she learns of the crime her husband has committed, she would sacrifice
her life rather than aid us in his discovery. What a strange, unequal
world this is!--bad men linked with angelic wives; and vicious and
unprincipled women yoked with men who are the very soul of honor. Well,
well, I cannot set things right. I have only my duty to perform, and
moralizing is very unprofitable."

So pondering he returned to the hotel and resolving to call upon the
chief of police in the afternoon, he went into the spacious dining-room
and ordered his dinner.




CHAPTER VII.

A Fire and a Talkative Fireman--Mrs. Edwards Receives a Letter.


After dinner operative Everman called upon the chief of police, and
acquainting him fully with the nature of his business in the city, he
enlisted his services in our behalf. Men were detailed to watch the
arriving and departing trains, in order to discover if Edwards either
paid a visit to Woodford or attempted to leave the place. This step was
taken as a mere precaution, for the detective as yet felt confident that
Mrs. Edwards was entirely ignorant of the movements of her husband or of
the crime which he was suspected of committing. This was continued
without result for three days, but on the afternoon of the fourth, the
chief sought Everman at the hotel and informed him that he had
important news to communicate.