So pondering he returned to the hotel and resolving to call upon the chief of police in the afternoon, he went into the spacious dining-room and ordered his dinner.

CHAPTER VII.

A Fire and a Talkative Fireman—­Mrs. Edwards Receives a Letter.

After dinner operative Everman called upon the chief of police, and acquainting him fully with the nature of his business in the city, he enlisted his services in our behalf.  Men were detailed to watch the arriving and departing trains, in order to discover if Edwards either paid a visit to Woodford or attempted to leave the place.  This step was taken as a mere precaution, for the detective as yet felt confident that Mrs. Edwards was entirely ignorant of the movements of her husband or of the crime which he was suspected of committing.  This was continued without result for three days, but on the afternoon of the fourth, the chief sought Everman at the hotel and informed him that he had important news to communicate.

“What is it?” inquired Everman, when they were alone.

“Well,” said the chief, “it is just this.  Last night, one of my men informs me, Mrs. Edwards received a letter from her husband, and to-day she appears to be in great trouble and distress of mind.  There can be no doubt that she has been informed of his crime, and also that she now knows his present whereabouts.”

“She will never tell any one where that is, unless I am very much mistaken in her,” interrupted Everman, “and we must look elsewhere for the information we desire.”

“Just my opinion exactly,” replied the chief; “and I have thought of a way in which we might get what we want.”

“Let me hear what it is,” said Everman.

“It is just this—­Mrs. Black has an intimate friend and confidante, to whom she tells everything she knows, and there is no doubt that she will soon, if she has not already done so, inform this lady of the letter received yesterday.  Well, so far, so good.  Now, this lady has a husband to whom she tells all she hears, and so he is apt to be as well informed in a short time.  This man is Tom Nelson by name, a carpenter by trade, and a jovial, easy, good-natured fellow by nature.  This man you must work up, and if you touch him correctly, you will find out all he knows.”

“Very good,” replied Everman confidently; “now point out Tom Nelson to me and leave me to work the rest.”

At this moment an alarm of fire was sounded, and in a few minutes the street in front of the hotel was alive with people hurrying to the scene of the conflagration.  Men and boys were running at the top of their speed, and shouting at the top of their voices; women were gazing from doors and windows, and the merry jingle of the bells of the fire-engines were soon heard, as the brave fire laddies were rushing to the rescue of the burning building.

“The very thing!” ejaculated the chief.  “I must go to the fire, and do you come along with me.  Tom Nelson is one of the most active firemen of the city, and I will point him out to you.  After that you must work your own way, for if I was to approach him upon the subject, he would become suspicious at once.”