"I haven't been to Lakewood," answered Nelson. "I came here by pure accident." And then in a few words he told his story.
When he had finished Gertrude told of the decoy letter and of what had followed. Our hero was deeply interested and very angry that Homer Bulson had played such a trick.
"He ought to be put behind the bars for it," he said. "Certainly I am going to tell the police about it. He hasn't any right to follow you up in this fashion, even if he is your cousin."
"He is growing more bold every day," answered Gertrude. "I shall never feel safe so long as he is near me."
Sarah Higgins now calmed down, and tried to clear herself by saying she had been imposed upon. She readily consented to tell all she knew, if called upon to do so in a court of law, providing she herself was not prosecuted.
"That gives us one witness against your cousin," said Nelson. "If we can get another, we'll put him behind the bars."
"I don't want him locked up, if only he will leave me alone," returned Gertrude.
Nelson's visit to the cottage had taken time, and when Gertrude was ready to leave it was found to be too late to take the train our hero had started to catch.
"Never mind, we can take the afternoon train," said the boy. "But we will have to get dinner somewhere." He turned to Sarah Higgins. "I think you ought to furnish that."
At this the miserly woman winced.