"Then he is，"asserted the Major；"for Patsy's alwaysright，even when she's wrong.I've had me eye on that man Hucks already，for he's the merriest faced villainb I ever encountered.Do you say he's shy with you girls？""He seems afraid of us，or suspicious，and won't let us talk to him，"answered Beth.
"Leave him to me，"proposed the Major，turning a stern face but twinkling eyes upon the group."'Twill be my task to detect him.Leave him to me，young women，an'I'll put thethumb—screws on him in short order."Here was the sort of energetic confederatea they had longed for.The Major's assurance of co—operation was welcome indeed，and while he entered heartily into their campaign he agreed that no mention of the affair ought to reach Uncle John's ears until the case was complete and they could call upon the authorities to arrest the criminal.
"It's me humble opinion，"he remarked，"that the interesting individual you call the 'avenger'was put on the trail by someone here—either Thomas Hucks，or the timber—toed book agent，or the respectable hardware man.Being invited to come and do his worst，he passed himself as a docther on a fishing excursion，and having with deliberate intent murthered Captain Wegg，got himself called by the coroner to testify that the victim died of heart disease.A very pretty bit of scoundrelismb；eh，me dears？""But the robber—who do you think he was？"askedLouise.
"That I've still to discover.You inform me that Hucks is eager for money and acts like a miser.I've seen the time I was eager for money meself，and there's not a miserly hair on me bald head.But exceptions prove the rule.I'll watch our smiling Thomas and make a report later."Within half an hour he was telling Hucks a funny story and slapping the old man upon the back as familiarly as if he hadknown him for years.He found an opportunity that same day to give Thomas a dollar in return for a slight service，and was amazed at the eagerness with which the coin was clutched and the earnestness of the thanks expressed.It really did seem as if the man was fond of money.But when the Major tried to draw Hucks into speaking of his past history and of Captain Wegg's singular life and death，the old fellow became reserved at once and evaded the inquiries most skillfully.
That night，as the Major strolled in the orchard to smokehis last cigar after all the others had retired to bed，he noticed Hucks leave the back door of the lean—to with a parcel under his arm and pass hurriedly around the barn.After a little hesitation he decided to follow the man，and crept stealthily along in the shadow of the trees and buildings until he found himself at the edge of the berry—patch that was in the rear of the outbuildings.But there he paused irresolutelya，for Thomas had completely disappeared.
The Major was puzzled，but decided to watch for theman's return.So he took a position where he could watch the rear door of the house and smoked patiently for nearly an hour before Hucks returned and let himself quietly in.
He said nothing to the girls next day of this mysterious proceeding，but on the following night again took his station in the orchard to watch.
Sure enough，as soon as the house was quiet the oldservant came out with a bundle underneath his arm；but this time he led his blind wife by the other hand.
The Major gave a low whistle and threw away his cigar.The night was so dark that he had little difficulty in following the aged pair closely enough to keep their shadowy forms in sight，without the risk of being discovered.They passed around the barn and along a path that led through theraspberry bushes back of the yard.There were several acres of these bushes，and just now they were full—leaved and almost shoulder high.The path wound this way and that，and branched in several directions.Twice the Major thought he had lost his quarrya，but was guided aright by their soft footfallsb.The ground dipped here and there，and as they entered one of the hollows Major Doyle was startled to observe the twinkle ofa dim light ahead.A minute later he saw the outlines of a little frame building，and within this Old Hucks and Nora presently disappeared.
