He must travel alone.
"You have a difficult and perplexing task, Luke," said the
capitalist. "You may not succeed."
"I will do my best, Mr. Armstrong."
"That is all I have a right to expect. If you succeed, you will
do me a great service, of which I shall show proper appreciation."
He gave Luke some instructions, and it was arranged that
our hero should write twice a week, and, if occasion required,
oftener, so that his employer might be kept apprised of his
movements.
Luke was not to stop short of Chicago. There his search was
to begin; and there, if possible, he was to obtain information
that might guide his subsequent steps.
It is a long ride to Chicago, as Luke found. He spent a part
of the time in reading, and a part in looking out of the window
at the scenery, but still, at times, he felt lonely.
"I wish Linton Tomkins were with me," he reflected.
"What a jolly time we would have!"
But Linton didn't even know what had become of his friend.
Luke's absence was an occasion for wonder at Groveton, and
many questions were asked of his mother.
"He was sent for by Mr. Reed," answered the widow.
"He is at work for him.
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