state exactly why you
desire to see him, otherwise the game may give you the slip rather
than take chances of being brought face to face with the officers
of the law."

It was not until Aunt Hannah had concluded that Seth appeared to
understand he was the boy referred to, and then he asked excitedly:

"Do you suppose the Seth Barrows told about there can be me?"

"Of course, my dear. Isn't this your story just as you have repeated
it to me?"

"But there isn't anybody who'd leave me so much money as that, Aunt
Hannah! There's a big mistake somewhere."

"Do you remember of ever hearing that you had an uncle in California?"

"Indeed I don't. I thought Snip was all the relation I had in the
world."

"Why did the man in Jersey City allow you to live with him?"

"I don't know. I had pretty good clothes then, an' didn't have to
work, 'cause I was too small."

"Well," the little woman said with a sigh, as if the exertion of
talking had wearied her, "I don't pretend to be able to straighten out
the snarl; but I'm certain you are the boy spoken of in the newspaper
story, for it isn't reasonable to suppose that two lads of the same
age have lately run away from New York because of an advertisement.
The money must be yours, my dear, and instead of being a homeless
wanderer, you're quite a wealthy gentleman."

"I wouldn't take the chances of goin' to see about it," Seth said
thoughtfully, "'cause what we've read may be only a trap to catch me."

"Now, don't be too suspicious, my dear. I'm not countin' on your going
into that wicked city just yet. I've sent for Nathan Dean, an' you may
be sure he'll get at the bottom of the matter, for he's a master hand
at such work."

Then Mrs. Dean entered to take up her duties of nurse once more, and
Seth went into the barn, where he could be alone to think over the
strange turn which his affairs appeared to be taking.

Gladys joined him half an hour later, and asked abruptly:

"What did Aunt Hannah say to you?"

"Why do you think she counted on talkin' to me?"

"Because I read that story in the newspaper. Then she wanted me to go
out for a walk, and said I'd better ask Mr. Dean to come over this
afternoon. I couldn't help knowing it was about you; but didn't say
anything to her because Mrs. Dean thinks she oughtn't to be excited.
Did you tell her why you and Snippey ran away?"

"Of course I did, an' was countin' on doin' that same thing the first
chance I had to