w about it."

"I'll take you to the Greggs' farm for ten cents," put in the stage
driver.

Again a bargain was struck, and a drive of ten minutes brought them to
the farm, located on the outskirts of Millville. They found the farm
owner at work by his wood pile, sawing wood. He was a pleasant appearing
individual.

"Come into the house," he said putting down his saw. "I'm glad to
see you," and when our hero had entered the little farmhouse he was
introduced to Mrs. Greggs and two grown-up sons, all of whom made him
feel thoroughly at home.

"To tell the truth," said Mr. Greggs, "I did not know William Bodley
very well. I came here looking for a farm and heard this was for sale,
and struck a bargain with him."

"Was he alone at that time?" questioned Joe.

"He was, and his trouble seemed to have made him a bit queer--not but
what he knew what he was doing."

"Did you learn anything about his family?"

"He had lost his wife and two children by disease. What had happened
to the other child was something of a mystery. I rather supposed it had
died while away from home, but I was not sure."

"Have you any idea at all what became of William Bodley?"

"Not exactly. Once I met a man in Pittsburg who had met a man of that
name in Idaho, among the mines. Both of us wondered if that William A.
Bodley was the same that I had bought my farm from."

"Did he say what part of Idaho?"

"He did, but I have forgotten now. Do you think he was a relative of
yours?"

"I don't know what to think. It may be that he was my father.

"Your father?"

"Yes," and Joe told his story and mentioned the documents found in the
blue tin box.

"It does look as if he might be your father," said Augustus Greggs.
"Maybe you're the child that was away from home at the time his other
children and his wife died."

"Do you think anybody else in this village would know anything more
about this William Bodley?"

"No, I don't. But it won't do any harm to ask around. That stage
driver knows all the old inhabitants. Perhaps some of them can tell you
something worth while."

Upon urgent invitation, Joe took dinner at the Greggs' farm and then set
out to visit a number of folks who had lived in Millville and vicinity
for many years. All remembered William A. Bodley and his family, but not
one could tell what had become of the man after he had sold out and gone
away.

"Maybe you had better advertise for him," suggested one man.

"It will cos