“Ah, that’s what master’s just asked me; but that’s what I don’t know.”
“All right,” said the detective to himself, as he left the house. “This is my man.”
He made inquiries at the railway station, but nobody remembered having seen “Thomas” there. Only one train had gone out within the hour, and that to London. Bales telegraphed to Paddington, but at the same time felt pretty well satisfied that Thomas had not gone away by train.
He made inquiries about other conveyances leaving Brazencrook. There was a coach to Severntown, but only on Monday and Friday, and this was Tuesday.
“There’s a carrier’s cart to Avonworth,” said the ostler at the Verner Arms.
“Avonworth! That is on the high road to Severntown and London?”
“Yes, it be.”
“When does it go?”
“About four o’clock on Tuesdays, and six on Saturdays.”
The carrier’s cart had been gone two hours, and there was a train to Avonworth half an hour hence. “Perhaps my friend started to walk, and the carrier will pick him up. The road to Avonworth is his most likely way. He may have started with the carrier and gone the whole journey. It is what he might do, innocent or guilty,” thought Bales.