"
Of course Tinkletown knew that a sum of money had been paid to Anderson,
but no one knew that it had been handed to him in person by an
interested party. Had Anderson and his wife even whispered that such a
visit had occurred, the town would have gone into a convulsion of wrath;
the marshal's pedestal would have been jerked out from under him without
compunction or mercy. Eva cautioned him to be more than silent on the
subject for the child's sake as well as for their own, and Anderson saw
wisdom in her counselling. He even lagged in his avowed intention to
unravel the mystery or die in the attempt. A sharp reminder in the shape
of an item in the _Banner_ restored his energies, and he again took up
the case with a vigour that startled even himself. Anything in the shape
of vigour startled his wife.
Harry Squires, the reporter, who poked more or less fun at Anderson from
time to time because he had the "power of the press behind him," some
weeks later wrote the following item about the "baby mystery," as he
called it, in large type:
"There is no news in regard to the child found upon the doorstep of
our esteemed fellow-citizen Anderson Crow, last February. The item
concerning its discovery first appeared in the columns of the
_Banner_, as will be remembered by our many readers. Detective
Crow promised developments some time ago, but they have not showed
up.
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