CHAPTER XXIII.

THE REGISTERED LETTERS AGAIN.

Though his coming had been announced by those who had preceded Mr. Rimmon and himself on their return to Six Roads, Little Snap's appearance was hailed with various feelings of demonstration.

The joy of those at his home knew no bounds, while his friends greeted him with manifestations of delight. Others shook their heads, as if there was something wrong, while still others openly avowed that they would have been better suited if he had never come, or "words to that effect."

"We have had such a terrible experience since you went away," said Mrs. Lewis. "I dread to have you carry that mail again, and I wish you would not, my son."

"I shall not have to go to-day, mother, and Mr. Rimmon says it is possible I shall not have to go to-morrow, as it is proving quite a job to clear the road at the Narrows, to say nothing of repairing Greenbrier bridge."

"I am afraid you will be killed, Dix. Sheriff Brady says the Blazed Acre folks are bound to kill you."

"Mother, I have no greater enemy or worse one than Mr. Brady, though I do not understand why he is against me. Has father been home since I started for Volney?" he asked, suddenly changing the subject.

"No. I am growing more and more anxious about him. He seems to grow more moody every day. I am so sorry for him, and I know not what can be done."

Little Snap offered such encouraging words as he could, though he could not forget the fact of his father's presence among the outlaws of Greenbrier cave. It was true he had not seen his countenance, but he was none the less certain of the truth of the situation. He trembled for the ultimate outcome of the mystery.

Another thing puzzled him not a little, and that was the mention of the names of "judge" and "colonel" by Bird Burrnock. He was at a loss to understand who these associates of the desperadoes of Blazed Acre could be. Justice Claverton was often called "judge," and Mr. Warfield in the same tone frequently spoken of as "the colonel." With all the enmity the first bore toward him, he could not think he was the one meant by the outlaw, while it seemed preposterous that Mr. Jason Warfield, the ambitious politician, could be spoken of in this connection.

Naturally enough the affairs of the past few days were the general themes of conversation at Six Roads.

Though he kept aloof from the crowds that daily collected at all of the public places, Little Snap heard sufficient for him to know he was the object of many unfavorable remarks. It was certain his enemies were improving the time to set public opinion against him as much as possible.

Dan Shag seemed everywhere present, repeating, in a loud tone, his grievances, and continuing his threats against the postmaster, who offered him no reply.

Mr. Warfield was out of town, but in the afternoon of the same day he got home from Volney, Little Snap was paid a visit by the politician's secretary.

"I felt it my duty to call upon you," said Mr. Jones, "relative to the matter I know must be fresh in your mind."

"I do not understand what you refer to," replied Dix, not at all pleased with this call.

"Nothing is so hard to understand as what we do not wish to understand," said the other. "Of course you have not forgotten those missing registered letters of Mr. Warfield's."

"No, sir; still I do not know why you should come to me about them. I suppose the affair is being investigated."

"No one would be more likely to know than you," was the significant reply. "But to be frank with you, I have come for a confidential talk with you, confessing that it was suggested by Mr. Warfield. He bears you no ill will. In fact, he desires to help you all in his power, as his past actions have shown. Now, upon his guarantee I can assure you that nothing will be done with you if you will tell us the whole truth in regard to this matter.

"Please do not think we suppose you have taken the letters knowingly, but we suppose that in some way you have lost them. Of course you are not directly to blame in that case, though it does look bad for you, particularly as you have denied it so stoutly. If you will candidly acknowledge that this is the case, we will let the affair drop here, save to explain that you have not been in any way to blame."

Little Snap had listened to this speech without any interruption, and at its close he said:

"Mr. Jones, it is evident that you think I am either a fool or a thief. I have told all I have to say in regard to the matter. Before you come to me please investigate your post offices. I——"

"So you call Mr. Rimmon a robber of the United States mail? It is a bold utterance, for even a rash-headed youth to make, and I can promise you it shall be taken for all it is worth. Good-day."

"Perhaps I was too outspoken with him," said the postboy to his mother, when he had explained the object of the other's visit, "but I could not help it. That man is one of those who is at the bottom of my troubles, and he it is who has caused Mr. Warfield to do as he has."

The afternoon of the following day, as he had heard nothing definite concerning the progress made in repairing the road, Little Snap called at the post office, to find the place literally surrounded by loafers and men engaged in discussing politics and the prospects of who was to carry the mail on the Kanawha route.

"I tell you that young Lewis isn't going," some one in the background was saying, as Little Snap entered the building. "I hear Mr. Warfield is going to fix up the matter in the way it should be."

"Well, here comes Mr. Warfield to speak for himself," said another, and our hero was somewhat surprised to see the politician appear upon the scene.

"It looks as though the road would be clear for you to-morrow," said Mr. Rimmon.

Then noticing Mr. Warfield, he added:

"Glad to see you here, colonel. I wish you would step inside here, as I have something of importance to say to you."

"Have my letters been found, Mr. Rimmon?"

"I regret to say——"

"Yes, they have been found!" broke in Meiggs, in the midst of Mr. Rimmon's words. "Here they are!" holding up one hand, in which were clasped three or four badly soiled and abused letters.

"I found them in an old stump between Hollow Tree and Greenbrier," continued the speaker, while great excitement instantly began to come over the crowd. "They have been opened, and I found with them a letter belonging to Dix Lewis!"