By peering through the crevices in the woodwork he also commanded a full view of the entrance, and was thus enabled to see all who entered the barn.

Slowly the morning waned away and as yet no sign of the man for whom he was waiting.

How many times he had fancied he heard the longed-for footstep, and peered anxiously out, only to be disappointed, it would be impossible to tell.

At length, however, just as he was about to despair of success, he heard footsteps at the door, and peeping through the opening in the stall, he saw the figure of the man for whose appearance he had watched so long, and whose face had haunted him day and night since he had started in pursuit of him.

There he stood, not a dozen feet away from him, and as the detective gazed at the unsuspecting thief, a thrill of pleasurable excitement filled his being.