"Well, rather. I lived with her till she broke me."
"Do you know where she is now?"
"I don't, and I don't care to."
"Suppose I were to tell you that she is dead, and that she had left a hundred thousand dollars which is unclaimed?"
The man jumped to his feet as though shot, and stood staring at the detective. He gave a long, low whistle, and a keen, tricky gleam came into his eye, which Mr. Barnes noted. At length he spoke:
"Are you giving me this straight?"
"I am telling you the truth. The woman is dead, and that amount of property is where I can get it for the man who can prove that he is entitled to it."
"And who would that be?" He waited eagerly for the reply, and Mr. Barnes saw that he was playing trump cards.
"Why, Mr. Mitchel, that is what I am down here for. You see, I thought the party would be willing to pay me a good commission for proving him the heir, and that is why I am hunting him up. I started out with the idea that I might find her husband. He would have a claim."