And this was the place of her birth, just as he had decided when he saw that long line of oxen! He realized how fortunate he was, or rather how indebted he was to Mr.
Harper, since in this place only could he hope to gain satisfaction on the mooted point raised by that same gentleman.

If she had been born here, so had her twin sister; so had the brother whose claims lay counter to that sister's.

Both must have been known to these people, their persons, their history and the circumstances of their supposed deaths.
The clews thus afforded must prove invaluable to him.

From them he must soon be able to ascertain in which story to place faith and which claimant to believe.

He might have interrogated his hostess, but feared to show his interest in the supposed stranger.