Tad would never have left it. If the
tunnel is still locked up like you said Tad wrote it was, why, we can't
get into it. It belongs to Tad. Perhaps it will never be opened. Mother,
some day when you have a chance, talk with Uncle Joe and see what you can
find out. Father might have left keys and information concerning the mine
with him."

"No, son, he wouldn't have keys, because it was Tad that locked up the
tunnel. It is Tad that has the keys. But listen, don't worry over it a
bit or build any false hopes on it. School will open in a week, and I
want you to take advantage of all it can give you. We'll be here until
Christmas, anyway, I think, unless Aunt Lucy should slip away before that
time."

"I wonder what uncle would say to me if I asked him about Tad when he
comes home tonight. I think that's what I'll do."

About nine o'clock he heard the heavy footsteps of his uncle on the
veranda, and in another moment heard him in the hall. After hanging up
his hat and coat, he came into the library, picked up the _Evening
Telegraph,_ and began to read, entirely ignoring Willis. After they had
sat thus silently for some minutes, Willis spoke:

"Uncle, did you ever know a man named Tad Kieser, who was a great friend
of my father's?" The man moved uneasily in his chair, but, without
looking up from his paper, he inquired of the boy what he knew of Tad
Kieser.

"Not much, to be sure," returned the boy, half sadly, "only what mother
has told me about him; but I'd like to know more. I think he must have
been a very interesting old character, wasn't he?"

"An old devil and a cut-throat," retorted Mr. Williams. "You couldn't
count on him to be square even to his own mother. A sly old fox always on
the hunt."

"That's very strange," replied Willis. "He surely was not that sort of a
man or my father never would have chosen him for a partner. You surely
must be mistaken." "Your father didn't have enough dealings with him to
find him out; that was all. I know him."

"Tell me about some of the awful deeds he has committed if he is such a
fox," questioned Willis. "I've always thought him absolutely square. I've
heard he was the finest man in these mountains, years ago."

"Who told you any such rot? I have enough circumstantial evidence against
him to put him behind the bars right now," growled the uncle.

"Evidence along what lines, Uncle?" persisted Willis.

"Blackmail!" snorted Williams. "What difference does it make to y