The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-01

"No. He knows nothing; doesn't re-
member the man at all. But see here!
! The thing is simple enoughl All we
ra1lst do is to ask the agent at Epping,
and if not there it must have been az
the next. -
Epping, much larger town than
Lee, is but five miles from that place,
and therefore it was not long before
they reached the station. Immediately
Burrows and the conductor leaped from
the train and went up 20 the station
agent, who was delivering the mail
bags. It took but moment to explain
what was wanted and at once the agent
replied:
ooh. yes. remember the man we'll
enough. He paid me for his ticket.
hope there's nothing wrong. .
'sTbis gentleman will tell you. re-
piled the conductor in hurry. because
he could not keep his train waiting.
Then turning to Burrows he continued:
"Mr. Burrows, let me Introduce you
to Mr.. Jennings. He will give you the
information which you want Good
night wish you luckE A moment
later he and his train were lost to view
around curve, though deep rumbling
noise remained on the air for many min
utes Burrows turned to the man beside
him and said:
clam glad to meet you, Mr. Jennings.
and I hope that you may be able to lend
me some assistance in the matter which
am investigating. .
e"I am at your service, sir. If you'll
tell me what can do for you, I'll be
only too happy, replied the agent po-
litely.
ssI am a detective and am after a
man. I don't say the one who came
here on Sunday is he, hut think So
from the mysterious way in which he
acted at Lee. If you can tell me any
thing about him, you will earn my
gratitude. .
sWell, Idon't know as can help yor
much. remember the fellow, partly
cause he stopped off from such a late
train and partly cause he had no ticket
and SO had to buy one when he reached
| here, but am afraid there amt much
more can tell you.
Didn't he ask you any questions
where be could find place to sleep at
so late an hour or anything of that
kind?''
Not word. He just took his satchel
and marched off as if he knew all about
the place he meant to stop at. y
"Yoa say be took his satchel with
him?''
stop a Minute. That gives me an
idea. You want to find where he put
up; amt that the point?''
"That is precisely what am after. !"
every good! As ! said, he asked no
questions, but marched off. That's what
he did do. but your question about the
satchel reminds me. It seemed SO large
that his going off on foot with it in his
hand attracted some attention, and as
one of the neighbors noticed that he
started off in his own direction he
jumped into his wagon, and as he drove
off he said to me, 4 guess I'll give the
stranger lift with his bag. %
sDo you know whether the man &C.
cepted his offer or not?'
"Oh, yes; he had not turned the cor
ner there when Weston caught up with
him, and I saw HIM climb into the
wagon. %
.sWho is this Weston? Where can
find hira?''
sI should say he's the very man you
want for more reasons than one. Net
only he can tell you where be dropped
his company Sunday night, but as be
keeps the hotel there he can put you up
fc- The night.
With a seew necessary directions as to
how to find the hotel kept by this man
Weston, Burrows started toward that
place. The hotel in question would
scarcely be granted so high sounding a
name in city, but as it was the largest
hostelry in the place perhaps it was
we'll enough SO to designate it. The
young detective reached it without any
difficulty and as easily found the pro-
prietor. After engaging room for the
night he at once approached the main
object OF his visit.
"Mr. Weston, said he, II have been
informed that you picked up q stranger
at the depot last Sunday night and gave
him lift in your wagon /"
eyes, that's true enough. !"
.'I would be much obliged to you if
you will tell me where you put him
down.
"Well, look here! What might be
your reasons for askin about him? l
amt man to git another into trouble,
an excuse me, but you're stranger to
me. !"
"Weil, was not the other man a
stranger also?"
eyes, but for all that I won't do
nothin to git him into any scrape." " He
looked in decidedly suspicious manner
at the detective. Burrows considered
for moment, and from the manner of
his host he almost thought that, despite
his assertion that the man was unknown