"And your people have all done work of an unusual character in a painstaking manner.I am very much pleased.There seems to be a hundred and forty dollars my due，remaining from the ？ve hundred I sent you.""Here it is，sir，"responded McNutt，taking the moneyfrom his pocket—book.In another place he had more money，which he had intended to pay if the smaller bill had been presented.
Uncle John took the money.
"You are an honest fellow，McNutt，"said he."I hadn't expected a dollar back，for folks usually take advantage of a stranger if he gives them half a chance.So I thank you for your honesty as well as for your services.Good morning."The agent was thoroughly ashamed of himself.To be "sech a duffera"as to return that money，when by means of a little strategy he might have kept it，made him feel both humiliated and indignant.A hundred and forty dollars；When would he have a chance to get such a windfallb again？Pah！he was a fool—to copy his identical thoughts："a gol dum blithering idjit！"All the way home he reflected dismally upon his lack of business foresight，and strove to plan ways to get money "out'n thet easy markc.""Didn't the man rob you，Uncle？"asked Louise，whenaa the agent had disappeared.
"Yes，dear；but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing I realized it.""That was what I thought.By the way，that Wegg historyseems both romantic and unusual，"she said，musinglya."Don't you scentb some mystery in what the man said of it？""Mystery！"cried Uncle John."Lordy，no，Louise.You've been readin'too many novels.Romances don't grow in parts like these.""But I think this is where they are most likely to grow，Uncle，"persisted the girl，"just consider.A retired sea captain hides inland，with no companions but a grinning sailor and his blind housekeeper—except his pale wife，of course；and she is described as sad and unhappy.Who was she，do you think？""I don't think，"said Uncle John，smiling and patting the fair check of his niece."And it don't matter who she was.""I'm sure it does.It is the key to the whole mystery.Even her baby could not cheer the poor thing's broken heart.Even the ？ne house the Captain built failed to interest her.She pined awayc and died，and—""And that ？nished the romance，Louise.""Oh，no；that added to its interest.The boy grew up in this dismal place and brooded ond his mother's wrongs.Hisstern，sulky old father died suddenly.Was he murdered？"in a low voice；"did the son revenge his mother's wrongs？""Figglepiff，Louise！You're getting theatric—and so early in the morning，too！Want to saddle my new farm with a murder，do you？Well，it's rubbish.Joe Wegg ran away from here to get busy in the world.Major Doyle helped him with my money，in exchange for this farm，which the boy was sensible to get rid of—although I'm glad it's now mine.The Major liked Joe Wegg，and says he's a clean—cut，ne youngfeller.He's an inventor，too，even if an unlucky one，and I've no doubt he'll make his waya in the world and become a good citizen."With these words Uncle John arose and sauntered around to the barn，to look at the litter of new pigs that just then served to interest and amuse him.The girl remained seated upon the grass，her hands clasped over her knee and a look of deep retrospection upon her face.
