der that Mrs. Snow might come down to
supper. The housekeeper did come down a few minutes later, and, as she
was interested to know more about Luther Davis and his sister, the talk
became animated and general.

It was after eight o'clock when Mrs. Snow, having finished washing the
dishes--she allowed no one to assist her in this operation since the
time when she caught Captain Jerry absent-mindedly using the dust
rag instead of the dishcloth--went upstairs to her patient. Shortly
afterward Elsie came down, wearing her hat and jacket.

"I'm going out for a little while," she said. "No, I don't want anyone
to go with me. I'll be back soon."

Her back was turned to the three captains as she spoke, but, as she
opened the door, the lamplight shone for an instant on her face, and
Captain Eri noticed, or fancied that he did, that she was paler than
usual. He rose, and again offered to accompany her, but met with such a
firm refusal that he could not insist further.

"Now, that's kind of funny, ain't it?" remarked Perez. "I don't b'lieve
she's been out alone afore after dark sence she's been here."

"Where did you git that letter, Josiah?" asked Captain Eri.

It may as well be explained here that Captain Perez' grand-nephew was a
thorn in the flesh to everyone, including his indulgent relative. He was
a little afraid of Mrs. Snow, and obeyed her better than he did anyone
else, but that is not saying a great deal. He was in mischief in school
two-thirds of the time, and his reports, made out by the teacher, were
anything but complimentary. He was a good-looking boy, the image of his
mother, who had been her uncle's favorite, and he was popular with a
certain class of youngsters. Also, and this was worse, his work at
the livery stable had thrown him in contact with a crowd of men like
"Squealer" Wixon, "Web" Saunders, and others of their class, and they
appreciated his New York street training and made much of him. Captain
Perez, mindful of his promise to the boy's mother, did not use the
necessary measures to control him, and Captain Eri and Captain Jerry did
not like to interfere.

Just now he was seated in the corner, and he looked up with a start,
hurriedly folded up the tattered paper book he was reading, stuffed it
into his pocket, and said, "What?"

"Who give you that letter that come for Elsie?"

"Miss Cahoon up at the office. It was in our box," said the boy.

"Humph! What are you readin' that's so interestin'