“Yes, sir. I recognized him at once from the description, though he had changed his name, and I had never met him. I learned that he was going to the mines with a companion, and I asked leave to join the party.”
“Of course he has no idea who you are?” said Mr. Burton.
“No, he never saw me, and had no ground of suspicion. But he might recognize my name, and so I am going to change it. I shall call myself Tom Lincoln.”
“Why Lincoln?”
“That is his real name.”
“Won’t it lead him to suspect you?”
“I think not. There are a good many Lincolns at the East. But I presume he will be a little startled when he first hears the name, and in fact that is the reason why I adopt it. I want to be perfectly sure that he is the man I am after.”
“Tom, you appear to me to be shrewd enough to be a detective. I wish you success with all my heart. I am sorry to have you leave me, but of course I feel that I ought not to wish to detain you. When do you want to go?”
“I shall have to make some preparations,” said Tom. “I should like to leave you at twelve to-morrow. I hope you won’t be troubled to fill my place.”
“There’s a young fellow—a distant relation of my wife—who is anxious to obtain a position. I would rather have you, but if you insist upon leaving me, I will at any rate give him a trial. I will send for him to-morrow morning.”