Part 48 (2/2)
”And has the villain done so?”
”Partly, but he frequently follows me about when he gets the chance, and I do not like it.”
”If he does so in the future I'll cowhide him,” cried Horace Sumner.
”But I have discovered his true character, and sent him off, and in the future I imagine he will not dare approach you.”
”If he does not, I will be thankful, papa.”
Horace Sumner pa.s.sed his hand over his brow, and heaved a deep sigh.
”Everything seems to go wrong of late years,” he said. ”The disappearance of little Howard has undermined my whole prosperity.”
”And you have given up looking for him?” questioned Laura.
”Yes. What is the use? I have had detectives on the case for years, and it has cost me thousands of dollars.”
”And they have learned nothing?”
”Nothing further than that a man took the child to Philadelphia.”
”They could not trace him in that city?”
”No. The half-decomposed body of a man was found, a month later, in the Schuylkill River, and the detectives thought it must be his remains.”
”But there was no child with him?”
”No, nor had the police seen anything of the little one.”
”Howard must be dead,” said Laura, softly, and her blue eyes filled with tears.
”I am afraid so,” returned the father; and then the subject changed.
Meanwhile Hal had left the outer office and hurried up Na.s.sau Street in the direction of Park Row. On a previous visit to this vicinity he had noticed a first-cla.s.s costumer's establishment, where everything in the shape of a disguise could be bought.
At the door he hesitated for a moment, and then entered with a brisk step.
A fat, pleasant-looking man came to wait on him.
”I wish to obtain a perfect disguise,” Hal explained. ”Something for my face, besides some clothing.”
”Yes, sir. What sort of a character?”
”A young business man.”
”Please step this way.”
Hal stepped to the rear of the establishment. Here fully half an hour was spent in selecting this thing and that, and trying the effect before the mirror.
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