he had accomplished his purpose, for the Indian was won over and
beaming with pleasure. Gramo-phones had not been long introduced into
the district as articles of trade; as yet only the chiefs and most
successful trappers could purchase them. To own one was equivalent to
keeping a butler in civilisation. Seeing the greed in the man's eyes,
he told him that he could have it so soon as he had declared his
business and delivered his message.

This promise caused the oracle to work. Diving his hand beneath his
shirt, the Indian drew forth a pouch which was slung about his neck,
and, opening it, produced from it a letter. Then snatching up his
play-thing, he and his companion, proud in his top-hat, went outside
to build their fire, and to make their camp, leaving the trader to
himself.

Granger rose up and made fast the door behind them, so that he might
be undisturbed. Now that he held within his hand the solution to the
problem of their visit, he was willing to postpone the fuller
knowledge lest it should make him sad. Sitting himself down on the
edge of the counter he drew forth his pipe and filled it slowly; and
when that was done, still more slowly commenced searching for a match,
found it at last and kindled the tobacco. He looked at the address; it
was in Wrath's handwriting, but the envelope bore no stamp--it had
evidently been sent up by him in haste over the entire six hundred and
eighty miles by private carrier. That meant that the news was
important, for such means of transit were expensive. Breaking the
seal, he found a letter enclosed, which had been addressed to him in
care of Wrath; it also was unstamped, but it bore in the left-hand
corner the name of his mother's firm of London solicitors. About it
was folded a note from Wrath himself, which read:

DEAR GRANGER,

The enclosed letter arrived here by yesterday's mail.
It was accompanied by a letter to myself from some
London lawyers, urging me to deliver it into your hands
in the quickest possible time, regardless of expense.
Carrying out my instructions, I am sending it up to
you by private messengers; heaven knows how long it
would take to get to you, were I to send it any other
way. Of course I shall dock the cost of its transit
from your salary, which means that if you don't have a
good year's trade, I sha'n't have much to pay you.

Yours,
CHARLES