gasped.

"Where did I come from?" asked Joe.

"Yes! yes! Answer me quickly! You are--you must be a ghost! I saw you in
my dreams last week!"

"I don't understand you," said Joe, and arose slowly to his feet, at
which Bill Butts did likewise and began to retreat. "I never met you
before."

"No? It's queer." The man brushed his hand over his forehead. "Yes, I
must be dreaming. But I am glad I got my gold back."

"So am I, but the rascal has run away."

"Never mind, let him go."

"What makes you think you've seen me before?" questioned Joe, and his
breath came thick and fast.

"I--er--I don't know. You mustn't mind me--I have queer spells at times.
You see, I had a whole lot of trouble once, and when I get to thinking
about it--" The man did not finish.

"May I ask your name?" asked Joe, and his voice trembled in spite of his
efforts at self-control.

"Sure you can. It's Bill Bodley."

"William A. Bodley?"

"Yes. But how do you happen to know my full name?"

"Did you once own a farm in Millville, Iowa?"

"I had a farm in Iowa, yes. It was Millville Center in those days."

Joe drew closer and looked at the man with care and emotion.

"Did you ever have a brother named Hiram Bodley?"

"I did--but he has been dead for years."

"No, Hiram Bodley died only a short time ago," answered Joe. "I used to
live with him. My name is Joe Bodley. He told me I was his nephew."

"You his nephew! Hiram Bodley's nephew! We didn't have any brothers or
sisters, and he was a bachelor!"

"I know he was a bachelor. But I don't know--" Joe paused.

"He told me Joe died, at least I got a letter from somebody to that
effect. But I was near crazy just then, and I can't remember exactly how
it was. I lost my wife and two children and then I guess I about lost
my mind for a spell. I sold out, and the next thing I knew I was roving
around the mountains and in rags. Then I took to mining, and now I've
got a mine of my own, up yonder in the mountains. Come in and talk this
over."

Joe entered the cabin and sat down, and William Bodley plied him with
questions, all of which he answered to the best of his ability.

"There was a blue tin box I had," said he, presently, "that contained
some documents that were mine."

"A blue tin box!" ejaculated Joe. "Hiram Bodley had it and it got lost.
I found it a long time afterwards and some parts of the documents were
destroyed. I have the rest in my suit case at the hotel."

"Can I se