CHAPTER XX.
AN ADVENTURE THAT BEFELL THE REV. MR. WITHERS.
Four days after the meeting between Carlos and Leonard, the latter was seated with Mr. Stark, the detective, in his office in Boston. They were reviewing the measures that had thus far been taken, and discussing plans for future action. Leonard still retained his disguise, and we shall know him, for the present, as the Reverend Mr. Withers.
“There is no mistake about Haywood being the man who claimed the yacht?” said Stark.
“No,” replied Mr. Withers. “I recognized him from my post of observation instantly. And the man you left in charge of the boat was positive that he took the cards from the locker, and put them in his pocket.”
“Well, that is something. And he claimed that the yacht belonged to some poor devil at Rocky Beach, who makes a living by letting boats?”
“Yes. He took a very compassionate interest in his affairs, saying that, being in Boston, on a business trip, he had consented to perform the errand.”
“All this is suggestive, but not conclusive,” said Mr. Stark. “I have found out that Jacob Rush, No. 99 —— street, Jersey City, is a wholesale dealer, in a small way, in imported goods. If there is anything wrong about him, I have failed to discover it. However, a watch shall be kept on his establishment, and, if he has any connection with Haywood, or with the smugglers, we will know it.”
“Do you hope to accomplish anything speedily?”
“No; to tell the truth, I do not. It is going to take time. This ‘Boss,’ of whom Snags spoke, will, of course, keep himself in the dark, and to discover him must be one of our main purposes.”