"
Mr. Warmore was strolling homeward, swinging the heavy cane which he
always carried, when, in passing a small stretch of woods just beyond the
outskirts of the town, a man stepped from among the trees with the stealth
of a shadow and waited for him to approach. The merchant hesitated a
moment in doubt of his identity, but the other spoke in a low voice,--
"It's all right; come on."
"I wasn't quite sure," remarked Mr. Warmore, turning aside among the
trees, where he could talk with the detective without the possibility of
being seen or overheard.
"Well," said the merchant in a guarded voice, "what is it?"
"It was a dirty piece of business to throw suspicion on that young Gordon.
He is as innocent as you or I."
"What did you learn about him?"
"You told me of that mortgage which he paid off for the farmer where he
has lived so long."
"Yes; there is no doubt of the truth of that."
"He has been in your employ for four or five years. You tell me he is
saving, and has no bad habits. So the paying of such a small mortgage
ought not to be impossible."
"By no means."
"Nor would it be strange if he had a nest-egg in the savings-bank?"
"Knowing him as well as I do, I would be surprised if such was not the
fact.
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