st
his eye over the letter, which was much defaced by frequent foldings,
and in any case would have been difficult to decipher, so vilely was it
scrawled. But Mr. Snowdon's interest was strongly excited, and in a few
moments he had made out the following communication:

'I don't begin with no deering, because it's a plaid out thing, and
because I'm riting to too people at onse, both mother and Clem, and
it's so long since I've had a pen in my hand I've harf forgot how to
use it. If you think I'm making my pile, you think rong, so you've got
no need to ask me when I'm going to send money home, like you did in
the last letter. I jest keep myself and that's about all, because
things ain't what they used to be in this busted up country. And that
remminds me what it was as I ment to tell you when I cold get a bit of
time to rite. Not so long ago, I met a chap as used to work for
somebody called Snowdon, and from what I can make out it was Snowdon's
brother at home, him as we use to ere so much about. He'd made his
pile, this Snowdon, you bet, and Ned Williams says he died worth no end
of thousands. Not so long before he died, his old farther from England
came out to live with him; then Snowdon and a son as he had both got
drownded going over a river at night. And Ned says as all the money
went to the old bloak and to a brother in England, and that's what he
herd when he was paid off. The old farther made traks very soon, and
they sed he'd gone back to England. So it seams to me as you ouht to
find Snowdon and make him pay up what he ose you. And I don't know as
I've anything more to tell you both, ecsep I'm working at a place as I
don't know how to spell, and it woldn't be no good if I did, because
there's no saying were I shall be before you could rite back. So good
luck to you both, from yours truly, W. P.'

In reading, Joseph James scratched his bald head thoughtfully. Before
he had reached the end there were signs of emotion in his projecting
lower lip. At length he regarded Clem, no longer smiling, but without
any of the wrath she had anticipated.

'Ha, ha! This was your game, was it? Well, I don't object, old girl--so
long as you tell me a bit more about it. Now there's no need for any
more lies, perhaps you'll mention where the old fellow is.'

'He's livin' not so far away, an' Jane with him.'

Put somewhat at her ease, Clem drew her hand from the neighbourhood of
the bread-knife, and detailed all she knew with r