What right had I to mention any man’s name in this connection, without possessing sufficient evidence against him to make such mention justifiable? "I beg your pardon," said I; "but I think I will hold to my first impulse, and speak no names."
"Harwell?" he ejaculated easily.
The quick blush rising to my face gave an involuntary assent.
"I see no reason why we shouldn’t speak of him," he went on; "that is, if there is anything to be gained by it."
"His testimony at the inquest was honest, you think?"
"It has not been disproved."
"He is a peculiar man."
"And so am I."
I felt myself slightly nonplussed; and, conscious of appearing at a disadvantage, lifted my hat from the table and prepared to take my leave; but, suddenly thinking of Hannah, turned and asked if there was any news of her.
He seemed to debate with himself, hesitating so long that I began to doubt if this man intended to confide in me, after all, when suddenly he brought his two hands down before him and exclaimed vehemently:
"The evil one himself is in this business! If the earth had opened and swallowed up this girl, she couldn’t have more effectually disappeared."
I experienced a sinking of the heart. Eleanore had said: "Hannah can do nothing for me." Could it be that the girl was indeed gone, and forever?
"I have innumerable agents at work, to say nothing of the general public; and yet not so much as a whisper has come to me in regard to her whereabouts or
