d hoped to do when he
had taken them.

But nobody knew anything about the matter excepting George Mason
himself, and he was not there to give the village any information.

As for Harry, he did not stay long to hear the discussions at the store.

His mind was full of a much more important matter and he ran off to find
Kate. He wanted to talk over his latest impressions with her.

When he reached the house, where his appearance greatly tranquillized
his mother's mind, he found Kate in the yard under the big
catalpa-trees, always a favorite place of resort in fine weather.

"Oh, Harry!" she cried, when she saw him, "did they find the horses?"

"No," said Harry; "they didn't find them."

"Oh, what a pity! And some of them were borrowed horses. Tony Kirk had
Captain Caseby's mud-colored horse. I don't know what the captain will
do without him."

"Oh, the captain will do very well," said Harry.

"But he can't do very well," persisted Kate. "It's the only horse he has
in the world. One thing certain, they can't go to church."

Harry laughed at this, and then he told his sister all about his meeting
with Uncle Braddock. But while she was wondering and surmising in regard
to George Mason's strange conduct, Harry, who could not keep his
thoughts from more important matters, broke in with:

"But, I say, Kate, I've made up my mind about the telegraph business.
There must be a company, and we ought to plan it all out before we tell
people and sell shares."

"That's right," cried Kate, who was always ready for a plan. "Let's do
it now."

So, down she sat upon the ground, and Harry sat down in front of her.

Then they held a council.

"In the first place, we must have a President," said Harry.

"That ought to be you," said Kate.

"Yes," said Harry, "I suppose I ought to be President. And then we must
have a Treasurer, and I think you should be Treasurer."

"Yes," said Kate, "that would do very well. But where could I keep the
money?"

"Pshaw!" said Harry. "It's no use to bother ourselves about that. We'd
better get the money first, and then see where we can put it. I reckon
it'll be spent before anybody gets a chance to steal it. And now then,
we must have a Secretary."

"How would Tom Selden do for Secretary?" asked Kate.

"Oh, he isn't careful enough," answered Harry. "I think you ought to be
Secretary. You can write well, and you'll keep everything in order."

"Very well," said Kate, "I'll be Secretary."