he had not left Canada and the
man who told him about Langrigg was dead."

"The man who ought to own Langrigg vanished in Canada."

"On the whole, I imagine that's lucky. The trustees spent a large sum
in trying to find him and were satisfied he was dead. His age made
this probable."

"But he might have had a son."

"Of course," Mordaunt agreed. "Suppose he had a son? The fellow
obviously knows nothing about his inheritance; and for that matter,
Langrigg is not worth much. I expect he's engaged in some useful
occupation, chopping trees or keeping store, for example, and is, no
doubt, satisfied with his lot. I don't suppose he is the kind of man
you would like to see at Langrigg. Besides, if he turned up, a number
of people would suffer."

"That is so," Dick said thoughtfully. "After all, however, if Franklin
Dearham had a son, he ought to be at Langrigg. Joseph left the hall to
Franklin and his heirs."

Mordaunt smiled. "It was as illogical as other things Joseph did. He
was not a good business man and spent the most part of his money after
he quarreled with Franklin and turned him out. Then, shortly before he
died, when Franklin had vanished and the estate would hardly pay its
debts, he left him Langrigg. However, the thing's done with, and if I
found Franklin's heir, I doubt if I'd feel justified in meddling.
Matters like this are better left alone." He got up and stretched
himself. "Now I'm going to bed."

He got into the nearest bunk, which was filled with spruce-twigs and
wild hay, and soon went to sleep, but for a time Dick sat by the fire.
The linesman had excited his curiosity; it was strange the fellow knew
about Langrigg. Then he was obviously a man with rather unusual
qualities and character; his books indicated this. Dick resolved to
find out something about him when he returned.

By and by the other linesman came in with a mule-tail buck, and when
Dick gave him Jim's message sat down by the telegraph. Dick went to
bed and did not wake until his packers arrived at daybreak. The
linesman was watching the telegraph, but the finger had not moved and
he owned that he was getting anxious about his comrade.

Dick suggested that they should look for him, but on the whole the
linesman hardly thought this necessary. He said the man from the next
post would have started to meet Jim. Then Mordaunt wanted to get off.
The snow had stopped, the wind had fallen, and if they missed this
opp