will explain what I want you for."

I accepted the chair indicated, but was not yet altogether ready to
hear his proposition.

"Just a moment," I said firmly. "I may be the man you want, and all
that, but I have got to be convinced first that I am not making another
mistake. I came down here originally believing myself an agent of
justice, only to discover I had been duped. This time I insist on the
truth. I may be a soldier of fortune, but I prefer choosing the side
on which I fight."

"You mean you wish to assure yourself I have the right of it," he asked
smilingly, "before you enlist? There is nothing unreasonable to that.
Unfortunately, however," and he picked up the papers from the desk, "I
can only furnish you corroborative proofs now. Still, I think these
will be convincing. The legal papers, which absolutely establish my
identity as Philip Henley, are in the hands of lawyers, who represent
me at Carrollton. The case will not come up for adjudication for
several weeks yet," speaking slowly, and with careful choice of words,
"but my contention as heir to the property is thoroughly established.
It had to be, for as you know the Judge's son had been away from this
neighborhood for years, practically ever since boyhood. He was almost
unknown to the local inhabitants, even to the servants. He was even
reported as being dead. This state of affairs made identification the
most important thing to be considered. Consequently all documents
bearing directly on that point are, at present, out of my reach. You
understand?"

"Yes; only you must have retained something to substantiate your word."

"Precisely. I was coming to that. I have letters from my father which
should be sufficient. You have seen Judge Henley's writing?" and he
handed me a half dozen missives. They were without envelopes, each
beginning simply, "My Dear Son," relating principally to local
conditions on the plantation, and occasionally expressing a desire for
the wanderer to return, and assume the burden of management. Instead
of names, initials were employed to designate individuals referred to,
and it was evident the recipient had been addressed at various places.
That they were in the crabbed and peculiar handwriting of the old Judge
was beyond all question, and the dates covered several years. I read
them through carefully, puzzled by their contents.

"There are no envelopes?"

"No; I never keep them--why?"

"Only that no n