etter:

"Dear Snuggy:--

"We lets colts get inter the alfalfa an' kick up their heels for a
while; but they got to steady down and come home some time. Ain't you
kicked up your heels sufficient in that lonesome city? And it looks
like somebody was getting money away from you--or have you learnt to
spend it down East there? Come on home, Snuggy! The hull endurin' ranch
is jest a-honin' for you. Sing's that despondint I expects to see him
cut off his pigtail. Jo-Rab has gone back on his rice-and-curry
rations, the Greasers don't plunk their mandolins no more, and the
punchers are as sorry lookin' as winter-kept steers. Come back, Snuggy,
and liven up the old place, is the sincere wish of, yours warmly,

"Henry Billings."

Helen only waited to see some few matters cleared up before she left for
the West. As it happened, Dud Stone obtained a chance to represent a big
corporation for some months, in Elberon and Helena. His smattering of
legal knowledge was sufficient to enable him to accept the job. It was a
good chance for Jess to go out, too, and try the climate and the life,
over both of which her brother was so enthusiastic.

But she would go to Sunset Ranch to remain for some time if Helen went
West with them and--of course--Helen was only too glad to agree to such a
proposition.

Meanwhile the Western girl was taken to museums, and parks, and theaters,
and all kinds of show places, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. May Van
Ramsden and others of those who had attended Mary Boyle's tea party in the
attic of the Starkweather house hunted Helen out, too, in the home of her
friends on Riverside Drive, and the last few weeks of Helen's stay were as
wonderful and exciting as the first few weeks had been lonely and sad.

Dud had insisted upon publishing the facts of the old trouble which had
come upon the firm of Grimes & Morrell, in pamphlet form, including Allen
Chesterton's affidavit, and this pamphlet was mailed to the creditors of
the old firm and to all of Prince Morrel's old friends in New York. But
nothing was said in the printed matter about Willets Starkweather.

Fenwick Grimes took a long trip out of town, and made no attempt to put in
an answer to the case. But Mr. Starkweather was a very much frightened
man.

Dud came home one afternoon and advised Helen to go and see her uncle.
Since her departure from the Starkweather mansion she had