himself into my confidence, inquired my salary, denounced it as
inadequate, and finally induced me to take advantage of the confidence
reposed in me to abstract the securities which you lost. He had made
all arrangements for my safe flight, accompanying me, of course. We
went to Montreal first, but this is so apt to be the refuge of
defaulters that we finally came to the small village from which I
address these lines.

There was a considerable sum of money which we spent, also five hundred
dollars in government bonds on which we realized. The other securities
we have not as yet been able to negotiate. I have proposed to Bowman to
restore them to you by express, and trust to your kindness to spare us
a criminal prosecution, and enable us to return to the States, for
which I have a homesick longing. But he laughs the idea to scorn, and
has managed to spirit away the bonds and conceal them in some place
unknown to me. Of course this makes me entirely dependent upon him. To
make matters worse, I have fallen sick with rheumatism, and am
physically helpless.

If you could send here a confidential messenger who could ascertain the
hiding-place of the bonds, I would thankfully consent to his taking
them back to you, and I would make no conditions with you. If you felt
that you could repose confidence in me once more. I would willingly
return to your employment, and make arrangements to pay you by degrees
the value of the money thus far expended by Bowman and myself. There
are still thirteen thousand five hundred dollars' worth of securities
left untouched in their original packages.

We are living in a small village called St. Victor, thirty miles from
the American line. We occupy a small cottage rather out of the village,
and go by our own names. Do not write to me, for the letter would be
seen by Paul Bowman, and defeat my plans, but instruct your messenger
to seek a private interview with me. I am detained at home by sickness
at present, but Bowman is away most of the day. He is fond of hunting,
and spends considerable of the day in the woods, while his evenings are
spent at the inn, where there is a pool table. I have managed to send
this to the post office by a small girl who comes here in the morning
to make the bed and sweep. Hoping earnestly that this communication may
reach you, I sign myself

Your repentant clerk,

JAMES SINCLAIR.

Fred read this letter wi