"Your wishes shall be heeded, sir. I will commence now. By the way, do you suspect any one in particular?"
"Yes, I have one or two reasons for believing I know who did it."
"Good! That will give us an idea to work on; but first let me look around and see what I can discover for evidence."
On the rear side of the back room was a window. A few feet from this window part of a load of sawdust lay upon the ground. Here the sheriff found several footprints.
"How long has this sawdust been here?" he called out to Mr. Rexford.
"It was put there several days ago," he replied.
"I wish you would look here. I have made an important discovery."
The merchant quickly approached the spot.
"Do you see those footprints? When do you think they were made?"
"Last night about dark I shoveled up several basketfuls and carried them into the stable. These tracks must have been made since then."