When the boy awoke he rose and dressed himself. He was putting on his coat when he noticed an open letter addressed to Kirby which had fallen on the floor. Dean picked it up, and was about to put it away to return to Kirby, when his eye caught the postmark "Waterford" and the signature Renwick Bates.

Though under ordinary circumstances Dean would not have felt justified¹ in reading a letter not addressed to himself, the peculiar² circumstances, and the suspicion he entertained relative to the share these two men probably had in the robbery of his uncle, decided³ him to take advantage of the opportunity which presented itself to him of acquiring some information on the subject.

140

This was the letter which Dean read with an interest that may be imagined:

Friend Kirby:

I have not received the government bonds which you purchased with the bills I gave you to dispose of. How did you send them? I cannot understand how such a package could have miscarried if properly addressed and forwarded with suitable precautions. I shall hold you responsible for them, and say emphatically that I regard the failure to reach me as something strange and mysterious. I do not like to express distrust, but I require you to send me the receipt of the express company to whom you committed the package.

In regard to the boy Dean you understand my wishes. I don't wish him to return to Waterford. It will be easy to get him into trouble at such a distance from home that he will find it hard to get back. You can write me a letter which I can show at my discretion⁴ to his friends, which will discredit⁵ any stories he may invent about you or myself.

Renwick Bates.

 

Dean read this letter with eager interest. He felt that it would be a formidable proof against Squire⁶ Bates, and he carefully

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