he promptly and pleasantly replied:

"I cannot tell you, I am sorry to say, where Mr. Edwards is at present,
for I do not know myself. I only know that he was in Chicago on
Saturday, a week ago, and at that time he stated that he was going to
Milwaukee and St. Paul; whether he did so or not I cannot tell you."

"I understood from his employer that he and Mrs. Edwards contemplated
stopping in Woodford for a few days before he started upon his business
trip."

In response to this, Mr. Black stated to the detective, after much
hesitation, but believing he was speaking to a friend, that on the
Saturday mentioned, he had received a telegram from his sister, who was
the wife of Newton Edwards, requesting him to come to her at once. He
immediately responded to this summons, and on going to the house where
she was stopping, he found her in great distress, and weeping violently.
From her he then learned that Edwards had come to the house that
morning in a state of intoxication, and had shamefully abused her. That
he had ordered her to return to her family, and declared that he would
never live with her again. Mr. Black had therefore brought his sister
home with him, and threatened to inflict personal chastisement upon
Edwards if he ever crossed his path again.

Finding that the story of the separation was a truthful one, at least so
far as the relatives of Mrs. Edwards were concerned, Everman decided to
obtain an interview, if possible, with the forsaken wife. Inviting Mr.
Black to accompany him to the hotel, which was but a short distance from
the shop, the locksmith took off his leather apron and paper cap, and
the two strolled away together.