"I have a witness at hand."
"W-w-what!"
"Give me the word and I'll have the nippers on him before you can say Jack Robinson."
The detective, without rising to his feet or allowing himself to be seen, uttered these words in such a sepulchral tone that they almost lifted the hair on the head of the criminal. He started, and stared affrightedly back in the gloom.
"What do you say?" asked the merchant.
"It's all right; it's all right. I'll send it to you as soon as I can get back to the city. Don't be too hard on a fellow, Warmore. I declare"--
"Enough has been said. Now go!"
He went.
"You are too tender-hearted," remarked Detective Lathewood, when he and Mr. Warmore were walking homeward.
"Perhaps I am; but mean as is the man, I shuddered at the thought of disgracing and ruining him for life."