“I knew her mother.”

“I wish I were assured that you are her friend.”

“I am her friend.”

The real agitation the stranger had betrayed, had modified the detective’s original opinion concerning the man.

“Answer me, are you really the girl’s father?”

“I am her friend.”

“You were at first ready to proclaim yourself her father; now you only claim to be a friend.”

“I am her friend, and you must aid me to find her, young man; your service, if successful, will bring you more money than you have previously earned during your whole life.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yes, sir; I will pay you a fortune if you will find the girl.”

“I already possess a fortune.”

“You are rich?”

“I am rich.”

“Your appearance would not indicate that you were a rich man.”

“But you said a moment ago that I was not what I seemed.”

“And I was correct?”

“You were right.”

“Who are you?”

“Never mind; I am a friend to the girl.”

“Why are you her friend”

“I cannot tell you now, but I will admit that I am under deep obligations to her, and when I met you first to-night I was on my way to the cottage.”

“How long a time since you saw the girl?”

“It is more than a week.”

Strange revelations were to follow.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The detective was beginning to take a more favorable view of the character of the man in the rubber coat.

“It is over a week since you saw Renie?”

“Yes.”

“When you saw her last had you reason to fear any special danger she was likely to encounter?”

“Why do you ask that question?”

“You were on the way to this cottage, as you admit, after a week’s absence, and when you reach here and find the old boatman murdered and the girl gone, you claim you have an idea as to what has befallen her.”

“You reason well, my friend, and the time has arrived when absolute frankness must exist between you and me; the girl’s immediate safety demands that you and I should perfectly understand each other.  I will admit that I had a suspicion concerning you.”

“A suspicion concerning me!” exclaimed the stranger.

“Yes.”

“What suspicion did you indulge?”

“I looked upon you as an enemy of the girl.”

“And that is why you first deceived me as to her appearance?”

“Yes.”

“I am not her enemy.”

“I trust you are not, and I must be convinced that you are not.”

“What first led you to set me down as an enemy?”

“Shall I speak plainly?”

“Yes.”

“The strange anxiety you showed concerning a certain mysterious box, especially after I had spoken of jewels and gems.”

A peculiar smile flitted over the stranger’s face, and after a moment’s thoughtfulness, he said: