"I dare not."
"Listen old man, I am her friend and your friend; this is no place for Renie; when she was a mere child it was all right, but now it is not safe. You must give her to me! and listen; should anyone ever come to claim her, she shall be surrendered, and you will receive any reward that may be paid!"
"I do not think anyone will ever come for her, but could I solve one mystery I know where to look."
"For what?"
"Her friends."
CHAPTER VI.
Garcia was evidently, as the listening detective discerned, a very shrewd, quick-witted man.
He fixed his keen dark eyes on the old smuggler, and said:
"There is something you are keeping back from me; come now, I will pay you one hundred dollars to tell me Renie's history."
"You will give a hundred dollars?" Pearce exclaimed, in an eager tone.