Leaving William to devise a plan to accomplish this much-desired result, we will return to Geneva, and watch the movements of John Manning and Howard Jackson.

CHAPTER V.

New developments—­Tidings of Newton Edwards—­Suspicions strengthening against Eugene Pearson—­Mr. Silby’s confidence.

In extending their investigations in and around Geneva, operatives Manning and Jackson had discovered numerous items of intelligence corroborative of their previous suspicions.  A salesman, connected with a large mercantile house from one of the large cities, furnished the information that on Monday, the day on which the robbery occurred, he had traveled with Edwards as far as Newtonsville, and as he did not see him after leaving that place, he concluded that he must have stopped there.  He also stated that Edwards appeared to be unusually cold and reserved, and that he was accompanied by a companion whom he did not introduce to his friends.  At Newtonsville it was learned that a man, fully answering the description of Edwards’ companion, had visited both of the livery stables in that town, and had attempted to hire a team of horses and a carriage.  He had been refused in both instances, for the reasons that he was a stranger, and appeared to be under the influence of liquor.  Several people both in Geneva and Newtonsville were found who remembered seeing Edwards, whom they knew—­and a companion who was a stranger to them—­about these towns on the day of the robbery, and they described their actions as being very peculiar.  They had disappeared immediately after that and had not been seen since.  If further proofs of the complicity of Edwards were required they could have been procured by the score, and as all traces of their route from Geneva had been lost, William resolved to commence a thorough and systematic process of espionage, which he believed would eventually lead to the discovery of his hiding-place.  He thoroughly canvassed the situation and his conclusions were soon found.  Newton Edwards had a father and mother—­he had brothers and sisters; and in addition to these he had a lovely young wife, from whom he had parted in anger.  It was not possible that he could shake himself loose from all these ties of kindred and affection at one blow, and it was reasonably sure that sooner or later he would attempt to correspond with them in some manner.  Again, it might be the case that some of his relatives were already aware of his crime, and of the fact that he was hiding from the officers of the law, and it could not be expected that they would voluntarily give information that would lead to his discovery.  However grieved and disappointed they might be, however angry they must naturally feel, they could not be expected at such a time as this to turn his accusers, and aid in his capture.