DORIS”AyounggirlnamedDorisScott?”
Thestation-masterlookedsomewhatsharplyatthemanhewasaddressing，anddecidedtogivethedirectionasked。”Thereisbutoneyounggirlintownofthatname，”hedeclared，”andshelivesinthatlittlehouseyouseejustbeyondtheworks。
Butletmetellyou，stranger，”hewentonwithsomeprecipitation——
Butherehewascalledoff，andSweetwaterlosttheconclusionofhiswarning，ifwarningitwasmeanttobe。Thisdidnottroublethedetective。Hestoodamoment，takingintheprospect；decidedthattheWorksandtheWorksalonemadethetown，andstartedforthehousewhichhadbeenpointedouttohim。Hiswaylaythroughthechiefbusinessstreet，andgreatlypreoccupiedbyhiserrand，hegavebutapassingglancetotherowsonrowsofworkmen’sdwellingsstretchingawaytotheleftinseeminglyendlessperspective。Yetinthatglancehecertainlytookinthefacthatthesidewalkswereblockedwithpeopleandwonderedifitwereaholiday。Ifso，itmustbeanenforcedone，forthefacesshowedlittlejoy。Possiblyastrikewason。Theanxietyheeverywheresawpicturedonyoungfacesandold，arguedsometrouble；butifthetroublewasthat，whywereallheadsturnedindifferentlyfromtheWorks，andwhyweretheWorksthemselvesinfullblast?
Thesequestionshemayhaveaskedhimselfandhemaynot。Hisattentionwasentirelycentredonthehousehesawbeforehimandonthepossibledevelopmentsawaitinghimthere。Nothingelsemattered。Brisklyhesteppedoutalongthesandyroad，andafteraturnortwowhichledhimquiteawayfromtheWorksanditssurroundingbuildings，hecameoutuponthehighwayandthishouse。