THE TRUTH AT LAST.
Little Snap, without stopping to reply, sprang into the saddle and
dashed away, meeting no one until he reached Daring's Diamond.
"I owe you an apology, Dix," was the postmaster's greeting, as he came
down the steps to meet him. "Since you were here last evening I have
heard of your thrilling experience with that runaway river, and I hope
you will forgive me for speaking as I did. You deserve special reward
for your bravery, and you are going to get it, too."
To the postboy's surprise, a dozen others pressed around him, with kind
words of praise.
"What is that we hear about Mr. Rimmon?" asked Mr. Anderson. "Of course,
I don't believe the stories, and Jason Warfield's friends are making a
mistake in circulating them. By the way, boys, I suppose you all know
there is to be a big rally here to-night for the ambitious colonel. He
is to address the people on the issues of the day, as he calls them."
"Have you found anything of those missing letters?" asked Little Snap.
"Not a sign. That beats me. It is the first time we have lost anything
here. But the culprit is sure to be found out soon."
Then, stepping nearer to the postboy, he whispered:
"There's a government detective somewhere in these parts. But mum's the
word."
His spirits still in the ascendant, Little Snap pursued his way, to be
met at the Hollow Tree with an altogether different reception.
"'Pears to me yer stock of imperdence is equal to yer rascality," said
Shag, who was sitting in the doorway, smoking a black clay pipe.
"Here is the mail pouch, Mr. Shag. You were not here last evening, so I
could not leave yesterday's up mail."
"The rules and regulations don't say I shall keep the offis open all
night to 'commodate a postman who comes erlong when he's a mind to."
"You knew well enough I would come as soon as circumstances would
permit."
"I know a mighty sight better thet ye won't hev a chance to repeat yer
slipshod way o' doin' bizness arter to-day. Put thet in yer pipe an'
smoke it."
Having delivered this speech, Mr. Shag entered his humble office to sort
the mail, followed by Little Snap, who had firmly decided to watch every
postmaster on the route as he handled the mail.
When Shag had clumsily gone through with his examination, he handed the
pouch back to the postboy without comment.
Though plied with questions, Little Snap made his trip without any
incident worth recording, until he got back to Salt Works, when he was
met with the surprising statement:
"What does this mean, Dix Lewis? Here is a letter directed to 'Old
Solitaire, care of Dix Lewis.'"
Unable to credit his ears, Little Snap leaned forward so he could read
the address. There was no mistake, though he could hardly believe it.
"It's for the old man, sure," said the postmaster. "At last his
long-looked-for letter has come."
"Yes, and I am so glad. I will take it to him, Mr. Rawson."
Never had Little Snap watched for the old hermit as he did that day,
while he climbed the ascent leading to the live oak.
"He is there! I wonder what he will say? I hope he will let me know the
message it brings.
"Hurrah, Uncle Solitaire!" he cried, the next moment, rising in his seat
and waving the missive over his head; "it has come at last!"
Somehow, he was disappointed at the calm manner in which the other took
the letter.
"All things come to the patient, and I knew it would come some time.
Please accept my thanks, Postboy of the Kanawha, and if you do not find
me at my post to-morrow, you shall meet me elsewhere."
With these words he turned away, and Little Snap had nothing to do but
to ride on.
"Who can it have been from, and does it contain good news or bad? I
would give considerable to know. What could he have meant by saying I
might see him elsewhere?"
Busy in his mind over such reflections, the postboy safely passed the
wildest part of his long journey, to come into Greenbrier on time.
"Well," said Budd Grass, the postmistress, as she took the pouch from
his hands, "I judge by your promptness that you have got through to-day
without trouble."
"No trouble; but I have got a bit of news to tell. Uncle Solitaire has
got his letter at last."
"You don't say! How I would like to look over his shoulder while he
reads it. I have always felt a strange interest in that man. There is a
new book on the shelf near you. Perhaps you would like to look it over
while I am sorting the mail. I find it is terribly tedious to wait in
idleness."
Little Snap took the book, as she had suggested, but while apparently
scanning its pages, he stood so his gaze did not leave her.
No postmaster on the route had escaped his scrutiny so far, and he was
determined that even the fair Budd Grass should not escape. More than
that, he was resolved to be doubly vigilant, for it had at last dawned
upon his mind that at this office he had more reason for suspicion than
at any other.
It so happened that no one was in sight, a fact that he regretted.
With deft fingers the postmistress ran through the several pieces of
mail matter, until the postboy's heart fairly stopped its beating, as he
saw a letter thrust dextrously up one of her flowing sleeves.
Scarcely had this letter disappeared before it was followed by another!
Still turning the leaves of the book, Little Snap stood there and saw
her secrete four letters in that same roomy receptacle.
Then she calmly closed the pouch, and fastened the strap as she had done
hundreds of times before.
Little Snap felt a peculiar feeling of wonder and pity steal over him as
he realized what his discovery meant. But as she started to hand him the
pouch, he exclaimed, sharply:
"Hold, Budd Grass! You move at the peril of your life!"
Her countenance suddenly lost its color, as she asked, in a husky voice:
"What do you mean, Dix Lewis?"
"Just what I say, Miss Grass. You are not to move until I tell you that
you may!"