Mr. Carrington, and Bart Haycock, and a half-dozen others that are
our friends."

"He evidently feels certain that you had something to with the post office
robbery."

"He is down on us, mother, just as I told him. I wish I knew why," and
Ralph grew more calm and more thoughtful as he spoke.

"He was not that way when your father was alive. Your father and he were
quite friendly."

"I guess that was only because father did lots of work for him and always
accepted the squire's price. He is very miserly, you know, outside of the
allowance he makes Percy."

"I cannot imagine what brought him here to-night. I fancied the post office
matter was past, so far as you were concerned."

"So did I. I'll tell you what keeps it in the squire's mind," went on
Ralph, suddenly. "He lost a valuable registered letter that was in the
mail. I heard Henry Bott speak of it."

"One that was coming to him?"

"No, one that he had sent out. It was to go in the morning mail. Henry Bott
said the squire wouldn't have lost the letter for a small mint of money."

"What did it contain?"

"He said the squire wouldn't say. It was addressed to some party in New
York, I believe."

"It is strange the squire wouldn't mention the contents of the letter. The
authorities ought to know if they are to trace it."

"So I should think. But Squire Paget said it was strictly private."

"Maybe he imagines you have his letter," mused Mrs. Nelson. "I suppose I am
foolish for thinking so, but I fancied he had something on his mind when
he first began to speak of the robbery."

"You may be right, mother. That would explain why he was so persistent in
getting after me."

"You have not seen Percy?"

"No. I understood from Dan Pickley that he had gone to Chambersburgh for a
few days on a visit."

"Then the squire cannot be influenced by what his son can say."

"No; this is solely his own doings," returned Ralph.

They talked the matter over at some length, but could arrive at no
satisfactory conclusion regarding Squire Paget's bitter enmity. Time must
solve the mystery for them.

Ralph had been out distributing circulars for Mr. Dunham. On the following
morning he went across the lake to put in his last day at the work.

He had thought the matter over, and finding the sporting goods dealer at
leisure, asked him if there was any opening in the store.

"I am sorry to say there is not, Ralph," said Mr. Dunham.

"I am willing to do anything, both in