But I'll tell you what--there was a thing struck me.

I know this Barthorpe district--we shall be in it in a few minutes--I've been a good deal over it.

This strange man's name was given in the papers as John Braden.

Now close to Barthorpe--a mile or two outside it, there's a village of that name--Braden Medworth.

That's a curious coincidence--and taken in conjunction with the man's possession of an old book about Barthorpe--why, perhaps there's something in it--possibly more than I thought for at first." "Well--it's an odd case--a very odd case," said the first speaker.
"And--as there's ten thousand pounds in question, more will be heard of it.