"I should say it did!" remarked Mr. Denton, soberly. "Why, the man can't
eat nor sleep! I believe her spirit is haunting him!"
CHAPTER XXI.
A CHANGE IN MR. DENTON.
"Well, Hardy what have you found out about the Watkins family? Something
satisfactory, I hope!"
Mr. Forbes spoke to the detective with unusual good nature.
But Hardy closed the office door and advanced to the desk where the
superintendent was sitting.
"On the contrary, sir; I have found things very unsatisfactory," was his
answer. "Watkins is in the hospital, half dead from brain fever, his
mother is a feeble old woman without a penny, and as for that young
scamp who stole your money, he's among the missing--he's vamoosed
entirely!"
"Well, why don't you find him?" asked Mr. Forbes, a little less
pleasantly. "That's what I told you to do! Didn't you understand my
orders?"
"I haven't had time to find him," muttered the detective, sullenly.
"He's been spirited away. I think he's out of the city."
"So you see no way of getting back that three hundred dollars. Well,
there's got to be a way! We can't afford to lose it!"
"Lose what?" asked Mr. Denton, coming in just then.
Mr. Forbes hastily repeated the detective's information.
"You say the mother is penniless and young Watkins critically ill? Well,
I should think that was trouble enough for one family," said Mr.
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