Entering the shop without hesitation and with a careless air of assurance, Everman found himself in the presence of the locksmith, who was busily employed at his work.  Mr. Black was a stout, good-looking, middle-aged man, who wore bushy whiskers and a pair of iron-rimmed spectacles.  On the entrance of the detective he came forward with a pleasant smile on his face, as though expecting a profitable customer, and greeted the operative.

“Well, sir, what can I do for you to-day?”

“Nothing in the way of business,” replied the detective; “I am seeking some information which perhaps you can give me.”

“Take a seat,” said the locksmith, pushing a stool toward the detective, and at the same time seating himself upon the counter.  “I don’t know a great deal, but if I can tell you what you want to know I shall be happy to do so.”

“Thank you,” replied Everman, as he produced a couple of fragrant cigars, and handed one to Mr. Black.  “My name is Everman; I am a salesman for a city house, and am a neighbor of your brother-in-law, Newton Edwards.  I have a message for him from his employer, and want to find out where to address him.  I understood he had come to Woodford, and was informed at the hotel that I would be apt to learn from you whether he was in town.”

While he was speaking, he watched the countenance of the locksmith carefully, and as he mentioned the name of Edwards he noticed that the cheerful smile disappeared from his face and was replaced with a heavy frown; this remained but a moment, and when Everman finished speaking, he promptly and pleasantly replied: 

“I cannot tell you, I am sorry to say, where Mr. Edwards is at present, for I do not know myself.  I only know that he was in Chicago on Saturday, a week ago, and at that time he stated that he was going to Milwaukee and St. Paul; whether he did so or not I cannot tell you.”

“I understood from his employer that he and Mrs. Edwards contemplated stopping in Woodford for a few days before he started upon his business trip.”

In response to this, Mr. Black stated to the detective, after much hesitation, but believing he was speaking to a friend, that on the Saturday mentioned, he had received a telegram from his sister, who was the wife of Newton Edwards, requesting him to come to her at once.  He immediately responded to this summons, and on going to the house where she was stopping, he found her in great distress, and weeping violently.  From her he then learned that Edwards had come to the house that morning in a state of intoxication, and had shamefully abused her.  That he had ordered her to return to her family, and declared that he would never live with her again.  Mr. Black had therefore brought his sister home with him, and threatened to inflict personal chastisement upon Edwards if he ever crossed his path again.

Finding that the story of the separation was a truthful one, at least so far as the relatives of Mrs. Edwards were concerned, Everman decided to obtain an interview, if possible, with the forsaken wife.  Inviting Mr. Black to accompany him to the hotel, which was but a short distance from the shop, the locksmith took off his leather apron and paper cap, and the two strolled away together.