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to keep quiet。 So； if you say nothing concerning that note； at the end of
two weeks； I'll leave two pounds for you with James； at the Embassy。〃
The man； who believed Ford to be an agent of the police； was only too
happy to escape on such easy terms。 After Ford had given him a pound on
account； they parted。
From Wimpole Street the amateur detective went to the nearest public
telephone and called up Gerridge's Hotel。 He considered his first step
should be to discover if Mr。 Pearsall was at that hotel； or had ever stopped
there。 When the 'phone was answered； he requested that a message be
delivered to Mr。 Pearsall。
〃Please tell him；〃 he asked； 〃that the clothes he ordered are ready to try
on。〃
He was informed that no one by that name was at the hotel。 In a voice
of concern Ford begged to know when Mr。 Pearsall had gone away； and
had he left any address。
He was with you three weeks ago；〃 Ford insisted。 〃He's an American
gentleman； and there was a lady with him。 She ordered a riding…habit of us：
the same time he was measured for his clothes。〃
After a short delay； the voice from the hotel replied that no one of the
name of Pearsall had been at the hotel that winter。
In apparent great disgust Ford rang off； and took a taxicab to his rooms
in Jermyn Street。 There he packed a suit…case and drove to Gerridge's。 It
was a quiet； respectable； 〃old… established〃 house in Craven Street； a
thoroughfare almost entirely given over to small family hotels much
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frequented by Americans。
After he had registered and had left his bag in his room； Ford returned
to the office； and in an assured manner asked that a card on which he had
written 〃Henry W。 Page； Dalesville； Kentucky；〃 should be taken to Mr。
Pearsall。
In a tone of obvious annoyance the proprietor returned the card； saying
that there was no one of that name in the hotel； and added that no such
person had ever stopped there。 Ford expressed the liveliest distress。
〃He TOLD me I'd find him here；〃 he protested。； 〃he and his niece。〃
With the garrulousness of the American abroad； he confided his troubles to
the entire staff of the hotel。 〃We're from the same town；〃 he explained。
〃That's why I must see him。 He's the only man in London I know； and I've
spent all my money。 He said he'd give me some he owes me； as soon as I
reached London。 If I can't get it； I'll have to go home by Wednesday's
steamer。 And； complained bitterly； 〃I haven't seen the nor the Tower； nor
Westminster Abbey。〃
In a moment； Ford's anxiety to meet Mr。 Pearsall was apparently lost
in a wave of self…pity。 In his disappointment he appealing； pathetic figure。
Real detectives and rival newspaper men； even while they admitted
Ford obtained facts that were denied them； claimed that they were given
him from charity。 Where they bullied； browbeat； and administered a third
degree； Ford was embarrassed； deprecatory； an earnest； ingenuous； wide…
eyed child。 What he called his 〃working〃 smile begged of you not to be
cross with him。 His simplicity was apparently so hopeless； his confidence
in whomever he addressed so complete； that often even the man he was
pursuing felt for him a pitying contempt。 Now as he stood uncertainly in
the hall of the hotel； his helplessness moved the proud lady clerk to shake
her cylinders of false hair sympathetically； the German waiters to regard
his predicament with respect； even the proprietor； Mr。 Gerridge himself；
was ill at ease。 Ford returned to his room； on the second floor of the hotel；
and sat down on the edge of the bed。
In connecting Pearsall with Gerridge's； both the police and himself had
failed。 Of this there were three possible explanations： that the girl who
wrote the letter was in error； that the letter was a hoax； that the proprietor
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of the hotel； for some reason； was protecting Pearsall； and had deceived
both Ford and Scotland Yard。 On the other hand； without knowing why the
girl believed Pearsall would be found at Gerridge's； it was reasonable to
assume that in so thinking she had been purposely misled。 The question
was； should he or not dismiss Gerridge's as a possible clew； and at once
devote himself to finding the house in Sowell Street？ He decided for the
moment at least； to leave Gerridge's out of his calculations； but； as an
excuse for returning there； to still retain his room。 He at once started
toward Sowell Street； and in order to find out if any one from the hotel
were following him； he set forth on foot。 As soon as he made sure he was
not spied upon； he covered the remainder of the distance in a cab。
He was acting on the supposition that the letter was no practical joke；
but a genuine cry for help。 Sowell Street was a scene set for such an
adventure。 It was narrow； mean… looking； the stucco house…fronts； soot…
stained； cracked； and uncared…for； the steps broken and unwashed。 As he
entered it a cold rain was falling； and a yellow fog that rolled between the
houses added to its dreariness。 It was now late in the afternoon； and so
overcast the sky that in many rooms the gas was lit and the curtains drawn。
The girl； apparently from observing the daily progress of the sun； had
written she was on the west side of the street and； she believed； in an
upper story。 The man who picked up the note had said he had found it
opposite the houses in the middle of the block。 Accordingly； Ford
proceeded on the supposition that the entire east side of the street； the
lower stories of the west side； and the houses at each end were eliminated。
The three houses in the centre of the row were outwardly alike。 They were
of four stories。 Each was the residence of a physician； and in each； in the
upper stories； the blinds were drawn。 From the front there was nothing to
be learned； and in the hope that the rear might furnish some clew； Ford
hastened to Wimpole Street； in which the houses to the east backed upon
those to the west in Sowell Street。 These houses were given over to
furnished lodgings； and under the pretext of renting chambers； it was easy
for Ford to enter them； an