"Oh, no 'pologies. Of course, if you can't keep me it's all right. I'm no beggar."
Once more the peddler shook the hand of Mr. Barkswell, and then shuffled away. As he passed through the gate a bit of paper fluttered to the ground from one of the peddler's pockets. After the queer fellow's departure Barkswell secured the paper and could scarcely repress an exclamation as he read the lines it contained.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE ENGINEER PUZZLED.
A young man ran up the steps at the Alstine mansion and rang the bell. The servant who answered stared at the gentleman as though there was some noticeable curiosity about him.
There was nothing curious, however, in the make-up of the gentleman.
He was young and handsome, and the reader knows him as August Bordine, the young engineer.
The young man had been laid up for more than a week by the hurt he had received when his horse ran away.
He had seen or heard nothing of Rose during this time.
The unaccountable absence of the detective troubled the young man not a little as well, and he resolved to make an investigation immediately.