will put your horse up. I have Nash's papers in my possession from his
own hand, and, if I find they confirm your story, we will all be glad to
take you into our confidence. You, of all men, understand the necessity
for caution, and will, I hope, not take my precaution amiss."

"O Lud, no, Squire; yo're pretty shore to find letters frem me ameng
pore Nesh's papers, or some memorenda about me. H.B., you know, Hickey
Bengs."

Timotheus led the new detective's horse away, and the gentleman himself
entered the house and office with the Squire. "Coristine," said the
latter, familiarly addressing the lawyer, "would you mind looking up
Errol quietly and sending him here?"

Of course he didn't mind, and soon returned with the minister. Both
noticed that the Squire had two loaded pistols on the table before him,
the stranger being on the other side. "You can remain, Coristine. I must
introduce you, and the Reverend Mr. Errol, my fellow trustee in the
matter of these papers, to Mr. Bengs. Mr. Coristine is in the law, Mr.
Bengs."

The dapper gentleman with the red tie and large scarf pin bowed amiably
to the two witnesses of the interview, and Mr. Carruthers, with the
minister by his side, proceeded to examine the papers. "Here it is," he
said, after a few minutes of painful silence, "but what in aa the
warld's the meanin' o't? B.R.--B.T.--R.C.P. The date is Saturday night."

"I think I know," interrupted the lawyer. "How will this do: Beaver
River, Ben Toner, Roman Catholic Priest?"

"The very thing! Well, here's Sabbath. Prom. cum S.W.L.C. sup. eq."

Coristine had written the words down to study them. At last he said:
"It's a mixture of French, Latin, and English abbreviations; Promenade
or walk with Schoolmaster Wilkinson, Lawyer Coristine on the horse."

"Eh, man!" ejaculated the pleased Squire; "I'll hae to turn lawyer
mysel'. Now, here's later doon, the same day--B.D.--S.C.--P.O. scripsi
H.B. ven. inst. Come, my prophetic friend."

Triumphantly, the lawyer rolled out: "Bride's Dale, Squire Carruthers,
Post Office. I have written H.B. to come instanter."

"Have you his letter, Mr. Bengs?" the Squire asked, and at once it was
produced with the Flanders post mark on it, written on the Bridesdale
paper, and in Nash's peculiar way. Still Mr. Carruthers doubted. How
could he be sure that the letter had fallen into the right hands, or
that this smooth-spoken swell was not a cunning agent of Rawdon's?

"John," said the m