u."

The two left the reading room and Robert was left to digest the
important information he had received.

"What a rascal that man is!" he reflected. "After stealing Mr. Huet's
boy, he wants to put him in a madhouse. I must let him know, so that he
may be on his guard. I don't believe they will think of looking for him
at Cook's Harbor."

By a curious coincidence the room assigned to Robert was next to that
occupied by Mr. Waldo, and when the boy was about entering it, some
hours later, he saw the gentleman going in just ahead of him.

As the latter placed one hand upon the door he drew his handkerchief
from his coat pocket, and in so doing brought out a letter, which fell
upon the floor, without his seeing it.

Passing into his room, he slammed the door, leaving the missive lying in
the hall.

"It is a mean thing," laughed Robert as he stooped down and picked it
up, "to examine a letter not intended for me, but he is such a scamp
that I'll do it in this case, hoping to learn something that will help
me find this poor boy."

And so, without any compunctions, Robert took the letter--which had been
opened--into his room and read, with feelings which may possibly be
imagined, the following letter:

"DEAR SIR: I feel oblidged to rite to you about the boy I
took from you. You told me he would work enough to pay for
his keep, and did not want to pay me anything for my
trubble. Now, Mr. Waldo, you are mistaken. The boy ain't
tuff nor strong, and I can't got more'n half as much work
out of him as I ought. He don't eat much, I kno, but the
fact is I need a good strong boy, and I shall have to git
another, and have two to feed, if things go on so.

"You told me I might be strict and harsh with him, and I am.
He says he has the headache about half the time, but I don't
pay no attenshun to that. If I did, I wouldn't git any work
done. One day he fainted away in the feald, but it's my
opinyun he brought it on a-purpose by not eatin' much
breakfast.

"I tell you, Mr. Waldo, it is very aggravatin' to have such a
shifless boy. Now, what I want to ask you is, if you can't
allow me a dollar, or a dollar and a half a week to make it
square. I'm willin' to take care of the boy, but I don't
want to lose money by it. I kno you give him his clo'es, but
that don't cost you much. He ain't had a suit for a year,
and he needs