Reclining on the old blanket where he had left him was
August Bordine, the young engineer.
"Bless my heart! young man, I thought I saw you just now riding away in a
canoe."
"You see your mistake now, I suppose," returned August, trying repeatedly
to smile.
"And it wasn't you, after all?"
"Certainly not."
Then August explained the situation in a few words. When he had finished
the peddler tapped him gently on the shoulder and said:
"I am greatly relieved. I know that man now. He has caused all the
mischief. You and he look as near alike as two peas. The clouds are
rolling by and I see my way clear. It won't be long before the
authorities as well as the people will be astounded with the arrest of
Victoria Vane's murderer. It will astound them because they will find in
the real murderer not the man they expect."
The peddler spoke so enthusiastically as to attract the notice of his
listener.
"Are you on the track of the assassin?" questioned Bordine.
"I am."
"Then you are a detective?"
"If I succeed, yes. You see, I am but an amateur now. Whisky and an
unfaithful woman poisoned me almost to the death.
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