I may have my suspicions about what happened to those
securities, but without any proof I don't dare speak about it. As to
this letter business it can be easily cleared up, even if they have to
call the Boston firm and ask particulars."

"Where were you when the letter was snatched out of your hand by the
wind?"

"Just a little ways further along; I think it was where that old boat
lies pulled up on the shore by the creek. The road takes a bend there,
and the letter was carried across the creek and into the meadow. If it
went on far enough it must have gone to the river; but I have an idea it
fell down to the ground, and may have caught somewhere," returned Dick.

The other took an observation and saw that it looked reasonable,
especially as the wind was still blowing rather stiffly, and came from
a quarter that would have carried any piece of paper just as Dick
declared.

They crossed the creek by a little footbridge used by those who kept
boats near by, climbed the fence by the meadow, and then started
straight across, Dick keeping his eyes eagerly on the alert for any sign
of a white paper.

Before they had more than half crossed the field, with the river half
hidden in the trees and brushwood beyond he gave an exclamation of
delight.

"Look over there, sir, just where that oak stands; there is something
white in the scrub at its butt. Perhaps that may be what we are looking
for."

"I hope so, Richard, I truly hope so," replied the tender-hearted
teller, who had taken a great fancy for the boy, and felt deeply grieved
over the calamity that seemed to be hovering over his head, for if Dick
turned out to be a rogue Mr. Winslow believed he would never be able to
trust any lad again.

Hurrying forward they were soon at the base of the tree, Dick having his
eyes fixed upon the white paper that had become caught in the twigs of
the brush.

"It's the letter, all right, sir. Please take it out yourself. Mr.
Goodwyn would not trust me to touch it, I'm afraid," he said, a little
bitterly.

So the teller immediately reached into the copse and gently but eagerly
drew the paper out; he scanned its entire contents before saying a
word, while Dick watched the look of pleasure that began to steal across
his face.

Presently the teller gave a big sigh of relief, and his first act was to
snatch the boy's hand and squeeze it fiercely.

"It's all right, Dick, and I'm delighted more than I can tell you. What
you say is