The night was dark and it was with difficulty that he could keep his man in sight, without approaching so close as to excite suspicion.

At last, however, the merchant came out of a saloon which he had entered a short time before, and this time he was accompanied by another man whom Manning could not obtain a fair view of.

Taking a circuitous route, they at length gained the main street in the vicinity of the merchant's store.

Here they entered a doorway leading from the street and ascending a stairway were soon lost to sight.

The detective at once surmised that the clothier occupied sleeping apartments in the building, and that the two men had probably retired for the night.
His first impulse was to follow them up stairs and demand admittance, and should Duncan prove to be one of the parties, to make the arrest then and there.