and
others.

On the next headland, which terminated in Mike's Point, was the new
summer residence of Mr. Watson. He had made a landing-pier, which was
available at half tide; but Levi kept his boat at the old moorings,
because the place was sheltered from the violence of the north-east
winds, and it was less than half a mile across to the house where he
usually took in his passengers.

Mr. Fairfield went down to the dory, and put his fishing-gear on board.
He did it as a man goes to a funeral. He had been a fisherman in his
younger days, but it was a bitter necessity, in his view, which now
compelled him to resume it when he was old and stiff. While he was
stowing the bait and lines in the skiff, Dock Vincent came down to see
him. He had laid aside his suit of black, and now wore a full seaman's
rig.

"Well, Squire Fairfield, have you heard anything from your money yet?"
demanded Dock, as he seated himself on a rock.

"Not a thing; and 'tain't likely I ever shall, nuther," replied Mr.
Fairfield, with a most distressing expression on his face.

"Haven't you any idea what has become of it?"

"Not the leastest grain in the world. It's gone, and that's all I know
about it. I did think Levi took it, and I hain't got done thinkin' so
yet."

"What made you think he took it?" asked Dock, with no little interest
manifested on his ugly face.

"Well, he come to the house when I wan't in, though I was close by and
see him go in. He went up garret and got a little saw-mill he made. I
went up to the house, and was just goin' to see where he was; but I
stopped a minute in the kitchen to tell my wife she was wastin' the
wood, and Levi went out afore I see him. A little while arter, the fire
bruk out, and arter that my money was gone. Levi's most eighteen, and
it stands to reason he don't want no little saw-mill to play with."

"Of course he don't," added Dock, encouragingly.

"He said arterwards that he wanted to show it to the Watson gal. But
what does a city gal like her keer about a saw-mill? and nuther on 'em
hain't been near it sence."

"That shows how much they care about it," said Dock, who was evidently
prepared to indorse the old man's philosophy.

"I can't help thinkin' Levi set the house afire, and then took the
money," continued Mr. Fairfield, ignoring the current explanation of
the cause of the fire. "My wife says 'tain't so, because the boy has
all the money he wants, and don't have no occasion to steal; b