannot understand it will help toward the
recovery of her little boy.