"He's the one we thought was the tramp
lumberman that got daddy's real estate papers."

"I see him," said Laddie. "Look! He's waving to us! Let's go over and see
what he wants."

Mr. Hurd was driving down a cross road, and waited for the boys to come up
to him.

"Hello, Russ and Laddie!" he called, "I've got some news for you!"

"News?" asked Russ.

"Yes. Do you remember when you took me for the red-haired lumberman that
you thought had your father's papers: Remember that?"

"Yes," answered Russ, "I do. But you weren't him. I wish we could find
him."

"Maybe you can," said Mr. Hurd, and Russ looked at him in a queer way.
What did Mr. Hurd mean?

CHAPTER XXII

OFF ON A TRIP

"Are you sure this tramp lumberman who took the old coat with your
father's papers in it, had red hair?" asked Mr. Hurd as Zip came to a stop
near the carriage, and lay down in the shade, for, not being a big horse,
the dog could do almost as he pleased when harnessed up.

"Yes, he had red hair," said Russ. "But he really didn't mean to take the
papers. I heard my father say. It was just a mistake."

"Yes, I guess that was it," agreed Mr. Hurd. "Well, your father would like
to get those papers back, wouldn't he?"

"Indeed he would!" exclaimed Russ. "He and mother were talking about 'em
only last night. Daddy would like to get 'em very much."

"Well," went on Mr. Hurd. "I'll tell you the news I spoke about. Do you
know where Mr. Barker's place is?"

"Yes," answered Russ. Laddie let his brother do most of the talking this
time. "It's over on the road to Green Pond, isn't it?" and Russ, sitting
in the dog-cart beside Laddie, pointed in the direction of the place he
spoke of. It was about three miles from where Grandma Bell lived. Russ had
heard his father, mother and grandmother speak of Mr. Barker's place. He
was a man who owned many fields and woodlands.

"That's right, Russ," said Mr. Hurd. "Mr. Barker's place is over by Green
Pond. I see you know it all right. Well, now I heard yesterday that there
is a red-haired lumberman working for Mr. Barker, cutting down trees for
him, and getting ready to build an ice-house on the shore of Green Pond."

"Is he a tramp lumberman?" asked Russ.

"As to that I don't know," answered Mr. Hurd. "That's what your father
will have to find out for himself. But he can easily do that. All he'll
have to do will be to go over to Mr. Barker's place--it isn't far--and ask
for the red-haired lum