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〃I don't know about friends； sir； but I know he has told me he was
overseer； or partner； or something of that sort； in a small station
down in the swamps of South Carolina。 I should think； from
things he has let drop； that the slaves must have had a bad time of
it。 I rather fancy he made the place too hot for him； and had to
leave； but that was only my impression。〃
〃In that case he may possibly have made his way back there；〃
Vincent said。 〃I have particular reasons for wishing to find out。
You don't know anything about the name of the place？〃 The man
shook his head。
〃He never mentioned the name in my hearing。〃
〃Well； I must try to find out； but I don't quite see how to set about
it；〃 Vincent said。 〃By the way； do you know where his clothes
were sent to？〃
〃Yes； the man said that he was to take them to Harker's Hotel。 It's
a second…rate hotel not far from the railway station。〃
〃Thank you。 That will help me。 I know the house。 It was formerly
used by Northern drummers and people of that sort。〃
After riding back to Richmond and putting up his horse； Vincent
went to the hotel there。 Although but a secondary hotel it was well
filled； for people from all parts of the Confederacy resorted to
Richmond； aud however much trade suffered； the hotels of the
town did a good business。 He first went up to the clerk in a little
office at the entrance。
〃You had a man named Pearson；〃 he said； 〃staying here about a
month ago。 Will you be good enough to tell me on what day he
left？〃
The clerk turned to the register； and said after a minute 's
examination：
〃He came on the 14th of November； and he left on the 20th。〃
This was two days after the date on which Dinah had been carried
off。
In American hotels the halls are large and provided with seats； and
are generally used as smoking and reading…rooms by the male
visitors to the hotel。 At Harker's Hotel there was a small bar at the
end of the hall； and a black waiter supplied the wants of the guests
seated at the various little tables。 Vincent seated himself at one of
these and ordered something to drink。 As the negro placed it on
the table he said：
〃I will give you a dollar if you will answer a few questions。〃
〃Very good； sah。 Dat am a mighty easy way to earn a dollar。〃
〃Do you remember； about a month ago； a man named Pearson
being here？〃
The negro shook his head。
〃Me not know de names of de gentlemen； sah。 What was de man
like？〃
〃He was tall and thin； with short hair and a gray goatee …a regular
Yankee。〃
〃Me remember him； sah。 Dar used to he plenty ob dat sort here。
Don't see dem much now。 Me remember de man； sah； quite well。
Used to pass most of de day here。 Didn't seem to have nuffin to
do。〃
〃Was he always alone； or did he have many people here to see
him？〃
〃Once dar war two men here wid him； sab； sitting at dat table ober
in do corner。 Rough…looking fellows dey war。 In old times people
like dat wouldn't come to a 'spectable hotel； but now most ebery
one got rough clothes； can't get no others； so one don't tink nuffin
about it； but dose fellows was rough…looking besides dar clothes。
Didn't like dar looks nohow。 Dey only came here once。 Dey was
do only strangers that came to see him。 But once Massa
Jackson…me know him by sight he came here and talk wid him for
a long time。 Earnest sort of talk dat seemed to be。 Dey talk in low
voice； and I noticed dey stopped talking when any one sat down
near dem。〃
〃You don't know where he went to from here； I suppose？〃
〃No； sah； dat not my compartment。 Perhaps de outside porter will
know。 Like enough he take his tings in hand…truck to station。 You
like to see him； sab？〃
〃Yes； I should like to have a minute's talk with him。 Here is your
dollar。〃
The waiter rang a bell； and a minute later the outdoor porter
presented himself。
〃You recomember taking some tings to station for a tall man wid
gray goatee； Pomp？〃 the waiter asked。 〃It was more dan tree
weeks ago。 I tink he went before it was light in de morning。 Me
seem to remember dat。〃
The negro nodded。
〃Me remember him bery well； sah。 Tree heavy boxes and one bag；
and he only give me quarter dollar for taking dem to de station。
Mighty mean man dat。〃
〃Do you know what train he went by？〃
〃Yes； sah； it was de six o'clock train for de souf。〃
〃You can't find out wher his luggage was checked for？〃
〃I can go down to station； sab； and see if I can find out。 Some of de
men thar may remember。〃
〃Here is a dollar for yourself；〃 Vincent said； 〃and another to give
to any of the men who can give you the news。 When you have
found out come and tell me。 Here is my card and address。〃
〃Bery well； sah。 Next time me go up to station me find about it；
for sure； if any one remember dat fellow。〃
In the evening the negro called at the house and told Vincent that
he had ascertained that a man answering to his description and
having luggage similar to that of Pearson had had it checked to
Florence in South Carolina。
Vincent now called Dan into his counsel and told him what he had
discovered。 The young negro had already given proof of such
intelligence that he felt sure his opinion would be of value。
〃Dat all bery plain； sah；〃 Dan said when Vincent finished his story。
〃Me do doubt dat old rascal Jackson give money to Pearson to
carry off do gal。 Oh course he did it just to take revenge upon
Tony。 Pearson he go into de plot； because； in de fust place； it vex
Missy Wingfield and you bery much； in do second place； because
Jackson gib him money； in do third place； because he get hold of
negro slave worf a thousand dollar。 Dat all quite clear。 He notdo it
himself； but arrange wid oder fellows； and he stop quiet at de
hotel for two days after she gone so dat no one can 'spect his
having hand in do affair。〃
〃That is just how I make it out； Dan； and now he has gone off to
join them。〃
Dan thought for some time。
〃Perhaps dey join him thar； sab； perhaps not； perhaps him send
him baggage on there and get out somewhere on do road and meet
them。〃
〃That is likely enough； Dan。 No doubt Dinah was taken away in a
cart or buggy。 As she left two days before he did； they may have
gone from forty to sixty miles along the road； to some place where
he may have joined them。 The men who carried her off may either
have come back or gone on with him。 If they wanted to go south
they would go on； if they did not； he would probably have only
hired them to carry her off and hand her over to him when he
overtook them。 I will look at the time。table and see where that
train stops。 It is a fast train； I see；〃 he said； after consulting it； it
stops at Petersburg； fifteen miles on； and at Hicks Ford； which is
about fifty miles。 I should think the second place was most likely；
as the cart could easily have got t