hing lost, Mr. Franklin? Now that's very strange. I can't think
it's lost. Yes, I remember a number of odd-looking packages that have
come for your family from Wayborough. There may have been one lately,
though I can't say for sure. Let me see. I remember young Gordon coming
for the mail one day, and getting--no, he didn't get one, he sent it--a
money-order. Happen to remember it because he paid for it in gold.
That's all I can safely say about anything, Mr. Franklin. There may have
been a package. What did you say, miss? Stamps and postal-cards? Yes,
yes." And the busy little man turned to the next comer.

Mr. Franklin left the office with a thoughtful face. He was a very
impulsive man, too apt to say the first thing that occurred to him,
without regard to consequences. Therefore when he got into the carriage
and, taking the reins from Edith, drove hurriedly out High Street
towards Oakleigh, he exclaimed:

"I am almost inclined to believe that Neal knows more about Aunt
Betsey's present to Janet than any of us."

Janet, who was perched on the back seat, heard her own name mentioned,
and proceeded to listen attentively. Both her father and sister forgot
that she was there, and she took especial pains not to remind them of
her presence.

"How do you mean, papa?" asked Edith.

"I think it is a remarkable coincidence, if nothing more. I had a letter
the other day from young Bronson, stating that Neal owed him fifty
dollars. The same night I had another letter from him, saying that he
had received a money-order from Neal for the amount. We questioned Neal,
and he would give no satisfactory answer as to where he got the money.
The postmaster tells me that Neal paid for his money-order in gold. Aunt
Betsey's present to Janet is missing; we all know that Aunt Betsey
always sends gold. The postmaster seems to think that a package may have
come through the office to us, though he is not absolutely certain of
it. What more natural than to suppose that the gold Neal had was meant
for Janet? He may have called for the mail that day, recognized the
package from Aunt Betsey, and the temptation was too much for him."

"Oh, papa!" cried Edith, much shocked. "I can't believe that Neal would
do a thing like that."

"I can't either," said her father, cutting the air with his whip in his
impatience, and making his horse prance madly--"I can't either, and I am
sure I don't want to! Let us forget that I said it, Edith. Don't think
of