."

"Yes, sir."

Crestfallen, the boy sank into a big leather chair in a dim corner of
the room.

"and in reply advise you that shipment billed to us via S.S.
_George Washington_ has been received, and is in every way
satisfactory. We will remit payment as usual through our
Amsterdam brokers.

"Appreciating your courteous and reliable service, I remain,
Truly yours,
Christopher Mark Antony Burton, third."

Mr. Burton came to a stop and leaned back in his massive mahogany chair.

"There, Miss Elkins, get that off immediately," ordered he. "Also the
two cablegrams I dictated. That will be all at present. Now,
Christopher, suppose you give me your mighty tidings."

A faint note of sarcasm, not lost on the boy, echoed in the words, and
with enthusiasm quenched, the lad silently produced his note and laid it
on his father's desk.

"What's this?" Mr. Burton asked.

"You can read it."

"A vilely dirty scrap of paper. What have you been doing with
it--cleaning your shoes?"

"It was that way when it came."

"Came? Came from whom?"

"Read it and see."

"But the thing has neither beginning nor end. Was it meant for you?"

"Yes, sir. It came through the mail."

Taking the envelope from his pocket, Christopher placed it beside the
letter.

Mr. Burton, however, did not heed either object.

Instead, with deliberation, he took off his glasses, wiped them and put
them back on his nose. Then he lighted a fresh cigar. Even an observer
less keen than his son could have detected that the major portion of his
mind was still occupied by the cablegrams and dictation that had
previously engaged him, and that he anticipated no very vital
disclosures from the morsel of grimy paper he so gingerly took up.

Slowly he read it. Then the boy, watching, saw his figure become tense,
and a flash of amazement light his eyes.

"Great Heavens!" cried he, startled out of his customary dignity. "It's
from Stuart. Why didn't you say so at once?"

"I tried to tell you."

"Yes, yes. I know! But I had no idea you had anything as important as
this to say. If you had only explained--"

"I was going to, only you--"

"Well, we won't stop to discuss all that now. I'll call Corrigan
immediately. I don't suppose there is any chance but the note is
genuine. Why, it would be a seven-days' wonder if we should get those
stones back. The insurance money was no compensation for them. We could
not buy t