It was a small, unpretending village, composed entirely of frame houses, of modest size, and a few small stores kept, as the signs indicated, by Frenchmen. On a little elevation stood a wooden Catholic church, surmounted by a cross.

 

"It seems a quiet place," thought Fred. "I shall find it dull enough, but if I accomplish my purpose I won't complain of that."

 

He scarcely needed to inquire for the village inn, for it was in plain sight, not a hundred yards from the station. As the town seemed to be peopled chiefly by French residents it would have been natural to conclude that the hotel also would be French. This, however, was not the case, for the Lion Inn (there was a swinging signboard adorned by the figure of a lion, the work of a fourth-rate sign painter) was kept by a short, stout, red-faced Englishman, who stood in the doorway as Fred came up, valise in hand.

 

"Is this the hotel?" asked Fred.

 

"Yes, sir," was the reply.

 

"I should like to stay with you for a while."

 

"All right, sir. Come right in, and we'll accommodate you with a room. Have you had supper?"

 

"No. I should like some, for I am very hungry."

 

"It shall be ready for you, sir, in a jiffy. Will 'am and heggs suit you, sir?"

 

"Yes, I shall relish them."

 

"James, take the young gentleman's bag up to No. 5."

 

"I should like water and towels, as I have had a long and dusty ride."

 

Fred was ushered into a small bedroom on the second floor, very plainly furnished, but the train boy was not accustomed to luxurious accommodations, and found it satisfactory. He indulged himself in a thorough ablution, then sat down at the window, which was in the front of the house.

 

Soon there was a knock at the door, and the boy James made his appearance.

 

"Please, sir, your supper's ready," he said.

 

"And so am I," returned Fred with alacrity.

 

He descended to a small dining-room, adjoining the bar. It was not more than twelve feet square, and from its size it might be inferred that the Lion Inn was seldom overrun with guests.

 

Fred sat down at the table alone, but presently a man of thirty-five or thereabouts entered and took a seat opposite him.

 

"Good evening, young man," he said. "Where do you come from?"

 

"Good evening," answered Fred, civilly. "I come from New York."

 

The other arched his brows.

 

"So do I," he said. "What sent you here to this out-of-the-way place?"

 

"There's good hunting hereabouts, isn't there?"

 

"Yes, are you fond of hunting?"

 

"I like it pretty well. I've just had a present of a handsome rifle."

 

It should be mentioned here that before Fred left New York Mr. Wainwright had given him a gun which would serve him as an excuse for his journey.

 

"We'll go out together to-morrow. My name's Bowman."

 

Fred heard the name with a thrill of excitement. Why, this must be the man referred to in Sinclair's letter as having instigated him to the crime. He surveyed Bowman with attention, taking stock of him, so to speak. He found him to be a man of middle height, rather spare than stout, with dark, shifty eyes and a sallow complexion. He wore a mustache, but no whiskers.

 

"I may find it worth while to get well acquainted with him," thought Fred. "I shall be glad to go out with you," he said aloud.

 

"That's all right! But how does a boy like you happen to be traveling so far from home?"

 

"I have a vacation," said Fred. "I have never been in Canada, and thought it would be something new to come here."

 

"I'm pretty tired of it, I can tell you."

 

"Then why do you stay?" asked Fred innocently.

 

"My partner's taken down with rheumatism, and I can't leave him," answered Bowman in a tone of hesitation. "When he gets well I may go back to New York."

 

"I doubt if you will," thought Fred.

 

"Were you in a business position in New York?" asked Bowman.

 

"I have been for some time train boy on the Erie Railroad," answered Fred, feeling that it would never do to mention his connection with Mr. Wainwright.

 

"Train boys don't usually have money to spend on vacation trips," said Bowman shrewdly.

 

"That's true," laughed Fred. "If I had depended on my savings, I shouldn't have been able to go farther than Hoboken, or Coney Island, but a rich friend supplied me with a moderate sum for expenses."

 

"Then you were in luck."

 

Fred was a little afraid that Bowman would inquire the name of the rich friend, and made up his mind that he would evade answering. However, his companion showed no curiosity on the subject.

 

"Will you take a glass of ale with me?" asked Bowman, as he filled his own glass from a bottle beside his plate.

 

"No, thank you. I have no taste for it."

 

"I didn't like it myself at first but I've come to like it."

 

"Does your partner board with you at the hotel?" asked Fred.

 

"No," was the careless reply. "We have a small cottage just out of the village."

 

"I wonder how he gets along for meals," thought Fred.

 

However that might be, Paul Bowman didn't permit anxiety to interfere with his own appetite. He did ample justice to the supper, and so indeed did Fred. Fortunately the ham and eggs were well cooked, and the loaf of bread was fresh. In place of ale Fred contented himself with tea.

 

At length they rose from the table.

 

"This is a beastly hole--St. Victor, I mean," said Bowman, as he led the way to the reading-room, "but the eating is fair. An Englishman keeps the inn, and though he has no French kickshaws on his table, he gives you solid food and enough of it. Do you smoke? I believe I have a cigar somewhere, but I smoke a pipe myself."

 

"Thank you," answered Fred, "but I don't smoke. I used to smoke cigarettes, but a young man--an acquaintance of mine--died of cigarette-smoking, so the doctor said, and I gave it up."

 

"Smoking never hurt me that I know of," said Bowman. "Even if it did, what's a man to do in this dull hole? Shall you stay here long?"

 

"I don't know how long. It's a cheap place to stay in, isn't it?"

 

"Yes, it has that recommendation."

 

"Then I may stay a week possibly," said Fred in an off-hand way.

 

"I've been here six we............