Indeed, whenever his official duties did not keep him in his so-called home at Morganton, he was exploring the surrounding country, irresistibly drawn by the instincts of the hunter.
I went at once to the house of Mr.Smith.He was expecting me, having been warned by telegram.

He received me very frankly, without any formality, his pipe in his mouth, a glass of brandy on the table.

A second glass was brought in by a servant, and I had to drink to my host before beginning our interview.
"Mr.Ward sent you," said he to me in a jovial tone.

"Good; let us drink to Mr.Ward's health." I clinked glasses with him, and drank in honor of the chief of police.
"And now," demanded Elias Smith, "what is worrying him ?" At this I made known to the mayor of Morganton the cause and the purpose of my mission in North Carolina.

I assured him that my chief had given me full power, and would render me every assistance, financial and otherwise, to solve the riddle and relieve the neighborhood of its anxiety relative to the Great Eyrie.
Elias Smith listened to me without uttering a word, but not without several times refilling his glass and mine.