heart, and it will break mine, too!" And he
brushed away the tears that sprang up in spite of his efforts to keep
them down. Then he turned to the heavy, twisted scrawl from his Uncle
Job.

"It's rare good news you have sent, Ben," wrote the old man, after
stating that he was in good health, "and the news comes none too
soon, for the party who took a mortgage on my house wants his
money, and where I am going to get it I don't know, with money so
tight and interest and bonus so high. I've told him that Braxton
Bogg is captured,--and he saw it in the newspaper, too,--and he is
about of a mind to wait for his money now until the bank gets back
what was stolen, and settles up. For myself, I can't hardly wait
till that time comes; and after this you can be sure I'll be
mighty careful where I put my cash and what's coming to you three
boys, too. You won that thousand dollars' reward fairly, and I
hope you and Larry won't squander it like most soldiers would. I
thought that war would end soon, but it appears like it would go
on forever. Tell Larry to take good care of himself, and mind that
you don't get shot."

"Poor Uncle Job--he'll be in a hole again," murmured Ben. "Evidently
he wrote this right after I sent word Braxton Bogg was caught, and he
doesn't know anything of my being shot and getting over it, and of
Benedicto Lupez skipping out with what Bogg stole. Hang the luck, but
everything seems to be going wrong." And Ben grated his teeth, in a
mood hard to explain.

"What's up, Ben?" The question came from Gilbert, who had just come up
to watch the young captain, in considerable surprise.

Ben showed the two communications. "I'm just thinking of what I had
best write to my Uncle Job," he returned. "I'm afraid it will break
the old fellow's heart to learn that the money is gone--and after he
is trying to turn over a new leaf, too."

"And the news about Larry will cause him pain, too, I reckon."

"No doubt, but--but--well, between you and me, Gilbert, I'm afraid the
money will hurt the worst--Uncle Job always did set such a store by a
few dollars. As for me, I'd give all I'll ever be worth if only I knew
Larry was safe," concluded the young captain, arising from a seat
under a palm tree as Major Morris came forward to speak to him.

"Captain, I'm ordered to the front to-night, to do a little
reconnoitring," said the major of the first battalion. "I thought
perhaps you would like to go