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mechanical clasp…knife he produced from his pocket； and the aid of
his workmanlike thumb and finger。 Presently he began to whistle
softly； at first a little artificially and with relapses of
reflective silence。 The lock of the desk restored； he secured into
position again that part of the door…lock which he had burst off in
his entrance。 This done； he closed the door gently and once more
stepped out into the moonlit clearing。 In replacing his knife in
his pocket he took out the letters which he had not touched since
they were handed to him in the darkness。 His first glance at the
handwriting caused him to stop。 Then still staring at it； he began
to move slowly and automatically backwards to the porch。 When he
reached it he sat down； unfolded the letter； and without attempting
to read it； turned its pages over and over with the unfamiliarity
of an illiterate man in search of the signature。 This when found
apparently plunged him again into motionless abstraction。 Only
once he changed his position to pull up the legs of his trousers；
open his knees； and extend the distance between his feet； and then
with the unfolded pages carefully laid in the moonlit space thus
opened before him； regarded them with dubious speculation。 At the
end of ten minutes he rose with a sigh of physical and mental
relaxation； refolded the letter； put it in his pocket； and made his
way to the town。
When he reached the hotel he turned into the bar…room； and
observing that it happened to be comparatively deserted； asked for
a glass of whiskey。 In response to the barkeeper's glance of
curiosityas Uncle Ben seldom drank； and then only as a social
function with othershe explained：
〃I reckon straight whiskey is about ez good ez the next thing for
blind chills。〃
The bar…keeper here interposed that in his larger medical
experience he had found the exhibition of ginger in combination
with gin attended with effect； although it was evident that in his
business capacity he regarded Uncle Ben； as a drinker； with
distrust。
〃Ye ain't seen Mr。 Ford hanging round yer lately？〃 continued Uncle
Ben with laborious ease。
The bar…keeper； with his eye still scornfully fixed on his
customer； but his hands which were engaged in washing his glasses
under the counter giving him the air of humorously communicating
with a hidden confederate； had not seen the school…master that
afternoon。
Uncle Ben turned away and slowly mounted the staircase to the
master's room。 After a moment's pause on the landing； which must
have been painfully obvious to any one who heard his heavy ascent；
he gave two timid raps on the door which were equally ridiculous in
contrast with his powerful tread。 The door was opened promptly by
the master。
〃Oh； it's you； is it？〃 he said shortly。 〃Come in。〃
Uncle Ben entered without noticing the somewhat ungracious form of
invitation。 〃It war me；〃 he said； 〃dropped in； not finding ye
downstairs。 Let's have a drink。〃
The master gazed at Uncle Ben； who； owing to his abstraction； had
not yet wiped his mouth of the liquor he had imperfectly swallowed；
and was in consequence more redolent of whiskey than a confirmed
toper。 He rang the bell for the desired refreshment with a
slightly cynical smile。 He was satisfied that his visitor； like
many others of humble position； was succumbing to his good fortune。
〃I wanted to see ye； Mr。 Ford；〃 he began； taking an unproffered
chair and depositing his hat after some hesitation outside the
door； 〃in regard to what I onct told ye about my wife in Mizzouri。
P'r'aps you disremember？〃
〃I remember；〃 returned the master resignedly。
〃You know it was that arternoon that fool Stacey sent the sheriff
and the Harrisons over to McKinstry's barn。〃
〃Go on！〃 petulantly said the master； who had his own reasons for
not caring to recall it。
〃It was that arternoon； you know； that you hadn't time to hark to
mehevin' to go off on an engagement；〃 continued Uncle Ben with
protracted deliberation； 〃and〃
〃Yes； yes； I remember；〃 interrupted the master exasperatedly； 〃and
really unless you get on faster； I'll have to leave you again。〃
〃It was that arternoon；〃 said Uncle Ben without heeding him； 〃when
I told you I hadn't any idea what had become o' my wife ez I left
in Mizzouri。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the master sharply； 〃and I told you it was your bounden
duty to look for her。〃
〃That's so；〃 said Uncle Ben nodding comfortably； 〃them's your very
words； on'y a leetle more strong than that； ef I don't disremember。
Well； I reckon I've got an idee！〃 The master assumed a sudden
expression of interest； but Uncle Ben did not vary his monotonous
tone。
〃I kem across that idee； so to speak； on the trail。 I kem across
it in some letters ez was lying wide open in the brush。 I picked
em up and I've got 'em here。〃
He slowly took the letters from his pocket with one hand； while he
dragged the chair on which he was sitting beside the master。 But
with a quick flush of indignation Mr。 Ford rose and extended his
hand。
〃These are MY letters； Dabney；〃 he said sternly； 〃stolen from my
desk。 Who has dared to do this？〃
But Uncle Ben had； as if accidentally； interposed his elbow between
the master and Seth's spoils。
〃Then it's all right？〃 he returned deliberately。 〃I brought 'em
here because I thought they might give an idee where my wife was。
For them letters is in her own handwrite。 You remember ez I told
ez how she was a scollard。〃
The master sat back in his chair white and dumb。 Incredible；
extraordinary； and utterly unlooked for as was this revelation； he
felt instinctively that it was true。
〃I couldn't read it myselfez you know。 I didn't keer to ax any
one else to read it for meyou kin reckon why； too。 And that's
why I'm troublin' you to…night； Mr。 Fordez a friend。〃
The master with a desperate effort recovered his voice。 〃It is
impossible。 The lady who wrote those letters does not bear your
name。 More than that；〃 he added with hasty irrelevance； 〃she is so
free that she is about to be married； as you might have read。 You
have made a mistake； the handwriting may be like； but it cannot be
really your wife's。〃
Uncle Ben shook his head slowly。 〃It's her'nthere's no mistake。
When a man； Mr。 Ford； hez studied that handwritehavin'； so to
speak； knowed it on'y from the OUTSIDEfrom seein' it passin' like
between friendsthat man's chances o' bein' mistook ain't ez great
ez the man's who on'y takes in the sense of the words that might
b'long to everybody。 And her name not bein' the same ez mine；
don't foller。 Ef she got a divorce she'd take her old gal's name
the name of her fammerly。 And that would seem to allow she DID get
a divorce。 What mowt she hev called herself when she writ this？〃
The master saw his opportunity and rose to it with a chivalrous
indignation； that for the moment imposed even upon himself。 〃I
decline to answer that question；〃 he said angrily。 〃I refuse to
allow the name of any woman who honors me with her confidence to be
dragged into the infamous outrage that has been committed upon me
and common decency。 And I shall hold the thief and scoundrel
whoever he may beanswerable to myself in the absence of her
natural protector。〃
Uncle Ben surveyed the hero of these glittering generalities with
undisguised admiration。 He extended his hand to him gravely。
〃Shake！ Ef another proof was wantin'； Mr。 Ford； of that bein' my
wife's letter；〃 he said； 〃that high…toned style of yours would
settle it。 For； ef thar was one thing she DID like； it was that
sort of po'try。 And one reason why her and me didn't get on； and
why I skedaddled； was because it wasn't in my line。 Et's all in
trainin'！ On'y a man ez had the Fourth Reader at his fingers' ends
could talk like that。 Bein' brought up on Dobellez is nowhere
it sorter lets me outer you； ez it did outer HER。 But allowin' it
ain't the square thing for YOU to mention her name； that wouldn't
be nothin' agin' MY doin' it； and callin' her； wellLou Price in a
keerless sort o' way； eh？〃
〃I decline to answer further；〃 replied the master quickly； although
his color had changed at the name。 〃I decline to say another word
on the matter until this mystery is cleared upuntil I know who
dared to break into my desk and steal my property； and the purpose
of this unheard…of outrage。 And I demand possession of those
letters at once。〃
Uncle Ben without a word put them in the master's hand； to his
slight surprise； and it must be added to his faint discomfiture；
nor was it decreased when Uncle Ben added； with grave naivete and a
patronizing pressure of his hand on his shoulder；〃In course ez
you're taken' it on to yourself； and ez Lou Price ain't got no
further call on ME； they orter be yours。 Ez to who got 'em outer
the desk； I reckon you ain't got no suspicion of any