But, after an exhaustive search, and much questioning of persons who
might have seen the man, no news of importance was turned in at the
committee meeting.
Mr. Travers had what he considered a tangible clew. Miles Burlock had
told him that a man from Rochester had been hounding him for weeks, and
that he pretended to know something of Burlock's business.
"Burlock, it seems," Mr. Travers said at the meeting, "was, in some way,
connected with the Douglass family. There is money in the affair,
however it may concern Burlock and Mrs. Douglass, and this stranger is
after the cash."
"But what in the world has these children to do with that?" asked the
chairman.
Ralph Willoby stood up.
"It seems, Mr. Chairman," he said, "that the first time the man gave us
trouble was when we sent to learn something about Mrs. Douglass' death.
He secured the notes to prevent us from publishing anything about the
lady. Then he threatened to blow up the Bugle office if we did print an
obituary. This did not intimidate us, and when the paper was out he
waited for the little boys, sons of Major Dale, to harm them possibly.
It was then that one of the girls saw and recognized him, and he, being
sure of this, made off. A few minutes later he intercepted both girls on
the stairs, tried to frighten them with some drug, took the papers from
Miss Dorothy Dale, and again made his escape.
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