efully in his pocket.

"Now, sir; let us get down to business! If you will promise me never to
make another will without consulting me, but will let this one I've kept
stand, and if you agree not to interfere any further with your son's
family or his wife or his children or his ox or his ass or anything that
is his, for the rest of your natural life, I'll guarantee that in due
season you'll leave this tug a free man."

"You can do that; you are sure you can save me?" Eliphalet's voice shook
and his hands, thrust out appealingly, trembled pitifully as he turned
from the Governor to Archie.

"My friend can do what he says," said Archie. "You may trust him."

"I promise," said the old man steadily. "But I must see Putney and
explain about the coins. It was more in a spirit of playfulness, a
curiosity to know how such things are done that I got mixed up in that
business."

"I daresay it was and I'm sure you'll not repeat the offense," said the
Governor, lighting a cigarette. "As to Putney, I'll arrange the meeting
as soon as possible."

Eliphalet Congdon was the last man Archie would have expected to yield
to the Governor's wizardry, or hypnotism, or whatever it was that caused
people to submit to him; but the old man's face expressed infinite
relief now that the Governor had so insolently assumed the role of
dictator in his affairs. The pathos of the weazened little figure now
stripped of its arrogance, and the assertion of a long-latent kindliness
in his countenance, encouraged the hope that happier times were in store
for all the Congdons.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I

The Governor and Archie were waiting on the Huddleston wharf when Putney
and Leary returned from Calderville, bringing two sacks of Heart o'
Dreams mail. Putney had loafed about the Calderville post-office and
made purchases in several shops to learn if possible whether Carey's
purpose in establishing himself in the woods was known to the villagers.
He had, it seemed, represented himself as an investigator for a lumber
company engaged in appraising timber. This was the story he had told in
Calderville and the villagers had not questioned it.

"That's all right," said the Governor, "and serves our purpose well.
Archie, you and Leary take the launch and carry the mail over to Heart
o' Dreams. The tug will be within call in case you need help. At twelve
o'clock meet me about a quarter of a mile this side of Carey's
barricade; Leary's got the place s