th the result of
their mission.

"It is truly marvelous. And to think that Mother isn't at home this
afternoon to hear it. It was splendid in you to wait here for me, Jean."
Grace turned a glowing face toward the old hunter. "As for your going to
find Tom, I am _sure_ that you _will_ find him. I was so amazed at
seeing you, I forgot to introduce you to my friend Miss Briggs. She
knows all about you, already."

Elfreda extended a prompt hand of welcome to the intrepid old trapper,
who grasped it warmly, saying: "The frien's of Mam'selle Grace are also
the frien's of ol' Jean."

"Jean, before I tell you all I know about Tom's disappearance, I think
it would be better for the three of us to go on to Mrs. Gray's home and
talk things over. She will be so glad to see you. She has suffered
dreadfully. We have all suffered. But I feel now as though at last the
light had begun to break."

CHAPTER XIX

THE LETTER

"And that is all the information that we can give you about Tom, Jean."
Grace sighed as she ended the recital of barren facts relating to the
vanishing of the man she loved.

"It is very scant information on which to proceed," deplored Mrs. Gray.
"I confess that I made a mistake in keeping our trouble a secret. Since
that newspaper spread the news abroad I have done my best to amend the
error. I have seen to it that the sheriff of the county in which the
camp is located took up the matter. I have also offered a large reward
for the finding of Tom, or the positive proof that he is dead." Her
voice dropped despairingly on the last word.

"Be of the brav' heart," responded Jean confidently. "I hav' the feeling
that it is for me to find the los' M'sieu' Tom. I hav' travel many times
over the country w'ere he get los' an' I know it, every tree an' stone.
It is a wil' place, an' the men up there know not'ing but cut down
trees. Very t'ick in the 'aid." Jean tapped his gray head significantly,
better to demonstrate the vast stupidity of lumbermen in general.

"M'sieu' David is one fine young man, but he not know the big woods lak'
ol' Jean. The ot'er man, he also not know." Jean shrugged his broad
shoulders. "If all Jean's life he stay in cities, it would be so wit'
him."

"But Jean, have you any idea of what might have happened to Tom?"
entreated Mrs. Gray.

Again Jean shrugged. "Many t'ings might 'appen. P'r'aps he lose the way
in storm an' get hurt; mebbe he die. P'r'aps timber t'ieves get him an'
sh