Private asylums were not uncommon in any part of the country.

They wondered if there could be any connection between Van’s disappearance and the asylum.

For a long while they pondered over it.

Then Old King Brady asked:

“I say, my friend! Have you any snowshoes?”

“Sartin!” replied Paine. “But ye ain’t goin’ out to-night?”

“I have a desire to visit that asylum,” said the detective.

“Wait till ter-morrer. We’ll break the road out airly.”

“Oh, I don’t mind the storm.”

At this moment one of the farm boys came in with a stamp of his feet.