'One thing we might do,' said Allan, after they had trudged for awhile
in a somewhat uncomfortable silence, 'we might take a look at Andrew
MacPeters.'

'Yes, let's get something done,' said Reggie; 'where do you think we
shall find him?'

'I heard that he was cutting peats on the hillside,' said Allan; 'isn't
that a cart over there, and two men stacking peats?'

'Yes, that is Andrew MacPeters,' said Reggie, when they had advanced a
little nearer; 'the red-headed man on this side.'

'Fine day, young ladies and gentlemen,' said the farther-away man; but
Andrew only gave them a sidelong look out of his red-lidded eyes.

'Fine day,' replied Allan civilly; then they all stood still and looked
at Andrew, who went on stolidly with his work.

'Let's come to the post-office now,' said Allan, and they all trudged
away.

'Eh, young ladies and gentlemen, pleased to see you,' said Mrs.
MacAlister in her lilting Gaelic; 'eh, but it's been a weary business
since you were here last! Poor Neil, poor laddie!'

'Yes, Mrs. MacAlister,' said Marjorie; 'and of course we are all quite
sure that Neil had nothing to do with it.'

'So are we all, Miss Marjorie; but the hard thing is to prove it.
Things looked very black against him when the order came out of the
poor lad's very letter, and he the only person who had been in the
house that night. Wait a bit, young ladies and gentlemen, and I'll
fetch my husband; he's been bad with the rheumatism but he's working in
the garden now,' and the good woman departed, leaving the field clear
for the young people.

'Look,' said Allan, 'there are the letters lying on the table. They've
been taken out of the box, and they're waiting now until Mrs.
MacAlister is ready to stamp them. The door's open, and any one can
come in and out. It wouldn't be difficult to rob a post-office like
this!'

Just then the door opened, and Andrew MacPeters came slouching in,
looking very awkward when he saw who were in the shop. The visitors
all watched him as he made his way clumsily across the room to fetch
something that he wanted; and when he came near the table Reggie said
suddenly, 'Been taking anything from here lately, Andrew?'

The man looked at him with a surly gleam in his eyes but did not
answer. After a minute or two he went out, all eyes following him
curiously.

'There,' said Reggie triumphantly, 'did you see what a bad conscience
he has?' and they all looked at each other in silent a