"And may I ask, Miss Wakefield, if any one--any stranger, I mean--has called at the house lately, or if you have seen any one in the vicinity ?" The gentle old lady hesitated.
The officers thought she was searching her memory to be sure before she answered.
Then Auntie Sue said, deliberately: "No, sir; we have not seen a stranger in this vicinity for several weeks.

The last one was a mule-buyer, who stopped to ask if he was on the right road to Tom Warden's; and that must have been fully six weeks ago." The detective looked at Sheriff Knox.
"Well," said the big officer, "I reckon we might as well push along." The two men arose.
"Oh, but surely you will stay for dinner," said Auntie Sue, while her 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.