Weeks passed, but no answer came from the Major.  All hope was abandoned of obtaining a more satisfactory clue to the history of Tucker White.  About three months, however, after Mr. Williamson had written, the appended note came as an answer: 

    MR. CANBY: 

Major Roney received a letter from you relative to his boy, Tucker White, and has sent me here to inquire of you his whereabouts now.  If you know anything concerning him and will give me such information so I can get him, you will be rewarded for your trouble.  You will please address,

    No. 147 American Hotel.

    The Major would have sent on sooner but he has been sick, and
    the letter laid in Office several days.

Mr. Canby was at the time ill, and no attention was paid to the communication.  After a day’s delay the following note came to hand, but, as in the former instance, no answer was returned.

    MR. CANBY: 

You will confer a great favor on me by writing me whether you were really the author of a letter to Major Isaac Roney, of Dinwiddie Court House, Va., relative to his boy Tucker White, and if you were the author, please let me know when you last saw him, and where.  I called at your office yesterday to see you, but your cousin (I think he said he was) told me you had the cholera, and if you felt well enough you were going to the country to-morrow.  I hope you will excuse my writing to you to-day, on that account.  I would not know where to direct a letter if I were to wait until to-morrow.  If you know anything concerning him and will let me know it, so that I can find and arrest him, you will very much oblige

    Yours, &c.,

    I.M.  TUCKER.

    No. 147 American Hotel.

Please write me an answer to-day, so I may know how to proceed to-morrow.  If I find him I will be very happy to see you before I leave in behalf of Major Roney, in whose business I am now engaged.  I.M.T.

Some one, however, who had a hand in the first letter, referred the Major to Passmore Williamson, Seventh and Arch Streets.  To Mr. Williamson’s surprise the individual who had addressed Mr. C. appeared at his office with the identical letter in his hand that had been addressed him by Mr. W. (with W.J.C.’s signature.) On addressing Mr. W. he held out the letter and inquired:  “Are you the author of this letter, sir?” Mr. W. looked at it and remarked that it appeared to have been written by a man named Canby.  “My name is Williamson, but if you will walk in and take a seat I will attend to you in a few moments.”  Accordingly, after occupying a little time in adjusting some papers, he signified to the stranger that he was ready to answer any of his questions.  Said Mr. W., “I say frankly that I am the author of that letter.”  He then paused for a reply.  The stranger then said, “I have come from Virginia in behalf of Major