A few more hurried preparations, and he was off by the 11 o'clock express.
The next day Judge McNair received this telegram:—
"Off for New York. Slight clue. Wait for a letter.
"L. N. MYERS."
A few hours later, a letter came, written on board the train:—
"DEAR FRIENDS:—I reached Mr. Aiken's house before breakfast. Found your nephew Joe had gone off with Duncan. Supposed to have returned to Westville. Left on Wednesday. Mr. Aiken and myself went to the depot to make inquiries. Neither the ticket-agent nor the baggage-master remembered them, and I was about giving up in despair, when a ragged boy with a basket of peanuts on his arm said—
"'Bese you axin about Joe Aiken and another boy? 'Case Joe bought a lot of peanuts, and t'other fellow dropt his ticket, and I picks it up. It was a New York ticket, and I hollers,—
"'"Here, city bug, is your ticket—'taint no good to me. I've had enough of that kind of livin'."
"'It's no livin' at all, sir.'
"This is all my clue, but it is all we need for the present. I trust that the way will be opened to success, just as fast as I can get over the ground. Dear friends, do not despair. God is our refuge and a very present help. If you think best to come on to New York, meet me at the Metropolitan; but unless you are too anxious to stay at home, it may be as well to wait for Monday's message. I shall post this at the next stopping place, hoping that you will get it tonight. I know your prayers are following me, and I have strong faith that I shall bring Duncan back with me.
"Yours,
"L. N. MYERS."
Monday evening another telegram came:—
"Be of good cheer—we are on the right track."
And two days later:—
"All right; look-out for us at 6 o'clock."
In telling Mr. McNair of the search, Dr. Myers said—