“He went up de lake shore,” replied the colored man.  “He asked me if I knowed ob an ole big house up dere, what nobody libed in, an’ I said I did.  Den he left, an’ I were glad ob it.”

“Which house did you mean, Rad?”

“Why, dat ole mansion what General Harkness used t’ lib in befo’ de wah.  Dere ain’t nobody libed in it fo’ some years now, an’ it’s deserted.  Maybe a lot ob tramps stays in it, an’ dat’s where dis man were goin’.”

“Maybe,” assented Tom, who was all excitement now.  “Just where is this old house, Rad?”

“Away up at de head ob Lake Carlopa.  I uster wuk dere befo’ de wah, but it’s been a good many years since quality folks libed dere.  Why, did yo’ want t’ see dat man, Mistah Swift?”

“Yes, Rad, I did, and very badly, too.  I think he is the very person I want.  But don’t say anything about it.  I’m going to take a trip up to that strange mansion.  Maybe I’ll get on the trail of Happy Harry and the men who robbed me.  I’m much obliged to you, Rad, for this information.  It’s a good clue, I think.  Strange that you should meet the very tramp I’ve been searching for.”

“Well, I suah am obliged to yo’, Mistah Swift, fo’ fixin’ mah sawmill.”

“That’s all right.  What you told me more than pays for what I did, Rad.  Well, I’m going home now to tell dad, and then I’m going to start out.  Yesterday, you said it was, you saw Happy Harry?  Well, I’ll get right after him,” and leaving a somewhat surprised, but very much delighted, colored man behind him, Tom mounted his motor-cycle and started for home at a fast pace.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE STRANGE MANSION

“Dad, I’ve got a clue!” exclaimed Tom, hurrying into the house late that afternoon, following a quick trip from where he had met Eradicate with his sawmill.  “A good clue, and I’m going to start early in the morning to run it down.”

“Wait a minute, now, Tom,” cautioned his father slowly.  “You know what happens when you get excited.  Nothing good was ever done in a hurry.”

“Well, I can’t help being excited, dad.  I think I’m on the trail of those scoundrels.  I almost wish I could start to-night.”

“Suppose you tell me all about it,” and Mr. Swift laid aside a scientific book he was reading.

Whereupon Tom told of his meeting with the colored man, and what Eradicate had said about the tramp.

“But he may not be the same Happy Harry you are looking for,” interposed Mr. Swift.  “Tramps who don’t like to work, and who have a jolly disposition, also those who ask for money and have designs tattooed on their hands, are very common.”

“Oh, but I’m sure this is the same one,” declared Tom.  “He wants to stay in this neighborhood until he locates his confederates.  That’s why he’s hanging around.  Now I have an idea that the deserted mansion, where Eradicate used to work, and which once housed General Harkness and his family, is the rendezvous of this gang of thieves.”