“He left here about ten minutes after eight,” Mr Jamieson said.  “He went alone, and at eight twenty he stopped at Doctor Walker’s.  I went to the doctor’s about midnight, but he had been called out on a case, and had not come back at four o’clock.  From the doctor’s it seems Mr. Innes walked across the lawn to the cottage Mrs. Armstrong and her daughter have taken.  Mrs. Armstrong had retired, and he said perhaps a dozen words to Miss Louise.  She will not say what they were, but the girl evidently suspects what has occurred.  That is, she suspects foul play, but she doesn’t know of what nature.  Then, apparently, he started directly for the station.  He was going very fast—­the flagman at the Carol Street crossing says he saw the car pass.  He knew the siren.  Along somewhere in the dark stretch between Carol Street and the depot he evidently swerved suddenly—­perhaps some one in the road—­and went full into the side of a freight.  We found it there last night.”

“He might have been thrown under the train by the force of the shock,” I said tremulously.

Gertrude shuddered.

“We examined every inch of track.  There was—­no sign.”

“But surely—­he can’t be—­gone!” I cried.  “Aren’t there traces in the mud—­anything?”

“There is no mud—­only dust.  There has been no rain.  And the footpath there is of cinders.  Miss Innes, I am inclined to think that he has met with bad treatment, in the light of what has gone before.  I do not think he has been murdered.”  I shrank from the word.  “Burns is back in the country, on a clue we got from the night clerk at the drug-store.  There will be two more men here by noon, and the city office is on the lookout.”

“The creek?” Gertrude asked.

“The creek is shallow now.  If it were swollen with rain, it would be different.  There is hardly any water in it.  Now, Miss Innes,” he said, turning to me, “I must ask you some questions.  Had Mr. Halsey any possible reason for going away like this, without warning?”

“None whatever.”

“He went away once before,” he persisted.  “And you were as sure then.”

“He did not leave the Dragon Fly jammed into the side of a freight car before.”

“No, but he left it for repairs in a blacksmith shop, a long distance from here.  Do you know if he had any enemies?  Any one who might wish him out of the way?”

“Not that I know of, unless—­no, I can not think of any.”

“Was he in the habit of carrying money?”

“He never carried it far.  No, he never had more than enough for current expenses.”

Mr. Jamieson got up then and began to pace the room.  It was an unwonted concession to the occasion.

“Then I think we get at it by elimination.  The chances are against flight.  If he was hurt, we find no trace of him.  It looks almost like an abduction.  This young Doctor Walker—­have you any idea why Mr. Innes should have gone there last night?”