.

"Where are they, then?"

Eben's answer took Herbert and his lawyer, and the judge himself, by
surprise.

CHAPTER XII. EBEN'S TRUMP CARD.

"I guess they're--a part of them--inside this letter," he said.

As he spoke he produced a letter, stamped and sealed, but not
postmarked. The letter was addressed:

"Messrs. Jones & Fitch,

"---Chestnut Street,

"Philadelphia."

"What makes you think this letter contains money or postage stamps, Mr.
Graham?" asked George Melville.

"Because I've seen an advertisement of Jones & Fitch in one of the
weekly papers. They advertise to send several articles to any address on
receipt of seventy-five cents in postage stamps."

"Very well. What inference do you draw from this?"

"Don't you see?" answered Eben, in malicious triumph. "That's where part
of the stamps went. This letter was put into the post office by Herbert
Carr this morning."

"That is not true," said Herbert, quietly.

"Maybe it isn't, but I guess you'll find Herbert Carr's name signed to
the letter," said Eben.

"Have you seen the inside of the letter, Mr. Graham?"

"No, sir."

"Then how do you know Herbert Carr's name is signed to it?"

"I don't know, but I am pretty sure it is."

"You think Herbert Carr wrote the letter?"

"Yes, sir."

"If there is no objection," said Melville, "I will settle the matter by
opening it."

"That's what I want you to do." said Eben Graham.

"And I also," said Herbert.

Mr. Melville deliberately cut open one end of the envelope with a small
penknife, and drew out the folded sheet which it contained. As he did
so, a small sheet of postage stamps fell upon the floor.

"There, do you see that?" said Eben in triumph.

The sheet of stamps contained twenty-five three-cent stamps,
representing in value seventy-five cents.

"Shall I read the letter, sir?" asked Melville, of the judge.

"If there is no objection."

Melville read it aloud, as follows:

"WAYNEBORO, August 2lst. MESSRS. JONES & FITCH: I inclose seventy-five
cents in stamps, and will be glad to have you send me the articles you
advertise in the Weekly Gazette. Yours truly,

"HERBERT CARR."

Herbert listened to the reading of this letter in amazement.

"I never wrote that letter," he said, "and I never heard of Jones &
Fitch before."

"That's a likely story!" sneered Eben Graham. "I submit to Judge Slocum
that I have proved my case. I haven't found out when all the stamps
left, but