One thing, however, was necessary to be done at once, and that was to keep a sharp lookout for any letter which might be mailed by Mrs. Edwards or any member of her family.  There was no doubt that this lady would sooner or later attempt to write to her husband, and that too within a few days.  It was therefore of the utmost importance that a close watch should be kept upon all the movements of the members of Mr. Black’s household, and then to endeavor to get at the address of any letters which they might attempt to mail.

Everman immediately sent his report of what he had learned to me, and then sought the chief of police in order to enlist his further aid in such efforts as were now necessary to be taken.

When the chief had listened somewhat incredulously to what Everman had been enabled to learn in the few minutes’ conversation which he enjoyed with Tom Nelson, he was overwhelmed with surprise at the rapid success he had met with, and he readily proffered all the assistance in his power.

Everman resolved to see Nelson again, and endeavor to induce him to ascertain the exact locality in which Edwards was hiding.  The carpenter could not recollect it at the first interview, and was not sure that he had heard it, but Everman concluded to try to jog his memory upon that point still further.  He did not have to seek an opportunity for meeting his man, for that evening he received another call from Nelson, who had evidently taken a great fancy to my affable operative.  During the conversation that followed, Everman was informed by his new-found friend, that as well as he could recollect the name of the place from which Edwards’ letter was posted began with a “Mac,” and that was all that could be elicited from him.

Everman gave as his reasons for desiring to learn this fact, that he wanted to write to him himself, and convey the letters which had been intrusted to him.

After spending some time in the vain endeavor to refresh the carpenter’s memory, they at length parted for the night.

“Remember, Mr. Everman,” said Nelson, as he left the hotel, “if I can find out for you what you want, I will surely do so; but for heaven’s sake don’t let my wife know it, or I will be scalped alive.”

The detective laughingly promised to beware of the sanguinary Mrs. Nelson, and the carpenter went his way.

CHAPTER VIII.

A Plan to Intercept Correspondence—­Edwards Fully Identified—­A pretty Servant Girl and a Visit to Church.

While these events were transpiring at Woodford, William had not been idle in the city.  A constant watch had been maintained upon the several premises occupied by the relatives of Newton Edwards, in the hope of detecting some attempt upon their part to communicate with the suspected thief.  This at all times is rather a difficult object to achieve, but we have frequently been obliged to resort to this mode of acquiring