Dan was not prepared for this announcement. Tears came into his eyes as he realized how much Mr. Harrison was willing to do for him.
“It will cost a good deal of money,” he said a little doubtfully.
“Well, I am glad I can afford it, Dan. I never had the chance to spend much money, and now that I have more than I need, I am only too glad to aid you with some of it. But we must lose no time. Every hour counts. I think I shall telegraph for the detective. The two constables we have here are worse than useless, when it comes to discovering real criminals.”
On getting back to the village Mr. Harrison sent a message to a well known private detective firm in New York. He got an answer that a competent man would arrive the next day.
“If I had stopped to think,” said Dan, when they were talking matters over that night, “I might have suspected that the well dressed man, who asked me so many questions about the village and the people, was the one who robbed the doctor’s house. He made particular inquiries regarding him.”
“Well, you had enough else to think about then, to excuse you for not getting on the right track. However, better late than never.”
“I hope we shall not be too late.”
The detective arrived the next afternoon. He was a quiet man, not at all resembling the picture Dan had formed in his mind as to how a detective should look. Indeed, this one resembled a traveling salesman more than anything else.
He came at once to the cottage where Dan and the old soldier lived, and Mr. Harrison was there waiting for him. The robberies were carefully explained to the detective, and then the matter of finding the jimmy, and measuring the marks.
“Do you think I am right in my conclusions?” asked Mr. Harrison, when he had finished.