panions drove
away, and once more was Bob master of the situation.

The next arrivals to the disputed property were Mr. Gurney, Mr. Hillman
and Ralph. The former had started as soon as he had received his son's
telegram, and from the look on Ralph's face, it was easy to see that
the two lawyers, after a consultation together, did not consider the
situation a desperate one.

"Father says that even if George doesn't succeed in finding Thompson, he
believes it will be possible to show to the satisfaction of a jury that
Mr. Simpson paid off the mortgage," said Ralph, as the two lawyers
entered the house, leaving the boys alone in the stable-yard. "Of course
if this witness could be found, everything could be settled at once."

Ralph's father was also able to do something for the immediate relief of
the owners of "The Harnett."

On the morning after his arrival, and the guardians of the property had
been undisturbed during the night, Mr. Gurney and Mr. Hillman went into
town, where they succeeded in getting bondsmen for the boys, thus
releasing the property from attachment. They also began a suit against
Mr. Massie, to restrain him from taking any further steps in the matter
until the question of ownership could be decided at law.

While they were absent, George returned, and with him was the missing
witness, Mr. Jared Thompson. He had been found at Babcock, and since he
had no business on hand he was perfectly willing to accompany George,
and all the more so because he had been promised he should be well paid
for his time, which, just then, was of no value to him.

He remembered distinctly seeing Mr. Simpson at Massie's office, and of
seeing him pay over a large roll of money, which he stated was the
amount of the mortgage. He also heard Massie say, after he had counted
the money, that it was "all right," and saw him hand Mr. Simpson the
mortgage, which he took from his safe.

After that Mr. Thompson heard some conversation between the two men
relative to the purchase of the wood-lot; but, since he was not
interested in the matter, he left the office shortly after it had begun.

On the arrival of Mr. Gurney from town--for he returned alone, since
there was no necessity for Mr. Hillman to accompany him after the bonds
had been given for the release of the property--he questioned the
witness George had brought, and then stated that there was no further
cause for anxiety about the matter, since this testimony would ans