CHAPTER IV.
The work progresses--Eugene Pearson's early life--On the trail of Newton Edwards.
In the meantime operatives Manning and Jackson had been untiring in their efforts to obtain some traces of the robbers.

They had found a number of people who recollected seeing two men, answering the description of the suspected thieves, who carried a valise between them, but beyond a certain point all traces of them stopped.

It seemed that the ground had opened and swallowed them up, so effectual had been their disappearance.
While thus engaged, operative Manning received instructions to keep a watchful eye upon young Pearson, and also to make quiet and judicious inquiries as to his habits and associates in Geneva.
The result of these inquiries was most favorable to the young man, and under ordinary circumstances would have disarmed suspicion at once.
During the progress of this search after truth, operative Manning had preserved the utmost good feeling and cordiality in his dealings with Eugene Pearson, and had succeeded in establishing a friendly intimacy with him, that would have allayed any fears which the young man might have had, as to the opinions entertained by the detectives with regard to himself.

Mr.Pearson was very positive that one of the robbers was the same man who had left the valise at the bank during the afternoon, and, after learning that Manning had paid a visit to Miss Patton, he stated his belief that this same person had called at the bank a few weeks before.

He could not remember the name he had given at that time, but thought he had inquired as to the financial standing of several of the business men of Geneva.