CHAPTER XXXVI.

OLD SOLITAIRE'S SECRET.

The postmistress turned still paler as Little Snap resolutely faced her, and the mail bag fell from her hand.

"You are trying to frighten me, Dix," she said, but the sound of footsteps at the door caused her to leave the sentence unfinished, while a wild, desperate look came into her eyes.

The newcomer was Austin Goings.

"Whew! what is the trouble, Dix Lewis?" he asked.

"I wish you would call in Mr. Renders as soon as possible."

"What! have you caught the thief, my boy?" asked Mr. Goings, as his countenance lightened. "In that case, I am more capable of helping you than Mr. Renders. I am post office inspector, and I am here with full authority to arrest whomever I find has been tampering with Uncle Sam's property. What is your charge against this woman, Dix Lewis?"

"She has four letters in her sleeve, and I have reason to——"

"It's a mistake!" she broke in, excitedly. "If there are any letters in my sleeve they got there by accident. They are large—oh, my Lord, there are!"

The last exclamation was called forth by the sudden appearance of the concealed mail as she held her arm so the sleeve was turned downward.

Austin Goings was already entering the private office, when she turned to him with an agonizing look, saying:

"Don't arrest me, sir! It was an accident."

"If it was, you shall have ample time to prove it. But for the present, Miss Grass, you must consider yourself my prisoner."

By that time a crowd had begun to collect about the office, among the rest Mr. Renders, to whom the inspector said:

"I shall have to put the office in your charge for a short time, Mr. Renders."

As may be imagined, the arrest was causing great wonder.

"Have you made any farther discovery, Dix?" asked Mr. Goings of the postboy.

"No, sir."

"This was a good day's work, my boy. I hope you will excuse all uneasiness I may have caused you, but to carry out my purpose it was best no one should know my identity. Mr. Calvert assured me you were all right, but I wished to prove it to my own satisfaction. If you will wait long enough for me to put this prisoner under proper care, I will ride up with you."

Hardly able to comprehend the strange turn of affairs, Little Snap gladly waited until the inspector could join him.

"She takes her arrest hard," said the latter. "Mark my word, she will soon make a confession, and if we don't get the gang before, we shall have no trouble in hunting them down now. You have earned a good reward."

"She was the last one I suspected," said Little Snap. "She always seemed so friendly, but yesterday I felt sure the trouble was there."

"Well, I came in the nick of time to see the fun. Calvert claimed that you could handle them, only give you time. But the government has had so many complaints lately that it thought it was best to investigate. None of us dreamed that you were so well assisted."

They were still talking about the arrest of Budd Grass, when they came in sight of Hollow Tree, to see a dozen mounted men in front of the place.

"I sent some of the boys on ahead, for we have got to pay Blazed Acre a visit. Hello! what is up?"

Ab Raggles had suddenly appeared upon the scene, looking more uncouth and haggard than ever. His clothing was torn almost in shreds, and his hands and face were bleeding from several scratches and cuts.

He seemed to see no one but Little Snap, to whom he cried:

"Come with me, Dix Lewis, to Greenbrier Cave."

"What is it?" asked the postboy.

"Oh, such doings! They have got 'em all fast in th' cave. You must come to once—you an' the rest."

"But what is wanted?"

"I can't tell you. Your father sent me. It's 'em Raggles-Burrnocks, an' yer father's there with the rest!"

Little Snap afterward declared that was the most terrible moment of his life. In an instant his discovery in the cave flashed through his mind. The brief rejoicing he had felt the moment before to think that his troubles were near an end, were now more than counterbalanced by the feeling of dread that crept over his soul.

"Let us get there as soon as possible," said Mr. Goings. "I half expected something of this kind. You can go with us, Dix. I will be responsible—hello! here comes Calvert himself. He will take charge of the mail until we get back. I calculate there will be no complaining if you do not get in late to-night, with the news that you will bring."

Little Snap could make no reply to these hurried words, and all too soon it seemed to him they were ready to start toward the cave, Ab Raggles leading the way.

"Reckon you fellers will hev an easy time o' it a baggin' th' game some one else has nabbed fer ye."

"Fast are they?" asked Mr. Goings.

"I should say so. He's got 'em shut up in th' cave—every galoot o' 'em. Jess fixed a rock so es to slide it down over the hole thet led inter the place. Then, when they was all in he shot th' stone on."

Ha! there's th' old duffer now, a-waitin' for us!"

They had got in sight of the cave, and sure enough, on the summit of the rock overlying the place stood the figure of the victor, as described by Ab Raggles.

Little Snap looked up to recognize Old Solitaire!

The old hermit's garb was sadly disarranged, and the flowing white beard and hair were hanging on one side of his head, presenting a ridiculous appearance!

"We came as soon as we could, Mr. Lewis," said the inspector.

"No need to fret, Mr. Goings, for I have them as safe as a squirrel in a box trap."

Little Snap started at the sound of that voice, and then as he looked closer, he cried:

"Father! father!"