"I've no idea.It is a singular thing that most of my grandfather's savings disappeared at the same time.On account of his mental condition he can never tell us what became of his little fortune；but luckily the returns from the farm，which we rent on shares，and my own salary as teacher of the district school，enable us to live quite comfortably，although we must be economical.""Why，it's really a romance！"cried Patsy，who hadlistened eagerly.
"There are many romances in real life，"added Beth，in her undemonstrative way.
Louise said nothing，but her heart was throbbinga withexcitement e n g e n d e r e db by the tale，which so strongly corroboratedc the suspicions she had begun to entertain.When Ethel had gone home Louise still deliberated upon this fascinating mystery，and her resolve grew to force some sortof an explanation from the smiling lips of Old Hucks.For the sole available witness of that fatal night's tragedy，when one strong man died and another was driven mad，was Thomas Hucks.The old servitora was also in a position to know much of the causes leading up to the catastrophe，he having been the confidential retainer of Captain Wegg for many years.Hucks must speak；but the girl was wise enough to realize that he would not do so unless urged by coaxingb or forced by strategy.There was doubtless good reason why the old man had remained silent for three years.Her plan was to win his confidence.Interest him in Joe's welfare，and then the truth must come out.
The frankly related story of Ethel had supplied Louise with the motive for the crime，for that a crime had been committed she was now doubly sure.Captain Wegg had money；old Will Thompson had money；both were well—to—do men.In a retired country district，where there were no banks，it was reasonable to suppose they kept large sums of money on hand，and the knowledge of this fact had tempted some one to a dreadfuldeed.Captain Wegg had been killed and old Thompson perhaps injured by a blow upon the head from which he had never recovered.Any suspicion the fair young detective may have entertained that Thompson himself had killed his friend was eradicatedc by the fact that he had been robbed at the sametime.
Louise had originally undertaken her investigation through curiosity and a desire to amuse herself by unveiling the mystery.Now she began to re？ect that she was an instrument of justice，for a discovery of the truth might restore a fortune to poor Joe Wegg，now struggling with the world，and put sweet Ethel Thompson in a position where the necessity for her to teach school would be abolished.This thought added a strong impulse to her determination to succeed.
Sunday afternoon the girl took blind Nora for a long drive through the country，taking pains to explain to her all the points of interest they came to，and delighting the old woman with her bright chatter.Louise had been kind to Nora from the beginning，and her soft，sympathetic voice had quite won the poor creature's heart.
On the way home，in the delightful summer twilight，the girl dexterouslya led the conversation toward Nora's past history.
"Was Thomas a sailor when you married him？"she asked.
